Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has expressed joy on the extent of work at 2nd East Circular Road construction in Benin City.
Speaking yesterday to Newsmen shortly after inspection of on-going work at the project site, the Governor said, “For me, I am overwhelmed because I know the road will look better because we decided to dualised it because of the huge traffic and it is a very strategic road connecting Akpakpava to Sapele road and passing through a number of streets in a highly populated area and of course also have a popular market and for quite some time now have been in a terrible state over the past 30 years.
“We are not just rebuilding the road as it was then, we are building a completely new road with dual carriage way, two lanes on both sides and a parking space on both side. I expect that this will have positive impact in the socio-economic activities of the people who live around this area. If you look at these houses here, at the time they were built, they were big men houses but because of the way the city hasd deteriorated, people relocated and new people have taken over.
Oshiomhole added, “So I am happy with what I am seeing. I didn’t know it would be this beautiful but I know that what we have design if properly translated, I had ideas of what it is going to be but now seeing it been translated, I am excited. I am also happy that the contractor is working. The weather has been helpful but it is important for our people to know that we are doing this after election. We are not doing it because election is coming and that is the different.
“When you work on the basis of conviction, it is always better than when you work on the basis of political convenient and it is also important for our people to know that across the country including the Federal Government, not only has contractors abandon work as you can see on Benin-Auchi-Okene Road but this is a new road we have started and work is in progress and when many states are not paying salaries we are paying salaries and we are still working.
He said, “Though things are tough but as they always say, it is during tough time that you separate the boys from the men. We are happy that Edo is still working and we will sustain it”.
On his part, the Site Engineer, Hartland Construction Company, Engineer Abdawllah Patrick said, “Inspite of the rainy season, work is going to continue without stop. The first part of the road measuring 800 meters is now ready for asphalting which we commence next week Monday.
“Engineer Patrick also stated, “The entire stretch of the road from Akpakpava end to Sapele Road is 3.8km with about 16 meters wide.
On the State Government commitment to the job, the Hartland Site Engineer was quick to mention that government is trying its best “As we have been mobilized financially so the work will continue and will be completed in due course”.
Some residence in the area commended the Governor for his prompt intervention maintaining that 2nd East Circular road had been abandoned since 1974 by previous governments.
According to the Odionwere of 2nd East Circular, Chief Iyamu Wilfred said, “I am highly impressed that this job is going on in my time most especially when I am the Odionwere of this community. When I came back from Ibadan in 1974, Dumez constructed this road and since then, no other government has made any effort to touch the road again until recently when the messiah, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole came to our rescue”.
Another resident in the area, Mrs. Belinda Agbe said, “If not for anything, Oshiomhole should be appreciated by all of us in this area because you need to see how this road was before now. When there is security problem and you call on the police, all they tell you is that they cannot access the road. Today, just look at the road, it is like a highway. We can call on the police now and there is no problem of bad road.
On his part, Mr. Johnson Emovon said, “For more than 30 years, the 2nd East Circular roads has been in a state of despair though many bad people may not see what he is doing, but for us the good ones, we are seeing his work, he is doing well and we thank him for all that he has done”.