Alaghodaro: Edo Residents Laud Obaseki’s Infrastructural Strides

Adibe Emenyonu in Benin-city

Benin City, the Edo State capital, yesterday commended the administration of the state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, particularly on infrastructure in the last seven years.

The response was derived from the projects tour which was part of activities lined up for the 2023 Alaghodaro Economic Summit, with the theme: ‘The Edo Story: Creating Shared Opportunities into the Future’. This year’s Alaghodaro Economic Summit, which is the seventh edition, also marks the seventh anniversary of Governor Obaseki-led government.

The interest groups, including market women, civil societies, organised labour, civil servants among others, who lauded the state government for its development strides in the last seven years, noted that the infrastructures have changed the economic and environmental landscape of the state.

The projects visited during the tour are all located in Edo South senatorial district, particularly in Oredo, Ikpoba Okha, Orhionmwon, and Ovia North East Local Government Areas.

The projects visited included the 6,000 barrels per-day Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company (ERPC) located in Ologbo in Ikpoba Okha LGA, and the 2,500 barrels per-day Duport Refinery run by Duport Refinery Company Limited in Egbokor, Orhionmwon LGA.

The groups also visited two ethanol plants constructed by Greenhill Ethanol plant located at Ologbo in Ikpoba Okha, and the Dufil Ethanol plant located in Ovia North East.

While speaking, Governor Obaseki said the modular refineries, when in operation, would not only help in solving the fuel crisis in the country, but would also boost the state Gross Domestic Products (GDP).

He added that the two ethanol plants, which are in various stages of completion, would be inaugurated before the end of his administration.

According to him, “The plants are expected to produce food-grade ethanol for use in the confectionery and beverage industry, as well as create employment opportunities and boost the manufacturing sector.”

Other infrastructures visited are Ossiomo Power Plant, a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Edo State Government and Ossiomo Power Company, and Edo Tech Park, a software engineering training institute to help actualise the state government’s vision of producing about 15,000 world-class Also visited are the Edo State College of Nursing Sciences; Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub and Sound Stage; Stella Obasanjo Hospital; Benin Central Motor Park; the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA); Civil Service Infrastructure, and renovated High Court Complex and Industrial Court Complex.

Other facilities also visited included the Edo Production Hub on Sapele Road, Benin-city; the Museum of West African Art (MOWA); the Daisy Danjuma Women Centre; the Golf Mews; Benin-city Mall on Sapele Road, Edo Agric Hub and Education Hub among others.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT), Alaghodaro Economic Summit Limited, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, at a press conference last Wednesday said the yearly Alaghodaro Summit had in the last seven years provided a platform for public and private sector participants in Edo State to chart the course for the state economic growth.

Ighodaro said the summit also showcases the progress being recorded in transforming the state into an investment haven.

He said insights from the summits in seven years have helped in shaping the government’s reforms and programmes, which have bettered the lives of the majority of Edo people and placed the state on the path to sustainable and accelerate growth and development.

According to him, “Governor Obaseki is very focused on the developmental strides that must be made to move Edo State from where it was to a more desirable height. He set up a board and incorporated it as a company limited by guarantee and separates it from the government itself so as to enable us drive the process annually.

“We get recommendations from every Alaghodaro, and provide same to the government, and the government looks at it and sees the parts which key into the government’s policies and plans. These have helped to enhance the development of Edo State and move our people out of poverty through strong infrastructure and others.

“There are a lot of work to be done, but in the last seven years, there have been transformational changes in the state, and many of the ideas have come from the outcomes of the Alaghodaro Summit.”