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Governor Monday Okpebholo on Monday unveiled plans to transform Ramat Park in Benin City into a major tourist attraction, as he inspected ongoing projects in Edo South Senatorial District.
The governor, who toured the Ikpoba Hill flyover and erosion control works at Ramat Park, as well as the Sapele Road linking Okhatu, Etiosa, Iyanomo and Obaretin communities, said the redevelopment of Ramat Park would go beyond traffic decongestion to reposition the area as a centre for leisure and tourism.
Addressing journalists at Ramat Park, Okpebholo said the location would be redesigned to reflect modern urban standards and serve as a relaxation hub for residents and visitors.
According to the governor, “this administration will deliberately develop Ramat Park into a tourist destination and by the time we are done with this place, this place will look like Dubai,”
“We are not stopping at flyover. We are going to build a park here so that this place will be useful. People will come in here to relax. A lot of things will be happening here. After this, we are proposing building a structure that will make this place a tourist attraction. That is what Edo should be known for, not cultism or people coming to create a crisis here.
“This initiative is part of efforts to redefine Edo State’s image and promote positive engagement, recreation and economic activities within the capital city”, he said.
Briefing the governor on the level of progress, Mr. Lee, who represented the contractors, CCECC, assured that the project is on schedule and nearing completion.
He said, “Maybe it will remain small work by May. I can say we can finish all the work by May,”
At the Sapele Road project site, Governor Okpebholo described the reconstruction as a demonstration of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda in action.
He said, “You see what is happening here? This is the demonstration of Mr President’s Renewed Hope Agenda for Nigerians. There’s no man in Edo that can see this road today and will say he will not vote for Mr President,”
He noted that within one year and three months in office, his administration has recorded significant achievements, attributing the progress to the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the cooperation of Edo residents.
“Before now, you couldn’t pass this road. It took us hours just to move half a kilometre. We would not have done this if we were not getting the support from Mr President. I want to say a very big thank you to him, and I also thank Edo people for cooperating with us. Let me also thank the contractors because they are working day and night,”
The governor reiterated that while road infrastructure remains a priority, the transformation of Ramat Park into a tourist attraction will stand as a signature project aimed at boosting leisure, commerce and the overall aesthetic appeal of Benin City.
