By NEFISHETU YAKUBU

The Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday gave its approval for Gov. Godwin Obaseki to secure a loan facility of N1.5 billion to fund maintenance and repairs of internal roads across the state.

The approval followed a request letter from the governor, dated July 19, requesting the house’s approval to secure the loan.

Considering the request letter, the Majority leader, Mr Charity Aiguobarueghian, said that the rehabilitation of the roads would translate to improvement in the economy, hence the need for express approval of the loan request.

The member representing PDP, Esan South East, Mr Sunny Ojiezele, Mr Donald Okogbe (PDP Akoko Edo II), among others members took turns to speak on the benefits tied to the repairs and rehabilitation of the roads.

The house, thereafter, in a voice vote, unanimously approved the governor’s request to secure the loan.

The speaker, Mr. Blessing Agbebaku, directed the clerk of the house, Yahaya Omogbai, to send clean copies of the resolution to the governor for immediate action.

In a related development, the House resummoned the federal controller of works in Edo and FERMA to appear before it on Tuesday, August 1, over the deplorable condition of federal roads in the state.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the House had on July 17, summoned the controller of works and the director of FERMA to appear before it on July 25, but only representatives of FERMA honoured the invitation.

Meanwhile, a bill for a law to put an end to open defecation passed the second reading on the floor of House. (NAN)