Why Tinubu must prepare to commission projects in Edo

2026-02-13 - 11:29

Three months not enough to inaugurate Okpebholo’s projects Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State may require no fewer than three months to commission projects across the state when he marks his second year in office, observers have said. Those closely monitoring the administration’s infrastructure drive across the 18 local government areas and the three senatorial districts argue that the volume of ongoing and completed projects is unprecedented. According to them, Governor Okpebholo is becoming another “uncommon governor” in Nigeria such that he may need to set aside as much as three months strictly for project commissioning or alternatively select only the most ambitious projects for formal inauguration, given the sheer number currently underway. Mr. John Mayaki, promoter of the initiative titled “Edo: Nigeria’s Construction Site”, who has been touring project sites across the state, said that as part of activities marking the governor’s second anniversary, the government may need to earmark up to three months for commissioning ceremonies. His words, “Given the scale of work across the state, the government may either commission projects in phases or select major flagship ones for inauguration,” Mayaki stated. He further noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot but prepare to honour the Governor with his presence, to commission some of the landmark projects. According to Mayaki, “I have no doubt that several prominent Nigerians including the President, Governors among others would be interested in visiting Edo State to inaugurate key projects,” he added. Comparing the pace of development to notable infrastructure-driven administrations in Nigeria, Mayaki said Okpebholo’s approach mirrors that of former governors known for aggressive project execution, including Senator Godswill Akpabio in Akwa Ibom, former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Babajide Samson-Olu and Alex Otti. According to him, the number of projects is so extensive that commissioning them all at once would be impractical. “The governor may have to inaugurate them in phases because to commission everything in one fell swoop could take over three months,” he said. He described Okpebholo as an exemplar in infrastructural development, adding that the governor has earned recognition within just one year and two months in office.