In a decisive move to tackle the age-long flooding crisis ravaging Edo State, particularly the State capital, Benin City, Governor Monday Okpebholo has engaged a consortium of environmental and hydrology experts to understudy and replicate the highly successful flood control strategies previously implemented in Akwa Ibom and Rivers States under former governors Godswill Akpabio and Nyesom Wike.
This intervention reflects Governor Okpebholo’s results-driven leadership style — one rooted in adopting proven models and adapting them to Edo’s unique terrain and infrastructural realities.
The Akwa Ibom and Rivers flood management systems, hailed nationwide for transforming two of Nigeria’s most flood-prone environments into flood-resilient urban centres, have been identified as the benchmark for Edo’s planned overhaul.
With the rainy season approaching its peak, the timing of the initiative is strategic, offering the technical team the advantage of witnessing the State’s most affected areas in real-time. The study will focus on existing drainage systems, vulnerable terrains, and recurring flood hotspots across Benin City and adjoining towns.
A total of four reputable firms have been contracted to carry out detailed feasibility studies, environmental assessments, and hydrological surveys aimed at designing a comprehensive, permanent, and sustainable flood control masterplan for Edo State.
As part of this holistic approach:
Structures illegally built on natural waterways and drainage corridors will be removed, especially within the Government Reservation Areas (GRAs) and other critical zones.
Property owners with valid documentation will be duly compensated, while occupants of illegal structures will be evacuated and relocated to safer areas.
Governor Okpebholo has made it categorically clear that this intervention will not be cosmetic or politicized — unlike the previous administration’s half-hearted and scandal-plagued erosion control efforts. He vowed that every kobo budgeted will be fully accounted for, and the entire process will be driven by data, expert recommendations, and public interest.
According to the Governor, the multi-phased project will kick off immediately after the heavy rains and will be delivered within an accelerated timeline.
“This marks the end of a shameful era where Edo people lived in fear whenever it rained,” a Government House source noted. “Governor Okpebholo is determined to permanently address flooding, safeguard lives and property, and make Benin City a modern, livable urban centre.”
The administration’s aggressive flood control plan is a central pillar in its broader infrastructure and environmental renewal agenda aimed at repositioning Edo State as a model for sustainable urban planning in Nigeria.
For residents long tormented by seasonal floods, this intervention signals a new dawn of proactive leadership and responsible governance in Edo State.
