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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Two prominent clerics in Edo State have urged Governor Monday Okpebholo to urgently tackle the worsening condition of roads across the state, particularly in the Government Reserved Area (GRA), even as they commended his administration for its efforts in combating insecurity.
Pastor Margaret Agbonifo, vision bearer of Family Intercessory Ministries (FIM) International Inc., and Pastor Obby Okeke, General Overseer of Christian Brethren Ministries (CBM), made the appeal yesterday during separate engagements attended by the governor and senior officials of his administration.
Agbonifo, speaking during the 2026 Harvest of FIM, said complaints over bad roads had become widespread and appealed to the governor to give the problem urgent attention.
“Edo people want good roads. Please help address it,” she said, specifically drawing attention to the condition of roads in the GRA.
She, however, praised Okpebholo for what she described as significant progress in tackling kidnapping, cultism, banditry and other criminal activities.
“I want to thank you for the way you are addressing insecurity across the state, especially the way you have fought kidnapping, cultism, banditry and other forms of criminality in the state. The state is very peaceful today,” she said.
Agbonifo attributed the improvement to the governor’s courage and determination to confront criminal elements.
“Before your administration, Your Excellency, people were kidnapped, cult killings were everywhere in the state, and blood flowed freely in the state. But that is no longer the case today, as Governor Okpebholo has brought back peace to the state,” she said.
Similarly, Okeke, whose 65th birthday was celebrated during the governor’s visit to CBM, commended the administration’s response to the kidnapping of victims at a vegetable market.
She said the victims were close friends of the church and described the incident as traumatic, adding that the arrest of the suspects within 24 hours brought relief to those affected.
Responding, Okpebholo acknowledged growing complaints over the condition of roads, particularly in the GRA, and disclosed that five contractors had been identified to undertake road projects in the area after the rainy season.
“Edo people are crying about bad roads in the GRA, and social media is full of complaints. But don’t worry. Immediately after the rainy season, we will embark on massive work and put everything to rest,” he said.
The governor said the administration would extend road construction and rehabilitation to other parts of the state, explaining that poor planning and inadequate drainage had contributed to the deterioration of many roads.
“Edo roads were built without proper planning. There are no good drainages on roads in the GRA and other parts of the state. The drainages on some roads are already filled up, and nobody is desilting them,” Okpebholo said.
He assured residents that the drainage problems would be addressed alongside road construction and rehabilitation.
Acknowledging the scale of the challenge, the governor said proper planning would be required to ensure durable projects.
“Rain is an enemy to construction. After the rain, we will start our work, and Edo people will see that we have started our work and enjoy good roads across the state,” he said.
On security, Okpebholo said his administration had procured more than 40 vehicles and motorcycles to strengthen security operations across the state.
He said the vehicles would be deployed to strategic junctions to enable security personnel to respond more quickly to distress calls.
The governor also confirmed that suspects involved in the vegetable market kidnapping were arrested within 24 hours, saying his administration intended to sustain such rapid response to criminal activities.
He disclosed that special forces were undergoing training and would be deployed in the coming weeks to strengthen surveillance and security operations.
“Edo will be safer very soon, as special forces are already in training, and in the next few weeks there will be heavy security presence across the state, monitoring people’s movement,” Okpebholo said.
