Senator Adams Oshiomhole has accused the Minister of Works, David Umahi, of neglecting critical federal roads in Edo and Delta States, urging the Senate to prevail on the minister to adopt a more balanced and national approach to road infrastructure development.
Raising the issue during plenary, Oshiomhole said:
“The federal minister of works needs to be guided. Whereas we have many existing roads that are in terrible condition, new roads are being proposed when the existing ones have not been properly addressed. Just three weeks ago, about 20 new roads were approved.
“Yet, sir, between Edo and Delta States, there is a manifest bias in the actions of the Minister of Works. You cannot travel from Benin to Warri; you cannot travel from Benin to Asaba; you cannot travel from Benin to Auchi; and you cannot travel from Auchi to Okene without encountering serious challenges. What have we done wrong?
“I believe the Minister has consistently demonstrated that there is no federal allocation for these critical roads. It is only through Mr. President’s goodwill that he directed the use of tax credits to address part of this section. Otherwise, in the budgets of the past three years, despite the first motion moved under your leadership to draw the Minister’s attention to the matter, the Federal Minister of Works has deliberately failed to include the portions bordering Edo and Delta States in the national budget.
“Therefore, I plead with you to urge the Minister to be more balanced and to adopt a truly national outlook in carrying out his responsibilities.”
Oshiomhole Accuses Umahi of Neglecting Edo, Delta Federal Roads
Senator Adams Oshiomhole has accused the Minister of Works, David Umahi, of neglecting key federal roads in Edo and Delta states, urging the Senate to intervene and ensure a more equitable distribution of road infrastructure projects across the country.
Speaking during plenary, the former Edo State governor expressed concern over the deteriorating condition of major highways in the two states, arguing that the Federal Ministry of Works has continued to prioritize new road projects while abandoning critical existing routes.
According to Oshiomhole, the government recently approved about 20 new road projects despite the poor state of several strategic highways that require urgent attention.
“The Federal Minister of Works needs to be guided. Whereas we have many existing roads that are in terrible condition, new roads are being proposed when the existing ones have not been properly addressed. Just three weeks ago, about 20 new roads were approved,” he said.
‘Manifest Bias’ Against Edo, Delta
The senator alleged that there was a “manifest bias” in the allocation of federal road projects affecting Edo and Delta states.
He lamented the deplorable condition of major highways linking Benin City to Warri, Asaba, Auchi and Okene, saying commuters face severe difficulties travelling along the routes.
“You cannot travel from Benin to Warri; you cannot travel from Benin to Asaba; you cannot travel from Benin to Auchi; and you cannot travel from Auchi to Okene without encountering serious challenges. What have we done wrong?” Oshiomhole asked.
Budget Exclusion
Oshiomhole further claimed that the affected road projects had been consistently excluded from the national budget over the past three years.
He noted that progress on parts of the roads was only made possible after President Bola Tinubu approved the use of tax credit financing.
“I believe the Minister has consistently demonstrated that there is no federal allocation for these critical roads. It is only through Mr. President’s goodwill that he directed the use of tax credits to address part of this section,” he said.
The lawmaker added that despite previous Senate interventions aimed at drawing attention to the condition of the roads, the Ministry of Works had allegedly failed to include the affected sections in successive budget proposals.
Call for Fair Distribution
Oshiomhole appealed to the Senate leadership to engage the Minister of Works and ensure that infrastructure development is carried out fairly across all regions.
“Therefore, I plead with you to urge the Minister to be more balanced and to adopt a truly national outlook in carrying out his responsibilities,” he said.
The senator’s remarks add to growing concerns over the condition of federal highways in parts of southern Nigeria, with stakeholders repeatedly calling for accelerated rehabilitation of key economic corridors connecting Edo and Delta states
