By Monday Ajogun
The Edo Tourism Agency has warned residents in the state capital against dumping refuse in moats spread across the city.
The Director-General (D-G) of the agency, Mrs Vivian Elabor, gave the warning on Wednesday in Benin, at a news conference.
Elabor noted that the moats had been turned into refuse dump sites by some residents, and advised those perpetrating the act to desist forthwith.
According to her, currently the moats are being used as refuse dumping sites, and our responsibility is to educate our people on the importance of the moats.
“Our ancestors built the moats to protect our communities, but today we do not even value them, yet the outside world understands what it takes to have a tourist site.
“So we want to bring that information to our people. The moats legacy will be restored.
“Edo tourism agency is working tiredlessly to ensure that people are aware that there will be stiff penalty if you are cut disposing your waste in our moats, the moats must restore our heritage.
“We are not taking advantage of our tourists centres across the state, currently we have 72 tourists centres and I am just going to mention a few.
“The moat is one of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) listed heritage.”
The director general assured that the agency would use tourism to create jobs for the teeming youths, adding that it would also be used to increase the state Internally Generated Revenue (IGR).
She explained that the state wants to grow and to achieve that, it must depend less on the resources coming from the centre.
“The state cannot undermine or under play the role of tourism. Edo is blessed with culture and heritage.
“For us, we are going to make Edo the next tourism destination and that is why we have tagged our next summit exhibition and fashion show, ‘Edo Tourism, the New Frontier’, she said.
Elabor also listed other important tourism sites in the state to include Igun street, and the Amar waterfalls in Esan lans, while listing tourist attractions like the Igue festival, Ososo festival, and Ubiaja festival among others.
Also speaking, the Director of Administration and Supplies in the agency, Mrs Kushe Ojekhoa, said that the agency would hold its 2026 sumit, exhibition and fashion show between June 29 and 30.
Ojekhoa revealed that there would be cash prizes for winners of the fashion show, adding that the agency would equally reward participants of the show with participation fee to encouraged the creative minds.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
AJOM/DCO
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Edited by Deborah Coker