Senator Ikpea Elevates Esan Road Crisis to National Attention in Abuja

Abuja, Nigeria — January 29, 2026

In a decisive move to address the worsening state of federal road infrastructure across Esanland, the Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Senator Joseph Igiagbe Ikpea, on Wednesday paid a high-level courtesy visit to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), Engr. (Dr.) Chukwuemeka Agbasi, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja.

The engagement was prompted by sustained public concern over the deplorable condition of key federal roads traversing Edo Central, a situation that has continued to undermine safety, mobility, and economic activity across the district.

During the meeting, Senator Ikpea presented a detailed and impassioned account of the daily hardships faced by residents and commuters as a result of deteriorating road networks. He emphasized that his intervention was informed not merely by constituent complaints, but by recent firsthand assessments conducted across several critical federal road corridors within Esanland.

According to the Senator, years of neglect, erosion, and structural failures have rendered major routes hazardous, leading to prolonged travel times, increased vehicle damage, disrupted agricultural supply chains, and heightened risks to lives and property.

“Road infrastructure is the backbone of development,” Senator Ikpea stressed, noting that the continued decline of these routes poses serious implications for economic productivity, food distribution, security, and social integration. He reaffirmed that the people of Edo Central deserve infrastructure standards comparable to those enjoyed in other parts of the country, adding that equitable development remains a constitutional and moral obligation.

Senator Ikpea formally submitted his concerns to FERMA and called for urgent and sustained intervention, urging the agency to prioritize rehabilitation and routine maintenance of the affected federal roads. He expressed confidence that timely action would restore mobility, boost economic activities, and bring long-awaited relief to communities that have endured infrastructural challenges for years.

In his response, Engr. (Dr.) Chukwuemeka Agbasi commended the Senator for his proactive leadership and hands-on approach to representation. He acknowledged the severity of the issues raised and assured that FERMA would carefully review the concerns and respond in line with its statutory mandate to maintain federal road infrastructure nationwide.

The engagement once again highlights Senator Joseph Igiagbe Ikpea’s commitment to effective representation, anchored on advocacy, direct institutional engagement, and practical solutions to constituents’ needs.

As communities across Edo Central continue to grapple with infrastructural deficits, Senator Ikpea’s intervention reinforces a leadership philosophy rooted in presence, courage, and action—ensuring that the voices of his people are heard at the highest levels of national governance.