The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has applauded the members representing Edo State in the House of Representatives for lending their voice in support of the call to the federal government to immediately begin repairs of dilapidated federal roads in the State to ameliorate the sufferings of the people and boost economic activities in the State.

The commendation comes as the House of Representatives on Tuesday decried the sordid state of federal roads in Edo State and the entire federation, and urged the various federal government agencies including the Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs to come up with a speedy modality for the reconstruction these failed roads.

The resolutions were sequel to the adoption of a motion titled, ‘Need for the Reconstruction of the Federal Highways in Edo State,’ moved by Edo representatives on the floor of the National Assembly. The rep members; Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Dekeri Sunday and seven other lawmakers. 

The lawmakers said Edo State serves as a transit point or drive-through for travellers, connected to the East through Ewu/Uronigbe/Agbor/Asaba Roads, the West via Uzebba_Ifon/Ofosu/Okada/Ovia roads, and the North via Auchi/Ekpoma/Benin and Afuze/Sabongidda Ora/Sobe roads, noting that the State is facing serious threats of being cut off from the rest of the country, causing severe hardship on the residents of the State.

Reacting to the call by the lawmakers, Obaseki, who decried the poor condition of federal roads across the State and its consequent impact on the State’s economy, expressed disappointment that his several calls to the failed Federal Government roads to be fixed have not elicited any positive response.

According to him, “We commend our representatives at the National Assembly for the call to the federal government to immediately commence the repair of dilapidated federal roads in Edo State, lending their voice to the several calls we have made in the past on the poor condition of the roads and the need to pay urgent attention to these roads to ameliorate the sufferings of motorists and other road users, without eliciting any positive response.

“We are proud of the action of these our illustrious sons at the House of Representatives which has further solidified their commitment to the welfare of the people of Edo State, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Edo State Government in improving the quality of life of our people.”

Obaseki further noted, “While we have begun efforts to carry out palliative work on a few of the federal roads like the Benin-Sapele Road and Benin-Agbor Road, we urge the federal government to seize the golden opportunity presented by this call to immediately initiate the repairs of all their failed roads in Edo State to ameliorate the sufferings of motorists and our people on the roads.

“We also call on all Edo people at home and in the Diaspora as well as Nigerians to join their voices in calling on the federal government to live up to its responsibility and fix these roads, which is part of the reason they are entitled to over 52 per cent of the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) receipts monthly.”