NEWS
Works Minister, Sen. David Umahi Apologises Over Benin-Sapele Road, Orders Arrest of Contractors Over Illegal Asphalt Removal
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, has apologised to commuters and residents of Edo and Delta states over the deplorable condition of the Benin-Sapele Road, which has continued to subject motorists, travellers and communities along the corridor to untold hardship.
Umahi expressed concern over the condition of the major federal road and assured the affected residents that the Federal Government would take decisive steps to address the situation, stressing that the welfare and safety of Nigerians would remain a priority.
The minister also ordered the arrest of the contractor and concessionaire, as well as any other persons found to be removing asphalt from federal roads without proper authorisation.
The move signals a tougher stance by the Federal Government against activities believed to be contributing to the deterioration of critical road infrastructure across the country.
Umahi also commended the Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, for his commitment to infrastructure development and his intervention in efforts to rehabilitate federal roads within the state.
Responding to the concerns surrounding the Benin-Sapele Road, Governor Okpebholo appealed to residents and youths in the affected communities to remain patient and exercise restraint, assuring them that efforts were being intensified to find lasting solutions to the road crisis.
The governor recalled the previously poor condition of the Benin-Ekpoma Road and noted that President Bola Tinubu had promised to reconstruct the highway following a meeting with him, a commitment he said had subsequently been fulfilled.
Okpebholo stressed the strategic importance of Edo State as a gateway connecting several parts of the country, warning that any breakdown of peace and order in the state could have far-reaching consequences beyond its borders.
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of the concessionaire, Mr Samuel Daramola, attributed the slow pace of work on the road to persistent heavy rainfall, which he said had made full-scale construction difficult.
According to him, the company had resorted to palliative works in several areas to keep traffic moving and ease the suffering of commuters while waiting for more favourable weather conditions for major reconstruction.
Daramola maintained that one of the company’s first actions after taking over the construction of the Benin-Agbor Road was to expand the road in line with the scope of the project.
He explained that the immediate focus was initially placed on palliative repairs because of the numerous potholes that had made movement extremely difficult for motorists and other road users.
With the Federal Government now stepping up its intervention and ordering action against those accused of unauthorised removal of asphalt from federal roads, commuters and residents across Edo and Delta states are hopeful that the long-running nightmare on the Benin-Sapele Road will soon give way to safer and smoother journeys.