President Muhammadu Buhari has directed that the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited and its subsidiaries repair section 4 of the East-West Road.
The portion of the road is from Eleme roundabout to Onne Junction, through the tax credit scheme.
Buhari made the remarks on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the 5th National Council on the Niger Delta in Uyo.
He said: “The East-West Road project which is now being handled by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, is the largest infrastructure project in Nigeria.
“It is a very strategic road, connecting the country’s busiest and foremost commercial cities in the region.
“This would be expeditiously addressed, considering the importance of the road to our national economy”.
Buhari, who was represented by Environment Minister Mohammed Abdullahi, assured that completing the East-West Road was a top priority for this administration.
The President stated that fighting corruption was one of his administration’s fundamental goals.
He explained that Forensic Audit of NNDC had been submitted, noting that the implementation of it’s recommendations had begun in phases.
Mr Umana Umana, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, said the objective of the conference was to canvass for more and sustained collaboration with development partners and other stakeholders in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes designed for the improvement of life in the Niger Delta Region.
He added that the meeting was important item in the ministry and other stakeholders for the opportunity to take stock of collective engagement with the mandate of reinventing the Niger Delta Region.
Umana said that the ministry was partnering relevant agencies, development partners, International Oil Company (IOCs) and other stakeholders on infrastructure development, investment in social services and institutional capacity building for Niger Delta Region to achieve it’s mandate.
Umana who is also the Chairman of Council, promised to publish a compendium of projects undertaken by the ministry in all the Niger Delta Region.
