By Isaac Aimurie, Nosa Agbonigiarhuoyi and Tunde Tee Olatunji

The Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki has said that tourism must become the mainstay of the State’s economy in the face of dwindling resources and the instability surrounding revenue from crude oil.

Obaseki said this during a tourism stakeholder meeting on Friday, September 2, in Government House, Benin City, the State capital.

Sharing his thoughts on the ongoing engagements in the State to develop a tourism masterplan that will harness the culture and tourism assets of the State, the Governor said: “We do not just want to create documents, our plans have to be what we have agreed, we need to change direction, because we cannot continue to behave the way we used to.”

He stressed that the over-reliance on hydrocarbon is dangerous for the nation’s economy, adding “currently things are very bad, we can’t fund many projects anymore. This has to be our mainstay not oil “

He urged representatives of the various ministries, departments and agencies at the meeting to own the Edo tourism project by harmonizing their thoughts as his administration is in a hurry translate potential to result.

“The challenge of this country is not inadequate resources but the way we have decided to approach development. Tourism ties everything together for us. The education ministry must tell us what the Principal’s cup will do for us in the medium to long-term. Now is the time to push” he added.

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