BENIN CITY- The cleaning of Benin Moat by Edo State Committee on Environment has commenced in Benin City.
The moat, which is a legacy of the entire Edo people, is being cleaned by Edo State Committee on Environment, to enhance its international status.
Going back to history, Chairman of the Committee on Environment, Comrade Mukhtar Yusuf-Osagie, the moat was dug by Oba Oguola around Benin City, in order to prevent enemies from entering the city.
If the cleaning project is successfully completed, it will turn the site to a tourist sector, where tourist can always visit.
Comrade Mukhtar Yusuf-Osagie appealed to stake holders to assist in the development of Benin Moat project, stressing that fully revamped it will be a tourism centre: which will provide job opportunities for Youths and enhance the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
According to the Chairman, the Committee is proposing to bring in Technical expert to join in ensuring that international standards are adhere to in executing the project of the moat.
A statement by the director of media and publicity, Comrade Matthew Idemudia, areas of the moat where the Committee is presently working in include, Benin Plaza moat, Sapele Road by Hallmark, State Security/Police Headquarters moat.
In another development the committee said it has come to its notice that some members of the public had formed the habit of making the Benin Moat  their refuses dumping site.
The Committee on Environment warned that modalities had been put in place to arrest and prosecute anyone caught dumping refuse in the Benin Moat.
The committee reiterated that Benin Moat was not a refuse dumping site, but an heritage of Government, which will soon be developed into a tourist centre.