Edo Government Sets Restart Date for Benin Storm Water Project Abandoned by Previous Administration

BENIN CITY – After years of uncertainty surrounding one of Benin City’s biggest flood control projects, the Edo State Government says work on the Benin Storm Water Project will finally resume within the next two months.

The announcement marks a major step toward reviving the long-delayed drainage project, which was introduced to tackle flooding and erosion across the state capital but was later discontinued by the previous administration.

Speaking during the Edo State Government’s bi-monthly ministerial briefing in Benin City on Wednesday, Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Nosa Adams, said the state has completed the payment of ₦800 million counterpart funding, clearing the way for the project to move into its next phase.

According to him, the project will be carried out with support from the European Union Investment Bank, while the remaining documentation and approvals are expected to be completed before construction begins.

“We have paid our counterpart funding, and in the next two months or thereabout, the second phase and final phase of the comprehensive Benin Storm Water Project will commence,” Adams said.

The Benin Storm Water Project was originally launched to address the recurring flooding that affects several parts of the city during the rainy season. However, work on the project stopped before it could be completed, leaving many flood-prone communities without the long-term drainage infrastructure that had been planned.

With the project now set to resume, the state government says the next phase will focus on expanding drainage channels to some of the city’s major roads and surrounding communities.

Areas expected to benefit include Siluko Road, Ekewan Road and the Temboga (Tomline) axis, where heavy rainfall has repeatedly caused flooding, damaged roads and disrupted daily activities.

The government believes completing the remaining sections of the drainage network will improve the movement of storm water and help reduce erosion across Benin metropolis.

In addition to the main project, the administration also plans to begin drainage improvement and land reclamation works within the Government Reservation Area (GRA). The project is designed to channel excess floodwater into the Ogba River, helping to reduce water accumulation in surrounding neighbourhoods.

For many residents, the announcement represents renewed hope that one of Benin City’s longest-running environmental challenges may finally receive lasting attention after years of delays.

If work begins as scheduled, it will be the first major construction activity on the project in several years and is expected to play a key role in improving flood management across the state capital.