Residents of Oke, Irhue, and Uhiere villages in the Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State are voicing growing concerns over the stalled Ehor-Irhue-Oke-Uhiere road project, citing significant economic and logistical disruptions.
Stakeholders, including farmers and transporters, lament the non-completion of the vital infrastructure, highlighting its detrimental impact on their livelihoods and the region’s overall development.
The road, intended as a bypass to alleviate congestion on the heavily trafficked Benin-Auchi Expressway, has been left unfinished, leaving communities struggling with accessibility issues.
Speaking with The Nigerian Observer in Irhue village, a community leader, requesting anonymity, articulated the fears and anxieties of local stakeholders.
“The poor handling and subsequent withdrawal of the contractor from this project, which links the Ehor-Benin-Auchi Expressway and terminates at Uhiere, has left us deeply concerned,” he stated.
The incomplete state of the road significantly impacts the transportation of agricultural produce and hinders economic activities in the area. Mr. Osagle, a resident of Oke village, urgently appealed to the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration to prioritize the road’s completion, emphasizing its significant economic potential.
“It’s absolutely alright to emphasize that the said road passes through Okomu Oil farms,” he noted, highlighting the project’s strategic importance.
Adding to the calls for action, another stakeholder urged Okomu Oil Palm plc to collaborate with the Edo State government to ensure the road project’s successful completion. The partnership could leverage resources and expertise to overcome the current impasse and unlock the road’s potential benefits for the surrounding communities and the wider region. The road’s strategic location, passing through the Okomu Oil farms, further underscores the need for a collaborative approach between the government and the private sector to bring the project to fruition.
