The Ogoni apex body, KAGOTE, has strongly criticized the Federal Government for commissioning what it described as an incomplete section of the Eleme stretch of the East-West Road. According to the group, the ceremony was based on misleading information allegedly provided by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, who they say gave President Bola Tinubu the false impression that the road had been fully completed.
In a press statement issued on May 31, 2025, by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the Federal Government claimed that it had completed the dualisation of the Eleme Junction section in Port Harcourt. The official commissioning of the road followed this announcement.
However, Emmanuel Deeyah, President of KAGOTE, released a counterstatement from Port Harcourt, accusing Umahi of misrepresenting the actual state of the project. Deeyah described the move as a deliberate act of deception and expressed disappointment that a public official with Umahi’s track record would engage in such behavior.
He stated that as of June 1, 2025, construction on the road was still ongoing. One side of the dual carriageway remained unfinished, and none of the four overhead bridges along the stretch had reached completion. The concrete pavement had not yet been laid across the full road span. Deeyah stressed that anyone visiting the site would clearly see that the road was still under construction.
He expressed concern that the misleading commissioning could weaken the trust Ogoni people have in the current administration. He emphasized the importance of the road to the local economy and national unity, especially at a time when the Ogoni community had shown readiness to resume oil exploration activities after over three decades of suspension.
Deeyah questioned the motive behind such public misrepresentation and warned against actions that could alienate the Ogoni people. He urged the Federal Government to accelerate the completion of the project to demonstrate its commitment to the region’s development. He also cautioned that if this situation continues, it could be seen as a deliberate attempt to undermine the contributions and expectations of the Ogoni people.
