Decentralize power sector or states won’t be viable – Uwaibi tells FG

The Chief Executive Officer of Edo State Investment Promotion Office, Kelvin Uwaibi, speaks with Andy Asemota on Ease of Doing Business reforms in the state, priority of power sector, reasons to invest in Edo, competitive sectors, doing business in Nigeria and the state government’s Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) agenda among other crucial critical issues.
Excerpts:
What is your assessment of the past five years of Governor Godwin Obaseki administration in Edo State?
When you look at this particular administration, as you know, last term, we had six pillars that we were looking at and one of them that was very key had to do with the economy revolution and in trying to create economic revolution you also have to look at reforms of service and His Excellency has made well by ensuring he created the building blocks by reorganizing certain agencies.
First and foremost, we have globalized the agency that is responsible for land,called Edo State Geographical Information System. That agency was globalized to ensure that by the time you want to get your Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) we would be able to digitalize that process. As you are aware, there were a lot of issues when people wanted to get Certificate of Occupancy at that time and a lot of that has been digitized and they have been taking out from manual to digital information and we had a lot of accolades in terms of that because we are among the states right now that have their land administration digitalized.
That is one major feat that this administration has achieved and in doing that also we immediately at a point came up with lad law which prohibited at that time what was called CDAs. They called themselves Community Development Associations but it was observed that a lot of investors were not coming to Eco State because they were worried about the ways they were being treated in communities. As you know, that law has just been reviewed and reenacted as land law 2021 and that is also giving more enforcement into ensuring that we don’t have peoples land being forcefully taken away from them. That is a big feat that has happened in the state.
Also, you would have observed that when His Excellency came in, one of the things he saw and wondered about was working conditions of civil servants. So, he embarked on the total revamping of the civil service working space. That brought about Bloc, Block D and they are working Block B and again, they are looking at what we call Palm House. Similarly, he (the governor) looked at the justice system towards creating a good environment for it. That also brought about the construction and renovation of court houses we have in the state.
Looking at the ease of doing business in the state, His Excellency has also taking a different approach when it comes to access roads. With Seefor Programme, he was able to look at different road networks as they affect the citizens and he is doing a lot in terms of construction of roads and I can assure you that in the next 30 days or there about when we get into the dry season, at least we are going to achieve about 80% of the roads earmarked for tarring among others.
The administration has also looked at governance structure; how well does it deliver to the people? So, in doing that, His Excellency has been undertaking what is termed civil service reform that actually started in the first term and I can see now that we are getting a lot of traction. One of the things that he reviewed is the allowances of civil servants which have already been approved by His Excellency and one of the allowances is digital allowance.
Then, in terms of electricity, we worked with Ossiomo Power Plant, which today provides about 55MW of power and it entered into power purchase agreement with NDPHC that is now being served to homes and offices. You can see that my office is part of it and it has 24 hour power supply that has also increased the efficiency of staff because they can work well knowing that they have power to do that.
Can give an insight into some investments so far facilitated under the watch of His Excellency?
Interestingly, when you look at investments in the state today, His Excellency, I always say, is the Chief Investment Officer of the state. Looking at the investments that have come into the state, I am sure you are aware that he is the one that facilitated the Azura Power Plant which is about 900 million dollars power project that came into the state as at that time. It is more like an IPP and that has been done.
You can talk about Dangote Cement factory; that is about one billion dollars investment that has come into the state and it will be activated very soon. Recently, we had a total of seven investors in the oil palm subsector contributing a total of about 700 million naira to the oil palm industry in that regard. Then you have hospitality businesses in different areas of Edo State. And you know that it during his time that we have Market Square which happens to be whole sale market or super store as we call it. Then, Jara is also here.
We have also had a lot coming from the Diaspora to complete their projects. As you know, Edo State is also big on trade and services. Two years ago, when I was in Boston, we were able to convince two of our Diasporas to come and complete their 140 and 70 room’s respective hotels in Edo State.
So, when you look at investments per se, government’s business is to enable the environment and for the projects we have invested in, we will also de-invest from the projects; what we have there is more like we are ensuring that those projects can take off. One of such project is the Edo Refinery, which is about 95% completed and you would have observed that the government placed some equity into the refinery but in doing that the government also wants to de-invest at some point when the refinery finally takes off.
There are investments in other areas. I am sure that you know we have an airport in Edo, which before now had no night flight facility but the state government and FAAN invested to make sure that we can have in flight into Edo State at night. It costs us so much but the main reason we embarked on it is that transportation is key to investments. If investors know that they can come into and out of your state very quickly, then be rest assured that they will be ready to come and invest.
How has some of these investments fared?
The investments coming into the state are all faring well. If you observed, I didn’t mention our long term investments. For us in the investment office, it is when an investment is located and sited that we say that it is an investment. Investments generally take time because it require feasibility studies, Environmental Impact Assessments and all of that but you know, I am sorry to say, that our people are sometimes difficult because they are always in a rush; we like to be visual conscious but in normal climes there is planning period but because government is always short term, when a governor comes in he has just four years but usually there should be a level of continuity of projects that have been done very well.
As you are aware, the state secretariat buildings were initiated during then Col. Ogbemudia military regime but were left after his tenure. The uncompleted buildings were government asset being wasted. So, the whole idea of starting new projects all the time should be discouraged. Nigeria is not that bouyant to be doing that and I think it should be something that we as citizens should be concerned about. Around the world, you don’t just construct or abandon a building but we put pressure on our government to do such things because we always want to assess them with new projects but it doesn’t often works because the money that was spent by the previous government on projects is citizens money.
So, for us really, we are having as an ongoing project, the River Port for instance. It takes a process; it is going according to its life process. So, also is the Industrial Park project. Those are the two major lifelong projects that if we can get really right, I am saying right now that let’s hope that we can achieve 80 to 90 percent before the end of this administration but the next administration, you can quote me, should take it over in a very aggressive manner because those two major projects, if Edo gets them right, they will change the economy of the state totally.
Do you believe that the MEGA agenda will make a sizeable impact in the remaining three years of the present administration?
Definitely, it will. You see, we need to internalize it. So, what does Making Edo Great Again means to you as an Edo person? If you look at our flights today, you will see a lot of people coming to Edo State. Our Diasporas, I am in touch with them all the time, they want to know where and when they can come and invest in this place; they know what they are doing.
So, we, in the state, what is our vision? Are we still doing the small the small things? Do we still want to be witch hunting? I am saying this very clearly: Do we still want to say that we are not ripe yet as a state for development or do we see the next person as our problem or we are thinking about how to actually develop our state?
In my opinion, we need to first come together as Edo people and understand that we traded with the Portuguese as far back as 500 years ago. So, we had already started making strides in our state and we had already started having lamps as street lights in the state as far back as that era. So, it shows that Making Edo Great Again can be done.
Dubai, is a city, it’s not a country and with our analysis in the investment office, we are seeing that Edo has that capacity, it has that potential to always be what Dubai is right now but the people need change of mind sets because if you look at every Edo person that travels, he excels. You know why? The environment. I have been privileged to live in the Diaspora. So, I can tell you that the Edo people both young and old, with the formal or informal sector, are some of the people that are very welcoming and hospitable. So, what is creating that gap? We need to ask ourselves.
There are concerns that Governor Godwin Obaseki of the state is pursuing reforms in virtually all sectors of the economy and governance simultaneously hence some delays in the implementation of some projects. What is your response to this?
What I always tell our people is we are too relying on bricks and mortar. Our greatest asset is our people. If you must today envision to make Edo great again, you must take education paramount and this is not the first time. Singapore did it, Malaysia did it and China. I have been privileged to be in China, over there, secondary school students are taught during holidays how to work even in paramilitary. I don’t want to say certain things but it’s only here that you find a 40 year old person still calls himself a youth. At 40, you are an adult, let our young people steer their affairs, guide them and mentor them.
So, when you see His Excellency placing emphasis on capacity building, on young people, why he wants to see is not bricks and mortar but many people want to see schools today but what what about the teachers in the schools? What about the curriculum? We want to use the same curriculum of the 60 when we are in technological age? We are not the only people on existing on earth; we are almost seven billion now on earth. What is the population of Edo State? The world will not wait for us. I keep saying it all the time and I will say it again: if everyone is happy with what His Excellency is doing all the time, you should know there is a problem; I can tell you that as a fact.
You have to be able to destroy certain things so that things can go well. So, education is key, we need to be able to look at the next generation of students coming from Edo State. Already, in terms of ranking, in education, Edo is doing well but that is not where we want to be. We want to ensure that every child goes to school and just school but have quality education.
Governance is a continua, let’s create the foundation, we have foundational deficit. In the civil service, we had it but that is been taking care of right now. In our educational system, we have it, we are also having broken economy, that is the reality; you cannot have one size fits all. We have to work together. I know some people may not like this but that is the reality. If we truly love Nigeria, we all need to do our own bit and stop been sentimental about some of these issues.
This year’s Alaghodaro Summit raises hope for industrial sector as Edo Refinery, Ossiomo Power Project and others are on spotlight. What are your expectations?
My expectations: Ossiomo is already delivery but I will say that we need more strengthening in terms of regulators. I will quickly say this, a few years ago, before we started getting it right with the telecommunications, people bought what they called Nitel phones for N500,000 each about 10 to 15 years ago. Today, sim cards are being given to people for free. The telecommunication has increased our economy and boost Nigerian economy. It is the same thing that we need to do for power. We need to decentralize power so that every state can become economically viable. I discuss with businessmen all the time, one major challenge that they have is power.
So, why do want a few to determine what will happen in the power industry? In the past that was fine but today we need to thnk of the overall Nigerian economy and I can tell you those that may have been stopping some of these things are not aware of the updated information because they would have known that they would get more revenue if they decentralize power. We don’t have a lot of funds anymore; COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that we can do things differently and we all canbe winners.
What are the opportunities in Edo State for investors who wish to grow their wealth or build successful businesses?
In Edo State right now, as you know, we are a logistics hub. So, I will say it very quickly, haulage business thrives in Edo. You know, many major transporters from this side of the country in Edo State and we are also looking at export. We need to take advantage of Africa Continental TradeFree Area. So, things like our agricultural produce need to be processed. In the area of manufacturing, processing of goods – finished goods – there is huge opportunity in Edo State.
So, anyone that wants to start processing, for example, we don’t want to be selling raw cassava or just processing into garri, you should be able to process it into cake flour and a lot of things. The same goes for other agricultural produce. For us, manufacturing is key and we are trying to support that a lot for those that want to come into manufacturing. Also, in Edo State, we have electricity now to an extent, that aids those that want to come into manufacturing.
Another sector is car assembly. We are the second largest in terms of car importation into the country; Edo State , after Lagos. So, those that want to assemble cars, if they come to Edo, I can tell that they are going to do well. Yes, we are a transit state, it also encourages a lot of trade and services. So, provision of services is key for those that want to go into service industry. We do not have enough hotels. In all the hotels in the state, we don’t have up to 10,000 rooms and I can tell you that every weekend we have more than 10, 000 visitors in Edo State because Edo is seen as an entertainment hub, it is a place where we are very creative.
Tourism is another huge untapped area in Edo State. Tourism and our creative industry is highly untapped. So, we also have opportunities in those areas where people can come in and actually do business.
What have been the accomplishments or impact of ESIPO since you assumed its leadership?
When I get this question, Iam humbled in my response. Whatever achievements we have recorded in ESIPO cannot be attributed to myself alone. Like I usually say, investment is like security, the way we made it in Edo State is that it is everyone’s business. Even you, Andy speaking with me, once you come, I start asking: do you have a brother that can come to invest in Edo State? That has been our approach and model. I really don’t want to say only the investment office can canvass for investors. I can tell you that most of the investments are as a result of our working together and making success.
We are very focused on our mandate which is investment facilitation,which is seamless for investors that want to come into the state and ensure that there is SMEs readiness. Now, our major focus is on export, ensuring that those that produced in Edo can sell to neighbouring countries. In terms of investments you see around, in humility, we collaborate; it’s not ESIPO that is doing everything.
What area has agriculture or farming gained prominence under investment promotion?
Sincerely, when you look at the agricultural space, we came out yesterday with rubber policy that is to guide how we an re-invent rubber industry. We work closely with the ministry of agriculture, in fact, most of the things we do, we have strong relationship with the ministry of agriculture not just because of investors but because of food security in the state. So, we don’t only work with foreign investors, we work with domestic investors, we are also working with our businesses locally to see how we can upscale them. We are also working with our sister agencies to ensure that happens. So, for us really,agriculture is key but with the recent looking at the different indices available, they have shown that we are also big on trade and services in Edo State. For us, agriculture is key and we will continue to work with the ministry of agriculture to see that our people can be upscaled that is why I talked about processing just now. And one of the things worth mentioning is mining. It is very great in Edo State.
Last Line
From me, really, I want to enjoin all Edo people that it is our duty to continue to ensure that we can build our state ourselves, grow its economy and live in peace by making sure we are part of our security level to safeguard our people and at the same time, think about our future and our young people, be there for them and as much as possible work towards making Edo State Great Again.