*Gets 5 bulldozers
By Ogochukwu Isioma
The Edo State Executive Council (EXCO), under the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo, has approved a series of impactful initiatives across key sectors including transportation, security, agriculture, and infrastructure aimed at improving the welfare of residents and fostering sustainable development in the state.
Briefing journalists after Friday’s EXCO meeting, in Benin City, the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paul Ohombamu, said the council reached “a lot of decisions and approvals in virtually all sectors including education, infrastructure, transportation, and the well-being of the people relating to justice delivery.”
Ohombamu noted that as part of efforts to enhance the state’s public transportation system, the Council approved the purchase and supply of 50 brand new Toyota Hiace buses (2024 model) to complement the 100 units earlier procured for the New Edo Line transportation company.
He said, “Today, additional 50 buses have been approved. All the necessary procurement processes met in line with the Edo State Public Procurement Law,”
In addition, the council approved the acquisition of 50 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses, 2025 model, for the Edo City Transport Service (ECTS), reinforcing the state’s push toward cleaner energy and efficient urban mobility.
To strengthen security operations, EXCO approved the purchase of 111 motorbikes for use by security agencies. This comes in addition to the over 300 units previously procured by the administration.
In furtherance of its agricultural agenda, EXCO approved the procurement of five bulldozers and one lowbed truck for the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security. This marks a departure from the previous practice of renting equipment.
Ohombamu explained, “Before now, the past administration was hiring, but the governor sees it as a waste of resources,”
On road projects, EXCO also approved the construction and rehabilitation of key roads in the oil and gas producing areas of Edo State, specifically in Orhionmwon, Ovia North-East, and Ikpoba-Okha local government areas, under the purview of the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOPADEC).
The approved road projects include, construction of Eromo Road, Ikpoba-Okha LGA; construction of Presidential Road, Ikpoba-Okha LGA; rehabilitation of Ugo Market Road, Orhionmwon LGA and construction of Odion Umoru Road, Ikpoba-Okha LGA
The commissioner assured, “Don’t forget that all these processes are sequential. Procurement processes were met in line with the Edo State Public Procurement Law of 2020, and the State Tender Board has also done their own,”
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Musa Ikhilo, Esq., also briefed the press, reporting on Governor Okpebholo’s recent trip to Scotland, where he participated in a diaspora investment summit organized by the Edo State Diaspora Agency.
The summit brought together Edo indigenes and global investors, focusing on attracting diaspora capital into the state’s economy.
Ikhilo explained, “The summit was meant for not just Edo people in diaspora but also the business community who came from various parts of the world… They were very interested in keying into the SHINE agenda of His Excellency,”
He noted that the summit led to a significant milestone, “One of the chambers of commerce that attended, the European African Chamber of Commerce and Industry signed an MoU with the Edo State Government to invest a sum of $250 million over the next three to five years.”
Ikhilo emphasized the strategic shift from relying on foreign direct investment to leveraging the potential of the Edo diaspora, pointing to remittance data:
“Last year, diaspora remittances were the second-highest source of foreign income in Nigeria after crude oil, over $20 billion, but only 2% of that went into investment. We are creating a vehicle to help convert more of that into direct investments.”
He added that a delegation from Scotland is expected to visit Edo State in the coming months to explore specific investment projects as a follow-up to the summit.
The Friday Executive Council meeting reaffirmed the Okpebholo administration’s commitment to good governance, infrastructure development, security, justice, and diaspora-led investment.
With multiple strategic approvals, the state government has signaled its readiness to build on recent momentum and deliver results for the people of the state.
