Residents worry as potholes and floods damage Edo roads

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Residents of Benin, the capital of Edo State, are urging the state government to act quickly as many city roads are in bad shape.

The worst roads are in the Government Reservation Area. They were built many years ago without proper drainage. Successive governments have left them to fall apart.

Mission Road, Oba Market Road, Plymouth Road, and Ibiwe Road are also struggling. These roads lead to the Ring Road. They now have potholes that make it hard for vehicles and people to pass. The city centre is becoming harder to get through.

The situation gets worse in the early morning. Workers and business owners rush to reach their jobs. It is also tough in the evening when they return home.

In addition, commercial drivers who could not pick up and drop off passengers at Kings Square have turned it into a bus park. The rain has made things worse. Vehicles break down in potholes that erosion often covers.

In GRA, a large pothole near the Government House has stopped cars from using Reservation Road. Ihama Road close to the House of Assembly Quarters is impassable when it rains. Boundary Road towards Airport Road and Adesuwa Grammar School Road also become unusable in the rain.

Giwa Amu, Gapiona, and other nearby roads are flooded. There are no drains to carry away the water in the GRA.

Gardens around Kings Square, built by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole, are now overgrown with weeds. Hawkers fill the area, turning walkways into extensions of their stalls.

The National Museum, once a popular spot near Kings Square, is now neglected and covered in tall grass.

Some residents talked to journalists about the poor state of the Ring Road. They described it as a sad situation ahead of the Oba of Benin’s 10th-year coronation anniversary.

Mr. Osaro Idemudia, a resident, complained about the bad condition of the Ring Road. He said drivers now crowd the area instead of using the Central Park. “We are not happy with the way the Ring Road is looking. Bus drivers are supposed to take passengers at the Central Park. Look at dirt everywhere,” he said.

Another driver, James Igie, mentioned that “the Kings Square represents the image of the state.” He called on the government to fix the issue quickly. “It was sad that the Oba Ovoranmen Square was allowed to look dirty. This is not good and we hope the government will address the situation,” he added.

Businessman Solomon Aibangbee said, “in the last two weeks, the state of the roads in Edo State has been in the news all over the world. Passengers and motorists spend days passing through Edo State because of bad roads.

“Now you add the roads within Benin City to the issues. Is Ring Road also a federal road? I ask because that is the usual excuse we hear,” Aibangbee said sadly.

When asked for comments, Engr. Felix Ibhade, the Managing Director of the Edo State Road Maintenance Agency, said they plan to fix the Ring Road. Ibhade said Governor Okpebholo does not want to do temporary repairs. He wants a complete asphalt rehabilitation.

“So we are on it. Our constraint is the rain because the majority of the roads we have fixed got washed away by the rain. So we are waiting for the rain to stop. That is the beauty of the town, and if we don’t do it, it will wear out after one month. We will work with the Ministry of Works because it is not going to be an easy job,” Ibhade explained.

Pastor Stanley Ighodaro, the Managing Director of the Edo State Parks and Gardens Agency, also assured that Governor Okpebholo is committed to making Benin City and other areas in the state more beautiful.