Edo State House of Assembly has proposed to assist the contractors handling the Benin-Auchi road with materials for them to do palliative rehabilitation work on the existing road to ease the pain and suffering of commuters plying the road.
The Speaker Hon. Frank Okiye made this known on the floor of the house during a quarried session with the Edo State Controller General federal ministry of works and representatives of the contracting firm’s handling the construction of the roads, namely Reynolds Construction Company (RCC), Mothercat Construction Company and Dantata Construction Company.
Hon. Okiye who expressed dissatisfaction at the answers given by the State Controller, the way he answered questions put to him by Honourable members and most especially for his inability to tell Edo people, why the road they awarded in 2012 is yet to be completed.
The Speaker was shocked as the Controller general Engineer Oke, spoke on behalf of the contractors,saying they are doing a great job on the road but could not give a definite answer to the time frame of starting and terminating the contract,neither was he able to tell the House how much money have been invested on constructing the new roads and how many kilometres of the road that has been completed.
Hon. Frank Okiye having listen to the contradicting statements of the Controller general, however said he should liaise with the various contractors handling the various sections Benin-Auchi road to mobilise their equipments to the failed sections while the Local government’s along the axis of the federal roads will provide materials so they can use their expertise to do palliative measures.
At the floor of the House, all the Honourable members, expressed their displeasure and the slow pace of work on the road which have caused untold hardship for commuters plying the road and leading to death of others.
The House unanimously agreed that the Controller general was acting as the mouth piece of the construction firms handling the roads and stated that he lacks competence on the position he holds.
The Controller general Engineer Oke replying one of the questions asked, said that the reason why work on the road has been slow is because not all the stretch of the road has been awarded.
He however, stated that as soon as funds are released from headquarters that more work will be done and pleaded with Edo people to exercise a little patience.
In another development, A Bill for a law to provide for the establishment of Edo State Sports commission was given first reading.
Also at plenary, A Bill for a law to make provisions for the Administration of physical planning Urban development, Urban renewal and building in Edo State for the purposes connected therewith scaled through second reading after members deliberated on the merit and reason why the Bill should be given speeding passage.
sponsor of the Bill, Hon. Roland Asoro said the bill will give room for proper sighting of projects, increased government internal revenue,to create a developmental plan,speed up economic activities and also help in creating administrative date base.
The House adjourn plenary to Tuesday, 3rd September, 2019.
