Isoken Omo, the state commissioner for physical planning and housing, stated on Wednesday in Benin that the newly proposed Coral City by the Edo State Government would house more than 50,000 people once finished.
The state of the prospective metropolis was explained to reporters by Omo and Chris Nehikhare, the state commissioner for communication and orientation.
He pointed out that the new Edo master plan was used to design the planned new city, and he said that once it was finished, it will relieve pressure on the City Centre.
“We completed the design and currently have 1,300 plots available for a variety of land uses, including residential, commercial, multi-purpose, religious, recreational, educational, market, and healthcare facilities.
“It is coming with full infrastructure like roads, drainages, power, telecommunication, and others. Everything you need for a city to thrive will be there.
“When it is finished, we plan to house 50,000 people. In order to complete the first phase during the current administration, we have divided the project into four sections.
“It is anticipated that succeeding governments would carry out the project.
To kickstart the project, we have solicited subscription with 467 plots, said Omo.
Omo revealed that a New Town Development Authority had been established to supervise the project’s full development.
She encouraged inhabitants of Edo to start applying for lots in the new city and assured them that the land they would buy would be accompanied by ownership certificates.
She stated that users would have the option to make staggered and installment payments on allotted plots following the first phase.
In addition, Chris Nehikhare, the commissioner for communication and orientation, revealed that 1,494,000 people had benefited from the state government’s free intra-city transportation programme, which was put in place to lessen the impact of the elimination of subsidies.
“Since the state government began offering free bus trips on September 11, the responses from the public have been overwhelmingly positive since commuters who have taken advantage of the free buses have been able to economise on their daily transportation costs.
“On the intra-city route, we have conveyed 1,494,000 people, compared to 33,000 on the interstate scheme.
“This act of kindness immediately affected many of our people. The state administration did not implement this programme in a hasty manner; rather, it was well planned, he stated.
