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Tag: Gelegele

  • Edo industrialisation policy resets state on growth path – Obaseki

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the Edo Industrial Development Policy has put the state on an economic growth path that is absorbing local manpower.

    He explained that the state has been working on the comprehensive industrialisation policy with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), which he said would be unveiled soon.

    Read Also:Obaseki finalises investment with Chinese firms

    Obaseki who is pushing hard on the various stages of projects designed to transform the state into an industrial hub, noted that “the steps that have been taken by our administration are in line with the state’s well-articulated Industrial Development Policy that will support increasing growth rates, generation of sufficient employment opportunities and sustainable economic growth and development.”

    Experts contend that experience from successful national and local economies indicates that a “coherent Industrialisation Policy is a prerequisite for the advancement of industrial development in any territory.”

    Specifically, the Benin Industrial Park is conceived to serve as a base for manufacturing and processing companies that will add a great deal of value to products that are sourced from the state and her neighbours, for onward exportation through the Benin River Port in Gelegele.

    The Modular Refinery in Benin has received a N700 million as initial investment and sources familiar with the progress of the Edo-China investment collaboration, said the projects hold a lot of promise for the state.

    According to Obaseki, “the company will be involved in the production of petroleum and petrochemical products and other related businesses.

    “The venture will enhance the local refining capacity, thereby increasing the volume of naphtha, kerosene, diesel and residual fuel oil products available in Edo State.”

    He added that the venture “will create legitimate employment opportunities thereby reducing poverty and providing job opportunities for teeming youth in the communities and facilitate the establishment of a fabrication yard as proposed by the promoters, thereby creating basis for expertise, professionalism and further training in oil and gas industry.”

    The governor assured that the set of strategies adopted in the industrialisation plan will alter the structure and distribution of industrial activity to promote economic growth and development.

    The Edo Fertiliser and Chemical plant commissioned by the governor last year has provided employment opportunities for over 500 people and has created allied businesses in Auchi where it is located, aside providing access to fertiliser.

    The governor added that the technical manpower required to drive these industries are being groomed at the Benin Science and Technical College, which is being revamped by the state government, to ensure that skilled manpower will be sourced locally.

     

  • Water, water everywhere

    Water, water everywhere

    Water,  water everywhere. The paradox of water.  I am not referring to the tragic floods of Benue State nor those of Texas caused by Hurricane Harvey. I am  not referring to  Huricane IRMA which has caused so much devastation in  the Caribbean and United States. Rather, my  mind is on the ancient riverine Community of Gelegele in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo State which I visited again on Friday September 8.  It was like keeping an appointment with destiny; I had promised myself and officials of the Presidential Amnesty Programme that the next time we visit the town, we must leave a positive mark. I had no doubt what that should be.

    Gelelge is an oil-rich town in the watery creeks of the Niger Delta which has almost been by-passed by civilization and development in spite of centuries of contact with Europeans..

    Its being virtually  submerged in water, the town had no safe drinking water. It reminded me of the sailor in Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s famous poem “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” who was in a ship at sea, but had no water to drink because it was salt water. He had lamented “Water, water everywhere, nor any drop to drink”

    Like the Ancient Mariner, Gelegele was virtually inside water, but had none to drink.  The town   being oil rich,  with gas flaring right inside it, but not in a demonstrable way, benefitting from its natural resources, was another paradox.

    I knew that  the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has evolved   policies to stop gas flaring, involve the people  directly in the wealth of their land by  encouraging them to participate in the Modular Refinery project,  produce mass jobs with the proposed pipeline surveillance project and generally, take the lead in the development of the Region. But I was also conscious  of the reality  that these cannot be achieved immediately, so I thought of some quick-impact project  that would make life easier. So I decided that we need  to develop a big borehole that would be high yielding, easy to operate and easy to maintain.

    It was Chinua Achebe in his  1960 book , “No Longer at Ease” who admonished that “A man who lives on the banks of the Niger (River) should not wash his hands in spittle.”  That could well be the  story of Gelelege.

    When I returned to Gelegele on September 8, to commission the borehole, I felt a sense of fulfillment although this is essentially,  a gesture. I felt one with the people and the community; I felt  we had a bond that will grow.  Speaking and interacting with the community, led by His Royal Majesty Alagbabunafa of Olodiama with the Zonal President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC)  Chief Robinson Ogunkoru, I  had a feeling of elation especially when they let it be known that this is a Government that has rekindled their hope and an administration they can trust.

    But I had more good news for them.  The President Buhari Government is not only committed to ending gas flaring , but the process will also lead to the direct creation of an estimated thirty six thousand  direct jobs and two hundred thousand indirect jobs in the Niger Delta Region. Additionally, some six million households  will have  access to renewable energy as the gas being flared, will be harnessed and channeled to homes.

    The Gelegele people expressed  their appreciation but had a request; they want to play an active part in the surveillance of pipelines. On  this I assured them that it is the policy of government to make  this project, community-based; the conviction of  the Government is that the best persons who can do such a job, are the very communities through which the pipelines pass. Another request they made, is for skill acquisition centres; this I told them the Presidential Amnesty Programme is willing to look into within its budgetary approvals.

    The next day, I was in  Ondo State where I visited Governor Oluwarotimi Odunayo Akeredolu  who wants the Federal Government to expand the Amnesty Programme to accommodate more youths in the Region  in order  to reduce youth restiveness. He also  advised that educational training should be domesticated. I was happy about this as one of my first acts as Coordinator  of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, was to domesticate the offshore training of the project.

    The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Ondo State Council also conferred on me the award of Niger Delta Peace Ambassador.. The NUJ Chairman, Mr. James Sowole said this was in recognition of my “dynamic” leadership of the Amnesty Programme and my Peace-Building Initiatives in the Niger Delta.

    At the Second Summit of the National Council of Niger Delta (NCND) held in Akure, I was elated as the Vice President, Professor  Yemi Osinbajo  rolled out the plans of the administration for the Niger Delta including the injection of more funds into the Presidential Amnesty Programme  for overall greater impact in the Region.

    I was also privileged to accompany the Vice President to Igbokoda, in Ilaje where he listened to the people, addressed and interacted with them at the Ondo State Niger Delta Communities Stakeholders Town Hall Meeting. I had nothing but praise for the youths who have maintained peace and along with the rest of the populace, warmly welcomed the Vice President and his delegation.

    I came away from Ondo State ever convinced that the most challenging task we have is to engage the youths in whatever way; from vocation, education, training (especially in agriculture) empowerment to make them self-employed, to mass employment. I also had no doubt that this cannot be left to the federal and state governments alone; the private sector- especially the oil and gas companies- has to play a major role.

     

    • Brig.-Gen. Boroh is the Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta and Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme.

     

  • ‘Gelegele sea port ‘ll be a reality’

    ‘Gelegele sea port ‘ll be a reality’

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has promised to to build a sea port at Gelegele sea port, if elected as governor.

    Obaseki gave the assurance at the APC rally in Gelegele where he was also endorsed by five Ijaw communities and groups, including the Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC)and the Ijaw National Congress(INC)

    He held discussion with  His Royal Highness, Godwin Ogorigbo, the Alagbabunafide 111,  Pereroma Ukuwosema, the Perero of Wepa Kingdom, High Chief Uponanawe Azonto, the Amanawe of Saparogbogbara Kingdom, the leader of the Izon people, the founder Ijaw National Congress, Prof C.O Dinno, the Chairman of the INC Western Zone, Chief Ogukoro Robinson, other chiefs and supporters.

    Obaseki said: “I will not take you for granted. I want to assure you that we are all Edos and there will be no discrimination of any tribe or community in Edo State”.

    The candidate, who was accompanied by his wife, Betsy, emphasized on the need to make the Gelegele sea port a container terminal.

    He added:  “We have not done all the schools. There are many roads we have not done so when you vote for continuity all those things and more that you have ask for will be done.

    “There are somany things I will do as governor,  one is empowerment of the youths. We will set up technical and vocational school in gelegele and ensure that everyone has a skill to either repair computer or do tailoring so that you will be able to feed yourselves and family.

    “We will also focus on women empowerment. We will give women loans to grow their businesses. We will also deal with agriculture by investing in mechanised farming. We already have companies who are willing to invest in the state and create jobs for every Edo person.

    On the Gelegele sea port, Obaseki said: “We have met with the minister of transport and we have planed to make the gelegele sea port as a container terminal so that economic activities will be improved in the state.”

    Mrs Betsy Obaseki urged the Ijaw communities to support her husband, assuring that he will not let them down. She assured that her husband will provide more dividends of democracy, if elected.

    Ogorigbo said: “The Ijaw people have organised themselves to campaign for you in the nooks and crannies of the creeks of all the Ijaw communities in Edo State. We believe in the APC government and we know that Obaseki will continue what has been started by our governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.”

  • Gelegele seaport will work in my time, APC senatorial candidate

    Gelegele seaport will work in my time, APC senatorial candidate

    Senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Edo South and Minority Whip of the House of Representatives, Hon. Samson Osagie yesterday pledged to work collaboratively with other lawmakers from the state towards the realization of the popular Gelegele seaport that has become the subject of past politicians who represented the state and senatorial zone at the National Assembly.

    He said the port if properly harnessed can launch the state to an economic and commercial hub for other states in the South-South geo political zone and neighbouring northern and eastern states to tap from in the country.

    Speaking during a press conference to appraise his victory and the party’s primaries held on Monday at the Samuel Ogbemudia stadium in Benin the state capital, he stated that with the emergence as the APC flag bearer, his attention would be focused towards ensuring that the party wins at all levels come 2015 general elections.

    Osagie urged citizens and the electorate not to take next year’s polls as a battle ground as it is about the future of the state and the Nigerian nation as well as its people.

    He expressed the resolve to ensure a positive synergy between the state and other stakeholders such that the imbalance that scheme the state out from getting what are due to it ends.

    The lawmaker commended all the APC delegates, leaders and members of the national body of the party, security agencies and the media for their contributions, support and commitment which led to the success of the exercise, stressing that he was poised to defend the cause and ideals of the party, the Edo south senatorial district, the state and the country at large as well as attract development to the area.

    While appealing to those who lost out during the contest and other aggrieved members not to leave the fold, he said, “politics should not be seen as that which when you lose the ticket, you leave the party.”

    On the question of anointed candidates and being threatened by anybody, he stated that, “For me, when I accept any political contest, I give my all. I am usually not bothered because I know power resides with the people. And I know even you are an anointed candidate or you have been anointed by somebody, you need the people to endorse or ratify that through their votes; so I wasn’t threatened in any way.”

    The Edo South APC senatorial candidate added:“We are going to use the instrumentality of the budget to ensure that the state is treated fairly in the area of basic amenities and appointments into federal boards and agencies and to ensure that people of the senatorial district are rewarded on the basis of their population.”