Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, says the State Government will give necessary support to the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on its plans to develop the East-West Road to a world-class road.
Governor Okowa, represented by the State Commissioner for Urban Renewal, Olorogun Arthur Akpowowo, gave the assurance when he played host to officials of the Federal Ministry who are in the state for the first technical meeting of the MNDA.
The East-West Road project which began in 2006 cuts across Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Cross-River States of the Niger Delta.
It starts from the Effurun/DSC Roundabout in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State and terminates at Oron Town in Akwa-Ibom, which lies at the mouth of Cross River.
In its renewed commitment towards completing the four sections of the road project, by December 2021, the Federal Government sometime August this year released N20 billion naira.
And as part of plans by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as construction, works resume in this month of November is the mapping of the East-West Road corridor with beautiful traces, parks and other attractions.
Olorogun Akpowowo, who stood in for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa said the plan by the Ministry to construct corridor on the East-West Road as obtains in developed nations is a welcome development.
The Urban Renewal Commissioner noted the innovation by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs is very apt considering the encroachments into the existing road.
The step, he said also falls in line with the projected six lanes for the road by the Ministry by 2035.
Earlier, officials of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs led by the Director Housing and Urban Development, Mr Patrick Okareafor, said to enable the Ministry have firsthand knowledge of the entire East-West Road corridor which spans a total of 361 kilometres necessitated the visit to Delta State.
Mr Okareafor, added that the participants drawn from five states of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa, Ibom and Cross River States will embark on a tour from Effurun to Oron to adequately plan the corridor of the East-West Road.
The event featured lectures from resource persons, who spoke on topics relating to the maintenance of the East-West Road.
