The Federal Government and the South-South States have set up a counterpart team to oversee the construction of the East West Road valued at about N1 trillion.
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, inaugurated the counterpart team at a virtual meeting on Thursday.
Members of the counterpart team to oversee East West Road are: Mr. Olalekan Lana, Federal Ministry of Works & Housing; Engr. I. Y. Danlele, Federal Ministry of Works & Housing; Mrs. Ehigie Agalasi, Federal Ministry of Transportation; Chief Arthur Akpowowo Hon. Commissioner, (representative of Delta State Government); Tpl. Benson Diriyai (representative of Bayelsa State Government); Barrister Erastus C Awortu (representative of River State Government); Engr. Ime Sudnay Akpan (representative of Akwa Ibom State Government); Mr. Patrick Agbe consultant to Cross River State Government; Engr. Patrick Okereafor (MNDA), Tpl. Olufemi Oloruntola (MNDA), and Engr. Osahon Idemudia (MNDA).
Akpabio noted that the huge cost of the construction of the road was due to the nature of the terrain and magnitude of the project.
He was also logical that an investment of this magnitude should elicit further attention for its management beyond just construction.
According to the Minister, “the Ministry has put together this initiative to rally all counterparts to combine all efforts to providing a befitting management structure for the road corridor.
It is based on the clear comprehension that all the States along this corridor have a germane role to play in the planning, development and management of their respective domains and that the actions and inactions of any will ultimately affect the corridor”.
Speaking further, Dr. Godswill Akpabio explained that owning to the experience on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and other major highways in the country the collective task of the counterpart team is to ensure that the highway corridor is efficient, safe and economical in the short, medium and long term.
“Therefore, it is critical and compelling that the Ministry urgently and proactively take steps to guarantee the Road corridor to deal with the envisaged challenges of settlement, growth and human activities along the route,” he said.
In his goodwill message, the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Omotayo Alasoadura said that the East West road corridor will attract development of human settlement and economic activities towards it when completed and the Ministry under its current leadership is desirous of turning around the fortunes of the Niger Delta Region (NDR) for the better.
He said that complementary programme for the East-West road is one of the many initiatives of this current resolve to elicit partnership for better result.
He stated, ”The East West road is our prime asset and our duty is to ensure that we all play our parts creditably in its upkeep and management.” Sen. Alasoadura added.
The road project, which is a dual carriageway of four lanes way, spans about 361km across five States of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River. It is designed to function as the regional spine on the East – West axis to provide unimpeded movement of goods, services and passengers.
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