The Edo State government has urged residents to be patient with the ongoing road repairs, assuring them that major repairs will be undertaken during the dry season. According to Prince Kassim Afegbua, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, attempting to repair roads during the rainy season could result in the wastage of construction materials and public funds. This statement was made during the ministry's monthly media briefing in Benin, where Afegbua was joined by other commissioners and advisers.
Afegbua attributed the current decay of roads in the state to poor-quality road projects executed by the immediate past administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki. He claimed that several roads rehabilitated during the previous administration had deteriorated despite being completed only a few years ago. The commissioner stated that the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo was committed to addressing the state's infrastructure challenges, particularly the deteriorating road network.
The Edo State government has assessed roads in areas including GRA, Iyekogba Estate, Irihrih, and Okoroma, and found that many had developed potholes and deteriorated despite being rehabilitated under the previous administration. Afegbua criticised supporters of the former governor who had been attacking the present administration on social media over the condition of roads in the state. He described the previous government's road projects as "quantity, not quality, jobs."
Afegbua appealed to residents to give the Okpebholo administration more time, assuring them that the government remained committed to making roads across the state motorable. He stated that no construction engineer would attempt to fix potholes and bad roads during the rainy season, citing the challenges of working in heavy rain. The commissioner made records of the roads that had deteriorated, in response to criticism on social media.
The Edo State government has been working to address the state's infrastructure challenges, including the deteriorating road network. Afegbua stated that the government was committed to ensuring that the state's roads were durable and long-lasting, unlike the previous administration's projects which had deteriorated quickly. The government has urged residents to be patient and understanding as they work to address the challenges.
The monthly media briefing, which was attended by other commissioners and advisers, provided an opportunity for the government to update residents on its efforts to address the state's challenges. Afegbua was joined by Chris Okaeben, Commissioner for Art, Culture and Creative Economy; Kenny Okojie, Executive Secretary, Edo State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency; and Dr Andrew Iyamu, Special Adviser on Health Matters.
The Edo State government's efforts to address the state's infrastructure challenges, including the deteriorating road network, are ongoing. Key points include:
Key points
- The Edo State government has urged residents to be patient with road repairs, citing challenges of working during the rainy season.
- The government has attributed the current decay of roads to poor-quality projects executed by the previous administration.
- The government has assured residents that major repairs will be undertaken during the dry season.
