South-south underdeveloped despite being most funded — Obaseki

Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki says South-south remains underdeveloped despite being the most funded region in the country.

He advocated judicious use of resources in the region to drive its socioeconomic development.

He spoke weekend in Benin when the Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) presented him with an award for winning the 7th Niger Delta Development Forum (NDDF) competition.

“Part of the challenges faced by the south-south is defining well-articulated and implementable development agenda. A lot has been done in the region over the years, but they have not translated to meaningful development to benefit our people.

“Without a well-thought out physical, economic and social development master plans that are implementable, it will be difficult Edo to get out of its developmental problems. Edo is investing in planning to change the narrative,” he said.

He said his administration’s development blueprint was built on six key pillars namely; reforms of government institutions, education, economic revolution, environmental sustainability and tourism.

Earlier, PIND Partnership and Engagement Manager, Chime Asonye, said Edo was the state with the best governance framework on long term planning in the Niger Delta region.

“Edo State put together a presentation on the journey of the state so far,” he said.