Farmers in communities along the 105.6 kilometre Benin-Abraka Road lament over the continued abandonment of the bad road in their area.
The farmers, who spoke to MAWA Foundation after a meeting at Evbuehia community explained that the situation has affected economic activities in the area.
Edo State government in December 2018 approved the contract for the reconstruction of the road at the cost of N21, 222,626,676.32).
The road project is co-financed by the State Government, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Area Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC) on percentage ratio of 25-50-25 respectively but NDDC is yet to release its 50 percent.
“The road matter don spoil business, no be small. We no dey get customers from Port Harcourt again, Delta, Bayelsa sef; because of the bad road”, a plantain farmer, Ogoro Goddy lamented in pigin English
He argued that the “situation gets worse every year”, urging parties to the arrangements to consider the people and fulfill their part.
According to him, the poor state of the road, together with the lack of electricity, has forced most youth in the area to relocate to Benin City.
Also, a commercial motorist plying the route said he and others have resorted to driving through communities instead of the road which connect Edo to Delta State.
“We been dey happy wen we hear say Obaseki don award am. Till now nothing;
“Na where dem do am reach before ‘Ikpe’ from Benin, na d work still dey”, he told MAWA.
However, the road which is the longest project ever undertaken in the state is expected to be reconstructed with spurs to Aifuwa St; Evboesi-Urherhue, Iguelaba communities.