Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
The Peoples Assembly for Good Governance (PAGG), formerly known as the Coalition of Registered Political Parties (CRPP), has strongly criticised the Edo State Government over the worsening condition of roads across the state, rejecting the administration’s reliance on the rainy season as justification for delayed intervention.
The group accused the government of failing to show the urgency required to tackle the deteriorating road network, arguing that residents should not be forced to endure dangerous and increasingly impassable roads while authorities wait for the rains to subside.
PAGG maintained that the challenges posed by the rainy season should not be used as a blanket excuse for inaction, stressing the need for timely measures to protect road users and prevent further deterioration of critical infrastructure.
It made its position known at its quarterly meeting held on Tuesday, September 27, 2026, where members reviewed recent developments in Edo State and called for greater accountability from the government.
The group also criticised the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Prince Kassim Afegbua, over his reported attribution of the poor state of the roads to the previous administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki and his reported appeal to residents to endure the situation until the rainy season ends.
According to the group, while it is not the spokesperson of the former administration and has no affiliation with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the Okpebholo administration should stop attributing its inability to address pressing infrastructure challenges to its predecessor.
“We are not Obaseki’s spokespersons, neither are we members of the PDP. However, the present administration has been in office for close to two years and should take responsibility for its own performance. Blaming the past administration cannot substitute for action,” the group said.
PAGG described the condition of roads across Edo as unacceptable, noting that several major routes have become riddled with potholes and difficult to navigate.
The group said the situation has severely affected residents, commuters, businesses and other road users, alleging that journeys which ordinarily should take two or three hours now take an average of nine hours because of bad roads, congestion and prolonged delays.
PAGG questioned why road construction and rehabilitation could not be undertaken during the rainy season when other states were reportedly executing similar projects.
The group argued that an administration genuinely committed to addressing the hardship faced by citizens should explore available engineering solutions rather than use rainfall as a blanket justification for inaction.
It also cited the recent Federal Government flag-off of the rehabilitation of sections of the Benin-Agbor-Asaba Road, saying it was ironic that the state government could participate in and celebrate such an intervention while several other roads within Edo remain in deplorable condition.
According to PAGG, the government’s activities demonstrate that rain has not prevented political activities from taking place.
The group noted that the administration had continued to organise political activities, including the inauguration of campaign committees for the 2027 elections, despite the rains, while residents were being asked to wait for the end of the rainy season before expecting meaningful intervention on roads.
PAGG also expressed concern over the delay in completing the Ramat Park overhead bridge, describing the project as one of the infrastructure projects requiring greater attention.
On the reported proposal for an Edo State airline, the group reiterated its opposition to what it described as a potentially expensive and unproductive venture at a time when the state’s road infrastructure is in urgent need of attention.
“We maintain our position that the government should prioritise projects that directly improve the lives of the majority of Edo people. At a time when residents cannot move conveniently from one part of the state to another because of bad roads, we question the priority being given to ventures that may serve only a small section of the population,” PAGG said.
The group further stated that it would pursue lawful avenues to challenge any expenditure it considers wasteful, including its previously announced intention to approach the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
