By Bob MajiriOghene Etemiku
Benin City, Nigeria. On September 16, 2022, Godwin Obaseki, Edo State governor posted a tweet, titled ‘Light Up Edo’ project extends to New Lagos Road (Uselu Shell – Akpakpava).
On that tweet which had 644 views, the governor included an aerial video of what looks like a well-lit street in a section of Benin city. The message apparently conveyed the impression that the whole of Benin City, Edo state has been lit, and no longer in the dark.
Prior to that tweet, Alltimepost.com carried out an investigation published September 8, 2021, titled Benin Airport Road: Inside the Dark House of Edo Govt’s Contract Awards.
The hub of that story was that even though many companies bid to be awarded the contract to light up the Airport Road, contract was awarded to companies that did not even submit any bid during the procurement process.
In the publication, Alltimepost.com spoke with several residents on the Airport Road who were suffering from the effect of the darkness in their locality. They included a pharmacy, a church and hotel.
Alltimepost.com Abuja correspondent on a recent fact-finding trip to Benin has discovered that there is indeed streetlight on the Airport Road from the Ring Road only up to Salvation International Preparatory School.
From that point on to Central Junction, and to the Ogba Zoo and beyond, thick darkness still festers. Nobody has been able to offer any explanations as to why this part of this very important part of Benin City has been left in the dark while other parts of the same road are lit.
Of recent, commuters seeking to connect with Sapele Road via Irhirhi have opted to use the Airport Road. As a result, there is often a traffic snarl during the rush hours. On one such day, the 28th of September 2022, traffic was dense and hectic. Under such a condition, commuters struggled through the snarl in the dark.
In July 2022 when Alltimepost.com Abuja correspondent spoke with senior officials of the State Ministry of Electricity, they gave assurances that the Airport Road, together with adjoining streets were going to be lit before the end of the year.
Steve Uyiekpen, Permanent Secretary in the electricity ministry responded to Alltimepost.com phone call, but he said that he was in a meeting, and would call back. We did not receive any other information from him further till date.
Alltimepost.com also reached Osarodion Ogie, Secretary to the Edo State Government for an update on the Street lights on Airport Road. He asked for time till 4th October 2022 to provide an update. As at close of business on that day, we did not receive any response from him. We called him again, but he did not respond to the text message that he asked us to send to him.
While residents living around the areas where there’s streetlight on the airport road in Benin, hail Gov Obaseki as the angel of light, others living on and conducting their businesses on the other side without streetlight curse him as a vindictive man who is “punishing us because we expressed our views.” They refuse to be identified again because of fear that they might be targeted for more punishment.
Even though the Edo state governor claims in his tweet that his light up Edo project extends to Akpakpava and Uselu Shell in Benin city, many residents who spoke with Alltimepost.com say such claims are disputable.
“Most of what you see in his video only show parts in the city that the governor has managed to light up. The prevailing darkness in Benin City is still there,” a Benin City resident who refused to be named told Alltimepost.com.
