The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo State

  • Missing rice: Obaseki petitions police

    Missing rice: Obaseki petitions police

     

    Edo State Government has petitioned the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, over comments by State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Chief Dan Orbih, that some bags of rice meant for Internally Displaced Persons were diverted.

    It said Chief Orbih in a radio interview ‘falsely and maliciously stated that the Edo State Government was involved in a criminal conspiracy to divert 4,721 bags of rice released by the Federal Government for distribution to IDPs in the state’.

    In the petition signed by Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, the Edo Government stated that Chief Orbih further claimed that 300 bags of rice were diverted to a certain Senator in Ondo State.

    According to the petition, “It is instructive to note that in making these allegations to the general public, Chief Orbih claimed that he had facts and records to back up these criminal allegations.

    “The purpose of this complaints is to formally bring these weighty and unsubstantiated allegations to your attention and to request a thorough investigation with a view to establishing the veracity or otherwise of same.

    “It is the contention of the Edo State Government that Chief Dan Orbih should be called upon to provide evidence of the serious crimes he has alleged to have been committed by the Edo State Government and to furnish your Command with facts, details and proof of the allegations he has made in the public domain.”

  • 15 Forest Encroachers arrested, seven trucks impounded in Ondo

    15 Forest Encroachers arrested, seven trucks impounded in Ondo

     

    Concessionaires in Akure/Ofosu forest reserves in Ondo state on Tuesday, apprehended 15 encroachers allegedly depleting the government’s forests and its economic trees.

    The suspects were said to have come from the neighbouring Edo state.

    Besides, seven trucks loaded with logs were impounded.

    The Timber Association in collaboration with the state government task force arrested the trucks at Ofosu village near Idanre.

    Speaking with reporters in Akure,the state capital, chairman of the Concessionaires,Olu Ayodele said, the ‘culprits’ came into the forest to cut the trees without licence or papers backing their action.

    According to him” They came from neighbouring Edo state to carry out illegal activities on our forest reserve with some of them now at large, but their trucks were impounded at the premises of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the state”.

    “Ironically,it was the same set of people arrested last year and warned to stop the act, but to our dismay, they came back again depleting our forest reserves without permission .”

    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on forestry, Fatai Olusina, condemned the activities of the encroachers, describing them as enemies of the state.

    He said government had decided to take a decisive measure  on anybody caught cutting economic trees illegally in the state ,saying “it will no longer be a business as usual”.

    According to him, governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu would not fold his arms and allow ‘miscreants’ to steal the natural gift belonging to the state for their selfish gains.

    Olusina however said government was ready to partner with anyone ready to do legal business with the state irrespective of the tribe or origin.

    The deputy chairman of the Concessionaires, Adeniyi Oloruntola said it was an aberration and that the union had taken a decision on encroachers over their illegal act.

    He warned perpetrators to desist from the act.

    The impounded five trucks numbered XA 891GBA,KT 384GBA,GR 715 XA,XD 519 MUS and XA 184 UMG were in the Ministry’s custody.

     

  • We are building new structures for its schools of agriculture – Obaseki

    We are building new structures for its schools of agriculture – Obaseki

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo says his administration is building new structures for the schools of agriculture which will soon be inaugurated.

    Obaseki said this in Benin on Tuesday when he received the executive members of the Usagbe Club of Nigeria, led by its President, Mr Tony Akiotu.

    He said that there was a need to establish quality agricultural institutions to train youths and harness the vast potential of the agricultural sector because of the vital role of agriculture in the nation’s economy.

    “We have shut down the Colleges of Agriculture in Iguoriakhi and Agbenebode; we want to have one college of agriculture with several schools specialising in different aspects of agriculture,’’ he said.

    The governor said that a team was currently working to ensure that the graduates of the new College of Agriculture became successful agriprenuers by taking due advantage of emerging opportunities in the agricultural space.

    Obaseki said that the processes for the restructuring of the college would be concluded within six months.

    He said that his administration was discussing with Leventis Farms on the acquisition of 2,000 hectares of land which would be leased out to out-growers in this planting season.

    Besides, the governor pledged to conclude the construction of the Okpella-Agenebode road, adding that the people of the Weppa-Wanno communities would soon witness the health and education sector reforms of his administration.

    Earlier, Akiotu commended the governor for his dynamic leadership style and urged him to develop the Weppa-Wanno communities.

    “We applaud Your Excellency for your decision to actualise the construction of the already advertised road projects like the Ivioghe-Iviebua-Ivianokpodi-Iviukhua-Iviegbepui-Iviukwe-Ekwotsor project.

    “The road will help to network Weppa-Wanno communities and provide comfort for the people with its attendant economic benefits to the communities,’’ he said.

    Akiotu said that the association, which was composed of prominent individuals from the Weppa-Wanno communities, engaged in the execution of community development projects.

    He pledged the readiness of the association to support the state government in its transformation agenda.

    He said that the decision by the state government to restructure and upgrade the colleges of agriculture was highly commendable.

    NAN

  • Human trafficking: Edo reiterates commitment to end menace

    Human trafficking: Edo reiterates commitment to end menace

    The Secretary to Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., has said that Edo State Government will not relent in the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration so that the state can optimally harness its human resources, especially youths, for development.

    Ogie reiterated the state government’s resolve during a chat with journalists in Benin City, Edo State capital.

    “The Godwin Obaseki-led administration will sustain the campaign against human trafficking. This is a continuous effort to rescue our people from the scourge,” Ogie said.

    He noted that the first step the state government took in the fight against human trafficking was to acknowledge the existence of the problem and not pretend about the gravity of the issue in Edo State.

    “We came out strong to say that this is a problem affecting our people and we want to be in the vanguard to lead the fight against human trafficking and illegal migration, ” he said.

    According to him, “In the past six months, Edo State Government has made serious efforts in the fight against human trafficking. We were able to bring the issue not only to the front burner but also engaged international partners.”

    Ogie said that the state government will continue to assist  her indigenes who are victims of human trafficking and assist them to resettle to normal life. He noted, “Our people should know that nothing is wrong with migration. The state government is not against migration but illegal migration and human trafficking through which Edo people are being sold and their organs harvested.

    “Parents should be aware and begin to ask certain questions before they allow their children to travel abroad. They should ask what their children are going to do abroad.”

    He added, “It is a good thing that majority of Edo people are with Governor Godwin Obaseki in the fight against human trafficking.”

     

  • PDP condemns Obaseki’s ban on night grazing

    PDP condemns Obaseki’s ban on night grazing

    The Peoples Democratic Party ( PDP )in Edo State has described the ban in night grazing by Fulani herdsmen by Governor Godwin Obaseki as unimplementable and cosmetic.

    It said the pronouncement of the ban was begging the issue and showed clearly that Governor Obaseki was unserious to addressing the serious issue of Fulani herdsmen menace.

    A press statement signed by State Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, said Governor Obaseki has effectively turned Edo State into a cattle colony during the day.

    Chief Orbih challenged Governor Obaseki to make his position on cattle colony adding that the main issue was not about night time grazing but about land for cattle colonies.

    According to the statement, “This government by this pronouncement has inadvertently given licence to the herdsmen to invade farms and feast on their produce as long as its done in the daytime.

    Read Also:  Obaseki  inaugurates Technical Committee on Privatisation

    “Farms and farmers are now exposed to the menace of the rampaging herdsmen and Governor Obaseki’s policy emboldens them. It is a clear demonstration of the Governor’s insensitivity to the plight of Edo people who are now living in fear and danger.

    “Why is Governor Obaseki having difficulty in stating his position on the proposed policy of the creation of cattle colonies in Nigeria?”

    Reacting, Special Adviser to Governor Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, said the comments by Chief  was frivolous and cautioned him not to trivialise a sensitive subject matter that requires a great deal of expertise to comprehend.

    He said, “The ban on night-grazing and armed herdsmen are steps in the right direction in addition to the setting up of two committees that will monitor the activities of herdsmen in all parts of the state.”

    “We want to state as we did before that there is no agreement to establish cattle colonies in Edo State. Our decision was based on expert finding after a scientific research on the herdsmen/farmers clashes in the state. The Obaseki administration subjects every issue to critical thinking, wide consultation and research.

  • Edo reopens job portal March 1

    Edo reopens job portal March 1

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has disclosed that the state government is finalising arrangements to reopen the EdoJobs portal on March 1, 2018.

    In a statement on Thursday, in Benin City, by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, the governor said the reopening of the portal would extend the window of opportunities for more youths to be captured in the state’s jobs database.

    The governor reassured youths in the state of his administration’s commitment to fulfil his campaign promise of creating 200,000 jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.

    According to Obaseki, “The reopening of the job portal is to capture more youths in the state, who are to undergo employability and capacity building training. After their training, these youths will be matched with employers of labours, who have indicated interest in employing young people.

    “It is clear that we have a crisis of youth unemployment and we are making frantic efforts to address it. There are various options the applicants on the jobs portal can choose from.

    The EdoJobs initiative trained a batch of 500 youths late last year, and also supplied over 4,000 people trained by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) this year.

    EdoJobs is an employment initiative of Godwin Obaseki-led administration to train and retrain graduates with post-secondary school certificates on business writing, workplace ethics, problem-solving skills, emotional intelligence and managing conflicts, among others. The initiative gives applicants the opportunity for job placements in companies across the state.

    The portal provides the state government with data of applicants, which it uses for planning skills training for the job seekers in collaboration with companies requiring skilled labour.

     

  • ‘We want to know the policeman responsible for our son’s death’

    ‘We want to know the policeman responsible for our son’s death’

    Family of a commercial driver identified as David Okiniba, who was allegedly pushed to his death on Tuesday by a policeman has demanded to know the identity of the culprits.

    David’s death caused riot in parts of Benin City as five vehicles including four Hilux vans belonging to the Edo State Police Command were razed.

    He was killed in the presence of his pregnant fiancée, Ruth.

    Speaking to newsmen at the family residence at Urora in Ikpoba-Okha local government, elder brother to late David, Festus said he was shocked when he was called that his brother had died.

    Festus said he was informed that his brother was pushed into a moving truck by the police because the police demanded for N200 whereas his brother had only N100 on him.

    He said his brother was going to church when he encountered the policemen on the way that eventually killed him.

    His words, “They were going to church early in the morning when policemen stopped them at Igun junction on Third East Circular road and demanded for his vehicle papers; he told them that his papers were with the police because he rescued a girl that was hit by a car last week.

    “The girl died on the way to Central hospital and they were referred to a police station to make his report and police collected his papers.

    “But the policemen said they don’t care and that they will take him to the station. He fell inside his seat inside his car; suddenly the policeman met him and said do you not know what to do so you can go? He brought out N100 and begged the policeman so he can go but the policeman said he would not collect. So, he went back again and brought N1, 000 and said sir you take N500 and give me N500 this is the money they have; they are going to church. As he was begging the policeman, the policeman asked him to dress (shift away) and that was how the policeman pushed him and the truck smashed his head.”

    He said the state Commissioner of Police, Babatunde Kokumo, visited the family and promised to carry out thorough investigation.

    When the deceased fiancée was brought out to speak to journalists, she could not talk and only muttered, “Where is David?”

    Another family member, Mrs. Rose Aremu, urged the police to show the public the identities of the policemen who were at that checkpoint where David died.

  • Edo raises investigative panel on police/youth clash

    Edo raises investigative panel on police/youth clash

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has directed that an investigative panel be set-up to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the fracas between men of the Nigeria Police and youths in Upper Igun area, in Oredo Local Government Area of the state.

    Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Rt. Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, said this while briefing journalists after the State Executive Council meeting presided over by the Chairman-in-council and Governor of the State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, at the Government House, in Benin City, Edo State, on Wednesday.

    According to Ohonbamu, “The Chairman-in-Council expressed deep sadness over the fracas between the police and civilians in Upper Igun and called for calm over the fracas. The governor, who presided over the executive council meeting, mandated the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq. to set up an investigative panel to be headed by a reputable Retired Judge.”

    Ohonbamu added, “Other members of the panel will include a retired police commissioner, retired senior army officer and members of the civil society. The investigative panel will ascertain the cause of the crisis, ensure that justice is done and prevent future occurrence.”

    Similarly, Ohonbamu said that after the State Executive Council reviewed the state government’s response to the incidence of gas explosion in Ugbo area in Benin City, the governor directed the SSG to immediately set up an investigative panel to investigate various fire incidents in the state.

    He said, “The investigative panel on fire incidents in the state will be tasked to unravel immediate and remote causes of fire incidents, the state’s response capabilities and further prevent other similar incidences in the state.

    He noted that the committee will be headed by a reputable Retired Judge and other members will be drawn from various strata of the state.

    Ohonbamu said that the governor charged the Head of Service (HoS), Mrs. Gladys Idahor, to commence the planned capacity development programme for civil servants in the state.

  • Tracka: Overview of 2017 Zonal Intervention Projects in Edo North Senatorial District

    Tracka: Overview of 2017 Zonal Intervention Projects in Edo North Senatorial District

    Tracka, a subset of BudgIT is a network of active citizens who track  implementation of public projects captured in the budget by giving feedback  and sensitizing community members  on the need to demand accountability from elected officials.

    Findings  on the  2017 Zonal intervention projects tracked by Moses Ilevbaoje,  BudgIT’s  Project tracking officer in Edo state, revealed that project line items in the budget nominated by the National Assembly members representing Edo North were mainly empowerment provisions. Also, detailed locations of projects were not specified in the budget, thus making it difficult for residents to track and demand for the implementation of projects.

    A total of N3.9 billion was allocated to Edo state for Zonal intervention projects Edo north got N2.4 billion out of the total amount of funds estimated and over N900 million  was earmarked for the execution of  empowerment projects.  It appears only a few of these development projects will be implemented at the end of the day due to lack of citizens’ awareness. Although letters were written and delivered to the senator Francis Alimikhena and House of Representatives members,  no response was available  as at the time of filing this story.

    Tracka is out to eradicate the culture of stomach infrastructure in Nigeria, that is why we take civic education to grassroots. In the past, there is a low level of citizens’ participation in governance; this has led to under development in the society. Our goal in Tracka is to bridge the gap between citizens and the government as we believe this  will enhance  citizens’ inclusion in the budget process and project implementations.

    However, in Edo North Senatorial district, the following projects were monitored at different locations across the respective local government area:

    Sensitization/training and strategic empowerment of youths and human right advocacy, Etsako West and Etsako East LGA, Edo North senatorial district, Edo state for N150 million.

    Sensitization and strategic empowerment on the right of people living with HIV/AIDs in Etsako East LGA, Edo North senatorial district, Edo state for N130 million.

    Strategic empowerment of youths in Owan East/Owan West federal constituency,  provision of tricycles, motorcycles, gen-sets, sewing machines etc for N80 million.

    Advocacy and sensitization on the rights of children and women in Etsako East LGA, Edo North senatorial district, Edo state for N100 million.

    Some of the challenges uncovered during the tracking of projects in Edo state include lack of citizens inclusion and needs assessment by members of the national assembly.  Also, members of the   communities  visited by the Tracka team expressed displeasure over project implementation in  previous years.

    For residents of Ojavun, a community in Owan East Local government area; development has led to anguish, as the elected representatives do not carry them along. A resident who spoke with the Tracka team at a town hall meeting revealed that they have little or no idea about constituency projects. They have the erroneous belief that lawmakers use personal funds to finance projects in the community.

    One of the community chief also lamented to the team, saying it would be better for the legislature to nominate developmental projects such as schools, water and hospitals which would have a direct impact on the lives of people in the community. 

    In conclusion, the Tracka team encouraged members of the community to engage their representatives at the National Assembly. They wrote a letter to the designated agency ministry of water resources, Office of the secretary of the federation, ministry of trade and productivity etc., requesting an update on the 2017 zonal intervention projects implementation. Tracka will ensure to follow up on the implementation of these projects in the respective communities and give feedback to the public.

  • PDP Chieftain lauds Obaseki’s achievements

    PDP Chieftain lauds Obaseki’s achievements

    A Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chieftain in Edo State, Prince Musa Braimah, has applauded the Godwin Obaseki-led administration in Edo State, for its sterling performance in attracting investments to the state and restoring hope to the people.

    Braimah said this during a chat with journalists in Benin City, Edo State capital.

    According to him, “Governor Obaseki has proven to be a governor who put the interest of the state ahead and above any other thing and has continued to make policies that benefit Edo people.

    “So far, based on my assessment, Governor Godwin Obaseki is doing well as he continues to record great strides in driving economic development and creating prosperity for the people.”

    Braimah urged members of the opposition political parties in the state to join hands with Obaseki to develop the state by providing constructive criticism, noting, “All Obaseki needs now is the support of the people, including members of the opposition in the state, to enable him succeed with his plans to move the state forward.”

    He added that members of the opposition parties in the state should forget about the acrimony but rather join forces with the governor on developmental matters because “every Edo person deserves a better deal and the governor is delivering on his promises.”

    On industrialisation of the state, the PDP Chieftain said, “Based on visible facts on the ground, Governor Obaseki is making progress in moving the state in the right direction with his policies to transform the state into an economically viable state through his drive to attract foreign investors and opening up the state to the organised private sector to do business.  

    “I have kept records of Obaseki’s plans to diversify the state’s economy. I must say he is doing creditably well. I urge him not to relent or be distracted as Edo need to be prepared for a future where crude oil-based economy will no longer be driving growth.”

    He added, “Despite being a Chieftain of the PDP, I give the governor kudos because I am also an Edo person, who believes that the policies of the governor on agriculture and industrialisation are capable of transforming the state into an economic hub in the country.”