Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has said that he has restored trust in his first year in office. He recently revealed that his first year as governor has been about rebuilding foundations and replacing PowerPoint governance with Practical governance that touches lives across the state.
Speaking during the celebration of his administration’s one year in office at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City, Okpebholo shared that his government has created more than 10,000 direct and indirect jobs since he assumed office.
According to him, his administration launched a ₦1 billion interest-free loan scheme for small businesses and traders in Edo despite inheriting over ₦600 billion in local and foreign debts and ₦180 billion owed to contractors.
He stated that through prudent management and transparency under the SHINE Agenda, the burden of the debt has been reduced greatly.
“Today’s celebration is not just about marking one year in office, but a testimony that God rules in the affairs of men.
When I assumed office a year ago, I met a state weighed down by rot, debt, insecurity, and distrust. But with determination, prayer, and teamwork, we have begun to restore hope, rebuild institutions, and renew confidence in government.
On Security, when we came in, Edo was almost a war zone, plagued by cult killings, kidnappings, armed robbery, and cybercrime. In 2024 alone, over 300 cult-related killings were recorded. We acted decisively, repealed the weak anti-cultism law, passed a stronger one, supplied 60 Hilux vans and 400 motorcycles to security agencies, and recruited and trained 2,500 officers into the Edo State Security Corps. These measures have drastically reduced insecurity. Let it be known: Edo will no longer be a safe place for criminals,” he said.
Okpebholo further noted that his government met a weak healthcare system where hospitals lacked drugs and workers’ morale was low, but rather than complain, he started rebuilding from the ground up.
He concluded by thanking Bola Tinubu for his guidance, leadership and immense support since he became governor.
“We have begun rebuilding from the ground up. We are constructing new Primary Health Centres in 18 local governments, providing diagnostic machines, and building a new 100-bed Specialist Hospital in Udomi, Edo Central.
We inherited deplorable roads and neglected communities. Within one year, we have awarded 28 new road projects totaling 255 kilometers. For the first time in Edo’s history, we are constructing two flyovers — at Ramat Park and Adesuwa-Sapele Road.
We took that counsel seriously, raising the agriculture budget from ₦4.5 billion to ₦57 billion. Today, over 400 hectares of farmland have been cultivated and harvesting has begun. This is Renewed Hope in Action, and money budgeted for agriculture no longer ends up in private pockets.
We immediately began school renovations and teacher recruitment. Today, 5,000 teachers have been permanently employed, and 63 schools have been upgraded to modern standards. We also increased Ambrose Alli University’s subvention from ₦41 million to ₦500 million monthly.
We restored inter-governmental relationships by swearing in three judges previously sidelined, re-establishing the Customary Court, and strengthening our traditional institutions.
To our youths, this is your time. A New Edo Has Risen, and we will continue to create opportunities that secure your future. Together, let us keep shining the light of progress until every community in Edo feels the touch of Practical Governance,” he added.
