Category: SouthEast

The Esogban of Benin, Chief David Edebiri, is dead. 

Edebiri, fondly called the Odiownere of Benin Kingdom, died yesterday at the age of 93 at a private hospital in Benin during a brief illness. 

A family member, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Edebiri, who would have been 94 in September, died at exactly 12:20 pm.  

“He had not been too strong and we took him to hospital a few days ago. 

“He died this afternoon (Thursday). The family will follow the protocol for formal announcement of his death,” the family member said. 

Esogban is next to the Iyase (Prime Minister) of Benin. 

His last major outing was his participation in the March 28 governorship and House of Assembly elections, where he described the February 25 presidential election as the best since he started voting in 1951. 

Edebiri had said he had never missed any election since he cast his first vote in 1951 at the age of 22.

The deceased, who was a journalist and writer, had also, in 2022, unveiled two books, entitled: “Tripod of Life: Essence of Benin Tradition and Culture” and “The Life and Times of Iyase N’Ohenmwen”, to mark his 93rd birthday.  

The Executive Chairman of Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (Edo SUBEB), Mrs. Ozavize Salami, has said World Bank is partnering the board to ensure basic education is working in Edo State. She said the partnering is also to make the state’s children to be globally competitive.

She said two top officials of World Bank “are currently in Benin, to monitor and evaluate the activities of Edo SUBEB.

Salami, accompanied by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nehikhare, and Governor Godwin Obaseki’s Special Adviser on Media Projects, Crusoe Osagie, made this known yesterday in Benin at a media parley.

She said: “In Edo SUBEB, we are building systems that will outlive and outlast us. Basic education is one of our good stories in the state. Governor Obaseki is committed to ensuring that Edo children have access to quality education.

“It is not enough for Edo children to be in school, but they must be learning, which is at the heart of Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo BEST), an initiative of Governor Obaseki, which is currently accommodating 382,000 children, with over 16,000 teachers from the 1,300 SUBEB’s schools so far trained.”

“Under the World Bank programme, Edo SUBEB ensures that all teachers take online courses for special training, and are certified for competence and capacity. Over 7,000 of the teachers have been certified, while online training is ongoing.”

The executive chairman of Edo SUBEB said the board was embarking on 181 projects in primary and junior secondary schools, to improve their infrastructure, with the contractors put on their toes, to ensure quality and timely delivery of the projects, including construction and renovation of classrooms, perimeter fencing and toilets, among others. 

Salami said Edo government was providing free education for pupils up to junior secondary 3, with the school curriculum being enriched with life skills that would make the pupils to be competitive. 

The Ijaw indigenes of Warri North Local Government of Delta State in Egbema Kingdom are planning to protest their exclusion from Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s list of nominated commissioners on the floor of the House of Assembly.

The leadership of Egbema Integrity Group (EIG), in a statement signed by Francis Abulu Esq., accused Governor Oborevwori of “erecting a government of injustice,” by appointing two persons from the council area without including an Ijaw man. 

The two Warri North indigenes who made the list are daughter of former Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Ms. Orode and Dr. Isaac Wiliky, said to be a loyalist to ex-Chairman of Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC), Michael Diden, aka Ejele. Both are Itsekiri.

The statement said the people were sad after a list of commissioners-designate surfaced, “because since the creation of Warri North Local Government, it has always been the Itsekiri occupying the position at the State Executive Council. Not until toward the end of Governor Uduaghan’s second tenure that an Ijaw, Joel Bisina, was made commissioner for six months.” 

The group said: “Egbema people have suffered political injustice in Warri North for too long, having been denied the position of House of Assembly member since the creation of the council in 1991.”

Noting that Egbema people were hopeful that the Oborevwori administration would change the narrative, the leaders said recent development, where a meeting sought with the governor “was not considered,” showed that the Ijaw of Warri North would continue to suffer the same fate.

Stressing that the local government comprised the Itsekiri (with six federal wards) and the Ijaw (with four federal wards), the Egbema leaders said the governor ought to have been sensitive to the fact that the local government was inhabited by two ethnic groups, to achieve political balance.

“Consequently, we call on sons and daughters of Egbema to come out in the days and weeks to protest it with every means legitimate. The Egbema Integrity Group cannot guarantee the smooth operation of oil companies in our area anymore, as this action has overheated the fragile peace we are experiencing in Warri North.

“We have assured our people agitated by the injustice in our area that this administration will make a difference. But what we have seen is even worse than previous administrations. So, we are in doubt our people can allow oil operations to go on smoothly. This unjust decision must not go unchallenged by lovers of justice,” the statement said. 

Akwa Ibom State Government has partnered Innoson Motors to provide affordable transportation for the citizens, to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.

Chairman of the auto manufacturing company, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, said yesterday in Uyo during a visit to Governor Umo Eno that the gesture was to alleviate the suffering of the people, following the removal of petrol subsidy. 

Governor Eno praised Chief Chukwuma for the kind gesture.

Enugu State Government has lifted suspension on the activities of the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development.

Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, said this in a statement in Enugu.

He recalled that the state government had suspended activities of the ministry, pending a review of its operations.

Onyia said: “The review carried out in the ministry included update of its security documents, staffing, fees/applicable rates and a full digitalisation project still ongoing. The public is reassured of prompt service delivery, transparency and overall improved experience in dealings with the ministry.”

“The public is urged to note that any payment not contained in the new approved schedule of fees should not be made to any member of staff. All official payments must be made into the state’s internally generated revenue (IGR) account that will be displayed in offices in the ministry.”

He added: “Please note that the ministry does not have agents or staff assigned to collect cash on its behalf for any reasons whatsoever. ‘Facilitation fees are also not encouraged, as all transactions will be treated on first come first served basis.

“If any of your applications does not receive attention within five working days, please notify the office of the Senior Special Assistant on Revenue to the Governor for review, while ensuring that you have submitted all requirements for your application and made all applicable payments to the relevant account.

“For transparency, if anyone had asked you for any facilitation fee or had requested you to pay any fee not contained in the schedule of fees in the past, going forward, please forward evidence of such to whistleblowing@Enugustate.gov.ng and it will be treated with utmost confidentiality.

“Authorisation of all Certificates of Occupancies and government allocations still reside with His Excellency, the Governor of Enugu State, in accordance with the law.”

The Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, has said the recent outburst against the commission by former Governor Nyesom Wike portrays his desire for a positive change in the commission.

Wike recently described the commission as Niger Delta Cash cow, lamenting that NDDC had failed to pursue legacy projects that could transform the region. 

But Ogbuku, who spoke in Port Harcourt while interacting with reporters, commended Wike for the milestones he achieved in urban centre modernization, saying his remarks about the NDDC would motivate the commission to positively change the narrative.

Ogbuku, who was in company with the NDDC Executive Director, Finance and Administration, Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, (retd), and other directors, 

 said establishing an effective and sustainable corporate governance system and Key Performance Indicators (KPI) would be a game changer for NDDC 

“We will not take issues with former Governor Nyesom Wike. He has done well for the people of Rivers State, especially in the area of urban modernisation. Rather, we are spurred by his comments to change the narrative about the NDDC positively”, he said.

Ogbuku insisted that having an effective corporate governance system in place was key to the future successes and sustainability of the NDDC.

 The NDDC Chief Executive Officer affirmed that the commission was laying a solid foundation for impactful development of the Niger Delta region; strengthening Public-Private Partnerships and ensuring that its projects and programmes were aligned with the needs and aspirations of the people of the region.

He said: “In the past six months, NDDC has been engaged in building a sustainable foundation to ensure we run on a smooth and right track. We are working to put in place a corporate governance system that will enable the commission run in accordance with global best practices.

“Once there is corporate governance system, you cannot beat it. That means you must be subjected to the processes and procedures. That is the game changer for us. We want to regulate ourselves internally that is why we must establish a corporate governance system.

 “Whenever we go out seeking partnerships, one thing these prospective partners and donor agencies look for is our internal control system. We are willing to be internally regulated. So, we need to establish a corporate governance system and we are talking with KPMG, a reputable global business consultancy, to help us establish a sustainable corporate governance system.”

He disclosed that the commission’s leadership was looking at legacy projects to quickly complete and commission. 

Ogbuku said the NDDC under him was considering the construction of a dam to cushion the hazard of flood disaster in the Niger Delta region.

He said the project would impact positively on such states like Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom, which are more prone to floods in the region.

Ogboku said these three states are always at the receiving end during every flood season, noting that the proposed dam would go a long way in ameliorating the disaster.

“One of these projects is the construction of the 3.65-kilometre Okrika-Borokiri Road with three bridges connecting Kolabi, Abotoru and Okpoka creeks to Port Harcourt”.

 He explained that the Borikiri-Okrika road was valued at N16.7bn when it was conceived about 11 years ago, saying with variation it was bound to surpass that sum. 

He said: “The value of that contract was about N16.7bn when it was awarded in 2012. But you just understand that between 2012 and now the value must have gone up.

“So, part of our discussion with the contractor and the consultant was for us to see the variation and the present review cost and the rest of them. But in spite of the variation we are ready to move ahead.

“So, we are also in discussion with the state government to look at possible ways of partnership if they are open to partnership in completing that project so that we don’t have conflict on the project.

“For us in the NDDC we are willing to start and complete the project (Borikiri-Okrika Road).But for good fate, we are also open to partnership so we don’t have conflict on the project.

“That project is here in Rivers State. Today we just met the contractor and the consultants and they have assured us that if the funds are made available, they can finish that project in two years.

“We have also committed them that we have also committed them that we are willing to finish that project in two years if they are ready and we have to make the funds available.

“That is one of the projects we want to finish in record time. So, we are going to undertake that project. The contractor has assured us that by next week he is going to be on site.

“We have assured him that funding will not be his problem, so long as he is committed to that two years record time of completion of that project.”

• Dismisses NNPP’s petition

Cross River State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has dismissed a petition filled by the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), to challenge Governor Bassey Otu’s victory.

NNPP and its governorship candidate, Wilfred Bonse, had approached the tribunal seeking to nullify the governorship election.

The crux of their petition was hinged on substantial non-compliance with the 2022 Electoral Act.

The party sought a declaration by the court that the non-inclusion of the party’s logo on the ballot paper used for the poll was unlawful.

Read Also : Bassey Otu: From mythical Phoenix to servant leader 

The NNPP also wanted a declaration by the tribunal that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should conduct a fresh governorship election.

It sought an order nullifying the poll for failure to include the logo of the party, in line with an extant judgment by a Federal High Court and an Appeal Court.

The party wanted the certificate of return issued to Governor Otu to be withdrawn.

However, in a unanimous judgment, Justice Oken Inneh said the petitioners failed to establish that their candidate was lawfully excluded and dismissed the case in its entirety.

She said the petitioners only called two witnesses out of over 3,000 polling units and their testimonies were inconsistent.

She added that the NNPP did not name the candidate who was substituted and INEC did not monitor it’s primary, in line with the Electoral Act.

The tribunal awarded a cost of one million naira each in favour of the respondents.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has called for preparation against national emergencies and disasters such as massive floods, to reduce the impacts and damages in terms of loss of lives and property.

Following the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) forecasts in 2023, the country is anticipating catastrophic floods across states this year.

Chief Executive Officer of the commission, Gbenga Komolafe, spoke on the sidelines of the Nigeria Special Annual QHSSE and Risk Managers Hybrid Congress & 4th Annual Emergency Preparedness Week/Exhibitions of the Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Risk Management, held in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State.

He said the NUPRC had given priority to preparedness for emergency occurrences in the oil and gas industry, and had put in place the requisite logistics to handle such emergency situations in the sector.

Komolafe, represented by the Bayelsa Field Coordinator, NUPRC, Bighoro Sylvester, said: “As it relates to the upstream sector that the commission regulates, we have details of our workers in the offshore and offshore safety permit.

“We even have Emergency Response Centre (ERC) and we have been doing our best. The commission is prepared to handle any emergency that happens within the industry.”

He noted that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) had vested the commission with the responsibility of ensuring regulations for the management of emergency situations in the oil and gas industry.

“If you look at the Petroleum Industry Act very well, you will see that we are saddled with the responsibility of evolving regulations to take care of emergencies, the environment and all these are part of our functions,” Komolafe said.

The NUPRC boss said the agency, as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), donated relief materials to victims of the monster floods in Bayelsa last year, to reduce people’s sufferings.

Speaking about the essence of the institute’s annual emergency forum, Komolafe said the imperatives of emergency, crisis, disaster and risk management required sufficient understanding for the planning and execution of emergency response.

Ebonyi State House of Assembly has passed into law, a bill for the establishment of Boundary and Allied Matters Commission. 

The passage took place at the House of Assembly complex, Nkaliki Road, Abakaliki during plenary session presided over by the Speaker, Chief Moses Odunwa. 

The law deemed to have come into force on July 18, 2023 will be cited as the Ebonyi State Boundary and Allied Matters Commission (Establishment) and Related Matters Law 2023. 

Speaking earlier about the bill, the Leader of the House of Assembly, Kingsley Ikoro and Chief Whip, Nkemka Okoro Onumah, highlighted the importance of the bill.

They said the establishment of the commission was apt, given the regular and degrees of intra and inter communal crises, which had resulted in wanton killing and destruction of properties across the state.

They urged their colleagues to ensure the bill was given accelerated passage. 

The member representing Izzi West Constituency, Godwin Abiri, said the commission, if established, would define and delineate inter and intra local government area or council boundaries, in accordance with the delineation instruments or documents established for that purpose. 

Lending their voices, the member representing Afikpo South East Constituency, Stephen Oji Igwe and the lawmaker representing Ezza South, Friday Ogbuewu, said the commission would liaise with the boundary committees of neighbouring states with a view to taking joint measures that would promote inter community relationship. 

The Deputy Whip, Arinze Chukwu, and a member representing Ebonyi North West, Nwodo Aloysius, were of the opinion that the bill would encourage and promote joint inter community development ventures among border dwellers and evolve measures for joint utilisation of amenities along local government boundaries within the state. 

The leadership of the Abia State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has challenged Governor Alex Otti to publish the names of the 2,300 ghost workers he said his Labour Party (LP) administration has uncovered in the ongoing verification.

PDP in a statement by its Acting Publicity Secretary and Vice Chairman Abia North, Abraham Amah, accused Otti of attempting to bring ex-Governor Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu and the PDP to public scorn.

According to Amah, the purported discovery of ghost workers without any accompanying proof of the names and account numbers of the said ghost beneficiaries was not only childish, but also a plot in futility.