By Ayodele Afolabi (Ado-Ekiti) and Silver Nwokoro (Lagos)
Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on WhatsApp Share on Telegram
• Ekiti community protests over neglect of federal roads for 20 years • Monarch seeks Tinubu, Oyebanji’s intervention The Minister of Works, David Umahi, yesterday, decried the state of Eko, Carter and Third Mainland bridges. Umahi, who spoke during the inspection of the bridges, said the Third Mainland Bridge would be closed to heavy trucks…CONTINUE READING>>>>>
• Ekiti community protests over neglect of federal roads for 20 years
• Monarch seeks Tinubu, Oyebanji’s intervention
The Minister of Works, David Umahi, yesterday, decried the state of Eko, Carter and Third Mainland bridges…… Continue Your Reading
Umahi, who spoke during the inspection of the bridges, said the Third Mainland Bridge would be closed to heavy trucks due to its weak nature.
He said there is an urgent need to look at the Carter Bridge, which is in a very terrible condition and has become a big problem to commuters.
The minister said the Third Mainland Bridge project would cost N6 billion, adding that the contractor will work at night when mobilised.
“To construct any bridge in Lagos or any part of Nigeria will cost a lot of money. So, we need to maintain what we have.
“If we spend a little to protect these facilities, it will be better for us.
“We will do a preliminary report within the next seven days and do the design within another 30 days and make a presentation to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to seek for funds because this is a case of emergency,” he said.
Umahi added that CCTV cameras would be deplored to watch all the bridges at the depth level and beneath the depth level and there will be some police stations and security posts for rapid response and those that will be responding through the water.
In another development, youths and residents of Igede-Ekiti, headquarters of Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Council of Ekiti State, yesterday, took to the streets to protest against alleged neglect of federal and state governments’ dilapidated roads in the community.
The protesters, who barricaded the busy Igede-Aramoko highway for hours, displayed placards and chanted songs to draw the attention of the government to their plights, especially the deplorable condition of Igede-Aramoko-Itawure Road.
According to the protesters, the road has become a nightmare for trucks and other articulated vehicles that get stuck for days and weeks once the rainy season sets in.
Leader of the protesters, Olufemi Adebayo, said the roads had become a death trap for motorists coming from Abuja to Lagos and other parts of the country.
Adebayo, who lamented the neglect of the major road, added that it had been left unattended to for the past 20 years by the Federal Government.
Meanwhile, the longest reigning monarch, who is about to mark 64th anniversary on the throne and 90th birthday, the Onigede of Igede-Ekiti, Oba James Adelusi, corroborated the concerns of the youths in the community, saying that road infrastructure is key to economic development.
Leave a Reply