By Nosakhare Agbonigiarhuoyi
The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has said that the strategic location of the State gives her easy access to a huge market, and makes her a hub for national infrastructure.
He made the comment on Friday, November 11, 2022, while welcoming guests to the 6th Edition of the Edo Summit (Alaghodaro 2022) in Government House, Benin City.
Urging investors to take advantage of the location of the State, the investor-friendly environment and the availability of power, Obaseki said: “There are very few places like Edo in Nigeria. For many other places, you have to make up your mind that you are going there.
“Other people have to do things to attract people and traffic to their States, but we in Edo sit here and traffic must pass through. This advantage gives us easy access to huge markets and makes the State a hub for national infrastructure.”
“Most national infrastructure, whether it’s transport, whether it’s electricity transmission or whether it’s gas transmission, they all pass through Edo. That is why we are the cheapest location to generate electricity in Nigeria.”
According to the Governor, the manufacturing sector is one that the State is paying keen attention to because of her endowment in gas.
“Edo has the largest onshore gas reserves in Nigeria. Most of our other gas reserves are in the swamp and offshore. With this energy source, there is no reason why we cannot generate as much electricity to attract industrialization and industries”, Obaseki said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Board, Alaghodaro Ltd./Gte, Mr. Asue Ighodalo, commended the Governor and his team for their efforts so far made in actualizing a better Edo, and said that “there is a whole lot to be done in creating the Edo of our dreams.”
“The Governor and his team have worked hard to transform Edo State into a land of plenty where peace and justice reign, where all our citizens are safe, secure and healthy, gainfully employed, which is key, and our children have access to world-class education.
“There is still so much work to be done and we still have a very long way to go before we achieve the Edo of our dreams”, Ighodalo added.
