FG’s succour for road users in Edo

Good things are coming to Edo State as evident in a 25km Benin-Adumagbae-Egba-Akure road and the ongoing dualisation of the Benin-Auchi-Okene Road, writes BANJI ALUKO.
The Benin-Auchi-Okene Road is one of the few expressways that connects the nation’s capital, Abuja, to other parts of the country. In particular, the majority of travellers going to Abuja from the South-East and South-South zones of the country have no other means of making the journey by road except to take the road. It connects the East-West road at Benin, while motorists travelling from the Onitsha and Agbor axis link the road at Benin or Ewu in the central senatorial district of Edo State. Heavy-duty trucks are no exemption on the road as well.
However, as important as the road is, it is a one-carriage, windy road. Within the Benin metropolis axis, consisting of the Aduwawa-Eyean axis, traffic at times could be as terrible as one gets anywhere in the country. For many people living in these areas, getting out is an arduous task while returning home is a complicated task. Inter-state motorists struggle with commuters and heavy-duty trucks plying the road. Even the roadsides are not spared as traders, hawkers and motor parks used them as business centres.
Even the flag off of the road in February last year did not raise much hope of a final succour. Questions were asked. When will it be completed? Will it not be abandoned? But a year after the flag off, the level of work on the road has convinced many motorists that bad days are numbered. Even the Federal Controller of Works in the state, Mr C. Orji, an engineer, confirmed this last week during an inspection tour of the road and other roads that are being constructed by the Federal Government in the state. He said by June, 2014, the Benin metropolis axis would have been completed to the Ramat part.
Speaking during the inspection tour, the Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolemenen, expressed optimism that the Benin-Auchi-Okene dualistation would be completed in a record time. He said a lot had been done in ensuring that compensation was paid to land owners who hitherto occupied rights of way of the road. The minister also used the occasion to inspect two newly-constructed bridges on the Auchi-Aghenebode road.
The next port of call for him was the Adumagbae Junction, where he flagged off the 25km Benin-Adumagbae-Egba-Akure road that was awarded to Enerco Nig. Ltd at a cost of N3.26 billion. The minister said on completion, the road would serve as an alternative route for travellers from the Western part of the country to the South-South and the South-East.
The Onolememen remarked that there was so much to gain when leaders, irrespective of political differences, worked together for the common good of the people, whose interests would ultimately transcend the tenure of political office holders. This came on the heels of the disclosure by the lawmaker Orhionwon/Uhunwonode federal constituency, Honourable Samson Osagie, who said the project was a collaboration between the minister and himself.
“It is fitting to say that for those of us politicians, the importance of public service is to deliver to the people those things that will make life more meaningful to the ordinary citizens. The collaboration between the minister and I as it concerns this road project is an example of public service delivery without premium on partisan or party affiliation,” Osague remarked.
The minister, on his own, noted that the road, which connected Edo and Ondo states, was significant to the Federal Government as the road transversed many communities with abundant raw materials and farm produce that could, upon the completion of the project, enable the communities to, once again, access direct inter-state transportation of products to enhance socio-economic activities in the various communities.
“It will be recalled that the communities along this road corridor were known for mass production of raw materials and other farm produce. However, the deplorable condition of the only road linking them to major cities for the sale of their products have been hampered as motorists virtually stopped plying the route.
He said that in line with the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government to bequeath good, motorable roads in the six zones of the country, the government in December 4, 2013, awarded the construction of the road to enhance social and economic emancipation of the people in the area.
The minister commended the contributions of Mr Efionayi Iyayi, who he said used his personal money to open up the road some 40 year ago. He recalled with nostalgia how he first travelled the road to Lagos when he gained admission to Kings College, Lagos.
He expressed his gratitude to Senator Ehigie Uzamere and Honourable Samson Osagie for their unalloyed co-operation and support towards the realisation of the project, just as he called on the communities, traditional rulers and people of Edo and Ondo states to give the contractor all the necessary supports for the full realisation of the project within the agreed timeframe. He assured that the Supervisory Team of the ministry, led by the Director, Highways (South-South Zone), Mr C. O. Uzor, would do everything possible to ensure quality is maintained by the contractor throughout the duration of construction works, noting that the road, which would have 200mm lateric base, 60mm binder course and 40mm asphaltic wearing course, would also have road signs and lane markings when completed.