Motorists in the Government Reservation Area (GRA) of Benin City, Edo State, are lamenting the worsening condition of roads in the area, made more severe by the ongoing rainy season and lack of proper drainage.
A visit by PUNCH Metro revealed that several major roads, including Boundary Road, Adesuwa Road, and Airport Road, are riddled with potholes and regularly submerged after rainfall. The absence of drainage systems has turned several streets into waterlogged zones, making navigation difficult.
Transporters have resorted to using the GRA as a bypass to avoid heavily damaged sections of the Benin-Sapele Road. This has, however, increased traffic and further deteriorated the roads within the area.
Commuters say roads like Ihama, Akhionbare, Giwa Amu, and Gapiona have become nearly impassable, with floodwaters creating what one resident called “artificial lakes.” Even the vicinity around the Deputy Governor’s Lodge and the Government House on Reservation Road is frequently flooded.
A commercial driver, Paul, said, “We’re forced to pass through the GRA because key junctions on Sapele Road are too bad. It’s affecting our earnings.”
Another resident, Osaro Osagie, described the condition of GRA roads as “embarrassing,” noting that even roads leading to the governor’s residence are barely motorable. “A 30-minute drive now takes over an hour,” he added.
Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Paul Ohonbamu, acknowledged the situation and assured residents that the roads would be fixed. He said the government would take a comprehensive approach to address both the road conditions and drainage issues.
“We are not interested in quick fixes,” Ohonbamu stated. “The governor will ensure the solution is holistic and sustainable.”
