By Nkemchukwuyem Nwanyaha.
The Delta State House of Assembly has passed a resolution calling on the
Federal Government to immediately repair and reconstruct the
Sapele-Agbor Ewu and Abraka-Ugo-Evboesi-Benin roads.
The resolution followed a motion to that effect, moved under matters of
urgent public importance by the member representing Ethiope East
Constituency, Honourable Evance Iwhurie and seconded by Honourable
Sheriff Oborevwori, Okpe.
The house in the motion called on Governor Ifeanyi Okowa to as a matter
of urgency urged President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Minister of
Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, SAN to immediately move
contractors to the sites to carry out repair works on the roads.
Honourable Iwhurie noted that the Abraka-Ugo-Evboes road was awarded by
the last administration at the cost of thirty billion Naira in Febuary
2011 while the Sapele-Abraka-Agbor-Ewu dualization was awarded at the
cost of one hundred and twelve point eight billion Naira in March 2015.
He said both roads were federal roads and have remained in a state of
ruin, dilapidation, unmotorable and had been completely abandoned
despite the flag off of for reconstruction and mobilization fees paid to
the contractors.
Honourable Ivwwurie told the House that the two federal roads were of
high economic importance as it connects over two hundred communities in
the states with other States.
The Lawmaker said the present state of the roads had made life difficult
for farmers, motorists and other road users hence the need for the
immediate repair of the roads.
The motion was however amended by the member representing Ughelli South
Constituency, Honourable Reuben Izeze to expunge the part that called on
President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate the non completion and
abandonment of the two roads and to ascertain monies released and actual
amount paid to the contractors.
The lawmaker who represents Ughelli South, said the aspect was behold the legislative powers of the House.
Hon Izeze and two others, Honourable Emeka Nwaobi, Aniocha South and
Honourable Daniel Yingi, Burutu 1, said it was the responsibility of the
Federal government to fix federal roads stressing that the movement of
goods and services including farm produce to other parts of the country
was now very difficult because of the deplorable condition of the roads.
The Lawmakers noted that a lot of people will be thinking that the two
roads were owed by the delta state government and would be wondering why
the state government should abandoned the roads whereas they were
federal roads.
They called for immediate work on the roads by the federal government.
In his contribution from the chair, the Speaker, Rt Hon Monday Igbuya
regretted that many federal roads in the state were in a deplorable
condition, including Sapele- Warri road, Sapele-Aghalokpe-Eku among
others.
Hon Igbuya decried the high degree of neglect and stressed the need for
federal government to rise up to its roads construction, rehabilitation
and maintenance.
The motion was unanimously adopted.
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