Worried by the dilapidated state of Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi road, commuters and motorists have appealed to the State Governor, Godwin Obaseki to negotiate what they described as detailed Memoradum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government.
According to the commuters, the proposed MoU should spell out in details how to ‘put a stop to the needless sufferings along the road, source for funds and fix the dilapidated road without further delay’.
In a chat with www.citybusinessnews.com on Wednesday in Benin, the State Captal, a businessman, Mr Friday W. Itoya described the present state of the road as very ‘shameful.’
He said: “I use the road regularly. The road is very staretegic to the economy of Edo State and Nigeria in General. Without adequate funding, no contractor can fix that road. This is the time to think outside the box”.
He added: “I want to use this opportunity to appeal to the Governor to sign MoU with the Federal Government on how to fix the road. The State Government should source for money, fix the road and get a refund from the Federal Government”.
According to him, “The present arrangement can not solve the problem. We need a detailed approach. As a business friendly Governor, Obaseki should initiate discussions on the MoU now”.
Speaking in a similar vein, a University lecturer who preferred to remain anonymous said: “Without good road network, business can not thrive. No investor will take you serious if you don’t have good road network.
“The Governor should approach the Federal Government for support. We can not continue like this. The Governor’s investment campaign will not yield the desired result with basis infrastructure such as good road”.
www.citybusinessnews.com investigation revealed that commuters now spend between six and eight hours from Benin to Auchi instead of about one hour.
Residents of Ekpoma recently called for the immediate reconstruction of the dilapidated Ekpoma-Auchi section of the Benin-Okene highway.
In a communique, in Benin-City, the residents urged the Federal Ministry of Works to direct the contractor handling the project to return to site.
According to the residents, the Benin-Auchi axis of the road, constructed in the early 70s “is now in its worst state and un-motorable.It has also affected the socioeconomic activities of the people”
Meanwhile, concerned by the deterioration of inner-city roads in Edo North and Central axis of the State, the Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Wednesday, said a tour of the affected roads “would be embarked upon in order to commence remediation work.”
The decision was taken at the state’s weekly Executive Council (EXCO) meeting held on Wednesday, at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Speaking with Journalists after the meeting, the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Mr. Paul Ohonbamu and the Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, said the governor would embark on a tour of roads traversing the area to assess the extent of damage in order to fix them. Mr. Obaseki, according to them, would be accompanied by commissioners from Edo Central zone as well as the commissioner, who represents Uhunmwode Local Government Area.
The state government also took a decision to review land allocation for agricultural and environmental rejuvenation purposes.
Ohonbamu said the state has set up a committee on the matter, which would be chaired by Prof. Yinka Omorogbe. Other members of the committee are Hon. Commissioner for Environment, Managing Director of Edo State GIS and Special Adviser on Political and Community Affairs.
“The committee would look at the broad issue regarding land acquisition, primarily with respect to agriculture and environment,” he added.
The government explained that Governor Obaseki would announce the flag off of immunisation exercise on September 19, and urged Edo people to take advantage of the exercise and visit primary health care centres in their area to get their children immunised.
Noting that it was committed to improving learning conditions of pupils and students in the state, Mr. Ohonbamu said it has given directive for the relocation of students of Etete Primary School, which was established under high tension transmission lines.
According to him “The state government has temporarily distributed the pupils between Ivbiotor and Evbuoriaria Primary Schools.
“The State government has also identified the defunct Ministry of Works Training School, which is situated off Sapele Road, Benin City, as the permanent site for the relocated Etete Primary School. The governor directed that the preliminary designs and plan for the construction of the new school must get to him within two weeks,” he said.
