Edo state governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has flagged off 29-kilometre Agbede Awai-Idegun road in fulfilment of part of his electioneering campaign promises to the people.
Flagging off the road construction, the governor recalled his experience during his visit last August highlighting that the road was in a state of disrepair.
According to the governor, “When I came around August 2016 during our campaign and I wanted to go to ward 8 for campaign at Idegun, we left around 7am. I got to Idegun around 8:30 or 9:00am and I asked what kind of suffering is this in the state and during this time, our vehicle was losing balance, then, I promised that if God made me governor, the road would be one of the first that I will construct.”
In addition, Obaseki revealed that his plan was to build the road to meet the standard set by the immediate past administration. While emphasising the importance of the road, the Governor said the road is strategic to the plan to open up the area for the proposed 40,000 hectares of land for mechanised agricultural purposes as foreign investors were already indicating interest.
The governor also gave an assurance that the construction company handling the project had been mobilised to the site, while the project would be completed within 24 months.
He however called on the elders to give the necessary cooperation to the construction workers and emphasised that they should be protected so that the work could be completed quickly and hopefully ahead of schedule. The spokesperson for the communities, Prince Abudu Lateef Momodu thanked the governor for matching his words with action revealing having an administration that not only promised development, but also stood by it is a breath of fresh air.
He said, “We have had so many promises in the past, which were never fulfilled up till now, but today we are witnessing the fulfillment of Obaseki’s promise – one he made less than three months after assumption of office.” He described the governor as a unique person adding that the Oba of Agbede, HRH Momodu II had acknowledged the unique qualities of the governor.
Meanwhile, Obaseki has assured the people of Edo state that he would make the state a leading agribusiness hub in Nigeria, especially by initiating strategies that could enhance agricultural development, create jobs and guarantee food security.
Obaseki made this disclosure during a 3-day agribusiness workshop at the Randekhi Hotel in Benin City with the theme: ‘Harnessing resources and opportunities to optimise agribusiness in Edo State.’
Obaseki, while delivering his keynote address, advised participants to apply modern agricultural techniques in order to improve production as an alternative means to generate income.
“While we must continue to encourage small farm holdings to improve and obtain modern technology, we must address the policy of mechanisation, characterisation using technology’’, he explained.
He stated that the state government had promised to synergise with the federal government to revive and reclaim the nation’s arable lands, which have not been put into optimal use over the years. He also unveiled some economic strategies which according to him include some key areas such as making land accessible for usage, providing security and infrastructure, driving agriculture from the top and not bottom, and giving the necessary support towards achieving the desired objective.
Also speaking at the event, Captain Osa Okunbor, a renowned farmer, noted that the workshop was timely and laudable even as he urged all the stakeholders to key into it and join hands with the state government to achieve its agricultural development plan with a view to bringing the state back to its pride of place.
