Obaseki: How We Moved Edo from 14th  to One of Nigeria’s Top Five Economies

• Fetes govt house staff, others, appreciates them for support  

Dike  Onwuamaeze

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said the reforms, economic policies and programmes implemented by his administration over the past seven years have repositioned the state as one of the top five economies in the country.

Speaking to journalists in Benin City, the governor said his government will sustain efforts to promote economic expansion, through sustained investments across various sectors of the state’s economy, necessary to drive growth and development.

The governor said, “Seven years ago, Edo ranked between 13th and 14th in terms of GDP in the country. Today, we are a clear 5th. We’re top 10 in the country in terms of the size of our economy and growth. But what is important is the growth that has occurred since we took over.

“We were able to achieve this by encouraging investment inflow that has contributed to the economy of the state. It’s the people as well as the activities of government that drive the economy. We have moved Edo State from the era where the government was doing things themselves to one in which the government is creating the enabling environment for people to come and invest and do business in the state.”

On plans to sustain the gains recorded in the growth of the state’s economy in the New Year, Obaseki said the government will continue to pursue reforms to facilitate economic expansion and other enablers.

He said: “We have made an allocation in the 2024 budget to drive economic and employment enablers. These will enhance the ease of doing business and also facilitate the injection of private capital into the economy to create more opportunities for our teeming youth population.

“Some of these include investment in our legacy projects such as the Benin Enterprise Park, the Benin Port Project, and the Trailer Park projects, among others, which will spur economic expansion and growth.”

Meanwhile, Obaseki has described the last seven years as challenging but noted that the support from his team was instrumental to surmounting the hurdles.

Obaseki said this during a get-together party organised by the Office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Osaigbovo Iyoha, to appreciate members of staff in Government House for their commitment and dedication, which led to various successes recorded.

Represented by Dr. Iyoha, the governor thanked the staff of Government House and Protocol Unit for their contributions to the success of his administration so far.

“Only God can pay you for your steadfastness and faithfulness; the journey has not been easy. We survived the challenges as a result of the commitment from all of you, staff of the Government House and also with God on his side.

“This is a gathering of the staff of the governor and I am his Chief of Staff. I called this to appreciate all of you and the work you are doing for Mr. Governor. We see the work which is not easy. The governor appreciates everybody who has in one way or the other contributed to the success of this administration.

“The staff includes those working in the Government House and Protocol Unit; Governor’s Press Unit; Chief of Staff’s office and other offices attached to the Governor’s Office. Thank you for the job you have been doing in the last seven years. Thank you for the one you are going to do until we leave office in November 2024.”

Legal Adviser for Edo State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Arthur Esene, expressed the party’s gratitude to members of staff of the Governor’s Office, noting that the party was impressed with the contributions of the members of staff.

Some other guests present include some members of Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA), past and serving government functionaries, among others.