EDO
STATE
Edo State is an inland state in central southern Nigeria. Its capital
is Benin City. It is bounded in the north and east by Kogi State, in the south
by Delta State and in the west by Ondo State. Edo State with an Area of
17,802 km2 (6,873 sq mi) and an estimate population
of 3,497,502 (2005), was formed on 27 August 1991 when Bendel State was
split into Edo and Delta States.
Edo State is home to several
ethnics, among them the Bini, Esan, Afemai, Ora, Akoko-Edo, Igbanke, Emai and
Ijaw.
The University of Benin, Benin City,
the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, the Igbinedion University, Okada, and the
Benson Idahosa University, Benin City, the Federal Polytechnic Auchi, Auchi are
among the institutions of higher learning located in Edo State.
Tourist attractions in Edo State
include the Emotan statue in Benin City, Ise Lake and River Niger beach in
Agenebode, Etsako-East; Ambrose Alli Square, Ekpoma, River Niger beaches at
Ilushi, BFFM building at Ewu, College of Agriculture and Aqua Culture
Technology, Agenebode, Okpekpe with its hills and scenes and the Somorika hills
in Akoko Edo, where a government-run tourist center at Ososo is set among
spectacular scenery. The state produces crude oil. The state is also
noted for the following agricultural products: rubber, cocoa, cashew nuts
and is blessed with precious stones like Quartz, Amethyst, Mica, Dolomite,
Granite Stone and Lime Stone used in the production of Cement at Okpella.
Among the Tourist centers is the Imiegba Uchikpo River in three Ibie Clan and
hills.
Edo State consists of 18 Local
Government Areas and 3 Senatorial District. As at May 2013, Edo State had a
standing debt of Edo owes $42.7 million (http://mienpamo.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/states-monthly-allocation-for-the-month-of-may-2013-from-the-federal-govt-there-huge-dept-profiles-2/). In May 2013 received about 2.4% as State
Allocation from the Federal Government N894,000,000,000.00 from the Federal
Government Monthly Allocation to States
Economic Position in Edo State
Presently,
Edo State could be described as one of the many States in Nigeria with a very
poor economic situation, as it experiences huge and raising rate of youth unemployment,
lacks industrial and commercial advancement and obviously poorly funded Federal
Government presence.
Edo
State is a State that houses one of African's oldest and recognized Traditional
Monarch system and serve as a major Economic link/ root between Nigeria's
Largest commercial hub (Lagos) and two of Nigeria's Most vibrant Market
indicators (Onitsha and Abuja). Edo State is one of Nigerian's most popular
States in Europe and some Africa countries as it has a large number of its Son
and Daughters living in various towns and city around the world with an aim to
improve their economic situation and that of their families.
The
present Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, in his administration's
move to make a difference in the lives of the people of the State, deployed a
technique of massive structural development and political reshuffle, which led
the construction and new roads, dualization of existing Federal roads and
beatification of major areas of attraction around the main city. These
activities have consumed a period of about five years without any trace of
improved economic vibrancy in the State which has now resulted to increase
taxes on the people to help fund the State treasury.
Is it a Right Move Towards an Economic Improvement in Edo
State?
“Nigeria is a constituent of
States or ethnic divide with different human, material and political potentials
(resources), which requires differential approach towards achieving their
sectoral economic development”.
The approach by the Comrade Governor
led administration must has been seen by his analyst as a suitable method of
reviving Edo State, as I have heard in various argument placed by sympathizers
of the administration, that structural development is a first that would help
Edo draw up investor that could help revive the Economy of the State.
In my argument I totally disagree
with the Comrade Gov. and his administration sympathizers on this technique
rather I would use my next view paragraph to suggest a viable technique that
would help the Edo people pick up their Economy and generate enough revenue to
effect structural developments.
Solving Edo State Using its Human and Natural Resource
In my categorizing of State for
economic resolve, I would like to place Edo State under the Categories of
socio-political and eco-resource State.
Socio-political - Edo State with its
multiple ethnic could be described as a politically active State that enjoys
sharing its social activities amidst it diverse political consciousness.
Eco-resource – Edo State, a
geographical location best described amongst Nigeria’s rain forest region is
blessed with a vast deposit of environmental resource (raw material) in the
likes of mineral and terrestrial resource.
The best way towards solving the
economic problems in Edo State is by putting these two classifications in to
consideration, to promote equity in economic distribution.
Edo State having three (3)
senatorial districts has its environmental resources shared evenly around them,
making it a proximity in accomplishing total economic recovery around the net
coverage of the State
The
Gov. Lucky Igbinedion (1999 -2007) made attempts towards this path of economic
recovery but failed in the areas of implementation as the corrupt activities in
his administration did not allow a well master plan to effective to the lives
of the people.
Edo
State is one State in Nigeria that prides its self in human resources having
been known for performing acts and acts of craft works. It also reigns as a
domain for highly rated citadel of learning. But has suffered a crunch in human
resource development as a result of poor and abused economic standard, so the
first area of interest of any government in Edo State would be Human
Development through Resource Utilization.
Resource Utilization
Esan
Land (Edo Central Senatorial district) is popular for it fertility for the
production of Citric Fruit and root plants like Cassava. It is presently one of
the sources of fruit distribution around the Middle belt and Mid Western
regions of Nigeria.
The
Lucky Igbinedion administration established a phantom Pineapple juice factory
at Edhor which had a vast acre of pineapple farm land (well proposed project
but . . .). I expect any State administrator to capitalize on this after
checking the proposed planned analysis of the project as set by the past
government (probing where necessary, for failed implementation).
Building
a Fruit Factory at a location where raw material is near could have been an
advantage for the State. Establishing an Edo State Fruit Juice Company would
help boost the economic stands of the State as this will spiral employment,
revenue and promote commercial competition with brands like Chi, Dangote etc.
The
Lucky Igbinedion administration established a phantom Cassava mill factory at
Uromi which had a vast acre of cassava farm land (well proposed project but . .
.). I expect any State administrator to capitalize on this after checking the
proposed planned analysis of the project as set by the past government (probing
where necessary, for failed implementation).
Building a Cassava Factory at a
location where raw material is near could have been an advantage for the State,
as this will collectively add up to promote the revival of the Ewu flour mill
in the State. Flour and cassava by-product are in large demand and any
industrial supply of this product will largely promote the economic factor of
the State.
Afemai Land (Edo North Senatorial
district) is popular for its chemical and mineral deposits.
Also,
The Lucky Igbinedion administration established a phantom Fertilizer factory at
Auchi. I expect any State administrator to capitalize on this after checking the
proposed planned analysis of the project as set by the past government (probing
where necessary, for failed implementation).
Fertilizer is a huge market for Agricultural boost. Presently Economist are advising government all over the world to consider increasing its interest on agricultural production as the world is moving towards a visible Food recession. So for a State that proposes economic development for its people, the fertilizer production could have been an investment that would serve for a long time interest.
Its other mineral resources like limestone, granite etc, could also be placed into productivity as a source of promoting industrialization and developing the human resource through employment and career development by way of industrial input and training.
The present Structural development project been embarked upon by the State government has not been able to fulfill the economic revival of the State but if the government has considered human development first through industrial actualization and allow revenue collection fund structural development, then the Area of Nigeria called Edo State could have now been approaching a splendid Economic Recovery.
Other Areas in Edo State that needed industrial investment to promote its Economy are:
i. Bendel Brewery
ii. Okpella Cement Factory (requires PPP from a fresh National investor)
iii Tourism
a. Oba Palace
b. Ososo Mountains
c. the Benin Morts
...... continue from SOLVING A NATION: ECONOMIC RECOVERY THROUGH STATE POTENTIALS UTILIZATION III
Yours
Sincerely,
NASA announced today that its Curiosity Rover has found an unambiguous message from God written on tablets in a Martian cave.
