The Edo State House of Assembly on Monday summoned the Federal Controller of Works and the Director, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), to appear before it on July 25 over deplorable condition of federal roads in Edo.
The House also called on the federal controller of works and FERMA in Edo to carry out repairs on multiple failed portions of all the federal roads in the state.
The summons was sequel to a matter of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Kaycee Osamwonyi (PDP, Uhunmwode).
Moving the motion, Hon. Osamwonyi lamented that the deplorable condition of all federal roads in the state had caused untold hardship to Edo people.
He noted that most of the deplorable roads in the state were federal roads, adding that the roads had caused avoidable accidents resulting in loss of many lives.
“Most of the failed portions now serve as hideouts for criminals to perpetrate their evil acts.
“If these failed portions are fixed, it would reduce criminal activities and accidents on the roads,” he said.
In his consequential motion, Hon. Osamwonyi called on the controller of works and FERMA to commence repairs on the failed portions of the roads.
The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Maria Edekor, member representing Esan North East 2, noted that the state internal roads had been destroyed by articulated trucks in the process of trying to navigate through towns and villages in Edo Central.
“The prices of goods, especially food items, have gone up because the roads have become impassable. Articulated trucks carrying perishable food sometimes get stuck for days as a result of bad roads.
“Kidnappers are taking advantage of these failed portions of these roads to kidnap people on a daily basis,” Edekor said.
She said she was in support of the call for a state of emergency to be declared on all federal roads in the state.
Other lawmakers who supported the passage of the resolution said Edo had been completely cut off due to the failed portions at all entry points into the state.
The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, thereafter summoned the Federal Controller of Works and the Director of FERMA in the state to appear before the House on Tuesday, July 25, to explain why all federal roads were in their present deplorable state.
Also at plenary, a bill for a law to enact the Edo State College of Health Sciences and Technology Law 2023 scaled through second reading on the floor of the House.
