Unsafe states: Edo govt flays us

Edo State government has described as error, the listing  of the state alongside 19 others as unsafe states in Nigeria by  the United States government  .

In a widely circulated report last week, the United States government declared Borno, Adamawa and Yobe  states as no-go-area for  its  citizens and recommended against all but essential travel to Edo and 16 other states due to the risk of kidnappings, robberies and other armed attacks.

The categorisation, has, however, not gone down well with the state government, who on Monday, stated that the travel ban placed by the US Consulate on  its citizens with respect to the state, was an error of judgment.

In a press release made available to journalists in Benin ,on Monday, the  state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua, said the state government had invested much in economic infrastructure and security, adding  that the action of the United States government amounted to raising false alarm.

“Barely a week ago, the Edo State governor received a delegation of the United States Consulate led by the Consul-General, John Bray and Michael Harvey, Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), on  July 26, in Benin City,when the delegation visited the Azura Power Plant to ascertain the level of progress  on the  $1billion investment in the power sector.

“We have new multi-national companies across the state that have helped to improve the economic well-being of the state and providing gainful employment to  our youths.”

“Rather than raise false alarm about the security situation of the state, we wish to assure the US Consulate that Edo State is safe for all; residents, visitors and investors who want to carry out their legitimate businesses.

“Our security agencies have been working in partnership with the state government to sustain our commitment of eliminating all forms of criminalities across the state. It is therefore, out of place to raise false alarm for no justifiable reason.”