Edo State Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Dennis Idahosa, has commended Governor Monday Okpebholo's administration for implementing security policies that have restored confidence and created a safer environment for investment and agricultural production in the state. According to Idahosa, the administration's people-oriented policies, programmes, and legislative reforms have contributed to reducing crime and strengthening the justice system. This has positioned Edo as one of the more peaceful states in the Niger Delta.
Idahosa made these remarks when he received a delegation from the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND), led by its Programme Director, Dr Effiong Essien. The deputy governor's statement was issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, and made available to newsmen in Benin on Monday. Idahosa stressed that security remained critical to the state's economic development, noting that investors and farmers could only operate effectively when their lives, businesses, and farmlands were adequately protected.
The deputy governor linked the government's security drive to its efforts to achieve food sufficiency, stressing that farmers needed safe communities and farmlands to maximise agricultural production. He noted that security was a top priority in the SHINE Agenda, the governor's development plan. Idahosa said the government's commitment to the SHINE Agenda had helped reduce crime and strengthen the justice system, particularly in dealing with criminal elements such as kidnapping and cultism.
Idahosa commended PIND for choosing Edo as a base for its human capital development programmes and assured the organisation of the state government's readiness to collaborate with it. He described PIND's interventions as needs-driven, saying its projects were designed around the specific needs of communities and beneficiaries while strengthening relevant value chains. Several corporate social responsibility interventions by multinational companies have been implemented through partnerships involving PIND.
Dr Effiong Essien said PIND was a non-profit organisation committed to promoting peace and equitable economic growth in the Niger Delta. He said the organisation's interventions focused on reducing poverty, strengthening coastal communities, promoting youth employment, fostering stability, and supporting sustainable development across the region. Essien outlined PIND's short- and long-term development plans, training programmes, and interventions already implemented in rural communities across Edo State.
Essien appealed to the state government to collaborate with PIND in establishing safe farm corridors, strengthening agricultural value-chain actors, and reactivating the Udo Skills Development Centre for practical skills acquisition. Idahosa, on behalf of the governor, welcomed PIND's proposals and pledged the government's support. The deputy governor noted that the government's security policies had created an enabling environment for investors and farmers to operate effectively.
The collaboration between the Edo State government and PIND aims to promote sustainable development and economic growth in the state. With a focus on security, agriculture, and human capital development, the partnership is expected to have a positive impact on the lives of residents and the state's economy. Key initiatives will focus on enhancing food sufficiency, promoting youth employment, and fostering stability in the region.
Key points
- The Edo State government's security policies have reduced crime and strengthened the justice system.
- The government's commitment to the SHINE Agenda has positioned Edo as one of the more peaceful states in the Niger Delta.
- PIND's interventions in Edo State focus on reducing poverty, promoting youth employment, and supporting sustainable development.
