The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Elder Godsday Orubebe, said yesterday that the East – West Road, which is at 65 per cent completion stage, had gulped N209 billion. Orubebe also said that as far as the Federal Government was concerned, the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, was dead. Speaking at a media parley in Lagos, the minister noted that the completion of the East- West Road was paramount, hence the attention devoted to it by the Federal Government. He noted that the road, which is scheduled for completion by December next year, would still gulp an additional N140 billion.
Orubebe said 800, out of the 1,040 culverts and 38 out of the 42 bridges on the road had been completed. He allayed the fear that the project, which is expected to boost economic activities in the Niger Delta region, would not be completed on schedule. According to the minister, the ministry has secured a N50 billion facility from the African Development Bank, ADB, in addition to funding from Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE-P, and the annual budget. Orubebe said that the project had to be completed on time because it was very important to the people of the area.
Speaking on the security challenges in the area, the minister said the current kidnapping and other criminal activities were being carried out by criminals. He said MEND as an organisation fighting for the emancipation of the people was dead, going by the pronouncement of Chief Government Oweizide Ekpumopolo (Tompolo).
According to him, Tompolo is now cooperating with government, while the Amnesty Programme has ensured that there is peace in the region, which has increased crude oil production to 2.4 million barrel per day. He said those responsible for kidnapping in the region were criminals, who rode in expensive cars. The minister also said that one out of the eight Skills Acquisition Centres being constructed by the ministry would be commissioned before the end of the year.
The centre, located at Otuoke in Bayelsa State, is expected to train youths in oil and gas, maritime and Information C o m m u n i c a t i o n Technology, ICT.