Edo building sustainable infrastructure, expanding private sector space, others to attract new investments

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his government is building sustainable infrastructure, strengthening reforms and enhancing security to ensure the influx of investors into the state.

The governor, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, said his administration is also expanding the private sector space to make the state an investment hub and ensure sustainable development and economic prosperity for the state.

Obaseki noted that there has been a deliberate emphasis on strengthening partnerships with the private sector, from which Edo has reaped immense benefits including the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Ossiomo Power Company to provide stable power to government institutions and to also drive the state’s industrial sector.

According to him, “This close link with the private sector has also led to the establishment of the 6000bpd Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited (which is 100 percent complete), a landmark project that shows what is possible with well-intentioned Private-Public Partnerships (PPP). The model that birthed the refinery project is being deployed for similar high-impact development and industrial projects in the state.”

Obaseki further noted, “There is no better illustration of the expanding private sector space than the increased air traffic and high occupancy rate of hotels in the state. When we came into office, there were only two airlines flying into the state, today, there are five of them.

“The state has generally become more attractive to investments with the influx of investors in real estate, hospitality, oil and gas, industries, technology, agriculture, and manufacturing, among others.”

“The security situation in the state has improved significantly with the linkage of the Edo State Security Network with the federal security structure. The local actors have leveraged this partnership in terms of training, intelligence gathering and surveillance. This has ensured synergy that has helped in curbing urban crime, banditry and other forms of criminality,” he added.