The Senate has invited the Minister of Works, Senator David Umahi, to come and explain why the contractor responsible for the Ogbomoso-Oyo Federal Road project stopped working on it.
On Wednesday, October 2, the Senate asked Senator Barinada Mpigi from Rivers South-East to quickly summon the Minister to find out what happened with the project.
The Senate also urged the Federal Government to act fast and get the necessary authorities to finish fixing the old Ogbomoso-Oyo road to prevent any more problems.
This discussion was sparked by a motion titled “Urgent Need to Call on the Federal Government to Complete the Rehabilitation of the Ogbomoso/Oyo Trunk ‘A’ Road and Finish the Reconstruction of the New Ogbomoso/Oyo Expressway.” It was introduced by Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Aviation from Oyo North.
Senator Buhari stated, “The Senate knows that transportation is very important because it helps move goods and people both within our country and beyond. Good transportation keeps prices stable in markets and helps traders manage the supply of goods according to what people need.”
He pointed out that in the past month, the people of Ogbomoso faced serious challenges after a tragic accident involving petrol tankers on the road. This caused traffic jams, made some people homeless, hurt local businesses, and sadly, even resulted in some lives lost.
Senator Buhari also mentioned that the situation became worse as drivers had to use the old Ogbomoso-Oyo road due to the ongoing work on the new road, which has been in progress since 2007.
He explained that although the Federal Government hired different contractors to speed up the roadwork, the contractor for the Ogbomoso-Oyo section has abandoned the site, leaving the road unfinished while other parts have been completed.
Senator Buhari expressed concern that using the temporary diversion has damaged many roads in Ogbomoso, causing chaos for the local residents.
“This road, which is less than 500 meters long, has become very dangerous, causing numerous accidents recently. Over ten accidents happened in just a few days, leading to injuries and losses for businesses, especially for perishable goods coming from the north,” he said.
He concluded by emphasizing that the delay in completing this short road is affecting the lives of people in Ogbomoso and many Nigerians, as it connects the North and South, highlighting the urgent need for action to prevent further issues.
