Edo arrests alleged extortionist, restores hectares of land for green economy

Officials of the Edo State Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV) have arrested an alleged illegal revenue collector extorting motorists along Oba Market Road in Benin City.

Permanent Secretary, Edo State Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, Lucky Wasa (left); representative of Governor Godwin Obaseki/Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa; Chairman, Bamboo Farmers Association, John Ajie Ogwu; Chief James Edebiyi and Special Adviser to the Governor on Strategies, Policies, Projects and Performance Management, Sarah Ajose-Adeogun Esaigbedo, during the Wood Expo Nigeria 2021 in Abuja.<br />

He said: “We received a distress call from a concerned Edo citizen, which led to the discovery and arrest of one Oghomen Osagie, an illegal revenue collector, who specialised in extorting motorists.”

Yusuf-Osagie urged the public to report any suspicious individual or group.

On street trading, he stated: “As part of measure to curtail unnecessary gridlock usually caused by traders displaying wares on the road and walkways, our officials were at Egor Market and environs to sensitise traders and motorists to desist from all unlawful acts of street trading and reckless parking.”

He added, “Motorists and other road users can now get free access to their destination via Egor Market without any form of harassment from street traders.”

IN another development, Governor Godwin Obaseki said his administration has restored 218 hectares of forestland to boost the state’s green economy.

Addressing participants at the Wood Expo 2021 in Abuja, the governor said part of the state’s strategy on reforestation included replanting of the degraded forest compartments of 256 hectares each in four zones across the state.

“Edo State is positioned to engage the wood value-chain resources with 49 forest reserves, summing up to a total of 574,944 hectares, which is about 29.8 per cent of the state’s total land area,” he added.

Represented by the Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa, the governor observed: “Edo is blessed with established wood industry clusters at Ikpoba Slope, Upper Mission Road, Wire Road and Uselu, among others. This shows our readiness for investments in this sector. 

“We urge manufacturers, investors and other interest groups to come to Edo State and tap from the numerous investment opportunities that abound. Our geographical location is also a major advantage to attract investments to the state for easier logistics and dissemination of goods and services.”