Gov Okpebholo Sets Two-Month Deadline for Completion of Doctors’ Quarters in Benin

Kingsley Ohens reporting

Governor of Edo State, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure, announcing that the long-abandoned Doctors’ Quarters located on Ezotti Street, Benin City, will be completed and ready for occupation within the next two months.

The governor made the declaration during an inspection visit to the facility, accompanied by the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku, and other senior government officials. The delegation was conducted around the project site by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole.

Speaking after assessing the progress of work, Governor Okpebholo said he deemed it necessary to personally inspect the project following reports he had received regarding the facility’s rehabilitation.

According to him, the visit was also intended to provide lawmakers with firsthand insight into projects being funded through government appropriations, underscoring his administration’s commitment to accountability and transparency.

“I have heard a lot about this building and decided to come here today to inspect the project myself. I also came with the Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly so that he can see what funds are being appropriated for,” the governor stated.

He disclosed that the contractor handling the renovation project had assured the government that work would be completed within approximately six weeks, enabling doctors to begin moving into the facility.

“The contractor has assured us that the building will be ready in about one month and two weeks. Once completed, the doctors will be able to move in. I will return to inspect the project again, and I hope the contractor meets the deadline so that our doctors can begin to occupy the facility,” he added.

The project represents a significant milestone in the state government’s efforts to revitalize critical public infrastructure and improve the welfare of healthcare professionals across Edo State.

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole, praised Governor Okpebholo for reviving a facility that had remained neglected for more than four decades.

Describing the rehabilitation as a landmark intervention in the health sector, Oshiomhole noted that previous administrations failed to address the deteriorating condition of the building despite its strategic importance to the healthcare system.

“This is the Doctors’ Quarters, and I have known this building for about 40 years. Before work started, the structure was in a dilapidated state. This is the first time any government has undertaken major work on this building in the last four decades,” he said.

He further revealed that the renovation project has now surpassed 85 percent completion, describing the achievement as evidence of the governor’s resolve to transform public institutions and improve service delivery.

“The facility has existed for over 40 years, but in less than one year in office, Governor Monday Okpebholo has commenced and substantially completed its renovation. The project is now over 85 per cent completed,” Oshiomhole noted.

The Health Commissioner also commended the governor for prioritizing healthcare under the administration’s SHINE Agenda, emphasizing that the rehabilitation of the Doctors’ Quarters would provide improved accommodation for medical personnel and contribute to a more efficient healthcare delivery system.

The ongoing transformation of the facility is widely seen as part of the broader infrastructural renewal drive of the Okpebholo administration, which has placed healthcare, education, road development, and public service reforms at the forefront of its governance agenda.

With the project nearing completion, expectations are high that the refurbished Doctors’ Quarters will not only enhance the welfare of healthcare workers but also strengthen the capacity of the state’s health sector to meet the needs of residents.