Benin City, the Edo State capital stood still as who is who in Nigeria’s politics, business, civil Society,  traditional rulers, entertainment  and of course,  members of the diplomatic community converged on the ancient city for the well publicised  Alaghodaro Investment summit which is was packaged to open up Edo State to various business opportunities.

Leading the crème de la crème of  guests that thronged the city weekend is President Muhammadu Buhari  who told the investment summit that the Federal Government would pursue more business reforms to accelerate progress recorded in its recent Ease of Doing Business ranking, to properly position Nigeria in her march to become a post-oil economy.

Represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah, the President was forthright in admitting that government alone cannot bring about the much-needed development the country, as partnering with the private sector is also key in driving economic growth and progress. Good enough, among captains of industry that were in Edo is the richest man in Africa and President of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, and many other investors who have started investments in the state.

So many preparations had gone in for the summit which promises many bountiful harvest throughout the lifespan of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration and beyond. First,  was the cherry news from the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu who on Thursday in Benin City said the Federal Government is already processing applications received for the establishment of seven modular refineries in the state and that  three of the applications have reached the approval stage.

It was at  the Stakeholders’ Engagement and Enlightenment Campaign in Niger Delta states, organised by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources in collaboration with the Edo State Government, as part of a series of activities heralding the Alaghodaro Investment Summit.

The reasons for the oil summit  for all Edo as part  of the alaghodaro  summit are legend. Oil is located in 33 communities in three local government areas in the state, which include, Ovia North East, Orionmwon and Ikpoba Okha. The governor, as part of his transformational agenda for the state, wants to organise the oil-producing LGAs into clusters and work with federal government to help with the physical planning and gap analysis to evaluate progress of development in the councils.

At the event, Kachikwu was clear in his message that the Federal Government was working to bring development to the Niger Delta region through the Modular Refineries Initiative, Gas Flare Commercialisation programme and collaboration with oil-producing states, on the Amnesty programme, an initiatives that the Obaseki regime has cashed in to develop the state beyond what he inherited from previous administrations.

One point also needs be clarified. It is not the federal government that will establish the modular refineries in Edo. The establishment of modular refineries is driven by the private sector.  The  designs, analysis and engineering work for three of the refineries have been done by the investors who have been flooding Edo since Governor Godwin Obaseki took over the reins of government..

The next key person that was at the event is the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, who told the audience that the Federal Government was reviewing the Amnesty programme to capture those who were not included earlier in the scheme. So all indigenes of Edo who were not captured would now be captured under the review. This will definetely benefit a couple of Edo youths from Ovia West and Ovia North East axis who were involved in the Niger Delta struggle before the proclamation of amnesty by Late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua.

Edo State Governor did not waste time in taking a swipe at  the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) for failing to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the state on the reconstruction of the Benin-Abraka Express Road. This scenario makes  a yearly stakeholders’ meeting to review development by the federal government in the state, an imperative.  An important outcome of this meeting for Edo people is the announcement by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu the composition of a committee to identify development needs within the state, comprising representatives of the Federal Government, State Government, NDDC and security agencies, which will be headed by the Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq.

What President Buhari said at the weekend Alaghodaro gathering is important for all Edo people to take home and that is the obvious fact that ” Governor Godwin Obaseki  is bringing his energy, network and intellect to bear.”

The Governor has  done a lot in the last twelve months when he took over from Comrade Adams Oshiomhole. The State has recorded some  modicum of institutional reforms, as the key to development by the repositioning of public  institutions for optimal results. The fortress of reform anywhere in the world is in the civil service and the bureaucracy in government. Obaseki’s regime has  embarked on processes that are making the civil service more efficient and productive to ensure smooth service delivery.

From the steps he has taken thus far, it is clear that he is  determined to rebuild the civil service and improve on the capacity of the entire government workforce. As a prelude to achieving this target, a  fully computerized staff training school has been built at the Government House. This is why, part of the fallout of the alaghodaro summit signing of  a memorandum of understanding between the United Nations training institute and the Edo State Government. The administration has equally made some giant strides in institutional reforms through the use of technology to boost  revenue collection. It only through this way that government revenues can  be collected and accounted for.

Also, his administration has improved the road networks in the state. Within one year, the new APC administration has resurfaced, reconstructed and is still constructing over 500km of roads across the state. So many roads within Benin City metropolis have  either been maintained, resurface or  reconstructed. Brand new road projects as advised in one of my articles when setting agenda for Obaseki to take traffic away from the city centre such as the Iriri-Aruogba through to Sapele road is being constructed and Setraco has been mobilised to site and work is in progress

Over  12, 000 jobs have been created. Edo now has a well trained and humane Edo State Traffic Management Agency. Citizens are happy with the clearance of King Square, New Benin, Santana Market, Third East Circular by Sakponba Road and even Country Home Motel Road Junction by Sapele Road which had constituted hell for many road users in the state. In the same vein, the administration has  commenced the reconstruction of various  technical colleges, so that they can train qualified artisans who can be self-employed and provide services to others.

Much more important is the move to get the Gelege port open up the state to marine-related business by the Obaseki administration. All traditional rulers, politicians irrespective of political divide needs to join hands with Obaseki to make this dream come true. The Governor has not hidden his desire of making Edo an Industrial hub. The ground breaking ceremony of our multipurpose Benin Industrial Park at Ikpoba-Okha local government area of the state  was performed as part of events for the summit. These are no mean feats of achievements within one year.

While Edo people savour the success of the Alaghodaro summit, one cannot but advise the governor and his team to ensure the strict  implementation of  the outcome of the summit and focus on creating the right environment for people of the state and their friends both within and outside the country  to do business as there lies the strength of the state and not its abundant natural resources.

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