Edo State’s Regional Development and Benin City Master Plan will be backed by legislation to ensure strict compliance to the provisions of the plan and drive sustainable development of the State within the 30 years period, Governor Godwin Obaseki said on Thursday.
The governor said this while addressing participants during an engagement session with stakeholders from the three local government areas of Edo South, including Oredo, Ikpoba-Okha, and Egor local councils.
The engagement session held at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, in Benin City, the Edo State capital, was aimed at seeking the support and buy-in of the stakeholders in the State’s 30-year development plan.
Present at the stakeholders’ meeting include the wife of the governor, Dr. Betsy Obaseki; Chief of Staff to Edo State Governor, Dr. Osaigbovo Iyoha; Chairmen of Egor, Oredo, and Ikpoba-Okha LGAs; Ndigbo Community in Edo State; Market Women Association, Students, Civil Society Organizations (CSO); traditional and religious leaders; National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW); serving Commissioners; Permanent Secretaries and other top government functionaries, among others.
The governor, who reiterated the role of planning in societal development, said the master plan will drive further development in the State’s tourism, education, health, environment and sports sectors, among others
He said, “This 30-year master plan will be put in place before I leave office as the last plan that expired was put in place by late Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia. This plan will be backed by legislation. My administration will ensure that the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) passes it into law for successive administrations and governments to follow and continue developing the State.
“This legislation has become very important and if it is passed into law, any government that attempts to change aspects of the plan will be resisted unless the EDHA approves such changes. This is the only way Edo can grow.
“The document will not just be a public document but also a legislative document passed into law and it will be unlawful for governments or successive administrations to work outside the plan. The area designated for a purpose must be used for that purpose specified by the plan and contrary to it will lead to prosecution.
“We have gone around Edo State, from Edo North to Edo Central and now in Edo South discussing the master plan that will put the State in the forefront of development. The plan is put together by the government to better the lives of the people.”
Obaseki added, “The plan is two and they are 30 years each. The Edo State Regional Development Plan deals with the planning of the entire State while the Benin City Master Plan deals with Benin City which has been overpopulated due to the influx of people.
“These plans will cover all aspects of the State like tourism, education, health, environment, and sports, amongst other aspects to ensure prompt development and growth of the State and its citizens.”
Seeking the input of the Edo South stakeholders, the governor stated, “Your thoughts and views are needed as we discuss the plan that will make Edo an envy of all other States.”
According to him, “Part of the problems we have in security is because we failed to plan as a nation. If we had effectively planned, we would have been able to arrest the security challenges we face today. Edo State has to plan on how to secure its people and our vigilante is doing a lot to ensure peace and security in the State.”
Obaseki, who noted that his administration has done a lot to bring in investors into various sectors of the State’s economy, said the master plan will further ensure an enabling environment to attract and retain more investors in the State.
“This is a control document that creates the awareness of what to expect in several sectors of the State as it will help us measure the progress of development,” the governor added.
