NDDC Ends 23-Year Road Crisis at Edo State Polytechnic with 4.8km Asphalt Network
By Passman Akpos
The Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Samuel Ogbuku, has announced the completion and commissioning of a major road infrastructure project at Edo State Polytechnic in Ovia South-West Local Government Area, bringing an end to more than two decades of poor access within the institution.
According to Ogbuku, the polytechnic had existed for over 23 years without a functional internal road network, forcing students and staff to endure dusty conditions during the dry season and muddy terrain during the rains.
He explained that the intervention aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu and was executed through close collaboration between the Commission and the Edo State Government.
The project delivered a total of 4.8 kilometres of asphalt pavement, including 4.59 kilometres of internal roads and a 205-metre dual carriageway at the institution’s main entrance. In addition, the NDDC constructed 4.205 kilometres of reinforced concrete drainage channels and installed a 32-metre by 900-millimetre reinforced concrete ring culvert to tackle long-standing erosion challenges affecting the campus environment.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, Ogbuku described the project as more than an infrastructure upgrade, noting that it restores dignity and improves access to academic facilities across the institution.
The event was attended by several top government officials, including the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo; the Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh; Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Asuquo Ekpenyong; Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Chiedu Ebie; NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Boma Iyaye; and NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Victor Antai.
Ogbuku reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to delivering impactful projects across the Niger Delta region, stressing that the completed roads now provide safer and more accessible links between lecture halls, administrative blocks, and student hostels.
He added that the intervention demonstrates the Commission’s renewed focus on practical development outcomes, noting that the project not only improves mobility within the campus but also strengthens confidence in government-led infrastructure delivery across the region.
