After Deadly Fire, Edo Govt Moves To Fix Failed Sections Of Oluku Road

Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting

The Edo State Government has moved to address the deteriorating condition of Oluku Road, announcing plans to intervene in its failed sections to ease the difficulties faced by motorists and improve road safety.

The Permanent Secretary of the Edo State Ministry of Works, Mr. John Obanor, revealed this during an interaction with journalists in Benin City, stating that the government had directed relevant officials to assess the damaged sections of the road along the Oluku axis and recommend appropriate intervention measures.

Obanor said the planned intervention underscored the commitment of Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration to addressing critical road infrastructure challenges across the state.

The proposed intervention comes against the backdrop of a recent incident in which a truck laden with petroleum products reportedly fell while attempting to navigate the deplorable sections of Oluku Road, spilling its contents onto the road.

The spillage subsequently triggered a fire outbreak that razed several shops and left several people with varying degrees of burns.

Speaking on the factors contributing to road deterioration, Obanor explained that the high volume of heavy-duty and articulated vehicles plying roads across Edo State had placed considerable pressure on the state’s road infrastructure.

He noted that the situation was further compounded by the underutilisation of the country’s railway system, which could otherwise help reduce the burden of freight transportation on the roads.

According to him, Edo State’s strategic position as a major transit corridor connecting different parts of the country exposes its road network to sustained pressure from heavy-duty vehicles, making regular maintenance and timely intervention imperative.

The Permanent Secretary assured residents that the government was identifying critical road failures and working towards implementing appropriate measures to address them.

He also emphasised the government’s commitment to ensuring that contractors fulfil their contractual obligations, noting that defects discovered on road projects before formal handover must be corrected by the contractors at their own expense.

Obanor explained that mechanisms such as retention payments and stipulated maintenance periods were in place to hold contractors accountable for the quality and durability of their projects.

He added that contractors were being directed to submit updated work programmes to enable the government to monitor project progress, strengthen accountability and ensure timely delivery.

Reaffirming the administration’s commitment to improving road infrastructure across Edo State, Obanor called on residents, contractors and the media to support ongoing efforts to enhance the state’s road network.

He further maintained that several road projects, including Prince Jim Road, Prince Harrison Road, Iyoha Road and Varsity Road, had been completed, while others were at various stages of completion.