Residents and motorists in Benin City, Edo State, have welcomed the commencement of road rehabilitation works across Government Reserved Areas (GRA) and other parts of the metropolis following the deployment of heavy construction equipment by the state government.
The intervention, initiated by Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration, is aimed at repairing deteriorating roads, improving accessibility and easing the movement of people and goods within the state capital.
Bulldozers, earth-moving equipment and asphalt-laying machinery have been deployed to facilitate the rehabilitation exercise, with work beginning at several locations last week.
Okpebholo said assessments had been carried out to identify roads requiring urgent repairs, including areas where damaged road surfaces and inadequate drainage infrastructure had affected movement.
The ongoing intervention follows the governor’s earlier commitment to addressing the condition of inner-city roads and improving transportation infrastructure across the state.
The commencement of the repairs has raised hopes among residents and motorists who have complained about the poor state of several roads, citing vehicle damage and difficulties commuting within the metropolis.
A commercial driver who operates along Ihama Road, Richard Ojo Idemudia, commended the governor for beginning the repairs during the dry season, describing the development as a welcome relief for road users.
Idemudia said some sections of the road had become difficult to navigate, resulting in damage to vehicles and increased challenges for motorists.
He, however, urged the government to ensure that the rehabilitation works met acceptable construction standards and provided lasting solutions to the problem.
“I am happy that work has commenced on sections of the road that were almost impassable and were causing damage to our vehicles. It shows that the governor is listening to the people, and we are excited about the development,” he said.
The commercial driver also called on the state’s road maintenance agency to ensure proper execution of the repairs while maintaining the roads until more comprehensive reconstruction projects could be undertaken.
He stressed that the quality of the work would determine how long the rehabilitated sections remained in good condition under regular traffic.
Similarly, a resident of Upper Adesuwa, Omoregie Igiebor, praised the state government for responding to concerns about deteriorating roads across Benin City.
Igiebor urged the administration to sustain the rehabilitation exercise and extend the intervention to other roads requiring urgent attention.
He also called for regular monitoring of the projects to ensure compliance with quality standards and prevent the premature deterioration of repaired roads.
The ongoing exercise forms part of the Edo State Government’s efforts to improve road infrastructure and address transportation challenges in Benin City, with residents urging authorities to ensure that the intervention delivers durable results.
