By Godspower Eguasa
The Edo State Government has reassured that it is committed to completing the dualization of Ekehuan Road.
Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Engr. Newton Okojie, gave the assurance recently during a meeting with traditional rulers, elders and youths of communities along the corridor of the dual carriage way.
Explaining the reasons for the delay in the delivery of the road project, Okojie said the project which was awarded to the contractor in late 2019, with a delivery period of two years, was however affected by external factors which were not within the control of the State Government.
He said: “We had delays on this project basically for three reasons; one was the Covid-19 pandemic which took out the whole of 2020 because the project was actually awarded sometime in late 2019.
“Then we have also had challenges with the recent hike in prices of construction materials, these are the things that have really slowed the project down, coupled with the early advent of the rains, and we all can attest to the fact that the rains have been quite heavy”.
The Commissioner informed that the State Government has resolved, after synergy with key stakeholders on the project, to fast-track work to deliver the road to Edo people within the shortest possible time.
“We have been able to rub minds together and we have come to a peaceful re-visitation of all the issues, I think the Ugbigyoko Community is happy with the decisions we have reached and then the Government will also do its best to ensure that all of those decisions are carried out immediately.
“The contractor, Hartland, is on site represented here by their Project Manager, they have not left, it’s just the rains, the volume of the rains has been much, so they have slowed down a little bit and they have promised that as soon as good weather sets in, work is going to continue in earnest.
“Meanwhile, they will embark on some palliative measures to ensure that the road is usable by the residents of this area,” he said, and appealed “the people should understand that road construction cannot be done in one day, it is a process that requires time.”
