Oborevwori Orders Permanent Fix For Agbarho East-West Road Washout

DELTA State Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has ordered a permanent solution to the washed-out section of the East-West Road at Agbarho in Ughelli North Local Government Area.

The directive followed days of torrential rainfall that caused the major highway to collapse and disrupted movement along the route.

Oborevwori gave the order on Saturday after inspecting the damaged section of the road. He was accompanied by Julius Berger Regional Manager Fredrick Wieser, Ughelli North Council Chairman Jaro Egbo and NEXIM Bank Executive Director Stella Okotete, among others.

According to the governor, the road failed after about six consecutive days of heavy rainfall. Consequently, he immediately contacted Julius Berger to intervene.

He commended the construction company for responding swiftly to the emergency.

“Once I saw what happened, I immediately called Julius Berger,” Oborevwori said, stressing the need to restore access quickly.

Meanwhile, the governor said the immediate priority remained reopening the road. However, he insisted that the intervention must lead to a lasting solution.

He also pledged that the state government was ready to fund the permanent remedial works.

The governor explained that large volumes of water from different parts of Agbarho had passed through the affected area. As a result, the hydraulic pressure contributed to the road failure.

Julius Berger has therefore begun technical studies to determine the most suitable solution. The options include a mini-bridge or a multi-cell culvert.

Beyond temporary repairs, Oborevwori said the permanent structure must adequately handle the volume of water flowing through the area.

For its part, Julius Berger said it was carrying out emergency works to restore traffic while conducting surveys and hydraulic assessments.

Wieser explained that the company’s design team was already working on the permanent solution.

He said engineers would determine whether to construct a mini-bridge or a three- or four-cell culvert after completing the hydraulic calculations.

In the meantime, Julius Berger has assured the state government that the affected section will be temporarily made accessible. The two lanes are expected to reopen shortly.

The governor also sympathised with motorists and residents affected by the disruption.

He urged Nigerians not to turn the incident into a political dispute. Instead, he called for empathy and collective efforts to address the difficulties confronting affected communities.

Oborevwori further stressed the importance of the East-West Road to the South-South economy.

The highway links Delta with Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River states. Therefore, its accessibility remains important for the movement of people, goods and economic activities across the region.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to infrastructure development and promised to continue working to improve residents’ welfare.