The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Edo

  • 15 injured as Army, police clash in Edo

    Fifteen persons, including a pregnant woman, were yesterday injured during a fracas between men of the Nigerian Army and policemen from the popular Oba Market Police Station.

    The clash, which occurred opposite the market, located at the Benin City centre, forced residents and shops owners to flee for safety.

    Tear gas canisters and several shots were fired during the clash, as soldiers who arrived in over 10 Hilux vans, invaded the police station.

    Many residents were injured in the ensuing stampede and from inhaling tear gas.

    Policemen in the station locked themselves inside the station, while business owners locked their shops to prevent looting.

    The soldiers stopped their over two-hour siege at the police station at about 6:20pm, following intervention of top police officers in the state.

    It was learnt that trouble started when 10 policemen beat two soldiers to stupor at the Ibiwe junction close to the Oba Market station.

    The soldiers, according to witnesses, had beaten up a female traffic warden for not allowing them to pass through despite heavy traffic.

    One of the soldiers was said to have repeatedly slapped the woman until other policemen intervened, resulting into a free for all.

    The policemen were said to have dragged the soldiers to the police station and detained them.

     

    Witnesses said a soldier who witnessed the beating called his colleagues and soldiers in 10 hilux vans stormed the police station.

     

    Spokesman for the Nigerian Army, 4 Brigade, Jonah Unuakhalu, said he was yet to be briefed and promised to call back after getting the details.

     

    Also, Edo Police Spokesman, DSP Stephen Onwochei, could not be reached for comments.

  • I did menial jobs to survive, says Edo lawmaker

    I did menial jobs to survive, says Edo lawmaker

    Chris Okaeben represents Oredo West constituency in the Edo State House of Assembly. For eight years, he  battled to contest election to the House of Assembly. During the past struggles, he was pressured to step down for former Speaker Uyi Igbe. A stout member of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Okaeben spoke with OSAGIE OTABOR

    How was it when growing up?

    I feel embarrassed when I see young girls hanging out as call girls and selling their bodies in the name of survival. There was nothing I did not do to survive. I know this is not the desire of these innocent girls but if we can connect back to the society, we can do something to make them busy. I have once done any work just to ensure I got money to buy books to take to school. I have washed clothes for people to be paid. I worked in people’s garden just to eat. I would go to UNIBEN to do any work for students just because I wanted to remain in secondary school.

    This is because I was convinced that I can make something out of my life. This is why I want to give our people hope. We want to lay a foundation and encourage the people. I want to be part of them. I don’t want them to believe that they have laboured in vain. What has not worked well is that elected persons come once in three years to distribute rice. We want to remain in the system where we grow up from.

    What should your constituency expect from you?

    We want to introduce soft loans for women. I will have a well functional campaign office and employ 12 persons from the six wards to serve as a means of link to the people. I want people to talk about what I did in my time and in defining what  I did in my time, it is about how many people’s lives I affected. How many people I was able to bring to governance. It is only a foolish man who will not want any person to rise to his standard.  We are tired of hearing share the money. What we need are those who will feel the pain that the common man is facing. This nation under Buhari will take us to our destination.

    There is so much to do in Oredo. The people don’t want to be in the dark. They want to be connected to what is happening in government. In my campaigns, I said our people will enjoy the benefits of governance.  What they expect is to reconnect them to government. I want my people to believe in themselves. I am convinced that good things are beginning to happen in my time. I will criticise, suggest and advise. The most important thing is to add value and in adding value, there must be a connection between you and your people. The era of sinking boreholes without bothering whether the people need it or not is over. There is so much to do. I have visited some skill acquisitions shops and I felt that we must identify people in various wards and give them a sense of belonging. Everybody cannot be elected but we can make them learn a trade. We are looking at a way of engaging young girls, who may not be lucky to go to tertiary institutions, to become entrepreneurs. We can prepare a future for our young girls.

  • Buhari urges Senate to approve N14.7b World Bank loan for Edo

    President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday urged the Senate to approve a $75 million (about N14.7 billion) Word Bank loan for Edo State.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki read the President’s letter requesting the approval for the loan.

    President Buhari said the loan is meant for the state’s development programmes.

    The President’s letter is entitled: Request for approval to obtain $75m credit facilities from the World Bank for Edo State.

    Buhari said: “I am writing to seek the consideration from the National Assembly an approval for the request from the Edo State Government to obtain a $75 million credit facility from the World Bank.

    “You may wish to know that the World Bank had approved a development policy programme for $225 million to Edo State Government in 2012 to be implemented in three tranches of $75 millon per annum.

    “The first tranche was approved by the National Assembly in the 2012/2014 Federal Government External Rolling Borrowing Plan.

    “The Development Programme Operation (DPO) has since been successful implemented by the state in 2014.

    “Following this success, the bank’s board of executive directors approved the second tranche.

    “On April 29, 2015, the DPO too was captured in the Federal Government External Borrowing Plan of 2014/2017, which is pending with the National Assembly.

    “It is for the above reason I seek your favour to facilitate the consideration and approval of the Development Policy Operation II loan of $75 million to enable the state to consolidate on the phase of the first tranche of the operation DPO I.

    “Your Excellency, it is instructive to mention that Edo State has informed me that the key programme objectives of the DPO are already beginning to show in terms of increased inflow of private investments to the state.

    “Increased private sector employment opportunities and increased internally generated revenues, an accelerated approval of this request will help to sustain this phase.” The President requested Senate’s speedy consideration of the request.

     

  • Edo, FRSC to check traffic offenders at psychiatric hospital

    The Edo State Government, in conjunction with the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), has said motorists who violate traffic laws will be tested at the psychiatric hospital to ascertain their mental balance.

    The Director of Operations of Edo State Inter-ministerial Task Force, Comrade Mukhtar Yusuf-Osagie, broke the news yesterday in Benin, the state capital.

    He said an arrangement was in place to begin a free flow of traffic across the state.

    The task force chief said monitoring gadgets would be provided for effective monitoring of vehicles, adding that the FRSC would prosecute traffic offenders at mobile courts.

    Yusuf-Osagie said: “Every busy area has monitoring cameras. Our men too are equipped with monitoring cameras. Some have camera phones and ipads so that no offender will be punished unjustly.”

    The task force chief, who is also Edo State Chairman of the Committee on Environment, said in the last one month, 30 persons were arrested and 24 convicted for various offences bordering on environmental, street trading and illegal dumping of refuse.

     

  • Who gets Edo APC ticket?

    Who gets Edo APC ticket?

    Imasuagbon Kenneth ImasuagbonOsunbor Senator-Osunbor2The ranks of those seeking to contest next year’s governorship election on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC) is swelling by the day. The APC leadership has put a caveat on building political structures by the aspirants, ahead of primaries.

    Former governorship aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, Kenneth Imasuangbon, popularly known as ‘Rice Man’ because of his yearly distribution of rice to the poor, has joined the race.

    Imasuangbon recently led his supporters to defect to the APC. He described his defection as the return of the prodigal son.

    Other are Commissioner for Works, Osarodion Ogie, Deputy Governor Dr. Pius Odubu, Head of Oshiomhole’s Economic Team, Godwin Obaseki, Pharmacist Christopher Iyare, Chris Ogiemwonyi, and General Charles Airhiavbere.

    A founding member and financier of the defunct Action Congress (AC), Imasuangbon was persuaded to step down for Governor Oshiomhole in 2007. He joined the PDP at a time the party was in disarray. He resurrected the PDP in the state in 2009 and reconciled the warring factions.

    Imasuangbon lost the PDP ticket to Airhiavbere in a keenly contested primary in 2012. He has not relented in his bid to govern Edo State.

    Speaking at Ewohinmi, Esan South East Local, when he defected to the APC, Imasuangbon said he returned to his base to support infrastructural development in the state.

    Imasuangbon, who described the APC as a party for the progressive whose vision is to among other things eradicate poverty, said he supported the APC in the last general elections.

    He said: “I joined APC since January this year but we have not had the opportunity to celebrate it due to the elections. But thank God we are celebrating today. I wish to reassure you the people of the state that your sacrifices would not be in vain. I  promised to continue to sacrifice my time, energy and resources as I have done over the years in adding value to the lives of Edo people.

    “I am indeed proud of our Edo ancestry and the laudable works being done by our governor, Oshiomhole. Oshiomhole is our leader and mentor and we will continue to celebrate him for all he is doing for our people. My advice to Edo people is that we should remain steadfast in out belief in the creation of an egalitarian Edo State and that by so doing we will achieve the Edo State of our dream by the grace of God and good governance.”

    APC leader in the locality Victor Eboigbe said the return of Imasuangbo would add value to the APC in Edo Central and the state as a whole.

    “The party said it would disqualify any aspirant that flouted the party rules and that the party flagbearer would emerge through the party’s structure”

    Eboigbe said: “ I was surprised that Imasuagbon left the house he built for others to inhabit. But we thank God that he is back to the house he built. He joined even before the elections and he worked for the party. So we call on elders of Ewohimi to pray for him so that he will not lose track again.

    “He was one of the founding members of this party. We have always appeal to him to come back. We are happy he is back home. We are proud of him as a politician. We appreciate his coming.

    “His coming will make a great impact. APC has had it tough in some local government areas in Edo Central. His coming to join us will have impact in the entire senatorial district. He is a man that is known across the state.”

    The APC in Edo has barred aspirants from erecting political structures and hiring campaign offices ahead of the party primaries. The party said it would disqualify any aspirant that flouted the party rules and that the party flagbearer would emerge through the party’s structure.

    Imasuangbon is back to a familiar terrain, but under another political party whose conduct pf party primaries is different from the PDP. Unfolding events in the coming months will determined, if he would make headway this time around.

     

  • Edo: Four policemen arrested over businessman’s death

    Four policemen from the Special Anti-Robbery squad unit of the Lagos State Police Command have been arrested over the death of a car dealer, Benson Obode, in their custody in Benin City, Edo State.

    The four policemen – Adeleke Adedeji, Oniyon Musa, Henry Sobowale, and Abena John had arrested Benson on May 21 and also dumped the corpse of Benson at the Central Hospital Mortuary on same date without informing the family.

    Late Benson was arrested for allegedly buying a stolen Ash Colour Peugeot 306.

    It is not yet certain how Benson died in police custody but his landlord, Monday Omosigho, who was earlier arrested, said he saw Benson being tortured by the police at the Edo police headquarters.

    Lagos State Police Command however told some journalists from a private radio station in Benin City after two months of enquiries that Benson died from ‘mob action’.

    Family of late Benson had traveled to Abuja, Portharcourt, Lagos and Kaduna police commands in search of Benson without any knowledge that Benson has been killed.

    Police sources told the Nation that the four policemen were being currently being detained in Lagos and would soon be transferred to Benin City.

    Elder brother to late Benson, Solomon, said the family has been briefed about the arrest but said they were many unanswered questions like the whereabouts of the N200,000 and ATM cards on his brother the day he was arrested.

  • Insecurity: Immigration reads riot act to expatriates in Edo

    Insecurity: Immigration reads riot act to expatriates in Edo

    As part of efforts toward effective security of lives and property and preventing terrorist attacks in Edo State, the State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) has read the riot act to expatriates and aliens working in the state.

    The NIS, in the warning, which was also handed to employers of expatriates, vowed to strictly enforce the new Immigration Law of 2015 and punish any expatriates or company that employ them if the law is violated.

    The warning was issued at a stakeholders meeting organised by the NIS, where the aliens and companies were intimated of some of the stiff penalties introduced in the new immigration law.

    Top hierarchy of the NIS present at the meeting frowned at refusal of some companies to pay departure and arrival notification fee of expatriates in the state. Only seven companies were said to be up to date in the payment.

    Assistant-Comptroller General of Immigration, Zone G, Emmanuel Gbuuga, in his speech urged the foreigners to respect Nigeria’s immigration laws just as Nigerians respect other countries’ immigration laws.

    The ACG said it was inappropriate for foreigners to move about the country without carrying their passport, an action he said would no longer be tolerated.

    Emmanuel charged foreigners to always carry their international passports with them and stopped making excuses that their international passports are somewhere in Lagos or Abuja.

    The ACG said the command was not out to embarrass foreigners, but to make them understand the need to obey the laws.

    He warned business owners to only employ documented aliens in the country as a way of boosting security.

    Ogbuuga explained that the command want to know what immigrants are doing across the country as well as monitor their activities.

    “If you have a guest who is a visitor, he has no business to work here. If you want to work, you must make sure you are regularised within three months, if you want to invite an expert, you are given a temporary work permit.”

    “We have a new act that has not been launched. Some of the penalty there are stiff. We are doing it in conformity with other laws. As we respect immigration laws of other countries, we also expect that our laws should be obeyed. I believed that we must operate within the armbit of the laws. Whoever breaks Nigeria laws will pay the penalty.”

    Edo Immigration Comptroller, Alana Olusegun, warned expatriates to pay close attention to sections stipulating new penalties when the new laws are violated.

    According to him, “There is need for anybody who comes into the country to be monitored especially at hotels. We have been asking hotels to render returns on lodgers.

    “Any law made by the service is geared towards security. We want to make expatriates understand the new provisions and new penalties in the Immigration Law. We know why they are here and there is need for us to tell them what awaits anyone that violates the laws.

    “The idea of asking foreigners to pay arrival and notification fee is for security purposes. The hoteliers are not security conscious. You give us information and we work on it. It is a very simple practice.”

  • Edo IRS seals 20 firms for unremitted taxes

    Edo IRS seals 20 firms for unremitted taxes

    The Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) has sealed over 20 companies in the Hospitality sector for alleged non-remittances of the consumption taxes collected on behalf of the state government.

    Addressing reporters in Benin, the Director of Tax Intelligence and Enforcement Department of EIRS, Mr. Victor Okube, said over 70 companies in the sector had been identified for failing to comply with the Hotels and Event Centres Occupancy and Restaurants Consumption Law of Edo State, otherwise called the Consumption Tax.

    Okube said: “The establishments sealed off include Royal Kada Fried, De Mariot Hotel Limited, Meridian Lodge, Koso International Hotel, Anna Vinni Bar and Restaurant, Indigo Lounge, Dema Suit and Hotel, Aso Phil Carwash and Bar, Hotel De Eto and Tomline Royal Centre.

    The director said the enforcement was meant to ensure that operators in the sector complied with the state’s tax law, which became effective in 2011.

    He added that the agency’s cashless collection and payment policy was still in force.

    Okube said collection agents of the sealed establishments should remit the consumption taxes into designated Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) bank accounts or pay via Point of Sales (PoS) machines with Automated Teller Machine (ATM) cards.

    He urged them to obtain government treasury receipts on presenting bank tellers for payments.

  • Edo tells Perm Secs to block revenue leakages

    The Edo State Government has directed its permanent secretaries and directors to block leakages and fraud in their Departments, Ministries and Agencies (MDAs) or face the repercussion.

    The government gave the order at a seminar on enhancing internally generated revenue (IGR).

    Head of Service (HOS) Jerry Obazele, who issued a communiqué at the end of the seminar, said top civil servants resolved to block all loopholes and increase the state’s IGR to cushion the effects of the dwindling revenue from the Federation Account.

    Obazele said: “It was generally agreed that there is an urgent need in Edo State to increase the IGR because of the dwindling receipts from the Federation Account and other external sources of revenue to it.

    “Permanent secretaries in Edo State, as the accounting officers of their MDAs, should take necessary steps to ensure that the revenue accruable to their MDAs are duly identified, collected and remitted intact into the government’s treasury. The permanent secretaries should take necessary steps to ensure that revenue leakages are blocked.

  • Foundation rewards Edo brilliant students

    Foundation rewards Edo brilliant students

    Over 200 pupils from some secondary schools and tertiary institutions in Edo State have been rewarded with cash, books and iPads for emerging victorious in the Seventh  Kenneth Imasuangbon Essay Competition.

    Some of the pupils were given a copy of the book  written by former Minister of Information, Prince Tony Momoh, titled: “Echoes from the Past”.

    The cash prizes ranged from N50,000, N30,000, N20,000 to N15,000 for first, second and third places.

    Topic of the essay competition was “Tenacity and resilient: The Buhari example for the Nigeria children”.

    Six winners from both junior and senior secondary schools were picked from each of the 18 local government areas while three winners emerged from tertiary institutions in the state.

    Some the winners from Ehor Grammar School said they would not be afraid to participate in an essay competition.

    Igginigie Osagbokan, who came first in the senior secondary school category, said he was informed about the competition by his uncle and had to study hard.

    He said: “In my essay,  I suggested that we should learn from the examples of Buhari’s experience and what he passed through to become President of Nigeria.”

    Winner of the junior school category in Uhunmwode, who gave his name as Ekhator, said he consulted with his teachers and brothers before going for the competition.

    He said: “I gathered all the advice and it helped me. This victory will help me to always go for more competitions. With this success, I will no longer be afraid of any topic.”

    Speaking at the presentation, Chairman of Ambrose Alli University Governing Council, Prof. Gregory Akenzua, recalled how an essay competition he won during his primary school days propelled him to become a Professor of Child Health.

    Akenzua praised the founder for seeking out creative writing talents in the youths.

    He noted that the challenge was for the beneficiaries to be motivated to achieve greater things in the future.

    The Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion,  urged the pupils not to sell their i-pads, but to use them in achieving greater things.

    Imasuangbon, who is a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), recalled how a white lady at the store where he bought the iPads initially refused to sell to him.

    He said the white sales girl thought he wanted to use them for terrorism.

    He added: “When my wife and I walked into Apple Store, they were hesitant to sell to us because they felt we want to use them for terrorism. They have to google our names to be satisfied. The lady later said the world needs people like us.

    “We need to inspire the young ones. This little donation will open the world to them. I am fired up by character of the Edo State. There is no hope in this country except we build these younger ones. This is to trigger the energy of the youths. To give them access to information.”