Edo 2024 Governorship Hopeful, the Promise-Keeper and Oracle of Rural Development, Hon. (Barr.) Deacon Sergius Ose Ogun has facilitated the continuation of rehabilitation work on Ubiaja-Ahia-Ebu Road which straddles Esan South-East Local Government Area in Edo State and Oshimili North Local Government Area in Delta State, South-South Nigeria.
For the records, the Ubiaja-Ahia-Ebu road rehabilitation project was first mooted by the former Minister of Works , Chief (Arc.) Dr Michael Onolememen during his ministerial tenure between 2011 and 2015. The former Works Minister had successfully midwifed the commencement of the project which culminated in the construction and commissioning of a bridge at the Ebu axis of the road before the life of the federal administration in which he served panned out on May 29, 2015. The unexpected change in government at the centre in 2015 stalled the completion of the well-conceived project due to paucity of funds occasioned by a litany of factors.
However, on assuming office in Mid-2015 as the distinguished elected member representing Esan North-East and Esan South-East Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Sergius Ogun took it upon himself to work round the clock to ensure the continuation and completion of the abandoned project. His relentless efforts paid off in 2022 as the Federal Executive Council okayed the project and released some funds thereafter.
A recent visit to the site to inspect the level of ongoing work on the Ahia-Ikeken stretch of the road showed that the construction company handling the job, China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC), has completed 5km out of the 43.16km-long road. The construction giant has expressed it readiness to complete the project next year, if funds keep coming regularly and promptly.
Speaking with journalists, the site engr, Femi Fatola, disclosed that financial constraint was a major challenge to the 24-month deadline stipulated for completion. He said, "the project is a full rehabilitation from Ubiaja to Ebu with communities in-between. It is a federal government project covering 43.1 KM, and what the government gave to us is 24 months to complete the project but we have financial constraint. It is the honourable who has been making sure that the project continues. So he has always been the one moving up and down to ensure they mobilize us so that we can complete this road project within a short period of time. If funds are available, I believe the company will not spend up to the allocated time on site”.
Speaking further on the scope of work, Engr. Fatola added, "We have completed up to 5km. There's allocated drainage because it's a full rehabilitation. It has an existing road and there are drainages there. So we are being careful to see how we maintain the drains that are existing in order not to misallocate the one that government gave to us because the drainage we have aren't enough " he said.
The engineer representing the director Federal Ministry of Works, Engr Odang Solomon, who also spoke with journalists said: "the essence of the road project is to fix all the areas along the road that have gone bad and put them in a better functional condition. And the road stretches from Ubiaja to Ahia, up to Ebu and also connects Asaba in Delta state. And this road is so important because it connects these suburban communities to the trunk A road, that's the Benin-Abuja road. And also connects it to Delta state through the Asaba axis.
He further said, "So the road has been upgraded to a level where we have the binder course and the wearing course, it's one of our highest levels. The contractor CCECC, has been working, they reported to site last year. They have done a marvelous work so far. Their quality of work is impressive. So we are happy to have them but we also appeal to the government to please help in funding regularly and promptly for the contractor to be able to do more. With all the available funding I have faith that the contractor will be able to achieve up to completion next year, by God's grace ", he added.
The honourable member representing Esan North-East and Esan South-East Federal Constituency of Edo state in the National Assembly, Hon. Sergius Ogun, disclosed to journalists the steps he took to save the Ubiaja-Ahia-Ebu road project from abandonment. He said: “from 2015 when I actually got into office as a federal lawmaker, I started writing to the Hon. Minister of Works. I think in 2016, the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) put some money for maintenance but it didn't actually cash out back, so they didn't come to work.
"Then the Ministry of Works came one time, they did the maintenance but I just kept at it. But we thank God today that last year it was approved and I went to visit them. I started writing letters again and I think they delayed in coming to site. But thank God, they are here today and the work is ongoing. I also want to appreciate our brother, our architect Onolememen for his foresight. He has left office but here we are today, we have been able to push for funding for the project and it's ongoing”.
Going further, the Uncommon Federal Lawmaker said: “And by the grace of God, I will also pass the baton to the man that is succeeding me and he will pursue it . Like people say government is continuous. It’s not for one person. The former minister has done his beat. I have done my beat and I'm going to hand over the baton to someone else to continue. We have to be grateful to the former Minister of Budget and National Planning for state, Clem Agba, and then our brother, Ernest Umakhihe former permanent secretary Federal Ministry of Works. It took a lot of collaboration and cooperation to get to where we are today. So I hate to take the glory for what is happening here today", he said.
