…Commercial banks and MDAs directed to halt all withdrawals from state accounts.
…Previous administration’s “Ministry of Roads and Bridges” renamed back to “Ministry of Works.”
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has ordered the immediate freeze of all state-owned bank accounts as part of a broad financial directive aimed at preventing unauthorized expenditures.
In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, on Thursday, the governor emphasized that all state government accounts with commercial banks will remain frozen until further notice.
Okpebholo issued a stern warning to commercial banks, as well as Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), stressing that any failure to adhere to the freeze order would result in significant consequences.
“All state bank accounts with commercial banks have been frozen,” the statement read. “Commercial banks must comply with this order, ensuring that not a single naira is withdrawn from government coffers until further notice.” Heads of MDAs were also urged to implement the directive promptly.
This measure, according to the statement, will allow the governor to conduct “necessary investigations and reconciliations,” following which he will decide on the state’s financial direction.
In addition to the financial directive, Governor Okpebholo announced the renaming of the “Ministry of Roads and Bridges” to its original title, “Ministry of Works.”
He criticized the prior administration’s renaming of the ministry, highlighting that no bridges—not even a pedestrian bridge—were constructed under the former name.
The governor noted that further assessments of actions taken by the previous administration are underway, signaling more potential policy reversals aimed at ensuring state resources are managed effectively.
