By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to providing adequate security for foreign and local investors who are willing to invest in the state.
Obaseki gave the assurance during the inauguration of an Autocare Centre in the state and flag-off of ‘Made in Edo’ products’ exhibition at the Edo Production Centre, Benin City.
His words: “If there is no security, people will not come and invest but as government, our role is to provide security and the enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
“Yes, we have security challenges as a country and given the position of Edo, we cannot be excluded from the current challenges. It’s only us that can secure ourselves; federal agencies can only support us. In fairness, they are trying their best, but they can do better.”
After flagging off the exhibition at the Edo Production Centre, the governor said: “Two years ago, when we started building all these facilities, there was nothing, but today we have more than 40 small and medium size businesses and all of them are doing very well.”
Besides, the Chairman of the Autocare Centre, Mr. Greg Ogbeifun, thanked Governor Obaseki for creating an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, urging Edo indigenes in the Diaspora to invest at home.
Ogbeifun stated: “Those who have the means should come home and let’s replicate this all over the place. If we have 10 of this in Edo, it’s not enough.
“So, I want to use this opportunity to call on fellow entrepreneurs to come home and invest. Let’s join hands in moving Edo forward.”
Also, the Managing Director of Edo State Skill Development Agency, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare, pointed out that the Edo production centre has various occupants and different associations working to offer varied services and products.
“They all work here to design and produce what people may actually want to import into Nigeria. We are telling people that before they import anything into Nigeria, they should come to the Edo production centre before taking such decisions.”