Motorists and residents in Benin City, Edo State, have commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for the commencement of rehabilitation works on failed portions of roads across the metropolis, describing the intervention as a welcome development towards ensuring safer and more motorable roads.
The Edo State Government, through the Edo State Road Maintenance Agency (EDSRMA), has intensified road repair activities across the state, taking advantage of the dry season to rehabilitate damaged sections of roads and improve movement for motorists and other road users.
The ongoing intervention, according to the agency, is part of efforts to address road infrastructure challenges across the state’s three senatorial districts.
Some of the roads currently receiving attention include Federal Avenue, off Boundary Road; Ihama Road; Adesuwa Road by Boundary Road Junction; Evbhukhu-Sapele Road; and the second junction by Faith Motors, among others.
Speaking with journalists during an inspection of some of the ongoing projects, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of EDSRMA, Hon. Felix Ibhade, disclosed that the agency had commenced round-the-clock rehabilitation works to take advantage of the dry season.
Ibhade stressed that the exercise was not limited to the Government Reservation Area (GRA) or Edo South Senatorial District, assuring residents that other parts of the state would also benefit from the intervention.
He listed Siluko, Ibiwe, TV Road and Ikpoba Slope among the areas scheduled to receive attention.
According to him, the agency has continued to respond to complaints and reports from residents concerning deteriorating road conditions across the state.
“Any information we get on any bad road, and find it very important, we move to attend to such road to fix it,” he said.
The EDSRMA boss reiterated that the agency’s mandate covered all three senatorial districts, noting that the road rehabilitation programme was designed to benefit residents across Edo State.
“The agency is not restricted to Edo South Senatorial District alone but will touch all the three senatorial districts because the agency belongs to Edo people,” he added.
Ibhade further disclosed that roads repaired since the rains subsided included the second exit gate of Government House, St. Mary Road, Federal Avenue, Boundary Road by AIG, and the second junction by Faith Motors.
He assured residents that more failed portions would be addressed as the rehabilitation exercise progresses.
Meanwhile, residents, including Mrs. Cecelia Maduka, Christiana Noah, Felix Odigure and Mongov Asema Moses, expressed satisfaction with the ongoing intervention and commended Governor Okpebholo for what they described as his commitment to improving road infrastructure in the state.
They noted that some previously damaged portions had already been repaired, describing the development as evidence of the government’s determination to translate its promises into tangible results.
The residents also urged the government to sustain the momentum and extend the rehabilitation exercise to other communities experiencing poor road conditions.
