Edo Road Crisis: Idahosa Hails Governor Okpebholo Over Emergency Approval For Okhun Road Rehabilitation

In a decisive move aimed at restoring economic mobility and easing severe gridlock within Benin City, Edo State Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa has commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for authorizing immediate funding for the palliative rehabilitation of the failed portions of Okhun Road, located off Upper Siluko Road.

The praise came during an extensive on-the-spot inspection of the site, where state-backed engineering teams have spent consecutive days excavating waterlogged sections, widening narrow bottlenecks, and clearing stagnant drainage channels. The critical artery had long suffered severe structural degradation, crippling local commerce and disrupting daily transit across the axis.

Speaking through a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Friday Aghedo, the Deputy Governor disclosed that the emergency works are designed as an immediate buffer to alleviate the suffering of residents ahead of a comprehensive, full-scale reconstruction. According to official accounts, the state government has already mandated the Ministry of Works to commence procurement procedures for permanent reconstruction, which will be formally captured under the 2026 Edo State budget.

"I was here on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and today marks the fourth consecutive day of monitoring this project," Idahosa stated during the site tour. "Governor Monday Okpebholo has directed the Ministry of Works to initiate full procurement. For those attempt to politicise this issue, the administration's main focus remains the welfare and mobility of everyday citizens."

Providing technical context on the intervention, the Project Engineer for the executing construction firm MCC, Engr. Atoyebi Tosinwa, explained that the corridor has historically been prone to acute water percolation. To ensure durability, contractors are deploying specialized geotextile technology alongside high-density granite and gravel filling to stabilize the road subgrade before major asphalt works begin following the rainy season.