Edo
By DADA AYOKHAI
The Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has attributed the slow pace of road rehabilitation across the state to the ongoing rainy season, appealing to citizens for patience.
Afegbua, who spoke during the Ministry’s monthly media briefing, said no construction engineer can effectively fix roads during the rains.
He assured that the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo will embark on massive road repairs and reconstruction during the dry season.
Afegbua was joined in the press briefing by commissioner for Art, Culture and Creative Economy Hon. Chris Okaeben, Executive Secretary Edo State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency, Kenny Okojie and the Special Adviser on Health Matters Dr. Andrew Iyamu.
He noted that any attempt to embark on road repairs at this time would amount to wastage of construction materials.
He accused the immediate past administration of bad road construction which has led to the collapse of road infrastructure across Edo State, adding that the Governor Okpebholo led administration is deliberate and determined to turn the narrative around.
Afegbua urged Edo people to be more patient with the governor, saying that he is ever determined to make Edo roads motorable for road users.
”Edo State government under the leadership of Senator Monday Okpebholo is very much alive to its responsibility, ensuring it contends with developmental challenges confronting the state, both emerging and inherited ones.
”Of critical reference is the issue of roads. If we had an opportunity like the previous government of doing credible, quality and durable roads, we will not be complaining or lamenting now.
”A lot of these roads within the Benin metropolis were actually rehabilitated and repaired during the previous government under Governor Godwin Obaseki”.
Afegbua frowned at the criticism by foot soldiers of the Obaseki, noting that the decay being experienced now is suggestive that the immediate past administration did a bad job.
”The level of road decay experienced now is that the roads then were quantity not quality jobs.
”In the means of the bad road , we did assessment of the GRA, Iyekogba Estate, Irihrih and Okoroma roads and the roads were purported to have done by the Obaseki led administration.
”If you go there now, the roads are full of potholes and decayed infrastructure. One begins to wonder what the celebration was about? Roads were supposed to spend minimum of 10 years and maximum 30 years.
”I am making records of these roads because we are being criticized on social media and they wonder what we are doing?
”No Construction engineer will attempt to fix potholes, bad roads during the rainy season. We are experiencing heavy rain now”, he concluded.
Edo Govt Blames Rain for Slow Road Rehabilitation, Sues for Patience
