The Senate has urged Minister of Works and Housing to address the deplorable condition of federal roads in Ekiti State.
The Senate reached the resolution following a motion sponsored by the lawmaker representing Ekiti North Senatorial District, Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi.
The Senate further called on the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing to review the design and quality of federal roads in Ekiti State.
Presenting the motion, Senator Adetunmbi cited Order 41 and 51 to seek the leave of the Senate to present a motion on the deplorable condition of federally funded interstate roads in Ekiti.
The federal lawmaker said that “the Akure-Ikere road linking Ekiti and Ondo is not motorable, the alternative Ilawe- Igbara-Odo – route suffer a bridge collapsed recently due to overuse.
“Concerning that Ilesha-Ado road linking Oyo, Osun to Ekiti has collapsed and currently abandoned due to the complete failure of Aramoko and Igede stretch.
“The Aramoko -Ijero – Ado road is currently saddled with heavy traffic and damages as a result of this diversion.
“Further concern that Omuaran – Otun road that links Kwara, Niger, Kaduna and other Northern states is equally in poor condition.
“Worried that access to Abuja through Kogi has been extremely bad for some years between Kabba and Ikole.”
Senator Adetunmbi said that the condition of this road has made road committing and movement of goods and services very difficult, thereby driving up costs of transportation and consumer goods in the state.
He further noted that if urgent steps are not taking expeditiously, Ekiti risk isolation from the rest of the country, with the consequential collapse of trade and commerce, which is a substantial component of the state’s economy, and the source of livelihood to majority of the people.
Senator Adetunmbi urged the State Governments to be involved directly in inter-state roads repair in their respective State in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Works.
The Senate resolved that the Minister of Works and Housing to address the deplorable condition of federal roads in Ekiti State.
The Senate also urged the federal government to explore the possibility of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in road construction.
