Monday Okpebholo pledges to repair damaged federal highways in Edo State and seek Federal Government reimbursement to ease citizens’ suffering.
Monday Okpebholo has pledged that his administration will continue to reconstruct and repair damaged federal highways in Edo State to alleviate the hardship faced by motorists and residents.
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The governor made this known on Sunday during an inspection of the Ogheghe–Ologbo axis of the Benin–Sapele Road, a section that has become nearly impassable following years of neglect. The visit came a day after a petrol tanker overturned and caught fire at the Ogheghe junction, highlighting the deteriorating condition of the highway.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, Okpebholo said that after undertaking major repairs on federal roads, the state would seek reimbursement from the Federal Government.
He said, “This administration will continue to reconstruct and repair damaged federal highways in the state in order to ease the suffering of the people. You can see for yourself how terrible this place is. The PDP government is to blame for this neglect. A trailer fell and burnt here on Saturday, destroying people’s property.”
The governor criticised the previous administration for its failure to intervene, saying he would not “sit back and allow daily carnage on major federal highways.”
He reaffirmed his plan to rehabilitate the roads despite them being under federal jurisdiction. “The best approach is to fix these roads ourselves and later revert to the Federal Government for reimbursement,” he said, adding that work was ongoing even on Sunday.
The Special Adviser on Project Implementation and Monitoring, Williams Bello, explained that the 10.15-kilometre section had recently been handed over to the state by the Federal Ministry of Works. He said the contractor already handling the 23.2-kilometre reconstruction was now extending work to the newly conceded stretch, including a 7.5-metre-wide drainage channel to control stormwater.
Bello noted that with the onset of the dry season, the contractor would accelerate progress on the road’s stone base and drainage system.
The General Manager of CBC Global Construction Company, Mr Liao, confirmed that about eight kilometres of stone base and five kilometres of Continuously Reinforced Concrete Pavement (CRCP) had been completed. He assured that the project could be finalised before the next rainy season.
Since assuming office, Okpebholo has launched several road rehabilitation initiatives across the state. Beyond the Benin–Sapele Road, major interventions are underway in Edo Central and Edo North, with bridge construction also progressing in Benin City and Adesua Junction.
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These projects, according to the governor, reflect his administration’s commitment to improving infrastructure, reducing accidents, and facilitating economic activity throughout Edo State.
