Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has reassured the people of his administration’s continued economic revolution that would guarantee youth empowerment in the state.
Besides, Governor Obaseki, who lauded the anchor-borrowers’ initiative of the Federal Government, expressed the state government’s support for the programme.
The governor gave this assurance while receiving the management team of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Benin branch at the Government House on Wednesday in Benin.
On the initiation of the economic renaissance going on in the state, Mr. Obaseki said the Comrade Oshiomhole-led government laid the foundation for economic revolution which his administration will build on.
He said, “We will build on it to make the state viable for investors to key into the vision of this administration. Our goal in the next four to eight years is to give our people economic empowerment. We will achieve this when we leverage on the economic advantages we have as a state.”
In addition, he noted that Edo’s strategic position would enable the state execute the economic reinvigoration projected.
According to him, “There are very few states that are positioned like Edo to grow rapidly in economy. We will do so as long as we have a stable, political and social environment. We are one state that has the benefits of hydrocarbon assets, oil and gas as well as phenomenal agriculture potentials. With these attributes, we can drive our economy significantly, provided the necessary conditions are in place”.
The governor thanked the CBN management team for providing the enabling environment for the micro-medium enterprise scheme to thrive, which the state benefited from.
He noted that officers of the bank closely monitor the funds disbursed while the feedback from the process was positive and commendable as he solicited for more funds to support small businesses in the state.
He revealed plans to link infrastructure to the scheme and build rural roads in areas where farms are located to help farmers transport crops like cassava, especially during the rainy season.
On revenue generation, Governor Obaseki solicited the cooperation of the CBN, saying the state government plans to move from cash-based revenue collection to electronic-based cash collection.
“You recall that my New Year day broadcast included a ban on collection of revenue by non-government actors, that ban has come to stay because that is the law. We want to put in place a system that will allow people to pay revenues or taxes seamlessly. We want to move from collecting cash to helping them pay electronically. On that, we need your help to deploy POS across the state to make the process easier”.
The leader of the Central Bank delegation to Government House, Mr. Renner Jumbo, expressed the readiness of the bank to partner state government in its plans to develop the state and appreciated the state government’s partnership with the bank in the area of Micro-small-medium enterprise.
He added that, “Edo state government has accessed about two billion from the fund and has disbursed to farms according to micro-finance bank. From time to time we equally look at areas in the state where the bank can show her corporate commitment to the people”.
Mr. Jumbo also noted that the bank was collaborating with the Edo State government in the area of Anchor borrowers programme scheme.