Okpebholo donates N100m to spare parts traders

Governor Monday Okpebholo has promised to reconstruct the Uwasota-Uwelu Road and provide a N100 million grant to traders at the Uwelu Spare Parts Market to boost commercial activities.

Okpebholo made the promises on Friday during a visit to the market to assess the challenges facing traders and discuss ways to improve their businesses.

The governor urged the traders to form a cooperative society, if they had none to enable them to access the proposed grant, saying his administration was committed to supporting their businesses.

“When I came last time, I advised you people to form a cooperative society if you don’t have any yet because a good thing is about to come your way in this market.

“I want to give you people money to do your business before now to December 2026. I will give you N100 million naira to do your business,” he said.

On the condition of the Uwasota-Uwelu Road, Okpebholo said he would return to the area to assess the progress of work by contractors and oversee the commencement of the road reconstruction project.

He also promised to intervene in the condition of a secondary school in the area.

“I will come back after giving you people N100 million to do business to check if contractors have started work on the Uwasota-Uwelu and also the secondary school which you need us to intervene. I will come back for the flag-off of the road and secondary school,” he said.

The governor urged the traders to continue supporting his administration, attributing the state’s development projects to financial support from President Bola Tinubu.

“Nigeria is big and the Country is like a vehicle that needs a good and qualified driver and President Tinubu is the right driver to take the nation to the right destination.

“All the good things that are happening in Edo State is possible because of the money president Tinubu is giving to us in the State,” he said.

Okpebholo said his administration had been able to meet its salary obligations to teachers, civil servants and other public workers because of the president’s support.

He added that his government also paid a 13th-month salary to workers.

The state Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Sylvester Aigboboh, thanked the traders for welcoming the governor and his entourage, describing Okpebholo’s administration as one committed to improving the lives of Edo residents.

Aigboboh said the government had embarked on road repairs and rehabilitation projects across the state.

He listed the Sapele Road reconstruction project, which he said was about 80 per cent complete, and the Amofin Road, which he said was ready for commissioning, among the projects.

He also said the Uteh Palace Road and Temboga Road had been completed.

Aigboboh added that First Lady Oluremi Tinubu was expected to visit Edo State on Oct. 15 to inaugurate 50 compressed natural gas buses aimed at reducing transportation costs for residents.

The Chairman of the Uwelu Spare Parts Market, Osemwengie Enogumwengie, thanked the governor for visiting the market and appealed for the reconstruction of the road linking Uwasota and Egor, saying its poor condition had affected businesses in the area.

The Commissioner for Ethics and Nationality, Oli Anayo Martin, said the APC had gained the support of traders in the market, citing the appointment of an Igbo man as a commissioner in the state as an example of the administration’s inclusiveness.

“We give you our firm promises that the 2.5 million votes promised President Tinubu will be achieved here as the traders have the capacity to deliver for President Tinubu come 2027,” he said.

The Chairman of Egor Local Government Council, Osaro Osa Eribo, said the council would begin repairing failed portions of roads across its areas, adding that a list of roads requiring intervention had been compiled.

“As the governor is working at the State we will be working at the local government areas. Uwasota road is bad but the governor will surely do it and we need to deliver Edo State for more support from the president,” he said.

The governor was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Yakubu Musa; Aigboboh; former Edo State Deputy Governor Pius Odubu; and other party faithful.