Road construction: Umahi needs to be guided – Oshiomhole

The lawmaker representing Edo North Senatorial District, Adams Oshiomhole, has criticized the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, for prioritizing new road constructions over the maintenance of existing ones in poor condition.

Speaking on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, Oshiomhole highlighted the lack of infrastructure between Edo and other cities in Delta state.

He said the minister’s actions are seen as biased and unbalanced, urging the Senate to speedily intervene and calling for a more
equitable and national perspective in the minister’s budget allocation.

“The Federal Minister of Works needs to be guided because whereas we have all these old roads that are in bad shape, he proposes the construction of new roads when existing roads are not there.

“Three weeks ago, I understood 20 new were approved. Yet, sir, between Edo and the other, there is manifest bias by the Minister of Works.

“You cannot go from Benin to Warri, Asaba, Auchi and Okene. What have we done wrong? I think the minister has shown consistently that there is no federal allocation.

“It is Mr President’s goodwill that he directed that they should use tax credit to deal with part of this section.

“Otherwise, all the budget over the past three years, in spite of the first motion under your leadership as Senate President that was moved to draw his attention, the minister of works has failed deliberately to include that portion between Delta as they do in the national budget.

“So I plead with you to urge him to be more balanced and have national overview of his response,” Oshiomhole said.