An academic presentation on urban good governance in developing countries using Edo State Nigeria as a case study. This presentation emphases the tenet and concept, the complex challenges and root cause plus the promise and fulfilled promise by a responsive government like Edo State.

1. GOOD URBAN GOVERNANCE IN EDO STATE NIGERIA
Source: Edo state house of assembly
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=edo+state+house+of+assembly/images
Iziegbe Samuel Ogbonmwan
Master of Environmental Management
(Sustainable Development)

2. INTRODUCTION
Governance is the manner in which power is exercised in the management of a
country's economic and social resources for development. For a city, governance is the
exercise of power to manage a city's economic and social development
-World Bank, 1992.
Defining governance:
Defining good governance:
Defining good urban governance:
Good governance is seen as a commitment and the capability to effectively address the
allocation and management of resources to respond to collective problems
-UNDP, 1996.
Good urban governance, based on the principle of urban citizenship, affirms that no man,
woman or child can be denied access to the necessities of urban life, including adequate
shelter, security of tenure, safe water, sanitation, a clean environment, health, education and
nutrition, employment and public safety and mobility.
-UN Habitat Report, 2012.
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=edo+state+house+of+assembly/images

3. EDO STATE AND GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE
The Nigerian constitution provide for:
 A governing system that consist of eighteen
local government areas within the
jurisdiction controlled by the state and a
legislative harm which make law for state
and local government
 Separation of power between the state and
local government
 An uncompromised sovereignty of state and
local government
 Clear division of responsibilities
 The state government to receives monthly
financial allocation from the federal
government for its management.
 The local government through the state
government to receive monthly financial
allocation for the management of its
jurisdiction.
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=edo+state+local+government+map
Map of Edo State
Map of Nigeria
https://www.google.com.au/search?q
=map+of+nigeria+showing+edo+state

4. GOOD URBAN GOVERNANCE
 Well rated in institutionalised democracy through:
 Elected leadership and separation of powers
 Inclusive participation in governance
 social welfare and security
 Equality and egalitarianism
 Transparency
 Respect for human right
 Accountable to the public
 Well rated in poverty alleviation through:
 Citizen education
 Employment and financial security
 Food security
 Highly rated in infrastructural development through:
 Good urban planning and management
 Sustainable development
 Good roads, schools and hospital improvement
 Well informed civil society through:
 Vibrant NGOs and public servants
 Capacity building and engaging the leadership
The tenet and concept evaluated for Edo state:
“... Yet since 2009, the governor has been applauded at home and
abroad for his accomplishments in road construction and the capital
sector more generally, in internal revenue generation, and in
political succession”
-World bank, June 2015.
http://reboot.org/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Reboot_Infrastructure-Development-in-Edo-State_2015.pdf

5. SOCIALLY INCLUSIVE GOVERNANCE IN PLANNING
 The youth, through the ministry of
youth and sport.
 The women, through the ministry of
women affairs.
 The community, through the
community dev. association(CDA).
 The civil society, through the labour
unions, NGOs and organized private
sector. (E.g. Tracka -an organization
that racks government’s project
implementation to rate performance)
 The poor, through poverty alleviation
programs
Government decisions in planning in the state are
participatory and inclusive of:
Governor Adams Oshiomole host town hall meeting on
political violence in the state with some stakeholders
-October 28, 2014 ITV new Benin City.
http://www.itvradionigeria.com/news/all-news/gov-oshiomhole-hosts-town-hall-meeting-political-violence/

6. COMPLEXITIES OF URBAN CHALLENGE
 Infrastructural decay and deficit
 Dilapidated road, schools and hospitals
 Flooding
 Excessive road accident and traffic
congestion
 Rural-urban drift
 Unemployment
 Armed robbery
 Internet fraud
 Political thuggery and cultism
 Kidnapping and ransom
 Waste management troubles
These are the challenges as its were in Edo state:
http://www.nairaland.com/2559650/accident-benin-city-afternoon-graphic
A photo showing accident scene in Edo state. A result of
infrastructural deficit in the form of bad road a major urban
challenge in the state.

7. COMPLEXITIES OF URBAN CHALLENGE CONT…
Wider urban context comparison of some of these challenges
in Edo state with states in the south-south region of Nigeria:
 This shows how Edo State compares
with other states in the south-south
region of Nigeria in terms of urban
troubles
 Its tells how high population and
literacy rate can translate to
unemployment in any state in
developing countries.
 Lower literacy rate lead to high
unemployment rate.
The data above have been compiled from the world bank’s 2011 Nigeria
Socio Economic Assessment for the purpose this educational presentation.
* above categorizes the male (M) and female (F) value for adult literacy
rate as at when this assessment was done.

8. DRIVING FORCE OF URBAN CHALLENGE
 Institutional deficit of past government
 Unemployment
 Corruption of the past government
 Neglect of government responsibilities by
past government
 Poor government investment in capital
project by the past government
 Poor industrialization
 Poor population data
 Poor economic plan during the past
administration
 Rural development neglect by the past gov.
 Centralized power and resource control in the
federal harm of government
 Excessive pressure on the available amenities
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nnorth-east/208963-15-million-unemployed-youth-
disaster-waiting-happen-asuu.html
“during the aftermath of the 2014 immigration
recruitment, “…on Saturday expressed concern over the
inability of the various governments in the country to
tackle the increasing rate of youth unemployment in the
country”
-Academic Staff Union of Universities Nigeria august 2014

9. “Movement within our cities and across the state will be progressively made less
hazardous through provision and maintenance of good road networks. Particular
attention will be paid to the quality of our environment including erosion and
flood control, pollution and garbage disposal. […] We will accelerate the
installation of enduring infrastructure which will support rapid industrialization
of our state and provide massive employment opportunities.”
-Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomole
November 2008 inauguration speech
GOVERNMENT COMMITMENT
The clear promise:

10.  Job creation through:
 Improved literacy and employability of citizens
 Capacity building programmes/skill acquisition e.g. computer
training programme
 Displacement of unqualified teachers
 Employment of qualified teachers
 Free primary and secondary education
 Provision of soft loans through micro-financing
 Proper information dissemination
 Good infrastructural development through rehabilitation of:
 Schools, hospitals, roads and market.
 Urban decongestion programme through:
 Opkepe bike and marathon race completion
 Improving roads and school in rural areas
 Improved incentives to rural teachers.
 Improved public safety through:
 The enactment of rigid laws on kidnapping
 Banning motorcycle riding in the city
 Provide security vehicles and training to police
THE RESPONSE TO PROMISE AND URBAN CHALLENGES
“Consul-General of the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in
Lagos, His Excellency Ingo Herbert, says he is impressed with what
Governor Adams Oshiomhole has achieved in Edo State as Governor in
the past eight years”
-August, 2016 in news by Paschal Ezehi
http://www.edostate.gov.ng/im-impressed-with-oshiomholes-achievements-german-envoy/
The mitigation action include:

11. CONCLUSION
Good governance and planning generally translate to the prevalence of the dividend of democracy in any
egalitarian society as exemplified by the facts on ground in Edo state.
Oshiomole, A 2008, ‘inauguration speech’ presented at his inauguration day, Ogbe Stadium Benin City 12 November.
http://www.edoworld.net/ADAMS%20OSHIOMHOLE_INAUGURATION_ADDRESS_12_NOVEMBER_2008.htm
Porter, Douglas John; Rasool Cyan, Musharraf; Lee, Panthea; Brisson, Zack; Itegboje, Osione; Talsma, Adam. 2015.
Infrastructure Development in Edo State : Adapting to Constraints and Creating Capabilities. World Bank, Washington, DC. ©
World Bank. https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/21896 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.
United Nations Development Programme 1992, A UNDP Policy Document: governance for sustainable Human Development
http://www.pogar.org/publications/other/undp/governance/undppolicydoc97-e.pdf
World Bank. 2011. Nigeria - socio economic assessment. Washington, DC: World Bank.
Http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/734001468292284454/Nigeria-socio-economic-assessment
World Bank. 1992. Governance and development. Washington, DC : The World Bank.
http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/604951468739447676/Governance-and-development
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/nnorth-east/208963-15-million-unemployed-youth-disaster-waiting-happen-
asuu.html
http://www.edostate.gov.ng/im-impressed-with-oshiomholes-achievements-german-envoy/
http://www.nairaland.com/2559650/accident-benin-city-afternoon-graphic
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=edo+state+local+government+map
http://www.itvradionigeria.com/news/all-news/gov-oshiomhole-hosts-town-hall-meeting-political-violence/
Reference