A Pan-ethnic social Rights group, Ogoni People’s Assembly (OPA), has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio to commence work on the deplorable Eleme-Onne section of the East-West road or face a mass civil action.
The group argued that the road had been included in the projects funded by The Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund to accelerate the pace of the work with the fund about to be released to contractors when Akpabio decided to move the project to the ministry.
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They, however, urged the minister to immediately return the Eleme-Onne section of the East-West road to the PIDF or look for money to commence work on the road within 14 days starting from 7th July 2021.
OPA leader, Rev. Probel Williams, told reporters on Wednesday in Port Harcourt that the group will be compelled to embark on a civil action at the expiration of the ultimatum without further reminder or extension of time.
He said, “In the wisdom of President Muhammad Buhari, he directed that this road be included in projects being funded by the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund to accelerate the work and ensure timely completion.
“From the information available to us, PIDF was about releasing funds to the contractors when Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godswill Akpabio, decided to take back the job to his ministry.
“We demand that the Honourable Minister for Niger Delta Affairs immediately returns the deplorable Eleme-Onne section of the East-West road to the Presidential Infrastructure Development Fund or look for money to commence this work within 14 working days from today, the 7th July 2021. Failure to do this, we would be compelled to embark on a non-violent mass civil action without further reminder or extension of time.”
The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio had during his visit to the deplorable East West road last year promised to commence work on the road but nothing has been done since then.
