“Action Governor: Okpebholo Repairs Federal Roads As Edo Residents Hail Bold Move”

Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has shed light on his decision to repair failed federal roads across the state, emphasizing that his administration’s intervention is primarily to ease the hardship faced by motorists and residents. According to Ireporter Online, the governor stated that the state government would later seek reimbursement from the Federal Government for funds expended on such projects.

Governor Okpebholo made the remarks during an inspection tour of the Ogheghe–Ologbo section of the Benin–Sapele Highway, a stretch notorious for frequent accidents and traffic congestion. The governor lamented the deplorable condition of the federal roads in Edo, attributing the neglect to the failures of the previous administration.

“You can see for yourself how terrible this place is. It looks as if there has never been a government here. The PDP government, in my opinion, is to blame for this neglect. Just recently, a trailer fell and caught fire here, causing loss of lives and property. I came here today to witness the situation personally,” Okpebholo said.

He added that his administration could no longer wait for the Federal Government to act while citizens suffered. “The best approach is to fix the road ourselves and later apply for reimbursement. What matters most is ensuring our people travel safely. The contractor is already on-site, working even on a Sunday,” he noted.

In a related development, the Special Adviser on Project Implementation and Monitoring, Engr. Williams Bello, disclosed that the 10.15-kilometre stretch of the Benin–Sapele road was recently handed over to the Edo State Government by the Federal Ministry of Works following the visit of the Minister of Works.

Bello commended the governor’s proactive stance, noting that the contractor handling the initial 23.2-kilometre section of the project had already extended operations to the newly approved portion. He further explained that the road required major drainage works due to the unsuitable soil type, revealing that a 7.5-metre-wide drainage channel was being constructed to channel stormwater toward the bypass.

“With the dry season setting in, the contractor can now intensify efforts to build up the road base and lay the stone foundation,” Bello added.