By EMEKA MAMAH & SIMON EBEGBULEM Lagos
The controversy between the Federal and Edo State Governments over which of them is actually constructing the Dawson- Ugbowo Road in Edo State yesterday deepened with the Federal Government insisting that it was indeed executing the road contract.

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State stirred the hornet nest in the state, weekend, when he accused the Federal Government of allegedly being ‘’deceitful and  mischievous’’ by  laying false claims over the road project before ordering the pulling down of bill boards erected by the former claiming responsibility for the road project.

However, in a swift reaction, the Federal Ministry of Works insisted that the controversial road contract was being undertaken by the Federal Government, pointing out that the construction started from Dawson -Ugbowo up to Shagamu.

Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolemenmen, who made this known in a statement in Abuja, said the road belonging to the ‘’Federal Government stretches from Dawson road to Akpakpava road through Uselu and Ugbowo up to Ofosu, Ore, Ijebu Ode and Shagamu.’’

The Minister’s reaction was contained in a statement issued by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Tony Ikpasaja which was made available to Saturday Vanguard.

The statement read, ‘’The attention of the Federal Ministry of Works has been drawn to the controversy surrounding the ownership of the on- going project along Dawson road in Benin City.

’’For the avoidance of doubt, the Federal Ministry of Works categorically states that the road belongs to the Federal Government and it is being reconstructed by the Federal Ministry of Works as part of the on-going contract for the reconstruction of Benin-Ore-Shagamu Express road, which starts from the junction of Dawson road with Akpakpava road going all the way through Uselu and Ugbowo up to Ofosu, Ore, Ijebu Ode and Shagama.

“The Edo State Government only used a part of the road’s shoulders for its drainage construction and a walk way atop the drainage line.

This clarification has become necessary to put the records straight by the Federal Ministry of Works.’’

Oshiomhole was alleged to have reportedly become infuriated when he observed during an inspection of on going state government projects along the Ugbowo road, that the Federal Government’s sign board was erected on the area where the state government was constructing additional two lanes.

Oshiomhole explained, “You can see for your self, the fact that Edo state government is doing additional two lanes on Dawson road, New Lagos road and Ugbowo road.

’’As you can see for your self, the Federal Ministry of Works put a sign board there to suggest that the job is being done by the Federal Government, whereas that is not true.

“In fact, that was the job the former Minister of Works said we did not have the permission of government to do and I had to remind him that the land belongs to the state government and not the Federal Government.

’’Now they went and put the sign board;  so all I have done now is to remove them so that the public cannot be deceived about who is responsible for this additional lanes that we have created.

“You will sign that virtually every half a kilometre, they put the sign board.

’’You can see that it was a conscious attempt to give the wrong impression that the Federal Government is doing the job whereas we are doing it.

’’There are a lot of jobs the Federal Government can do, so let the Minister concentrate on those jobs. You cannot claim what you are not doing. This is the era of truth and transparency and the public have to know” the Governor allegedly stated.