Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo says his administration is putting measures in place to enable security agencies to respond to threats anywhere in the state within five minutes.
The governor gave the assurance during a Sunday service at Living Faith Church, also known as Winners Chapel, along Sapele Road, Benin City, where he said dedicated emergency numbers would soon be made available to residents seeking immediate security assistance.
According to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Patrick Ebojele, Okpebholo said the government would continue to prioritize the safety of residents and improve security across the state within the next month.
“We will continue to work for Edo people. In terms of security, Edo will be safer in the next month. We will be able to respond to security threats in any part of the state within five minutes,” the governor said.
He said the administration’s goal was to leave Edo safer than it found it by tackling kidnapping, robbery and other forms of criminal activity.
Okpebholo thanked the church for its prayers and support for his administration, adding that he was pleased to be a member of Winners Chapel.
He also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring that residents could live and conduct their businesses safely across the state.
The pastor of the church, Emmanuel Ebiye, commended the governor for what he described as his developmental agenda and efforts to improve the state.
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Ebiye also thanked Okpebholo for donating food items, including rice and cooking oil, to churches, saying the items would be distributed to members.
“We appreciate your transformation, development and growth experience across all sectors in the state. I pray for grace to be with you. Thank you for all you are doing for Edo people,” he said.
Okpebholo and his entourage later visited Rock of Ages Christian Assembly International along Sapele Road, where its General Overseer, Pastor Charles Osazuwa, predicted that the 2027 general election would be peaceful and Nigeria would remain united.
Osazuwa urged Nigerians not to listen to what he described as prophecies of doom about the country, saying elections would come and go without disrupting the nation’s continuity.
He also urged Christians to acquire skills and engage in activities that would enable them to contribute economically to society, while calling on leaders to invest in human capital.
Osazuwa cited the scholarships he received during the administrations of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Ambrose Alli as examples of how access to education could empower individuals.
Okpebholo, meanwhile, said the procurement process for the construction of roads, including what he referred to as “mechanics and peanut roads,” was almost complete.
He said work would commence soon, with contractors expected to continue construction through the rainy season to accelerate completion.
The governor also said the state was making progress in tackling insecurity and urged residents to pray for President Bola Tinubu over the removal of the fuel subsidy, which he linked to improvements in road infrastructure across the country.
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