Youths from the various communities in Ugu ward in Orhiomwon LGA of Edo State, on Monday, 3 March protested an alleged commissioning of a non-existing road project, the Abraka – Oben road; by the Minister of Regional Development, Engr Abubakar Momoh, stating that such a road is not in existence in the local government area.
The youths led by Comrade Monday Osemwenkhae, while protesting the alleged commissioning of the road project at the press centre of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Edo State Council, Benin City, said the communities where the none existing road projects are , include – Urhehue, Oben, Odighi, Obanokhoro and others.
Addressing journalists, Comrade Osemwenkhae described the commissioning of the road as an attempt to cover up the continuous neglect of the area that houses the largest gas deposit in West Africa.
“We are here to say that the said Abraka-Oben Road which was commissioned by the Honourable Minister for Regional Development, Hon. Engr Abubakar Momoh, is not existing any where in our locality.
“The said road is a calculated attempt to cover up the continuous neglect of our area by his Ministry and its affiliate agency and commission like the NDDC, for a very long period.
“But, what we have just gotten is a commissioning of a non existing road with our community name attached to divert attention from the neglect of the roads in that area.
“The link roads to Oben are the Ugo-Obozogbe-Iguelaba road, and Umoghun-Nokhua Oben road. The former is currently undergoing construction courtesy of community fund and private company.
“The name ‘Oben’ is being used as a cash cow for many years, and we expect the present Nigerian government of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to change the narrative, rather than the Minister commissioning a none existing road using our community name,” the statement said.
However, when contacted on phone, the Minister, Engr. Abubakar Momoh, explained that the road he commissioned is from the Delta State end, Abraka to Oben, and not from Benin to Oben.
“They should go through Abraka to Oben. We didn’t say from Benin to Oben, we said Abraka to Oben, that is, from the Delta end, so, they should get it clear.
“You can now move from Oben to Abraka without stress. The Ministry did the one from Benin to up to 20 kilometers before. The other one, they are talking of, from Abraka to Benin, the first phase has been completed, it’s a 10-kilometer road, Abraka to Oben, not Benin to Abraka,”Momoh explained.