Bills to establish the State Road Fund Board (SRFB) and the Edo Rural Access Road Agency (RARA) passed second reading in the state House of Assembly on Monday in Benin.

According to the Edo House of Assembly, the bills are to fund the planning, management, construction, and rehabilitation of Class B, C, and D roads statewide.

Leading the debate, the majority leader and member representing (PDP Ovia North East 1), Charity Aiguobarueghian, likened Class C and D roads to vital arteries in a body.

According to him, the economy cannot improve without these roads.

Mr Aiguobarueghian noted that the bill was a World Bank intervention and national harmonisation efforts to address roads not included in the state’s annual budget.

He emphasised that Class C and D roads bring government closer to rural dwellers, urging the House to facilitate a speedy passage of the proposed bills.

According to him, the roads, though less prominent, remain essential, while the State Road Fund would finance their construction, rehabilitation, and long-term maintenance needs.

Also speaking, Maria Edeko, the deputy speaker and member representing (PDP Esan North East II), said the rural roads housed the nation’s wealth in terms of agriculture, mining, and oil resources.

Ms Edeko asserted that rural roads would positively impact the state’s economy and foster growth in commerce, transportation, and local industries across communities if properly constructed and rehabilitated.

Other lawmakers who contributed to the debate spoke in favour of the bills and called for their immediate and unimpeded passage without delay.

The speaker, Blessing Agbebaku, referred the bills to the House Committee on Works for fine-tuning and presenting its report to the assembly within a week.

(NAN)