Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has expressed displeasure over the commissioning of some allegedly uncompleted projects by the immediate past administration in the state, describing the move as a disservice to the people and a clear attempt to mask inefficiency.
Governor Okpebholo, who made the remarks during an on-the-spot inspection of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital and the Education Hub Complex at Iyaro, said he was shocked by the extent of uncompleted work in facilities that were publicly declared ‘commissioned’ under the last administration.
He promised to complete the projects and ensure they serve their intended purpose before the end of the year.
The Governor, who was accompanied by top government officials, said the visit was to obtain first-hand information on the state of infrastructure across key sectors, particularly health and education.
According to him, his administration is committed to restoring integrity in governance by completing all abandoned or half-done projects for the benefit of Edo citizens.
‘I do not know why the previous administration commissioned this hospital when work was still ongoing.
‘It is wrong to mislead the people with such gestures. Our duty is to finish what was started and ensure that Edo people get full value for every naira spent,’ Okpebholo said in dismay.
At the Stella Obasanjo Hospital, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole, who conducted the Governor around the facility, disclosed that the hospital was barely 60 per cent completed, noting that many of the hospital beds were old and recycled from the previous structure.
‘We have gone round the facility with His Excellency, and it’s clear that the hospital is far from completion.
‘The Governor has, however, directed that all necessary work be accelerated to bring it to 100 per cent completion as quickly as possible,’ Dr Oshiomhole said.
At the Iyaro Education Hub, Okpebholo again expressed displeasure, stating that the former administration’s decision to commission the complex was both premature and misleading.
‘This building was hurriedly commissioned without power, equipment, or any operational capacity,’ Okpebholo lamented.
‘It is sad because there was really nothing to commission. Our focus now is to make this place fully functional, restore its purpose, and breathe life into the Ministry of Education,’ he said.
He further disclosed that his government will mobilise contractors within weeks to begin work at the Iyaro complex after taking full inventory of what is required to operationalise the facility.
The contractor handling the project, George Bou Maroon, explained that the complex is designed to centralise all educational activities in the state, housing offices for the Ministry of Education, SUBEB, a library board, auditorium, staff restaurants, and other administrative units.