By Mudiaga Affe
There was gridlock on Monday along Ekheuan Road in Benin City, Edo State following a peaceful protest by some residents and landlords from various communities in the area over the dilapidated road that is being reconstructed by the state government.
The residents complained that the reconstruction work, which started in 2017, was moving at a slow pace.
They also complained that the few meters that have been done were already failing, alleging that the job was substandard.
The protesters said they were from Upper-Ekheuan, Uvgbugyoko, Oghede Agenigie, Ekheuan Barracks, Udo, Evbuotubu, Ugbine communities along the road.
Speaking with journalists, a landlord in the area, Uche Nwabuzor, said, “We are protesting because of the bad road. They said the road was awarded to a construction company, but we do not know how the company operates. All along, they will come and dig the roads and start selling the sand. They are excavating the old asphalt and the rods right now.
“Once it is 6pm in the evenings, the transport fare from Ring Road to Uvgbugyokho will increase to N1000. Some of us have cars, and we go to the mechanic’s workshop every day.
“We went to the site of the construction company, they told us the government has not reimbursed them that is why the work is like that. We don’t know who is saying the truth or not so we decided to come out into the road to draw the attention of the governor so that the world will hear our cry as common men and maybe that will make them come to do the work because this was not what the governor promised us.
“When the governor came to campaign in Upper Ekheuan he said immediately he resumes office this road will be fixed, but this work is up to four years and it is even worse now, so, the suffering is too much. If nothing is done, we are coming back again to block the road. I am a landlord in the area.”
Playwright takes “Iyaloja” to stage
Another protester who identified himself as Osayi said, “I have stopped driving my car home because I visit the mechanic every other day. I park in a friend’s compound by Erediauwa and then take public transport to the place and then drive my car to the office when I close I drop it at my friend’s place and take public transport home.
“What is even more embarrassing is that the few meters they have tarred, the asphalted areas are already giving way. Go and look at Agho junction, Ozigbo junction, before the University of Benin gate on both sides. If you are coming from Ring road, there are already potholes. We are disappointed in what is happening.”
