Edo State Government Asks Residents for Patience on Road Repairs

The Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, has asked residents to be patient with the government regarding the bad state of roads. He said major repairs will take place during the dry season.

Afegbua explained that fixing roads in the rainy season could waste construction materials and public funds.

He made these statements on Tuesday while speaking to journalists at the ministry’s monthly media briefing in Benin City.

He was joined by the Commissioner for Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Chris Okaeben; the Executive Secretary of the Edo State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency, Kenny Okojie; and the Special Adviser on Health Matters, Dr Andrew Iyamu.

Afegbua stated that Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration is focused on tackling the state’s infrastructure problems, especially the bad roads.

He blamed much of the current road issues on poor-quality projects done by the past governor, Godwin Obaseki.

According to him, many roads fixed during the previous administration have fallen apart, even though they were completed only a few years ago.

He said, “The Edo State Government, under the leadership of Senator Monday Okpebholo, is very much alive to its responsibility. We are dealing with the development challenges facing the state, both new and inherited.

“Of critical reference is the issue of roads. If we had a chance like the previous government to build good, quality and lasting roads, we would not be complaining now.

“A lot of these roads in the Benin area were actually worked on during the last government.”

The commissioner also spoke against supporters of the former governor who have been criticizing the current administration on social media about the state of roads.

Afegbua mentioned that the government has looked at roads in places like GRA, Iyekogba Estate, Irihrih, and Okoroma. He claimed many roads have potholes and have worsened despite being fixed by the previous administration.

He said, “The level of road decay we see now shows that the roads were done with quantity in mind, not quality.

“We assessed the GRA, Iyekogba Estate, Irihrih, and Okoroma roads that were supposedly fixed by the Obaseki administration.

“If you visit now, the roads are full of potholes. It makes you wonder what the celebration was about. Roads should last at least 10 years and up to 30 years.”

He is keeping a record of these roads because of the criticism on social media, as people are questioning what the government is doing.

“No construction engineer will try to fix potholes and bad roads during the rainy season. We are facing heavy rain now.”

Afegbua asked residents to give the Okpebholo administration more time, assuring them that the government is dedicated to making roads across the state better.