Edo governor promises N100m traders’ grant and road reconstruction

Edo Governor Monday Okpebholo has promised a N100 million grant for traders at the Uwelu Spare Parts Market and pledged to reconstruct the Uwasota-Uwelu Road. Okpebholo made the commitments during a visit to the market on Friday to discuss traders’ difficulties and assess their businesses. He urged the traders to form a cooperative society if they did not already have one so they could access the proposed grant.

The governor said the money would support trading activities through December 2026. He also promised to return to inspect the road and supervise the start of reconstruction, as well as intervene in the condition of a secondary school in the area. Okpebholo attributed development projects in Edo to financial support from President Bola Tinubu.

He said the support had helped his administration meet salary obligations to teachers, civil servants and other public workers, and pay a 13th-month salary. The chairman of the market, Osemwengie Enogumwengie, thanked the governor and appealed for reconstruction of the road linking Uwasota and Egor. He said its poor condition had affected businesses in the area.

The APC Deputy State Chairman, Sylvester Aigboboh, listed road projects including Sapele Road, which he said was about 80 per cent complete, and Amofin Road, which he said was ready for commissioning. He also said Uteh Palace Road and Temboga Road had been completed. Aigboboh said First Lady Oluremi Tinubu was expected to visit Edo on October 15 to inaugurate 50 compressed natural gas buses.

The Egor council chairman, Osaro Eribo, said the council would repair failed road sections in its jurisdiction. The Commissioner for Ethics and Nationality, Oli Martin, said traders would support Tinubu in 2027. The supplied report did not include an independent response from opposition parties to the political remarks.