‘You Have No Reason To Abandon Sapele-Agbor Road’— Bebenimibo Tackles Oborevwori In Open Letter

By Charity Amali/Sophia Otuokpai 

A Delta State-based human rights activist, Dr. Paul Bebenimibo, has called on Governor Sheriff Oborevwori to assume responsibility over the reconstruction of the dilapidated 70-kilometer Sapele-Abraka-Agbor road.

Bebenimibo, in an open letter to Oborevwori, insisted that the obvious neglect of the road by successive administrations in the state is totally unjustifiable.

The activist, who is also a lecturer in the Department of Mass Communication at Delta State University, Abraka, decried the deplorable condition of the road, describing it as the major cause of the high cost of agricultural products, transportation and insecurity in the state.

“I know that the road is a federal road, which the Federal Government has purportedly worked on in the last 12 years or more. However, this road is right in the middle of Delta State, cutting-across eight Local Government Areas, including your local government area, Okpe”, read Bebenimibo’s letter.

“Others are Ika South, Ika North East, Ukwani, Ethiope East. Sapele and Ughelli North Local Government Areas.

“In other words, people from these local government areas have used this road before it became unpassable.

“Even you, Mr Governor, have used this road from Asaba to Osubi, your home town and vice versa because it is shorter to use from Asaba to Osubi juxtaposed to wherever you use today.

“If truth be told, the unpalatable condition of the road is a major contributor to the high cost of agricultural products in the state and other parts of Nigeria. The rickety state of the road also contributes to the prevailing insecurity in Delta State.

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“It is also a significant contributor to the high cost of transportation in Delta State. The present state of the road is killing education in Delta State as two Universities in Delta State, namely Delta State University, Abraka and the University of Delta, Agbor are situated along the road; Staff and Students find it difficult to use the road right now.”

Bebenimibo urged the Governor to approach President Bola Tinubu to allow him fix the road as obtains in other states, adding that if the Governor could construct a flyover bridge in Warri and Effurun, he should also consider reconstructing the Sapele-Abraka-Agbor road.

“Your Excellency Sir, the reason for not intervening on this road- that it is a federal road is untenable. It is Deltans that use this road; Deltans own farms along this road, and it is Deltans that are suffering.

“If you can construct fly-overs on a federal road in Warri and Effurun, there is no reason why you should not reconstruct this critical road for Deltans, including you. Sir, you have used this road before its present deplorable condition.

“Your Excellency Sir, it is time for you to approach President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to allow you to work on this road.

“Your colleague-governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State acted similarly lately, taking over the reconstruction of the 70 kilometres Lagos to Abeokuta Expressway.

“I respectfully remind you that former Governor of Rivers State, Chief Nyensom Wike, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, constructed 12 fly-overs on federal roads in Rivers State to ease traffic in the South-South state. You can borrow a leaf from these two great men.

“Mr Governor sir, you made it copiously clear that you are a man of the people during your campaigns in 2023; and that you have enough dosage of “street credibility” it is now that you have to demonstrate it against the time to come (2027).”

Meanwhile, residents and motorists in Abraka, Delta State, have raised concerns over the deteriorating condition of roads within the university town.

In separate interviews with DELSU Echo, they regretted that the deplorable condition of roads in the town has resulted in severe hardships for both inhabitants and commuters alike.