… hails Gov. Obaseki for unveiling 30-Years Regional Master Plan
The Chairman of Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. (Princess) Benedicta Attoh, has described the Edo State Regional Master Plan, which was launched Tuesday at the local government council headquarters in Agenebode, as a time-consuming consultation process with various stakeholders that Governor Godwin Obaseki embarked on across the three senatorial districts.
The Chairman, who unveiled the plan at the Council in Agenebode Wednesday, dismissed the opposition’s accusations, stating that the Edo Regional Master Plan has no political undertones, stressing that the primary beneficiaries of the Master Plan are those who are yet to be born, those in Secondary School and youths who are the trustees of the future.
Hon. Attoh described the Regional and Benin City Master Plan as a living document, stating that with the current plan, Edo State is on the right track for progress and development. She expressed confidence that the development that will accompany the launch of the master plan will begin with Etsako East as a virgin land.
While unveiling the Plan on behalf of the Executive Governor of Edo State, the Council Chairman who further described the two plans on her hands as comprehensive living documents, explained that the copies other dignitaries were holding were an abridged version of the regional master plan and the Benin City Master Plan, respectively.
Earlier in his remarks, Mr Braimoh Felix, the representative and resource person from the Ministry of Physical Panning, stated that the Master Plan addresses various sectors of the state’s economy, including transportation, electricity, tourism, agriculture, and commercial hub areas. With the master plan, investors across the state will have a better idea of where to place their investments, he said.
While thanking the Chairman for her developmental projects throughout the council, the Ogieaga of the three Ibies, Alhaji Ali Suleiman, who spoke on behalf of the traditional rulers present, described Mr. Godwin Obaseki as a Governor that came at the right time and has demonstrated capacity in rewriting the history of Edo State. The monarch also commended Hon. Attoh for her inclusive governance as a Chairman who is committed to ensuring that we have a working system, according to a press statement by Benjamin Atu, Chief Press Secretary, Etsako East Local Government Council.
Meanwhile, Hon. Attoh has praised Governor Godwin Obaseki for unveiling the Edo State Regional Master Plan, a comprehensive 30-year development strategy designed to transform the state into a world-class destination, stating that effective implementation of the development initiative will unlock the state’s full potential.
She described the programme commemorating the State’s 33rd anniversary as a positive step towards accelerating the much-needed MEGA City plan, which includes physical infrastructure, the economy, the environment, education, and healthcare, among others.
Hon. Attoh, who was speaking at the ongoing weeklong stakeholders’ engagement at the Etsako East Local Government Council Secretariat, emphasised the importance of effective public enlightenment by community leaders and various non-governmental organisations (NGOs) present to educate others on the dangers of building on waterways.
“The consequences of building without due process are costly, as such structures will undoubtedly be demolished in future for the government to carry out developmental plans.”
She described the engagement as an important event because it will assist individuals and community leaders in making the right decisions for the overall interest of the people.
The Chairman maintained that majority of the infrastructural and developmental challenges that have hampered progress at various levels across the country are the result of poor planning, which is also the cause of uncontrollable gully erosion, saying that the decisions that individuals make about their building today can cause disaster in other areas in the future.
She assured that the ongoing Regional Master Plan programme will contribute to the creation of a peaceful and welcoming environment for investors to invest in Etsako East Local Government and across the state.
Earlier, in their separate presentation, the delegation from the state, led by the team leader Mr. Braimoh Felix Ahmed as resource person, used electronic viewing devices to display the various developmental plans of the State Government on the screen for easy understanding by the various participants.
Those present during the weeklong stakeholders engagement includes Traditional rulers, Farmers, Business owners, Security agencies, Public Servants, Opinion leaders, political and religious leaders among others.
The highlight of the well-attended Etsako East Local Government Stakeholders engagement program was the question and answer sessions, contributions, and deliberation by stakeholders.
