AS part of activities to mark his second anniversary in office, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has commenced an inspection tour of projects executed by his administration.
BusinessDay reports that the governor will mark two years in office on November 12, 2026.
He was sworn in on November 12, 2024, after defeating Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), with 291,667 votes in the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
The governor led selected media executives from Lagos and Abuja on a guided inspection tour of projects covering roads, drainage systems, flyovers and erosion control interventions across the Benin metropolis.
Some of the projects inspected included the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Church Road along Upper Ekehuan Road, the Ekehuan water retention pond near the Army Barracks, the ongoing Adesuwa Flyover, Old Sapele Road and the stormwater project along the road.
Others were Aighokhian Earth Road, off Old Sapele Road; erosion control projects by RCC in the Ogheghe bypass area; Sapele Road; Temboga erosion control project; Amufi/Okpagha and adjoining roads; Obaseki Street along Agbor Road; Ramat Park and the Ramat Park Flyover, among others.
Speaking during the inspection, Okpebholo said his administration had made significant progress in completing roads that were previously abandoned.
He noted that most of the projects inspected are located in areas frequently affected by erosion and flooding.
“When I came to the area, there was no road that was completed, but now, under my government, I have ensured that the road was completed.
“I will also make sure that the pond in the area is properly connected so that residents will no longer be disturbed by flooding,” he said.
At the Ekehuan water retention pond near the Army Barracks, Okpebholo said the project was among the first executed by his administration and was completed within three months of assuming office.
He emphasised the need to improve water management and ensure proper connectivity, while assuring residents that his administration would tackle flooding and provide durable roads across the state.
The governor, who assessed the progress of ongoing projects across the Benin metropolis, said his administration is determined to address erosion and flooding challenges in affected communities while completing critical road and drainage projects.
He explained that the media tour was organised to enable journalists to independently assess the progress of the projects and report their findings to residents of the state and Nigerians.
Governor Okpebholo described the projects as evidence of his administration’s infrastructure development drive in its first two years, covering completed roads, ongoing flyovers, concrete pavement projects and drainage interventions.
He said the projects were aimed at improving connectivity, stimulating economic activities and addressing infrastructure challenges affecting communities across the state.
Speaking on behalf of the editors, Deji Bademosi commended the governor for the number and scale of projects being executed, describing the tour as an eye-opener.
Bademosi said he was surprised by the volume of work completed within two years, adding that he had asked the governor whether he had planned the projects before assuming office.
“We’ve gone round quite a number of projects. With what I’m seeing, I’m surprised the governor is able to do all of these within a period of two years. At some point, I had to ask him if he had actually planned this before he came into office,” he said.
He noted that the tour had so far focused mainly on roads, adding that the administration’s record could look even more extensive when projects in the education and healthcare sectors were taken into consideration.
“Seeing the projects physically gives us a clearer picture than the reports and media publications we had been reading and watching on television.
“This is an eye-opener for me because sometimes it is always good to see things for yourself. There is no doubt that the people of Edo State have got a good governor.
“Looking at the pace recorded in the first half of the governor’s four-year term raises expectations for the remaining two years. If he has been able to do this within two years, then imagine what the next two years would be,” he said.
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