Obaseki seeks collaboration to tackle flooding, warns against violating state’s town planning laws  

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has called for citizens’ support, as well as the collaboration of all stakeholders in the state to reduce the incidence of flooding and erosion by ensuring adherence to the state’s Extant Town Planning Laws and Regulations.

Obaseki, who received members of the Edo State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Landscape Horticulturist (NILH), noted that the government remains committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all residents.

The governor, represented by his Chief of Staff, Hon. Osaigbovo Iyoha, reiterated the need for residents to stop erecting buildings in prohibited areas, to check flood and erosion challenges in the state.

Obaseki noted: “As a government, we have been educating our people on our urban renewal reforms, and we see this group as partners in progress to check ecological challenges as a result of flood and erosion.

“This administration, for some time now, has called on citizens to ensure their building plans are approved by the state government, even as we have discouraged them to stop building on prohibited areas to check flood and erosion challenges in the state.”

“We will support the group and ensure it works with relevant government agencies like the state’s skills development agency, Edojobs, to provide employment for Edo youths,” he noted.

Speaking on behalf of the team, Secretary of the NILH, Mr. Akintoye Temitope, disclosed the group’s readiness to collaborate with the state government on beautification of the state, noting that as horticulturists, they have the potential to contribute to the aesthetic beauty of public spaces and making them attractive for investors.

Temitope stated: “Our professional services, which we could offer to the government, include the supply of avenue trees and the establishment of green areas through the installation of lawns, exotic hedges and shrubs.

“We can assist the government in erosion and stormwater control, as well as construction of parks, gardens and orchards for urban beautification.”

The group further noted that “we are prepared to train Edo youths on installation and maintenance of parks to serve as public parks and gardens attendants, thereby contributing to the job creation drive of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration.”