Bad Roads in Edo...time for action is now
By: Stanley Iyare
In what seems like an unending nightmare, residents of various parts
of Edo state, have so much to tell about the horrific state of roads
in and around the state. The most worrisome is the Benin /Auchi Abuja
express road which serves as a connecting road between the North
through Kogi state, the East from Onitsha, the West and South from
Warri and 0re in Ondo state.
Apart from the normal movement of people on the road, the economic and
commercial facilitation of these roads cannot be overemphasized.
With enthronement of a democratically elected government since may
1999, it is expected that the government would prioritise the
reconstruction and rehabilitation of these roads that beat the heart
of Nigeria; but, year in year out, the story remains the same with
little effort made to effect minor repairs in some bad spots after
which the contractors would disappear only to appear again during the
next raining season.
The dualisation of the Benin to Auchi by Aduwawa axis has become tales
by moon light to children born within twenty years ago and those yet
unborn. A journey round some parts of the state brought us in contact
with individuals who shared their experience with us at Ekpoma the
administrative headquarters of Esan West local government area of Edo
state. A human and social rights crusader, Comrade Jude Obasanmi who
called on the federal government to expedite action aimed at speedy
completion of the road. Obasomi lamented that it is shameful for
commuters to spend days at a particular spot before moving to their
destination. The story is the same at Okpella, in Etsako East local
government area where travelers spend hours on the road owing to a cut
off of a portion of the road. Day in, day out, hours of manpower is
lost, the activities of criminals on the high ways is on the rise and
poverty on the increase.
The federal government should not pay deaf ears to this as security is
not all about arms and ammunition, but also the provision of enabling
environment for citizens to thrive in.
By: Stanley Iyare
In what seems like an unending nightmare, residents of various parts
of Edo state, have so much to tell about the horrific state of roads
in and around the state. The most worrisome is the Benin /Auchi Abuja
express road which serves as a connecting road between the North
through Kogi state, the East from Onitsha, the West and South from
Warri and 0re in Ondo state.
Apart from the normal movement of people on the road, the economic and
commercial facilitation of these roads cannot be overemphasized.
With enthronement of a democratically elected government since may
1999, it is expected that the government would prioritise the
reconstruction and rehabilitation of these roads that beat the heart
of Nigeria; but, year in year out, the story remains the same with
little effort made to effect minor repairs in some bad spots after
which the contractors would disappear only to appear again during the
next raining season.
The dualisation of the Benin to Auchi by Aduwawa axis has become tales
by moon light to children born within twenty years ago and those yet
unborn. A journey round some parts of the state brought us in contact
with individuals who shared their experience with us at Ekpoma the
administrative headquarters of Esan West local government area of Edo
state. A human and social rights crusader, Comrade Jude Obasanmi who
called on the federal government to expedite action aimed at speedy
completion of the road. Obasomi lamented that it is shameful for
commuters to spend days at a particular spot before moving to their
destination. The story is the same at Okpella, in Etsako East local
government area where travelers spend hours on the road owing to a cut
off of a portion of the road. Day in, day out, hours of manpower is
lost, the activities of criminals on the high ways is on the rise and
poverty on the increase.
The federal government should not pay deaf ears to this as security is
not all about arms and ammunition, but also the provision of enabling
environment for citizens to thrive in.
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