BENIN CITY — Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has threatened to arrest the contractor handling a section of the Benin-Abraka Road over the alleged abandonment of the project despite payment by the previous administration.
The governor made the disclosure while addressing members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas during his ongoing tour of the state to strengthen the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Okpebholo said his administration had been concerned about the condition of the road and was willing to address the situation but had been constrained by contractual agreements entered into by the previous administration.
According to him, the Benin-Abraka Road project was awarded to two contractors, with one contractor currently working on its section, which he said was about 75 per cent complete.
The governor, however, alleged that the second contractor had abandoned the portion assigned to the company despite having been paid by the previous administration.
“Following the agreement that was signed by Obaseki’s administration, that road construction project was paid for before I became governor. Despite the payment by the previous administration, the contractor still abandoned the road, allowing motorists to suffer untold hardship passing through the road,” Okpebholo said.
He added that while one of the contractors had made substantial progress, the other had allegedly abandoned its section.
“That road was given to two contractors. One of them is working and is doing his job and has gotten up to 75 per cent completion, while the other, who is a friend to Obaseki, has abandoned his section and has become the problem causing hardship on the road,” the governor said.
Okpebholo said he had previously refrained from publicly commenting on the project but decided to speak after hearing complaints from residents and motorists during his visit.
“Those in the diaspora don’t know what is happening and for me as the governor, I never wanted to speak on the issue of this Benin-Abraka Road, but what I heard today has prompted me to speak on the issue. I am going to arrest that contractor,” he said.
The governor was accompanied by APC leaders and senior government officials during the tour, which also took him to Iguomo-Nisi in Uhunmwode Local Government Area, where he met with party members and mobilised support for APC candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Edo State APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, commended party members for their turnout and support for the governor and the party.
Tenebe also thanked voters for supporting the APC during the last local government elections and urged them to sustain their support for the governor.
He further called on party members to work towards delivering the 2.5 million votes the Edo APC has pledged to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the January 2027 elections.
