The Edo State Government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that law and order are maintained in the state in line with its ‘Operation Clean Up Edo’ initiative, assuring that ‘the exercise would bring sanity to public spaces and enhance the business climate.’

The State Government noted that the ‘Operation Clean Up Edo,’ which has elicited commendations from residents in Benin City, would be expanded to other parts of the state, including Ekpoma and Auchi.

The Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), Barr. Osarodion Ogie, who disclosed this to newsmen, Friday, during the review of the exercise, said the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration intends to make Edo cities more habitable and welcoming, without comprising on the dictates of the law. The ‘Operation Clean Up Edo’ is an initiative of the state government aimed at decongesting major areas in the city centre and restoring order and sanity to improve the business climate and attract visitors, tourists and investors.

Ogie said the exercise is being carried out in consultation with relevant stakeholders in the state, noting that union leaders in major parts and markets in the metropolis are carried along.

“To ensure public buy-in and contribute to the success of the initiative, we have a public enlightenment team that ensures everyone is carried along. We engage the unions and their leaders to communicate the plans of the government before embarking on an exercise such as this. We have been on this exercise for three months now and have recorded good results. So, we will expand our operations to other parts of the state such as Ekpoma, Auchi, Iguobazuwa,” Ogie said.

He hinted that the introduction of the Edo State Traffic Management and Control Agency (EDSTMA) has fast-tracked the implementation of the initiative, adding, “We have six zones of EDSTMA now in Benin; we have to create additional zones and move out of Benin to other parts of the state and ensure that traffic situation is improved.”

He expressed government’s appreciation to residents in the Benin metropolis for cooperating with officials of state in decongesting the city, noting that government is “glad with the feedback from the people. I assure everyone that this administration will leave Edo better than it met it.”

•Edo SSG, Barr. Osarodion Ogie Esq., addressing journalists on the progress that has been made in the ‘Operation Clean Up Edo’ initiative at the Government House, Benin City on Friday, September 8, 2017.

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