The government of Edo State has responded to complaints from residents and motorists plying the popular Textile Mill Road in Egor Local Government area of Benin City, the State Capital by awarding the contract for drainage construction and asphalt overlay on the road.
In a statement from the Office of the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, it was revealed that reports and pictures from the social media went a long way in making the government understand the plight of the people and facilitating the award of contract for the road.
The statement said: “On a daily basis, we receive reports from social media-savvy people, who constructively inform us of things happening in and around the state. It was the same with Lucky Way; the contract has been awarded and work has started. The Governor is very active on social media and he believes it is a way of hearing undiluted information from the people”.
Continuing, the statement noted that soon enough, the contractors would resume work at Textile Mill Road and the drainages would be constructed, after which an asphalt overlay would be performed to complete the road repair going on there.
It added that the road was a major one that linked many parts of Benin and was even an alternative route to Lagos from Benin City as well as a major route to other parts of Edo State.
Meanwhile the Chief Press Secretary reminded the public that the State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, had promised to run an open government with information at the centre of it.
He said: “It would be recalled that Governor Obaseki mentioned in the early days of his government that he would make sure information played an important role in his administration. I believe that if people want to pass across information to him, they do not have to come to the office. Information reaches him faster through the media, traditional or social, than if you schedule appointments”.
He, however, advised that the social media should be used to pass constructive information, as the governor would not heed unconstructive comments or posts.
