The Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial District, Ede Dafinone, has said sustained engagement with the Federal Government and relevant agencies is yielding tangible results, following the flag-off of emergency rehabilitation works on the failed sections of the Benin-Sapele-Effurun Expressway.
Dafinone made the remarks after joining representatives of the Delta State Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), and other stakeholders at the Amukpe Roundabout in Sapele for the flag-off ceremony.
He described the intervention as timely, saying the rehabilitation would ease the difficulties faced by motorists, commuters, businesses and communities along the strategic corridor connecting parts of the Niger Delta.
The senator commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the NDDC management led by its Chairman, Chiedu Ebie, and Managing Director/CEO, Samuel Ogbuku, as well as the Delta State Government, for responding to the concerns raised over the deplorable state of the road.
According to him, the development demonstrates the impact of sustained and constructive engagement with government authorities and agencies.
“As your Senator and representatives of our people, we deliberately chose the path of critical and constructive engagement because our primary responsibility is to get things done,” Dafinone said.
He explained that he deliberately avoided turning every intervention into a media spectacle, stressing that quiet, persistent and purposeful engagement could sometimes deliver better results.
“You will recall that the deplorable condition of the Benin-Sapele-Effurun road had attracted significant public and media attention in recent weeks,” he said, adding that the NDDC had demonstrated its capacity to respond quickly to critical infrastructure challenges in the Niger Delta.
Dafinone noted that the NDDC inspected the affected portions of the road from Benin through Sapele to Effurun on Tuesday and returned by Friday to flag off the rehabilitation.
He described the speed of the response as commendable, saying it showed what could be achieved when government agencies, political leaders and representatives of the people worked collectively.
“Though this is coming now, I have been working—engaging the relevant authorities, applying pressure and pushing for concrete action. I believe results, not rhetoric, should define our efforts, and today, those results are speaking for themselves,” he said.
The senator also commended the Delta State Government for adding its voice and influence to the intervention, describing the rehabilitation effort as a collective push to address the concerns of residents and road users.
He, however, said more needed to be done, noting that the current intervention targets about 15 kilometres of the worst portions covering the Ajomata/Ibada–Elume–Amukpe–Oghara axis.
“Our goals may not have been met, but I am particularly pleased that the intervention which covers 15km of the worst portions of Ajomata/Ibada–Elume–Amukpe–Oghara is being targeted; our people need more,” Dafinone said.
He pledged to continue pushing for the rehabilitation of other failed federal roads across Delta Central, stressing that his priority was to ensure that residents get the infrastructure and relief they deserve.
Dafinone further noted that the rehabilitation was being approached comprehensively, with contractors commencing work from both ends of the corridor to ensure that attention was not concentrated on only one section.
“My concern is not about who takes the credit; my concern is that the road is fixed and our people get relief,” he stated.
He expressed optimism that the rehabilitation would be completed promptly, adding that the project would improve connectivity and provide significant relief to motorists, commuters, businesses and communities along the Benin-Sapele-Effurun corridor.
