Residents and property owners of Obaseki Street in the Ikpoba Hill axis of Benin City have praised Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, for intervening in a decades-long gully erosion problem that has plagued the community for more than 20 years.
The erosion, which had caused severe environmental and public health challenges, previously cut off access roads, disrupted commercial activities and forced many residents to abandon their homes and properties.
Relief came with the commencement of an underground drainage construction by the Okpebholo-led administration, a project residents say has restored hope and safety to the area.
Speaking with journalists, 80-year-old resident Mrs Mercy Omoruyi said the community had endured years of neglect before the current administration took decisive action.
According to her, successive governments failed to address the problem, but Governor Okpebholo intervened within two months of visiting the area. She noted that the community, once used as a refuse dump and plagued by health challenges, is now experiencing significant improvement as construction progresses.
Another resident, Mr Kelvin Malagu, who has lived in the area since 1994, described the project as the first tangible effort by any government to address the erosion.
He said landlords who previously abandoned their properties due to the threat posed by the gully are beginning to return, adding that the intervention has renewed residents’ confidence in government.
Similarly, Mr Tayo Omodogbe said residents had lived in fear for over 26 years, particularly during the rainy season when erosion worsened.
He explained that many people relocated due to the danger but expressed happiness with the pace of work and gratitude to the governor for restoring safety and development to the area.
The erosion control project has begun to transform Obaseki Street, with visible progress encouraging displaced residents to return to their homes.
Governor Okpebholo recently visited the site to inspect the project, explaining that the underground drainage system is designed to channel floodwaters from Obaseki Street and adjoining areas directly into the Ikpoba River.
He added that the project would also help address persistent flooding along the Benin–Auchi Road, particularly near the Court of Appeal and the Edo State Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters.
Providing technical details, the site engineer, Mr Israel Ebhodaghe, said the area is highly prone to erosion due to blocked and inadequate drainage systems.
He explained that the existing underground drain, which had become blocked, contributed significantly to the erosion. The new system, he said, includes a main underground drain supported by smaller line drains that will channel water safely into the Ikpoba River.
According to him, the drainage spans about two kilometres and is critical to protecting homes and properties within the catchment area.