Monday Okpebholo has reassured residents of his administration’s commitment to improving living standards and infrastructure across the state with the commissioning of newly procured road maintenance equipment.
The governor made this known during the commissioning ceremony held at the Edo State Ministry of Works along Sapele Road, Benin City.
Okpebholo noted that for many years residents of Edo State have suffered from poor road conditions, which have led to accidents, increased transportation costs, slower movement of goods and services, and lost economic opportunities.
He said the commissioning of the light and heavy-duty road maintenance equipment marks a significant step in his administration’s effort to ensure a sustainable road network in the state.
“For many years, our people have endured the burden of poor roads, leading to death, higher transportation costs, preventable accidents, slower movement of goods and services, and missed economic opportunities,” he said.
According to the governor, bad roads not only affect transportation but also slow down the overall progress of society by making it harder for farmers to move produce to markets, businesses to transport goods, workers to reach their jobs, and children to get to school safely.
He said the newly acquired machines will enable the state to quickly respond to road failures, repair potholes, rehabilitate damaged sections, and maintain the road network more efficiently.
“To the engineers and operators who will manage and operate these equipment, I charge you to deploy them with professionalism, diligence and a deep sense of responsibility to the people of Edo State,” he added.
Okpebholo also stated that when he assumed office, his priority was to fix the state’s infrastructure, particularly the road network.
“My promise is to leave Edo better than I met it. With the help and support of Mr President, we will achieve all we planned to achieve in Edo State,” he said, adding that his administration has aligned with the development agenda of Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He further revealed that the government is also making plans to expand development to the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector as part of broader efforts to modernise the state.
In his remarks, the Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dennis Idahosa, thanked President Tinubu for supporting the governor’s developmental efforts across various sectors.
The Commissioner for Works, Felix Ehiguese Akhabue, said the ministry previously lacked the equipment needed to effectively maintain roads, leaving staff idle.
He commended the governor for procuring the equipment and noted that it would strengthen the state’s road maintenance capacity.
“We lack a maintenance culture in Nigeria, and the governor understands this challenge. That is why he invested in these equipment to keep Edo State roads in good condition,” he said.
Akhabue assured that qualified engineers in the ministry would properly manage and maintain the equipment to ensure they remain functional.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Edo State Road Maintenance Agency, Felix Ibhade, said the governor’s developmental leadership is visible across the three senatorial districts of the state.
He described the commissioning as a bold step that would strengthen the agency’s capacity to address road maintenance challenges across Edo State.
