By Ighomuaye Lucky. O
The Edo State ministry of Works, has said that the mapping of the houses to be pulled down and the relocation of the electric lines to pave the way for the construction of the flyover at the Ramat Park, Benin have been the reasons for the delay in full commencement of work.
The Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr. John Obanor, disclosed this while speaking with Journalists in Benin.
He said that it is very important that houses that have to go down before the construction commences in full swing have to be mapped out and compensations are paid to the deserving landlords.
Obanor said if the needful is not done before commencement of work, it could lead to litigations by those landlords who might want to seek redress in court, thereby hindering the progress of the work.
“When we hear some questions being asked concerning the flyover, there are procedures when it comes to construction.
“I don’t think, for instance, the company handling the flyover, they have left the site. They have always been there. Before you embark on what we call bridge work, structures that have similarities with bridge work, there is what we call site investigations.
“We do carry out soil investigations. Those doing soil investigations, they are supposed to tell you the depth you will go before you know where to put the equipment that can anchor the structure that is coming and not until you do those ones, they will not be able to ascertain what should be done.
“You cannot just mobilize equipment and the only thing you can do, is the equipment you need per that time.
“There are other issues that are needed to be addressed, like relocation of electric lines, houses that will be touched during the construction. We have to also ensure that they are mapped out.
“The necessary procedures for them to be compensated have to be meant otherwise construction is not meant to inflict pains on the people. It is supposed to make people have a better life.
“And some of these things, if they are not addressed, it is going to be a civil issues and by the time there are litigations, the project may not progress further than that”, Obanor said.
Mr. Obanor while reacting to the question if his ministry is going to build on the legacy of the past administration, he said projects that have direct impact on the citizens of the state are going to be consolidated on and that those that should be rejigged would be done for the betterment of the people of the state.
He called on the people of the state to help join hands with the present administration in order for it to be able to deliver on its electioneering campaign promises to them.
