Ondo rep laments deplorable condition of Akoko roads

THE lawmaker representing Akoko South East/South West federal constituency of Ondo state in the House of Representatives, Hon Babatunde Kolawole, on Sunday, lamented over the deplorable state of the road in Akokoland of the state

The lawmaker who stated this during an empowerment programme organised by him at Ifira-Akoko in Akoko Southeast Local Government Area of the state, said commuters face untold hardship on the roads within Akokoland.

Kolawole who described most of the roads on the Akoko axis as death traps said life has been difficult for the residents of the area, socially and economically, while the road has become the haven of kidnappers.

The lawmaker disclosed that the first motion he moved on the floor of the National Assembly had to do with the rehabilitation and construction of roads in the area, but said the motion never saw the light of the day.

He said all the lawmakers at the National Assembly should be commended for their role in drawing the attention of the federal government to the deplorable state of the road saying the lawmakers should not be blamed.

He said “Though road construction is outside our mandate. Basically, we are lawmakers. Our mandate is to make laws for the good of the Nigerian people.

“But outside that, we also facilitate some projects which include roads. As we speak, we’ve done something in the area of appropriation, that is in the 2018 budget so that our roads can be reconstructed and rehabilitated.

“I can assure you that as soon as they start the implementation of the 2018 budget and by the time you come here next time, work must have been started on our roads.

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“We’ve worked on Isua/Epinmi/Oka road, we’ve also worked on Owo/ Ikare road and at the moment, we are looking at working on Isua/Ifira/Ido-Ani road,”

Distributing some items to beneficiaries, which included ten vehicles, 48 motorcycles, several grinding machines, generators and various amounts of money.

Kolawole said the essence of the event was to give back to the people of his constituency who gave him the mandate to represent them in the House and also to empower some people from his constituent.

He said: “What we are doing today is just giving back to the society. The people have laboured very hard to support me and they entrusted their mandate into my hands. I think it is also very important that I give back to them.”