A group, Justice Research Centre (JRC), has decried the slow pace of work on Okenne-Auchi-Benin dualization, inaugurated in 2013 under former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
The group made this known in a statement issued by its Executive Director, Mr. Donald Inwalomhe and made available to newsmen in Benin on Thursday.
Inwalomhe noted that the slow pace of work had contributed to rising cases of kidnapping and armed robbery on the highway.
He said the highway which connected the Southern part of the country to the North, had also become a death trap to motorists owing to the worsening state.
According to him, we are drawing the attention of President Muhammadu Buhai and the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, to the slow pace and near abandoned state of the road.
“The work seems to have been abandoned in some sections like the Ehor axis, Ekpoma axis, Agbede axis, Okpella axis.
“These axis that has been abandoned, have become a den for kidnapping.
“The section of the road in Ekpoma town is completely bad and once the rains begin, that area will be impassable,’’ he said.
The executive director observed that some portions of the road that have been constructed were below standard in terms of quality.
“The administration of Jonathan was accused of playing politics with the road ahead of the 2015 election.
“We expected an expedited action when the Buhari government came on board in 2015, but we are shocked and disappointed at the pace of work.
“We are calling on the federal government to release the needed funds to complete the road which is a major link between the north and other parts of the country,’’ he added.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that contract for the highway was awarded to three contractors to ensure its quick completion.
NAN also reports that the three construction companies handling the roads include Mothercat for Okenne axis, Dantata and Sawoe working on Auchi axis while Reynold Construction Company is for Benin axis.
The Minister of Work then, Mr. Mike Onolememen, said the work would be funded by the now defunct SURE-P to avoid budgetary constraints.(NAN)
