BENIN CITY: Edo State Governor Mr. Godwin Obaseki said his administration has gone into contract to fly over the entire state to generate enough data and information to help the government in proper planning and development of the state.
He made this known when he received Executives members of Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Edo State Chapter lead by Mr. Nosa Iyamu who were on a courtesy visit to government house in Benin City.
Obaseki said by the end of first quarter of next year the state will have enough data and information for modern planning. He said he will put out international bids to ensure well planned cities to compete with the major cities in the world.
“I am going to put out international bid to have a well planned out cities that will compete with international cities in the world. Our cities should be planned alongside major cities in the world. All the things that is needed to be done to get international standard will be done to enable us plan the future of our children as it will discourage our children from travelling outside the shores of this country as our cities will have what other cities in the world have”.
He said his administration knows the important of Urban Planning that was why she separated the issue of land from urban and regional planning.
Obaseki said his administration is open and ready to work with the town planners as they will be furnished with enough data and information by the first quarter of next year from the Geography Information System (GIS).
“Some of us in government have collaborated to undermine the plan. We have encouraged others to destroy our environment. I call on you as individual and as a group to join hands with us to build a great society. He concluded”.
Earlier, the chairman of Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Edo State Chapter, Mr. Nosa Iyamu congratulated the governor for his victory at the poll and subsequent victory at the Court to affirm his position as the governor of the state.
He said the body established 51 years ago was set up to advance the science and arts of town and country planning in all its aspect, including rural, local, urban, state, regional planning for the benefits of Nigeria populace; creating a peaceful forum to enhance physical planning and development in the country.
Iyamu said the body has over the years made suggestion to successive administration on how to correct some anomalies in the physical development of the state. “Over the years, our town has experienced rapid growth both in population and expansion without commensurate attention by the government to ensure their effective control”.
He appealed to the governor to preserve the Benin walls and moat as they are the historical monument of the Benin people. He said the previous administration did its best to restore sanity to the moat and the Benin walls.
