By citybusinessnews@yahoo.com —
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki is in talks with investors, development partners and other stakeholders on the construction of an airport in Edo North Senatorial District to open up the area and rev up economic activities in the state.
Obaseki, who disclosed this during an enlarged meeting of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members across wards and local government areas in the district, said the government is working assiduously to improve the state’s transportation network.
The governor said: “There are some key projects that we want to implement in Edo North. There are major investors talking to us now and want to come into the state. We have huge opportunities in the areas of agriculture, mining and transportation.
“One of the major things that I want to do is to build an airport. Access is key, and if people can fly in directly, it will improve the economy of the state.”
He continued: “We have been working on improving the transportation network in Edo State; we have done some studies and found out that an Airport in Edo North is feasible, particularly given the level of investment that we are making in that direction.
“Don’t forget that there are two cement plants in the state, major universities and several other economic opportunities that are involved, and to get people there, we need an airport to make access easy. We are in discussion with the relevant authorities already.”
On his part, a party chieftain and former deputy governor of the state, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, commended the developmental strides of the governor, pledging the support, commitment and loyalty of party faithful from Edo North Senatorial District to his administration.
Meanwhile, the state government on Monday asked the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to sanction Remo Stars Football Club or risk seeing Insurance FC being withdrawn from the Nigeria National League (NNL)
The Deputy Governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu, issued the threat when he received players and officials of the Benin-based Insurance FC on Monday in Benin.
Shaibu said the threat was necessary after the Sagamu-based Remo Stars allegedly failed to protect Insurance FC from attacks on Sunday.
“Should the NFF fail to do so, the state government may withdraw Bendel Insurance FC from the ongoing 2020/2021 NNL competition,” he said.
The Insurance FC players and officials were allegedly beaten up after their 2020/2021 NNL Group B2 Week 21 game had ended goalless.
The match, which was in the fifth of the seven minutes added time, was allegedly disrupted by the home fans.
The club’s spokesman, Kehinde Osagede, who explained the incident to Shaibu, said some of the players and officials were inflicted with deep cuts during the attack.
“Not only were we beaten, the fans also destroyed the club’s bus and deleted the match proceedings recorded by some of us from our phones.
“One of the managers of the club fainted after being hit with a plank. It was God that saved us,” Osagede told the deputy governor.
Shaibu noted that it was the second time in less than a month that Insurance FC would be attacked and urged the NFF to intervene.
“We cannot afford to allow this happen the third time without taking action.
“If the NFF cannot protect our players and officials when they play away matches, then we will withdraw from playing further matches in the NNL.
“We are seriously disappointed with the incident. I am particularly disturbed that not only the fans were alleged to have been involved in this but the Remo Stars players as well.
“NFF must give us a commitment to protect our players and officials from the remaining of the league matches, in the absence of which we will be forced to withdraw our club from further participation”.
