The Edo State Government has said all road construction projects across the state are ongoing, noting that the pace of work at the various construction sites has been slowed down by torrential rainfall.

Special Adviser to the Governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, in a statement, yesterday, called for calm among residents, reassuring them that work will be accelerated on all major and inner-city road projects once the rain recedes, in line with the government’s urban renewal and infrastructural development drive.

Osagie said the government has adopted a unique payment system, the Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) system, to ensure that contractors complete and deliver all construction projects to the Edo people.

On the status of road projects in the Uwelu axis of Benin City, he said, “There is an existing contract under the Uwelu-West section of the stormwater masterplan. The drainage has to be completed. The project is not moving as fast as planned because we are at the heart of the rainy season. Unless the project is completed, whatever palliative we embark on will amount to nought.

“Roads are constructed with a plan to ensure a sustainable means to drain the water out of the area. When the rains subside in September, we expect that the contractors will deploy fully to the site and ensure that the drains are completed in good time. We have to conclude the Uwelu-West aspect of the master plan to be able to permanently solve the issue of the flooding in the area and the condition of the road, with a proper drain. The contract is active on that road.

He said: “The Governor Godwin Obaseki-led state government remains committed to its urban renewal and infrastructural development programme and will spare no resources at ensuring programmes and projects to improve the livelihood of residents and achieve economic prosperity for the state.

“The construction and rehabilitation of roads are currently ongoing across the state, even though our contractors are grappling with the impact of the rainy season, which has slowed the pace of work on various construction sites in the state.”