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Understanding the ingenious approach of Governor Obaseki to traffic management in Edo
By Ikponmwosa Osamede
In every growing city, there is the inevitable prospect of an increase in both human and vehicular traffic. If efficient and proactive traffic management systems aren’t put in place, the growing population faces a nightmare stuck in traffic. More so, several man hours are lost waiting in traffic gridlocks.
In a city like Lagos, despite the construction of several bridges, traffic gridlocks still remain perpetual. This is a testament that traffic gridlocks are not just controlled with infrastructure alone but with a melange of well thought-out collaborative efforts.
For a State like Edo, which is blessed with several link roads, expensive bridges might not be the go-to strategy at first instance to dealing with traffic, especially when the country is experiencing an economic downturn. It necessitates, therefore, the ideation of smarter ways to deal with such traffic menace while also ensuring funds are available to pay salaries of workers and emoluments for pensioners at a time when many states still grapple with such. Let’s highlight how the Governor of Edo State, His Excellency, Mr Godwin Obaseki has done this.
Governor Obaseki’s approach to traffic management is two-pronged: First is the infrastructural-development approach and the second is the traffic-personnel development approach.
The first approach features the construction of as many quality Trunk B and link roads as possible which can in turn serve as detour routes. Some of these important link roads include: Textile Mill Road that takes traffic away from Benin-Lagos Road as well as Siluko Road; TV/Ehaekpen Road which takes traffic away from New Lagos Road and Ekenwan Road; and Irhirhi-Aruogba-Ogheghe-Obazagbon Roads which takes traffic away from Sapele Road and Airport Road.
These roads have been constructed with road markings that instruct drivers of where to turn. In addition, they are built with kerbs, culverts, drainages, and pedestrian walkways. Pedestrian bridges like that in the University of Benin have been built to take care of pedestrian traffic. His administration has also invested in the installation of street lights to enable nighttime driving. This is very critical in reducing traffic especially because it takes heavy-duty trucks and articulated vehicles off the roads at daytime. As Edo is a gateway to various parts of Nigeria, the investment in street lights is a masterstroke. The Governor has also invested in the installation of new traffic lights as well as replacement of faulty traffic lights at various stops.
Next, Governor Obaseki purchased more than 90 mass transit buses with the realization that a single mass transit bus is capable of taking more than 10 vehicles off the road. Mass-transit or public transportation system remains the best method of reducing traffic and explains why developed countries continues to invest in it massively. It is a fact therefore that one of the measure of success of a society lies in the efficiency of its public transportation system. Note that deployment of light rail systems, trams and others in Nigeria is still very capital-intensive.
The governor has also brought about the affixing of bus stop signs at various roads which designates appropriate spots for vehicles to pick up or drop off passengers. This prevents the haphazard system which was obtainable in previous administrations were bus drivers and other commercial vehicles drop off/ pick up passengers at unauthorised places including the middle of the road. The Governor has gone a step further by building a Central Park where various commercial vehicles plying various routes can pick up or drop off passengers. Four more are underway across the State. For private vehicles, there is also two newly constructed parks in the King Square axis.
For the second approach which deals with emplacing an efficient traffic personnel, the Governor has ensured the retooling and retraining of the State’s traffic personnel. The duty of the traffic personnel is to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and are domiciled in the Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA). EDSTMA has been repositioned by Governor Obaseki with a world-class training institute along Sapele Road with high-end gadgets that teach the personnel how to efficiently deal with intricate traffic situations. Towing vehicles too have been made available to remove vehicles that break down along the roads as this has been touted as one of the reasons for gridlocks.
The EDSTMA reform of 2017 also saw the recruitment of very courteous and respectful traffic management workers totaling over 700. Also, recently instituted is the erring drivers correctional models which includes psychological tests and evaluations. Erring drivers carryout community service when they go to trial and are convicted. The agency also have accident and rescue management teams, first aid equipments, motor bikers and driving simulators. Needless to say that their offices are fully air-conditioned with 24/7 Electric Power Supply as is the policy of the Governor to provide befitting Offices for all workers in the State.
EDSTMA operations have recently been extended to cover other Senatorial districts like Edo North and Edo Central with Auchi, Uromi and Ekpoma offices being birthed.
With the above achievements of the Governor, we can safely say the Governor has invested smartly in the management of the State’s traffic situation. We dare to say it will be one of his long lasting legacies.
Ikponmwosa Osamede (Ik Osamede) writes from Egor in Benin City
Nine Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Esan Central LGA have been suspended at an extraordinary meeting held this evening at Irrua, the LGA capital.
The suspended leaders include APC State Vice Chairman, Chief Francis Inegbeniki, Esan Central foremost Party Leader, Prince Willy Shaka Momodu, Ward Leader, Hon Abudu Ugbesia, among six others.
The suspended nine APC leaders are alleged to have held a clandestine meeting at a hotel in Eidenu, Irrua on the eve of the House of Assembly election and resolved to work against their party candidate for the House of Assembly election, Hon Victor Edoror. It is alleged that they were induced by the ruling party and their grand conspiracy to disallow Hon Edoror to get into the House and become the Speaker which might scuttle their agenda for Esan governor candidate from Esan Central LGA.
The meeting which was attended enmass by angry members and party executives of the party across the LGA appointed former LGA Councillior, and House of Assembly election aspirant, Hon. Bello Oyaziwolo, as the acting Leader, to oversee the affairs of the party pending the determination of the investigation into the degree of involvement of each of the suspended leader.
Interestingly, the Deputy Leader of the Party in Esan Central LGA and former Vice Chairman of the LGA, Hon Francis Ubene, was exempted from suspension because preliminary investigation revealed that he was in the meeting allegedly called by Chief Inegbeniki, but he refused to agree with their alleged plan to sabotage the election for Hon Edoror because according to him “I have forgiven him and if I have forgiven him, I cannot work against him or the party”.
Speaking with Hon Bello, after the appointment, the new LGA Leader said he was not interested in Leading the party for selfish reasons but would commit himself to helping the party rid itself of betrayals and inept leaders in the LGA and hopefully allow a free process to produce the next LGA Leader.
Media Consultant, Henry Ebireri, has urged Delta State governor-elect, Rt. Hon Sheriff Oborevwori to embark only on programmes that are genuine, attainable, purposeful, durable and people-oriented.
He also urged him to make a significant impact at improving the lot of the masses.
In a statement in Sapele, the media consultant described the March 18 governorship election in Delta State as ‘’’a turning point, a landmark in the history of the oil rich state’’.
He appealed to Oborevwori to steer Delta State in the needed direction.
‘’There is a very high expectation from the governor-elect by the people. He must direct his energy towards inculcating the spirit of self-reliance among the citizenry through economic and empowerment programmes’’
The media professional listed security, youth and women empowerment, agriculture, health, education, infrastructural development, industrial revolution, cultural and tourism rebirth, communication and sports development as key areas to be addressed by the governor-elect.
The statement underscored the future of Delta youths infrastructure and security challenges.
He urged Oborevwori to be fair to all.
He also urged him to recruit only qualified, competent and meritorious hands to help him develop the oil-rich state.
‘’They should be people of integrity, honesty and trust. The team should comprise only tested, dedicated, loyal, courageous, selfless, focused and visionary men and women’’
Ebireri further commended Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for his immense contribution to the political development of Delta State.
Senator Ovie Omo-Agege Rejects INEC’s Declaration of Oborevwori As Winner of Delta Poll
A while ago, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Delta State announced Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, gubernatorial flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the governor-elect following the March 18 governorship election.
The declaration was made despite the myriad of infractions and acts of impunity on the part of the PDP in the course of the election. These were brought to the attention of INEC with incontrovertible proof.
The March 18 election was characterized by massive fraud, unprecedented vote buying and voter suppression perpetrated by the PDP in the course of the election.
The fraudulent nature of PDP’s so-called victory are just too damning and daring for it to be acceptable in any decent society. Most of those infractions are on the public domain and known to INEC officials and the security agencies involved in superintending the election.
In the February 25 Presidential and National Assembly elections, the results pointed to an unequivocal rejection of the PDP. Of the three senatorial zones in the state, APC won two while PDP controversially edged out the Labour Party in the Delta North Senate race.
It was an unadulterated verdict of Deltans on how they have fared under 24 years of governance of their state by PDP.
On the basis of the factors listed and more that will come later, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, governorship candidate of the APC in Delta State as well as the leadership of the party, unequivocally reject the declaration by INEC of Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori of the PDP as winner of the March 18 governorship election.
We will challenge this fraudulent result using all legal means.
As a democrat and Deputy President of the Senate, Omo-Agege will explore all lawful avenues to reclaim the mandate freely given to him by the good people of Delta State.
To the numerous supporters of APC and the entire public that share in Omo-Agege’s vision of building a new Delta State, we urge you all to remain calm, peaceful and law abiding.
I can assure all our teeming supporters and all Deltans that the PDP pyrrhic celebration of a stolen mandate will be short-lived.
By the grace of God and the clearly expressed wish of the people, this electoral heist will be reversed and Senator Omo-Agege will be sworn in on May 29, 2023 as the lawfully elected Governor of Delta State.
Signed
Sunny Areh
Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy President of the Senate and Governorship Candidate of APC, Delta State, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege
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