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Tag: Godwin Obaseki

  • Edo residents hail Obaseki for ongoing reconstruction of 140 roads

    With the mobilization of contractors to reconstruct over 140 roads across the state, residents of Edo State have applauded Governor Godwin Obaseki’s resolve to bridge the infrastructure gap in the state, noting that the development would immensely impact their lives and businesses.

    The reconstruction of the roads is a measure by the Governor Obaseki-led government to put the roads in good shape, while work advances on new roads.

    A cross-section of residents across the state, who spoke to journalists at the weekend, hailed the governor for rehabilitation of the roads, as the decision to work on the roads in the dry season will ensure that they are durable.

    A resident in Mosheshe Street in Ugbekun area of Benin City, Mr. Austin Iserenren, said “the gesture by Governor Obaseki has brought relief to us who reside here. We have endured hardship for quite some time. Before this project was awarded for reconstruction, we struggled to get out of our neighbourhood, especially during raining season.

    “I commend Governor Obaseki for this step. I am truly surprised that the reconstruction of the road has come to fruition. When officials of the state government were here not long ago to do assessment of the road, I said this was another stunt by the state government because we have seen similar things in the past and nothing came out of them,” he added.

    Read Also: Obaseki unveils multi-skills centre

    A resident in Irrua, Esan Central Local Government, Mrs. Grace Omo, said the reconstruction of roads in the area will open the area up for development, noting, “It will be easier for people to commute and carry out their business. We appreciate the governor for his good intentions for us. Before now, during rainy season, the roads were terrible and difficult to pass through.”

    The re-construction works are ongoing on Jemila Street/Ohovbe Road in Ikpoba Hill, and Lawani Junction by Urubi Street, Sokponba Road, Aburime Street and Delta Crescent off Ikpokpan.

    Others are Boundary Road and Commercial Avenue, as well as Ogbelaka, Yoruba Street and Dumez Road, Ugbor-Amagba Road, as well as roads in  Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Benin City.

    Work is also ongoing on Mousco – Ukpenu Road, Ekpoma; Irrua – Uromi Road; Secretarial Road, Igueben; Union Bank Road, Igueben and Uwenlebo Road, Ekpoma, in Edo Central.

  • Edo projects 2% growth rate, over 250,000 new jobs by 2021

    … as stakeholders brainstorm on 2019 – 2021 MTEF

     

    The Edo State Government has projected a positive economic outlook for the state between 2019 and 2021, as reforms across different sectors of the economy by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration is expected to drive investments and fast-track job creation in the state.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Economic and Development Planning, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, made the submission in a presentation on the Edo State Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) for 2019 to 2021, during a Consultative Forum on the MTEF, held at Government House, in Benin City, Edo State.

    Eboigbe noted that key features of the state government’s programmes in the last three years were educational reforms, investment in infrastructure and institutional strengthening, which grew the state’s economy by 1.5 per cent in 2018.

    He said growth will slow down by one per cent in 2019 due to the elections but will rise again in 2020 to 1.5 per cent and 2.0 per cent in 2021, noting, “Unemployment is projected to gradually decline in the medium term as investment promotion efforts begin to yield results. Hence, number of unemployed people will drop from 18 per cent (756,000) in 2018 to 11.8 per cent (531,000) in 2021.”

    Eboigbe noted that Governor Godwin Obaseki led-administration is set to transform the state into an industrial hub in the South-South through the development of industrial clusters and free trade zones.

    “Edo State Government has created 77,200 jobs from 2017-2018. It forecasts to create 50,000 jobs in 2019, 75,000 in 2020 and 100,000 in 2021,” he added.

    Read Also: Edo solicits support to host 2020 NSF

    Declaring the forum open, the Commissioner for Budget and Planning in the state, Hajiya Mariam Abubakar, said the MTEF is aimed at providing an informed basis for budgeting from 2019 to 2021.

    She said the forum was held to re-emphasise the need for efficient and effective allocation of available resources to strategic projects and programmes, adding that the MTEF will guide all stakeholders on decision making with respect to the direction of public expenditure.

    According to her, “Budget implementation has continued to focus on the core priority sectors of infrastructure, education, health, job creation and investment in the economy of the state.”

    Abubakar said that the forum will facilitate feedback from the public as the budgetary process is about people, noting “The input of the people is needed to enable the government capture the needs of the people in terms of programmes and projects that will drive and stimulate the economy of the state.”

  • Obaseki directs health ministry to curtail yellow fever outbreak

    …Commissioner dispels strange illness rumour, says tests show 2 yellow fever cases

     

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has directed the state Ministry of Health to curtail the outbreak of yellow fever in some communities in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state.

    Obaseki gave the directive following media reports of the death of two persons in the area, after exhibiting symptoms such as vomiting, high fever and stomach pain.

    Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, said: “The Governor is disturbed by the development and has directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr. David Osifo, to deploy experts in the ministry to the communities affected by the illness.”

    Osagie added that the governor has promised to mobilize additional resources, if the need arises, to support the ministry of health to enable it establish the cause of the illness and death of two persons in the area.

    Read Also: Obaseki unveils multi-skills centre

    When contacted, Commissioner for Health, Dr. David Osifo, said: “We have deployed a team of experts to the communities and the result of the initial tests showed symptoms of cases of yellow fever.

    “They tested negative to Lassa Fever. We are doing contact tracing and sensitising people in the communities to clean up their environment.”

    Dismissing claim of a strange illness by journalists, Dr. Osifo, said “there is no such thing as a strange illness in Edo State. We have identified yellowness of the eyes and related symptoms, which led us to the conclusion that the illness is yellow fever. We are on top of the situation and will curb the spread of the disease as directed by the state governor.”

  • Edo debunks reports of strange ailments

    Edo State Government has debunked reports strange ailments in some villages in Uhunmwode local government area.

    It said test carried out on victims showed a case of yellow fever.

    Two persons have been killed by the ailment.

    Special Adviser to Governor Godwin Obaseki on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr Crusoe Osagie, in a statement said the Governor has directed officials of the state Ministry of Health to curtail the outbreak of yellow fever.

    According to Crusoe, “The Governor is disturbed by the development and has directed the Commissioner for Health, Dr. David Osifo, to deploy experts in the ministry to the communities affected by the illness.

    Read Also: Yellow fever kills two in Edo

    “The governor has promised to mobilize additional resources, if the need arises, to support the ministry of health to enable it establish the cause of the illness and death of two persons in the area.

    State Commissioner for Health, Dr. David Osifo, said a team of experts have been deployed to the communities and the result of the initial tests showed symptoms of cases of yellow fever.

    “They tested negative to Lassa Fever. We are doing contact tracing and sensitizing people in the communities to clean up their environment.

    “There is no such thing as a strange illness in Edo State. We have identified yellowness of the eyes and related symptoms, which led us to the conclusion that the illness is yellow fever. We are on top of the situation and will curb the spread of the disease as directed by the state governor.”

  • Obaseki increases roads earmarked for reconstruction from 109 to 140

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has increased the number of roads earmarked for reconstruction across the state from 109 to 140, intensifying efforts to fill the infrastructure gap in the state.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said Governor Obaseki gave the approval for reconstruction work to be carried out on more major roads and streets, at the weekly State Executive Council meeting held in Government House, in Benin City, on Wednesday, November 21, 2018.

    The reconstruction work is coming in the wake of an audit of roads across the state to ascertain the level of remedial work needed to bring the roads back to shape.

    Osagie said the approval brings the number of roads affected from 109 to over 140, noting that Governor Obaseki is concerned about alleviating the hardship experienced in plying bad roads.

    He noted, “We have put modalities in place to ensure contractors are mobilised to undertake this remedial work during the dry season, as promised. The work will be in line with the findings from the audit of roads earlier carried out.

    “The plan is to ensure that reconstruction work is carried out on all parts of the state and that the affected roads are in good state. The state government is clear about instructions to contractors on the quality of work to be carried out.”

    Read Also: Obaseki backs Oshiomhole against Amosun, Okorocha

    Reconstruction is ongoing at Boundary Road and Commercial Avenue, as well as Ogbelaka, Yoruba Street and Dumez Road, Ugbor-Amagba Road.

    Others are parts of Government Reservation Area (GRA) in Benin City, including Etete and Adesuwa Road, as well as 1st and 2nd Ugbor and other roads in the axis.

    Edo Central, work has reached appreciable stage in Mousco-Ukpenu Road, Ekpoma; Irrua – Uromi Road; Secretarial Road, Igueben; Union Bank Road, Igueben and Uwenlebo Road, Ekpoma, among several others, including those in Edo North Senatorial District.

  • Obaseki approves Isaac Ehiozuwa as new Head of Service

    The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has approved the appointment of Mr. Isaac Ebose Ehiozuwa as the new Head of Service of the state.

    Ehiozuwa takes over from Mrs Gladys Idahor who retired from the Edo State civil service last week.

    A statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq., said “In line with the provisions of  Section 208 (1) and 2 (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, (as amended), the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Nogheghase Obaseki, has approved the appointment of Mr Isaac Ebose Ehiozuwa as Edo State Head of Service.”

    Read Also: Obaseki unveils multi-skills centre

    Ogie added that the new Head of Service will be sworn in on Monday, November 26, 2018 at 10:00am in the Exco Chambers of the Governor’s Office.

    Recall that Governor Obaseki at the  Thanksgiving Reception in honour of the former Head of Service, last Sunday,  attributed his administration’s impactful reforms to the support of Edo civil service in the last two years, promising to sustain the sector-wide reforms.

  • Edo 2019: Will Esan support APC?

    Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki is wooing the people of Esanland to vote for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of next year’s parliamentary elections. Correspondent OSAGIE OTABOR writes on why the district’s support is critical to the victory of the ruling party.

    Since 2008 when the defunct Action Congress (AC) sacked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from power in Edo State, it has found it difficult to make an in-road into  Edo Central Senatorial District. Edo Central, also known as Esanland, has five local government areas. Its voting population is 14 percent of the entire votes in the state. The people have remained faithful to the PDP, even when the party lost power, both at the state and the federal levels.

    Despite having the lowest voting population in the state, Esanland, before 2008, was the ‘Mecca’ where politicians went for political blessings. This was because the late Chief Anthony Anenih, former Chairman of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT) hails from Uromi, headquarters of Esan North East local government. The first budget of former Governor Adams Oshiomhole in 2009 had the input of Chief Anenih before the PDP-dominated House of Assembly passed the budget.

    After consolidating himself in power by deploying various tactics to sack the PDP from the House of Assembly leadership, Oshiomhole made moves to pacify Esanland by ensuring that a lawmaker, Bright Omokhodion, emerged as Speaker to balance the power equation in the state. He sunk boreholes in many communities to counter claims by the PDP government that it was impossible to get water out of the ground in Esanland. Oshiomhole also constructed roads linking many communities.

    Oshiomhole got his shocker in the 2011 general elections when the people of Esanland voted massively for the PDP. The leaders of the APC begged the people to re-elect Omokhodion to enable them produce the Speaker, but the people opted for candidate of the PDP, saying they did not benefit anything from Omokhodion as Speaker. A furious Oshiomhole had to sack all political appointees from Edo Central to punish them for not reaching out to the people to guarantee electoral victory.

    In the 2015 general elections and 2016 governorship election, Edo Central residents proved their unalloyed loyalty to the PDP. It was from Edo Central that Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu got majority of votes. In the House of Assembly polls, the APC managed to win three constituencies while all the National Assembly seats were won by candidates of the PDP.

    Many reasons have been adduced for the APC’s failure to win in Esanland. Some APC leaders blamed the APC led-government for not appointing an Esan man to top political offices like the Secretary to the State Government, Chief of Staff to the Governor or the Head of Service. They argued that the position of a Speaker that was the right of the Esans since the governor and deputy governor hail from Edo South and Edo Central respectively, is currently being held by a lawmaker, Kabiru Adjoto, from Edo North.

    Analysts said the ordinary Esan man felt the APC has not treated them fairly since 2008. They said what the Esans are yet to benefit from the politics of inclusiveness promised by the APC.

    In an apparent move to woo votes from Esanland, Obaseki recently honoured one of their prominent sons, the late Professor Ambrose Alli, a former governor of the defunct Bendel State between 1979 and 1983. Obaseki used the occasion to inform them that he has had audience with President Muhammadu Buhari over pleas for presidential pardon for Prof. Alli.

    Obaseki said he was optimistic that at the next meeting of the Council on Prerogative of Mercy, the President will officially grant the pardon.

    Obaseki disclosed that he was working with his Delta State counterpart on modalities to ensure that the pension due to Alli is paid to his widow and the family.

    He said: “I had an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari while in China and discussed the issue of a presidential pardon for late Prof. Alli and the president asked me to meet with the Attorney-General of the Federation. This I have done and have also written to him.”

    The eldest son of the former governor, Mr.  Andrew Folorunso Alli, who is the Ezomo of Ekpoma, lamented that his late father was still termed a criminal despite his contributions to the development of Delta and Edo states and Nigeria.

    Obaseki has completed the Ekpoma township roads. Recently, he appointed a prominent son of Ekpoma, Mr. Lawson Omokhodion, as the Chairman, Governing Council of the Ambrose Alli University. It was the first time an Esan man will be made Chairman of AAU Governing Council since 2008.

    Some trying politicians believe that Obaseki is to woo voters in Esanland to have sympathy for the APC.

    The Chairman of Esan West, Patrick Aguinede, said the PDP was a thing of the past in Edo Central, adding that the APC will achieve victory in 2019.

    He said: “The APC will win in this state because the governor has performed very well. The elected chairmen are success-driven. They cannot but replicate the developmental drive of the governor. If the chairmen perform well, why will the APC not win? With the local government chairmen on ground, I see no reason why we will not win.

    “The policy of ‘you must win your ward’ as introduced by Governor Obaseki is such a thing that will help us. It will be good to introduce it at the federal level. Every politician that want something in government is enjoined to win his ward. You will now see politician working hard to win elections in their ward. It has paid off very well. In the local government elections, if you did not win your ward, you have no reason to aspire. It was implemented in this contest. Many people did not make it because it shows they are not popular in their area. People are now looking inward on why they will win their ward.”

    Edo State Commissioner for Communication and Orientation Paul Ohonbamu said it was an exception to the rule for the APC to win anywhere in Esanland because the place is predominantly PDP. He said the core beneficiaries of the PDP’s rule are from the zone.

    His words: “Right from the beginning, Chief Tony Anenih has been empowering people along that axis whether as a Minister and those who took over from him. Those he empowered feel a sense of betrayal to go against him. He has dominated that place through and through. The thing has gone through the subconsciousness of the people.

    “It is not easy to erode the dominant nature of the PDP. At a time they had the Speaker, we lost in Esanland. They had other good position but those are not the things they want. I think with hard work, more inclusive of their people and gradual shifting of ground of their psychological make up will give us victory.

    “With the continous work of Governor Obaseki by proving to be a governor without boundary. He has done a lot of things in Esanland. That is why he declared state burial for Chief Anenih. It will form part of the condiment that will give greater  flavour to Anenih rite of passage from terrestial to the celestial. So many developmental projects pf Obaseki will touch their hearts to vote for the APC because they are not stones. They will vote for the APC in 2019.”

    But, to the Chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, “The APC have the right to say whatever they want to say but we know the reality on ground. Today, I can frankly state that the APC situation in Edo Central is worse than it was in the last election. Edo Central is one senatorial district that they have been denied everything politically.

    He added: “Look at all the appointment in the state. Edo is made up of three senatorial districts and each senatorial district have been well represented by previous administrations but today under Obaseki for reasons best known to him and Oshiomhole his political godfather determine and dictates what is done under his administration. For reasons best known to Obaseki, the position of the speaker was taken away and given to Edo North.

    “Edo North that had a governor for 8 years and now have the deputy governor. Is that what will make them consolidate their dream support in Edo central? That is one district they should not expect any support in the next election. It is very unfair to Edo central people. It is an insult for the APC to even consider coming to Edo Central to ask for votes.”

     

  • Obaseki unveils multi-skills centre

    ….150 youth to be trained in pilot phase

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has urged youth to take advantage of the growing number of skills acquisition centres across the state to groom their skills for entrepreneurship and paid employment.

    Obaseki, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Political and Community Matters, Chief Osaro Idah said this while unveiling a multi-skill acquisition center at Ukpato Ward in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State.

    He said the state government will host 150 youth in the first phase of training, who will be trained in various skill areas, adding that the establishment of the centre at Ukpato and other towns across the state is a demonstration of his promise to create jobs.

    He urged Edo people and residents to remain confident in his administration, urging parents to encourage their children to acquire useful skills, so they can be useful to themselves and the society.

    “We have fulfilled a number of our promises; you can see the enthusiasm of the people here today. We want to urge the people to keep faith in our government. We encourage parents to tell their children to partake of the training.

    “This is the second skills centre we are unveiling. We were at Uhunmwode earlier to inaugurate the agric cluster. Both schools have been oversubscribed, we are already thinking of expansion,” Obaseki said.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Job Creation and Skill Development, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare, said the opening of the centre was in line with the job creation drive of the state government.

    She noted that the centre, has several training components such as welding and fabrication, accessories and bead making, fashion design, among others, and will provide gainful employment opportunities for the trainees.

    Read Also: FG lauds Obaseki’s education reform

    She noted, “We are happy this has come to reality today. The governor has said that we should create jobs and develop skills in each community in every local government in the state. What we have done here is to build a skill acquisition centre that has so many traits. The young people are going to be making unique items and many of the things that are going to be made here will be exported.”

    According to her, the first batch of 150 trainees will commence training immediately with many youths coming in to register to be trained here. “The persons who will be trained here are going to be working here and will earn money that will be useful to them and their families.”

    Chairman, Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Hon. Sylvester Okoro, said the centre will engage youth and discourage them from falling prey to human traffickers, noting, “EdoJobs in my local government will create jobs and reduce the trend of illegal migration.”

    The center was set up by the Edo State Government through the EdoJobs initiative and the Ministry of Arts, Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs. Other partners on the project include a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) operated by Princess Bemigho Momoh, while the building was donated by Marcus Igbinovia, an indigene of the community.

  • Obaseki leads EXCO to Edo State Poly’s maiden convocation

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, will on Saturday, December 1, 2018 lead the state government’s delegation to the maiden convocation ceremony of Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, the first since inception.

    Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, in a chat with journalists, said that a number of activities have been lined up for the ceremony, which will hold from November 27, 2018 to December 2, 2018 at the main campus of the polytechnic.

    The Founder’s Day Lecture, one of the events lined up for the convocation ceremony, will be delivered by the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Paul Ohonbamu, on Thursday, November 29, 2018, entitled, “Leadership Development and Vagaries of Power: Nigeria in Perspective.”

    He said, the lecture by Hon. Ohonbamu, will set the tone for the series of activities set to hold in Usen, Ovia South West Local Government Area, Edo State.

    The convocation lecture will be delivered by Space Physicist, Prof. Babatunde Rabiu of the Center for Atmospheric Research, on Friday, November 30, 2018, entitled: “Repositioning Higher Education Towards Effective Patronage of Science and Technology for Sustainable Development.”

    “We are extremely proud that Governor Obaseki will be at the occasion as visitor to the institution. This is a landmark event. We are proud of the reforms the governor has brought to the state and this institution in particular. So we are prepared for the auspicious occasion and thrilled that the institution is now meeting the objectives set for it by its founding fathers,” Prof. Falodun said.

    The convocation, according to Prof. Falodun, is a major milestone and reflects the far-reaching reforms by the Governor Obaseki-led administration in the institution. He noted that the convocation ceremony will hold at the school in Usen.

    He urged graduates of the institution to avail themselves of the opportunity to get their certificates and assured that all necessary arrangements have been made for a seamless and successful event.”

    The Rector explained that the institution will issue the first set of certificates bearing its name after over 16 years of its establishment, noting, the certificates will be produced in partnership with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

    “We are urging graduates of the institution to visit our website for details of how to obtain their certificates. The convocation will be an opportunity for them to collect theirs. We are as excited as they are, that we have made it possible for them to receive their certificates,” he said.

    He added that a number of reforms are ongoing at the polytechnic to re-position it for global reckon, noting that new programmes in the Higher National Diploma level have been introduced even as partnerships have been sealed for international visiting lecturers from Switzerland, Germany and South Africa.

  • Obaseki flags-off maternal health week

    …offers free services to mothers, pregnant women

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has urged mothers and pregnant women to take advantage of the Maternal New-born and Child Health Week (MNCHW) being observed in the state to access free maternal health services.

    The governor, who was represented by his wife, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, made the call while flagging – off the 2018 MNCHW programme in Benin City, noting that Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) and other designated health facilities across the state will render free health intervention services during the one-week programme.

    He said, “My administration has continued to support programmes aimed at enhancing the well-being of women and children because of my belief that women and children are the true wealth of any nation.”

    Obaseki said his administration would continue to promote policies and programme aimed at reducing maternal, new-born and child mortality in the state.

    Earlier, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Dr. Izilien Asogun, said MNCHW was aimed at delivering an integrated high-impact package of preventive, promotive and curative health services to mothers and children.

    He listed services to be rendered during the week to include immunisation, deworming of infants, nutrition screening, birth registration, administration of Vitamin A supplement to children from six to 59 months and Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and malaria testing.

    The Edo State Commissioner for Health, Dr. David Osifo, said the MNCHW is a bi-annual event designed to complement the routine services being rendered to mothers and children in PHCs in the state.

    According to him, “This exercise is of immense importance as we continue the fight to reduce sickness and death in mothers and children under five years.”

    Osifo noted that the one-week programme holding from November 19th – 23rd would also include health education on exclusive breastfeeding, environmental sanitation and handwashing.

    Read Also: Obaseki flays theft of airport facilities, orders investigation

    The State Coordinator, World Health Organisation, (WHO), Ms. Faith Ireye, who spoke on behalf of development partners involved in the programme, commended the state government’s efforts in improving PHCs’ services in the state.

    She said Edo has been Polio-free since 2009 and has achieved reduction in mother and child diseases via improved immunisation activities.