Senate on Wednesday summoned the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi, over the deplorable condition of the Old Oyo-Ogbomosho road in Oyo State.
The decision was sequel to a motion of urgent public importance raised by Senator AbdulFatai Buhari (APC Oyo North) at the beginning of the day’s plenary.
Senator Buhari expressed concerns over the hardships faced by travellers due to the poor state of the road, which he noted serves as a crucial link between the Southern and Northern regions of the country.
He pointed out that despite major repair works initiated by the federal government over a decade ago, the road remains in disrepair, frequently causing accidents and leaving travellers stranded in long traffic jams, especially due to the presence of articulated vehicles.
“For over 10 years, despite the federal government initiating major repairs on the road, it remains in a deplorable state, resulting in regular accidents and daily gridlock caused by articulated vehicles,” the lawmaker said.
All Senators, who contributed to the debate called on the federal government to take urgent action on the road, especially due to its economic values being the link between the Southern and Northern parts of the country.
In his remarks, the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio asked the Minister of Works to appear before the Senate Committee on Works to explain the delays and abandonment of the road project.
He also directed the Senate Committee on Works to report to the plenary within three weeks after engaging the minister.