Benin City-Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has directed contractors handling road construction projects across the state to intensify work and operate round the clock in order to beat the peak of the rainy season.

Governor Okpebholo gave the directive during an inspection tour of ongoing road projects, including Mechanic Road in Egor Local Government Area and Catholic Charismatic Renewal Road in Ugbiyoko. He was accompanied by the Special Adviser on Project Monitoring, Engr. Phoebe Williams-Bello.

The governor said the state government would strengthen supervision of construction sites to ensure contractors accelerate work and meet completion timelines before heavy rainfall begins to affect construction activities.

According to him, the rainy season has already commenced, making it necessary for contractors to increase the pace of work to prevent delays.

“Although the rainy season has started, our objective is to make substantial progress on these projects before the heavy rains set in,” Governor Okpebholo said.

Referring to the Mechanic Road project, the governor noted that significant work was already ongoing and stressed the need for urgency to avoid difficulties for residents accessing their homes and businesses.

He added that the same level of urgency applies to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal Road in Ugbiyoko, urging contractors to maintain day-and-night operations to ensure large portions of the projects are completed before the rains intensify.

Governor Okpebholo reiterated that road infrastructure remains a major priority of his administration and assured residents that he would continue to personally inspect project sites across Edo State to ensure contractors adhere to agreed timelines.

Meanwhile, residents of Mechanic Road in Egor and Catholic Charismatic Renewal Road in Ugbiyoko turned out in large numbers to welcome the governor and his entourage, expressing appreciation for what they described as long-awaited government intervention.

A resident of Mechanic Road, Mr. Nosa Christopher, commended the governor for addressing what he said was more than two decades of neglect.

“We appreciate Governor Okpebholo for fulfilling his promise. This road has been in a terrible condition and almost impassable for nearly 20 years because previous administrations abandoned it. He has finally come to our rescue,” he said.

Another resident and landlord in the area, Mr. Julius Adedoja, said the poor state of the road had previously forced him to consider selling his property.

“I was already planning to sell my house because living here had become extremely difficult. But with the road construction now ongoing, life has returned to the area and people are moving in again. I have dropped that plan,” he said.

Other residents, including Mrs. Blessing Ihaze, Helen Okunbor and David Endurance, also praised the governor for embarking on the project, noting that successive administrations had neglected the road for years.

They pledged their continued support for the administration in recognition of what they described as renewed efforts to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Edo State.