Port Harcourt—The Chairman of Eleme Local Government Area, Obarilomate Ollor, has suspended the protest embarked upon by a group of Eleme youths, shutting down the Eleme section of the East-west road in Rivers State, Punch Newspaper reports.
He announced the suspension of the protest while addressing journalists and personnel of RCC, the contracting firm at the trailer park in Onne, Eleme Local Government Area.
Ollor stressed that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, has assured him that reconstruction of the road will take-off once the Federal government source out the cost of the project, which is estimated to be around the sum of N85b.
“Three days ago, the Hon. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio phoned me through the Permanent Secretary and told me that he has gotten approval of N2.5bn for work to commence on this road.
“The sum of N2.5bn will be given to RCC; although the cost of the project is huge, he mentioned that they are in the process of sourcing for about N85bn for completion of the project.”
He lamented that the people of Eleme have gone through untold hardship because of the deplorable state of the road.
Appreciating the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, for his efforts at maintaining peace in the area, Ollor also thanked the Governor for his commitment in securing the state.
The Chairman also thanked the Eleme Youth Council, the Ijaw Youth Council and other critical stakeholders and groups for their support and solidarity.
Mangrovepen.ng recalls that a week ago, youths from Eleme in their hundreds shut down the Eleme section of the East-west Road, protesting the deplorable state of the road.
The Eleme axis of the East-West road leads to major national companies and assets, such as the Eleme Refinery, Oil and Gas Free Trade Zone, the Indorama Eleme Petrochemical and the sea ports.
