Senator Adams Oshiomhole has accused the Minister of Works, David Umahi, of neglecting critical federal roads in Edo and Delta States, urging the Senate to prevail on the minister to adopt a more balanced and national approach to road infrastructure development.

Raising the issue during plenary, Oshiomhole said:

“The federal minister of works needs to be guided. Whereas we have many existing roads that are in terrible condition, new roads are being proposed when the existing ones have not been properly addressed. Just three weeks ago, about 20 new roads were approved.

“Yet, sir, between Edo and Delta States, there is a manifest bias in the actions of the Minister of Works. You cannot travel from Benin to Warri; you cannot travel from Benin to Asaba; you cannot travel from Benin to Auchi; and you cannot travel from Auchi to Okene without encountering serious challenges. What have we done wrong?

“I believe the Minister has consistently demonstrated that there is no federal allocation for these critical roads. It is only through Mr. President’s goodwill that he directed the use of tax credits to address part of this section. Otherwise, in the budgets of the past three years, despite the first motion moved under your leadership to draw the Minister’s attention to the matter, the Federal Minister of Works has deliberately failed to include the portions bordering Edo and Delta States in the national budget.

“Therefore, I plead with you to urge the Minister to be more balanced and to adopt a truly national outlook in carrying out his responsibilities.” (The Guardian, but headline reworked)