The Edo State Government has said it has renovated, remodelled and completed 83 schools across the state, alongside the completion and equipping of about 85 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) with essential drugs.
Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kassim Afegbua, disclosed this while briefing journalists, assuring residents that all ongoing projects by the current administration will be completed within record time.
He appealed for continued support and prayers from Edo people to enable the government deliver on its mandate.
Afegbua also highlighted the government’s response to infrastructure challenges, noting that the burnt POWA Shopping Mall was reconstructed and commissioned within two months, with support provided to affected traders to revive their businesses.
He added that construction of an ultra-modern market is ongoing in Ekpoma and Jattu, while reconstruction work is underway at the burnt Oba Market in Benin City.
On security, the Commissioner said the government is nearing completion of a security camp in Edo Central to provide accommodation for security personnel, including soldiers and police, aimed at strengthening operations and curbing kidnapping in the area.
He further revealed that traditional rulers have been tasked with monitoring activities within their domains, particularly tracking visitors and addressing security concerns in previously ungoverned areas.
Afegbua urged international investors to take advantage of the state’s improved security and business-friendly environment by investing in key sectors such as agriculture, including rice, cassava, oil palm and maize production.
He also announced plans to deploy about 100 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, with 50 to be rolled out for free transportation across the state to cushion the effects of economic hardship.
According to him, ongoing reforms at the federal level are expected to further ease economic pressures, expressing optimism that residents will soon experience improved living conditions.
The Commissioner also addressed a trending video involving Emmanuel Akpan, also known as Egogo, distancing the state government from alleged threats against opposition figures reportedly made by the individual, and clarifying that the remarks do not reflect the position of the administration.