By Sulaiman Jalloh

Hon. Mohammed Billoh Shaw

Hon. Mohammed Billoh Shaw of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) representing the people of Falaba District has recently raised concerns over the Wellington-Masiaka Toll Road, describing it ‘substandard.’

Speaking to parliamentary journalists, Hon. Shaw stated that the Wellington-Masiaka Toll Road is substandard with a poor quality, adding that Parliament only ratified the agreement to increase the toll-gate fee based on the contract signed with China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG).

The lawmaker noted that the Chinese company, CRSG that constructed the road is collecting toll gate charges and is therefore responsible for maintenance. He expressed dismay over the way and manner the road has deteriorated so rapidly. According to the lawmaker, Sierra Leoneans are facing challenges plying the road and that was why he flagged it up in the House of Parliament, adding one does not need to be an engineer to know that road is substandard and not of good quality. He compared the Wellington-Masiaka Road to other road projects like the Masiaka-Bo Road and Masiaka-Makeni Road, which, according to him, remain in good condition years after their construction.

Hon. Shaw noted that as a citizen he is paying toll fees in all of those three toll gates at every given time but concerned with the standard of the road, citing ongoing cement concrete replacement at Jui and Hastings Junctions, leaving vehicles that ply the road spending almost 2 hours in that area on a daily basis due to traffic congestion as a result of the poor condition of the road.

Hon. Shaw stated that as an MP, representing his people, it behoves him to join citizens and ask the China Railway Seventh Group how they are doing their job that they are replacing coal-tar with concrete.