The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Benin

  • Two injured in clash between Hausa labourers, Benin youths

    Two persons have been hospitalized following a clash between Hausa labourers and youths of Idunwin-Ehigie at Egba junction along the Benin-Auchi express road.

    The injured persons were identified as Osas, a Vulcanizer and Hameed.

    A mosque and the Nasrul Lahi L Fatih Society (NAFSAT) Education Centre in the area were vandalised.

    The Hausa boys involved in the attack were those looking for menial jobs and they used to gather at Egba junction.

    It was gathered that they were there on Tuesday when Osas and other youths asked them to leave to another place.

    The labourers who were armed with their working tools like cutlasses, shovels, diggers resisted them and in the melee, Osas was stabbed.

    Other youths peeved by the stabbing unleashed attack on the labourers which made motorists and shop owners scampered for safety.

    Read Also: Hairdresser stabs friend with broken bottle over cassava flakes

    The youths chased the Hausa labourers away.

    Chairman of NAFSAT Benin branch, Dr. Isiaka Mustapha, who led other members to ascertain the level of destruction said the perpetrators would be arrested.

    Odionwere (Village head) of the community, Pa. John Aghimien, said the daily increase of the Hausa labourers is causing problem in the community.

    Pa Aghimien said they were armed and took over the junction in search of jobs.

    Edo Police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed the incident said three persons have been arrested.

    He said peace has been restored to the community.

    Checks by our reporter showed that many shop owners were still afraid of opening their stores while the labourers were not seen around.

  • Cultism: 4 Brigade denies report of arrest of officer in Edo

    The 4 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Benin has denied some media reports on the arrest of an officer of the Brigade for suspected cultism in Edo.

    This was contained in a statement issued by Capt. Mohammed Maidawa, an Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, and made available to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Benin on Sunday.

    According to Maidawa, “the attention of the Headquarters 4 Brigade Nigerian Army has been drawn to a media publication dated 23 March, 2019.

    “In the said publication, it was alleged that Private Igbavboa Lucky and not Private Opiri Stephen as erroneously published was alleged to have been arrested and paraded by the State Police Command for cultism activities.

    “For emphasis, Nigerian Army (NA) is a professional organisation with extant policies that regulates the conduct of its personnel. It does not allow any of its personnel to belong to any confraternity such as cult groups and related associations.

    “Consequently, any of its personnel who cross the red line in this regard will face the full rigours of military discipline.”

    He further said that the alleged case of Private Igbavboa Lucky who was arrested was an isolated case.

    Read also: Ondo violence: Group seeks compensation for victims

    He also said that preliminary investigation had revealed that the suspect was not personnel of 4 Brigade Nigerian Army but a deserter from 101 Special Force, Borno since January.

    “Thus, his conduct is a complete negation of the minimum behavioural conduct expected from personnel of the Nigerian Army.

    “I also wish to use this medium to appeal to journalists to verify their stories before publication in order to avoid negative reportage capable of bringing the image of the Brigade or the NA into disrepute.

    “The public should be rest assured that the case will be thoroughly investigated and the military justice system will take its course,” Maidawa said. (NAN)

  • Obaseki warns against disruption of activities at Benin Central Mosque

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has warned against disruption of prayers and other religious activities at the Benin Central Mosque, insisting that persons or groups found disturbing the area will be dealt with accordingly.

    The governor gave the warning during a meeting with Muslim leaders in the state led by Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kabiru Adjoto and the Otaru of Auchi, His Royal Highness (HRH) Alhaji Aliru Momoh Ikelebe III at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State.

    Obaseki noted that he was aware of the leadership tussle at the Benin Central Mosque involving Alhaji Edosomwan and Alhaji Enabulele, adding that he refused to interfere, with the hope that both parties will resolve their differences internally.

    “As a government, we saw the development, challenges, and crisis as an internal matter that needed to be settled by members of the faith. The death of Alhaji Edosomwan should have naturally resolved the matter but I was disappointed that the crisis continued. I am glad that the issue has been addressed,” he said.

    The governor continued, “I will inform the Director of State Security (DSS) to make adequate security arrangement at the Benin Central Mosque to stop the disruption of prayers and other activities.”

    Assuring the Muslim community of his administration’s support, he urged them to go about the practice of their faith peacefully, adding, “Let me warn at this point that anybody or party that disrupts activities at the Benin Central Mosque henceforth will be dealt with according to the law.”

    Governor Obaseki also commended the Otaru of Auchi and other Muslim leaders in the state on how the leadership tussle was handled and the subsequent turbanning of Alhaji Fatai Enabulele, as Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque.

    “You have done what the faith asked you to do by turbanning Imam Fatai Enabulele as the Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, so be it. The government has no choice but to recognise him as the Chief Imam,” he noted.

    Obaseki expressed confidence in the leadership of the Otaru of Auchi and Alhaji Kabiru Adjoto, adding that he will continue to consult them for advice relating to affairs of Muslims in the state.

    The Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Momoh Ikelebe III, explained what was responsible for the leadership tussle at the Benin Central Mosque, noting that the tussle has been laid to rest with the death of Alhaji Edosomwan.

    He condemned the disruption of activities at the Benin Central Mosque, noting that a true Muslim should not subscribe to thuggery.

  • Brave children stop robbers/kidnappers

    Two children have demonstrated bravado by stopping two armed robbers and kidnappers who attempted to make away with their father’s car.

    The two children locked the car steering with the robbers, which made the car to hit a wall and somersaulted.

    It was gathered the father of the children simply identified as Doctor had parked to drop his children at the Brother Pius Nursery and Primary School along Akenzua Street off Airport road in Bénin City when the two robbers asked him to step out of the car.

    The man stepped out and the two robbers/kidnappers entered the car and drove off with the children inside.

    Sources said children engaged the robbers/kidnappers inside the car and it veered off the road and hit a wall of a building before it somersaulted.

    The two robbers managed to escape while sympathisers rescued the children currently receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital.

    Edo police spokesman, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed the incident, said one of the robbers was pushed out of the vehicle by the children.

    DSP Nwabuzor said the two suspects escaped and that the children did not sustain any injury.

    He said efforts are on to arrest the fleeing robbers.

  • Obaseki’s Ward Devt. Committees: Expert lauds initiative

    The Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration’s creation of ward development committees in identifying and providing tailored solutions to peculiar problems in rural communities in Edo State has been lauded as novel and a participatory approach to governance that will engender robust grassroots-driven development.

    The submission was made by a development expert in a chat with journalists in Benin, the Edo State capital.

    According to the expert, the development model will ensure that projects and development efforts by government “do not fly over the heads of the people, but align with their peculiar needs.”

    The development expert, who has done extensive work on development trends in Sub-Saharan Africa, Wilfred Aisosa, described the government’s Ward Development Committee as a bottom-to-top approach to governance, aimed at spreading developmental projects and improving the wellbeing of the people.

    He noted that governor Obaseki’s governance style would deepen people-centered development.

    “This is a new paradigm in governance, which I recommend for governments across all levels to adopt. Just like what we have seen Governor Obaseki doing, where instead of government imposing projects on people, the people are given the latitude through their representatives in the Ward Development Committees, to submit a list of felt needs.”

    He continued, “The only reason why development has remained elusive in most developing countries especially in Africa for decades, is simply because the people are not allowed to make input into projects executed for them.

    “So, what you end up doing is having projects here and there, which are not in line with the needs of the people.”

    Aisosa added that the approach adopted by the Edo State Government will take governance directly to people at the grassroots, “where the people themselves will decide on the projects they think will benefit them the most.

  • Arik Air notifies passengers of flight disruptions

    The management of Arik Air says there will be slight disruption of flights during the Yuletide, due to  operational issues and adverse weather conditions.

    In a statement signed by the airline’s media consultant, Mr Simon Tumba on Thursday in Lagos, the airline said the adverse weather would affect coastal areas, especially Benin, Enugu, Asaba and Warri.

    “Therefore some flights may either be rescheduled or cancelled, subject to aircraft and airport closure time constraints.

    “We regret the inconveniences this disruption will cause our customers and want to assure them of our sincere efforts to reducing the impact to the barest minimum.

    “Our staff shall contact customers affected by this disruption, making alternative arrangements for them or refunds as the case may be,” Tumba said.

    He assured passengers that the airline considered their safety and that of its crew as paramount, adding that the airline would only operate safe and secure flights.

    Tumba said all hands are also on deck to make all flight experiences pleasurable.

    Read Also: Arik Air resumes Warri flights

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) had on Nov. 25 issued an Advisory Circular to all pilots and airline operators to take certain precautions, due to the adverse weather conditions.

    The circular, signed by the Director General of the NCAA, Capt. Muhtar Usman, urged them to adhere to the Nigerian Civil Aviation Regulations (Nig.CARs) during flight operations in adverse weather conditions.

  • FG housing programme: Minister lauds pace of work in Benin

    The Minister of State  for Power, Works and Housing, Mr Mustapha Shehuri, has lauded the pace of work at the site of the National Housing Programme in Edo.

    Shehuri gave the commendation on Friday in Benin during an inspection of ongoing Federal Government’s project in the state.

    He said that the achievement recorded so far in the state and the pledge by the contractors to complete the project by the end of December was a welcome development.

    The minister urged the contractors to live up to their promises, adding that the programme was in line with the federal government’s efforts to provide affordable housing to Nigerians.

    He pledged that the government would continue to support committed and hardworking members of staff to achieve its goals adding that the project was being undertaken in the 36 states of the federation.

    Shehuri said that the national housing programme was part of the campaign promises of President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver affordable housing to Nigerians.

    Read Also: Benin wears new look for Buhari’s visit

    Mrs Evelyn Ani-Otoibhi, the National Housing Programme Team Leaders in Edo, said the project, consisting of houses and infrastructure was commenced in February 2017.

    She said that the housing project was made up of 28 units of two-bedroom bungalows, 16 units of three-bedroom bungalows and a three storey condominium consisting 24 flats.

    The team leader said that construction of roads, provision of electricity and motorised boreholes were ongoing in the site.

    Ani-Otoibhi said that the entire project had attained between 80 and 100 per cent completion and that the 15 contractors had pledged to hand over the building by December ending.

    She said that it was 100 per cent local content-based, adding that the contractors, suppliers and artisans were all sourced locally.

     

    NAN

  • Nigeria contributes $710m to ECOWAS, more than 13 countries

    Nigeria has contributed more money to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) than 13 other Members states put together in the last 12 years, statistics have shown.

    Statistics on payment of the Community Levy obtained by our correspondent showed that between 2003 and 2015, Nigeria paid $710, 497,352, equivalent to 480, 355,205 West Africa Units of Account (UA).

    The West Africa UA is the official nominal monetary unit of measure or currency used to represent the real value.

    The document was presented by the ECOWAS Commission as part of the Status of the Community report during an Extra Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Parliament.

    In the same period, 13 other countries contributed a cumulative amount of 697. 947 million dollars.

    The countries are Benin, Burkina Faso, Cabo Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Gambia, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Senegal Sierra Leone and Togo.

    Out of the 13 countries mentioned, Guinea Bissau contributed the least amount of 3. 107 million dollars followed by The Gambia with 11. 171 million dollars and Cabo Verde with 12.879 million dollars.

    Within the period, Sierra Leone contributed 19. 632 million; Liberia 29. 988 million dollars,; Guinea 31. 101 million; Niger 37. 788 million ,; Togo $48. 961 and Cote d’Ivoire $54. 173 million.

    Benin Republic contributed a total of $76. 147 million; Mali paid $93. 538 million; Burkina Faso with $105. 278 million; while Senegal paid $174. 177 million.

    Read Also:ECOWAS Mission to help secure Guinea Bissau’s polls

    The highest paying country after Nigeria is Ghana which paid $327. 976 million within the same period.

    According to the statistics, a total of $1. 736 billion was contributed within the period by all 15 member states, with Nigeria paying 40.9 per cent of the amount.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the budget for each financial year is met by the member states through their contributions to the Community Levy, a 0.5 per cent tax imposed on goods from non-ECOWAS countries.

    The national customs administrations of member states are responsible for “assessment and collection” of the levy and daily record “accounts of amounts received”.

    However, the contributions by Nigeria is not equivalent to the weight it pulls in the sub-regional body, especially in the Parliament.

    For instance, out of the 35 seats allocated to Nigeria in the Parliament, many of the representatives are usually absent during plenary.

    At the plenary in May 2018, only four members out of 35 were present on the day Nigeria presented its Country Report.

    Also, during its recent ongoing Second Ordinary Session, less than 10 were present for the aforementioned presentation.

    The absenteeism by Nigerians also got the attention the Bureau of Parliament and other members who expressed displeasure at the attitude of the Nigerians.

    Some representatives from Nigeria also admitted that the attitude had become worrisome and needed to be addressed.

    Hon. Shehu Garba who briefed newsmen after the presentation by Nigeria at the on-going session, said that it was time the leadership of the delegation intervened and deployed people who had time for parliament’s activities.

  • Nigeria, Benin to work closely on joint border facility, says Buhari

    PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has pledged that Nigeria will work closely with the Republic of Benin to ensure the success of the newly inaugurated Seme-Krake joint border post between both countries.

    Speaking at the official handing over ceremony of the joint border post yesterday in Seme, Buhari described the project, which is aimed at enhancing the free movement of persons and goods in the region, as  “a symbol of integration that brings together the people of Nigeria and Benin”.

    He said: “Indeed, the Seme-Krake joint border is one of the busiest boundary lines not only in West Africa but the whole continent, daily recording huge movement of persons, goods and services.

    “Permit me, therefore, to congratulate my brother, President Patrice Talon of the Republic of Benin on the successful completion of this magnificent project.

    “As we all know, Nigeria and Benin share many things in common. Hence, the establishment of the joint border post will certainly promote our brotherliness and emphasise our common interest.”

    On the benefits of the joint border post, which sits on 17 hectares of land, the President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, noted that it would enhance trade facilitation by combining border clearance activities in a single location, increase cooperation and coordination of controls, in addition to fostering data and intelligence sharing between Nigeria and Benin Republic.

    “The border post is strategically important and lies on the Lagos-Cotonou-Lome-Accra-Abidjan corridor, which accounts for about 70 per cent of the entire transit traffic in the sub-region.

    “The corridor is also part of the Trans-African Highway network.  This joint border post with modern enabling facilities is a flagship project in ECOWAS and a good example of regional public assets with a spill-over range of benefits,” he said.

    He also expressed optimism that the facilities at the border post would improve the working conditions of border officials and make them more efficient and effective in carrying out their duties.

    He urged border officials of both countries to ensure that their operations were carried out within the guiding principles of ECOWAS.

    Appreciating the financial commitment of the European Union Commission to the project and the contributions of the ECOWAS Commission towards its successful completion, Buhari noted that inadequate transport infrastructure and inefficient services were some of the major bottlenecks to the attainment of socio-economic growth and integration in the region.

    In his capacity as the Chairperson of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, the President also thanked the EU for supporting two other joint borders at Malanville (between Benin/Niger) and Noepe-Akanu (between Ghana/Togo).

  • Water expert says dehydration causes memory loss

    Dr Jide Owolana, the Chief Medical Director, Living Standard Hospital, Benin, said on Tuesday said that dehydration of the human body could lead to memory loss.

    Owolana, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Benin, also said humans should reduce the amount of soft drinks and alcohol they take.

    The medical expert expressed regret that Nigerians had replaced drinking water with soft drinks and alcohol consumption at every meal they took.

    According to him, the need for drinking a lot of water is important, explaining that women are supposed to drink 90 ounces (11 cups) of water per day while men are supposed to take 125 ounces (16 cups) per day.

    Dr Jide said the recommended water consumption could vary based on age, weight, sex and the climate.

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    The Chief Medical Director said that dehydration could cause mood swings, reduce cognitive and motor skills, memory loss and made one more sensitive to pain.

    He said the increased consumption of water would increase the brain power and provide energy, promote healthy weight management and weight loss.

    Others are flush out toxins, improve complexion, prevent headache, cramps and sprains.