The minister of Regional Development Commission, Engr. Abubakar Momoh has given clarification over a road he recently commissioned in Edo State.
The minister’s clarification followed a protest by members of Ugu Youths Development for Change (UYDC), who alleged that the minister commissioned a non-existing road.
The coordinator of the youths, Comrade Monday Osemwenkhae, in a protest letter on Monday, titled: “Commissioning a non-existing Abraka-Oben Road’, said their members cut across youths from over 13 communities in Ugu Ward, in Orhiomwon LGA of Edo, including Urhehue, Oben, Odighi, Obanokhoro and others.
He described the commissioning of the road as a calculated attempt to cover up the continuous neglect of the area that houses the largest gas deposit in West Africa.
“We are here to say that the said Abraka-Oben Road, which was commissioned by the Honourable Minister for Regional Development, Hon. Engr Abubakar Momoh, is not existing anywhere in our locality.
“The said road is a calculated attempt to cover up the continuous neglect of our area by his Ministry and its affiliate agency and commission like the NDDC, for a very long period.
“But, what we have just gotten is a commissioning of a non-existing road with our community name attached to divert attention from the neglect of the roads in that area.
“The link roads to Oben are the Ugo-Obozogbe-Iguelaba road, and Umoghun-Nokhua Oben road. The former is currently undergoing construction courtesy of community fund and private company.
“The name ‘Oben’ has been used as a cash cow for many years, and we expect the present Nigerian government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to change the narrative, rather than her Minister commissioning a non-existent road using our community name,” the statement said.
However, when contacted by phone, the Minister, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, explained that the road he commissioned runs from the Delta State end, Abraka to Oben, not from Benin to Oben.
“They should go through Abraka to Oben. We didn’t say from Benin to Oben, we said Abraka to Oben, that is, from the Delta end, so, they should get it clear.
“You can now move from Oben to Abraka without stress. The Ministry did the one from Benin to up to 20 kilometers before. The other one, they are talking of, from Abraka to Benin, the first phase has been completed, it’s a 10-kilometer road, Abraka to Oben, not Benin to Abraka,” Momoh explained.
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