The Edo State Government says it plans to commence a rehabilitation of roads and drainage infrastructure in the Government Reserved Area (GRA) of Benin City as part of measures to tackle flooding and create a new GRA.
Governor Monday Okpebholo disclosed this on Thursday day when he received the Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa, and other judges who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Benin City.
The judges were at the Government House to invite the governor to activities marking the commencement of the 2026/2027 legal year.
Okpebholo said the existing GRA was not properly planned from inception, adding that some houses might have to be removed to make way for the planned infrastructure improvements.
“My administration is working to have a new GRA as I believe the old GRA was not properly planned right from inception.
“I called for proposals and three companies gave me an estimate of about N250 billion. Some houses have to give way, But at the moment we are going to focus on doing some palliative work to control flooding and ease movement in the area, He said.
The governor said the government would commence palliative work on roads in the GRA after the rainy season.
“After the rainy season, we have to do some palliative work on most of the roads in the GRA. The EdoGIS is already working on areas requiring improvements of infrastructure like water and electricity,” he said.
Okpebholo also commended the state judiciary for its cooperation with his administration, particularly in the use of special courts and efforts toward speedy dispensation of justice.
“I want to thank the judiciary for the cooperation my administration is enjoying in the state, most especially in the area of the Special Court and speedy dispensation of justice,” he said.
He also commended the judges for what he described as diligence in the discharge of their duties.
“I also thank all the judges in the state because I have not heard any negative reports about their activities, showing that they are diligent in the discharge of their responsibility as judges in the state,” the governor said.
On the welfare of judges, Okpebholo said the state government had obtained approval from the State Executive Council to purchase new vehicles to replace the old ones currently being used by judges.
“We have gotten approval from the State Executive Council on purchasing vehicles to replace the old ones our judges are using. We are looking at about 33 vehicles which you will get soon,” he said.
The Chief Judge, Justice Okungbowa, commended the governor for what he described as his developmental strides and the collaboration between the executive and judiciary.
He said the cooperation between the two arms of government had contributed to development and peace in the state.
Okungbowa said the delegation was at the Government House to formally invite the governor to the activities marking the commencement of the 2026/2027 legal year in the state on Thursday, Oct. 9.
“We are here on a courtesy visit to invite you to the commencement of the 2026/2027 legal year as our visitation is to inform you of our programme of activities,” he said.
The Chief Judge thanked the governor for his administration’s collaboration with other arms of government, which he said had contributed to the peaceful atmosphere in Edo.
“Thank you for the good work you are doing in Edo State and the collaboration with other arms of government which has made the state peaceful. Thank you for your developmental stride across all sectors of the state,” Okungbowa said.
