Edo @ 33: Master Plans To Guide, Bring Development To The State- Obaseki
By Rosemary Okoduwa
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has said the rationale behind Regional development plan and the Benin-City Master plan is to guide the development of the state into the future.
Obaseki stated this when he formally launched the state Physical Master Plans with the theme: “Edo State Master Plans: A Pathway to the New Edo Nation” as part of the activities to mark 33 years of the creation of the state.
The governor hinted that the 30 years plan (2023 – 2053) will become a legal will be binding of both indigenes and residents of the state by virtue of Part II Section A Sub-section 5 (a-t) of the “Edo State Physical Planning Urban and Regional Development Law 2022.”
Obaseki who further describe the document as a living one, further declared that the development plans would be subject to review every five years, and will be infused into the primary and secondary school curriculums of the state education system.
He also disclosed that the development plans were done by the state government in partnership with Siraj Nigeria Limited under the supervision of the Ministry of Physical Planning, Urban and Regional Development noted further than they are part of the objective of the Make Edo Great Again (MEGA) of his administration.
According to him, part of proposals of the master plans are additional and alternative sources of electricity such as solar energy and hydro power plant to cater for the power needs of the state, a new airport in Auchi; rail lines, new cities like the coral City to be built in Benin-City and in other senatorial districts such as Edo North (Auchi) and Edo Central (Ekpoma.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Commissioner for Physical Planning, Urban and Regional Development, Ms Isoken Omo, said before the ministry came up with the 30 years development plans, it visited 700,000 households as well as stakeholder in the 18 local government areas of the state.
Also speaking at the event, representative of Siraj, thanked Obaseki for creating a working document for Benin-City and the entire state.
Highlight of the event was the formal launch of the two documents which was witnessed by the governor’s wife, Dr. Betsy Obaseki; two former governors of the state, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and Prof. Osariemen Osunbor.
Also present are two former deputy governors of Edo State, Rev. Peter Obadan and Chief Mike Oghiadomhe; the Edo PDP chairman, Dr. Anthony Aziegbemi among others.