By NewsBits
Edo State Commissioner for Roads and Bridges, Ethan Uzamere, has said work is about to begin on N228billion reconstruction of the deplorable Benin-Asaba expressway. He confirmed that Delta State Government was part of reconstruction agreement, for residents and travellers to benefit from the real dividends of democracy.
Uzamere spoke yesterday at his office in Benin during a news conference. Governor Godwin Obaseki on January 31, at the Government House, Benin, signed N228 billion agreement with Infrastructure Corporation of Nigeria (InfraCorp) and AAA Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (Triple A Infrastructure), for the reconstruction of the strategic road.
The road project is to be funded by Triple Infrastructure and InfraCorp, and supported by Edo State Government as an equity investor, under the 25-year Highway Development Management Initiative (HDMI) Concession to Africa Plus Partners.
Sixty kilometres of the road are in Edo State, and a large portion of the road start from Ring Road, Benin, through Abudu and Agbor to Asaba. Obaseki described the partnership as a great financing model for unlocking infrastructure development in the country, while calling for sustained partnership between states and the Federal Government.
He noted that the Federal Government did not have the kind of money required to rebuild major roads to the standard they should be, stressing that the N228 billion was more than a quarter of the entire budget of the Federal Ministry of Works.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Triple A Infrastructure Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Ike Chioke, said the agreement with Edo State Government was for the complete reconstruction of the Benin-Asaba expressway, under the HDMI Concession to Africa Plus Partners.
The Managing Director of Triple A Infrastructure, Niran Ajakaiye, revealing further details of the partnership, said it would be a world-class project, noting that the road construction would begin from Benin in Edo State to Asaba in Delta State, terminating at the Second Niger Bridge.
Commissioner for roads and bridges said the Obaseki administration had already constructed over 700 kilometres of internal roads.
He said Edo State had high vehicular traffic, in view of its location, urging the Federal Government to prioritise the rehabilitation of roads in the state. He described the performance of Obaseki’s administration as impressive, especially in infrastructural development.
Uzamere said the reconstruction of Benin-Abraka road was ongoing, while Ring road in Benin was being redesigned. He admonished Nigerians, especially leaders, to think differently, in terms of projects’ financing.
Source: The Nation.
