The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, on Monday commissioned 54 construction equipment units procured by the Edo State Government for distribution across all 18 local government councils, describing the initiative as a strategic investment in grassroots economic growth.
The commissioning ceremony, held in Benin City, was attended by top government officials, party leaders, lawmakers, and local government chairmen. Wike commended Governor Monday Okpebholo for prioritizing rural development and strengthening the operational capacity of local councils.
“You have demonstrated that you love the economy of the local government. You have shown that development must go to the rural areas,” Wike said, adding that the governor’s actions have laid the foundation for sustained political support at the national level.
Drawing a political comparison, Wike stated that while opponents engage in populist gestures, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is focused on tangible infrastructural development in the FCT. He referenced the recent council elections in Abuja, where the APC won 45 of 62 councillorship seats, as evidence of public endorsement of performance-driven governance.
Governor Okpebholo described the commissioning as a deliberate step under his administration’s SHINE Agenda to decentralize development and empower local authorities with the tools needed to execute infrastructure projects effectively.
“Today marks a significant step in our commitment to grassroots development in Edo State. Development must not be concentrated at the centre; it must reach every village, every community and every ward,” the governor said.
He added that the newly acquired equipment—which includes machinery for road construction, drainage works, and sanitation—was procured to accelerate infrastructure delivery at the local level.
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“These machines are tools of transformation. They are not for show. They are not for storage. They are for work,” Okpebholo emphasized, warning that the equipment must be deployed transparently and maintained for the benefit of the public.
Senator Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole lauded the governor’s initiative as a demonstration of political will to drive inclusive development.
“Governance is about identifying with the ordinary man and protecting their interests. Gov. Okpebholo is changing the narrative and bringing development across all sectors of the Edo economy,” Oshiomhole said.
Hon. Sunny Ekpeson, Chairman of Etsako East LGA and state ALGON Chairman, described the commissioning as a return to effective grassroots governance aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“We are here to take the Renewed Hope Agenda to the grassroots,” Ekpeson said, highlighting the governor’s non-interference in council administration and renewed focus on infrastructure across the state.
The APC Chairman in Edo State, Jarrett Tenebe, reiterated that the party had restored “practical governance and visible development,” urging opposition parties not to obstruct progress and expressing confidence in delivering substantial electoral support for President Tinubu in 2027.
Also speaking, Coordinator of the Office of the First Lady, Edesili Anani Okpebholo, praised the administration for promoting women’s inclusion in governance and highlighted improvements in security, healthcare, and agriculture. She pledged Edo women’s continued support for the governor’s development agenda.
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa; Secretary to the State Government, Umar Musa Ikhilor Esq; Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Blessing Agbebaku; lawmakers, all 18 council chairmen, party leaders, and other stakeholders.
Monday’s commissioning marks a significant milestone in Edo State’s efforts to strengthen local government capacity and institutionalize infrastructure-driven development, ensuring that economic growth reaches communities at the grassroots level.