In pursuit of the realization of his campaign promises, Senator Monday Okpebholo has requested the federal government to declare a state of emergency on roads in Edo Central senatorial district.
The lawmaker, who represents the people of Esanland in the 10th Senate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), stated that his appeal is to prevent, among other things, the outbreak of epidemic in the state.
In a statement released to journalists yesterday, Okpebholo declared that animals and perishable goods transported in vehicles sometimes perish or spoil in transit and are discarded into the communities by commuters, thereby posing health risks to his constituents.
The senator specifically mentioned the Okene-Auchi-Ekpoma-Benin Highway and the Ewu-Uromi-Agbor Expressway where vehicles are stranded for days due to the dilapidated condition of the roads.
He stated, “There is also the greater concern of an epidemic outbreak. Often, animals being conveyed in most of the articulated trucks become trapped for many days in the gridlock and eventually die during the journey. These deceased animals are thrown into the communities along the highways. This is in addition to the perishable goods trapped in vehicles during the gridlock.”
Okpebholo emphasized that the difficulties faced on the roads are extremely severe and challenging for the people and the economy of the area, as Edo Central serves as the gateway to the South East, South-South, South-West, and the northern part of the country.
Senator Okpebholo highlighted that the deplorable state of the major federal highways passing through the communities in his constituency has compelled motorists to detour onto the internal roads, resulting in the deterioration of many roads in his senatorial district.
In his signed statement, the lawmaker expressed, “The senatorial district serves as a gateway to the South East, South-South, South-West, and the Northern part of the country.
“Due to the appalling condition of these highways, motorists have reverted to using the internal roads of the communities in Ewu, Irrua, Uromi, Ubiaja, Igueben, Ogwa, Ekpoma, and others. The heavy traffic flow has caused extensive damage to all existing internal roads.
“Furthermore, business activities in the senatorial district have been severely and adversely affected by these poor roads. A journey that would normally take one hour now takes several days. My constituents are in distress and implore the Federal Government to intervene and provide assistance,” he declared.