From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
National leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Edwin Clark, has urged President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on roads in the South-South region.
In a letter addressed to the president, Clark expressed deep concern over the deteriorating road conditions that have become a significant barrier to movement and economic activity in a region vital to Nigeria’s oil revenue.
Clark highlighted alarming travel delays on major routes: “A journey that should take one hour now takes up to four hours due to the state of the roads.”
He cited specific examples, including the Benin-Auchi and Port Harcourt-Owerri roads, where travel times have drastically increased due to neglect and poor maintenance.
“The Uyo-Itu-Calabar Road is now described as the worst in the country,” he lamented, pointing out that it now takes commuters six hours instead of two.
He said his letter underscores the broader implications of the road conditions on economic productivity and safety.
Clark noted that, “the Niger Delta suffers from decades of environmental damage,” making it even more critical to ensure safe and efficient transportation for its residents. He called for immediate action from the government, emphasising that, “what is required to fix the roads is not even up to a week’s production of oil.”
Consequently, Clark, therefore, urged President Tinubu to prioritise road repairs in the 2025 budget, asserting that “this situation should be declared an emergency without further delay.”
The call comes amid growing public outcry over Nigeria’s crumbling infrastructure, which has been linked to increased transport costs and accidents. As Clark stated: “It is difficult to understand why roads in the communities that produce resources for this country are in such a deplorable state.”
His open letter read in parts: “I am particularly shocked by the fact that the team, which we sent out led by the National Chairman of PANDEF, Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali and members of the National Executive to attend the funerals of late National Chairman (Worldwide) of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Nwanyanwu, former Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas and the late wife of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mrs. Kemi Eno, had to travel around by road and brought to us a very worrying state of affairs on the roads. A few examples will give you some perspectives on the situation.
“Benin-Auchi Road – under normal circumstances, this road takes commuters two and half hours. At present, passengers, on the average, spend seven hours on that road. In some cases, it is so bad that travellers had to go through some rural communities in Ekiti State before coming back to the main road.
“Benin-Uromi-Sapele Road – this road which is at the heart of oil production normally takes commuters one hour. At present, its bad condition subjects passengers to three to four hours for the trip.
“Sapele-Warri Road-the distance between these two communities is barely 43 kilometres but due to its bad condition, passengers now spend two hours on a journey that is normally about 30 minutes.
“Port Harcourt-Owerri Road – similarly, the road from Port Harcourt to Owerri is a mere distance of 95 kilometres, which in the past commuters could arrive at their destination after one and a half hours. Sadly, with so many bad spots, this now requires four hours.
“Uyo-Itu-Calabar Road – the road connecting Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State and Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, is about 90 kilometres. Until recently, we covered that road in less than two hours. However, due to the terrible state of the road at present, the minimum commuters spend on the road is six hours. In fact, our team described it as the worst road in the country due to its state, more so as it is connecting two important states.
“Calabar-Obudu Road – the distance between Calabar to Obudu, the hometown of former Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas, and where he was recently laid to rest is about 316 kilometres. I recall, as a politician, that we used to travel in and out of this road in those days in about four hours. With the current situation, those who traverse this road spend between seven to eight hours on the road.
“The East-West Road – the East-West Road which connects the entire region was deliberately conceived and commenced during the time of Obasanjo as a deliberate intervention to assuage the neglect of the oil producing communities. Unfortunately, succeeding administrations have paid lip service to completing this road. We note that some efforts are being made to repair some sections of the road but there is not much work going on and the pace of work is slow. It is also noted that some of the contractors do not seem to have the competence to handle the nature of work in a complex water logged terrain as the Niger Delta.
“Mr. President, I realise that resources are lean and demands are many; it is, however, very difficult to understand why roads in the communities that produce the resources that keep this country going are in such a terrible state. It is already very sad that the Niger Delta is suffering from decades of environmental damage which would take us many generations to recover from. So, to imagine that we cannot commute among ourselves and daily our region produces billions to the national coffers, is difficult to fathom.
“At current production level of 1.8 million barrels per day, which we the leaders of the region working with the government have achieved and are still working to increase, it is difficult to understand why the roads in our region should be in this very deplorable condition. With oil prices now at US$73 per barrel, we reckon that we are producing enough and we in the Niger Delta cannot be in this condition. What is required to fix the roads is not even up to a week’s production of oil.
“I am writing this passionate appeal to you to declare an emergency in the coming 2025 budget and also direct your Minister of Works and its relevant agencies to redouble their efforts to repair these roads. Mr. President, we, therefore, demand that in 2025, this situation of the Niger Delta, the treasure base of the country, should be declared an emergency without further delay.”