Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has visited the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola to draw the Federal Government’s attention to the deplorable condition of Federal roads in Kogi and the need for urgent repairs
The governor’s visit came at the wake of a fatal road accident involving a tanker and other vehicles on the Okene/Lokoja/Abuja road that resulted in an explosion which claimed 23 lives in the Felele area of Lokoja on Wednesday.
The Governor told the minister that the deplorable state of all federal roads across the state have led to recurrent accidents in the state.
He said the State Government has done a lot in maintaining the roads but owing to the large volume of traffic on the roads, in view of its strategic location as gateway state, such repairs and maintenance do not stand the test of time.
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He appealed to the minister to expedite action in carrying out reconstruction of roads across the state to curtail the preventable accidents on the road.
The Governor appealed to the minister to direct contractors handling repairs on the Murtala Bridge at Jamata to speed up the work, noting that the slow pace of work has caused the commuters untold hardship.
The Governor also drew the attention of the minister to the Lokoja-Ganaja-Ajaokuta road which the Federal Government awarded for over three years but contractors were yet to be seen on site.
Responding, Minister of Works and Houseing, Babatunde Fashola said he has directed the Federal Road Maintenance Agency to immediately move into action to fix bad portion of the road at the Felele end of the Okene/Lokoja/Abuja road.
He assured the Governor that the ministry will use the remaining part of the year to achieve more in fulfilling the Governor’s request in respect of Federal roads in the state and commiserated with the Governor, people and government of Kogi State over the accident that claimed lives on Wednesday in Lokoja.
Editor Paul Akhagbemhe
