₦airaland Forum

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Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured that the ongoing construction of judges’ quarters in Benin City, by the state government, is part of plans to reposition the state as the judicial hub in the South-South region.

The governor, who said this while inspecting the houses, explained that the project is in line with his administration’s promise to build decent and comfortable houses for judges in the state.

According to him, “Our goal is to ensure that by the end of 2019, we would have enough accommodation for all our judges in the state. It is not only for judges in the State High Court but also judges of the Federal High Court and the Court of Appeal. Judges who are posted to work in the state will also enjoy the accommodation.”

He said that the first five units will be delivered before April 2019, noting that once they are completed, the state will start work on a 20-unit estate for judges by next year, which will be constructed around the Government Reservation Area (GRA).

Obaseki said his administration has employed over 4,000 youths who are engaged at the various roads, building construction and other infrastructure sites across the state.

He noted that the state is gradually fulfilling its electioneering promise to create 200,000 jobs for Edo people and residents.

Obaseki was accompanied on the inspection tour by his Chief of Staff, Chief Taiwo Akerele, and other top government officials.


PHOTO 1:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (left), Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Taiwo Akerele, with a contractor, during the inspection of ongoing construction of judges’ quarters in Benin City, Edo State

Modern Slavery: Obaseki Harps On Deepening Global Efforts To Curb Human Trafficking

…assures on policies to unleash potential of people living with disabilities

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the fight against human trafficking, which is a manifestation of modern-day slavery, gains considerable mileage when all stakeholders affected by the menace work together to provide pragmatic, inclusive and sustainable solutions that place a premium on socio-economic impact in affected developing countries.

The governor, who said this in commemoration of the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, marked on December 2, every year, by the United Nations, noted that the new coalition to end the human trafficking, adds a new dimension to the campaign.

He said that the state government has made considerable progress in the campaign against human trafficking, which has led to the setting up of the Managing Migration for Development Programme (MMDP), in collaboration with the World Bank and the European Union.

On the international coalition, he said, “We would hold the second roundtable dialogue on tackling migration in Edo State from December 4 to 5. This is a new chapter for us with the involvement of the multilateral development agencies on this campaign. We had reached out to them for support and we appreciate the fact that they have engaged constructively with us, providing the necessary support.

“So, we will be reviewing the much we have done and now entering another phase, that will ensure that government’s presence is felt in affected communities, just as the economic space will be opened for them to lead rewarding, fulfilling lives.”

Noting that the state government has recorded considerable progress in the effort to break the bond between trafficked girls and their ‘sponsors,’ he said, “With the backing of the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, we have been able to assure the girls that whatever bond they may have entered into with their madams have no effect. This has contributed greatly to the campaign.

“This is noteworthy because the practice of human trafficking is rooted in bondage, often perpetuated when the girls take oaths of allegiance and what may be termed servitude to their sponsors. We are recording progress today because we have severed the efficacy of this practice. So, it is a plus to efforts aimed at ending modern-day slavery in Edo State.”

Meanwhile, on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities marked every December 3 by the UN, the governor said that the state government is creating the space for those living with disabilities to find expression in the state, as the committee set up to articulate its needs have submitted its report, which will drive policy changes.

According to him, “We run a government of inclusion. This is why a committee was set up to map out how best to engage with Persons with Disabilities and prepare a blueprint. Our aim is to create a space where everyone will have a say in society. So, those living with disability have a stake in what we do. We will work to ensure that their rights are protected and that they live fulfilled lives.”

…urges parents, teachers to guide students on proper social behaviours

The Edo State Government has ordered the arrest and interrogation of six secondary school students and a school leaver for truancy and obstruction of academic activities, in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

Addressing journalists after the arrest of the students, Commissioner for Education, Hon. Emmanuel Agbale, said, “The students were arrested after my office received report from the authority of a primary school on how students and non-students of Ogbe Secondary School are of the habit of coming to obstruct academic activities in the primary school.”

“I promised the authority of the primary school that we will apprehend all those involved. While on a routine inspection, I got to Ogbe Secondary School with the Permanent Secretary and other officials of the ministry and we met some of these students who were not in their school uniforms. Obviously, these boys are not students of Ogbe Secondary School. We met them displaying fireworks and obstructing academic activities in the school.”

He said he ordered security officers to apprehend them, after which the state’s surveillance team led by the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security and Surveillance, Comrade Emmanuel Orukpe, were called in to interrogate the boys.”

Hon. Agbale added, “The state government is concerned about the activities of some of these youths, which are becoming worrisome. Parents and teachers should be aware that government will not hesitate to come down heavily on students involved in truancy and other anti-social behaviours.”

“We have deployed strategies to curtail activities of youths involved in such behaviours in secondary schools. With the new law before the Edo State House Assembly, students involved in cult-related activities will be prosecuted,” he added.

Comrade Orukpe said members of his team were working round the clock to support Governor Obaseki’s vision for students in schools and would not hesitate to prosecute individuals and groups involved in anti-social behaviour in schools across the state.

Orukpe urged parents, teachers and management of schools to guide students on appropriate social behaviours in schools and shun acts of truancy, adding, “his office is open to members of the public to report groups involved in anti-social activities in schools.”

Yellow Fever: Edo Govt Adopts Multi-Agency Response, Urges Residents To Embrace Vaccination, Sanitation

The Edo State Government has urged residents in the state to take advantage of the state’s vaccination drive against Yellow Fever disease, assuring of a multi-agency response, in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC).

In a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, the state government said that nine cases have been reported in Ekpoma, Ehor and Igieduma towns, assuring that the government is on top of the situation.

He explained that a combined team of experts drawn from WHO and CDC are working with the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) and the Edo State Epidemiology Team, to contain the outbreak.

Osagie said that an Emergency Response Protocol is being finalised to ensure similar epidemic or pandemics are contained in future.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Aanu Fakunle, said that Primary Health Care Centers (PHC) across the state are being repositioned to be the first responders for these kinds of outbreaks.

She emphasised that it was important for parents and children to get vaccinated as that was one of the ways to prevent the ailment

“Other measures include good sanitation as the virus is spread by mosquitoes. So, we encourage people to keep their environment clean by cutting the bushes, draining our gutters, wash their hands and maintain good hygiene.”

She said some symptoms of the virus include, “fever, chills, muscle ache, nose bleeds, diarrhoea among others, before complications set in. Blood samples are then sent to a WHO reference laboratory for confirmation after initial suspicion.

According to her, “We have embarked on capacity building of the PHC staff and expect they are able to identify, manage such cases and refer appropriately. Several PHCs are captured in the EDO-Health Improvement Programme (EDO-HIP) across the state.”

…as Gov earmarks N500m for Benin Royal Museum


Efforts by the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the Benin Monarch, Omo N' Oba N' Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, to retrieve artefacts stolen from the state in the colonial era are yielding results as European governments have set modalities in place for either permanent or temporary return of the artworks.

Campaign for the return of the prized heritage objects has raged for decades, with Nigerian authorities mounting pressure on European governments and museums to return them, while the Europeans argue that holding the work was best for the preservation of the artefacts, as there were no structures in Africa to properly hold them.

However, while presenting the 2019 Budget proposal on Monday before a session of the House of Assembly, Governor Obaseki stressed his intention to make Benin the culture capital of West Africa with the planned return of the artefacts and proposed N500 million for the construction of the Benin Royal Museum, a facility to be constructed in collaboration with the Oba's Palace and the Benin Dialogue Group, a multilateral group of major museums across Europe.

Addressing the legislators, he said, “To fulfill our commitment towards making Edo the culture capital of West Africa, we have earmarked N500 million in 2019 proposed Budget, to commence the development and construction of the Benin Royal Museum. This will be done in collaboration with the Palace of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Ogidigan”

The French government recently approved the return of 26 artefacts stolen from Benin Republic after a report recommended the move, raising the prospect of more of such moves from the European country.

After the approval for the return, the Elysée Palace said: “there will be a meeting at the start of 2019 between African and European nations to develop a new policy on the exchange of stolen artefacts.”

The French President was quoted as saying that he would ensure that "African youths have access to their heritage objects and the common heritage of humanity in Africa," and assured of "a new intellectual connection between France and Africa."

The Benin Dialogue Group, which is a major partner in the construction and management of the Benin Royal Museum, is also working on something similar. It has built a coalition that will set a framework for the European partners to provide advise, as requested, in areas including building and exhibition design, while European and Nigerian partners will work collaboratively to develop training, source funding, and legal frameworks to facilitate the permanent display of Benin artworks in the new museum.”

The Benin Dialogue Group consists of museum representatives from Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom with key representatives from Nigeria.

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The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has inaugurated the Edo Central Senatorial Campaign Council, with a charge to win all the elective positions in the senatorial district, during the 2019 general elections.

Speaking to members of the campaign council at the party’s secretariat in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, Obaseki urged the council to liberate the people of the senatorial district who have been under the control of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) since 1999, through aggressive membership drive.

He explained that the campaign council will supervise, provide direction and overall guidance for the party's participation in the 2019 general elections in the area.

Obaseki said: "The campaign council is to coordinate all the 2019 campaign activities and resources will be deployed to strengthened the various units and wards to enable them win the various elective positions in the 2019 general elections."

He noted that in the last two years, his administration has focused on governance rather than politics, and has numerous achievements to show Edo people and residents.

He added that his administration has committed resources to the development of Esan land in collaboration with the World Bank and United Nations International Children Emergency Fund (UNICEF) to ensure that the age-long water problem is being solved.

"My administration has done much in the areas of erosion control, road rehabilitation, education, health care and in the empowerment of our people in Esan land".

He advised members of the campaign council to ensure they win by 80 per cent in next year’s general elections in Edo Central Senatorial District of the state.

The governor called on the campaign council to set up a reconciliation team to address all the grievances and fall-outs from the ward and local government congresses as well as those from the primary elections, held to elect the party’s candidates for the various elective positions in the 2019 general elections.

Obaseki further advised members of the council to devise a strategy for expanding the membership of the APC, to increase the party’s numerical strength and win the elections convincingly.

Earlier, the Vice Senatorial Chairman of the party in the state, Col. David Imusi, thanked the governor and his entourage for coming to inaugurate the campaign council, which is the first in the state, and assured of the council’s readiness to free the people from the grip of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The Director General of the Campaign Council is Hon. Felix Akhabue. Other members of the Council include two leaders representing each local government area in the district, members of the state executive council, who are from the senatorial district, all local government chairmen and all youth leaders from all the local government areas in the senatorial district, all the women leaders from the local government areas in the district, members of Edo House of Assembly (EDHA) from the local government areas and campaign coordinators of the party’s candidates in the senatorial district.


PHOTO 1
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (standing); his Chief of Staff, Chief Taiwo Akerele (2nd left); Secretary, Edo State Chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Lawrence Okah (3rd right); and Executive Chairman, Esan Central Local Government Council, Hon. Dr. Edokpa Waziri (left); and other leaders of the APC during the inauguration of Edo Central Senatorial Campaign Council, in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area of the state, on Friday, November 23, 2018.

As the Edo Development and Property Agency (EDPA) and its partner, Mixta Nigeria advance on the delivery of the over 70-hectare Emotan Gardens project, the Executive Chairman, EDPA, Isoken Omo, has disclosed several options available for the provision of steady power supply in the estate.

Isoken disclosed this in Benin City while addressing journalists on the level of progress recorded with the housing project, noting that the pace of work on the site has been impressive.

She said, “we have about 68 housing units completed, and we are still counting. Our intention is to give out these units by the end of this year. What we are also doing is to make sure that the place is ready for the people moving in by December. The people will be able to live in them as soon as they get there. That is the unique thing about this estate.”

She explained that EDPA and Mixta Nigeria are considering different options for power, as the promise is that the estate will run on 24-hour electricity, adding “The 24-hour power supply is a combination of options. So, we are looking at solar; we are looking at the national grid but with a different approach.”

She noted, “We have Ossiomo Power in Edo; We also have Azura Power Plant. We have been talking to them to see what our best option is. Power will be provided. There will be power, potable water and good roads. We intend to put internet and intercom as well. What we are offering is a lifestyle. All these will be provided. The plan is to regenerate the area.

Emotan Gardens, is a flagship estate project being developed by the Edo State Government through the EDPA, with Mixta Nigeria, as joint-venture partners.

The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has approved the appointment of Mr. Isaac Ebose Ehiozuwa as the new Head of Service of the state.

Ehiozuwa takes over from Mrs Gladys Idahor who retired from the Edo State civil service last week.

A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., said “In line with the provisions of Section 208 (1) and 2 (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, (as amended), the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, has approved the appointment of Mr Isaac Ebose Ehiozuwa as Edo State Head of Service.”

Ogie added that the new Head of Service will be sworn in on Monday, November 26, 2018 at 10:00am in the Exco Chambers of the Governor’s Office.

Recall that Governor Obaseki at the Thanksgiving Reception in honour of the former Head of Service, last Sunday, attributed his administration’s impactful reforms to the support of Edo civil service in the last two years, promising to sustain the sector-wide reforms.

On behalf of the Government and people of Edo State, I congratulate our Muslim faithful on the occasion of the celebration of the birth of Prophet Mohammed (S.A.W) as we mark this year’s Eid el-Maulud.

We join our Muslim brothers and sisters in celebrating this auspicious occasion and urge everyone to use this occasion to reflect on the teachings of peace and togetherness embodied by the Holy Prophet in the Holy Quran.

The import of the celebration is not lost on us as a government, as we have, in a long while, enjoyed a peaceful atmosphere occasioned by the tolerance espoused by the Holy Prophet and propagated by the Muslim faithful in the state and across the world.

May Almighty Allah bring us peace as we mark this day.

Maulud Nabi!

Governor Godwin Obaseki

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, will on Saturday, December 1, 2018 lead the state government’s delegation to the maiden convocation ceremony of Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, the first since inception.

Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, in a chat with journalists, said that a number of activities have been lined up for the ceremony, which will hold from November 27, 2018 to December 2, 2018 at the main campus of the polytechnic.

The Founder’s Day Lecture, one of the events lined up for the convocation ceremony, will be delivered by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, on Thursday, November 29, 2018, entitled, “Leadership Development and Vagaries of Power: Nigeria in Perspective.”

He said, the lecture by Hon. Ohonbamu, will set the tone for the series of activities set to hold in Usen, Ovia South West Local Government Area, Edo State.

The convocation lecture will be delivered by Space Physicist, Prof. Babatunde Rabiu of the Center for Atmospheric Research, on Friday, November 30, 2018, entitled: “Repositioning Higher Education Towards Effective Patronage of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development.”

“We are extremely proud that Governor Obaseki will be at the occasion as visitor to the institution. This is a landmark event. We are proud of the reforms the governor has brought to the state and this institution in particular. So we are prepared for the auspicious occasion and thrilled that the institution is now meeting the objectives set for it by its founding fathers,” Prof. Falodun said.

The convocation, according to Prof. Falodun, is a major milestone and reflects the far-reaching reforms by the Governor Obaseki-led administration in the institution. He noted that the convocation ceremony will hold at the school in Usen.

He urged graduates of the institution to avail themselves of the opportunity to get their certificates and assured that all necessary arrangements have been made for a seamless and successful event.”

The Rector explained that the institution will issue the first set of certificates bearing its name after over 16 years of its establishment, noting, the certificates will be produced in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

“We are urging graduates of the institution to visit our website for details of how to obtain their certificates. The convocation will be an opportunity for them to collect theirs. We are as excited as they are, that we have made it possible for them to receive their certificates,” he said.

He added that a number of reforms are ongoing at the polytechnic to reposition it for global reckon, noting that new programmes in the Higher National Diploma level have been introduced even as partnerships have been sealed for international visiting lecturers from Switzerland, Germany and South Africa.

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…to include Forestry in Basic Education Curriculum


The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called on the Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) to expedite action on the Forestry Commission Bill to give legal backing to the state’s efforts at managing her forest resources.

Obaseki made the call at the second Edo State Multi-Stakeholders’ Workshop on Sustainable Palm Oil Development in Edo State, held in Benin City.

The governor said if his administration identifies a competent person to drive the forestry programme, before the bill is passed, it may explore the option of an Executive Order to implement his vision for the sector.

According to him, “When we identify a competent person, we shall hire him or her and begin the process of ensuring we define the agenda along the principles we have agreed on and commence implementation.”

He said his administration is not afraid to take a critical decision that will positively affect the people of the state and future generations.

Noting that the state is already considering creative and sustainable ways of driving consciousness on the need to preserve forests, he said, "Forestry is one subject that we will introduce in the curriculum of our basic education system in the state to inculcate in pupils the importance of our forest reserves.”

Obaseki said one of the problems Nigeria faces is poor environmental practices and called on stakeholders to ensure they join hands with the government to stop the degradation of forests, as failure to do so will result in dire consequences in the next 25 years.

“We are facing a looming disaster and if nothing is done quickly and urgently, all of us will be consumed as our economy will be affected,” he argued.

The governor said his administration is rolling out a lot of initiatives to stimulate economic growth such as the over 70-hectare Emotan Gardens estate, where a pilot phase has commenced.

"If this project succeeds, then we will be building about 3,000 to 5,000 housing units per year but the question is where do we get the wood from?” He queried.

He called on participants to agree on principles and come out with a clear implementable programme from the stakeholders’ workshop, noting that "This workshop is for us to agree on principles, put up a plan and make it happen.”

Africa Regional Director, Tropical Forest Alliance (TFA) 2020, Mr. Abraham Baffoe, thanked participants at the workshop for their inputs.

He added that the body has generated data from its tour of the forest reserves in the state and lamented that the findings are not encouraging.

He said, “95 per cent of Iguobazuwa Forest Reserve is degraded; at Okomu Forest Reserve, 64 per cent has been degraded while that of Ekiadolor has witnessed 89 per cent degradation.”


PHOTO 1:
Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (middle); Special Adviser to the Governor on Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security Programme, Prince Joe Okojie (right); and Managing Director, Okomu Oil Plc, Dr. Graham Hefer (left), during the second Edo State Multi-Stakeholders’ Workshop on Sustainable Palm Oil Development, at Protea Hotel, in Benin City, Edo State.

Electricity Supply: Edo Govt Condemns Failure Of BEDC As Firm Throws State Into Darkness For Weeks

…Govt seeks alternative electricity distribution company

Following the failure of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to provide electricity to residents of Edo State, the state government has described as “regrettable BEDC’s insensitivity to the suffering and extreme inconveniences it has caused millions of its customers across the state.”

Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, who conveyed the state government’s position on the glaring ineptitude of BEDC in the state, said: “The state government is miffed at BEDC’s failure to deliver electricity to Edo people and for throwing the entire state into darkness.”

Osagie lamented “BEDC’s unprofessional attitude of sitting on their hands to watch their subscribers, most of whom have paid their bills in full, suffer the socio-economic consequences of their incompetence.

“Their action is most regrettable as they have not considered their customers deserving of any apology for the extreme inconveniences, they have caused Edo people and residents.”

He explained that the state government is disturbed by the poor crisis management strategy of the power distribution company and assured that the days and months of darkness inflicted on Edo people are nearing their end.

“The government, however, urges Edo people to be patient as it has taken the initiative to take its destiny in its hands by obtaining a licence for another private power company, Ossiomo Power for the generation and distribution of power, independent of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC),” Osagie said.

The governor’s aide maintained that officials of the state government have been bombarded with torrents of complaints from residents, in every nuke and cranny of the state, about BEDC’s ineffectiveness.

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PHOTO 4
Ongoing road reconstruction on Ugbor Road in Benin City, Edo State, on Thursday, November 15, 2018.

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Ongoing road reconstruction work along Boundary Road in Benin City, Edo State, on Thursday, November 15, 2018.

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Ongoing road reconstruction work along Ugbor-Amagba Road in Benin City, Edo State, on Thursday, November 15, 2018.

The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has made true his promise to reconstruct failed roads across the state with the commencement of work on 109 roads in the three senatorial districts.

The contractors handling the projects were seen with their workers on site on Thursday when journalists went around Benin metropolis to inspect the road projects.

The workers were seen with their equipment on Ugbor-Amagba Road which covers 13.8 kilometres, according to the contractor.

Major reconstruction work is ongoing in parts of Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Benin City, including Boundary Road, as residents expressed appreciation to the Governor Obaseki-led administration for taking advantage of the dry days to fix the roads.

Speaking to journalists at Etete Junction on Adesuwa Road, Assistant Supervisor, Heartland Nigeria Limited, Charles Erua, said they are rehabilitating failed portions of Etete Road.

Erua explained that "after fixing this part of the road our men will move to 1st and 2nd Ugbor as well as other roads in the axis.”

It was gathered that the 109 roads have been grouped into axis; New Benin, GRA, Sokponba, Okhoro, Medical, Agbor Road and Upper Sokponba, Ekenhuan, Siluko and Agbor Road in Edo South Senatorial District.

Others are in Edo Central and Edo North senatorial districts.

Recall that the state government carried out a major audit of bad roads in the state recently, to update the existing data on the conditions of all roads in the state.


PHOTO 1
Workers on Etete Junction by Adesuwa Road, in Benin City, Edo State, on Thursday, November 15, 2018.

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Obaseki’s Affordable Housing: Emotan Gardens ‘ll Address Housing Deficit – EDPA Executive Chairman

…says agency was repositioned to open sector for private investment

The Executive Chairman, Edo Development and Property Agency (EDPA), Ms. Isoken Omo, has said that the agency was repositioned by the Governor Godwin Obaseki led-administration to provide affordable housing and properly engage with the private sector to provide investors with exciting investment options, such as the Emotan Gardens Estate.

Omo, who disclosed this during a chat with journalists in Benin City, said that a new law was enacted to give legal backing to the agency’s new role as a private-sector facing agency, which now allows it to relate with the private sector properly and attract big-ticket investment in the real estate development sector of the state.

“What we have done in the first instance is to get the legislation in place to enable us compete in the market and be in a place where the private sector can comfortably do business with the state.

“Most of the times when investors hear that government is spearheading a project, people tend to think that it will be a short-term arrangement. They will want to make sure everything is done within the current tenure of the government in power,” she said.

She explained, “The old law was actually enacted in the 1960’s and it was for an authority which was funded by government, supported by government and driven by the government. What that meant was that, if projects were not funded, the agency will not be able to do anything. It was a very broad legislation that had planning and all kinds of responsibilities.”

She noted that with the new law, the agency now has a new lease of life and can deliver on a number of projects, with dynamic funding arrangements.

“For you to make it a value chain arrangement, you have to make sure that from the supply and the demand sides, you have been able to deal with all the issues. So it is not enough for you to develop the houses, you should be able to offload them. You have to give people different payment options to be able to buy the houses or rent it; whatever option they have to enter into the property ladder is what we now offer. Those are the things this law enables us to do.”

Noting that Emotan Gardens is one of the first demonstrations of the agency’s new direction, she said, “It is quite a robust law because it not only talks about the housing provision, it also talks about the demand side. What that means is that we are supposed to have a mortgage bank through which people in the state can key into our projects and get mortgages to buy these houses. So that is the medium to long-term objective of EDPA. Some of these will be made possible as we progress on the Emotan Gardens project,” she added.

Isoken noted, “we also have an artisan programme in the law that will help us train the crop of workforce we need to continue to produce quality houses. It has taken all of that into cognizance and the new order also gives us the opportunity to get grants.”



PHOTO:
Construction workers at the Emotan Gardens Estate in Benin City.

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