Commuters traversing the Benin-Agbor bypass, Benin-Warri bypass enroute to Warri, Delta State and Benin–Auchi to Abuja are traumatised by the bad roads. All entry points of federal roads into Benin City are presently in bad shape, causing untold hardship to road users and business owners.
Long stretch of trailers and other heavy duty vehicles have not only worsened an already bad situation, but even commercial shuttle buses popularly referred to as ‘kuke-tuke’ with frustrated looking passengers, are caught up for hours in the bad situation.Federal Road Maintenance Agency, (FERMA) interventions has not been successful.
The situation in Edo State is worse as the Edo State Government are locked in horns over allegation and counter allegations over the repair, while the masses are left to suffer the effect of deep heavy gullies and almost impassable roads.
Frustrated residents have staged protests at the Benin-Sapele, Benin –Agbor road, Ekpma and Uromi roads, calling on the federal government to come to their rescue.
Speaking on the development, a community leader at the Sapele road by pass said they may be forced to embark on another protest.
“We have never seen a situation like this before. We live in constant fear. The condition of the road is worsening by day because heavy-duty trucks always ply this road more than small vehicles.
“Recently, a truck carrying gas fell at the Rock of Ages Christian Church during a heavy rain with every person there scampering for safety. It was days later that FRSC fire service officials were able to remove the gas truck.”
A traveller and social commentator, Comrade Solomon Okoduwa, appealed to the federal government to immediately come and fix the bad roads by giving palliatives adding that it has affected commercial life of the already pauperised citizens.
“A journey that should last 2 hours from Benin to Asaba now lasts 7 hours. We had to divert through some communities to link to the expressway at Okhai River before proceeding to Asaba.
Meanwhile, in what appeared like a ray of hope to address failed portions of the road, a giant federal government signboard surfaced at Sapele road. It reads,“Reconstruction of Benin/Warri dual carriage way (Section 1: Benin–Sapele to be funded by the NNPC Ltd under the phase 11 of the Federal Road Infrastructure Tax Credit Scheme”.
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