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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, has blamed the federal government for the deplorable state of the Benin-Sapele road where his convoy was recently trapped.
A social media user had recorded a video of the convoy struggling to pass through the flooded road.
After the video went viral, Obaseki was heavily criticised over what many described as the failure of his government to address infrastructural deficit in the state.
But addressing newsmen after the monthly Security Council meeting at Government House, Benin City, over the weekend, the governor said despite Edo State being a transportation hub, it is concerning that the major federal road network in the state, which connects several parts of the country were in bad condition
He noted that his administration had done everything in its power to appeal to the federal government to look into the repairs of the wide span of damaged federal roads in the state.
The governor explained that his administration had drawn the attention of the federal government to the failed portions of Benin-Auchi road, Benin-Sapele road and the Benin-Lagos road, particularly the Ovia River Bridg, but nothing has been done yet.
“Look at the incident that happened in Ovia River Bridge three weeks ago, in which we lost several lives following multiple accidents. Nothing has been done till now. This shows they don’t care about us in this state.
“The issue on the Benin-Lagos Road, particularly the Ovia River Crossing is becoming catastrophic. We have lost a lot of lives and done everything to get the federal government and the Federal Ministry of Works to work with us and put in place a palliative measure to stop the carnage on that road.
“I was on Sapele road recently. After the heavy downpour, the road was impassable. What is going on in Benin-Sapele road is scandalous. I don’t think that any region where the oil resources that sustain the country come from should be this neglected. We have done everything possible. We don’t know what to do again to draw the attention of the federal government to these roads.
“The Auchi-Ibillo road was so bad that some of our contractors couldn’t go to their quarry site. We appealed to the federal government to do palliative work on that road but they refused, saying the road is under contract. If I want to do the same to Benin-Sapele road, I am not allowed to do so. They claim the road has been given out to a contractor.
“Last year, the Benin-Auchi road was locked for about two weeks as food, animals, petroleum products could not reach their destination. We don’t want such situations this year so they should help us. We are not here to criticise them but to appeal for help,” he said.
The governor noted that the federal government’s policy relating to these roads is very confusing, noting that in the past, states could rehabilitate federal roads and give the federal government the bills, but that is no longer obtainable
“At a point they said we can apply and take over the repair of federal roads but I am yet to see a state they have given federal roads to fix,” he added.
