The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo State

  • Obaseki, Police CP, DSS boss hold security meeting

    …read riot act to criminals

    …assures of adequate security for Oba Ewuare II’s 2nd anniversary

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state government will not relent in its effort to flush out criminal elements from the state, assuring that security has been beefed up with relevant agencies to ensure the safety of life and property in the state.

    Governor Obaseki who said this after a meeting with heads of security agencies in the state, including the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, and Head of the Department of State Security (DSS) in the state, noted that the state was firming up security to curb criminal activity across the state.

    The security meeting followed the receipt of intelligence on plans by those who do not mean well for the state to disrupt the peace and scale up their nefarious activities as the year comes to an end.

     “I have met with the Commissioner of Police and the DSS boss over the increased spate of cult activities in the state and we are deploying resources to ensure that those fueling the crimes are brought to book. We are committed to a safe Edo State and will not tolerate any criminality,” Obaseki said.

    Read Also: I am not stingy, says Obaseki

    He assured that adequate security measures have been set up in preparation for the 2nd coronation anniversary of the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolo kpolo, Oba Ewuare II.

     “I am very much committed to stemming the increased criminality perpetuated by cult groups and gangs in the state.

    “As a state that is forward-looking and desirous to attract foreign investment, I want to reiterate that we have exited the days when cult activities held sway in society.

    “We have beefed up measures to check the reported cases. The new security architecture is taking shape to ensure that the people are safe,” he added.

    He assured that preparations, especially those pertaining to security, are being finalised for the 2nd Coronation Anniversary of the Oba of Benin, noting that a combined team of security operatives will be deployed to ensure adequate security for the ceremony.

  • Obaseki assures safe space for children

    As court jails paedophiles in Edo

     

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state government would not relent in its effort at enforcing the Child Rights Law and protecting children from the vices of molesters in the state.

    The governor took the stand, as the Evbuoriaria Magistrate Court in Benin sentenced six persons to various terms in prison, giving legal teeth to the governor’s campaign against paedophiles in the state.

    According to the governor, “We are committed to protecting our children and enforcing the Child Rights Law to ensure that children are not exposed to the vices of child molesters and abusers.

    “We want to assure parents that the campaign by the state government is yielding results. We will not relent. In fact, there is no hiding place for these deviants in our society anymore. This campaign will be intensified and we will ensure that those caught molesting children will face the full wrath of the law.”

    Read Also: I am not stingy, says Obaseki

    Recall that the Chief Magistrate, Evbuoriaria Magistrate Court, J. O. Ejale, sentenced Friday Moses, and two others to different jail terms and remanded another three in prison for charges pertaining to child molestation.

    Moses, a commercial motorcycle operator, was sentenced to 14 years in prison with hard labour, without the option of fine, for defiling and impregnating his 13-year-old daughter.

    Lambert Ighodaro and Benjamin Uzoma Nwachukwu, bagged 14 and 20 years jail terms respectively. Mr. Nwachukwu, who was recently dismissed from the seminary, was arraigned on two-count charge and got 10 years each, with hard labour and without the option of fine.

    Others remanded in prison are Matthew Omokhafe, 65; Pastor Matthew Braimoh, 31; Corporal Michael Eriarebhe, 33 and others who were remanded in prison for allegedly defiling children aged 15 years and below.

  • Edo shuts three more abattoirs over unhygienic environment

    The Edo State Government has shut three abattoirs across Benin City over the unhygienic environment in which they operate, assuring members of the public that efforts have been stepped up to monitor slaughter houses and ensure their produce fit human consumption.  

    The clampdown was carried out by a combined team comprising officials of the Committee on Abattoir Management Control, Headed by Dr. Joseph Odiaua and Office of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Security and Surveillance.

    SSA to the Governor on Security and Surveillance, Mr. Emmanuel Orukpe, said that the state government is concerned about the wellbeing of residents, and will not mortgage their health as a result of the attitude of unscrupulous businessmen who do not prioritise health and good hygiene in their operations.

    He said the abattoirs that were shut down include the ones at Ramat Park, Lucky Way Junction in Ikpoba Hill; Goat Slaughter House at Evbuotubu Junction, Upper Ekehuan Road and Goat Slaughter House at Aduwawa Cattle Market.

    Read Also: Edo Accord pledges support for APC

    He said the governor is committed to close more illegal abattoirs and regulate activities of slaughter houses to guarantee public safety, noting that this commitment prompted the government to set up the committee on abattoirs to ensure total compliance with standard operating procedures.

    According to him, “These abattoirs were shut down because of the environmental hazards and failure to meet with required operating facilities, amongst other considerations.”

    Dr. Odiaua said that the committee was using the incident to reiterate the warning to all those still operating illegal abattoirs in the state to desist from the practice forthwith.

  • Edo LGAs receive N3.2bn as September allocation

    The Edo State Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC) has declared N3,204,857,456.43k as gross allocation received from the Federation Account for the month of September 2018.

    Speaking to journalists at the end of Edo JAAC meeting, presided over by the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, the Chairman of Etsako Central Local Government Area and Vice Chairman of Edo State Chapter of Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Comrade John Akhigbe, put teachers’ salaries at N1,151,526,487.55k.

    He added that “Non-teachers’ salaries gulped N60,318,373.78k while the total deduction for the month was N1,825,907,586.41k.”

    Read Also: Edo not owing workers’ salaries – BudgIT

    Akhigbe added that the net allocation shared by the 18 Local Government Areas of the state from the Federation Account was N1,378,949,870.02k.

    He said “unfortunately, the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by the local councils in the state which was N173,080,974.94k for the month of September reduced by 15 per cent when compared to IGR generated in August due to the heavy rainfall, flood as well as the warning strike embarked upon by the organised labour.”

  • Edo N-Power beneficiaries charge students on strong drug-free stance

    Beneficiaries of the Federal Government Social Investment Programme, N-Power in Edo State, have charged students in Edo Central Senatorial District to maintain a strong drug-free stance and ward off overtures from anyone to abuse drugs.

    Speaking at the #NoToCodeine event that was held at the Annunciation Catholic College, Irrua, in Esan Central Local Government Area of the state, the N-Power beneficiaries:  Mr. Chinedu Ikemefuna, Miss Eloghosa Jane Timothy-Igiebor and Mr. Ose Inegbedion, educated the participants on the negative effects of drug abuse.

    They charged the students to engage in productive and profitable activities such as sports and the several empowerment initiatives and skills acquisition programmes of the state government.

    Read Also: Tension in Edo APC over primaries

    They emphasized the need for assertiveness, a quality they said “was essential to maintaining a strong drug-free stance.” 

    The event which is part of the #ittakesavillage campaign, was attended by 283 students drawn from 17 schools, 17 teachers as well as the Chief Inspector of Education in Esan-Central Local Government Area, who was represented by Catherine Adeleye, who is the Deputy Chief Inspector of Education.

    Applauding the efforts of the campaign organisers at sensitising the youth on the dangers of drug abuse, Adeleye said the Focal Person of the National Social Investment Programme, Edo State, Miss Osayuwamen Aladeselu, was recruiting crusaders in the fight against drug abuse.

    She charged the N-Power beneficiaries to be innovative in giving back to their respective communities, through the #ittakesavillage campaign.

  • Edo upholding dignity of girl child – Obaseki

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the ongoing fight against human trafficking in Edo State is in recognition of the dignity of the girl child and her capacity to contribute to the growth and development of society.

    Obaseki said this in Benin City, in commemoration of the International Day of the Girl Child celebrated by the United Nations and its global partners on October 11, each year.

    He noted that “The fight against human trafficking and illegal migration requires the support of everyone as the menace debases the essence of our common humanity.”

    The governor further said that his administration has demonstrated the readiness to attend to the peculiar challenges faced by girls and women in the state with the appointment of 19 female aides on gender issues, who have been enriching government policies and programmes with the needs of girls and women.

    “We are empowering our girls and their male counterparts through the new basic education sector transformation (Edo-BEST) initiative of our administration; the various skills acquisition and job creation programmes of EdoJobs, an agency of the state government and we are committed to protecting our young girls in schools with the Child’s Rights Act, amongst other initiatives,” he said.

    He added that the landmark judgements secured against child molesters in the state is a testament to the commitment to protecting the girl child from social vices, noting that even more policy measures will be adopted to give the girl child a broader space to realise her potential.

    Obaseki described as apt, the theme of the 2018 International Day of the Girl Child, With Her: A Skilled GirlForce, and in consonance with the underlying philosophy of his administration’s well thought out programmes for the girl child.

    According to the United Nations, October 11 has been marked as the International Day of the Girl, since 2012, to highlight and address the needs and challenges girls face, while promoting girls’ empowerment and the fulfilment of their human rights.

    Read Also: I am not stingy, says Obaseki

    “Today’s generation of girls are preparing to enter a world of work that is being transformed by innovation and automation. Educated and skilled workers are in great demand, but roughly a quarter of young people – most of them female – are currently neither employed or in education or training.

    “Of the 1 billion young people – including 600 million adolescent girls – that will enter the workforce in the next decade, more than 90% of those living in developing countries will work in the informal sector, where low or no pay, abuse and exploitation are common,” the UN said.  

    The global body explained that it is using the day to “work alongside all girls to expand existing learning opportunities, chart new pathways and calling on the global community to rethink how to prepare them for a successful transition into the world of work.”

  • Pension arrears: Edo screens Batch 46 pensioners for payment

    …sets Oct. 17, 18 for physical verification at Imaguero Hall

     

    The Edo State Government is set to commence the screening and payment of pension arrears to pensioners in batch 46, in the state.

    The exercise according to the Permanent Secretary/ Chairman, Edo State Pension Bureau, I. D. S. Juwobor, is in continuation of the on-going payment of pension arrears for state government pensioners.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday in Benin City, the Pension Bureau said the screening exercise will take place on Wednesday October 17 and Thursday 18, at Imaguero Hall, in Benin City.

    “All pensioners in batch 46 are hereby invited to present themselves for physical and documentary verification at the Imaguero Hall, Benin City on Wednesday 17th and Thursday 18th October, 2018 at 9.00am each day,” the statement urged.

    “This announcement also serves as a notice to pensioners in batches 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 who failed to participate in the previous verification exercises to take advantage of the scheduled forthcoming screening exercise alongside pensioners in batch46,” Juwobor said.

    Read Also: Edo not owing workers’ salaries – BudgIT

    He added: “State Government Pensioners in batch 46 and the spill over batches of 37-45 are advised to check the list of pensioners scheduled for the screening on the notice board in the office of the Head of Service on Monday 15 andTuesday 16, October 2018.

    “In furtherance of this, affected pensioners are advised to come to the venue of the verification exercise with the following documents on the scheduled dates of 17th and 18th October, 2018:Pension Authority; Retirement Letter; Letter of First Appointment; Pension Identity Card; Biometric Slip; and Bank details including bank name and Account Number.”

    The permanent secretary advised that “Pensioners who were screened in batch 45 but did not receive payments through their bank, should report at the Pensions Bureau, Office of the Head of Service, with printouts of their Pension Account Bank Statements covering September and October, 2018 for the ascertainment of their claims.”

    “Upon the conclusion of the verification exercise, the outstanding pension arrears of those screened will be credited into the pension account of each pensioner after necessary documentation by relevant agencies involved in the payment process,” he assured.

  • Human trafficking: Edo, group warn against menace

    In an effort to integrate rural communities into the campaign against human trafficking, the Edo State Government in collaboration with Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Concerned Citizens of Edo State (CCES), have called on opinion leaders and relevant traditional institutions to dissuade young people in rural areas from embarking on dangerous journeys to Europe through land and the Mediterranean Sea.

    This was the message officials of the state government and the NGO took to communities in Esan North East, particularly Uzea and neighbouring communities and markets, where they cautioned the people against irregular migration and human trafficking.

    President, CCES, Mr. Ogbewi Aghedo, who spoke with journalists, said that the campaign has been stepped up in Edo Central Senatorial District of the state to ensure that the sensitisation campaign gets to everywhere in the state.

    He said that the state government’s sincerity in the fight against human trafficking is a huge morale booster, adding that such commitment is needed to take the message to the hinterlands, engage the people directly and share with them the horrors young people go through to get to Europe by land, and illegally.

    Read Also: Edo group take fight against human trafficking to Uromi, others

    According to him, “We are very worried about the trend of human trafficking and irregular migration and would want to see to its end. This is why we are with the government on this fight and it is one we are sure that we would win.

    “As our name suggests, we are truly concerned about the scale of the menace. It is hitting on our hard-won dignity and prestige as a people. So, we want to take the message to the rural areas, showing and telling them all they need to know about the horrors of human trafficking.”

    He said the campaign will help in drastically reducing the menace as the state government strengthens structures and mobilises people to invest in human capital so that youths can remain in Nigeria and contribute to the country’s development, in the long run.

    An indigene of Uzea, who identified herself as Madam Okojie, said that government’s effort was commendable, sincere and should be supported, as it is clear that the people face more risks in travelling illegally abroad.

  • World Mental Health Day: Obaseki proffers multi-sectoral partnership on treatment

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has proffered a more robust partnership involving state actors, the organised private sector (OPS), donor agencies, research institutes, charities and governments, in the treatment of mental illnesses.

    Obaseki made the submission in commemoration of the celebration of World Mental Health Day, marked on October 10, each year.

    The governor decried the attitude of many societies towards people having mental health problems and called for a change.

    “Across the globe, some societies still discriminate against people with mental health problems. This attitude further compounds efforts by governments, experts and other stakeholders at designing products for the treatment of patients and reintegrating them into the society,” he said.

    Obaseki explained that people with mental health problems deserve our love, care, understanding and support and urged thought and opinion leaders in communities across the globe to lead the fight against exclusion, stigma and prejudices held against sufferers of mental illnesses.

    “As a government, we have delineated our health system for easy appreciation of the roles required by all stakeholders in the sector. We have commenced the construction of primary health centres across the state to reach all Edo people and residents irrespective of where they reside.

    “The Benin Specialist Hospital will be open to offer specialist care to patients before the end of the year and we have received letters of intent from experts in the health sector, who want to partner with us to ensure that our health system can meet the needs of our people,” he added.

    Celebrating the 2018 World Mental Health Day, the World Health Organisation (WHO), urges regular checks for symptoms of mental illnesses beginning at a young age.

    “Half of all mental illness begins by the age of 14, but most cases go undetected and untreated. In terms of the burden of the disease among adolescents, depression is the third leading cause.

    Read Also: Obaseki inspects new Specialist Hospital, High Court


    “Suicide is the second leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds. Harmful use of alcohol and illicit drugs among adolescents is a major issue in many countries and can lead to risky behaviours such as unsafe sex or dangerous driving. Eating disorders are also of concern,” the WHO said.

    With the theme, “Young People and Mental Health in a Changing World” the United Nations specialised organisation, stressed that “Adolescence and the early years of adulthood are a time of life when many changes occur, for example changing schools, leaving home, and starting university or a new job.

    According to WHO, “For many, these are exciting times. They can also be times of stress and apprehension however. In some cases, if not recognised and managed, these feelings can lead to mental illness.

    “The expanding use of online technologies, while undoubtedly bringing many benefits, can also bring additional pressures, as connectivity to virtual networks at any time of the day and night grows.

    “Many adolescents are also living in areas affected by humanitarian emergencies such as conflicts, natural disasters and epidemics. Young people living in situations such as these are particularly vulnerable to mental distress and illness.”

  • Six get jail terms as Edo goes tough on child molestation

    …father to spend 14 years in jail for defiling, impregnating daughter 

     

    The Edo State Government’s effort to rid the state of paedophiles in line with the enforcement of the Child Rights Act is yielding positive results, as the Evbuoriaria Magistrate Court in Benin City, Edo State has sentenced six persons to various jail terms for defiling minors.

    The Chief Magistrate, J. O. Ejale, sentenced Friday Moses, a commercial motorcycle operator, to 14 years in prison with hard labour, without the option of fine, for defiling and impregnating his 13-year-old daughter.

    Moses, 42, who hails from Cross River State but resides in Edo State, was charged for defiling his daughter since she lost her mother five years ago.

    The Magistrate said Moses’ sentence is to serve as a lesson to the convict as well other child molesters.

    The victim is a Primary 6 pupil, who is five months and two weeks pregnant, the first among three children. She is presently in the protective custody of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for adequate care.

    Read Also: Edo APC holds reschedule primaries Saturday

    Two others who were convicted are Lambert Ighodaro, who got a 14-year jail term and Benjamin Uzoma Nwachukwu, who bagged a 20-year jail term. Mr. Nwachukwu, who was recently dismissed from the seminary, was arraigned on two-count charge and got 10 years each, with hard labour and without the option of fine.

    Matthew Omokhafe, 65; Pastor Matthew Braimoh, 31; Corporal Michael Eriarebhe, 33 and others were remanded in prison for allegedly defiling children aged 15 years and below.

    The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, which has been at the forefront of the campaign against paedophiles, in a statement, said the landmark judgement is the culmination of a long-drawn battle for justice for the affected minors.

    It said the efforts are in collaboration with the Child Protection Network (CPN).