From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, yesterday, explained that Governor Monday Okpebholo has approached governance by providing solutions to nagging problems and critical infrastructure of the state in the
last 18 months of his administration.
The Commissioner who stated this while addressing journalists in Benin, disclosed that the State Government has employed about 6,500 teachers with a plan to recruit more to ensure that every sector of education in the State is catered for.
“Only recently, the governor made a grant of two billion naira to Edo State University, Iyamho to improve its infrastructure and also raise its monthly subvention from N100 million to N250 million beside promising to donate buses to the institution”, Afegbua said.
He also said the State inherited schools without roofs and chairs from the previous administration, explaining that the situation has changed for the better with nearly 80 schools rehabilitated across the state.
In the health sector, the Commissioner said the State has built and equipped 75 Primary Health Centres with a target of increasing the number to 160 at the end of the first four years of the administration.
Besides, Afegbua disclosed that work has commenced on Stella Obasanjo Hospital which the Okpebholo administration inherited at 75 percent completion, adding that Government was ensuring that the State Specialist Hospital caters to the needs of the people of the state.
He further disclosed that the State Government recently awarded contracts for the construction 17 roads across the state saying “Very soon the Government will be commissioning Ramat Park Flyover”.
Afegbua also announced that construction work has commenced on Adesuwa Junction Flyover, Ekenhuan-Gelegele Road and other critical infrastructure including Temboga Road which he said was nearing completion. He said the administration has completed several roads in three senatorial districts while others were under construction.
He further disclosed that the State Government recently handed over road construction equipment to the 18 Local Government Councils in the state to help open up the rural areas and also took steps to set up a Rapid Response Agency for road maintenance in the state, adding that equipment have been provided for the agency which has since commenced work.
The Information Commissioner listed other achievements of the Okpebholo administration to include provision of one billion naira for payment of bursary to students, one billion interest-free loan to market women, construction of Jattu, Ekpoma markets and Oba Market which construction work is now at 85 percent.
Afegbua disclosed that the scourge of insecurity in the state has reduced maximally as Government has equipped the security agencies with 100 vehicles and 300 motor cycles and appealed to the people to cooperate with Government as security was a task for all.
He also appealed to Edo people and residents to pay their taxes promptly to avail Government the necessary resources to provide social amenities.
The Information Commissioner weighed in on the generally held notion that the country was becoming a one-party state and said “For those crying one-party state, there are 21 political parties in the country. It is not the business of the APC to help the opposition parties grow their parties”.
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