Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, is making significant strides in his administration’s drive to transform the state’s road infrastructure, with massive road projects across the three senatorial districts expected to improve connectivity, boost economic activities and open up rural communities.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Project Implementation and Monitoring, Engr. Phoebe Williams-Bello, disclosed this during a quarterly inspection tour of ongoing projects across the state, which began in Edo South, continued in Edo Central and concluded in Edo north Senatorial District.
Speaking with journalists during the inspection, Williams-Bello expressed satisfaction with the level and pace of work on several strategic road projects, commending the contractors for their commitment to delivering quality infrastructure in line with the vision of the Okpebholo administration.
“I am satisfied with the level and pace of work on these strategic road projects. I commend the contractors for their commitment and urge them to continue delivering quality infrastructure in line with the vision of the Governor Monday Okpebholo administration.”
She said the ongoing projects demonstrate Governor Okpebholo’s determination to ensure balanced and sustainable development across Edo State, stressing that the administration is committed to connecting communities and improving the living conditions of residents through modern road infrastructure.
The Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Works, Engr. John Obanor, assured that the inspection team would continue to closely monitor all projects to ensure that any technical observations or defects identified during construction are promptly addressed.
According to him, the government will not compromise on quality, standards and timely completion of projects, noting that effective monitoring remains key to achieving value for public funds.
Some of the projects inspected in Edo Central include the reconstruction of Afua Road and construction of Jealousy Street, including three spur roads in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area; the construction of the Akho-Agua-Ehanle-Ewu Road in Esan Central Local Government Area; the Ukpoke-Uhiele Road in Esan West; and the construction of Ebhebe, Eko-Omonua and Ebhoje roads in Uromi, Esan North-East Local Government Area, among several others.
Contractors handling the projects expressed confidence that they would meet the agreed timelines, assuring residents of quality and durable road infrastructure.
The monitoring team later moved to Edo North Senatorial District on the third day of the quarterly tour, where it inspected several major projects being executed by the Governor Okpebholo administration.
Projects inspected included the construction of the Ikabigbo-Ekperi Road, linking Etsako West and Etsako Central Local Government Areas; the reconstruction of the Ujemen-Iruekpen-Ozalla-Sabongida-Ora-Afuze Road, cutting across Owan West and Owan East Local Government Areas; as well as gully reclamation and channelisation works at Idatto/Ikabigbo along the Auchi-Agenebode Road in Etsako West Local Government Area.
The inspection team commended the progress recorded on the various sites, while contractors again assured the government and residents that they were committed to completing the projects according to specifications and schedule.
Meanwhile, a resident of Afashio in Etsako West Local Government Area, Mr. Bernard Ozemoya, praised Governor Okpebholo for what he described as the administration’s visible commitment to infrastructure development and the security of lives and property.
Ozemoya particularly commended the Governor’s efforts in tackling cultism and other forms of insecurity, pledging his continued support for the administration.
He, however, appealed to the state government to urgently intervene in the erosion challenges affecting parts of the Afashio community.
The ongoing inspection tour underscores Governor Okpebholo’s hands-on approach to governance and his determination to ensure that projects are not only awarded but properly monitored and completed to improve connectivity, stimulate commerce and bring development closer to communities across Edo Central, Edo North and other parts of the state.
