REPORTER DIARY : How Gov. Monday Okpebholo is using Government Money For Edo People - By Eubaldus Enahoro
Prior to the coming of the Governor Okpebholo's led administration, governance in the state lacked the political will or commitment to evolve an effective or holistic strategy to impact positively on the lives of the people.
But today, Edo people are testifying to the phenomenal impact of the administration's achievements so far which baffles even the most ardent critics, apparently because of the giant strides of the administration which hit the ground running immediately after inauguration.
The Governor has hinted that the secret of his success is the fact that the Federal Government has been very generous to the state and every effort is taken to ensure that there is no diversion of funds meant to develop the state
It would be recalled that late December 2024, Governor Monday Okpebholo was invited by the Senate President, Senator Godswll Akpabio to see the development strides that have transformed Akwa Ibom state.
During that historic visit, Governor Okpebholo promised to reproduce the same development in Edo State, noting that, " I am more than confident and convinced that what we plan to achieve with the mandate given us by Edo people is doable. Akpabio did it in Akwa Ibom and we will do it in Edo.
The Governor believes that the basic function of government is to cater to the welfare of its people and he knows that there can be no meaningful progress or development without peace and security of persons and property, good and accessible health care and durable and well maintained network of roads.
As the Chief Security officer of the state, the Governor resolved to assist the various security agencies with necessary logistic support in order to bring about an enabling environment where Socio-economic development can thrive.
To curb insecurity, the governor declared war on various cult groups which led to drastic reduction of cult- related killings in the State as well as the deployment of a Special Tactical Team to Agenebode which led to the timely rescue of kidnapped victims and dislodging of kidnappers and other criminal gangs from that axis.
In realization of the Okpebholo administration's campaign promise to create a secure, peaceful and harmonious environment to thrive, the Governor rescued kidnapped victims and smoked out kidnappers and criminal gangs in Uromi and environs and made the Passage of a new Cultism Prohibition Law with severe penalties for cultists and their sponsors.
The government has Procured several brand new Toyota Hilux vehicles for various Security Agencies in Edo State to enhance security operations in the State and in a deliberate effort to tackle holistically the challenges of insecurity in the state, the Governor Procured one thousand high functional motorcycles and vehicles which have been presented to the security agencies for security operation, bush combing and tactical pursuit of kidnappers and other criminals.
The Public Safety Response Team was constituted to assist Security Agencies in the enforcement of public safety measures and maintenance of public order as well as the reconstitution of the Edo State Security Corps, validation of members and illegal arms mop- up with Over a thousand illegal firearms recovered so far.
With these security measures put in place and more coming, the governor believes that this is the only way by which the much needed investors with the multiplier effect of employment for the people can be encouraged and sustained.
The center piece of the new health policy of the Okpebholo administration is the facilitation of smooth take-off of the National Obstetrics Fistula Center in Edo State (the first and only one in the South-South Geo-political zone) through the donation of 25 hectares of land (with a Certificate of Occupancy) to the Federal Government for the purpose.
This was a feat that the Federal Ministry of Health could not achieve in almost two years of the past administration but was actualized within seven days of Senator Monday Okpebholo’s Administration. The government Flag-off the Support to the Malaria Elimination Project in Edo State and the launch of free malaria testing and treatment in all Government Hospitals in the State for the next two years.
There has been on-boarding of over three hundred vulnerable persons across the State into the State Equity Plan of the Edo State Health Insurance Commission and the digitalization of Statewide Health Insurance Data Transmission, the successful launch of the Edo State Health Insurance Commission Customer Service/Support Policy, the upgrade of State-owned health facilities to enhance service delivery and the completion of the Oredo Primary Healthcare Center.
In consonance with the Senator Monday Okpebholo policy of improving the health sector, the administration Procured transformers and Air conditioners for the Edo Specialist Hospital, distributed eighteen Ultrasound Machines to hospitals in the eighteen Local Government Areas, distributed two hundred and twenty (220)laptops and tables to two hundred and twenty Primary Healthcare Centers for data management as well as the procurement of a Bus and Hilux vehicle for Primary Healthcare Project Monitoring
Prior to the inauguration of the administration of Governor Okpebholo, various major roads, especially federal roads were death traps and in keeping with his campaign promises upon assumption of office, the Governor commenced construction of two flyover bridges at Ramat Park, and Adesuwa Junction, Benin City which would apart from easing the traffic congestion in the two axis of the metropolis provide commerce for the people.
The government Procured Payloaders, trucks and compressors for the Edo State Waste Management Agency to enhance their services, as well as Passage and implementation of the Edo State Electricity Regulatory Commission Law which empowers the State to generate, transmit and distribute power and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with the NNPC Limited and other investors to build a $300 Million Condensate Refinery in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State
The government has also Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the installation of $500m 100MW Hydropower Plant at Ikpoba and Ojirami Dams in Edo State and resuscitated the Edo Transport Service (a.k.a New Edo Line) with the procurement and commissioning of one hundred brand new Hiace Buses for inter-state travels
The Okpebholo led administration has made remarkable strides in the delivery of prompt dividends of democracy by constructing new and renovated bad roads in the state.
The government has rehabilitated failed sections of Upper Mission Road, Benin City, rehabilitated critically failed sections of the Benin-Auchi Road from Obadan Junction to Iruekpen, construction of Ekpoma-Uromi-Ubiaja Road, ongoing construction of Uromi-Onewa-Udomi-Ibhiolulu-Afuda-Idumoza-Eko-Uwaya-Ewora Road with Spurs, construction of Ekiuwa-University of Benin City (UNIBEN) Road, off Upper Mission Road (Temboga Road Extension), Benin City, construction of Versity Road, off Usugbenu Road in Esan Central Local Government Area (completed), Construction of Palace Road, off Upper Mission Road, Benin City, Construction of Irrua-Akho-Illeh-Ukhun Road in Esan Central and Esan West Local Government Areas, and the Construction of Irrua-Illeh-Usenu-Ukhun Road in Esan West Local Government Area.
In addition, the construction of Ohe-Uzea Road in Esan North East Local Government Area, the construction of Prince Harrison Street, Illeh in Esan Central Local Government Area, the reconstruction of Boundary Road, off Ogba Road, Benin City, the construction of Okhunmwun Road in Ovia North East Local Government Area, the construction of 1.5km Utako-Idumu-Aligbe Road, 0.8km Idumu-Ekhuere Road and the construction of Uromi-Onewa-Udomi-Ibhiolulu-Afuda-Idumoza-Eko-Uwaya-Ewora Road with Spurs.
The government has renovated the Offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, Secretary to the State Government and Head of Service as well as the rehabilitation of four (4) Court of Appeal Complexes and Judges’ Quarters ; revitalization of the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS) Ihievbe Substation; restoring operations after nearly a decade of downtime and Upgrade of Information and Communication Technology and other infrastructure at the State-owned Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS)
The Okpebholo administration has no doubt made significant investments in the development of the information and communication sector with the Procurement of Two units of 150KVA Perkins Generator for EBS, Procurement of high-end digital equipment, such as High-performance Mac, Broadcasting and Streaming Softwares, Professional Quadcopter Drone with 4K UHD Video Camera, 10kva TV Transmitter, Audio Interfaces/Mixers etc.
The government has upgraded the Edo State's Network Infrastructure from 1 Gigabit to a 10 Gigabit Fibre Network supporting services like video conferencing, large file sharing, VoIP calls and more across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), Partnering with Cisco Networking Academy and others to train and equip the Information Communication Technology Agency Network Staff to efficiently control and independently manage the 10 Gigabit Fibre Network across Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs)
The government has Constructed Town Halls in Ohanmi, Owan East Local Government Areas and twenty other Communities across the three Senatorial Districts of Edo State using the CSDA Platform and provision of All-in-One Solar Streetlights in Iyekogba and 30 other Communities across the three Senatorial Districts of Edo State, using the CSDA Platform, Provision of 500 KVA Transformers and rural electrification in Uwessan, Esan Central Local Government Area and 25 other Communities across the 3 senatorial districts using the CSDA platform, Construction of Markets and lockup stores in Auchi and other locations in the 3 Senatorial Districts using the CSDA platform, Provision of Boreholes and reticulation at Uzenema, Esan North East and other selected locations in the 3 senatorial districts, using the CSDA platform.
In addition to the Reconstruction of a Police Post at Ojo-Uwelu, Egor, Esan Central Local Government, using the CSDA platform the government opened a mobile police base in Uromi and handed over ten patrol vehicles to security agencies in Edo Central Senatorial district to curb insecurity in the area.
The ongoing construction of Udomi teaching hospital, holiday resort, Golf course, film village for actors in the movie industry and the construction of a multipurpose hall in the area will no doubt transform Edo Central to a destination for investors and tourism
Governor Monday Okpebholo disclosed during one of his frequent monitoring of projects in Edo Central that these projects and several others across the state are being executed with Edo State Government money and the support of President Ahmed Bola Tinubu
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