The Presidency don talk say the recent Benin-Agbor-Asaba Expressway wahala na isolated case, as dem blame the contractor wey dey handle the road for the failure.
Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communications, Sunday Dare, talk this one on Channels Television on Wednesday while e dey react to the bad condition of the highway and the President’s order make dem redesign and completely rebuild the road.
Dare explain say Nigerians no suppose use wetin happen for Benin-Agbor-Asaba road take judge all the Federal Government road projects across the country.
According to am, plenty federal roads don already complete, while work dey progress for many others without similar complaints.
He say road construction get him own challenges, especially during rainy season, when heavy rain fit expose weak areas and cause serious damage.
Dare say government get responsibility to identify roads wey need repair and make money available for the work, but contractors too get their own responsibility to carry out the job properly.
He explain say wetin happen for Benin-Agbor-Asaba road show say the contractor no do wetin dem suppose do.
According to am, government, National Assembly members, Ministry of Works and other important stakeholders quickly rush go the affected area after the problem happen.
He say even though the contractor bring excuses, the situation still show say something go wrong from their side.
His statement come one day after the Minister of Works, David Umahi, personally visit the bad portion of the Benin-Agbor-Asaba road for Edo State.
Umahi apologise to motorists and commuters over the condition of the road and accept responsibility for the situation as the minister in charge of works.
The minister also condemn the concessionaire wey dey handle the reconstruction of the road and order moves towards total reconstruction of the highway.
According to Umahi, ordinary palliative work no go solve the problem again, meaning say the road need complete reconstruction.
When The PUNCH visit the Benin side of the road on Tuesday, the highway still dey bad condition, although the heavy traffic jam wey don dey disturb motorists for about two weeks don reduce.
Dare say the quick response from the Works Minister, National Assembly members and other stakeholders show say government dey take infrastructure problems serious.
He explain say government suppose identify roads wey don spoil, provide money for repairs, while contractors must make sure say dem deliver quality work.
He say the fact say government officials reach the affected area quickly and demand immediate action na part of wetin good governance suppose look like.
Dare also insist say the Benin-Agbor-Asaba road problem no represent the condition of every federal road project for Nigeria.
He say plenty other federal roads don receive attention and dem don fix some of dem without similar complaints from motorists.
On the speed of road construction across the country, Dare say motorists go still experience some inconvenience while major road projects dey take shape.
He use Abuja-Lokoja road as example, saying he recently travel through the corridor with about 65 journalists and dem see some sections wey don already complete, while concrete construction dey continue for other portions.
Dare explain say road construction no be something wey government fit finish in one day because contractors dey normally divide major projects into different sections.
He compare am to building house, saying person no fit build complete house in one day.
According to Dare, Federal Government dey currently work on major road projects across Nigeria, including five legacy roads and about 320 other roads across different parts of the country.
He say the number of projects show President Tinubu’s strong focus on infrastructure development and praise the Ministry of Works for the work wey dem dey do.
The renewed attention on the Benin-Agbor-Asaba road come after motorists and residents don complain seriously about the worsening condition of the highway.
The bad road don reportedly cause serious traffic, damage vehicles and make transportation and movement of goods more expensive for people and businesses wey dey use the route.
As Presidency dey blame the contractor for the road failure, government don now push for redesign and complete reconstruction of the major highway instead of relying on temporary repairs.
