By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
KOGI State House of Assembly has appealed to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to as a matter of urgency rehabilitate Idah-Onyedega road in Ibaji Local Government Area of the State.
The House made the appeal at its plenary on Wednesday in Lokoja in a resolution issued following the adoption of a Matter Of Urgent Public Importance raised by Rt Hon. Comfort Ojoma Nwuchiola (APC-Ibaji).
Nwuchiola who is also the Deputy Speaker of the House lamented that the Idah-Onyedega road had become a death trap for her constituents and citizens of the Country.
Calling on her colleagues to support the motion, the Lawmaker recalled that one of the devastating consequences of the 2012 and 2022 flooding of Rivers Niger and Benue in was the destruction of the Idah-Onyedega Road.
“It is on record that many parts of the State were ravaged, tens of thousands of our people rendered homeless, properties, farmlands and infrastructure wantonly destroyed.
“Our experiences in Ibaji are not better. We suffered the highest from the overflowing Rivers Niger and Benue. The entire Local Government was submerged.
“The House should further note that the aftermath of the last two deluges, particularly as they affect access to Onyedega, the Local Government Headquarters and other villages within Ibaji, have been devastating.
“What is required now is to reconstruct Idah-Onyedega Road and other access roads linking other communities within and outside the Local Government Area”, she said.
Nwuchiola enjoined the State Government to engage engineers to redesign the road with more culverts and bridges as a lasting solution to the water menace.
Seconding the motion, Rt. Hon. Enema Paul, (APC-Dekina-Okura) and former Deputy Speaker of the Assembly, described the situation of Ibaji Local Government and its environs and people as “Pathetic.”
In his contribution, Hon. Abu Onoru-Oiza Jibrin (APC-Ajaokuta) said Ibaji Local Government cannot be neglected as they are contributing immensely to the economic growth of Nigeria.
“Mr Speaker, traveling to Ibaji is like sentencing your enemy to 21 years in prison. The nature of the road in Ibaji has increased transportation risks and insecurity.
Also supporting, Hon. Sunday Daku (PDP-Bassa) who is also from a riverine community, lamented that his Local Government is also faced with bad road network which has affected the social and economic development of his people.
“Because of the bad road network across the local government, it has become a breading ground for hoodlums to carry out their nefarious activities”, Daku stated.
In his ruling, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf acknowledged that Ibaji road is always flooded annually, adding that, the contributions of Ibaji Local Government to national economy can not be over emphacised.
Following majority voice votes for adoption of the motion, the Speaker directed the Clerk of the House to convey the Resolution of the Assembly to the Executive arm of Government. (Ends)