The Edo State Government, through the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC), has continued to implement policies and programmes aimed at driving productivity and sustainable development for citizens of oil producing areas of the state. This is in line with EDSOGPADEC’s mandate as an interventionist agency in oil and gas producing areas of the state.
EDSOGPADEC, whose mandate is to intervene in core areas of infrastructural and human capital development in oil and gas producing local government areas of the state, has continued to live up to this mandate. The Commission has carried out numerous projects in Ikpoba Okha, Ovia North East and Orhionwon Local Government Areas, especially in the areas of infrastructure and human capacity development, in a bid to ensure increased productivity and economic prosperity of the citizens of these areas.
For instance, there is the Aguakpa Ghe’ Ighama organised by the Commission which is aimed at equipping and empowering youths and women in oil producing areas with vocational skills like welding and fabrication, plumbing, catering and decoration, amongst others, as the case may be. This way, the Commission provides the participants with a sustainable means of livelihood and empowers them to better their lives. Over 164 (one hundred and sixty-four) persons have benefitted from this empowerment programme.
Also, various infrastructural projects are being carried out by EDSOGPADEC, ranging from building of schools to construction of roads, health centres, magistrate courts, markets, town halls, etc.
Worthy of mention are the newly-built and furnished police stations across Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area to replace the ones that were burnt down by suspected hoodlums during the 2020 EndSARS protest. The police stations include Dumez, Ugbekun, St Saviour, Idogbo Police Stations, and the Ugo-Nerie Model Police Station, all of which were built and furnished by EDOSGPADEC geared towards securing lives and property of the people.
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*Agweda is the Media Officer, EDSOGPADEC.
