The Edo State Government has appealed to residents to exercise patience over the deplorable condition of roads across the state, saying massive rehabilitation and reconstruction would commence during the dry season.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, made the appeal in Benin City during the ministry’s monthly media briefing, stressing that attempting major road repairs amid the current heavy rains would amount to a waste of construction materials.
Afegbua said the Governor Monday Okpebholo administration was committed to addressing the state’s infrastructure deficit, particularly the deteriorating road network, which he attributed partly to poor-quality projects inherited from the immediate past administration.
According to him, several roads reportedly rehabilitated under the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki, including roads within the Government Reserved Areas (GRAs), Iyekogba Estate, Irihih and Okoroma, had developed potholes and other signs of deterioration.
He said the condition of the roads raised questions about the quality and durability of some of the projects executed by the previous administration, noting that properly constructed roads should serve communities for several years before requiring major rehabilitation.
Afegbua, however, assured residents that the present administration was keeping records of the condition of the roads and would undertake comprehensive repairs when the weather permits, urging the people to give the government time to address the challenges.
He said, “No construction engineer will attempt to fix potholes and bad roads during the rainy season. We are experiencing heavy rain now,” adding that the government was “very much alive to its responsibility” of tackling both inherited and emerging developmental challenges confronting Edo.
The commissioner spoke alongside the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Creative Economy, Hon. Chris Okaeben; the Executive Secretary, Edo State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency, Dr Kenny Okojie; and the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters, Dr Andrew Iyamu, who also addressed journalists on developments in their respective sectors.
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