Reviving Edo Line: Governor Okpebholo’s Bold Mov
Eben Enasco Reporting.
Governor Monday Okpebholo’s recent visit to the age long abandoned Edo Line transport company marks a significant turning point in the state’s history.
For years, the company, established in 1968 by Brigadier General Samuel Ogbemudia, lay dormant, a testament to mismanagement and neglect.
The painful consequences of its shutdown in 2015 still linger, affecting 186 workers, including my late Uncle Evans Agbonghae, and countless others reliant on its services for survival.
My late uncle, Evans Agbonghae, from Ehor and Igieduma town in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area, would have likely witnessed Governor Monday Okpebholo’s efforts to revive Edo Line transport company, a decade after its shutdown by Governor Godwin Obaseki.
This shutdown severely impacted Uncle Evans, who worked in the courier department, and numerous others reliant on the company.
Edo Line’s closure led to widespread hardship, affecting not only employees but also petty traders, hawkers, and associates who depended on its services.
The company’s reliability and trustworthiness made it a vital link for travelers, staffers, and associates across the city and beyond.
Its demise left many without a financial safety net.
Governor Okpebholo’s recent move to revive Edo Line brings hope to those affected.
His administration’s budget allocates significant funds for infrastructural development, including transportation.
The approved budget of N486 billion, if signed into law, earmarks N202.65 billion for recurrent expenditures and N282.99 billion for capital projects.
This development may signal a new era for Edo State’s transportation sector and potentially restore livelihoods lost due to Edo Line’s shutdown.
Daily, Uncle Evans and countless commuters kicked off their day at 5:30 a.m., relying on Edo Line’s efficient services to transport passengers safely across the nation.
With its central hub at James Watt Road, Off Mission Road, Benin City, and additional outlets in major cities like Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt, Edo Line facilitated seamless travel.
Notably, passengers traveling from Benin City to the state’s far North depended on the company’s experienced drivers and well-organized operations to ensure hassle-free journeys.
Former Governor Godwin Obaseki’s sudden shutdown of Edo Line Limited in 2015 was a drastic measure, citing massive debt accumulation of N1.5 billion and the company’s non-functional state for several years.
The debts, coupled with unpaid staff salaries, led Obaseki to deem continued operations a waste.
During his visit to the company, he observed buses in disrepair and key departments, such as the mechanic unit and courier section, lying dormant.
This move reflected his administration’s focus on streamlining state-owned enterprises and addressing financial mismanagement.
The governor, who was accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, his Chief of Staff, Taiwo Akerele, and other top officials, lamented the condition of the state-owned transport company.
He said: “We will shut down this place, clean it up, and decide on how to liquidate the debt and plan how to use the premises for other ventures.”
Noting that the company’s debt was about N1.5 billion, he said: “This is a typical waste. Can you see how many vehicles are around? We have been paying people for close to four years without doing any work.
The company has a huge debt and as a government, we cannot continue in this situation. What we are doing is that we are absorbing the staff.”
With these remarks, one would have expected the former Governor to match actions with words, but in his 8 years tenure no government presence was established and this became a concern for the redeployed workers and related Stakeholders.
The abrupt shutdown of Edo Line inflicted unbearable hardship on Uncle Evans Agbonghae, 186 workers, and countless others whose livelihoods depended on the company.
Families struggled to survive as petty traders, hawkers, and associates lost their primary source of income.
The closure exacerbated poverty, neglecting vulnerable stakeholders, as years passed with no government intervention, leaving victims to continue in abject suffering.
Sixteen years span between Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Godwin Obaseki, the then active Edo Line turned into a habitation for all sorts of creatures.
Edo Line, which last operated in May 2015, had a workforce of 186 people.
The long wait for the revival of the once income generating transport company came alive on December 4, 2024, when Senator Monday Okpebholo expressed his desire to revive the moribund Edo State Transport Company, Edo Line.
The path to revival highlights Governor Monday Okpebholo’s commitment to reviving Edo Line which aligns with his administration’s focus on infrastructural development, where he recently at the presentation of 2025 budget bill allocated N162 billion for road development across the state.
This move is expected to boost economic growth, create jobs, and enhance the state’s transportation network.
Looking at Key objectives in reactivating the Edo Line, implies that Governor Okpebholo aims to restore the company’s operations, leveraging its existing assets and infrastructure.
When the Job creation is completed, reviving the Edo Line could lead to expanded employment opportunities, alleviating unemployment pressures.
Symbolically, a functional Edo Line will stimulate economic activity, benefiting local businesses and communities.
As juicy as the steps taken by Governor Okpebholo may be, there are likely Challenges ahead, particularly the debt Accumulation.
Addressing the N1.5 billion debt incurred during Obaseki’s tenure,
upgrading neglected facilities and recovering misplaced assets, and
ensuring the company’s long-term viability are typical of the many challenges ahead of him to tackle.
The move in what seems like a “New Edo has risen”, Governor Okpebholo’s efforts signal a renewed commitment to Edo State’s development.
However, as the administration works to revive Edo Line, the people await tangible results, hoping this bold initiative will bring lasting benefits.