The tales of woe over the deplorable state of roads in Edo are not limited to commuters in transit on the linking highways in the state, as residents of Benin City, the state capital, also groan as most intra-city roads have become deplorable.
Most hit are roads within the Government Reserved Areas (GRA), which were constructed decades ago without any visible rehabilitation work done by successive governments in the state.
But more appalling is the condition of the Oba Ovoranmen Square, otherwise known as Ring Road, which, in recent months, has become an eyesore with potholes and deep craters, with the residents of the metropolitan city calling on Governor Monday Okpebholo to rescue the city centre.
From the Mission Road, Oba Market Road and Plymouth Road entries to the Ring Road, it has become a herculean task for commuters using the square as they meander through the numerous potholes that have almost rendered the city centre impassable.
The situation is indescribable, especially in the early hours of the day when workers struggle to get to work and late in the evening, when the workers and traders close for the day.
Besides, commercial drivers that were previously barred from dropping and picking up passengers at the Kings Square have turned the place into a motor park, just as the rains have not helped matters either, as vehicles break down in the potholes that are usually covered by erosion.
In the GRA, Ihama Road by the House of Assembly Quarters remains impassable whenever it rains, while the Boundary Road towards Airport Road and Adesuwa Grammar School Road suffers the same fate whenever the rain falls.
Giwa Amu, Gapiona and other adjoining roads are also at the mercy of erosion as there are no drainages to take the overflow of water out of the GRA.
Gardens built around the King’s Square by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole have overgrown with weeds, even as hawkers are seen all over the place, turning all the walkways into extensions of their stores.
The National Museum, which used to be a point of attraction from any point of the King’s Square, has now become unkempt, overgrown with grass.
Some residents, who spoke with journalists over the deplorable state of the Ring Road, described its current state as a bad tale ahead of the Oba of Benin’s 10th coronation anniversary.
A resident, Mr. Osaro Idemudia, while responding to our correspondent, said: ‘We are not happy with the way the Ring Road is looking. Bus drivers are supposed to take passengers at the Central Park. Look at dirt everywhere.’
Another motorist, James Igie, opined that ‘Kings Square represents the image of the state, and called on the state government to attend to the situation promptly.
‘It was sad that the Oba Ovoranmen Square was allowed to look dirty. This is not good, and we hope the government will address the situation.
For Solomon Aibangbee, a businessman, ‘in the last two weeks, the state of the roads in Edo State has been in the news all over the world. Passengers and motorists spend days passing through Edo State because of bad roads.
‘As if that is not enough, you now add the roads within Benin City to the problems. Is Ring Road also a federal Road? I ask because that is the usual excuse we hear.’ Aibangbee bemoaned
When contacted for comments, the Managing Director of Edo State Road Maintenance Agency, Engr. Felix Ibhade, said there were plans to fix the Ring Road.
Ibhade added that Governor Okpebholo had said that he would not want to do palliative work on the road but a full-blown asphalting rehabilitation.
‘So we are on it. Our constraint is the rain because the majority of the roads we have given amelioration, the rain washed them up. So we are waiting for the rain to subside. That is the beauty of the town, and we don’t do it and after one month it will wear out. We will work in collaboration with the Ministry of Works because it is not going to be an easy job,’ Ibhade admitted.
On his part, the Managing Director, Edo State Parks and Gardens Agency, Pastor Stanley Ighodaro, assured that Governor Okpebholo had shown commitment to beautify Benin City centre and other areas in the state.