The apex socio-cultural body representing the Ogoni people in Rivers State, KAGOTE (Khana, Gokana, Tai, and Eleme), has publicly disagreed with the Minister of Works, Dr. David Umahi, over claims that the dualisation of certain sections of the East-West Road has been completed.

 

Minister Umahi had stated that Section II, Subsection I—from Eleme Junction in Port Harcourt to Ahoada—and the 15km stretch between Eleme Junction and Onne Port Junction had been completed. However, KAGOTE President, Emmanuel Deeyah, challenged this assertion, insisting that as of Sunday, June 1, 2025, only one lane of the dual carriageway was partially done.

 

“The concrete pavement does not cover the full length of the road. There are four overhead bridges along the route, and none of them is completed. They are all still at different stages of piling,” Deeyah said.

 

He accused Minister Umahi of misleading President Bola Ahmed Tinubu into commissioning an unfinished project. “The Minister of Works misled Mr. President into inaugurating a road that is still under construction. We condemn this act in totality,” he added.

 

Deeyah described Umahi’s remarks as unverifiable and disappointing, stating that daily road users can attest to the fact that the project is far from completion. “The uppermost layer of the concrete pavement is incomplete, and the bridges are nowhere near finished,” he stressed.

 

Highlighting the strategic importance of the road, Deeyah noted that the Eleme section of the East-West Road serves as a key infrastructure artery, supporting movement to and from Akwa Ibom State and several local governments in Rivers State. It also plays a vital role in accessing major national assets like the refineries, Indorama Petrochemical plant, and the Oil & Gas Free Zone.

 

He stressed that the swift and honest completion of the road is essential to building trust between the federal government and the Ogoni people—especially at a time when there is renewed acceptance among locals for resuming oil exploration after over three decades of suspension.

 

Expressing continued support for President Tinubu’s administration and appreciating the appointment of Ogoni sons into federal positions, Deeyah called on the President to urgently caution Minister Umahi. “We urge Mr. President to call the Honourable Minister of Works to order and ensure that proper information is given regarding such crucial national projects,” he concluded.