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Tag: Edo State government

  • Human trafficking: Edo plans permanent shelters for returnees

    Human trafficking: Edo plans permanent shelters for returnees

    The Edo State Government has said that there are plans to construct permanent shelters for returnee Edo indigenes who were victims of human trafficking and irregular migration.

    Secretary of the Edo State Taskforce on Anti-Human Trafficking, Mrs. Abieyuwa Onyemwense, who disclosed this in a chat with journalists, in Benin City, said that such a facility was necessary to fast-track short, medium and long-term objectives of rehabilitating and reintegrating the returnees.

    She explained that the state government already has a robust plan on reintegrating and rehabilitating the returnees, who the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the Federal and State Governments, have facilitated their return to the state.

    Onyemwense noted that the approach to receiving the returnees by the state government are far-reaching, which includes medicals, payment of stipends, capacity building and provision of starter-packs, reunion with families and regular monitoring and follow-ups.

    She said, “The returnees need a lot of guidance. We have a security team that does background checks right from when we receive them at the airports. There was a recent video of a lady that was threatening to take to arms that went viral; we tracked her down and now she is working very closely with us. So, the system is so robust to spotlight issues and resolve them as quickly as possible.”

    According to her, “We are looking at building permanent shelters for the returnees. It is one of the initiatives of the Edo State Government to see an end to this menace. With that, we can do so much.”

    Noting that the centre will serve to harmonise several activities and campaigns against irregular migration and human trafficking, she said, “We intend to run short, medium and long term programmes for the returnees. This will enable us follow through with the resettlement programme and ensure that we achieve 100 percent success in resettling the returnees.”

    Read Also: Human trafficking: Edo reiterates commitment to end menace

  • Agripreneur project: Edo calls for maize, cassava, rice off-takers  

    Agripreneur project: Edo calls for maize, cassava, rice off-takers  

    The Edo State Government has called for off-takers of maize, cassava and rice harvest from farmers under its Agripreneur project in the coming planting season.

    In a statement in Benin City, the Special Adviser to Edo State Governor on Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security Programme, Hon. Prince Joe Okojie, said the state government is committed to linking off-takers to farmers to reduce post-harvest losses and guarantee investments in agriculture in the state.

    The state government initiated the agripreneur programme to engage youths in agribusiness, provided them with land, assisted in farm management and facilitated access to high-yielding crop varieties and other inputs. The programme was piloted in 2017 with some of the farmers located at the Sobe Farm settlement.

    According to Okojie, “The off-takers would mop up the harvest from the farms, and we can assure that the produce would be of the best quality because we are working with experts to train the farmers on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) and also supply the best of inputs to ensure that the produce meet standards.

    “This is also another avenue for the state governor to ensure that the youths going into agriculture are assured of buyers and aggregators for their produce, so that they are motivated to stay on the farms and are assured of returns from their investment.”

    The Agripreneur Project is part of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s Accelerated Agriculture Initiatives, through which 5,000 hectares of farmland would be cultivated. About 1,000 hectares was cultivated last year which provided employment for 200 youths in the state. Over 2,000 hectares of land have been cleared, much of which will be included in the agripreneur programme this year.

  • Edo partners NIGCOMSAT on deployment of e-learning facilities in schools

    Edo partners NIGCOMSAT on deployment of e-learning facilities in schools

    The Edo State Government has commenced negotiations with the Nigerian Communications Satellite Limited (NIGCOMSAT) for the provision of e-learning facilities in schools across the state.

    Commissioner for Science and Technology, Hon. Emmanuel Agbale, disclosed this in a chat with journalists shortly after a meeting between the state government officials and representatives of NIGCOMSAT, at the Government House, Benin City on Monday.

    Agbale said the state government was fine-tuning details of the partnership, adding, “Godwin Obaseki led-administration means business with the plan to deploy technology in enhancing teaching and learning in schools across the state.”

    According to him, “The state government is partnering with NIGCOMSAT because it has the capacity to provide solutions required for the deployment of technologies for teaching and learning in schools. NIGCOMSAT will also organise the training of teachers to manage the ICT facilities to be deployed in schools.

    “We have concluded arrangement for capacity building and development of science and Information and Communication Technology labs in schools across the state, already.”

    On his part, Executive Director, Marketing and Business Development, NIGCOMSAT, Mr. Samson Osagie, said NIGCOMSAT provides satellite services and solutions to improve teaching and learning in schools.

    He said, “NIGCOMSAT is ready to assist Governor Obaseki to develop science, technology and innovation to deliver effective governance in the state.”

    Osagie added that the partnership with Edo State Government was part of the pilot scheme of NIGCOMSAT to showcase its potential in providing seamless connectivity and satellite communication solutions, noting, “The deployment of e-learning facilities for teaching and learning in primary and secondary schools would raise the quality and standard of education in the state.”

  • 302 Libya returnees graduate from Edo govt capacity building programme

    302 Libya returnees graduate from Edo govt capacity building programme

    To ease their re-integration into society, the Edo State Government has graduated 302 returnees from Libya from her capacity building and skills development programme.

    Chairperson, Edo State Task Force Against Human Trafficking, and Commissioner for Justice/ Attorney General in Edo State, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe, at the ceremony to mark the end of the two-week vocational and technical training programme, said “the graduation marks the first step in preparing the returnees on the path to becoming successful entrepreneurs and employers of labour.”

    The second batch of graduands from the programme were trained on beadmaking, make-up and basic sewing, and their graduation is coming few months after the first set of returnees were trained on agribusiness and provided with 150 hectares of land and 100 million start-up fund to ease their settling into society.

    According to Omorogbe, “163 of the returnees acquired skills in make-up; 92 in basic sewing, while 47 were trained in the art of beadmaking.”

    She charged the graduands to be ambassadors of Edo State and expressed delight at the success of the programme. She said the state government will assist returnees who have successfully acquired skills in different trades to enable them set-up small-scale businesses through which they can provide for themselves and employ others.

    Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Edo State Governor on Anti-Human Trafficking and Illegal Migration, Mr. Solomon Okoduwa said, “The graduation ceremony has further demonstrated the commitment and interest of the state government in the fight against human trafficking and irregular migration in the state.”

    He added, “Mr. Godwin Obaseki has shown that he will keep his promise to assist the returnees and reintegrate them into the society by providing them with sustainable means of livelihood.”

    Okoduwa said that the graduands will be organised into co-operatives, which will enable them access credit facilities at zero-percent interest. He noted that “all the graduands will be required to register with the cooperative. Their progress will be monitored to see how they will put credits into good use. It will also help us breed entrepreneurs and employers of labour.”

    A bank manager, who is also one of the facilitators, Mr. Michael Adetola, urged the returnees to apply financial discipline as they set up their businesses, stressing, “Financial discipline plays important role in managing small businesses. Without it, one makes wrong decisions, which account for the failure of most small businesses.

  • Edo govt to construct 25 new roads

    Edo govt to construct 25 new roads

    The Edo State Government has earmarked 25 new roads for construction across the state in the coming weeks, as it intensifies efforts to deliver projects that will transform the socio-economic landscape of the state.

    Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq., disclosed this during a chat with journalists, in Benin City, Edo State.

    He said, “The state government led by Godwin Obaseki will deliver on its mandate to transform infrastructure across the state. In the coming weeks, 25 new roads have been earmarked for construction, by the state government.”

    He added that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration has provided leadership capable of transforming the state into an economic hub.

    “The governor knows how to pull resources for the benefit of a great majority of Edo people. As an investment banker, he is someone who knows how to manage resources to drive socio-economic growth through infrastructural development.”

    On the forthcoming local council polls, Ogie said that he has no doubt that candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) will all be elected, noting “with the effort made by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Governor Obaseki in transforming the state, I am confident that Edo people will vote massively for APC candidates at the polls.”

    On security in the state, the SSG said the state government takes security of lives and property across the state seriously, which accounts for why it is considered as safest in the South-South region.

    “The increasing number of investors visiting the state is a pointer to the fact that the state has the best security arrangement in the region. Embassies have security reports from every part of the country for foreign investors. That they indicate interest to do business in Edo shows that our security report is favourable for investors.”

    He added that the state government will continue to improve on the security architecture and ensure investors get benefit from siting their companies in the state.

  • Justice Olubor heads 5-man panel on Youth/Police clash in Edo

    Justice Olubor heads 5-man panel on Youth/Police clash in Edo

    The Edo State Government has appointed a five-man administrative panel of inquiry headed by Justice J. O. Olubor to unravel the immediate and remote causes of the death of one David Okinabo, which consequently led to a clash between some Police officers and youths in Upper Igun area in Oredo Local Government Area of the state which occurred on Tuesday, February 6.

    Besides, another panel to investigate a gas explosion in Ugbor Road axis of Benin City, has also been constituted.

    In a statement on Friday, the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, Esq., explained that the administrative panel of inquiry on the clash between police officers and youths in Upper Igun will be chaired by Hon. Justice J. O. Olubor. Other members of the panel include, “former Deputy Commissioner of Police, Joseph Okpoloa (Rtd); Osagie Obayuwana, Esq.; Retired Colonel David Imuse and Mr. Dupe Ojo.

    “The panel will among other things, examine the circumstances that led to the fatal clash between some men of the Mobile Police and angry youths at Upper Igun area in Benin City, Edo State capital. It will establish the number of persons who died or sustained injuries during the clash and the culpability of any person or group in bearing responsibility for the incident,” he said.

    The state also constituted a five-man administrative panel of inquiry to unravel the immediate and remote cause of a gas explosion in the Ugbor road axis of Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    According to the SSG, the panel is to “determine if the requisite statutory and regulatory conditions precedent were complied with in the siting, construction and operation of the said gas facility leading up to the reported explosion.”

    Members of the panel include a Professor of Thermo-fluid mechanics, Prof. Asalor James; Professor of Environmental Sciences, Prof. Anthony Ogbeibu; Eng. John Odorido; Mrs. Oduwa Ajese, and a representative of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

    Ogie said that the panel would also establish the full extent of death(s) and or injury arising from the incident and the effectiveness or otherwise of the response of the Emergency Response Law Enforcement Agencies and Health Service providers to the incident and treatment of victims.

    He said the panel would also “establish the culpability of any person, group, corporation or entity in bearing responsibility for the incident. They are to also make recommendations to government on measures to be taken to avoid a repetition of similar tragic incident in future.”

  • Herdsmen/farmers ‘clash: Edo bans night-grazing

    Herdsmen/farmers ‘clash: Edo bans night-grazing

    Edo State Government has banned night grazing, the carrying of guns by herdsmen and has set up a seven-man committee in each of the 18 Local Government Areas in the state to check clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

    The seven-man committee will include the chairmen or heads of the LGAs, the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs), representatives of State Security Service and four representatives from the communities in the state.

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, who presided over a stakeholders’ meeting with the Serikis Hausa/Fulani from the 18 LGAs in the state, charged the committee to “review all cases of herdsmen/farmer clashes in all the local government areas.”

    He said the State Government would release the report of clashes between herdsmen and farmers in the state to the committees for review.

    He explained: “The committees will ensure the registration of all the Seriki’s Fulani in every community across all the local government areas and the Seriki Fulani will liaise with everyone rearing cattle in the area.”

    According to the governor, there will be another committee that will be headed by him (the governor) and members of the committee will include the State Commissioner of Police, the Director of the State Security Service in the state, the Commander of 4 Brigade with other members drawn from the communities across the three senatorial districts in the state.

    Obaseki noted, “Every three months we will meet with representatives of the local government committees to review and examine the progress being made in resolving the herdsmen/farmers’ clashes in the state.”

    He added: “A special team made up of the Police, Army, Civil Defence Corps and other security agencies in the state will carry out random patrols and search operations. Any herdsman found possessing firearms will be arrested and charged with illegal possession of firearms as cattle rearers do not need an AK 47 to herd cattle.

    “We will not accept anyone with firearms and anyone found with arms will face the law. We need information to succeed in this fight and information is vital to the police and other security agencies. We assure you of your safety.

    “We have placed a ban on night herding; nobody should herd their cattle at night. We have also placed a ban on hunting activities by people from other states in the name of hunting.”

    Chairman, Edo State Hausa Community, Alhaji Badamasi Saleh, requested that “Mechanism should be put in place to protect the sources of security information as most members of the communities find it difficult to volunteer information to the security agencies as they fear that their identities would not be protected.”

    Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, representing the Hausa/Fulani community in Edo Central Senatorial District, pledged that “The Hausa/Fulani communities are ready to cooperate with the state government and work with the security agencies in the state to fish out any member of their communities who engages in criminal activities.”

    Alhaji Abdulkareem Ibraheem, representing the Hausa/Fulani communities in Edo South, urged the state government to provide the necessary logistics that will aid the task of the monitoring committees in the various local government areas.

    Commissioner of Police Edo State Command, Johnson Kokumo, thanked members of the Hausa/Fulani community for finding the time to attend the meeting and assured that with their support, the clash between Herdsmen and farmers will be checked.

     

     

  • Edo flags off implementation of EU-NDSP Water, Sanitation projects 

    Edo flags off implementation of EU-NDSP Water, Sanitation projects 

    The Edo State Government has commenced the implementation of the Construction Phase of the Niger Delta Support Programme (NDSP) -3, to improve access to safe water supply and basic sanitation facilities in the state.

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, launched the programme at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State, noting that, “with the support of suitable technology, improved access to finances and strong commitment, the state government will provide access to safe water in all parts of the state.”

    The NDSP programme is initiated by the Federal Government and the European Union (EU) to improve access to safe water supply in the five Niger Delta states. The project is funded jointly by Edo State Government and the EU.

    The governor, who was represented at the flag-off by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, commended the EU and its partners for supporting the state to improve access to safe water, adding, “The support of the EU will enable the state government drastically reduce challenges with safe water supply, which contributes to many water-borne diseases in rural areas.”

    Representative of the EU, Albert Achten, said that the EU adopted a strategy to involve beneficiaries of water schemes in the programme design so that they can own the projects, noting “There are hundreds of water schemes in the Niger Delta region that have been abandoned or not functioning effectively due to lack of maintenance culture. The sustainability of the project by the benefiting communities would attract more investments and funding from donor and international agencies.”

    Assistant Director, International Cooperation, Ministry of Budget and National Planning, Mr. Ileuma Ahonsi, said contractors for the project have been mobilised to site to commence the construction work.

    Ahonsi said: “The objective of the NDSP is to assist the state reduce poverty in rural areas and sub-urban communities and improve access to water supply.”

    He added that technical issues affecting the proposed Uromi Water Supply Reticulation Scheme have been resolved and the contract for the project will be signed before the end of March.

    The Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources, Hon. Yekini Idaiye, said that 10 communities in Ovia South West and Estako West Local Government Areas of the state have benefitted from the NDSP project which started in 2014.

  • Edo gets tourism information desks at Benin Airport

    Edo gets tourism information desks at Benin Airport

    The Edo State Government has partnered with Viko Nigeria to open tourism information desks at the Benin Airport to market and promote the state’s tourism sites.

    The government would partner with the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to ensure night landing at the Benin Airport.

    The airport is one of those that operate visual flights in the country.

    Speaking at the opening of the desks at both the Arrival and Departure Wings of the airport yesterday, Governor Godwin Obaseki stated that the essence of opening the desks is for investors and visitors to know about the tourism potential of the state.

    The governor, who was represented by the Chief of Staff, Chief Taiwo Akerele, explained that the idea behind the project is the commitment to make the state a 24-hour economy.

    He said: “As a state, we want to leverage on our potential to attract local and foreign investments. We are partnering  the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) to make night landing possible at the airport to increase influx of passengers coming into the state for business and leisure.”

    On his part, the Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Diaspora Affairs, Hon. Osaze Osemwegie-Ero, said the information desks are a part of the arts and tourism roadmap for the development of the state.

    He stated that the idea was conceived by Obaseki as part of efforts to boost investments and employment opportunities in the state.

  • Libya Returnees’ complaints: Edo Govt. calls for calm

    Libya Returnees’ complaints: Edo Govt. calls for calm

    The Edo State Government has called on the new Libya returnees to remain calm as efforts were being expedited to attend to their needs as the number of returnees soars.

    Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, made the call following complaints received from the returnees at their hotel facility in Benin City on Tuesday.

    He said that “the number of the returnees is increasing weekly and with the latest Federal Government’s evacuation programme, we have a huge number to be cared for.”

    On the claim by some of the returnees that they didn’t get stipends from the Federal Government, Osagie explained that “there are two evacuation programmes. The first one is by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Returnees that are brought into the country by the IOM, receive one hundred (100) Euros, courtesy of the European Union, which is about forty-one thousand naira (N41,000). This set of returnees are brought into Nigeria through Lagos and are given their money in Lagos.

    “The Federal Government evacuation programme is the second programme and brings in Nigerians through Port Harcourt and no money is given to the returnees. So, some of the returnees brought in by the federal government are having difficulty going home to their families. The Edo State government, though almost stampeded, is doing all within its power to assist in returning the affected people to their families through the payment of some allowance.”

    He urged the returnees to remain calm as the state government is committed to their welfare and reintegration through various initiatives.