The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo State

  • Edo seals off 43 water factories

    Edo State Government has sealed up 43 water factories in the state for operating in an unhygienic environment.

    Other reasons for closure of the factories included lack of laboratory and lab personnel, operating without license and factory deficiency.

    It said it was investigating activities of officials of the National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for allowing unwholesome practices by water producers.

    Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources, Barr. Washington Osifo, disclosed this after a meeting with executives of Water Producers Association in the state.

    Chairman of the Water Producers, Henry Eremokhai, had appealed to the commissioner to soft pedal on the clampdown on water factories in the state.

    Eremokhai noted that there has been an uneasy calm among his members since the Commissioner began the clampdown.

    He appealed for the use of testing kit in factories where laboratories were not available.

    His words, “There is some level is sanity in the water business since you started the shutting down. We are making a special appeal for the Ministry to slow down on the action.”

    “Your sledge hammer is biting on every one of us. We are ready to partner with you to clean the business. Those of our members unwilling to comply will be handed over to you.”

    The commissioner however insisted that he would continue the closure of substandard water factories to safeguard the health of the general public.

    He said the association has not shown proof of purging or sanctioning any of its erring members.

    According to him, “Why should I wait for you to kill people before we act? I will not modify my operations. Many water producers in this state are supposed to be in jail.”

    “What will be the function of a test kit without a microbiologist? We are putting the interest of the people first. My duty is to serve the people and protect those fit and proper to do the business.”

  • Crisis rocks NBA in Edo

    Crisis rocks NBA in Edo

    • Benin lawyers threatens to expel Alegeh

    Members of the Benin branch of the Nigeria Bar Association have threatened to expel National President of the NBA, Austin Alegeh, over the removal of their chairman, Princess Patience Iyomon.

    A letter from the General Secretary of the NBA, Mazi Afam Osigwe, had directed Vice Chairman of the NBA Benin branch, Emmanuel Ojekhua to take over chairmanship and management of the branch including its bank accounts and properties.

    The letter dated February 20, 2016 said Iyomon was removed by the National Executive Committee of the NBA at its meeting in Jos, Plateau State.

    Angered by the contents of the letter sacking their chairman, some members of the Benin branch stormed the secretariat and saw that locks and keys to the secretariat were changed.

    They broke into the secretariat and held an enlarged congress of the NBA at the instance of Elders of the branch.

    Some lawyers at the congress who pleaded anonymity said the removal of Iyomon was because the NBA joined in a suit against the Land Use Charge.

    At the meeting presided over by Barr. Nosa Peter Osifo, the lawyers dissociated themselves from the Jos meeting and expressed confidence in the leadership of the disposed chairman.

    They said the NBA NEC lacked the constitutional powers to remove an elected chairman of a branch.

    Five members of the Benin branch executive were suspended by the congress.

    They included the branch Public Relation Officer, Ebosele Ohifoh, Vice Chairman Emmanuel Ojekhua, Secretary David Maduku, Treasurer J.J Osadiaye and Pearl Agbale.

    Osifo said, “We see the Jos resolution as an affront and an attempt to ridicule Benin branch. We will not allow it. We are not timid”.

    “We shall resist any despotic attempt in NBA. The NBA president is from here. He should not annoy us. If he did, we will expel him from this branch because we will not allow him to spoil our future chances.”

    Reacting, Ebosele described the congress that suspended them as illegal and that the NBA constitution does not recognize the Elders.

    Ebosele insisted that Iyomon was removed legally by the NEC.

  • Edo: Man steals baby at Oba market

    Edo: Man steals baby at Oba market

    A man whose identity is yet to be ascertain has been arrested by the police in Edo State for stealing a baby at the Oba Market.

    The man stole the baby while disguising as a woman and pretending to be deaf and dumb.

    Sources said the man stole the baby simply identified as Godwin while the mother, Mrs. Edith Elawure who deals on used clothes was attending to customers at the market.

    He was caught with the baby strapped on his back at a bus terminal in by traders who were on a search team.

    The weavon the suspect wore fell off which exposed him to be a man.

    An eye witness said the suspect lured the little boy with biscuit when the mother was attending to customers.

    The suspect was taken to the Oba market (Central) Police division where the suspect was detained but the mob that gathered insisted on immediate capital punishment on the suspect.

    Spokesman of the Edo State Police Command, DSP Abiodun Osifo, said the suspect pretended to be a deaf and dumb person.

    He said investigation has commenced into the incident.

  • Edo moves to halt bread scarcity

    Edo moves to halt bread scarcity

    Edo State Government has begun moves to end scarcity of bread in the state as bakers in the state embarked on strike action.

    Prices of bread in the state had soared by over 50% with bread formally sold for N200 now goes for N300 and above.

    Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Abdul Oroh, who spoke at the meeting with Masters Bakers and bread distributors said steps were being taken to reverse the hike in prices of bread.

    Oroh urged the Masters Bakers to resume full production of bread and assured that the state government would consider issues of multiple taxation raised by the bakers.

    Chairman of Masters Bakers Association, Mr. Agbonze Benjamin, listed multiple taxation harassment by government agents and high cost of ingredients as reasons for the hike in prices of bread.

    Agbonze said the prices of bread would be revisited to make bread affordable if the state government addressed issues raised by the association.

    Chairman of Edo State Bakers Association, Deacon Nosakhare Eghobamien, said the increase in prices of bread was inevitable because of the increasing price of production.

  • Fire razes two buildings in Edo varsity

    Fire razes two buildings in Edo varsity

    Two buildings in the Edo State owned University, the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma were Thursday night gutted by fire.

    The buildings housed the departments of Civil Engineering and Philosophy.

    Property worth millions of naira including computer sets, televisions, air conditioners, ceiling fans, office cabinets, refrigerators, office chairs and tables were destroyed by fire.

    The cause of the fire was yet to be ascertained as at press time but there are speculations that the office of the examination officer of the Civil Engineering, containing students’ results, examination scripts and records were burnt to ashes.

    Sources said some students claimed they saw somebody pouring liquid substance suspected to be fuel on an air conditioner before striking a match, after which he allegedly ran away.

    The source said many of the properties were not burnt as they were looted.

    Spokesperson for the institution, Chris Adamaigbo, was not available for comments due to a strike action called by the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) chapter of the university.

  • I’m enjoying my marriage – Iara Oshiomhole

    I’m enjoying my marriage – Iara Oshiomhole

    Wife of Edo State Governor, Iara Oshiomhole, has described rumour in social media that she filed for divorce as ‘most wicked and malicious’

    Iara said she is currently enjoying her marriage and that there was no reason to divorce her husband.

    She spoke in a press statement signed by Executive Director, Media and Public Affairs, Governor’s Office, John Mayaki.

    Iara said she was in her office throughout the week holding meetings and brainstorming on how to better the lots of the less-privileged Women and Children in the state through her pet project: “We Care Trust”.

    She stated that she followed her husband on project inspection to the World-Class Central Hospital, Erosion Control sites, Road Construction sites as well as visited four Orphanage homes in Benin metropolis to demonstrate her of milk of kindness drawing from the support of her husband.

    According to the statement, “We Care Trust”, Mrs. Iara Oshiomhole’s pet project is embarking on training of Edo Youths. The project is christened: Project Focus. This is part of her efforts to uplift the socio-economic life of Edo people just as details of this event would soon be made public.

    “The rumour mongers are well advised to find more productive engagements to deploy their energies rather than market inanities about public personalities all in their bid to sell their medium.”

    “Which Court of Law was the alleged divorce initiated and to whom was it served? Which country, state, municipal or county, if any, is the Court situated? And when was the action/suit filed? Of course the writers didn’t bother to inform their readers. The truth however is that the answers only exist in the warped imagination of the purveyors of the lies.”

  • Abandoned IEDs explodes in Edo

    Abandoned IEDs explodes in Edo

    Some Improvised Explosive Devices known as IEDs believed to have been abandoned by kidnappers and notorious criminals Tuesday exploded in Edo State.

    The incident occurred at house number 40 at about 2pm at Zomi street off Upper Sakponba road in Ikpoba Okha local government area.

    Residents who were at home when the explosion occurred said they heard a loud sound that shook their houses.

    The explosion shattered windows of houses in the area.

    Two persons were seriously injured in the blast but no live was lost.

    It was gathered that policemen recently raided the house looking for kidnappers.

    Some said the house was used as the kidnappers hideout before police swooped on them and some of them ran away.

    A 70-year woman living opposite the building who gave her name as Hannah said she heard a large sound.

    A tenant in the building who gave his name as Chinedu Elue when the explosion occurred said he decided to do some cleaning after an electrician came to work in his apartment.

    He said he went out to buy ice cream after setting fire on some dirt when he heard explosion.

    Chinedu said he recently moved into the apartment and that another family living in the house was not at home.

    Men of anti-bomb squad led by DCP Musa UBA detonated other explosives found in the compound.

    Residents in the area stood at a distance and watched in fear.

    Inside the building, the place where the bomb exploded left hole on the ground.

  • Job creation: Edo gives Okomu oil 11,400 hectares for expansion

    Job creation: Edo gives Okomu oil 11,400 hectares for expansion

    Towards creating more jobs for youths in Edo State, the Edo State Government has given 11,400 hectares of land to Okomu Oil Plc for the cultivation of oil palms at Ovia North East Local Government Area.

    Managing Director of Okomu Oil Palm, Dr. Graham Heifer who stated this in a chat with newsmen said 45,000 workers would be employed in the new plantation.

    Dr. Heifer said 600 workers have already been employed in the plantation and that the company has spent over N2.5bn on the new plantation.

    Dr. Heifer said the oil firm was working hard to revitalize agribusiness in the country as directed by President Mohammadu Buhari.

    Heifer stated that the company has embarked on corporate social responsibilities host communities such as grading of roads, payment of bursary to students, provision of water, providing boreholes and donating of vehicles to police to boost security in the area.

    The Okomu Oil boss said the company went through the proper route to acquire the land and that all the land titles have been issued by the state government.

    He called for the removal of multiple and illegal taxes to enable his company produce more and also increase revenue to the government.

    According to him, “The state government has graciously given us a portion of land in Ovia North East. We went through the proper route to make sure we purchase the land. They have given us the land title. We are happy that the government has been able to do this.”

    “There is nothing to the contrary that say the government does not want to work with us. I am sure they will not do that. The President has said they should make things like this happen because it is important we find employment for the people. I don’t think the state government would have given us the land if they didn’t trust us.”

    “We have employed over 600 people. If the government work with us, we can extend it to 45,000 people. I am sure that they will see the will to work with us. Together we will survive, apart we will fail.”

  • Kidnapped oil workers regained freedom in Edo

    Kidnapped oil workers regained freedom in Edo

    Three workers of the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company who were abducted by gunmen along Benin-Akure express road near Oluku in Edo State have regained their freedom.

    Their abductors abandoned them in the bush after a combined team of policemen, local hunters and vigilante gave them a hot pursuit.

    Names of the victims could not be ascertained as at press time.

    State Police spokesman, DSP Abiodun Osifo, said policemen did not engage in a shoot-out with the kidnappers so as not to injure the victims.

    He said the victims were members of top management staff of the NPDC who were on their way for a training programme.

    DSP Osifo said the victim suffered shock but were rescued hail and healthy.

    He warned the kidnappers to leave the state or be ready to meet their waterloo.

    Edo Commissioner of Police, Mr. Chris Ezike, said adequate security would be provided for the operation of NPDC in the state.

    He spoke when he received management team of the NPDC who were in his office to show appreciation for the prompt rescue of their staff.

    Managing Director of NPDC, Abubakar Sadeeg Mai-Bornu thanked the police for the speed with which the rescue was made.

    “I am here to thank you and your team for the effort made towards the successful rescue of our colleagues, we saw them at the hospital, thank God they are hale and healthy,” MD Abubakar stated.

  • Two die from alleged “Ogogoro” consumption

    Two persons have been killed at Ugieda, South Ibie in Estako West Local Government Area of Edo State after reportedly consuming locally brewed gin popularly known as “Ogogoro”.

    The Nation learnt that three others are still lying critically ill at a hospital.

    A resident in the area, Mr. Lukman Rilwan, said the five persons that drank the local gin complained of stomach ache.

    “After they have consumed the Ogogoro, they began complaining of stomach ache, unfortunately the two died while three are currently hospitalised at the hospital,” he said.

    Traditional ruler of the South Ibie, Alhaji Kelvin Danesi and the Chairman of Etsako West local government, Mr. Yesufu Busari, who comfirmed the incident said a ban would be place on the illicit gin.

    Alhaji Danesi said, “I got report that two people have died and three others are still critically ill at the hospital.

    “So we are doing everything to make sure that such things dont happen again, I have already summoned a meeting of all those that are into sales of alchohol and we are going to place a ban on illicit gin”.

    Busari said the council would liaise with the relevant stakeholders, especially dealers of the local gin, to educate and enlighten the people on current happenings.

    He appealed to people of the council to desist from consuming illicit gin.