The stage is set, and the plans are underway for the very first time in Edo State, residents State are gearing up for discounted shopping at the government’s food market initiated by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration to mitigate the impact of the nation’s current economic reality on people in the state this yuletide season.
Residents woke up to the cherry news last week that the state government has undertaken to provide trucks that will be sent to farmers in villages and peri-urban areas, to convey farm produce to venue of the Food and Agric Fair, Imaguero College, in Benin City.

The farmers, according to the government’s plan will not pay for the transportation of their produce to the fair, the transportation burden will be borne by the state government. With this and other incentives, government is certain that the costs of food items will reduce significantly at the fair during this period
According to government, the price of a bag of rice will sell from N15,000 and the price of a big cow will sell from N150,000 while tomatoes, tubers of yam, plantain and other foodstuffs will be sold at affordable prices, the governor’s aide added. The organisers of the food fair also said there will be free drinks and free indomie meals for children.

As it were many residents are waiting for the fair to open to shoppers so that they would have good Christmas holidays. It is important to commend governor Obaseki for always seeking ways to make life easier for the common man in the state. The governor from inception has always sought ways to reduce the impact of the struggling national economy on Edo people. The idea of a food and agric fair is brilliant one at this time that Nigerians are experiencing spiraling prices as a result of the yuletide season .

The good thing about the idea too is that it will be a win-win for farmers who have challenges transporting their produce to the market and consumers, who want more value for their money.

However, it is important to implore government to decentralize the Fair Ground. It shouldn’t be located at Imaguero alone. The one at Imaguero can service residents of Sapele Road and GRA axis. There should be another ground in Ugbowo/Oluku axis. Another should be sited at Ikpoba Hill axis while there should be one location around Ekehuan Road/Evbotubu axis for residents in Benin City. Methinks there should be one centre in Ekpoma and another in Auchi for Edo Central and Edo North residents respectively for the planned fair to have maximum impact across the state.
The state government’s plans for residents to have memorable Christmas celebration with the hosting of the first Food and Agric Fair with the intention to slash prices of foodstuff is the first of its kind and only a government with the people at the centre of its development plans can nurse such plans.

Beyond the fact that the fair would show case food produced in the state and also sell same to Edo people at low prices during this Yuletide season, the government is said to set a day aside for farmers and players in the agro- allied industries to meet and exchange ideas on the best practices globally. Based on such plans, the fair obviously would attend to challenges facing small scale farmers and showcase opportunities in the agric industry, including funding capacities of development banks and partners.

It will also be used to market potentials of agricultural value chain that abound in the state in line with the industrialization plans of the state government. Products ranging from rice, vegetable oil, onions and all sorts of farm produce will be sold at promotional prices. Poultry products reportedly would be available as well as a mobile abattoir. Even frozen chicken produced in Edo State, not a contraband will be available for sale.

Most importantly is the fact that there will be subsidy for farmers to transport their farm produce to the venue. Farmers all parts of the state should take advantage of this very important opportunity being offered buy the state government to make some good money for themselves during this period.

Since his assumption of office, the governor has been boosting the ease of doing business in the state through deliberate policies and programmes.

First, shortly after he was sworn-in, the Edo State Government approved 50 per cent waiver for tax defaulters in the state. The Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, in giving his approval said “the moratorium had its terms and conditions. Part of which is that to benefit from the government gesture, all the outstanding tax liabilities up to December 1, 2016 must be paid within 90 days, adding that debts were running into billions of naira.”
This was at a meeting between the state government and other stakeholders such as the Edo State Inland Revenue service (EIRS) and some major tax payers in the state.

Obaseki’s gesture from all indications was meant to encourage investors on the one hand and tax defaulters to join the pool of 10 per cent of those captured in the states’ tax net who pay taxes in the state in addition to tidying up the tax system on the other. The move was a result of the fact that 90 per cent of taxable adults and individuals were not paying their taxes when the government took over power. Citizens were either evading tax or the dragnet was not spread to include them. Quite remarkable was the fact that the governor promised during his governorship campaign that the tax administration in the state would be reviewed to check the perceived abuses and arbitrariness in tax assessment in the state. That promise has been kept.

Secondly, the governor, working in tandem with the revered Benin Monarch, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare 11 announced the abolition of Community Development Association (CDA), a platform used by unemployed but deadly youths to unleash mayhem on developers in the state. They were responsible for chasing out of business men and women who want to invest in the state. Aside the official ban, the government followed with a law proscribing all such organisations and criminalizing the activities of such groups.

It went ahead to set up a committee headed by Retired Inspector-General of Police to manage all cases arising from the activities of the proscribed groups across the length and breadth of the state, particularly, Edo South.
Thirdly, the Governor dealt with the issue of human trafficking which had given the state a bad name in the country and in the comity of nations. Again, the Governor working in collaboration with Oba Ewuare 11 dealt a devasting blow to the social vice of human trafficking. Through a new law passed by the State House of Assembly, the government criminalized all human trafficking offences. The traditional institution also placed deadly curses on all those from the state both at home and in Diaspora involved in human trafficking.

Also, Governor Obaseki embarked on a special trips to China, USA, Europe and a host others with a sole aim of wooing investors to the state. In China, he reportedly held several meetings with potential investors and told them to come and co-invest in the state in the area of building industrial and agricultural parks in line with the vision of his administration in creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths of the state. Edo people need to continually support the governor.

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Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Edo State.