Tag: Edo

• •Signs deal with Group for management of 169-room world-class hotel

The Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has said the development of the 169-room Edo Radisson Hotel Project will boost the growth of the hospitality and tourism sectors and foster economic growth and development in the State.

The governor said this at the signing ceremony of the International Management Agreement between the Edo State Government and the Radisson Hotel Group, at the Government House, in Benin City.

The 169-room hotel, scheduled to open within the next 12 months is the Group’s 12th hotel in Nigeria and officially marks their debut in Benin City.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, the governor represented by Secretary to the Edo State Government, Osarodion Ogie, Esq., said the project represents a symbol of the government’s commitment to fostering economic growth and transforming the landscape of the State.

Ogie noted, “Today marks a significant milestone in our collective vision for progress and development in our beloved State. The Edo State Radisson Hotel Project represents a symbol of our commitment to fostering economic growth and transforming the landscape of our State.

“The Hospitality and tourism sectors have long been recognised as powerful catalysts for economic prosperity, creating opportunities for employment, investment, and socio-cultural exchange. By embarking on this ambitious venture, we are signaling our firm belief in the potential of our State as a vibrant and thriving destination.”

On his part, the Director of Development for Africa at Radisson Hotel Group, Erwan Garnier, said the Radisson Hotel Group, through the partnership with the Edo State Government, has progressed with its expansion in Nigeria with the signing of the Edo Radisson Hotel, Benin City.

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He said, “With our ongoing commitment to expand in Nigeria, a key market in Africa for our scaled growth in Sub-Saharan Africa’s largest economy, the debut in Benin City, a key state capital, is perfectly aligned with our growth strategy for the country.

“As our first Radisson branded hotel outside of Lagos and Abuja, the Radisson Hotel Benin City will continue to reinforce our brand awareness in Nigeria, especially for the Radisson brand which enables guests to find more harmony in their travel experience.”

According to the Edo State Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Adaze Kalu, “We are sculpting the landscape of our State by creating a new landmark that will shape the perception of Edo State in the eyes of the world. We envision a future where our State is synonymous with warm hospitality, unrivalled natural beauty, and rich cultural heritage.

“The Hotel will serve as a gateway for visitors to experience the unique people, culture and treasures that Edo State holds. The Radisson Hotel Project will position Edo State as a destination for capital. We are pleased to partner with Radisson Hotel Group on this laudable project.”

Located in Benin City, in Edo State, one of the nine oil-producing states of Nigeria, Radisson Hotel Benin City is situated in the prime Government Reserved Area (GRA). Conveniently accessible via the airport and Benin-Sapele roads, the two main arteries of the city, the hotel is just five minutes’ drive from the Benin Airport and on the doorstep of the Benin Golf Course and the city’s commercial center.

The Radisson Hotel, Benin City is also within close proximity to various security offices, such as the Nigerian Army and the Nigerian Police Force, providing an additional security presence in the vicinity of the hotel.

The hotel’s meetings and events spaces will consist of a 507sqm sub-divisible ballroom, three meeting rooms and a pre-function area for a wide range of tailored events.

Edo State government has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation and Private Health Sector Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN) to revitalise Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and provide technical support for 18 select PHCs in the state.

 Vice Chairman of the Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Mrs. Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede said the agreement signified a commitment by all parties to ensure improved healthcare outcomes for Edo State.

 She said: “There is no disputing the fact that our country’s health system is fraught with many challenges, including poor infrastructure, shortage of manpower and weak system. Research shows that 85 per cent of PHCs in the country constitute all the clinics and hospitals, while only 20 per cent of them are functioning. It is evident that there is a huge gap and people in the grassroots are in desperate need of intervention.

 “It is clear that the government cannot do it all. Public Private Partnership (PPP) is the way forward. We are adopting 23 PHCs in Nigeria, 18 of which are in Edo State. The first one is going to be in Sabongidda-Ora, Owan West Local Government Area, which is our home.”

 Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of PSHAN, Dr. Tinuola Akinbolagbe, noted that the agreement was to address specific healthcare challenges in Edo.

 She said: “The Adopt-A-Healthcare Facility Programme (ADHFP) is a strategic initiative, aimed at revitalising and establishing standard PHCs across Nigeria. In the context of Edo State, the programme focuses on the vital objective of refurbishing PHCs to address specific healthcare challenges in the state.

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 “The ADHFP aims to create a tangible and positive impact, acknowledging the unique needs of Edo State, by enhancing infrastructure, resources, and capabilities at the grass-roots level. Eighteen PHCs were carefully selected in Edo, based on criteria such as the availability of basic healthcare provision fund, water and power supplies, medical staff presence, and building conditions, among others.

 “The initial stage PHCs for revitalisation include Atoruru PHC in Sabongidda-Ora, Evbuodia PHC in Oredo, Uteh PHC in Iwogban, and Idunmungha PHC in Uhunmwode. These PHCs were chosen based on compliance with outlined criteria, ensuring that adopted facilities align with the programme’s mission of providing support to people in dire need.”

 Secretary to Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie, expressed confidence that the initiative and agreement would impact significantly on primary healthcare system in the state. He urged officials of the foundation to visit the Edo State School of Health Technology, with a view to help in manpower training.

The member representing Esan West/Esan Central/Igueben Federal Constituency of Edo state, Hon. Marcus Onobum has said that disallowing local you from exercising their administrative and financial autonomy goes against the principles and letters of the 1999 constitution.

In an interview with The Nation in Abuja, Onobum who is a former Speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly said the constitution proscribed three-tiers of government for the country.

He explained that it was in recognition of the constitutional provision that the Edo State House of Assembly passed the local government autonomy bill sent to it by the 9th National Assembly.

The bill on local government autonomy was one of the bills that failed to meet the required 24 state Assemblies for concurrence to become a law during the last constitutional amendment.

He said, “The constitution is our guide and that constitution made it clear that there shall be three tiers of government and not arms of government. These three tiers of government are supposed to be independent of each other.

“I personally believe that just as the state has its autonomy and not being controlled by the federal government, the local government should be allow to have their autonomy and be free to express themselves without interference from the states.

“It is not just financial autonomy, but administrative autonomy too. The councilors should be able to express themselves freely just as we did at the state level.  The chairman who went round to campaign and made promises should be blessed to deliver on those promises without interference.

“I believe that the state of insecurity we have today is brought about as a result of a weak local government system. In the first place, poverty is what drives people into committing crimes and all these start with the local government.

“Even the President is from a local government. So, the bulk should not be passed to either the governor or the President. The local government as enshrined in the constitution should carry out their responsibilities and if there are bottlenecks that lead to the financial and administrative autonomy, it should be removed.”

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“We believe that the local government should be given a fair ground to do all that they need to do for grassroots development, for security of our country.

“You can imagine that the 774 local government councils in Nigeria are dealing with the issue of insecurity, the President will have less to do. Today, the President and the governors are now carrying the burden of what to do.

“The local issues such as security with the vigilante are things that the local government should be able to dodo while the federal government will now be protecting the territory to ensure there are no extern invaders. But what we are dealing with today are internal issues which is not supposed to be.”

Speaking on the autonomy for state legislature that is not being implemented by the states, he said “When we had the fifth alteration of the constitution, I will like to say that under my leadership as Speaker of the Edo House of Assembly, Edo was the third state to pass the bill on autonomy for the judiciary and the local government.

“But there are certain criteria you must meet. I understand that not all the states has fully constituted their Assembly Service Commission. There are certain administrative procedures that you have to go through to have full autonomy.

“I understand that some states have started implementing the autonomy. If there are states that have not, I am sure that the process is on. It is legal for every state legislature to have full autonomy.”

• Three respondents absent, represented by counsel; petitioner, lawyer present 

Chief Judge of Edo State, Justice Daniel Okungbowa, sitting at Court 1 on Sapele Road, Benin, on Monday, has fixed November 28 for ruling on a motion in a suit by Benin-based businessman, Michael Okojie, who alerted to threat on his life by his alleged lesbian bank manager wife, Mrs. Ann Okojie, who has three kids (minors) for him, but unlawfully removed his property and documents from the matrimonial home.

 Okojie wants his estranged wife to deposit with the court registrar for safe keeping, the documents she removed from his bedroom, pending hearing and determination of the suit/divorce petition, for her not to run away with the’ highly-cherished’ three children to an unknown destination, which he said would make it impossible for him to see them again.

The motion was dated  July 21 without reply by the counsel to the respondents, Edoba Osifo, who was in court , without his clients, but rather filed counter-affidavit on October 4, which was replied by Okojie’s counsel, Imarhiagbe Edewi, on October 26.

 Edewi moved the motion, which was brought in pursuant to Section 73 (1) (D) (H) of Matrimonial Causes Act, 2024; Order 1, Rule 11 (a) (b) (c) of the Matrimonial Causes Rules, 1990; and Order XI Rule 10 of the Matrimonial Causes Rules, 1990; under inherent jurisdiction of the court, but was kicked against by Osifo, necessitating adjournment.

Okojie  said in Benin his wife, manager of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) in Uselu, Benin branch, was involved in alleged bigamy and adultery with a married man, Felix Aganbi, the Benin-based producer of Akogate water.

 The petitioner also said his wife got deep in alleged lesbianism with a serving army officer, Major Ebinyo Ayah, then Finance officer of Supply and Transport (S&T) Barracks, Isihor, Benin, who hurriedly sought transfer from Benin to Abuja, when the alleged act was exposed, even with courage to commit the crime in his home, when Ayah was accommodated, based on his wife’s lies.

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 In order not to continue to endanger his life, the businessman, on May 25, at Edo High Court of Justice, filed a divorce petition for dissolution of the marriage, with his estranged wife, Ayah and Aganbi as respondents in the suit B/447D/2023, with the three respondents, yet to appear in court, represented by Osifo.

  Okojie described as unbelievable, his discovery Ann, without dissolution of their marriage, applied on May 12 to use the swimming pool section of Benin Club, with the name: “Mrs. Ann Aganbi,” and her address as No. 1-6,Akogate Industrial Layout, Oluku, Benin, office of her illegal husband, which was approved by management of Benin Club on May 15.

 He wants the court to dissolve the marriage, grant him custody of the kids, to continue to give them quality education, care and for Ann, alleged lesbian and adulterer, not to corrupt the innocent kids, as well as to return the landed property and the documents.

 In the counter-affidavit, Ann said the grounds for the petitioner’s application were misrepresented and a fluke, stressing there was no valid marriage known to law between them, noting Okojie deceived her and her family into a bigamous relationship.

 The bank manager said: “There was solemnisation of holy matrimony between Janet Owenaze and the petitioner at St. Ambrose’s Catholic Church, Ekpan, Delta State, on October 11, 1997, and produced the petitioner’s first two children: Abiodun and Jennifer Okojie, but their statutory marriage was never dissolved, before the petitioner married me, and has remained undissolved till this moment.

 Ann was silent on allegations of lesbianism, bigamy and adultery levelled against her by her husband.

 Okojie, in his reply to Ann’s counter-affidavit, said her responses were false, lies and misleading, saying he did customary law marriage with Janet Owenze, but went to Catholic church for blessing, as she was six months pregnant, with no certificate of marriage issued, and that the traditional marriage was dissolved on September 23, 2008.