By Nosakhare Agbonigiarhuoyi
The Edo State government has extended the ongoing Operation Plan Edo initiative to Edo Central and Edo North Senatorial Districts.
This was disclosed on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, by the Commissioner for Physical planning, Urban and Regional Development, Ms. Isoken Omo, after the weekly State Executive Council Meeting at Government House, Benin City, presided over by the Acting Governor, Rt. Hon. Comrade Philip Shaibu.
According to the Commissioner, the initiative started on May 11, 2022, at Amagba Community in the State, and has been implemented in more than seven communities in Edo South Senatorial District.
Speaking to journalists, she said: “You are aware that Operation Plan Edo started on May 11, 2022 at Amagba, and we have gone to more than seven communities now.
“Going forward, Operation Plan Edo is going to be done State-wide. By the end of the month, we will now take it across the State; and as it is happening in Edo South, it will be happening at the same time in Edo north and Edo central, where we will gather information on how we are going to serve our citizens better, make our environment more habitable and help businesses to thrive.”
She added: “So we would have our people going round, engaging with you, asking information on how to serve you. They would introduce themselves, and we will be working with the communities, with our Special Advisers (SAs), with our Senior Special Assistants (SSAs), and local government officials. It will be driven bottom-up from the local government. So we will keep you informed, and we will continue to communicate with you about the program.”
Ms. Omo further said that the State Government is set to take possession of the land it acquired in 2017 at Obagienevbosa, Okhoromi and other locations beginning from next week.
“We also want to use this opportunity to inform everyone that Edo State government will be taking possession of the land it acquired in 2017 at Obagienevbosa, Okhoromi, Obayanto I, and Eruekpen communities, which is the very end of the Iriri Road where it hits the Ogheghe Benin-Sapele Road, and this will take place from next week.”
She advised: “We enjoin people to stay away from the area. If you don’t have any business there, please do not come there. Allow the government to do what it needs to do. People who are entitled to compensation will be duly compensated. Enumeration will start immediately possession is taken, and people who own land within this acquisition will be engaged and enumeration will be done.
“This acquisition is over four parts. There are A, B, C and D sections. So there are parts of it that will remain in their integrity, which will not be touched. So people who are there will not be affected.
“But the part that covers the Ogba River reserve, the Urban forest reserve will be the places that will be taken possession of.
“So it is necessary that the people are informed, and we expect that they abide by the law; and we will keep giving you more information about this. We thank you also in advance for your cooperation.”
On his part, the Managing Director Edo ICT Agency, Mr. Goodluck Igbinedion, presented an update on Fibre-Optic penetration in Edo State, and said that the State is ahead in fibre-optic in the country.
The Commissioner for Youth and Humanitarian Affairs, Chris Nehikhare, shared his ministry’s plan for the forthcoming International Youth Day (August 12th); and informed that INEC voter registration exercise has been extended to a date yet to be ascertained.
