Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolemenmen, has assured that construction works will commence on the Obajana-Kabba-Ilorin highway before the end of the first quarter of 2013.

The minister gave the assurance when Senator Smart Adeyemi paid him a courtesy visit in his office on Thursday.

Senator Adeyemi had led two members of the House of Representatives to the minister to complain about the deplorable state of federal roads in Kogi State, especially, Kogi West senatorial district.

Acknowledging the parlous state of the Obajana-Kabba-Ilorin Road, Onolemenmen said no government would choose to ignore the road given its strategic importance to the national economy.

He said the road served one of the biggest cement factory in the world, adding that the goverment would ensure its speedy repair as a demonstration of its commitment to the growth of commerce.

He, however, denied the insinuation that the President Goodluck Jonathan-led admiñistration was marginalising Kogi State or any other part of the country.

He said Kogi, by virtue of its geographical location, linked the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja to other parts of the country.

"There is just one national economy. The road in question is a nexus, a major connector of Abuja to other parts of the country", he said.

Speaking earlier, Senator Adeyemi said the deplorable state of the road had paralysed economic activities and social life of the people of Kogi West Senatorial District.

"The road had been taken over by hoodlums, rapists and armed robbers. My people are under tremendous pressure and pains at home.

"They just tolerated us to have a Christmas celebration last December. Our people sent us back to Abuja with a mandate to get the road fixed", he said.