By: Felix Ikpotor
As reactions continue to trail the recently commissioned projects by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, KAGOTE, the apex socio-cultural organisation of the Ogoni people in Rivers State, have lambasted the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi for misleading the president into commissioning an uncompleted project.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy had on 31st May listed some projects commissioned by the president especially in the South South.
In the release, the projects listed to have been commissioned virtually by the President in the South-South region include the
rehabilitation of Calabar-Ugep-Katsina-Ala Road Section II (Ugep-Katsina-Ala) in Benue/ Cross River States, dualisation of East-West Road Section II (Sub Section I) Eleme Junction in Port Harcourt – Ahoada in Rivers State; rehabilitation of Alesi-Ugep(Iyamoyung-Ugep) Section in Cross River State. Upgrading of 15km Section of the East-West Road Port Harcourt (Eleme Junction)-Onne Port Junction in Rivers State.
However, KAGOTE in a statement by its president, Emma Deeyah said the Eleme Junction to Onne section of the East-West Road listed as commissioned was still under construction as at the time the commissioning was done virtually by President Tinubu.
The body further criticised Umahi for misleading the president into carrying out such action.
Recall that Umahi had on May 21st during a working visit to the project site assured that one lane would be opened for use in “10 days” time.
“We are to state here that as at the evening of Sunday, 1st June 2025, work on only one side of the dual carriageway is ongoing. The concrete pavement has not covered the entire length of the road. There are four(4) overhead bridges at various stages of piling works. Not one has been completed.
“We believe that the Honourable Minister of Works misled Mr. President into commissioning a road still under construction, we hereby condemn this act in totality,” he said.
KAGOTE further expressed worries that the action of Umahi could be a signal that he intends to scale down the scope of the job, warming that such attempts will not be tolerated by the Ogoni people.
“KAGOTE also believes that by his recent action of deliberately misleading Mr. President, the minister has given credence to concerns in many quarters that he is planning to scale down the scope of the project.
“We hereby warn that any attempt to do so, will be strongly resisted by Ogoni people,” he said.
The Eleme Section of the East West Road is a dual carriage way and major arterial infrastructural project of the present administration and when completed is expected to serve commuters from Akwa Ibom State apart from those from about eight local governments areas of Rivers State. The road is also expected to evacuate men and materials from the Port Harcourt Refineries, the Indorama Petrochemical plant, the Onne Ports and Oil&Gas Free Zone located along this axis.
The group believes that the speedy completion of the road would go a long way in assuring the Ogoni people of the readiness of the federal government to partner with and develop local infrastructures in the area which has been in the forefront of their demands for better integration.
