Umahi slams tanker drivers for parking on East-West road carriageway

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Umahi slams tanker drivers for parking on East-West road carriageway

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Dennis Naku, Port Harcourt

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The Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, has raised the alarm over the reckless habit of tanker and truck drivers parking on the completed carriageway of the Akpajo-Onne East-West Road section in Rivers State.

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He said such actions are capable of damaging the 15-kilometre dualised road, which has already cost the President Bola Tinubu administration billions of naira.

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Umahi handed down the warning during an inspection of the reconstructed Eleme section of the East-West Road and other federal roads in the state on Saturday.

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He fumed that the heavy-duty vehicles have turned the completed carriageways into makeshift parking lots, saying it is unacceptable.

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The minister said, “Let me appeal to the public. Yesterday, as I passed through this road, the entire completed section was completely blocked by tankers—fuel tankers parked right on the road.”

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He stressed that no road worldwide is engineered to bear prolonged static loads from such heavy vehicles.

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“They will destroy the road, and if they destroy it, it becomes difficult for the government to immediately return for reconstruction,” he warned.

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While noting that plans are underway to build a parking lot to accommodate heavy-duty vehicles, he said in the meantime, truck drivers should stop parking on the corridors, adding that cracks are already being noticed.

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“We have been talking about this. Discipline is number one. Number two is for us to get a parking lot.

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“Even when we have a parking lot, they have to be disciplined to go to those parking lots. But they must not park on the road. It will destroy the road. I’m beginning to see some cracks on the road. It is not good,” he warned.

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Umahi lauded President Tinubu for his determination to see to the completion of the East-West Road, which has been abandoned for years by successive administrations, saying it underscores his love for the people of the Niger Delta region.

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He also commended the contracting firm, Reynolds Construction Company, for the quality of work being done.

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Umahi described the project as highly technical due to the challenging terrain, expressing confidence that the first phase of pavement works would be completed before August 2026.

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He said the earlier May target date for completion of the road was no longer feasible due to added features, including solar-powered streetlights and the planting of trees for aesthetics.

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Earlier, the Federal Controller of Works in Rivers State, Tarilade Enwerema, expressed satisfaction with the progress of work and revealed that the right-hand carriageway (Eket-bound) is fully completed, while work on the Port Harcourt-bound section has advanced.

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She said the Onne Flyover is also on track for completion by May 2026.

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“The progress is very impressive. We are working on the Onne Flyover, and everything is going as planned. Hopefully, by May, all work will be completed.”

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She emphasised that the current administration is committed to delivering durable, high-quality infrastructure that can withstand the test of time.

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Our correspondent, who covered the inspection, reports that the minister and his team also inspected the 43-kilometre Port Harcourt-Aba Road project.

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