Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has assured residents of Sokponba Area of Benin City that the over 30-feet deep underground drainage project which is ongoing will bring a lasting solution to the problem of flooding in the area.
He also said his administration is determined to complete on-going road and drainage projects at the Second East Circular and Sokponba areas of the state capital. Already asphalt has been applied to sections of the dual carriageway road on Second East.
Speaking during an inspection of projects at the Second East Circular and Sokponba Roads in Benin City, Oshiomhole said the government is doing everything possible to ensure completion of the projects before the full rainy season.
He said: “before the rain starts, we want to finish that Second Circular so that if you are coming from New Lagos Road, you pass through Akpakpava, straight you pass through Sokponba to Sapele Road. We are re-doing this drainage so that the water coming from that side can flow across. We are going to remove that old drainage and make it wider so that it can take all the water to the moat, so that the flooding problem is solved once and for all.
Oshiomhole who was accompanied by State the Commissioners for Works, Engr. Osarodion Ogie and his Information and Orientation counterpart, Prince Kassim Afegbua, and other aides, said: “I want to thank you for your support; I thank you for your prayers; I thank you for your love. I want to assure you as we are winding down, my tenure is coming to an end, but my determination is not coming to an end. We will ensure that the next governor will continue from where we will stop so that the progress of this State will never reverse again.”
An elated resident of the area, Mr. Vincent Onaghise, who could not hide his joy, told the Governor, “this road has been bad for 12 years even before you came, from New Benin to Sapele Road. Now, whoever is going to Lagos from Warri can take here to Lagos. It’s not only this road. I went to Egor, Upper Mission, Queen Ede, so, we have seen it all. There is no way someone will buy my vote for N2000 or N5000 and then I will now suffer afterwards.”
Other residents of the area poured encomiums on Governor Oshiomhole for his landmark achievements and assured him of their continued support for his administration.