President Bola Tinubu has praised Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for his impressive strides in infrastructure, especially the ongoing construction of the state’s first-ever flyover bridge. The president described the project as a landmark step toward easing traffic congestion and modernising Edo’s transport system.
Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, commended the governor’s foresight in initiating the one-kilometre flyover at Ikpoba Hill in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area. He noted that the project, once completed, would significantly improve vehicular movement and enhance the urban landscape of Benin City.
According to Umahi, “This is a 24-span structure, each span measuring 20 meters, amounting to a one-kilometre bridge. The quality and pace of work are impressive. Edo State is witnessing a first, and I believe more such projects should follow to ease traffic in Benin.”
The minister contrasted the efficiency of state-led projects with some federal ones, noting that contractors often show more commitment under governors than in federal contracts. He promised tighter oversight at the federal level to ensure transparency and timely delivery.
Umahi also commended Okpebholo for adopting reinforced concrete technology in road construction, stressing that such roads last 50 to 100 years and help conserve public funds. “Nigeria cannot continue to waste resources on recurring repairs. We must invest in durability,” he said.
Describing the governor as “a man of courage, destiny, and vision,” President Tinubu applauded Okpebholo’s interventions on federal road corridors in Edo, noting that they reflect genuine leadership and commitment to citizens’ welfare.
Governor Okpebholo, visibly pleased, thanked President Tinubu for his support, crediting the president’s encouragement for his administration’s early successes. “We are succeeding because of the president’s backing. His progressive DNA runs in us. I cannot rest without thinking of what more to do for my people,” he said.
Acknowledging the state’s years of infrastructural decay, the governor pledged to rebuild Edo with renewed energy and a competent team determined to restore the state’s lost glory.
In an uncommon show of bipartisan goodwill, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, Segun Sowunmi, also hailed Okpebholo’s performance, stressing that good governance transcends political boundaries.
“When Edo people are happy, Nigerians are happy. Development must happen state by state for true national progress,” Sowunmi remarked.
