Governor Monday Okpebholo has promised a N100 million grant to traders at the Uwelu Spare Parts Market and the reconstruction of the Uwasota-Uwelu Road to boost commercial activities in the area.
Okpebholo made the promises on Friday during a visit to the market to assess the challenges facing traders and discuss measures to improve their businesses.
Key Highlights
- Okpebholo promised a N100 million grant for Uwelu Spare Parts Market traders.
- Traders were advised to form a cooperative society to access the proposed funding.
- The governor promised to reconstruct the Uwasota-Uwelu Road.
- Okpebholo also pledged intervention in a secondary school in the area.
- The governor said his administration had maintained salary payments to public workers.
- Local officials highlighted ongoing road rehabilitation projects across Edo State.
- Uwelu traders appealed for urgent intervention on roads linking the market and surrounding communities.
Okpebholo Promises N100m Grant for Uwelu Traders
The governor urged traders who had not already formed a cooperative society to do so, saying the structure would help them access the proposed grant.
Okpebholo said the funding was intended to support traders and strengthen commercial activities at the market.
“I want to give you people money to do your business before now to December 2026. I will give you N100 million naira to do your business,” he said.
The governor said he would return to the area to assess the progress of work by contractors and oversee the commencement of the road reconstruction project.
Uwasota-Uwelu Road Reconstruction
Okpebholo also promised to intervene in the condition of the Uwasota-Uwelu Road, which traders said had affected commercial activities in the area.
He said he would return for the flag-off of the road project and also inspect the secondary school that traders had asked the government to rehabilitate.
“I will come back after giving you people N100 million to do business to check if contractors have started work on the Uwasota-Uwelu and also the secondary school which you need us to intervene.”
Traders at the Uwelu market have previously raised concerns about activities affecting businesses there. Read how a taskforce arrested alleged illegal revenue collectors at the market.
Okpebholo Credits Tinubu for Edo Development Projects
The governor urged the traders to continue supporting his administration, while attributing some of the state government’s development activities to financial support from President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Okpebholo also said the state had been able to meet its salary obligations to teachers, civil servants and other public workers. He added that his administration had paid a 13th-month salary to workers.
APC Highlights Edo Road Projects
The Edo State Deputy Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Sylvester Aigboboh, thanked the traders for welcoming the governor and his entourage.
Aigboboh described the Okpebholo administration as committed to improving the lives of residents and highlighted road rehabilitation projects across the state.
He cited the Sapele Road reconstruction, which he said was about 80 per cent complete, and the Amofin Road, which he said was ready for commissioning. He also said the Uteh Palace Road and Temboga Road had been completed.
Aigboboh added that First Lady Oluremi Tinubu was expected to visit Edo State on October 15 to inaugurate 50 compressed natural gas buses aimed at reducing transportation costs for residents.
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Uwelu Traders Appeal for Road Intervention
The Chairman of the Uwelu Spare Parts Market, Osemwengie Enogumwengie, thanked Okpebholo for visiting the market and appealed for the reconstruction of the road linking Uwasota and Egor.
He said the poor condition of the road had negatively affected businesses operating in the area.
The Chairman of Egor Local Government Council, Osaro Osa Eribo, also said the council would begin repairing failed portions of roads within the local government area. Eribo said a list of roads requiring intervention had been compiled.
Meanwhile, Commissioner for Ethics and Nationality, Oli Anayo Martin, said the APC had gained support among traders in the market and cited the appointment of an Igbo man as a commissioner as an example of what he described as the administration’s inclusiveness. Martin also spoke about support for President Tinubu ahead of the 2027 elections.
The governor was accompanied by his Chief of Staff, Yakubu Musa; Aigboboh; former Edo State Deputy Governor Pius Odubu; and other party officials.
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