Kingsley Ohens reporting
Benin City — Nigeria’s Minister for Youth Development, Hon. Ayodele Olawande, has commended Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for what he described as a deliberate and people-focused approach to infrastructural development that is positively transforming communities across the state.
The Minister gave the commendation while accompanying Governor Okpebholo on an inspection tour of ongoing and completed projects across Benin metropolis, noting that the administration’s infrastructure agenda is directly impacting grassroots development and improving quality of life for residents.
Projects inspected during the tour included Temboga Road, Uteh Palace Road, the Ikpoba Hill Flyover, the gully erosion control site at Obaseki Street, Ikpoba Hill, the Adesuwa Junction Flyover along Sapele Road, Etete Road, and several other strategic locations. Also on the inspection tour were the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, and other senior government officials.
Hon. Olawande praised the governor for remaining focused on governance despite criticisms on social media, stressing that sustainable development must always take precedence over political differences.
“You do not sabotage governance because of politics. The people must always come first, because that is what drives human capital and economic development,” the Minister said.
He noted that the Okpebholo administration is expanding infrastructure beyond urban centres, opening up communities for economic activities and employment generation.
“The governor is taking development to the roots. These are people-oriented projects that are clearly changing lives. I am pleased to be part of this inspection and to witness firsthand the pace of development across Edo State,” he added.
The Minister further described the Okpebholo-led government as a people-centred administration whose policies align with the broader national development agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom he said is equally committed to serving Nigerians.
In his remarks, Governor Okpebholo thanked the Minister for his visit and support, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to delivering the dividends of democracy through what he described as “practical governance.”
He emphasized that infrastructure projects are deliberately spread across the state to ensure inclusive development and that public response to the projects reflects growing confidence in his leadership.
“The jubilation and support from the people show that they appreciate what we are doing. Our focus is on delivering results for Edo people,” the governor said.
Governor Okpebholo also highlighted the role of the Federal Government in supporting Edo State’s development, acknowledging President Tinubu’s contributions to the execution of major projects in the state.
Providing technical insights during the tour, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Projects, Engr. Mrs. Phoebe Williams Bello, explained the progress made at the Obaseki Street gully erosion site in Ikpoba Hill, noting that the area had previously served as a refuse dump due to severe erosion.
According to her, engineering assessments revealed inadequate underground drainage capacity, prompting an addendum to the project to expand the drainage system and channel stormwater safely to the Ikpoba River.
“We have cleared the area, opened the road for access, and commenced underground drainage works. The road will be fully asphalted with proper drainage on both sides,” she said.
She added that the intervention has significantly improved access to the community and will permanently address flooding and erosion challenges in the area.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, said the inspection tour underscores Governor Okpebholo’s commitment to transparent governance and hands-on supervision of projects, ensuring that public funds translate into tangible benefits for Edo residents.
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