Okpebholo’s security policy driving Edo economic growth — Deputy gov

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The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Dennis Idahosa, on Monday, said that the security policies of Governor Monday Okpebholo have restored confidence and created a safer environment for investment and agriculture in the state.

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Idahosa stated this when a delegation from the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta, led by its Programme Director, Dr Effiong Essien, paid him a courtesy visit.

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He said the administration’s people-oriented policies, programmes and legislative reforms had contributed to the reduction of crime and strengthened the justice system, particularly in dealing with criminal elements.

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The deputy governor said the administration’s commitment to the ‘SHINE Agenda’ had positioned Edo as one of the more peaceful states in the Niger Delta region, citing its firm stance against kidnapping, cultism and other forms of criminality.

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According to him, security remains critical to the state’s economic development, as investors and farmers can only operate effectively when they are confident about the safety of their lives, businesses and farmlands.

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“The security policies of Governor Monday Okpebholo has restored confidence and created a safer environment for investment and agriculture in the state

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“In any nation where there is security, investors and transformation would come. It is only when it is safe for our mothers to go to the farm that they can go to the farm and be productive.

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“Security is number one in the SHINE Agenda. It shows the Glgovernor’s emphasis on security and even agriculture,” he said.

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Idahosa said the government’s security drive was closely linked to its efforts to achieve food sufficiency, stressing that farmers needed safe communities and farmlands to maximise agricultural production.

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Idahosa appreciated 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.

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The deputy governor noted that several Corporate Social Responsibility interventions by multinational companies, particularly those impacting rural communities, were implemented through partnerships involving PIND.

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He described the organisation’s interventions as needs-driven, saying its projects were designed around the specific needs of communities and beneficiaries while strengthening relevant value chains.

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Earlier, Essien said PIND was a non-profit initiative committed to promoting peace and equitable economic growth in the Niger Delta region by bringing governments, communities, businesses, and development partners together to address shared challenges.

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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.

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He appealed for the state government’s collaboration in establishing safe farm corridors, strengthening agricultural value-chain actors, and reactivating the Edo Skills Development Centre for practical training, entrepreneurship, and youth employment.

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He also requested the designation of a government focal person to receive early-warning information from peace actors across the 18 Local Government Areas to help prevent conflicts and unrest before they escalate.

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