By correspondent in Lokoja.
Hon. Lawal Akus.
A member of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Lawal Akus,has appealed to the State Government to urgently complete the delayed construction and rehabilitation of Ankpa-Abejukolo road in Ankpa and Omala Local Government respectively.
Akus,a first time lawmaker representing Ankpa I State Constituency,made the appeal on Wednesday when he represented a motion on the issue before the hallow chamber.
The state legislator recalled that the Kogi State Government in October, 2016, awarded the rehabilitation and construction of Ankpa Abejukolo to Messers Mo-Tex Engineering covering a total of 75.9Km.
Akus expressed dismay that, only 3.3KM had been done so far by the contractor with 72.6KM yet to be constructed/rehabilitated,adding that the contract was awarded to Messers Mo-Tex Engineering.
He said:”The road is a strategic infrastructure linking Ankpa Local Government (various communities in Ankpa from Ejegbo, Emere, Odagba, Enabo, Ofugo, Inye, Ikka etc) to numerous communities in Omala Local Government.
“It is very significant to farmers and traders as an outlet for transportation of numerous communities in both Ankpa and Omala Local Governments.
“However,due the delay in the construction/rehabilitation of the road, numerous lives have been lost to banditry and kidnappings.
“Criminals find it easy to operate on the road,leaving commuters at the mercy of murderous elements.
“The road in question is also a strategic infrastructure linking Ankpa Local Government with various communities from Ejegbo, Emere, Odagba, Enabo, Ofugo, Inye, Ikka etc) to 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.
“The House should write to the Kogi State Ministry of Works and Housing to include the construction/rehabilitation of Ankpa- Abejukolo road in the 2024 fiscal budget and be forwarded to the House for passage.”
Responding, some lawmakers described the present situation on the road as very worrisome.
They also called on the state government to urgently look at the plight of the people plying the road, with a view to cushioning the economic and security hardships consequent upon the deplorable nature of the roads in Ankpa and Omala Local Government Areas of Kogi State.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
