Oshiomhole Rallies Senate In Support Of Benin/Auchi/Lokoja highway Rehabilitation

Two term governor of Edo state, now Senator, representing Edo North Senatorial District, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole, has rallied members of Nigeria's Senate into supporting an urgent need for the federal government to begin urgent rehabilitation of the Benin/Auchi/Lokoja highway. 

Sen Oshiomhole who recalled that the contract for the construction of the road was approved by the Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2012, and awarded to several construction companies, including Dantata and Sogoe, noted that for a long time the road has however, remained in very diplorable condition. 

He pointed out that the immediate past President, Muhammadu Buhari, also approved N75bn for the rehabilitation of the same road but noted however, that construction work has since stopped leading to complete failure in several locations, including Agbede and Ekpoma.

According to Sen Oshiomhole, the current situation of the road is so bad that vehicles now look for alternative routes over which they spend extra hours, thereby passing the buck of the burden on passengers. 

"I am aware that in January 2023, President Buhari, as part of the infrastructural development and refurbishment investment scheme further approved the disbursement of N75bn to hasten the refurbishment of the road, specially extending from obajana junction in kogi state to Benin city in Edo state. 

"Disturbed that the pace of work has actually stopped and certain portions of the road have failed completely, have made it a nightmare for motorists, especially trucks which spend says thereby preventing other vehicles from navigating their way through. 

"This situation now compels other vehicle to look for other alternative, longer routes, through Ondo state, totally out of their direction in order to avoid hours on the gridlock."

Sen Oshiomhole prayed the Senate to prevail on the federal government to, grant approval for the augmentation of cost on the road through the Ministry of works pending the constitution of the Federal Executive Council.

He also called on the senate to urge the federal ministry of works and Housing to, as a matter of urgency, commence repairs on the failed portion of the road, drawing from the N75bn approved by the immediate past President and provide adequate funding for reconstruction and dualization of the road. 

While granting the prayers that were unanimously accented to by the floor of the house, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, thanked Sen. Oshiomhole for bringing the motion to the senate noting that it is big challenge all Nigerians are aware of having seen it on television. 

Let me thank distinguished Senator Oshiomhole for bringing this up and too say that indeed, I have seen the long queue of trailers on that road, shown on television. It is not the man hour wasted but the adverse effects on the economy of the nation. The situation is so bad that it is not something you will call on FERMA. FERMA cannot handle this. The main contract is something we must encourage. 

"Thank you for bringing this to the fore and I hope the committee on legislative compliance will definitely move into action to make sure that the motion we have just taken and the prayers here approved by the senate are adhered to," Akpabio said.