BENIN CITY – It has been reemphasized that the Edo State Government, under the leadership of Godwin Obaseki will sustain its keen interest in ensuring that government projects and its vision in the State are realized before the completion of his administration.
This assertion was made by the Managing Director of Edo Development Property Agency (EDPA), Mr. John Zedomi during a Strategic Sensitization and Advanced Planning meeting with Contractors in the EMOTAN Gardens Estate Phase Two in Benin City.
According to Mr. Zedomi, “we are about to commence the EMOTAN Gardens Phase Two and our Principal, His Excellency, Governor Godwin Obaseki is keenly interested in ensuring that EMOTAN Gardens Estate is completed before he leaves office in November 2024.
“The Governor is a man of very high standard. He believes in due diligence and competent capacity to deliver. He likes the compliment of proficient human and technical capacity for standard products as well as keeping to scheduled period.”
Mr. Zedomi therefore urged the contractors, whom he termed “partners” to leverage on it.
According to him, “EMOTAN Gardens is an Estate that is supposed to have about 1,400 Housing units and if you look at what has been done, and look at what time the Governor has left to achieve that dream, it is a very short time.
“In nutshell, we have a race against time here. When we successfully complete these 140 Housing Units in the next few months, we will be moving on to 400 Units.  So this project has to be delivered as at when we envisaged it would be delivered by Gods Grace. To this end, we are going to do more just to ensure the Estate is harmonious and the developments that will come out is in alignment with what the vision of EMOTAN originally was.
Continuing, Mr. Zedomi said: “We will want all to understand that this project is being driven by the State Government. The project is a development by EDPA on behalf of Edo State Government. It is a project we intend to deliver at price-point that is most affordable in the market in the face of the high cost of building materials and everything that we see in our environment today.
“Some of the contractors seated here today on this table have expressed their capacity during the 68 Units we have built and delivered. EMOTAN is just one and there are other locations”, Mr. Zedomi added.
“We believe that if you could be this faithful in little, then much more can be given to you. You have justified your keep, based on your delivery of the project. It means that you should just continue to be ongoing partners because, we expect the best from you and we will do our best to ensure that whatever we agree is what we will also do in return.
 The Management of EDPA here keeps its words. If we say move to site and you deliver, especially in the next six months to two years, by Gods Grace we will keep our word and promise, Mr. Zedomi concluded.
Also speaking at the Strategic meeting, the Executive Director, Arc. Bose Idegbesor explained that the project is expected to commence in October, 2022 and emphasized the need for Contractors to be Registered  as required by extant rules.
She stated further that the State Government wants Construction activities to continue to stimulate the economy of the State just as she assured the Contractors the availability of necessary Technical Advise in the area of  Site  layout, Mapping of Plots,  Substructure, Superstructure  Including M & E Works and provision of all technical documents such as Bill of Quantities and Architectural & M & E Working drawings.
She advised the Contractors to professionally seek consultations where necessary to avoid wastage that would hamper aesthetic beauty and seamless quality of Finishing.
Commenting on behalf of the Contractors, Engr. Isaiah M. Jacob; Patrick Achebo and Sato Albert Ogbeide variously expressed their readiness to be part of the success of the project.
They enquired about the Security of the site, Host Community Relations with EDPA, as well as the source and availability of necessary materials for the EMOTAN Gardens Estate Phase Two in Benin City.
Present at the meeting was the EDPA Quantity Surveyor, Mr. Patrick Zegar, several other Contractors and their representatives.