By Matthew Eloyi
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has partnered with Edo State Government, and Sahara Group to drive the construction of the 17km stretch Ikpako-Ajoki road to facilitate seamless trade and sustainable development.
The project is the brainchild of the joint venture between the NNPC and Enageed Resource Limited, a Sahara Group upstream company, in collaboration with the Edo State government. The project is expected to be completed within 18 to 24 months.
Governor Godwin Obaseki, speaking at the project’s flag-off event, said the road would benefit the state and the country by boosting trade, agricultural activity, and facilitating oil and gas operations, among other things.
On his part, the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the NNPC, Mele Kyari, said, “What we are witnessing here today is an endorsement of collaboration as a viable means of promoting national development. The successes realized from working with Sahara on various ventures reinforce the efforts of the Federal Government aimed at transforming the economy through credible and innovative partnerships. We commend the Edo State Government for playing a strategic role in this collaboration and we believe that the best is yet to come.”
Temitope Shonubi, Executive Director, Sahara Group, also spoke at the event, saying that the company was excited to work with the NNPC, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), and the Edo State government to build the road, which will boost tourism, trade, and support the movement of people, goods, and services to and from the communities.
He went on to say that the state government has assured him that the project is being handled by a top-notch construction firm and overseen by a professional consulting firm, which will provide an additional layer of quality control that will cover all phases of construction and extend to the post-construction phase.