As part of activities to mark the 2022 World Habitat Day which is celebrated  on the first Monday in October every year, Edo State Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development embarked on a Road Show to communicate and intimate Edo people on the blue print of Governor Godwin Obaseki led-administration’s “Edo Master Plan”.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development, Mrs Isoken Omo during the road show in Benin City, the State capital sensitized the public on the purpose of the road show and the activities of the Ministry.

Mrs.  Isoken disclosed that; “we are here today to bring awareness of the World Habitat Day which is normally celebrated on the first Monday of October every year.   We are to look in to our environment, remove dirt, make it clean and habitable to us.

“The Edo master plan is to build our Edo dream through the Edo regional development plan and the Benin City master plan to enable our street to be  orderly, organized and to compete with developed cities in the world.  We are here  to intimate Edo people to look at their environment.

“ If you want to buy land go to Edo GIS to confirm the genuineness of the land ,get a building approval before laying foundation because it is the approval that will guarantee if you are building in the right place.  Edo State Government will not condone buildings erected on the right of ways, moat and under high voltage power transmission.”

She frowned on those who gather wastes and throw them into the drainage when it is raining,  which according to her has resulted to excessive flooding in the State.

She Said that the Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) agenda of Mr. Governor is to make the state  regain its former glory that Benin City is a planned city.

The intention is to provide lasting solution to environmental crisis ravaging some communities across the eighteen Local Government Areas in the State due to inadequate planning and reckless building in unauthorized places.

The United Nations designated the first Monday of October of every year as World Habitat day to reflect on the state of our habitats, and on the basic right of all to adequate shelter. The day is also intended to remind the world that we all have the power and responsibility to shape the future of our cities and environment.

The World Habitat Day 2022 with theme, “MIND THE GAP: LEAVE NO ONE AND PLACE BEHIND” aims towards provision of quality shelter, highlighting the plight of the homeless leadership in post conflict reconstruction, developing and improving the human settlement and the quality of rural/urban life.

During the road show, flyers were distributed to the people to sensitize the public requirements for development permit and building approval in the State.

The road show rally was attended by staff of the Ministry of Physical planning, housing, Urban and physical development, civil/public servant various Ministry, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), member of different security outfit, the press and others.