Israel Oluyemi
The Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kasim Afegbua, has defended the administration’s 18-month record, citing improvements in roads, healthcare, education and security across the state.
He addressed the issue during a press briefing in Benin, where he responded to concerns about government performance.
The administration, he noted, focuses on project delivery and inherited challenges rather than political exchanges.
Road projects continue across Edo, with ongoing work on the Ramat Park flyover, Aduwawa junction flyover and rehabilitation of Sapele Road.
Infrastructure expansion also extends to rural areas across all senatorial districts to improve connectivity.
In healthcare, the government has completed 75 primary health centres and set a target of 160 within four years.
Work continues at Stella Obasanjo Hospital, which the administration met at 55 per cent completion.
Education reforms include the recruitment of about 6,500 teachers and the rehabilitation of public schools across the state.
Completed school projects rose from 68 to nearly 80 within the review period.
Higher education received support through a N2 billion investment in Edo State University, Iyamho, alongside an increase in monthly subvention from N100 million to N250 million.
Student mobility also improved with the distribution of buses to tertiary institutions.
Economic intervention programmes include a N1 billion interest-free loan for market women and another N1 billion for student bursaries.
The initiatives aim to ease financial pressure and expand access to education.
Security outcomes improved compared to previous levels, although incidents shifted toward rural communities.
Afegbua attributed the change to intensified operations, stating, “The way kidnapping was rife when we took over, I think it has dropped maximally.”
Security agencies received over 100 Hilux vehicles and 300 motorcycles to strengthen response capacity.
Vigilante groups also received support, while bush-clearing operations targeted criminal hideouts.
Local governments obtained heavy-duty equipment to open rural roads and improve access.
Afegbua maintained that all projects followed due process and Executive Council approval, adding, “If you check with the Ministry of Works, you can always get the cost of those contracts.”