Obaseki, Fed Govt to discuss concessioning of Benin-Auchi highway to state govt, partners

The Federal Government has warned the contractors handling the Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi- Okpella-Okene-Lokoja road to accelerate work on the project or have the contract terminated and their names blacklisted.

Works Minister David Umahi issued the warning at the weekend while inspecting the project sites in Edo State.

The minister said the warning became imperative because the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had released funds to the contractors handling federal projects.

A statement yesterday in Abuja by his Special Adviser on Media, Uchenna Orji, said after a meeting with Edo State Governor Goodwin Obaseki, the minister described as unacceptable the delay by the contractors yo fully mobilise to the site and effectively begin rehabilitation work, despite President Tinubu’s prompt release of funds to them for the projects.

On the recent protest along the Jattu axis of the Benin-Auchi highway by residents of the area, which disrupted vehicular movements, the minister said his meeting with the governor was meant to brainstorm on the drastic measures to take to tackle the issues affecting the progress of work in the area.

“I have had a very serious meeting with the governor here. We are concerned about what is happening between Benin-Ekpoma-Auchi-Okpella and the axis of Kogi State. That is what we have been brainstorming on.

“I have worked with him throughout last night to direct that the road should be unblocked. If you hear the grievances of those people, you would not blame them so much, because people are dying, trucks are falling,” he said.

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Also, Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has said the state government will tomorrow meet with representatives of the Federal Government, Dangote Group, and BUA Plc to discuss and proffer short-term solutions to the deplorable condition of the Benin/Auchi Road.

Obaseki said this at the weekend while addressing reporters at the Government House in Benin after a closed-door meeting with Umahi.

The governor urged the Federal Government to concession the road to the state government as a long-term solution.

He said: “As a state, we would work with the minister and the Federal Government. The issue of roads can’t be left to one stakeholder alone. We all must come to work together.

“We are very concerned about the high-traffic roads, like the Benin-Auchi road, which is one of the main transport arteries in Edo State.

“Youths have protested several times about the poor condition of the road. We have appealed to them and they accepted and expect us to fulfill the promise on remedial action to reduce the carnage, accidents, destructions, and delays commuters witness on that road.”

On the outcome of his meeting with Umahi, Governor Obaseki said: “We have agreed with the minister that we would send one of our contractors immediately to go in there next week to commence palliative work in some very bad sections of the road.

“We also agreed on the bad sections, particularly around Agbede, between Ekpoma and Irrua-axis and some other portions towards Uhunmwode Local Government Area.

“These bad sections have been calculated and they came to about 30 kilometres. We have to bring in other stakeholders, particularly heavy users of the road. We have singled out Dangote and BUA cement companies as they are one of the largest users of the Benin/Auchi road and can’t stay aloof.

“We are summoning a meeting with representatives of these two companies, the Edo State government, and the Federal Minister for Works and Housing on Tuesday to agree on concrete steps and measures to take and make sure that the remedial works are done on the bad sections of the road to ensure rehabilitation works are done before raining season commences.”