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Tag: Edo State

  • Edo orders arrest of imposter over illegal revenue collection

    Edo State Government has ordered the arrest and prosecution of one Mr. Joseph Ideho, over alleged illegal collection of revenue from motorists plying Ring Road-Ikpoba Hill axis in Benin City, the state capital.

    Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Security and Surveillance, Comrade Emmanuel Orukpe, said the culprit was apprehended after commercial drivers reported the case to officials of the state government.

    Orukpe said the commercial drivers accused Ideho of forcefully collecting the sum of N500 as revenue from each commercial vehicle operator when they depart Ring Road for Ikpoba-Hill, without issuing receipts.

    He said on the day Ideho was arrested, the sum of N8,500 was found on him, which he had allegedly collected from the motorists.

    Read Also: Caretaker kills tenant in Edo over bathroom

    According to him, “After the arrest of Ideho, we contacted the Oredo Council Chairman to identify the culprit and ascertain if he was one of the officials of the council authorised to collect revenue. Ideho was only discovered to be an imposter after Mr. Edebor Sunday, a revenue collection officer with the council, failed to recognise him as being part of their team.”

    Orukpe warned other individuals or groups who engage in illegal revenue collection to desist from such acts, which run contrary to the government’s directive against revenue collection by unauthorized individuals and groups.

    Orukpe encouraged commercial vehicle drivers to report suspected persons and groups who go about collecting revenues to the appropriate authority for immediate action.

    He said the surveillance team has intensified its operations in monitoring activities of such unscrupulous individuals and groups and will ensure that the full weight of the law descends on anyone culpable of related offences.

  • Flooding: Edo deploys more relief materials to displaced persons

    To reduce the effects of flooding across communities in the state, the Edo State Government has released more relief materials, including food items, kitchen utensils, sanitary kits, to communities affected by flood in the state’s three senatorial districts.

    The items were released through the Edo State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) for deployment to resettlement centers around flood-prone communities, where many people have been displaced by floods caused by torrential rainfall and overflow of the River Niger.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties, Mr. Yakubu Gowon, who spoke with journalists in Benin City, said that the state is mobilizing support to the affected communities to provide succour, and ensure that affected persons are not overly distressed at the resettlement camps.

    According to him, “We are deploying these materials to cushion the effect of flooding in the affected communities. The relief materials include food items, kitchen utensils, bedding materials, sanitary kits, among others. We empathise with the people, and feel their pains. In times like this, there would be need for most of these items we are deploying to the camps, as a lot of food items might not have been salvaged by the people from their homes.

    Read Also: Robbers stab two to death in Edo

    “However, for the time they will spend at the camps, we want them to feel some comfort. In the coming days, we will be deploying more materials to the camps.”

    Gowon said the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration will work assiduously to provide relief to the people, help in resettling the affected communities and provide needed support to mitigate the adverse effect of the floods.

    Recall that the Edo State Government had initially mobilised relief materials to Ubiaja in Esan South-East and to Ekperi in Etsako Central as well as other parts of the state.

    The government is also working with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Early Warning Mechanism for Nigeria (EWMN) to raise awareness on flooding and sensitise the people on safe environmental practices to mitigate the adverse effects of the disaster on communities.

  • Obaseki repurposes EDSOGPADEC for human devt

    …modular refinery, gas projects

    …inaugurates SUBEB, commission’s board

     

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC) and the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) have been repurposed to drive critical human capital development and industrialisation projects in the state.

    The governor said this at the inauguration of the seven-man board of the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC) as well as the four-man Edo State Universal Basic Board (SUBEB), in Government House, Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    Obaseki said the state government took out time to restructure the EDSOGPADEC and rethink its operations, assuring that the commission will continue with its traditional responsibility of meeting the needs of communities that are directly and indirectly impacted by oil production in the state.

    “We have set up investments to get greater value from our oil and gas assets. We have set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), where funds will be moved into and a portion of the revenue from the commission will be moved there for investment,” he said.

    The governor said the investment will include Modular refinery, Gas Recovery projects, and human capital development initiatives.

    Obaseki said he hoped that by the expiration of the new board’s term in office, all host communities would record improvement in primary and secondary schools as well as in the healthcare sector.

    Read Also: Ecological Fund: Obaseki remedies gully sites

    “Primary schools in oil and gas producing areas will be part of the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (Edo-BEST) programme. We have commenced the pilot phase of 20 Primary healthcare centres in the state and EDSOGPADEC will handle that of the oil-producing areas.”

    Obaseki said a surgical clean-up has been carried out in the commission to ensure credibility, charging the board to discharge its responsibilities transparently.

    He said his administration is keen on basic education, which is why it is implementing the Edo-BEST programme, as the initiative will drive tech-based education.

    He said the programme has some innovative features which include schools’ governance structures, which ensures that teachers are in class, facilities are protected and continuous training is guaranteed.

    On strategies to manage the schools, he said, “This administration has not and will not sack any teacher. Rather, we will train them for optimal performance. We have trained 7000 teachers in the Edo-BEST programme already.

    “We are revamping over 300 schools. This includes both the structure and furniture in the schools. Our focus is to make Edo State a reference point in terms of education.”

    Chairman, EDSOGPADEC, Pastor Kennedy Osifo, commended the governor for finding them fit and proper to pilot the affairs of the commission, pledging to bring human and infrastructural development to the three oil and gas producing local government areas in the state.

    Chairman, Edo SUBEB, Dr.  Joan Osa Oviawe, said the board is mindful of the huge responsibility to develop human capital to drive development in the state, especially as over 500,000 children are under its care.

  • Obaseki leads global icons to Ekpoma for Ambrose Alli’s memorial

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, will lead a train of global icons, including business and political leaders, activists, academics, and civil society groups, to Ekpoma, in Edo Central Senatorial district, for the 29th Memorial Day Celebration of former governor of old Bendel State (now Edo and Delta states), Prof. Ambrose Alli.

    In a statement, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said that the governor would be hosting a large entourage that will be in Emuado in Ekpoma for the celebration.

    He said, “We are very excited to be celebrating late Prof. Ambrose Alli. It is, for many of us in Edo, something remarkable because a lot of the young, upwardly mobile people and businessmen in the state benefited from the impactful policies initiated by Prof. Ambrose Alli when he was the governor.

    “A good number of these people attended either one of the over 600 secondary schools or the Bendel State University, which is now Ambrose Alli University, today. So, for them, it is an opportunity to once again pay homage to a good, enviable son of the state.”

    Read Also: FG hails Obaseki’s basic education reform

    He described the former governor of old Bendel as a hero of good governance and accountability, noting, “We fondly remember the legacies of former governor of the old Bendel state and it is only right to celebrate him. The governor will be leading a delegation to Emuado, for the memorial mass service, which will host a lot of the people from within the state and the Diaspora.”

    One of the events to mark the event is a Memorial Mass at the St. Ambrose Catholic Church, Emaudo, Ekpoma.

    Late Prof. Alli, a professor of Morbid Anatomy, was governor of old Bendel State from 1979 to 1983. He founded the Bendel State University with campuses in Ekpoma, Abraka and Asaba and over 600 secondary schools. He also initiated landmark infrastructural and housing projects within Edo and Delta states.

  • Emirates upgrades aircraft on Abuja route

    Emirates Airlines has upgraded its operating aircraft on the Abuja route to a Boeing 777-300ER from the 777-300 classic.

    The upgrade took effect at the weekend.

    The airline according to its Regional Manager West Africa, Afzal Parambil took the step as part of its commitment to the Nigerian market.

    He said “The upgrade of our Abuja service to a Boeing 777-300ER demonstrates our commitment to the Nigeria market and is another step to ensure we offer world class products and services to our customers.

    “Since its launch in 2014 Emirates boosted international tourism and trade in Abuja from a raft of destinations in the Far East, West Asia, Middle East, Europe and North America.”

    “Emirates constantly strive to provide its passengers with the very best service and the introduction of a Boeing B777-300ER reflects that commitment.

    “Our 777-300ER will offer Emirates’ renowned cabin comforts and facilities, including our award-winning ice entertainment system.”

    ‘Our plans for air navigation equipment upgrade’

    Read Also: Abuja Airport runway reopens after hours of closure – FAAN

    Managing Director of Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Captain Fola Akinkuotu has unveiled plans by the agency upgrade air navigation equipment at airports across the country.

    According to Akinkuotu, the agency took the steps as part of its strategic plan to replace obsolete air navigation equipment at airports and other locations.

    Speaking in an interview last week in Lagos, he said the agency has addressed complaints in the performance of communication navigation and surveillance as well as air traffic management facilities.

    Akinkuotu said the agency in the last one year addressed radio communication challenges between pilots and air traffic controllers.

    Specifically, he said very high frequency radios have been installed in 17 airports for approach and aerodrome control.

    He said the agency also installed High power standalone VHF radios in Lagos and Abuja area control centers.

    Akinkuotu said: “The Lagos end has been commissioned and is in operation, while installation in Kano has just been completed and will soon be put to use.

    “Not satisfied yet, a contract called extended range VHF radio system has been signed to modernize the main radio communication network to increase the number of remote sites from the current eight to fourteen.”

    He said the agency is carrying out progressive installation of navigational equipment in more than 12 airport locations.

    Akinkuotu said: These include distant measuring equipment and instrument landing system and category instrument landing system for Lagos and Abuja Airports will soon be installed.

    “NAMA is collaboration with the Edo State Government is presently installing an instrument landing system in Benin Airport.”

    He also spoke of plans for the installation of Wide Area Multilateration (WAM) surveillance system for the Gulf of Guinea (Niger Delta Area ) for surveillance and control of low level flights, which will commence in a few weeks.”

    Meanwhile, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) has declared that the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON), project is working optimally.

    NAMA also said that spare parts for the facility are regularly sourced from the manufacturer, Thales of France whenever required.

    Speaking in an interview, its Managing Director, Captain Fola Akinkuotu NAMA has regularly received spare parts from Thales of France since the project came on stream in 2010.

    He said the agency would continue to provide state-of-the-art air navigation services without compromising safety of lives and equipment.

  • Edojobs, Google, Gidimobile to deploy learning app to students

    Edo State Government has concluded plans to partner Google and Gidimobile, Africa’s first mobile learning platform, to deploy a learning application called gidimo to at least 20,000 Senior Secondary School students in Edo State, to improve learning outcomes.

    The partnership is being anchored by Edojobs, Edo state’s job creation and skills development platform, which will work with the companies, to mobilise not less than 150 ‘activators,’ to deliver the mobile software to the students.

    Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Skills Development and Job Creation, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare, who disclosed this to journalists, said that the partnership is aimed at providing innovative learning solutions to secondary school students as well as empowering those who would work as activators across the state.

    She said the programme is the offshoot of gidimo’s rollout of the app to 100,000 disadvantaged youths across the world, after winning a $1million grant from google.org. She said the deployment of the software will be piloted in Edo State, after which it will be rolled out across the country.

    According to her, “Governor Obaseki’s reforms and style of governance has once again attracted a landmark project to the state. This time, secondary school students will be the beneficiaries.

    To start the campaign in Edo State, 20,000 students will be granted free access to the gidimo application for a period of one year. A 45 mins to one-hour playtime after school (Monday to Saturday) will be needed to cover the syllabus, after which each user gets 300MB of data at the completion of their syllabus weekly. A competition amongst users/students with the application will be held every week, with the best user rewarded.

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    She noted that teachers and National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members will participate in the programme and will be assigned to schools as activators for the exercise, to sensitise students about the application, how to access and use the app for free.

    “This will come with a small remuneration (about N16,000) from funds allotted for data in the grant received from Google. The app will also allow for activators to earn some money from the retail sales/activation they do.”

    On the mode of operation in the pilot phase, she said, “A sample of 5-10 public schools in the state will be selected to pilot the campaign. The academic performance of students using the gidimo app in these schools will be compared with those not using the application to identify the efficacy of the application on the students under survey.

    “National competition will be held weekly across various subjects on the application. This is can be in an organised event platform, which can be used to spread the government’s message on its effort towards improving the educational sector in the state.”

  • Edo holds business clinic for entrepreneurs

    As part of efforts to boost capacity of entrepreneurs to scale their businesses, the Edo State Government has organised a one-day business clinic focusing on strategies for business expansion and access to finance.

    The programme is organised by the Ministry of Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment and Office of the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Special Duties and Social Enterprise, and will hold on Friday, September 21.

    In a statement, Commissioner for Wealth Creation, Cooperatives and Employment, Hon. Emmanuel Usoh, said the clinic tagged ‘Edo Business Conclave 2018,’ will take place at the Imaguero College Hall, Sapele Road, in Benin City, the state capital.

    Read Also: Flooding: Edo distributes relief materials to victims

    He said the event aims to sensitize business owners on strategies to enhance their business management skills and upscale their returns on investment

    Usoh added, “the business clinic will hold in collaboration with Treskaro Systems and Solutions, and will feature talks on: “business etiquette, business legality and taxation, networking and business growth, financial data, analysis and integration, brand building tips/strategies, and access to funding.”

    Speakers lined up for the event include Osayi Omokaro, Isimeme White, Tony Omachalu, Baba Ikazoboh and Steve Osawaru,” he said.

  • Ecological Fund: Obaseki remedies gully sites

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has tapped into the Ecological Fund to remedy gully sites in Auchi, Fugar and Agenebode axis in Edo North Senatorial zone of the state.

    This is coming after works were completed at the Ewu, Ibore and Queen Ede gully sites carried out by the Edo State Government and its partners.  

    Addressing journalists at the commissioning of the erosion and flood control projects in Agenebode, Etsako-East Local Government Area of the state, Obaseki, represented by Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Dame Omoua Alonge Oni-Okpaku, said his administration was doing a lot and working with the Federal Government to tackle erosion and flooding across the state.

    He said that the state government has completed 18 flood control projects and is mapping out more strategies to mitigate flooding in the state.

    Obaseki noted, “We are looking at afforestation and planting of more trees and grasses to prevent erosion and flooding in the state. We have embarked on sensitization campaigns in flood-prone areas and have also commenced assessment of the damage. We have also started the distribution of relief materials. People should not build on low-lands because the sea-level is rising as a result of climate change.”

    At the commissioning, Deputy Chairman, Senate Committee on Ecology and Climate Change, Senator Benjamin Uwujumogu said the projects were executed by the Ecological Fund Office in the Presidency, to control flooding issues in the affected area.

    Read Also: Letter to Godwin Obaseki (3)

    He said over 48 projects are being executed by the Ecological Fund Office to tackle problems of desertification, soil erosion and flooding in the country.

    “Before now, the people of Agenebode and environs have been suffering from flooding occasioned by heavy downpours but the Federal Government has brought succour to them by constructing a drain system measuring about 15 meters high,” he said,

    The Okumagbe of Uwano Kingdom, Agenebode, His Royal Majesty, Dr. George Oshiapi Egabor, commended the Federal and state governments for tackling the flood problems in the area.

  • Obaseki orders full roll-out of Ward Development Committees initiative

    …sets up Sports Commission with Executive Order No. 2

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has directed the full roll-out of the Ward Development Committees initiative across the state, to drive inclusive, sustainable development in the grassroots.

    The governor also issued a stern warning on cult-related violence in the state, directing the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State to activate relevant sections of the law to fish out and punish those found culpable for cult-related offences in the state.

    Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, disclosed this during a press briefing after the Weekly Executive Council (EXCO) meeting, at the Government House, Benin City, the Edo State Capital.

    He disclosed that the governor has set up the Edo State Sports Commission with the signing of Executive Order No. 2, to drive sports development and administration in the state.

    He said the governor directed the full roll out of the Ward Development Committee initiative to 16 other local councils after the success of the pilot phase of the initiative in Orhionmwon and Uhunhwunde Local Government Areas.

    According to him, “EXCO ordered that the constitution of the committee must adhere to the laid down template. The committee must not be subjected to undue influence as it is not set up for political reasons but to drive development. The committee has an in-built mechanism for monitoring and anyone who falls short of the standards set by the governor will be disqualified. The roll-out of the Ward Development Committee initiative was piloted in Orhionmwon and Uhunhwunde Local Government Areas and will now be replicated in the 16 other local government areas in the state.

    Read Also: Obaseki deepens basic education reform

    On Executive Order No. 2, he said, “The governor has signed the Executive Order 2, setting up the Edo State Sports Commission. The Edo State Sports Commission will oversee sporting activities and drive policy, regulation and administration of sports in the state. The commission will regulate activities of sports associations in the state and provide direction for sports development.

    On the state government’s stance against cult-related violence in the state, he said that the Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of State has been ordered to activate relevant sections of the laws in the state to ensure severe punishment for those found culpable in cult-related activities.”

    He added, “It has come to the notice of the council that some cult groups are rearing their heads in recent times, which has led to the loss of lives. EXCO frowns on this and the governor has ordered that aspects of the law that relates to violence and cult related activities be deployed to fish out and punish those found culpable.

  • Edo to grow tourist traffic, showcase culture at 2018 EDOFEST

    The Edo State Government has unveiled plans to leverage on the growing investor confidence in the state to grow tourist traffic with the repackaged Edo Festival of Arts and Culture (EDOFEST).

    Commissioner of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Mr. Osaze Osemwegie-Ero said this on Monday at the press conference in Benin City, to announce plans for the 2018 edition of EDOFEST.

    According to Osemwegie-Ero, the event with the theme: “Harnessing Arts and Culture for Sustainable Economic Development,” will put on the world stage, the rich cultural heritage of the people of the state and attract a large array of tourists to the state to explore the rich cultural heritage of the state.

    “Edo State is deeply rooted in culture. The arts of Benin Kingdom are a global brand. Benin artefacts are among the most exquisite and coveted in the world history and represent the earliest civilisation among blacks, especially Africans,” he added.

    The commissioner listed the activities lined up for the 2018 EDOFEST as carnival parade, theater show, food and fashion exhibition and a gala/ awards night.

    Assuring that the 2018 outing will build on the success of last year’s edition, he said the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration places high premium on the culture and tourism sector.

    Read Also: Flood: Affected Edo residents refuse to leave communities

    He told journalists that a tourism masterplan currently being developed by the state government would spell out the roles of all stakeholders in the development of the sector to unleash the socio-economic benefits which the sector holds.

    He further said that several tourist sites have been identified across the state and discussions with investors are ongoing to develop the sites and take advantage of the prevailing investors-friendly climate in the state.