Edo State Police Command has said it would deploy 730 security personnel for the 32nd edition of the National Festival for Arts and Culture (NAFEST) scheduled to begin Saturday in Edo state.
This is the first time Edo State would be hosting the event in 40 years.
The CP said those deployed included operatives from the Nigeria Police Marine base to secure the water ways, anti-cultism unit, anti-kidnapping unit, cybercrime, special anti-robbery and officers from the State Criminal Intelligence Department.
State Police Commissioner, Danmallam Abubakar, in a press statement, said adequate security for NAFEST was being done in collaboration with other sister security agencies.
Abubakar said the security measures were to ensure hitch free exercise.
Meanwhile, Benin City, the Edo State capital is wearing a new look.
Historical monuments like the famous Igun Street, Oba Akenzua cultural centre and others have been given facelift.
About five countries, Cameroun, Ghana, France, Togo and Cote de Voire, have indicated interest to participate in the event expected to attract 500,000 visitors.
Edo State Commissioner for Arts, Cuture and Tourism, Mr. Osemwengie Ero disclosed this when he commissioned a newly built four star Pleasant Hill Signature Hotel penciled to host many of the guests visiting Bénin City for NAFEST.
He said the commissioning of the hotel aligned with Governor Godwin Obaseki’s policy of creating enabling environment for private businesses to thrive.
According to him, “We are expecting a lot of visitors coming into Edo. People from the 35 states and the FCT will be in Edo and six countries have identified interest to come in to join us.
“This time the Oba of Bénin will be celebrating his third year anniversary so Edo will be filled with beehive of activities. When the visitors come in they stay in hotels. The more hotels we have the better for us. That is what Governor Obaseki is doing by creating enabling environment for businesses to thrive. For entrepreneurs to thrive.
“We need more hotels. We have over 500,000 people coming in for NAFEST. We have only 1000 hotels in Bénin City. The more hotels we have to accommodate people, the better. We will support them to make sure they sustain what we see here. We are working closely with entrepreneurs to make sure they remain in business.”
Owner of the hotel, Mrs Esther Aderibigbe said she built the hotel after visiting many hotels across the world.
She said she built it to international standard that would accommodate all classes of people across the world. She said “We prefer to build hotel we have seen in other parts of the world. We have traveled to all parts of the world and we decided to bring the best hotel here.”