In my role as an adviser, I often observe that complex situations are best understood through a blend of factual clarity and issue simplification for contextual understanding. The recent discussions around Presco Plc and the Edo State Government warrant precisely such an approach.
The published notice regarding Presco PLC’s land “revocation” was a source of genuine concern that created understandable anxiety for many, and rightly so. However, the government’s response has been a textbook example of principled and responsive governance. It is obvious to all now that His Excellency, Governor Monday Okpebholo, holds an innate respect for due process. The swift disavowal of the publication and the subsequent administrative changes at EDOGIS were not reactions to noise orchestrated poorly by a garrulous and empty opposition, but affirmations of a core governance principle that ‘established procedures must be followed without exception’.
Firstly, it is important to view the administrative change in EDOGIS leadership not as a punitive spectacle, but as a necessary step to uphold institutional integrity. Public service is a demanding calling, and sometimes, despite one’s past contributions, errors in judgment can occur. The Governor’s decision, while firm, can be seen as an administrative necessity to uphold the integrity of our systems, not a personal denigration. It is a step to strengthen our institutions, ensuring they serve everyone better.
So, what is the government’s actual position? This matter concerns legal and strategic stewardship. The technical consideration is strictly limited to a clearly defined excision of approximately 20 hectares of land presently within Presco PLC’s total landholding containing strategic crude oil wells in Edo-South. The law is explicit that mineral resources are vested in the Federal Government on behalf of all Nigerians. The Governor’s duty, therefore, is to ensure such assets are properly managed for the common good. This was a targeted action based on law and legality, not an assault on private enterprise.
This brings me to a crucial point for our investment community. Presco PLC remains a thriving and valued corporate citizen in Edo State. The government’s actions should be read as a reinforcement of investor confidence, not a dent to it. By swiftly correcting an irregularity, the government has demonstrated that Edo State is a jurisdiction where the rules are clear and reliably enforced. This is the bedrock of a sustainable investment climate, and the Governor’s actions are precisely the kind of transparent, rules-based governance that builds investor confidence. This is evident in ongoing engagements between the Edo State Government and a diverse array of serious investors poised to deploy capital in real estate, agricultural and agro-allied projects, power stations, extractive mining, tourism and hospitality, and manufacturing, among several areas of opportunities. They clearly see in Governor Okpebholo a leader who protects their investments by ensuring a stable and lawful environment.
Ultimately, this episode is less about a single company and more about Governor Okpebholo’s broader vision: to ensure the people of Edo State derive substantive and equitable benefits from the resources within our borders. It is a forward-looking agenda that harmonises public interest with a respectful, productive partnership with the private sector.
The government has provided clarity, upheld its processes, and reaffirmed its commitment to all stakeholders. We can now move forward, united in the pursuit of a prosperous and law-abiding Edo State under the people-focused and ‘Edo-first’ inspired leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo.
Bugie Okhuemoi is Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo
Gatekeepers News is not liable for opinions expressed in this article, they’re strictly the writer’s
