From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
In an attempt to reduce the suffering of motorists and commuters on the Benin-Warri federal express road, the Union of Tipper and Quarry Employers has embarked on self-help to fix some failed portions on the stretches of Benin-Ologbo community of the main access road for road users from Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and other states to Edo, Lagos, western and northern states of the country.
At the various sites of the repairs carried on by the union, tens of trucks of granite boulders were discharged on the failed craters, while members of the union were seen helping the bulldozers, cranes and other earth-moving machines to fill the bad portions.
There were slight gridlocks on the road, with road motorists, road users and the inhabitants of the nearby communities praising the public-spirited efforts of the union.
The Secretary of the Union, Wilson Ogbachi, who was on hand supervising the palliative work job, told newsmen that they decided to embark on the repairs in order to ameliorate the sufferings being encountered by all the road users on that road, before the heavy rainfall, when it would be more difficult to ply the road.
Comrade Ogbachi further disclosed that they are trailer owners and employees, whose jobs are mainly outside of Edo State, where they get their materials from quarries and transport them to Delta, Bayelsa and some other states.
“It got to a stage that our vehicles and others could no longer pass the road easily. Whereas it originally takes about one hour to ply the road between Warri and Benin, it now takes over five hours, with the Ologbo and Benin stretches adding to the worst sections of the federal expressway, said Comrade Ogbachi.
He continued “We have uploaded over 14 trailers of hardcore loads since last week and over five trailers loads this week while we are still expecting more trailers loads to complete the job”.
Ogbachi said that since the federal government is not forthcoming to repair the road, they felt their union could contribute its corporate social responsibility with the palliative repairs, which could encourage some other public entities to do the same.
On whether the federal government were aware of the work they are presently doing, Ogbachi said they have since reached out to the Controller of the Ministry of Works in Benin City, adding that they had fruitful discussions with them on their plans for the road repairs.
“We also got in touch with the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Roads and Bridges, Edo State, for them to be aware of these road repairs.
He also prayed that President Bola Asiwaju Tinubu hears the cries of all to fix the Warri/Benin and all ailing federal roads in Edo and neighbouring states, once and for all.
Also on the ground during the repair work, was a Unit Chairman of the union, Comrade Michael Eghaghe, who supported the comments of Ogbachi.
A community youth leader, Mr Alfred Titon, also said that his community has been suffering for many years as a result of the bad road. “We appreciate the repairs that are being done by this union, and we are grateful to them”.
Mr Danfo Agbomitotor, trailer driver and several other motorists and travellers said that they were happy as the road repairs were going to ease their businesses that are dependent on the road.