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Residents and motorists in parts of the Government Reservation Area (GRA), Benin City, Edo State, are beginning to see relief on some of the area’s badly damaged roads as the Living Faith Church, popularly known as Winners’ Chapel, has commenced palliative repairs on deplorable sections.
The intervention comes at a time when the Edo State Government, under Governor Monday Okpebholo, says it is waiting for the dry season before embarking on major repairs of roads across the state.
Among the roads receiving attention in the church-led intervention is Ihama Road, with three other adjoining roads in the GRA also reportedly benefiting from the palliative work.
The development has drawn attention to the contrasting approaches to the worsening road situation in one of Benin City’s major residential and administrative districts: while the church has moved to address some immediate challenges confronting road users, the state government maintains that comprehensive road rehabilitation during the current rainy season could amount to a waste of public resources.
The condition of roads in the GRA has deteriorated considerably in recent months, with potholes, erosion and flooding creating difficulties for motorists and residents. Ihama Road, in particular, has previously been reported to become almost impassable around its junction with Adesuwa Road during periods of heavy rainfall.
The Living Faith Church GRA branch itself is located along Ihama Road, off Adesuwa Road, making the condition of the surrounding road network particularly relevant to worshippers and other residents in the area.
The church's intervention also comes against the backdrop of a history of road rehabilitation initiatives by Living Faith Church in communities where its activities are concentrated.
The church previously undertook major rehabilitation of failed roads around its headquarters in Ota, Ogun State, including portions of the Atan-Lusada-Agbara and Sango-Idiroko routes.
Government asks residents to wait
While the church moves to provide palliative relief in parts of the GRA, the Edo State Government has asked residents to be patient, arguing that the heavy rains currently experienced across the state make major road construction difficult.
The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, made the position known during the ministry's monthly media briefing in Benin City.
Afegbua said the Okpebholo administration was aware of the deteriorating condition of roads across the state and was committed to addressing the problem.
He, however, explained that major rehabilitation would be undertaken when the rains subside and the dry season sets in.
According to him, attempting to carry out substantial road repairs during persistent rainfall could lead to the loss of construction materials and public funds.
“No construction engineer will attempt to fix potholes and bad roads during the rainy season. We are experiencing heavy rain now,” the commissioner said.
He said the government had assessed roads in areas including the GRA, Iyekogba Estate, Irihrih and Okoroma and found significant deterioration on several roads.
Afegbua also attributed the condition of some roads to what he described as poor-quality projects executed during the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.
That characterization is the state government's position; the former administration's side would be necessary to independently assess the claim.
The commissioner said the present administration intended to undertake more durable interventions rather than temporary repairs that could quickly fail.
A wait for the dry season
The government's position effectively puts major road rehabilitation on hold until weather conditions become more favourable.
For residents of the GRA, however, the distinction between major reconstruction and palliative repairs may offer little comfort when potholes and flooded sections make daily movement difficult.
Reports on the GRA's road conditions have documented widespread potholes and flooding on roads including Ihama, Boundary, Akhionbare, Giwa Amu and Gapiona, with inadequate drainage compounding the problem during heavy rainfall.
Against this backdrop, the Living Faith Church's decision to undertake palliative work provides temporary intervention on some of the affected routes while residents await the state's promised comprehensive road programme.
The situation also raises a broader question about the role of private organisations and faith-based institutions in responding to deteriorating public infrastructure, particularly when government interventions are constrained by weather and other considerations.
For now, residents of the affected GRA streets are left with an unusual combination: a church stepping in with immediate road repairs, while the state government looks to the skies—and waits for the rains to give way to the dry season before commencing its planned major rehabilitation programme.
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