The Edo State Government has condemned the All Progressives Congress (APC) for allegedly playing politics with the deplorable condition of the Benin-Auchi Highway. The Edo State government described the road: “a critical federal highway that has been neglected by the APC-controlled Federal Government for over nine years.” In a statement released by the Hon. Commissioner for Communication and Orientation on Saturday, Chris Osa Nehikhare, the state government expressed disappointment at the APC’s attempt to use the road as a “propaganda tool” ahead of the September 21, 2024, Edo State Governorship election.
Nehikhare stated, “Benin-Auchi Road is too important to be a propaganda tool. Propaganda and lies are not a strategy.”
The 124-kilometer Benin-Auchi Road, which connects Edo State to Kogi State and serves as a major trade route, has been in a deplorable condition for years, posing significant challenges to commuters and hampering economic activities in the region.
According to data from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the road has witnessed numerous accidents, resulting in the loss of lives and property. In 2023 alone, the FRSC recorded 157 road crashes on the Benin-Auchi Road, with 83 fatalities and 412 persons sustaining varying degrees of injuries.
Nehikhare stated, “It is Governor Godwin Obaseki who has persistently been calling on the attention of the Federal Government and other stakeholders to the condition of the Benin-Auchi Road and the plight commuters plying the road go through daily. As a permanent solution, the Governor has continued to urge for the road to be concession-ed”
The Commissioner further revealed that the only ongoing work on the Benin-Auchi Road is being carried out by Dangote and BUA as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility, a fact acknowledged by the Minister for Works, Engr. David Umahi, during his last visit to the state on March 9, 2024.
“Until this very moment, the APC Federal Government has not taken any step on the deplorable condition of the Benin-Auchi Road, which is their responsibility,” Nehikhare added.
The Edo State Government therefore urged the APC to prioritize the well-being of Nigerians over political propaganda, emphasizing the importance of addressing the critical infrastructure needs of the state and the country.
