I recall the early days of the All Progressives Congress government in Edo State. That was when then Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole embarked on the urban renewal programme which the current administration is building massively upon.
The urban renewal project which cuts across the three senatorial districts with much focus on Benin City, Auchi, Ekpoma, Uromi and Abudu and impressive impact in all the 18 Local Government headquarters of the State show massive modern road networks with all the latest walkways , street lights, and lawns. Massive drainage projects were equally embarked upon to help control flood and erosion menace that was almost going to submerge the cities of Benin and Auchi. The environmental sanitation projects of the Oshiomhole and Obaseki administrations have helped in cleaning the streets of Benin. Which used to be a city of refuse under the PDP.
The Five- Junction in Benin, which used to be flooded and den of robbers is now a beautiful sight to behold. It is now a modern ring road; well asphalted with massive underground drainage, walk ways and street lights. Almost ten roads in the neighbourhood have been reconstructed to add to the beauty of the area. The Isonoro axis of New Benin which hitherto was a refuse dump site both by residents and previous governments is now a modern layout with all the pecks of modern city now re-named Gani Fawehinmi Layout to immortalise Late Chief Gani Fawehinmi.
What about the erstwhile notorious Five-Junction which was a den of armed bandits. It was prone to heavy flooding whenever it rained and a hide-out for kidnappers and other criminally minded elements. Today, that same five Junction is a beautiful sight to behold, Oshiomhole transformed it into a modern ring road, with street lights, beautiful walk ways with flowers and effective drainage system. Whenever it rains now, you can drive through five junctions as if you are driving through any of the streets in developed country.
The Obaseki administration has given greater facelift to major roads in Benin City, Auchi, Ekpoma, Igarra and other towns across the three senatorial districts of the state. The GRA in Benin and all the roads around the Oba palace are wearing new looks In less than two years of his administrsation. Governor Obaseki has constructed several roads across the three senatorial districts of the state. One has actually lost count of the number of roads reconstructed and rehabilitated by the Obaseki administration.
Interestingly, the administration is already looking beyond mere infrastructural development of the state, and also embarking on greenery of the state capital. This entails planting of trees, shrubs and grasses. It also entails planting of ornamental plants that would add to the beauty of the city and make it an excellent tourist attraction, particularly, people who love nature and beautiful environment.
It was therefore heartwarming when the Edo State Government recently disclosed plans to partner landlords in the state capital, Benin City to take this forward.The Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Mrs Omoua Alonge Oni-Okpaku, recently told Edo people that the project will be driven through a social and behavioural change template that will encourage the landlords to plant and maintain trees in front of their houses.
In my view this is a clarion call for all lovers of good things, environmentalists, media and civil society organizations to come out and join hands with the State Government to develop the city. If you travel to Dubai, Nairobi, Washington DC, Pretoria, London, all these cities were built by their citizens.
The government has called on everyone to join hands to beautify the state. We must heed the call of the state government that has very good intentions for the state. In the words of Oni -Okpaku, “There is a big drive at enhancing the beauty of our state. We are looking at parks and gardens. We are also looking at building what the old Edo was in a modern form.Governor Godwin Obaseki’s drive is to create a beautiful Edo, a state where people can come in contact with tradition and with a feel of it, in the 21st century. We are looking at building up our parks, ring road, and intend to get our landscaping right. In the greenery project, we will commence an awareness campaign to appeal to people to plant flowers in front of their houses.”
Let all landlords cultivate the habit of planting trees, shrubs and green grasses in their compounds as opposed to the current use of interlocking tiles or granite to floor their entire compounds. We must also help to clear the drainage systems to end avoidable flooding problems. We must also end indiscriminate dumping of refuse, particularly cellophane and plastics that have been used by residents to block most of the drains in the city.
The government on its part should ensure the enforcement of environmental laws which compels corporate organisations to respect the environment where they operate such as insistence on the law on Environmental impact assessment before projects are sited. All telecoms masts built in residential and business places must be pulled down to preserve the life of residents of the community because of the hazardous environmental impacts of such masts.
The state government should provide support for citizens who demonstrate commitment to embark on greenery projects in the state. Support in the area of access to land for parks and otherinitiatives that complements effort of the government would go a long way in achieving success of the plan.
Government must embark on massive sensitization activities for citizens as a way of preventing indiscriminate waste disposal, environmental degradation and pollution. Government can then follow with sanctions on those who refuse to be reasonable with the environment and even use such sanction regime to generate revenue for government to meets its other numerousobligations to the people. A sustainability plan need to be put in place to ensure that all projects embarked upon by government outlives the present administration in the state.
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• Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Edo State.
