The Petroleum Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has expressed concerns about the slow progress on the Eleme section of the East-West Road, a project managed by Reynolds Construction Company (RCC). PETROAN’s National President, Billy Gillis Harry, accused RCC of undermining President Bola Tinubu’s efforts to facilitate the distribution of petroleum from the newly opened Port Harcourt refinery, despite the company receiving 33 billion naira from the Federal Ministry of Works. In a statement by its National Public Relations Officer, Joseph Obele, PETROAN highlighted the negative effects of the construction on approximately 60 retail outlets along the road and called for fair compensation for the impacted station owners. Obele also noted the frustration of Minister of Works, David Umahi, with RCC’s sluggish progress, mentioning that the minister had given RCC a 7-day ultimatum following a previous press conference. He cautioned that any further delays could hinder the transportation of petroleum products by thousands of trucks from the new refinery. The Eleme section of the East-West Road, which connects to the Port Harcourt refineries, has long been a concern for petroleum marketers and local residents due to its poor condition. Marketers have consistently urged for urgent repairs to avoid supply chain disruptions. Additionally, members of the Ogoni ethnic group have protested over the road’s bad state, which is vital for connecting Rivers and Akwa Ibom states. The safety of transporting petroleum products on the damaged road remains a significant issue, with stakeholders calling on the government to hasten the construction to reduce risks and ensure the efficient movement of goods and services. PETROAN stated, “The road’s poor condition poses a serious risk to trucks carrying petroleum products, potentially leading to disastrous accidents and environmental emergencies.” PETROAN urged President Tinubu to assess the current contract with RCC according to the scheduled timeline, stating that this would support his renewed hope agenda by facilitating the prompt completion of the Eleme East-West Road project. PETROAN also urged the Minister of Works, David Umahi, to expedite the contract evaluation process and take strong steps to tackle the slow progress of work by RCC.
