Works Minister David Umahi has directed contractors handling the East-West Road to complete the project by November.

The minister gave the deadline during an inspection tour of the project yesterday.

He emphasised the Federal Government’s commitment to delivering the road, which connects key economic hubs in Nigeria’s Southsouth region.

“This project is not just about roads; it is about the lives and livelihoods of millions of Nigerians.

“By November 30, 2025, the remaining sections must be fully completed. There should be no more delays. The President has provided the necessary funding and we expect nothing less than timely and high-quality work,” Umahi said.

The 361-kilometre road, spanning Warri in Delta State to Oron in Akwa Ibom State, has faced multiple setbacks since its initiation nearly two decades ago.

The Federal Ministry of Works has allocated N524 billion to complete the remaining 117 kilometres, including dual carriageways and bridges across Bayelsa and Rivers states as well as other parts of the region.

Umahi said the recently completed 47 kilometres in Section 2.1, which was inherited from the previous administration, has been fully paid for and would be inaugurated on May 31. The remaining 22 kilometres in Section 2.2, spanning 11 kilometres per carriageway, would be finished by the November deadline, as the minister has directed.

The minister noted that at the Mbiama section, where flooding in 2023 damaged three kilometres of the road, Setraco has raised the elevation by one metre and added culverts to prevent future washouts.

Work on the 54.5-kilometre Ahoada-to-Kaiama stretch is 70 per cent complete, with 11 bridges and 14 box culverts completed on one side.

At the Eleme section, Umahi directed the contractor, RCC, to speed up work and redesign the drainage with pre-cast systems for greater efficiency.

The minister set an April 30 target for the completion of the carriageway though drainage work may extend beyond the deadline.

With the road linking vital oil-producing areas — responsible for 1.5 million barrels per day —improved connectivity is expected to ease transport, support businesses, and lower food prices.

An economist, Dr. Muda Yusuf, said he expected a 10 to 15 per cent drop in transport costs by 2026, with farmers, traders, and other consumers reaping the benefits.

But he said some challenges might rare their