The popular and densely populated Evbuotubu Road in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State appeared jinxed as successive administrations avoided reconstructing the very deplorable road like a plague until the twilight of the immediate past administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki when he mobilised contractors to the road.
Amid fears that the road would be abandoned by the new administration, it was therefore a great relief and excitement to residents when Governor Monday Okpebholo mobilised the contractors back to site and eventually completed the 6.5-kilometre road which links Ekhenwan Road to Siluko Road.
Little wonder therefore that residents and business owners were upbeat when the chief press secretary to the governor, Dr. Patrick Akhere Ebojele took some journalists on tour of completed and ongoing road projects last weekend.
Commending Governor Okpebholo for his magnanimity in completing the roads that he inherited, the residents said the Evbuotubu Road has brought them relief and restored economic activities in the area.
Apart from the completed Evbuotubu Road, the inspection tour also took the journalists to some ongoing road projects like the Mechanic Road, off Siluko Road linking Upper Erhunmwunse, and the Okhunmwun Community Road, which connects the Lagos Expressway to Siluko Road.
Residents of Evbuotubu expressed excitement over the transformation of the area, noting that the previously inaccessible road had affected businesses and movement for several years.
Chairman of Keke riders’ association in the area, Osayi Wilfred, said the poor condition of the road had caused hardship for transport operators and residents before the intervention by the state government.
According to Wilfred, “I have been driving on this road for the past 13 years, and we really suffered because of the bad condition. Every year, we tried to grade the road, but the erosion problem was too much.
“When this government came, we were surprised one day to see graders and equipment working on the road. The project was completed quickly, and we are now enjoying it. Business activities have improved, and people who left the area are returning.”
He appealed to the governor to extend similar intervention to the Owina Road leading to Ekhenwan.
A business owner in the area, Mrs. Blessing Monday, also praised the governor, saying the completed road had improved access to homes and shops.
She said, “Before now, whenever it rained, we could not access our houses or shops. Sometimes we stayed back in our shops until the water reduced. But today, we thank Governor Monday Okpebholo because the mud is gone and businesses are moving freely.”
At Mechanic Road, the journalists observed that stone-base work had been completed, with side drains already constructed. Workers were also seen working on major drainage channels designed to control water flow from the area into the river.
Some residents expressed confidence that the drainage system would help ensure the durability of the road when completed.
Mr. Efemena Kingsley, a landlord, commended the project and urged the government to continue monitoring the construction work to maintain quality standards.
Kingsley believed that “If this road is completed from Mechanic Junction to the power line, it will greatly benefit the community. People coming from Ekhenwan Road will be able to connect through the power line to Siluko. It is a very important project.”
At the Okhunmwun Community Road, asphalt laying had commenced from the Siluko axis as the construction work continued.
Giving his impression after the tour, Dr Ebojele explained that the exercise was organised to allow the journalists independent assessment of ongoing government projects across Edo State.
“We invited journalists to see for themselves what the governor is doing and the interventions in road construction. Many of these roads were abandoned by previous administrations and were affected by erosion.
“You have seen how this administration is bringing life back to these communities. This area, which is Evbuotubu Junction along Ekhenwan Road, could not have been accessible during the rainy season last year, but today, vehicles move freely,” he said.
Ebojele added that the projects were spread across the three senatorial districts of Edo State, stressing that the inspection was aimed at correcting the perception that government projects were concentrated in only one area.
“We have projects across the state – in Edo South, Edo North and Edo Central, and Edo South has a significant share of these interventions,” he said.
