Open Letter to His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, the Executive Governor of Delta State
RE: URGENT INTERVENTION NEEDED ON AIRPORT ROAD DRAINAGE PROJECT IN WARRI AND ITS ENVIRONS
Your Excellency,
We, GbaramatuVoice, the leading media organization in the Niger Delta, write to you on behalf of the residents, commuters, and business owners who rely on Airport Road in Warri and its environs. While we appreciate the ongoing drainage project and the effort your administration has made towards improving the state’s infrastructure, we must express our deep concern about the significant difficulties the current project has caused, and the urgent need for intervention to prevent further loss and hardship.
The drainage work, which was initially seen as a step towards development, has instead become a source of great pain and frustration. Tragically, a young man recently lost his life when a trailer crushed his head — an incident that was the result of the current traffic management system, which forces a one-way pattern without adequate safety measures. This tragic death is a painful reminder that the lack of proper infrastructure and planning has life-threatening consequences.
Furthermore, the ongoing road closures are being implemented without any prior notice or public announcements. Residents and commuters wake up each day to find major portions of the road suddenly blocked, with no clear guidance, no signage, and no alternative routes provided. This lack of coordination only exacerbates the hardship faced by the people who rely on this road for their daily lives and businesses.
In addition to these issues, we must highlight the challenges posed by traffic officers stationed at the Ekpan link road junction near Delta Career College. Rather than assisting with the smooth flow of traffic, these officers often engage in altercations with motorists and road users, displaying a lack of understanding of basic traffic control. Their presence has become more of an obstruction than a help, and it is critical that they receive proper training or be replaced with competent traffic managers.
The ongoing drainage project seems to be a continuation of the previous administration’s failed attempt to fix the same issues, with roads being dug up and abandoned without repairs. We now find ourselves once again in the same cycle, where the project is moving slowly and leaving behind a damaged road network.
Your Excellency, the people believed in your promise of MORE — more development, more responsiveness, more leadership. Now is the time to live up to that trust. Airport Road is not just a thoroughfare; it is a lifeline. Its decay and mismanagement are hurting lives and livelihoods.
We therefore call on you to:
1. Order the contractors to fast-track the drainage work without delay.
2. Mandate the immediate repair of damaged and excavated road portions.
3. Ensure public notices and announcements before any closure of access roads.
4. Deploy trained and professional traffic managers who understand their duties and serve with integrity.
5. Provide clear signage, alternative routes, and safety barriers to protect the public.
6. Share a timeline for project completion and maintain transparency throughout the process.
Your Excellency, the time to act is now. Airport Road must not remain a symbol of failed promises and needless loss. It must become an example of responsive leadership and care for the people. Your legacy depends not only on what is built — but how people feel while it is being built.
We are confident that your administration will rise to this challenge and act in the best interest of Delta State.
Respectfully,
Management:
GbaramatuVoice International
The Niger Delta Leading Media Organization
www.gbaramatuvoicenews.com
9th May 2025
Ogunu, Warri, Delta State
