THE Senate has summoned the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi to appear before it and explain why the contractor handling the portion of the Ogbomoso-Oyo Federal Road project abandoned it.
The Senate has asked Senator Barinada Mpigi, PDP, Rivers South-East led Committee on Works to immediately summon the Minister to unravel the circumstances that led to the abandonment of the said project.
The Upper Chamber has also urged the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, direct the relevant authorities to complete the rehabilitation of the old Ogbomoso-Oyo road to forestall further negative occurrences on the road.
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Resolutions of the Senate on Wednesday were sequel to a motion titled, ” Urgent Need to Call on the Federal Government to complete the rehabilitation of the Ogbomoso/ Oyo Trunk “A” Road and to finish up the Reconstruction or the new Ogbomoso/ Oyo Expressway.”
It was sponsored by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Aviation, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, APC, Oyo North.
In his presentation, Senator Buhari said, “he Senate: aware that transportation is vital as it is the key component that facilitates the distribution of goods both within and beyond the country’s borders, as well as ease the movement of people from one place to another;
“Also aware that transportation ensures stable prices in different markets and enable traders to regulate the supply of goods at various locations, based on changing demands.”
According to him, the ” Senate notes that in the last one month, the people of Ogbomoso land have been plunged into an unprecedented crisis, occasioned by a tragic petrol tankers accident that occurred on the road, which resulted in traffic gridlock, rendered some inhabitants of the area homeless, paralysed economic activities as well as claimed some innocent lives;
“Also notes that the situation has been further exacerbated by the diversion of commuters to old Ogbomoso-Oyo road, which is the Takie-Bowen-Seminary-Emayo-Caretaker Federal Road, due to the reconstruction of the new Ogbomoso-Oyo Federal Road, which has been ongoing since the year 2007.”
Senator Buhari said that the Senate “further notes that the Federal Government embarked on the
reconstruction of the Road by contracting different portions of the road to different contractors for quick completion, however, whilst other portions had been completed, the Ogbomoso-Oyo road is yet to be completed, as the contractor handling that portion has left the site;
“Worried that the old Ogbomoso-Oyo Federal Road, which the commuters have diverted to temporary, is currently undergoing rehabilitation due to the high volume of trucks, plying it since the year 2020.
“Also worried that whilst the rehabilitation is aimed at improving the infrastructure, the continuous usage of this temporary diversion over time, has unfortunately led to the destruction of most part of the Ogbomoso metropolitan roads, leaving the people trapped and in chaos;
“Further worried that this road, which is less than 500 meters long, has become a deathtrap, responsible for numerous accidents in recent times, as over ten accidents have occurred within just few days, leading to loss of lives, injuries, and devastating impacts on businesses, whereby perishable goods from the north have been ruined, and shipments from ports and companies, amounting to millions of naira, left stranded; and
“Concerned that the non-completion of this few kilometers Road, has been choking the life out of Ogbomoso people and Nigerians at large, as it is a transit road, connecting the people from the North to the South, hence the need for urgent action to be taken to avert further devastation.”
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