The Edo State Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Engr. Ethan Uzamere has assured that within the four months to the end of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration, a couple of roads presently under rehabilitation and construction in the state would be completed to ease the movement of motorists and other residents of the state.

He gave the assurance while speaking with reporters during a routine inspection/monitoring of some road projects in Ovia North East and Ovia South West Local Government Areas of the state.

Referring to a portion of the road that has been reconstructed/rehabilitated, Engr. Ethan divulged, “As you can see this road leads to different farm sites and it also leads to a general hospital. There are also a few religious centres around there. There’s also a very big residential community around these areas. It opens up the inner streets of the community.

“One of the issues affecting our roads is external factors. Coming now, you see that most of the reasons are because of borrow pits. People are taking sand from the pit and this is making our roads fail. It is very important to know who these borrow pits miners got their licenses from.

They get their licenses through the federal government and sometimes, not even the state government is aware. They deal with the community directly. So, it is very important for us as a ministry to let the people of the locality know the effects of the mining activities. It is going to affect their community land.

You are seeing a lot of erosion around the states. It is not just Edo but around Nigeria. One of the major reasons why we have this issue is man-made but with proper planning and organization, we can see how we can control some of these issues.”

Going further, Uzamere stressed: “I am optimistic that most of these roads will be completed before the end of this administration. The projects we are doing are not personal. It is for the people. I know the people that this road is affecting will also cry to the next government that they should continue with the project.”

Roads inspected by Engr. Uzamere during the exercise included the Iguobazuwa- Usen-Okoro/Ugbogui Road Project in Ovia South West Local Government Area put at a length of 13.22km. Others are Usen-Okoro Road whose length is 7.1km; Okemola Road which is 1.45km and Ugbogui Road which is 2.5km.