Obaseki has redefined and provided a standard framework for the administration of urban and regional planning, urban development, urban renewal and building control activities in the state. Besides, He has also helped to address the conflicts between local governments and the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Urban Development, arising from the existing laws. Obaseki is implementing existing Ordinances, laws or regulations including the Edo State Urban and Regional Planning Act to incorporate the roles of the Architects just as he called for the inputs of the Architects in such reviews. The state government is ensuring that professional Architects are used in the designing of buildings and projects as well as incorporate them in the city beautification programme, urban renewal scheme, housing scheme development and community development. To place further emphasis on the resolve of the government to insist on the enthronement of law and order, on May 2017, the government commenced the removal of buildings with unapproved plans with the demolition of a shopping complex in heart of Benin City (around Mission road and Ring road) said to have been worth about N800 million. The complex housing 218 lock-up shops was constructed in contravention of the approval plans issued by the government.
Obaseki has reduced the cost of acquiring Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) from N300,00 to N50,000. Gov. Godwin Obaseki made the disclosure after inspecting the ongoing work at the Edo Geographic Information System (EDOGIS). He said the measure was to enable residents acquire C o C, registration of licenses as well as titles across the state, on time and with easy access to such services. He said: “We have as well reduced the cost of obtaining C of Os from N300, 000 to N50, 000. “It will help to reduce both the time and the amount spent in obtaining C of Os in our state. “We will ensure that our building approval as well follow the same speed, to make life more comfortable and meaningful for the people.” Obaseki has showcased the work of the Edo State Geographic Information Service Agency (EGIS), the Ministry for Physical Planning and Urban Development and the Land Bureau that are working together in generating land data for development, easing transfer of land titles and in obtaining Certificate of Occupancy as well as the simplification and speedy issuance of approvals for businesses amongst others.
Obaseki said that EDOGIS which clocked one year recently would improve the working experience of Edo workers and create opportunities for those seeking to get C of Os within 30 days. He said that his administration target was that Edo would be one of foremost states in Nigeria where interested people could come, buy land and obtain relevant documents within a month. The governor also assured that EDOGIS would attract investors, if they discovered that the record time of acquiring land was easier and corruption-free. He called on all workers in the state to imbibe the culture of maintaining the facilities and ensure that all appliances were shut down at the close of work. Chairman of EDOGIS, Mr Frank Evbuomwan, who led the governor to inspect the level of work done at the facility, commended Obaseki-led administration for the initiative.
In his contributions at the global summit in Singapore, Obaseki made a case for smarter cities that would rely on information and communication technology (ICT) for the efficient management of cities’ assets and resources. The governor’s smart city proposition, according to experts“ is an urban center that uses different types of electronic data collection sensors to supply information which is used to manage assets and resources efficiently. This includes data collected from citizens, devices, and assets that is processed and analysed to monitor and manage traffic and transportation systems, power plants, water supply networks, waste management, law enforcement, information systems, schools, libraries, hospitals, and other community services.
“The smart city concept integrates information and communication technology (ICT), and various physical devices connected to the network (the Internet of Things (IoT) to optimise the efficiency of city operations and services and connect to citizens. Smart city technology allows city officials to interact directly with both community and city infrastructure and to monitor what is happening in the city and how the city is evolving.” “The peer-to-peer platform invites mayors and senior leaders from international organisations and the industry to exchange experiences in developing integrated urban solutions, building economic and environmental resilience, engaging with communities and sustaining a high quality of life in urban regions.
Obaseki has showcased the impact of the revamped Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSTMA) in the state, the agency’s civil but firm approach to traffic management after months of training and the positive reception and feedbacks from road-users months after its revamp.
Governor Obaseki has a passion for environmental sustainability. This informed his constituting a committee on Project Clean-Up Edo in December 2016. It was followed by a two-day workshop of all stakeholders in the sector, in March, 2017, which held under the distinguished chairmanship of former Cross River State Governor, Donald Duke. To further actualise the vision of a clean and green Edo, the state government embarked on training of the Edo State Waste Management Board (ESWMB) workforce and waste managers, towards ensuring a clean, safe and work-friendly environment. The blueprint for the task was unveiled in details to the team, during a one-day retreat on “The New Waste Management Reform and implementation Strategy”, put together by Committee on Project Clean Up Edo, in Government House, Benin City
As a result, the three major city centres namely Kings Square, Third Junction and New Benin Market area, have been rid of chaos and debris, the aftermath effect of what used to be a hotbed of activities of traders and commercial motorists. Past administrations have tried to clean up the state in order to quickly curb the menace, to no avail. The new administration says it has the will; and Edo people can attest to the fact that government is delivering on environmental sustainability.
Edo Clean-up Project, led by the Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, has stopped the anarchy in traffic and restored sanity, created parks and eliminated chaos in Benin City. The SSG has said that the Godwin Obaseki-led administration would sustain the clean-up of Edo State to restore sanity and eliminate chaos in Ring Road, New Benin, Uselu, Aduwawa, Oliha, Satana, Dumez, Third Junction, Oka and other major markets.
SSG said the task to clean up the state was germane to this administration’s resolve to ensure Edo State, which was once one of the cleanest in the country is restored. The streets and walkways trading had become a major concern for the state government.
The passage of a law banning Community Development Association (CDA) across the state is another milestone. A committee on Private Property Protection was also constituted by Governor Godwin Obaseki to enforce the CDA law by ensuring that a stop is effectively put to the activities of proscribed CDAs. The level of compliance with the CDA law has been quite impressive, as residents now acquire land and build houses without fear of being harassed or extorted. Also, in line with restoring order, a Community Development Association (CDA) law, which prohibits land grabbing that had become rampant in the state was passed about two months ago.
The law put an end to the activities of hoodlums who form themselves into CDAs and use the platform to intimidate innocent citizens and residents who are often violently chased out of their landed property, only for the land to be resold.
For immediate effectiveness, the CDA law was followed by an enforcement law called the Private Property Protection (PPP) law passed last week and would be enforced by a task force led by a former Inspector General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase.
In less than two years, Governor Obaseki has redefined and provided a standard framework for the administration of urban and regional planning, urban development, urban renewal and building control activities in the state.
_______________________________________________________________________________
Inwalomhe Donald writes from Benin City, [email protected]
