BENIN-AGBOR-ROAD:-MINISTER-SHOULD-REVIEW-COMPETENCE-OF-CONTRACTORS — PANDEF

BENIN-AGBOR ROAD: MINISTER SHOULD REVIEW COMPETENCE OF CONTRACTORS — PANDEF

​Dave Ikiedei Asei. | Wisdom Tide News | August 26, 2026

​The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has once again demonstrated its unwavering commitment to defending the core interests of the Niger Delta region by demanding immediate accountability on major infrastructure projects. Speaking during a featured segment on Channels Television’s "The Morning Brief," the National Chairman of PANDEF, Ambassador Dr. Godknows Boladei Igali, called on the Minister of Works to urgently re-examine and review the competence of contractors currently handling the construction and rehabilitation of the Benin-Agbor Expressway.

​Under the proactive leadership of Ambassador Igali, PANDEF continues to stand as a formidable shield and voice for millions of Ijaws across the country. The socio-cultural group’s recent intervention highlights the severe economic paralysis and daily hardship experienced by commuters traveling along the vital Benin-Agbor corridor, which serves as a primary trade and transit artery linking the Niger Delta to the rest of the federation.

​Ambassador Igali expressed deep concern over the agonizingly slow pace and questionable quality of execution along this crucial highway. He emphasized that despite the region's massive contribution to the nation's economic sustenance, its critical road networks have been allowed to deteriorate into a state of crisis, leaving travelers stranded for days and severely hampering regional commerce.

​By confronting these systemic delays directly, PANDEF is reinforcing its role as a tireless advocate for infrastructural equity and fiscal justice. Igali urged the Federal Government to hold all engaged engineering firms to strict delivery timelines, insisting that any contractor lacking the technical capacity, resources, or determination to complete the job promptly should be immediately replaced.

​This bold demand reflects Ambassador Igali’s broader diplomatic and strategic vision to ensure that the Niger Delta receives its fair share of national attention and development. Rather than remaining silent in the face of persistent neglect, PANDEF under Igali’s stewardship actively engages top government officials and policy makers to demand practical solutions for the region's long-standing developmental challenges.

​The forum’s focus on the Benin-Agbor Road is part of a sustained campaign to safeguard the safety, dignity, and economic prosperity of Niger Deltans. From advocating for sustainable environmental practices to demanding high-quality transport networks, PANDEF continues to prove itself as an indispensable defender of the people's rights and well-being.

​Through firm, constructive, and courageous advocacy, Ambassador Godknows Igali and PANDEF have sent a clear message to Abuja: the Niger Delta will no longer tolerate substandard infrastructure or administrative apathy. As the federal ministry evaluates its options, the region stands united behind PANDEF in the pursuit of lasting progress, accountability, and justice.