The Minister of Works, David Umahi, on Tuesday apologised to commuters and residents of Edo and Delta states over the deplorable condition of the Benin-Agbor Road, which has caused them undue hardship.
Umahi tendered the apology in Benin City while on an inspection tour of major Federal roads in the state alongside the governor,Sen Monday Okpebholo and ordered the arrest of contractors and concessionaires found removing asphalt from federal roads without authorisation.
He commended Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo for his commitment to infrastructure development and intervention in the rehabilitation of federal roads in the state.
The minister also thanked Edo youths for remaining calm despite the hardship caused by the condition of the road, saying their restraint had helped prevent a possible breakdown of law and order.
Expressing disappointment with the concessionaire handling the road, he accused the company of lacking the technical capacity required to execute the project.
He said he personally observed the removal of asphalt from the road during an earlier inspection with the governor and directed the contractor to stop the practice.
According to him, the Ministry of Works does not permit contractors to remove asphalt from federal roads without approval, describing the act as destruction of public infrastructure.
According to him, “I commend Governor Monday Okpebholo for his intervention in lots of federal roads across the state. He is not saying this is a federal or state road. I apologise to commuters plying this road.
The people of Edo, the people of Delta state and all the people using this road.
“I am very, very disappointed with this concessionial, I offer apologies, I take full responsibility for the misdeed and for the destruction of public assets, because I have the bill of quantity here, I have the conditions here.
“The ministry of Works does not allow anybody to remove asphalt on the road, that is against the policies of the ministry of work, when myself and the state governor visited the contractor on site, we frawn at them removing the asphalt,” he said.
He therefore directed all ministry controllers to arrest any contractor or concessionaire found removing asphalt from federal roads without authorisation.
Umahi said the federal government had a responsibility to ensure that concessionaires had the required technical competence before being awarded road projects.
He added that the concessionaire did not have a sufficient track record and reputation before taking over the construction of the Benin-Agbor Road.
The minister said President Bola Tinubu had taken note of the suffering of road users and directed the ministry to do everything necessary to restore the road and alleviate the hardship faced by residents.
He explained that although concession agreements were governed by law, the government could invoke overriding public interest where necessary to protect citizens and critical infrastructure.
Umahi warned that the continued deterioration of the road could create serious security risks for ministry officials and the concessionaire, stressing that public frustration should not be allowed to escalate into violence.
He said the immediate priority was to restore the road and bring relief to the people in line with Tinubu’s directive.
Responding, Okpebholo appealed to residents and youths living around the affected section of the road to remain calm.
He said the president had demonstrated concern about the plight of Edo residents and would continue to respond to the state’s challenges.
Governor Okpebholo recalled the deplorable condition of the Benin-Ekpoma Road, saying he had raised the issue with Tinubu and received an assurance that the road would be reconstructed.
“Our president is the man that listens to his children. Something like this happened on that road in the past; there was traffic that lasted for over three months.
“The cry over the Benin-Agbor Road happened a few days ago. Now, the president has sent the minister to come and see things for himself and take the message back to him.
“Don’t listen to social media. That is the work of opposition here and there. We know that the president means well for Edo people. Whenever there is a problem in Edo, the president always listens,” he said.
The governor said Edo was a gateway to the South-South, South-West and northern parts of the country, adding that any unrest in the state could have wider consequences.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of the concessionaire, Samuel Daramola, attributed the slow pace of work to heavy rainfall.
Daramola said the company had resorted to palliative repairs to ensure the continued movement of traffic.
On the inspection tour with the Minister, are members of the National Assembly, senior officials in the Federal ministry of works and other stakeholders
