By Barikui Felix
The recent commissioning of projects by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sparked strong reactions, particularly from the Ogoni people in Rivers State, who have accused the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, of misrepresenting the status of one of the key infrastructure projects.
KAGOTE, the apex socio-cultural organization of the Ogoni ethnic group, has criticized Minister Umahi for allegedly misleading the President into commissioning an uncompleted section of the East-West Road — specifically, the Eleme Junction to Onne Port axis in Rivers State.
In a press release dated May 31, 2025, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, listed various road projects commissioned virtually by President Tinubu across the South-South region. These include the rehabilitation of the Calabar-Ugep-Katsina-Ala Road Section II (Ugep-Katsina-Ala) in Benue/Cross River States, the Alesi-Ugep (Iyamoyung-Ugep) Road in Cross River, and the dualisation of East-West Road Section II (Sub Section I) from Eleme Junction to Ahoada in Rivers State.
However, in a statement signed by KAGOTE President, Emma Deeyah, the group pointed out that the Eleme Junction to Onne section of the East-West Road remains under active construction and was not in a state fit for commissioning at the time the President performed the virtual ceremony.
“As of Sunday evening, June 1, 2025, only one lane of the dual carriageway is under construction. The concrete pavement does not span the full stretch of the road, and all four overhead bridges are still at various stages of piling with none completed,” the statement read.
KAGOTE described the move as deceptive and condemned the Minister’s action in strong terms, insisting that it undermines public trust and the integrity of presidential engagements.
“We believe the Honourable Minister of Works misled Mr. President into commissioning a road that is clearly still under construction. We condemn this act in its entirety,” Deeyah asserted.
The group also raised concerns that Umahi’s actions may signal an attempt to scale down the scope of the project—an outcome they say would be met with firm resistance.
“By misleading the President, the Minister has lent weight to growing fears that the project may be downsized. We warn that any attempt to reduce the scope of this critical road project will be strongly resisted by the Ogoni people,” the statement continued.
The Eleme section of the East-West Road is a vital dual carriageway that links major economic and industrial hubs, including the Port Harcourt Refineries, Indorama Petrochemical Complex, Onne Ports, and the Oil and Gas Free Zone. It also serves as a crucial artery for commuters from Akwa Ibom State and eight local government areas in Rivers State.
KAGOTE emphasized that the timely completion of the road would demonstrate the Federal Government’s genuine commitment to developing infrastructure in Ogoniland—a long-standing demand of the people in their quest for social and economic inclusion.
