By Diagi Lucky
“Today, Ewu Agbede Old Road has been reduced to a foot path, now in an absolute deplorable condition and left to rot away. Edo State is blessed with a Catholic Monastery. That is to say correctly that one of the best missionary wonders in the world is cited in Ewu Edo State. This crucial access road: Ewu Agbede Old Road should be a top priority for Governor Monday Okpebholo now; it is an idea which time has come. It baseless to think about an alternative road: the Benin Auchi Express Road, which has become moribund. It is utterly disheartening to say that Ewu Agbede Old Road, which is less than five kilometres could not be fixed by successive governments in Edo State”
Ironically, the Ewu Agbede Old Road is less than five kilometres, and it borders Edo Central and Edo North. In the sixties the road was the only accessible road to the Northern part of Nigeria.
It will interest you to know that the agro – economy of the old Bendel State was heavily depended on this very important old road. Ewu market used to be the main bus stop and hub of agro and cultural products from Okene in Kogi State, Edo North and beyond, while the Benin traders were the main people transporting goods to the cities.
Today, Ewu Agbede Old Road has been reduced to a foot path, now in an absolute deplorable condition and left to rot away. Edo State is blessed with a Catholic Monastery. That is to say correctly that one of the best missionary wonders in the world is cited in Ewu Edo State. This crucial access road: Ewu Agbede Old Road should be a top priority for Governor Monday Okpebholo now; it is an idea which time has come. It baseless to think about an alternative road: the Benin Auchi Express Road, which has become moribund.
It is utterly disheartening to say that Ewu Agbede Old Road, which is less than five kilometres could not be fixed by successive governments in Edo State, from governor Ambrose Ali of blessed memory; John Odigie – Oyegun; Lucky Igbinedion, Prof. Osariemen Osunbor; Adams Oshiomhole, and Godwin Obaseki.
Talking about the importance of good network of roads in order to boost macro agricultural products, it is incontrovertible that agricultural roads like the Ewu Agbede old road in Edo State play a significant role in the economic development of a country, particularly in rural areas where agriculture is a major source of livelihood.
Agricultural roads provide farmers with access to markets, enabling them to sell their produce and increase their income. Good roads facilitate the transportation of inputs, such as fertilizers and seeds, and outputs, such as crops, which can lead to increased productivity and efficiency. Agricultural roads can reduce transportation costs for farmers, making their products more competitive in the market.
The construction and maintenance of agricultural roads can create jobs for local communities, contributing to economic growth and development. Agricultural roads can contribute to rural development by improving access to social services, such as healthcare and education, and facilitating economic activity in rural areas.
By improving access to markets and reducing transportation costs, agricultural roads can help ensure food security by increasing the availability of food products.
Agricultural roads can contribute to economic growth by increasing agricultural productivity, improving market access, and reducing transportation costs, which can lead to increased economic activity and growth.
Overall, agricultural roads are essential for the economic development of rural areas and can play a critical role in promoting economic growth, food security, and poverty reduction in a democracy.
History will ever be kind to the government of Senator Monday Okpebholo, if it proactively fix this very essential economic road. All said and done. This is calling on the pragmatic leader: Governor Monday Okpebholo to fix the Ewu Agbede Old Road, so that he would write his name in gold letters as a deserving idol.
Diagi Lucky, a public affairs analyst, an indigene of Ewu, contributes this piece from Benin City.