The Secretary to the Edo State Government, Barrister Osarodion Ogie has explained that the Godwin Obaseki-led administration had not only laid the template for sustainable development, but it had commenced work on it already, all in six months.
This was as the administration clocked six months in office and the top government official addressed issues raised on the government’s achievements.
He said: “In six months we have been able to chart a course that will carry Edo People along and intimate them on what to expect from the government in four years. In terms of infrastructural development, already we are working
on over 35 roads including Agbede-Awain road, which is more than 25km in Edo North, we have awarded Evbevbe-Obagie Nevbosa road, which is about 29km in Edo South”.
He added that erstwhile congested areas such as Oba’s market and King’s Square had been freed up and they had shown Edo people that politicians could keep their words.
“This government is about law and order and nobody is above the law. In six months, we have promulgated the CDA law, which has outlawed all forms of community development chairmen, and we have abolished the collection of government revenue by non-government officials,” he said.
He continued that the government had also restored some order to forestry administration in the state, while they had also commenced the agripreneur program where farmland was cleared for interested members of the public.
On accountability, the government had organised a series of workshops to engage stakeholders in the various sectors, while the promise of 200,000 jobs was on course as 150,000 unemployed youths had been registered for the Edo Jobs programme.
To boost the state’s revenue also, the Gelegele seaport was being developed, while contracts had been awarded to facilitate the refurbishment of the Benin Technical College, with an industrial park attached to the school so that interested companies could establish workshops and factories where the students could obtain practical knowledge.
On electricity, he explained: “Our governor believes if you can think it then you can do it. First we have the highest volume of gas in this country and it is here in Ologbo, less than 35km from Benin. We have agreed an investor to generate power from Osiomon”.
