Obaseki promises economic prosperity, improved security as Edo holds festival of nine lessons, carol

Edo State government will continue to pursue reforms and programmes to guarantee security of lives and property of citizens and ensure improved livelihoods and achieve economic prosperity for the state.

The state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, gave the assurance while addressing residents of the state at the 2022 Edo Festival of Nine Lessons and Carol at the State Secretariat, Benin City, according to a statement from the office of the Special Assistant to the Governor on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie.

The governor, who hailed Edo people for their continued support and prayers, noted that his administration is pursuing reforms to place the state on the path of sustainable growth and development.

He said: “We have had to bring law and order in ensuring our people are secured. Nigeria is facing security challenges and we are not exempted but we want to make sure that, as a state, we are always ahead in all we do.”

“As a government, we would continue to prioritise security as, without security, nothing progressive will take place in the state.”

MEANWHILE, Obaseki has said ongoing reforms in the culture, arts and tourism sector will ensure influx of no fewer than one million tourists yearly into the state.

Obaseki, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, said the government is focusing on the state’s tourism and culture assets to improve internally generated revenue in line with the plan of diversifying the economy.

He said: “Our goal is to make sure that in about five years’ time, our transformation in this sector will attract a minimum of one million people to the state yearly to see our culture, forests and environment.”

Obaseki, while reiterating the government’s commitment to environmental sustainability, noted: “Next year, 2023, we need to clean and green Edo State. So, we will be coming to you seeking your cooperation and commitment to achieve this as one of the biggest problems and challenges facing Edo State.”

The governor further noted that Edo State civil and public servants have been amazing, saying: “They have great potential. We are amazed by their output and proud to say that the Edo State Civil Service has achieved greatly as no state, not even the Federal Government, has achieved as much.

“With over 4,000 computers deployed across the civil service, today over 70 per cent of our civil servants prepare their files and papers on our e-government platform and by the time we would be leaving office on November 11, 2024, Edo will not only have stopped using physical files but operate digital services to develop the state.”