Edo State governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has approved the total rehabilitation of over 45 failed portions on the Auchi-Igarra-Ibillo Federal road, as part of moves to revive economic activities in towns and villages within Akoko Edo Local Government Area of the State.
In a statement on Sunday by the governor’s CPS, Fred Itua, the latest approval is coming, just as the State Government has completed the construction of the Ikiran-Oke Ikakhumoh road, also in Akoko Edo Local Government.
The Auchi-Igara-Ibillo road is one of the many deplorable Federal roads in Edo State being rehabilitated by the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration.
The road connecting many communities in Akoko Edo Local Government to the rest of the state also serves as a link between Kogi and Ondo states. It serves as a major route for vehicles plying Lagos from Abuja.
Residents of the Area, known for the quarry business, as well as processing of Cassava, decried the difficulty they face in transporting their goods to the markets.
A commercial driver playing the area explained that the deplorable condition of the road has resulted in fewer drivers plying the route and has increased the cost of transporting goods from Akoko Edo.
On his part, the contractor handling the project, Mr. Bajwa Hammed, after a preliminary tour of the road, assured Akoko Edo people that all failed sections will be completely rehabilitated to meet the maximum standard.
“There are a lot of points that have failed on this road, which need to be done quickly for the safe passage of the people and vehicles. I know the standard the governor wants, and we will deliver on it.”
Recalled that Akoko Edo youths blocked the road on May 21 to protest the high rate of kidnapping in the area due to the bad portion of the road.
The protesters complained that kidnapping has become a daily occurrence due to the dilapidated state of the road in the area.
The PUNCH gathered that the protest created gridlock on the road as travelers, including heavy duty vehicles along the road were stalled for several hours.
The youths also lamented the case of a chieftain of the Labour Party (LP), Okasime Olowojoba, who has been kidnapped for almost a month and is yet to be released despite the kidnappers already collecting over five million naira from the family and friends.
It took the Otaru of Igarra, Oba Adeche Saiki who sent emissaries to the protesters to open the road for traffic as he had also written to the state government on the poor state of the road and level of kidnappings.
