Road projects: Oshiomhole alleges bias in Umahi’s allocations

Senator Adams Oshiomhole, who represents Edo North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, has criticised the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, for giving priority to the construction of new roads while many existing federal highways across the country remain in a poor and dangerous condition.

Speaking during plenary at the Senate on Wednesday, Oshiomhole said the Federal Government should first focus on rehabilitating major roads that have become difficult for motorists to use before embarking on fresh road projects.

The former Edo State governor expressed concern over the state of federal roads linking Edo State with neighbouring Delta State and other parts of the country.

According to him, several of these highways have been neglected for years despite repeated appeals by lawmakers and residents.

Oshiomhole argued that the recent approval of about 20 new road projects by the Federal Government raises questions when many existing roads that serve thousands of commuters daily have not been repaired.

He specifically mentioned the roads connecting Benin to Warri, Asaba, Auchi and Okene, describing them as being in a deplorable condition.

He said the poor state of the highways has continued to affect the movement of people, goods and services, while also increasing travel time and transportation costs.

The senator alleged that the Minister of Works has not been fair in the allocation of road projects, claiming that some parts of the country have received more attention than others.

He urged the Senate leadership to intervene and encourage the minister to ensure that road projects are distributed fairly across the country.

According to Oshiomhole, the Senate had previously drawn the minister’s attention to the condition of the affected roads through a motion, but little has been done to address the problem.

He said part of the road project is only receiving attention because President Bola Tinubu approved the use of the tax credit scheme to fund the rehabilitation of some sections.

Oshiomhole maintained that federal infrastructure projects should reflect national interest rather than favouring certain areas. He stressed that every region deserves equal access to quality roads because they are essential for economic growth, trade, security and the daily movement of citizens.

He called on the Minister of Works to adopt a more balanced and inclusive approach in planning and implementing road projects, insisting that repairing existing highways should be treated as a priority alongside the construction of new ones.