Constitutional lawyer and Human
Rights Activist, Bar. Omes Ogedegbe has slammed the Delta State government for
spending a whopping sum of about N40 billion on Federal roads at a time of
massive poverty in the state
Bar. Ogedegbe who spoke to the
Urhobo Times, said the state Commissioner for Works, Mr. Funkekeme Solomon, was
assuming that Deltans were fools by claiming that the state government spent
N40 billion on federal roads within the state.
“It is a disgrace. The Commissioner
is taking Deltans for a ride, as if as a people, we are not well informed. The
Federal roads within Delta State were close to completion within the periods
the Uduaghan-led administration took over office”.
He challenged the Commissioner
to give details of the federal roads that has siphoned N40billion naira from
state treasury. “It is sad and so disheartening that while we continue to
advocate lack of development bedeviling this administration, the government in
the face of stinking poverty is wasting tax payers fund on a federal road.”
“The government must give
details to Deltans, otherwise, we shall not allow this matter to lie as it is a
sheer fraud against the people of the state. According to him, spending
N40billion on federal roads the state roads are in a state of near quagmire”.
Recently, the State
Commissioner for Works said, the government had so far invested over N40
billion on tarring and repair of federal roads and other projects in the state
in the last six years without compensation.
Mr. Funkekeme Solomon, said during
the inspection of sites for the construction of four flyovers in the state,
that the government was now conscious of investing more money on Federal roads
in the state as the money had not been paid or any attempt made to encourage
the state to do more.
The sites are Inter Bau Roundabout,
Ogbogonogo Market, Effurun Roundabout and Enerhen Junction in Asaba and Warri,
respectively.
He said the roads were mostly used
by Deltans and that the flyovers which designs have started, would reduce
traffic congestion in the state to the barest minimum and was also meant to
show that the present administration was not ready to lose focus in its
determination to build a good network of roads for Deltans.
He said Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan
was anxious to leave a good legacy after 2015 and have a record of good
performance, stressing that the administration was determined to protect and
alleviate the people’s sufferings as against the perception that the flyover
was to displace and inconvenience people.
Funkekeme also disclosed that, the
progress recorded, is because of the restructuring carried out in the
ministry, revealing that there was an initial imbalance in the distribution of
works embarked upon by only rural, urban and highway departments only
until it was split into senatorial arrangements which brings all the
departments busy and allow competition and result.
