Okpebholo’s triple threat against Edo’s bad roads

2026-03-21 - 23:14

By Nasir Tommy Abu For years, motorists and residents across Edo State have endured the familiar, frustrating hum of tyres struggling against potholed asphalt. The complaints about crumbling infrastructure, particularly in the busy commercial hubs of Benin City and the sprawling rural communities, have become a background score to daily life. It is a narrative of neglect that has hampered commerce, inflated transportation costs, and tested the patience of the citizenry. However, if the current momentum from the Government House is anything to go by, that narrative is being forcefully rewritten. Governor Monday Okpebholo has rolled out what can only be described as a triple-threat strategy against the state’s dilapidated road network, and it is beginning to show tangible results. There is something refreshingly simple about this plan, but do not mistake simplicity for a lack of depth. It is clear the administration understands that fixing public infrastructure is rarely a one-size-fits-all affair. Instead of getting bogged down in a single, slow-moving process, the government has opted for a three-pronged attack on the problem: empowering local councils, establishing rapid response teams, and engaging major construction firms for heavy-lifting projects. It is a model that respects the fact that not all roads are equal and, therefore, cannot be fixed with the same brush. At the grassroots level, the decision to work closely with local councils makes perfect sense, both for efficiency and for ensuring the work is relevant to the communities that need it most. Who better to understand the urgent needs of a rural community than the local government chairmen who live and work there? By bringing them into the fold, the government ensures that priority is given to the roads that matter most to the people, the feeder roads that connect farmers to markets, the access paths to schools and primary healthcare centres. This decentralisation of project identification not only speeds up the process but also ensures that development is equitable and reaches the furthest corners of the three senatorial districts. It is governance meeting the people where they are. Complementing this is the establishment of rapid response teams. In the past, a collapsed culvert or a sudden gully erosion threatening a neighbourhood could take months of bureaucratic paperwork before any action was taken. The Okpebholo administration has recognised the need for agility. These teams are designed to tackle emergency situations and smaller, urgent repairs before they balloon into major crises. Whether it is patching a critical pothole on the Sapele Road or clearing drainage channels ahead of the rainy season, this rapid-response capability ensures that the government is not just planning for the future, but actively managing the present. Of course, for the large-scale arteries of the state’s economy, a more robust solution is required. This is where the partnership with major construction firms comes into play. The reconstruction of critical routes such as the Benin-Sapele-Warri road or the Benin-Agbor-Asaba highway are not minor undertakings; they require the heavy machinery, technical expertise, and financial muscle that only established contractors can provide. These projects, along with the planned flyovers at high-traffic bottlenecks like Ramat Park and the Dawson Road Junction, signal a long-term vision. They are designed not just to ease congestion but to reshape the aesthetic and functional landscape of our cities. What is perhaps most striking about this infrastructure drive is the strong emphasis on quality. The governor has drawn a clear line in the sand: substandard work will not be tolerated. In an environment where some contractors have historically gotten away with cutting corners, this message is both welcome and necessary. The recent revocation of contracts that failed to meet specifications serves as a strong deterrent. Conversely, the public commendation of firms that deliver on time and to standard fosters a healthy culture of accountability. The regular site inspections conducted by the governor are not mere photo opportunities; they are a statement of intent, a signal that the man at the top is watching and that public funds must translate into lasting public value. The early evidence of this approach is already visible on roads like the 1.4-kilometre Charismatic Road, the Old Sapele Road, and the Ogheghe Road. These are not just stretches of asphalt; they are lifelines that have been revived. Residents who once watched their property values stagnate due to poor access are now seeing a resurgence. Shops that struggled to attract customers are buzzing again. The economic multiplier effect is palpable. When a road is fixed, it is not just the motorist who benefits; it is the food vendor whose supplies arrive fresh, the lubricant supplier whose customers can now drive in, and the farmer who can now evacuate his produce without losing half of it to spoilage on a bumpy ride. With a substantial N100 billion approved by the State House of Assembly for these infrastructure projects, the Okpebholo administration has put its money where its mouth is. The ambition is clear: to position Edo State as a model for effective infrastructure development. It is an ambitious goal, but by attacking the problem from three angles-community-level input, rapid tactical response, and large-scale strategic execution-the government is building a framework that is as durable as the roads it seeks to construct. For the people of Edo, who have waited years for this moment, the hum of construction is finally a welcome sound.