“Despite the provocation and hostility from quarters who should be interested and support the progress of our dear state, I solemnly pledge to uphold the people’s trust and continue to stand for our collective interest. As mortals, we will come, play our part and leave, but Edo will remain. My goal at the expiration of my tenure is that Edo State would have been propelled to the league of the best and most efficient sub-national entities not just in Nigeria, but in Africa.
“I want to specially thank Edo people for the confidence and encouragement, which you continue to show us as a government, in the face of the political challenges promoted by a few individuals who are intent on derailing the developmental strides we have fought to build in the last three years because they no longer benefit from the new order, which now requires more accountability and transparency in the utilization of public resources.”
“As a government, our workers welfare is priority. That is why payment of salaries and pensions is non-negotiable. Our goal is to have the best motivated and trained public servants in Nigeria. Consequently, as I promised last year, Edo State will implement the new minimum wage with effect from January, 1, 2020.”
“As part of our program to ensure sustainable security, we have also earmarked N2bn for the State’s Security Trust Fund, which will also raise funds from businesses and citizens to bolster our ability to protect and secure you more effectively.”
“I want to assure you, fellow citizens, that we will not relent on our efforts at infrastructural renewal, industrialisation, and social development programmes which we are currently undertaking across the entire state. We are committed to fixing our roads, rebuilding schools, facilitating expansion of existing businesses and ensuring a vibrant, boisterous state that we will all be proud to be associated with.”
“This year, we are doubling our efforts to surpass the set target of 200,000 jobs which I promised in 2016 as we intend to deepen our relationship with local and international partners to create more opportunities for our youths in the different sectors of the state’s economy. On the back of the success from the Innovation Hub and production centers, we will build similar hubs and centers in Edo North and Edo Central. Construction work in the Benin Industrial Park will commence early this year.”
“Agriculture has always been the backbone of the economy of Edo State. Working closely with Federal authorities, this year we will expand massively in putting a lot more hectares of land under cultivation. From the experience which we have gained, we will assist farmers in preparing land and provide them access to inputs and financing. Under the Edo Agripreneur Programme, priority will be placed on rice, cassava, and maize, poultry and piggery.”
“The Edo State Oil Palm Programme, which we launched with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last year, marks a watershed in the Agricultural transformation in the state. With a commitment of about N70bn, to cultivate the first phase, we expect that the program within 5 years would create not less than 600,000 jobs in the state.”
