Coal deposit of commercial quantities discovered in Edo – Kassim

The Edo State Government on Tuesday said coal deposits of commercial quantities have been discovered in the State.

Kassim Afegbua, the Edo State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, disclosed this at a press briefing in Benin City.

Afegbua said the coal deposit was discovered around the Uromi community in the Esan North-East Local Government Area.

“Edo State has huge potential in the areas of limestone, gold, and arable land. People are cultivating agricultural produce in different parts of the state. Even recently we discovered that there is coal. We have quite a number of solid minerals in the State.

He said part of the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led government’s agenda was to stimulate investment opportunities across the state.

He said the State is blessed with enormous human and material resources.

The Commissioner, who called on more investors to invest in the State stated that the State government has put a functioning system in place for the ease of doing business.

“But if you don’t have a functioning system put in place, the ease of doing business may also hamper those who are willing to do business. The system must be functional. It must be robust and that shows a clear direction of what we intend to achieve as a state. So to a large extent, we are happy that we are making steady progress

He, however, added that besides infrastructural renewal that is ongoing across the three senatorial districts, the government is putting policies in place to stimulate investors in the state.

He also disclosed that Governor Monday Okpebholo has since the inception of his administration has not taken any loan, adding that the only loans the state government has are those inherited from the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Afegbua also added that the government is not indebted to any contractors, stressing that they are always paid based on the submission of their work certificates.

He, urged the contractors to utilise the remaining aspect of the dry season to speed up activities with respect to road construction, school renovation among others.