Umahi replies Obaseki on Edo dilapidated roads

The Minister of Works, Mr. David Umahi has reacted to a statement credited to Governor Godwin Obaseki where he pleaded with people to help him beg the federal government to repair dilapidated roads in the state.

The governor’s appeal comes following a recent outcry by residents and other concerned stakeholders over the deplorable state of the federal roads in Edo.

Obaseki was a victim of the bad roads as his convoy was captured in a video that went viral recently, stranded at the RCC junction on Sapele Road, Benin after heavy rain flooded the road and made it unpassable.

While responding to the dilapidation of federal roads in Edo State during the second day of his tour of Lagos/Ogun State ongoing road projects, said the ministry was willing to speed up approval for the state government to carry out rehabilitation of bad portions.

READ ALSO: FG preventing us from repairing dilapidated federal roads in Edo—Obaseki

“If he (Edo State Gov. Godwin Obaseki) approaches me, the minister of works, and seeks permission, even if he sends me requests by WhatsApp or whatever, I will give him approval within two hours so that he can start; but I’m going to visit Edo State and I am going to look at those roads,” he said.

The Minister also inspected the Ikorodu – Sagamu dual carriageway which links Lagos and Ogun States and expressed satisfaction with the project. Umahi said the 30.5km Ikorodu-Sagamu Road was about 85% completed, adding that the Ikorodu axis of the project would be redesigned.

Umahi said that a contractor would soon be mobilized to the site, to work between midnight and 4.00 a.m. in the morning on top of the Third Mainland Bridge for minimal stress on motorists.

He said that a comprehensive report for all the bridges in Lagos would be made to also include a proposal for security infrastructure and surveillance to prevent vandalism.

The minister said the proposal, through a consultant, would be presented to the Federal Executive Council within 30 days for consideration.

On his entourage were the Director, of Federal Highways, South West, Mr Adedamola Kuti; Director, of Highways Bridges and Designs, Mr Omotayo Awosanya; Lagos Controller of Works, Mrs Olukorede Kesha; and her Ogun counterpart, Mrs Forosola Oloyede.