Commissioner Appeals For Patience OVer Delay In Edo Road Repairs

Edo State commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has attributed the slow pace of work on major federal roads linking the state to incessant rainfall.

He said the weather had made it impossible for contractors to carry out work as scheduled.
The government’s reaction followed public outcry over the dilapidated state of some federal roads in the state due to the persistent rainfall.

Afegbua, in a statement he issued yesterday, said all major entry roads into Edo had been awarded for rehabilitation, but explained that continuous downpours had stalled work on several projects, including the Benin-Ore Road, where ongoing repairs had been suspended due to heavy rainfall.

He also disclosed that reconstruction work on the Benin-Agbor Road, designed to become a 10-lane carriageway under a concession arrangement, commenced before being slowed by the adverse weather, while the Benin-Warri Road has also been affected by the same challenge.

The commissioner maintained that Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration remained committed to improving road infrastructure across the state, stressing that the current delay was beyond the control of the government and contractors because road construction cannot effectively progress during heavy rains.

Appealing for public understanding, Afegbua said residents and motorists should exercise patience until weather conditions improve, assuring that work would resume at full pace once the rains subside.

“To all the members of the public, to our Edo sons and daughters, and all others who ply these roads, we implore you to bear with us for now, as we look forward to when the rains will subside, to enable us immediately re-embark on the road works to ease mobility across the state.

“Due to the peculiar nature of road construction in all climes, including our dear state, our hands are tied; please bear with us,” he said.

Afegbua added that the government shares the concerns of residents over the condition of the affected roads and reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating ongoing projects as soon as weather conditions become favourable, assuring that the administration remains focused on delivering critical infrastructure across Edo State.