by Matthew Okunsebor

In modern society, road infrastructure has become an essential part of daily life. Individual road users, logistic firms, public transportation agencies and other road users, expect reliable and safe roads for travels and moving from one location to another, including the transportation of goods. Road infrastructure is considered as a key prerequisite for the social and economic development of any human society. Good road network enhances social development and promote economic transformation. High quality and durable roads promote foreign direct investment.

The presence of formidable and standard road network opens up various communities in the State and provides easy access to these communities, thereby enabling farmers and artisans to transport their produce and products to neighbouring communities for sale, while at the same time, goods from urban areas, including foreign goods could also flow into those communities. Conversely, poor road infrastructure poses hindrance to foreign investments.

In Edo State, road transport is the most widely used mode of transportation, transversing the 18 Local Government Areas of the State. Over the past five years, Governor Godwin Obaseki has invested on the construction of hundreds of roads across the three Senatorial Districts and 18 LGAs of the State.

In Edo South Senatorial District, the State Government has constructed and reconstructed several major roads which include Iyekogba-Irhirhi-Sapele Road; TV Road-Ehaekpen Road; Ogiso Road and Textile Mill Road in the Benin metropolis. Presently, the reconstruction and dualization of Ekehuan Road has reached an advanced stage of completion, and laying of asphalt has extended from the King’s Square up to Ekehuan Slope.

Several road networks have been reconstructed in different parts of Benin City, and this intervention has opened up various communities and provided easy access and free-flow of human and vehicular traffic. By all standards, these are durable roads that will stand the test of time and save money that would have been used for repairs periodically.

In Edo Central Senatorial District, a bridge linking Ohordua with Emu in Esan South East Local Government Area was constructed and is still intact. Police Barracks Road, Ekpoma; Ubiaja-Uromi express way (Angle 80 Junction-Illushi) and Ewohimi Junction-Okaigben-Delta State Boundary have been rehabilitated. Many other roads have been reconstructed while construction work is ongoing on the newly awarded road projects in this Senatorial District.

The State Government has made positive impact in Edo North with the reconstruction of several roads in different parts of the Senatorial District. Many of the roads have been completed while others are still under construction and rehabilitation. The newly reconstructed Secretariat Road at Igarra in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area is among such roads.

Governor Godwin Obaseki has often re-emphasized the commitment of his administration to make Edo Great Again. Edo cannot be considered great if it has no network of good and durable roads. As Governor Obaseki is constructing roads, more foreign investors are trooping into Edo to establish businesses. This implies more employment opportunities for our people, more revenue generated and more development for the State.

As roads are rehabilitated and new road constructed in new areas, development also comes into these areas. People who had earlier abandoned their houses and businesses because of inaccessible roads are returning to these areas. Similarly, farmers can now transport their produce to markets outside their communities just as traders and business people can now easily access these communities for business transactions. Road availability is one of the cardinal infrastructures required for socio-economic development of the human society. Any society without a good road network cannot be considered as developed, irrespective of its innovations.

Investment in road infrastructure has amazing multiplier effects. They enhance accessibility and facilitate trade, improve mobility, generate greater employment opportunities, and boost overall economic productivity. Governor Godwin Obaseki through these various strides in providing quality road infrastructures, has continued to demonstrate unwavering commitment to his singular agenda of Making Edo Great Again.