Simon Ebegbulem
23 June 2009
Benin — WORRIED by the bad state of Federal Roads in Edo State, the state House of Assembly yesterday passed a resolution calling on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency to stop the incessant loss of lives and property from road accidents.
Bad road engenders harrowing traffic along Oshodi - Apapa expressway in LagoPhoto : Diran Oshe
The House also called on the Federal Government to dualise the Benin-Auchi express road, just as it urged the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to repair the failed portions of the road.
It would be recalled that it was on the same Benin-Auchi express road that the Personal Assistant to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Chris Nwachukwu and the factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Samson Ekhabafe, and his son, lost their lives.
The resolution, which also directed the Federal Controller of Works in the state to report back to the House on progress made after 30 days, followed a motion moved by Mr. Kingsley Ehigiamusoe, condemning the deplorable state of the road which led to the North and the South East.
Speaker of the House, Zakawanu Garuba, Messrs Philip Shaibu, Bright Omokhodion,Fed Omogberai, Anslem Agbabi and Chris Umogbai, all raised alarm over the state of the road and feared that road accidents would continue along the road unless the Federal Government took urgent steps to dualise it.
Accoridng to the speaker, " because of the bad state of the road, it has become a death trap for our citizens, particularly the recent death of the state chairman of the party, Chief Samson Ekhabafe and his first son in a ghastly motor accident.
"So we are appealing to the Federal Government to intervene urgently because we cannot afford to be losing our loved ones on a daily basis because of the state of the road, which is avoidable".
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Declaring a State of Emergency is good, but not enough. Immediate action should be taken to ensure that works commence a.s.a.p. I wonder when Nigeria will meet up with the rest of the world.