The Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, has revealed why the state government cannot intervene in fixing the Benin-Auchi and Benin-Sapele Roads.
Obaseki explained that the roads belong to the Federal Government and they have been already awarded contracts for the repair of the roads.
According to him, as much as Edo State is a transportation hub, it is troubling that the major federal road networks in the state, which connect several parts of the country are in bad condition.
The Edo governor expressed concern that his administration has 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.
Mr Obaseki added that his administration has called the attention of the Federal Government to the failed portions of the Benin-Auchi Roads, Benin-Sapele Road and the Benin-Lagos Road, particularly the Ovia River Bridge 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 the State,” he said.
He added, “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.”
A video surfaced online recently, where Governor Obaseki’s convoy was trapped in a road flood.
Speaking on the incident, Mr Obaseki said: “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 neglected.
“We have done everything possible. We don’t know what to do again to draw the attention of the federal government to this road,” he explained.
“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 for 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, and 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 criticize them but to appeal for help,” he bemoaned.
He however expressed sadness that the federal government’s policy relating to these roads is very confusing, adding 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 said.
