Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has threatened to arrest the contractor handling a section of the Benin-Abraka Road over the alleged abandonment of the project despite payment by the previous administration.
The governor’s position was contained in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Dr Patrick Ebojele, on Saturday, following Okpebholo’s engagement with members of the All Progressives Congress in Orhionmwon and Uhunmwode Local Government Areas of the state.
The Benin-Abraka Road connects Edo and Delta states and has been a major route for motorists travelling between the two states.
Okpebholo said the road project was awarded to two contractors under the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki, adding that while one of the contractors had continued work and completed about 75 per cent of its section, the other had allegedly abandoned its portion.
According to the governor, the project had been paid for before he assumed office, but the contractor handling the affected section allegedly abandoned the work, leaving motorists to endure difficulties on the road.
“Following the agreement that was signed by Obaseki’s administration, that road construction project was paid for before I became governor. Despite the payment by the previous administration, the contractor still abandoned the road, allowing motorists to suffer untold hardship passing through the road,” Okpebholo said.
He further alleged that the contractor who abandoned the project was a friend of the former governor, describing the abandoned section as the major source of hardship for motorists using the route.
The governor said he had previously refrained from commenting publicly on the road project but was compelled to speak after hearing complaints about the condition of the road during his visit to the affected areas.
“I am going to arrest that contractor,” Okpebholo declared.
The governor said his administration had taken steps to address the condition of roads inherited from the previous administration but was constrained in some cases by existing contractual agreements.
Okpebholo, who was accompanied by APC leaders and senior government officials, also visited Iguomo-Nisi in Uhunmwode Local Government Area, where he interacted with party members as part of his ongoing political engagements ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The Edo APC Chairman, Jarrett Tenebe, commended party members for their turnout during the governor’s visit and thanked voters for their support during the last local government elections.
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