The Ogieneni of Uzairue in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, His Royal Highness, Kadiri Imonikhe, Omogbai IV has reminded the State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki to redeem its pledge to built airport in the locality.

He made the appeal at the commissioning Ceremony of his reconstructed palace by the Benin monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Ewuare II, CFR last week Saturday in Uzairue.

The Ogieneni who is the traditional ruler of the State deputy governor, Mr Philip Shaibu’s hometown, said, “We are expecting that the plan to build an airport in Uzairue following this historic visit” by the Oba of Benin.

Recall that the State governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki in June 2022 said he 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 boost economic activities in the State.

Obaseki, made the pledge at an enlarged meeting of Peoples Democratic Party members across Wards and Local Government Areas in the district.

He also said the government was working assiduously to improve the state’s transportation network.

According to him, “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 said.

On Wednesday November 30, 2022, the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, advised Nigeria Governors to backtrack from seeking loans grandiose projects particularly airports and flyover and tackle poverty in their States, amidst backlash.

He spoke while reacting to a question after the Federal Executive Council FEC meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“I think from the federal government side we are doing our best. But we need to push that rather than governors continuing to compete to take loans to build airports that are not necessarily where they have other airports so close to them.

“Or governors now competing to build flyovers all over the place and we applaud they should concentrate on building rural roads so that the farmer can at least get their products to the market”, he said.

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