By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Kogi State State House of Assembly has appealed to the State Government to complete rehabilitation work on Ankpa-Abejukolo road linking communities in Ankpa and Omala Local Governments.
The call was contained in a resolution of the House following the adoption of a motion to that effect moved by Lawal Akus (APC-Ankpa I) at Plenary sitting on Thursday.
Presenting the motion, Akus recalled that contract for the rehabilitation/construction of Ankpa-Abejukolo road was awarded by the State Government in October, 2016, to Messers Mo-Tex Engineering, covering a total of 75.9Km.
He said that the State Government mobilized the contractor to enable immediate commencement of work but regretted that seven years after, only 3.3KM has been done so far by the contractor with 72.6KM yet to be touched.
The Legislator described the road as a strategic infrastructure linking Ankpa Local Government consisting of various communities in Ankpa from Ejegbo, Emere, Odagba, Enabo, Ofugo, Inye, Ikka etc) to other numerous communities in Omala Local Government.
“The road is very significant to farmers and traders as an outlet for transportation of numerous communities in both Ankpa and Omala Local Governments.
Akus said that due to the delay in the reconstruction or rehabilitation of the road, numerous lives have been lost to banditry and kidnappings.
He said that criminals were freely operating on the road as they find it easy to operate while commuters are left at the mercy of the murderous elements just as farm produce and goods perish and services suffer.
The lawmaker urged the State Government through the Ministry of Works and Housing to arrest the long delay and neglect of the road and ensure resumption of work to wipe the tears of the people.
He urged the Ministry to undertake urgent inspection and reevaluation of the road and recommend to the State Government what should to be done in view of the market reality (inflation and foreign exchange value to Naira) for reconstruction.
Akus also stressed the need for the Works Ministry to capture the project in the year 2024 fiscal budget.
Seconding the motion, Ibrahim Abba (APC-Ankpa II) described the situation as very worrisome and urged Government to urgently look into the plight of the people to assuage the economic hardships and address the bad state of the roads in Ankpa and Omala Local LGAs.
Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf adopted the motion following majority voice votes in its favour. (Ends)