…Vows to Eradicate Ughelli’s Endemic Traffic Nightmares
By Sunday Apah
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, on Monday flagged off the groundbreaking of the monumental ₦39.3 billion Otovwodo Flyover project in Ughelli, declaring it an unyielding solution to the protracted and debilitating traffic paralysis at one of the state’s most congested intersections.
Speaking at the historic commercial nerve center of Ughelli, the governor heralded the project as a landmark achievement within his administration’s ambitious infrastructure overhaul.
He emphasized its synergy with the government’s strategic objectives of judicious resource management, resilient road construction, and the equitable opening of both urban and rural transport arteries to accelerate inclusive socio-economic development.
Governor Oborevwori underscored the explosive population surge in Ughelli, which has relentlessly strained its transportation network—particularly the notorious Otovwodo Junction along the East–West Road and allied major thoroughfares.
This junction, he affirmed, has long been a byword for gridlock, siphoning countless hours from the productivity of commuters daily. The governor personally attested to the agony inflicted by this traffic quagmire.
As a temporary palliative, his administration allocated nearly ₦6 billion towards constructing alternative routes such as Uduere Street, Okogbe Street, Oru Street, Edo Street, and Royal Avenue, all designed to interconnect with Agbarha-Otor Road and alleviate vehicular snarls pending the flyover’s completion.
The contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, was mandated to deliver the project within an unalterable 12-month timeframe, underscoring the intersection’s critical strategic significance.
The development entails a state-of-the-art multi-span reinforced concrete overpass equipped with dual carriageways, comprehensive roundabouts, and integrated roadworks to seamlessly link the East–West Road with adjoining arterial routes—thereby drastically reducing congestion, slashing travel times, enhancing road safety, and galvanizing commercial activities across the region.
Highlighting the socio-economic dividends, Oborevwori projected the creation of thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities across the project’s construction value chain.
He admonished residents to exercise patience and adhere strictly to traffic regulations throughout the construction period.
Reaffirming his unwavering commitment to fiscal discipline, the governor assured that all major infrastructure endeavors in Delta State will continue unfettered by external borrowing.
Moreover, he disclosed that several completed projects await official commissioning, with numerous others slated for flag-off in 2026 under the “Renewed Hope for MORE” development blueprint.
Earlier, Engr. Peer Lubasch, Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, expressed profound gratitude for the confidence reposed in his firm, describing the commission as a testament to the company’s technical prowess and enduring partnership with Delta State.
He detailed that the 15-span flyover would encompass dual carriageways, connecting roads, specialized drainage infrastructure, and energy-efficient solar street lighting—promising adherence to global construction standards and timely execution.
Subsequent to the groundbreaking, Governor Oborevwori paid homage to the Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom, HRM Wilson Ojakovo Oharisi III, and Chief Morrison Olori, founder and Chairman of Ukodo Nation, reiterating his inclusive governance mandate as the elected representative of all Deltans.
Local dignitaries, including Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Council, Hon. Jaro Egbo, and the ‘Otota’ (spokesman) of Ughelli Kingdom, Chief Peter Akpofure, lauded the governor’s initiative, describing it as transformative and long overdue.
They seized the opportunity to press for the expansion of additional internal roads and supporting infrastructure to complement the flyover.
The momentous event drew the presence of key state figures such as Rt. Hon. Emomotimi Guwor, Speaker of the Delta State House of Assembly; Elder Omeni Sobotie, State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC); distinguished members of the National Assembly, Hon. Francis Waive and Hon. Ngozi Okolie; senior government officials; revered traditional rulers; community leaders; and enthusiastic residents—who collectively acclaimed the project as a decisive stride towards obliterating Ughelli’s chronic traffic affliction.
