… Okowa, Ebie, Dein of Agbor, others applaud governor’s giant strides
Delta State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori on Monday flagged off the construction of the N59.7 billion Agbor/Uromi Junction flyover in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking at the groundbreaking ceremony, Oborevwori described the project as a critical intervention aimed at enhancing road safety, preserving lives, and stimulating economic activities within Delta State and beyond.
The governor said the flyover was conceived in response to persistent traffic congestion and frequent road accidents at the Agbor/Uromi Junction, a major federal highway intersection that has, over the years, recorded loss of lives and destruction of property.
According to him, the dangerous interaction among vehicles, motorcycles, and pedestrians at the junction, compounded by poor traffic management, made a permanent engineering solution inevitable.
Oborevwori disclosed that the contract for the design and construction of the flyover had been awarded to Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, with a completion timeline of 14 months.
He assured residents that the project aligned with his administration’s commitment to even development across all parts of the state and the provision of safer, modern road infrastructure.
He further urged the contractor to adhere strictly to quality standards and project timelines, while calling on residents and motorists to cooperate during the construction period to ensure smooth execution.
The project, he explained, includes a 1.3-kilometre flyover bridge along the Uromi–Agbor Highway, dual carriageways with two lanes in each direction, ramps, roundabouts, concrete drainage systems, kerbs, and solar-powered streetlights to enhance safety and sustainability.
Oborevwori, who was accompanied by the Deputy Governor, Sir Monday Onyeme, and other top government functionaries for the groundbreaking ceremony, stressed the strategic importance of the corridor, describing it as a major economic and transportation link connecting the Eastern and Western parts of the Niger Delta, while also serving as a gateway to the North.
“Anyone travelling from Lagos to the East or from the East to the West must pass through this route. Its importance to the national economy cannot be overstated,” he said.
He noted that upon completion, the flyover would significantly enhance mobility, reduce travel time, expand economic opportunities, and safeguard the lives of thousands of Nigerians who ply the route daily.
The governor also highlighted the employment opportunities the project would generate for engineers, artisans, labourers, transporters, food vendors, and others across the construction value chain.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to inclusive and balanced development, Oborevwori said the state government had injected N100 billion as a special intervention fund, allocating N4 billion each to the 25 local government areas for infrastructure development, in addition to other sectoral investments.
He added that Ika South LGA was also benefiting from other major projects, including the N15.4 billion contract awarded for 13.3 kilometres of concrete drainage systems and five kilometres of road construction to address flooding and erosion, as well as the planned N12 billion 15-kilometre Okpe–Abavo–Ekuku-Agbor Road.
“As a government, we award contracts strictly on merit and competence. Excellence will always attract further patronage,” the governor assured, expressing confidence that the flyover would be completed on schedule.
Read Also: Oborevwori flags off construction of N59.7bn Agbor flyover project Monday
Earlier, the immediate past Governor of the state, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, described the Agbor/ Uromi Junction Flyover as a monumental and impactful project, commending Oborevwori for sustaining continuity and translating plans into tangible development.
He said the scale and spread of infrastructure projects across the state under the current administration reflected purposeful and people-oriented governance.
Okowa also used the occasion to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, noting that the ongoing economic reforms, though initially challenging, were deliberately steering Nigeria toward a more sustainable future.
The Commissioner for Works (Highways and Urban Roads), Comrade Reuben Izeze, described Oborevwori as an audacious and workaholic leader, reminding the Ika Nation of the many infrastructure projects executed by the administration in the area and urged continued support for the governor in the years ahead.
Mr Frederich Weiser, who spoke on behalf of the management and Board of Directors of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, expressed appreciation to the Delta State Government for the confidence reposed in it through the award of the project.
The firm pledged to deliver the flyover to the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficiency, and to complete it on schedule with minimal disruption, drawing on its experience with similar projects across the state, including the Ughelli Flyover.
In his remarks, Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr. Chiedu Ebie, assured of the commission’s readiness to collaborate with the Delta State Government to complete the Abraka–Obiaruku–Abavo–Agbor Road, describing it as a vital feeder route to the new flyover.
The Chairman of Ika South LGA, Engr. Jerry Ehiwarior described the flyover as a “project of destiny,” and thanked Oborevwori for what he called action-driven leadership, including the restoration of electricity to communities that had been without power for over 14 years.
Other speakers, including the member representing Ika Federal Constituency, Hon. Victor Nwokolo; APC National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Felix Morka; the Dein of Agbor Kingdom, HRM Benjamin Ikenchukwu, Keagborekuzi I, and President-General of Agbor Community Union, Prof. Onyemaechi Ugboh, commended Oborevwori for his massive infrastructure drive and assured him of their unwavering support.
