The Edo State Government, will on Thursday, May 12, 2022, commence the ‘Operation Plan Edo,’ a new initiative rolled out to recertify building plans and collect data on the socio-economic needs of communities within the Benin metropolis.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning, Urban and Regional Development, Isoken Omo, who disclosed this to journalists at a press briefing in Benin City, said the exercise will commence from the Ugbor axis of Benin City.
She disclosed that the project is a follow up to the ‘Operation Show Your Building Plans,’ which revealed that some communities within the Benin metropolis were still in need of government presence.
Omo said, “This programme enables the government to key the state into the Edo Regional and Benin Master Plan formulated by this administration to develop the state.
“We discovered that some areas have no health centres, police stations, schools, markets and transport collection points; this led to the “Operation Plan Edo’ to correct this across the state.
“The ‘Operation Plan Edo’ is a programme where key ministries in the state have been identified to join the ministry of physical planning, urban and regional development to meet with the people to find out what they need. The findings will be structured to meet the needs of the citizens. The needs will be prioritized as quick wins, as well as short, medium and long-term initiatives.”
“Our projects will be fixed to the community and we can now engage the communities and let them know when they expect things like roads, water, schools, security, agricultural and health interventions and many more. We can’t succeed without the cooperation of the people,” the commissioner noted.
Omo said the pilot phase of the programme will commence with 12 ministries who will in turn collect data from the exercise and pull out what they need to plan and develop Edo State.
She added, “The programme is important as we give the people promises that we can keep and things you can measure and check. This is to ensure the people get the benefits of the government.”
Urging for the collaboration of all residents to ensure the success of the programme, the commissioner said the government has also engaged in layout plans for communities across the state.
Omo stated, “This is necessary to ensure that the layouts are clear. The programme will enable the government to move around the state for developmental purposes. It will provide solutions to issues found in various communities.”
On his part, the Commissioner for Communications and Orientation, Andrew Emwanta noted, “I want to assure Edo people that the Obaseki-led administration has put modalities in place to ensure this laudable programme of developing Edo State continues after the end of the governor’s term in office.”
Commissioner for Public Security and Safety, Omololu Ojehomon, said she paid an official visit to Amagba to assess the level of development, reassuring, “We are going to put a police station there. We are already working on that because the security of the people matters.”
