Residents of the Iwogban-Ute axis of Benin City, Edo State, have commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for the reconstruction of their road and reclamation of a major gully that had, according to them, contributed to insecurity and restricted movement in the community.
The residents, who spoke with journalists on Friday, said the deplorable condition of the road and the expanding gully had rendered parts of the area inaccessible, creating isolated spots that criminals allegedly exploited to rob and terrorise residents.
They said the situation had become particularly difficult during the early morning and late evening hours, as many residents were afraid to move freely around the community.
A resident, Mrs. Esosa Odigie, who has lived in the area for more than 10 years, said the intervention had significantly changed the security situation.
According to her, the road was previously a “no-go area” after the gully virtually cut the community into two, forcing residents to construct a makeshift bridge to gain access to the other side.
Odigie said the poor access also worsened insecurity, as criminals allegedly took advantage of the difficult terrain and deserted portions of the road.
She added that the deteriorating situation had forced some residents to relocate, while some property owners reportedly sold their houses and moved to other parts of Benin City.
She, however, said the reconstruction of the road had brought a noticeable improvement.
“Now, things have improved. No more robbery, no more fear of coming out early in the morning to hustle. People have started coming to rent here,” she said, expressing appreciation to the state government for the intervention.
Another resident, Mrs. Bridget Ogbeide, recalled that residents had previously resorted to using pieces of wood to construct makeshift bridges because the road had become virtually impassable.
Ogbeide said the gully posed both an environmental and security challenge, noting that its depth, poor road access and surrounding isolated areas provided cover for criminal elements.
She said the reclamation of the gully, construction of drainage infrastructure and reconstruction of the road had transformed the area by improving access for residents, motorists and security personnel.
Speaking at the project site, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Edo State Flood, Erosion and Watershed Management Agency, Hon. Mohammed Bawa Okoyomon, said the area had previously been difficult to access because of the gully and poor state of the road.
Okoyomon said the intervention, carried out with the support of Governor Okpebholo, had reclaimed the gully and restored access to the community.
He noted that the area had previously become a hideout for criminal elements, including kidnappers, due to its difficult terrain and poor accessibility.
According to him, the reconstructed road covers approximately 1.7 kilometres, while the drainage network spans about 5.5 kilometres.
He explained that the project was designed to address both the erosion challenge and the access problem, adding that restoring the corridor had improved connectivity and contributed to a safer environment for residents.
Okoyomon said the Iwogban-Ute project was part of the wider infrastructure interventions being implemented across Edo State to tackle erosion, flooding, poor road access and other challenges affecting communities.
The residents said they hoped the government would sustain maintenance of the road and drainage infrastructure to prevent a recurrence of the problems that previously affected the area.
