Senator Neda Imasuen Engages Edo South Constituents in Grassroots Town Hall Meetings, Presents Scorecard

From Moshood Karim

Senator Neda Imasuen, representing Edo South Senatorial District and serving as Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges, and Public Petitions, has commenced a grassroots Town Hall Meeting initiative across the seven Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the district, aimed at appraising his performance and connecting directly with constituents to better understand their immediate needs.

The Town Hall series, which began on Tuesday, saw the Senator engaging stakeholders and residents of Ikpoba-Okha LGA. Speaking to journalists shortly after the event, Senator Imasuen described the meetings as a necessary step in strengthening accountability, transparency, and participatory representation midway through his four-year tenure.

“This is the halfway mark of my tenure, and I believe it’s important to meet the people face-to-face in a town hall setting – not through intermediaries – to both inform them of what we’ve done and to hear directly from them what they still need,” Imasuen stated. “We are not claiming perfection. We haven’t done what Napoleon couldn’t, but we’ve made an impact in our own modest way, and many were unaware of these efforts until now.”

He explained that the interactive sessions provide a platform for constituents to voice concerns and make requests. In Ikpoba-Okha, issues raised included the need for youth empowerment programmes, vocational training, solar-powered street lighting, and road construction.

However, the Senator was candid about the constraints of his office. “When you’re talking about issues like flooding, these are beyond the scope of a Senator’s direct capacity – they’re capital-intensive and require intervention at the Federal or State executive level,” he said. “Even constructing a single road can exceed an annual budget allocation, so I have to prudently spread available resources across the seven local governments, which represent about 54 to 55 per cent of Edo State.”

Highlighting completed and ongoing projects, Imasuen mentioned the construction of a 3.5-kilometre road with drainage systems and solar streetlights as one of his key infrastructural achievements. “It’s a multi-phase project that began last year and continues in this year’s budget,” he explained. “In some communities like Bank Estate, residents had never seen streetlights before. A 70-year-old man told me it was the first time he saw solar lights in his lifetime. To be able to bring such basic amenities brings me immense satisfaction.”

Education, according to the Senator, has also been a top priority. “Over 450 students have benefitted from scholarship schemes enabling them to gain university admission. Personally, I fund the education of several others, including bright but underprivileged secondary school students who would have otherwise been left behind.”

Senator Imasuen urged constituents to exercise patience and assured them of more empowerment opportunities in the coming years. “Transparency is my watchword. When people understand what I have, what’s possible, and how we’re allocating it, they’re more likely to appreciate the work being done,” he said. “This direct interaction helps both myself and the people to reassess where we are and where we need to go.”

The Senator was warmly received by constituents, who expressed appreciation for the visit and called for increased engagement, more inclusive representation, and improved access to public services. Specific requests included the provision of electricity transformers, the reconstruction of dilapidated schools, and the rehabilitation of inaccessible roads.

As the Town Hall tour continues across the other LGAs, Senator Imasuen reaffirmed his commitment to grassroots engagement and inclusive development, vowing to use the feedback gathered to shape the remainder of his legislative tenure.