Edo gov revokes, re-awards failed Benin road contract

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The Edo Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has approved the revocation and re-award of the contract for the failed section of the Benin-Abraka Road at Ikpe Waterside in Orhionmwon Local Government Area.

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The Deputy Governor, Dennis Idahosa, disclosed this on Wednesday during a meeting with Okaigheles, youth leaders and residents from Ikpe Waterside and adjoining communities who protested the deplorable condition of the road.

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Following assurances by Idahosa that the government would intervene, the protesters voluntarily dismantled barricades erected along the road, allowing motorists to pass.

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Idahosa said the decision to revoke and re-award the contract was part of the administration’s efforts to address critical infrastructure challenges inherited from the previous government.

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According to him, the affected road was divided into two sections and awarded to two contractors before the present administration assumed office on November 12, 2024.

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He said while one contractor had completed about 76 per cent of its assigned stretch, the contractor handling the Ikpe Waterside section failed to deliver the project to the required standard.

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“Governor Monday Okpebholo has approved that this road contract be revoked and re-awarded to a competent contractor,” Idahosa said.

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He expressed disappointment over the condition of the road, assuring the communities that the administration would address inherited infrastructure deficiencies across the state’s 18 local government areas and three senatorial districts.

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The deputy governor also assured the communities that palliative works would commence on the worst portions of the road while the procurement process for the re-award of the contract was concluded.

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He said the local government would be directed to carry out emergency palliative works to ease the hardship faced by motorists.

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Idahosa also assured the stakeholders that he would personally monitor the rehabilitation process to ensure that the road was delivered to the required standard.

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“We need your understanding on most of these issues that were inherited from the previous government. It was not caused by us,” he said.

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He stressed that the Okpebholo administration would not compromise on the quality of roads being constructed across the state.

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The deputy governor also listened to complaints by the communities over alleged forceful takeover of ancestral farmlands and their subsequent allocation to agricultural investors by the previous administration.

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He assured the stakeholders that the government would examine the issues and ensure that appropriate action was taken.

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Earlier, spokesperson of the protesting communities, David Ehiarinmwian, said their grievances extended beyond the deplorable state of the road.

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He called on oil and agricultural companies operating in the area to demonstrate greater commitment to the socio-economic development of their host communities through effective corporate social responsibility programmes.

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Ehiarinmwian also appealed to the state government to review the buffer-zone policy relating to the allocation of land to agricultural investors.

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He argued that the policy had affected local farmers’ access to ancestral farmlands and their traditional farming practices.

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Idahosa assured the stakeholders that their concerns would receive the attention of the government as part of its commitment to inclusive development across Edo.

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