Kingsley Ohens reporting
BENIN CITY, Edo State — Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has assured contractors handling road projects across the state of sustained government funding and support, expressing optimism that significant progress will be recorded on ongoing projects before the Christmas season.
The governor gave the assurance on Monday while inspecting ongoing works along the Arue-Uromi-Agbor road projects in Esan North East Local Government Area, as part of his administration’s ongoing assessment of infrastructure projects across the state.
Governor Okpebholo, who inspected several project sites during the exercise, said construction activities were progressing despite the challenges posed by the current rainy season.
According to him, the weather conditions had limited the scope of construction work that could effectively be undertaken at the moment, with drainage infrastructure receiving particular attention across the various sites.
“We are here to look at what they are doing. We have gone around several project sites since morning to see how far they are going, and the work is progressing,” the governor said.
He explained that the administration was assessing what could realistically be achieved between now and Christmas, noting that drainage works remained a critical component of the ongoing construction activities during the rainy season.
“By the grace of God, we are looking at what we can achieve between now and Christmas, because of the rainy season, nothing much can actually be done.
“The only thing they can do now is the drainage, which they are working on, and we are seeing the progress they are making across the various sites,” he said.
Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to ensuring continuity on road projects, Governor Okpebholo said the government would continue to release funds to contractors as resources became available.
“Our aim is to make sure that we do our best to fund them. As the money comes to us, we also use the money to fund them. So, we will continue to strive to ensure that progress is made on these roads,” he stated.
The governor stressed that providing contractors with the necessary financial support remained essential to maintaining momentum on the projects, adding that the government would continue to prioritise infrastructure development as part of its broader commitment to improving transportation and connectivity across Edo State.
He expressed optimism that the completion and advancement of the road projects would significantly improve mobility for residents and motorists, particularly as increased movement is expected across the state during the Christmas period.
Providing further details on one of the major projects, the Area Manager of Setraco Nigeria Ltd., Mr. Michel Aoy, said the Irrua-Uromi bypass road would be constructed to a width of nine metres on each side, with a concrete barrier separating both carriageways and street lighting provided along the route.
Aoy explained that securing the required right of way for the project, as well as establishing a drainage corridor of about 20 metres, had presented significant challenges.
He, however, noted that considerable progress had now been made, particularly on the drainage component of the project.
“Now we can see the drain executed, which is the hardest step of the project and which will normally take time with contractors,” he said.
The inspection underscores the Okpebholo administration’s focus on monitoring ongoing infrastructure projects and ensuring that available resources are translated into tangible progress on the ground.
The development was contained in a statement issued on Monday, August 24, 2026, by Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Edo State, who said the administration remained committed to sustaining the pace of road development across the state.
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