Mr. Godwin Obaseki, Governor of Edo State, has announced that his administration has made 35,000 hectares of land available for housing and industrial development projects in various towns and cities across the state.
Obaseki made the remarks during a courtesy visit to the Government House in Benin City with executive members of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers led by its President, Johnbull Amayaevbo.
The governor praised the body for upholding the profession’s ethics and stated that his administration would continue to work with the NIESV to clean up the built environment.
He said, “We are making available about 35,000 hectares of land for housing and industrial development in several cities in the state. It will be done in partnership with communities, as we are not dispossessing anyone of their land. The Land Use Act is clear. All the communities will be carried along and made to understand what we are doing.
“We are planning new towns and developing and opening up industrial estates for production. We need professional support to help us obtain the manpower we need to do these things properly. We will need a lot of support from the institution and its professional members. We will collaborate to run training to build human capacity that will contribute effectively to this vision.”
Hailing the elevation of Amayaevbo as the president of NIESV, the governor said his emergence as the first Benin man to occupy the seat was apt and timely, adding, “You came at a very critical time as we face challenges amid the reforms we are undertaking to reposition and change the narrative in the building space. We are not afraid of challenges, especially embracing our reforms that will benefit Edo people.”
On his part, the NIESV president, Amayaevbo commended the governor for his bold and pragmatic reforms aimed at making the state an investment destination.
He said, “The various policies of your administration are already yielding positive outcomes with an attendant boost in the quality of life of average citizens of Edo State. There are proofs indicating to that effect; facts don’t lie.”