BENIN CITY – Following the earmarking of N688,085,413.05 for the construction of Benin Central Bus Terminal at Obakhavwaye in the state capital, work is expected to commence after work stopped at the site last year.

Project signpost

The project, which will consume 3 percent of a N25Billion loan recently acquired by the state government was started last year, but put on hold before the September 2020 governorship election.

When completed, the terminal will serve as a central bus stop to pick and drop passengers commuting within the Benin metropolis.

According to commercial motorists, the project is taking too long to complete despite them paying revenue everyday, as they currently load passengers outside the park, and other locations around the city center.

“dem first say na coronavirus dey stop dem from the work.. .till now work never resume, but those wen dey work for Ekewan road don come back to site”, a commercial motorist told MAWA

The motorist who was loading his commercial bus along Obakhavwaye street frowned at the use of roads as motorparks, adding that it has contributed to unnecessary traffic gridlock within the Oba Ovoramwen square.

He further called on the state government to wade on the contractor to return to site and complete the work before raining season.

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“as we dey load for road, we no like am at all. e no make sense. We suppose dey inside yard (central park) dey load if to say dem finish am quick”, he said in pigin English

Meanwhile, due to the description on the project signpost which read; “Project: Proposed BRT Terminus At Obakhavwaye, Benin City, Edo State”, commercial motorists are apprehensive that it is being constructed for the state transport company known as ‘Edo City Transport Company (ECTS)’.

They argued that “BRT” (Bus Rapid Transport) is mainly buses similar to that of ECTS which is currently being use by Lagos State government for public transportation.

But, a top official who spoke to our correspondent at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development described it as untrue.

“it is a central park, and it will remain as that. It’s not for the big buses, but for commercial vehicles within Benin”, the official who do not want to be named said