By Aichienede Akhabue Goodluck
The Edo State Government has reassured the people of the State of its commitment towards building sustainable road infrastructure that will make the State the preferred investment destination in the country.
The reassurance was given by the Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Engr. Newton Okojie, during a press briefing at his office in Benin City.
The Commissioner explained recent developments in the State as they affect the general state of roads as well as the need to update the people on Government’s infrastructure plans and road map as enshrined in the MEGA Agenda.
The press event, according to him, was necessary to address complaints and protests by some residents living in flooded areas with deplorable roads.
In his words, “One of the principal foci of the MEGA Agenda is infrastructural development; the dream is to make Edo State the preferred destination to work and live by the year 2050. I want to again reassure the people of Edo State that our Governor remains fully committed to making this dream come true”.
Engr. Okojie highlighted the rationale behind the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration’s massive road rehabilitation projects across the State and the systematic approach the Ministry has adopted in this regard.
He said: “A study carried out by one of our consultants in 2016 showed that Edo State has about 9,700km of roads cutting across its landscape, and going by the rate at which communities are developing, the figure may have increased by now. Out of this 9,700km of roads, about 2,700km are paved; the remaining 7,000km are unpaved. I’m giving this information so that the public will have a glimpse of the enormity of the size of the challenge facing the State in having to construct an outstanding 7,000km length of roads. This is by no means a mere feat.
“The first task the Governor gave us on assumption of office was to close this infrastructural deficit in the State. We were mandated to draw up a sustainable and implementable plan for the next 30 years”.
He added that the plan has been developed to close the infrastructural gap of the State, with a projection of constructing about 3,000km of roads within the next 30 years, noting that the Governor has promised to implement the plan.
The Commissioner further disclosed the scorecard of the government on road infrastructure, explaining that between 2016 and now, a total length of 886.3km of roads have been awarded for construction in Edo State.
He said that about 540km of roads have been asphalted and completed while 314.3km of roads are undergoing construction, with the design of over 100km in progress. He added that details of the above information can also be found on the Ministry’s website.
Responding to questions from journalists on complaints from some residents on the deplorable state of some roads as well as flood-ravaged areas, Okojie stressed that the government remains committed to fixing all affected roads such as the Uwasota-Uwelu Road, Temboga Road amongst others, and expedite work on the Storm water project in various parts of the State.
He, however, noted that the daily torrential rain as well as the global economic crisis have adversely affected the pace of road construction in the State.
He appealed to residents of the State to be patient as the government will sustain its massive road construction and rehabilitation projects as soon as the rains subside.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Engr. Jonathan Lawani, disclosed that the State Government has given approval for the desilting of major drainages, just as he highlighted some completed gully erosion projects such as Queen Eden, Uzebu, Iguosa, Ogiso, Gapiona, and Fugar–Agenebode gully projects amongst others.
In attendance at the press briefing were the Federal Controller of Works, Edo State, Engr. Aransiola Ademola; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Roads and Bridges, Engr. Osikhena Omo Ojior, Director of Road Maintenance, Ministry of Roads and Bridges, Engr. Faith Ewanehi; staff of the ministry and representatives of some media houses.
