One Year Anniversary: Governor Okpebholo Improves Edo Security and Infrastructure Development

By Ngozi Okeibunor.

Marking his first year in office, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, presented a report card on Thursday detailing his administration’s progress across critical sectors, from a significant security overhaul to major infrastructure projects.

In an address delivered in Benin City, the Governor framed his first year as a turnaround from a state burdened by “rot, debt, insecurity, and distrust” to one now on a path of measurable reform.

Governor Okpebholo pointed to security as his most urgent priority, describing the Edo he inherited as “almost a war zone” with over 300 cult-related killings recorded this year. His administration’s response, he said, was decisive: “We repealed the weak anti-cultism law, enacted a stronger one, and equipped our security forces with 60 operational vehicles and 400 motorcycles. We also recruited 2,500 officers into the Edo State Security Corps. Today, Edo is safer and no longer a sanctuary for criminals.”

On infrastructure, the Governor announced the simultaneous construction of two major flyovers—at Ramat Park and Adesuwa-Sapele Road—a first for the state. His administration has also awarded 28 new road projects covering over 255 kilometers to improve connectivity.

A dramatic increase in the agriculture budget, from ₦4.5 billion to over ₦70 billion, was a central point. Governor Okpebholo stated that this aggressive investment has already led to the cultivation of over 400 hectares, with harvesting now underway. “Funds meant for agriculture are now producing food, not funding corruption,” he asserted.

In education, the government has permanently employed over 5,000 teachers and renovated 63 schools to reverse years of decay. The Governor also revealed a substantial increase in the subvention for Ambrose Alli University, from ₦41 million to ₦500 million monthly.

The healthcare sector, described as “collapsing,” is being revived with the construction of new Primary Health Centres across the state’s 18 wards and a new 100-bed Specialist Hospital in Udomi, Edo Central.

The Governor disclosed the scale of the financial burden he inherited: over ₦600 billion in local and foreign debts and ₦180 billion in unpaid contractor liabilities. He reported that through “prudent management,” this debt burden has been reduced.

He credited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” as an inspiration for his policies and thanked the President for his support.

The ceremony, which featured goodwill messages from political leaders like Senator Adams Oshiomhole, concluded with the Governor assuring citizens that his focus remains on “practical governance” that directly impacts their lives.