“We Can’t Wait for Abuja”: Okpebholo Moves to Fix Edo’s Federal Roads, Vows to Seek Refund from FG

Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has declared that his administration will no longer wait for the Federal Government to fix dilapidated federal highways crisscrossing the State, saying the State Government will undertake urgent reconstruction work and later seek reimbursement.

Speaking during an inspection visit to the Ogheghe–Ologbo axis of the Benin–Sapele Road over the weekend, Governor Okpebholo lamented the appalling state of the road, describing it as a death trap that has caused untold hardship and loss to commuters and residents.

“You can see for yourself how terrible this place is,” the Governor said while addressing reporters at the site on Sunday, November 2, 2025. “This place looks as if there has never been a government here. The PDP government, to me, is to blame for this neglect. Just on Saturday, a trailer fell and got burnt here, destroying several properties. We cannot fold our arms and watch people die daily on this road.”

The Governor emphasized that the State Government’s intervention is borne out of necessity, not politics. “We will fix this road ourselves and then approach the Federal Government for reimbursement. What matters now is the safety of our people and ensuring that our roads are motorable,” he said.

The inspection marks yet another phase in the State’s aggressive road rehabilitation drive, which has seen multiple critical routes across Edo undergoing reconstruction to ease traffic flow and boost economic activity.

Engr. Mrs. Williams Bello, Special Adviser to the Governor on Project Implementation and Monitoring, noted that the 10.15-kilometre stretch had recently been handed over to the Edo State Government by the Federal Ministry of Works during the Minister’s visit to the State.

According to Bello, “Our Governor is being proactive. The contractor, who was already handling 23.2 kilometres of the project, is now extending work to this newly conceded section. A major drainage channel about 7.5 metres wide is being constructed to manage stormwater and prevent future road failure.”

General Manager of CBC Global Construction Company, Mr. Liao, confirmed steady progress on the ongoing reconstruction work. “We’ve completed almost 8 kilometres of stone base and 5 kilometres of reinforced concrete pavement. With the rains now gone, we expect to finish before the next rainy season,” he assured.

Governor Okpebholo’s on-the-spot assessment reinforces his administration’s commitment to tackling infrastructure decay and ensuring safer, smoother journeys for Edo residents, federal or not, the roads must be fixed.