Edo governor asks Uwelu spare-parts traders to form cooperative to access proposed business support
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has pledged a ₦100 million grant to traders at the Uwelu Spare Parts Market in Benin City and promised to reconstruct the Uwasota-Uwelu Road.
Okpebholo made the commitments on Friday during a visit to the market, where he met traders and inspected infrastructure challenges affecting commercial activities in the area.
The governor urged the traders to form a cooperative society if they had not already done so, saying the structure would facilitate access to the proposed grant.
He said the funds would be made available to support the traders’ businesses through the end of 2026.
Okpebholo also promised to return to the area to monitor contractors handling road projects and oversee the commencement of work on the Uwasota-Uwelu Road.
He further pledged government intervention at a secondary school in the area, saying the road and school projects would receive attention.
The governor attributed part of his administration’s ability to execute projects and meet salary obligations to financial support from the Federal Government under President Bola Tinubu.
He also said the Edo Government had paid a 13th-month salary to workers in the state.
The Chairman of Uwelu Spare Parts Market, Osemwengie Enogumwengie, thanked the governor for visiting the market and appealed for urgent reconstruction of the road linking Uwasota and Egor, saying its poor condition had affected businesses.
The Chairman of Egor Local Government Council, Osaro Osa Eribo, said the council had compiled a list of roads requiring intervention and would begin repairs on failed portions within its jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, the APC Deputy Chairman in Edo State, Sylvester Aigboboh, said the state government had embarked on several road rehabilitation projects, citing the Sapele Road reconstruction, Amofin Road, Uteh Palace Road and Temboga Road among projects at various stages of completion.
The Commissioner for Ethics and Nationality, Oli Anayo Martin, also used the occasion to highlight what he described as the administration’s inclusiveness, while referring to the appointment of an Igbo indigene as a commissioner.
Martin additionally spoke about the 2027 elections, saying traders in the market would support President Bola Tinubu. His statement was made in the context of the APC’s political mobilisation ahead of the election.
The governor was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Yakubu Musa, former Edo Deputy Governor Pius Odubu, party officials and other government representatives.
The proposed ₦100 million grant and the road reconstruction remain commitments announced by the governor, with implementation details and timelines to be determined by the state government.
