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Tag: Mr Godwin Obaseki

  • Obaseki flags off 1.3km Jemide, Ibizugbe, Osamwonyi road construction

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has flagged off construction of 1.3 kilometres of road and 1,800 meters of drainage, spanning across three streets in Uzebu, Ogiekae Community, Ekehuan Road axis of Benin City metropolis.

    The three streets are Jemide Drive, Ibizugbe and Osamwonyi streets.

    During the flag-off ceremony, the governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Chief Taiwo Akerele, said the state government is working on the project, which is expected to be delivered within three months, in collaboration with the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and State Employment and Expenditure for Result (SEEFOR).

    “The aim of this government is to deliver good projects that will touch lives of the people and these roads spanning across three streets in this community will impact meaningfully and improve the local economy,” he said.

    Obaseki assured the people of the community that his administration will monitor the contractor to ensure the job is completed according to specifications approved by NDDC, SEEFOR and the state government.

    He said, “We will constitute Community Oversight Committee (COC) which is a third-party monitoring group to be made up of members of the community. Also, we will engage Civil Society Group, Public Works group made up of young engineers who have been deployed across the state to monitor projects and ensure contractors work according to specification and deliver the project on schedule.”

    The contractor, Engr. Micheal Dottie, of Ewejobat Company, said:  “We will work according to specification and in line with the Bill of Engineering Measurement. The roads span across three streets in this community. We will do our best to ensure this project is completed in the next three months before the rains set in fully.”

    Dottie added that the carriageway is about 900 meters, stressing that the project will add value to the lives of the people residing in the area.

    An elder in the community, Mr. Matthew Osagie, said since he came into the community in 1972, the community has not felt government’s impact until the award and flag-off of the road project.

    He said, “I have continued to support various governments, and none has remembered my community like the Obaseki-led administration that has now put smiles on our faces. We pledge our loyalty and support to this administration to ensure it succeeds.”

  • Ekiti woos China, business community for development

    The Ekiti State government has canvassed the partnership of the government and people of China to achieve sustainable development in the key sectors and delivery of its four-point agenda.

    The Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi, made the call while addressing the representatives of the Chinese government and business community at the celebration of the Chinese Lunar Year in Lagos.

    The Lunar Year celebration also featured a discussion on China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and production capacity cooperation between China and Nigeria.

    According to a statement on Tuesday signed by his Special Assistant (Media), Odunayo Ogunmola, Egbeyemi spoke on business and economic opportunities available in Ekiti for potential Chinese investors and business community.

    Egbeyemi listed areas Ekiti would need China’s support to include training and retraining of workers, mechanized and commercial agriculture, healthcare delivery, development of educational institutions and establishment of industries to absorb unemployed youths.

    The forum was attended by Ambassador of China to Nigeria, Mr. Zhou Pingjan; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Director General of Lagos Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Mr. Muda
    Yusuf, Director General of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Mr. Ayoola Olukanmi, among others.

    Read Also: Vote against return of treasury looters, Osinbajo tells Ekiti electorate

    The deputy governor said the state has both human and inherent natural resources for the development and sustenance of capital investment in the State.

    Revealing the intention of the Fayemi administration on mechanized and commercial farming, Egbeyemi, explained that Ekiti State was blessed with vast virgin land and yet to be accessed natural resources that
    could boost the economy of the country if properly harnessed.

    Egbeyemi sought the intervention of the Chinese government in provision of vaccine for immunization and equipment for its hospital to enhance health service accessibility to the people especially those at the
    grassroots.

    This, he said, would reduce infant mortality rate, morbidity and the spread of infectious diseases.

    Egbeyemi who revealed plans to partner Chinese government on development of its educational institutions in the State said such development would help produce self-dependent graduates and reduce
    unemployment in the State.

    The deputy governor charged the Chinese government who he claimed had benefitted from award of contracts from Ekiti State government to allow the people of the State feel its presence by establishing companies and investing in the economy of the State.

    The four-point agenda on which the Fayemi administration anchors its economic revival plan are social investment, knowledge economy, agricultural and rural development and infrastructural development.

    In his address, the Chinese envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador Pingjian revealed that the initiative would focus on industrial promotion, infrastructural connectivity, trade facility, green development, capacity building, health care, people to people exchange and security initiative.

    Pingjian expressed confident and readiness of China to deepen and sustain cooperation with Nigeria in the realization of the joint construction of the Belt and Road initiative.

  • Obaseki gives BEDC 7-day ultimatum to restore power to consumers

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has asked the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) to restore power supply to consumers in the state or risk shutdown of its offices in the state.

    The governor gave the ultimatum as he concluded the ward-to-ward campaign in Egor Local Government Area, where he urged voters in the area to support candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 general elections.

    At Ward 9, the governor said N500 million has been set aside in the 2019 budget to construct an entertainment park and waterworks, urging residents in the ward to support APC candidates to represent them at the state and federal levels.

    He said: “We have awarded the contracts for the repair of the failed portions of Okhoro Road and the contractor who went on holiday has resumed work with the promise to start work next week.”

    The governor decried how the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has continued to frustrate his efforts to ensure the people of the state get stable electricity to power their businesses, noting, “BEDC has continued to put us in darkness in the state and we will give them seven days to restore electricity or else we will shut their office down in the state.”

    He described Ward 10 as a special ward that has several federal and state institutions, and said that his administration has completed the design of Technical College Road and the contract awarded.

    “I have also asked the contractor to rehabilitate Adolor College Road and in two weeks’ time, contractors will commence work,” he assured.

    The governor noted that the rehabilitation work on Adolor College Road has become important because over N300 million has been spent so far in revamping the Government Science Technical College (GSTC) which will be reopened for academic activities in September 2019 with 1,500 students.

    “Due to the work we are doing at the College, the Minister of Power has promised to give us a direct line from Ihovbor Power Plant to help light up the state. Officials of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) are already in the state preparing the ground to bring power and to enable the people enjoy 24/7 electricity,” he added.

    At Ward 6, he assured the electorates that the contractor handling the Textile Mill Road project is set to return to site.

    “In the next few weeks, work will commence on the road; the contractor will come to site. I am here to tell you that this year’s election will be different. We want to do it unit-by-unit because votes are cast at the unit level.

    At Ward 8, Obaseki urged the youths to take advantage of their proximity to the GSTC, enrol for programmes in the school and learn technical skills, which will equip them to become self-reliant.

  • 2019 polls: Obaseki intensifies campaign for APC candidates

    Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki has taken the campaign for candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the doorsteps of electorates in the 12 wards in Oredo Local Government Area, with an assurance that a vote for the ruling party will guarantee effective representation of voters at both the state and national levels.

    Presenting the party’s candidates in the State Assembly, House of Representatives and the Senatorial elections, Obaseki appealed to the electorates to collectively vote for the APC so that they will continue to enjoy the dividends of democracy.

    He explained that in the last two years, his administration has focused all its attention on governance which has produced the achievements the Edo electorates are currently enjoying.

    Read also: Edo Poly Usen set for natural product research

    “In the last two years we have concentrated on governance, constructing roads, schools and primary health centres, empowering the youths of the state, and ensuring we provide security and basic amenities to make life easy for our people”.

    The governor noted that the elections will be won at the unit level and pledged to galvanise the party’s unit leaders to take the party’s achievements to every house and business place in each ward to ensure the party wins resoundingly.

    “Ward Six is the only ward in the Oredo Council without a primary school, my administration will ensure that this ward gets at least a primary school for now and an ultra-modern health centre to care for the health need of the people,” he assured.

    He urged the electorates to register for the APC’s social investment programme as the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government, through the Office of the Vice President, will empower traders in the state with trader-moni to boost their businesses, from next week.

    Speaking on his plans for the electorates if elected, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, the APC’s candidate for the Edo South Senatorial District’s election, said he is in the race to change the narrative by focusing on projects that will impact positively on the people.

    The party’s candidate for the State House of Assembly election, Mr. Osaro Obazee, pledged to focus on sponsoring bills that would better the lives of Edo people and residents.

    The APC youth leader in the state, Mr. Valentine Asuen, commended governor Obaseki for his developmental strides and stressed that his performance would give the party an edge at the polls.

  • Emotan Gardens: Obaseki inspects progress of work on estate

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured the state government’s commitment to the development of Emotan Gardens project, noting that necessary support for its realisation will be given top priority.

    The governor said this during a tour of the estate, a 70-hectare, 1800-unit affordable housing project, being developed in Upper Sokponba axis of Benin City, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the state.

    The project is being developed by the state government through the Edo Development and Property Agency (EDPA), in partnership with Mixta Nigeria, a real estate development company.

    The governor said that the project is on course as work is almost complete on the first phase, which comprises at least 100 housing units.

    He added that the state government will provide the necessary support for the realisation of the project, which include award of the reconstruction of the Benin-Abraka Road; approval for necessary land titles and other structures for the successful delivery of the project.

    The state governor was accompanied on the tour by his Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, and other government functionaries.

    The estate project, which started in the second half of 2018, has recorded rapid progress as subscribers in the country and Edo people in the Diaspora have thrown their weight behind it, snapping up units and mobilising their friends and relations to invest in the real estate project.

    The estate is the latest real estate development project of EDPA, which was restructured to become a private-sector facing agency of the state government. It is also the first estate project by the state government in the last 16 years.

  • Obaseki walks BEDC MD out of his office for throwing state into darkness

    There was mild drama at the office of the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday, as the governor walked the Managing Director (MD) of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), Mrs. Funke Osibodu, out of his office for failing to meet  obligations to electricity consumers in Edo and throwing the state into darkness for weeks.

    This happened when the governor received members of the Federal House of Representatives Committee on Power led by Hon. Daniel Asuquo, who were in Government House, on a courtesy visit.

    The governor was surprised to see the BEDC boss, whose name  was not on the list of expected guests to Government House, but embedded herself in the National Assembly delegation,  to gain access to the governor, who has been in darkness alongside millions of Edo State residents, for weeks.

    Speaking to the delegation after Mrs. Osibodu had left the gathering, the governor said BEDC has continued to fail in collaborating with the state government to provide stable electricity in the state, instead the company has posed as an obstacle to meeting the goal.

    “BEDC has been an obstacle all the way. They will not provide electricity and will not allow you to get alternative sources of power. The state will not allow it,” the governor said.

    According to him, “As Governor of Edo State, we have lost confidence in BEDC. We don’t want them here. We are in darkness. Let us remain in darkness until we find people who are capable of delivering electricity.  This is our position.”

    The governor said despite the fact that the state generates about 600 to 700 megawatts of electricity, the people are still in darkness, wondering how he is expected to explain the irony to the people, who are well aware that they produce a substantial amount of electricity in the country.

    He noted that BEDC has failed to recognise that they have to be patriotic and responsible to the state and the country but instead they have been noncommittal  about  the issue of power distribution.

    “To assist, we set up electricity committee across the local government areas chaired by the Deputy Governor of the state, Rt. Hon. Philip Shaibu, with BEDC as member to understand the challenge. But BEDC frustrated our resolve to finding a lasting solution to the issue of providing electricity to our people.”

    Earlier, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Power, Hon. Daniel Asuquo, said they were in the state for an oversight function on the activities of BEDC and other players in the electricity value chain.

    He said Edo State consumes half of daily power supply under the BEDC, noting that the state has the highest number of consumers on the network, which makes it critical to engage with the governor and people of the state on the level of service delivery by players in the value chain.

    “We are here to see how to intervene to ensure that you deliver on your electioneering promises to the people of Edo State as you are answerable to them,” Hon. Asuquo said.

  • Obaseki, Oba of Benin’s efforts on retrieval of stolen artefects yielding results

     

    …as Gov earmarks N500m for Benin Royal Museum

    Efforts by the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the Benin Monarch, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, to retrieve artifacts stolen from the state in the colonial era are yielding results as European governments have set modalities in place for either permanent or temporary return of the artworks.

    Campaign for the return of the prized heritage objects has raged for decades, with Nigerian authorities mounting pressure on European governments and museums to return them, while the Europeans argue that holding the work was best for the preservation of the artefacts, as there were no structures in Africa to properly hold them.

    However, while presenting the 2019 Budget proposal on Monday before a session of the House of Assembly, Governor Obaseki stressed his intention to make Benin the culture capital of West Africa with the planned return of the artifacts and proposed N500 million for the construction of the Benin Royal Museum, a facility to be constructed in collaboration with the Oba’s Palace and the Benin Dialogue Group, a multilateral group of major museums across Europe.

    Addressing the legislators, he said, “To fulfill our commitment towards making Edo the culture capital of West Africa, we have earmarked N500 million in 2019 proposed Budget, to commence the development and construction of the Benin Royal Museum. This will be done in collaboration with the Palace of His Royal Majesty, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Ewuare II, Ogidigan”

    Read Also: Obaseki presents N175.7b budget

    The French government recently approved the return of 26 artefacts stolen from Benin Republic after a report recommended the move, raising the prospect of more of such moves from the European country.

    After the approval for the return, the Elysée Palace said: “there will be a meeting at the start of 2019 between African and European nations to develop a new policy on the exchange of stolen artefacts.”

    The French President was quoted as saying that he would ensure that  “African youths have access to their heritage objects and the common heritage of humanity in Africa,” and assured  of “a new intellectual connection between France and Africa.”

     

    The Benin Dialogue Group, which is a major partner in the construction and management of the Benin Royal Museum, is also working on something similar. It has built a coalition that will set a framework for the European partners to provide advise, as requested, in areas including building and exhibition design, while European and Nigerian partners will work collaboratively to develop training, source funding, and legal frameworks to facilitate the permanent display of Benin artworks in the new museum.”

    The Benin Dialogue Group consists of museum representatives from Austria, Germany, The Netherlands, Sweden and the United Kingdom with key representatives from Nigeria.

     

  • FG lauds Obaseki’s education reform

    The federal government has commended the giant strides of the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, in the education sector, specifically the policy options that have created over 7,000 digital teachers across the state and the high school attendance rate in the state.

    Minister of Education, Alhaji Adamu Adamu, gave the commendation on Monday at the 2018 Alaghodaro Summit in Benin City, the Edo State, capital, an event organised to mark the second-year anniversary of the Obaseki-led administration.

    Adamu who was represented by the Executive Secretary of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), Dr. Hamid Bobboyi, restated the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s commitment to sustaining the funding of the basic education sub-sector through the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC).

    He commended the giant strides of the Edo State Government and the appreciable impact made in the basic education sector in the last two years.

    Adamu said that of the about 10 million out-of-school children in the country, Edo State has one of the lowest of that number.

    “We should not forget the challenges facing the basic education sub-sector in Nigeria with over 10 million out-of-school children. Edo State has one of the lowest numbers of out-of-school children in Nigeria,” he said.

    The minister said the success made so far by the Obaseki-led administration is commendable and holds a great promise of moving the education sector to a greater height.

    He assured that the federal government  would continue to support Edo and other state governments in meeting their basic education obligations.

    Adamu called on state governments to access their counterpart funds through UBEC as the federal government has made huge amount of money available to develop the basic education sub-sector in all the states.

    The minister urged state governments to access and utilise the funds to transform the nation’s basic education sector.

     

  • Obaseki commends EDHA for efficient resource use

    The Edo State Governor, Mr.  Godwin Obaseki, has commended the Edo State House of Assembly for the judicious use of its resources, which resulted in the facelift of the Anthony Enahoro Assembly Complex.

    The governor, who gave the commendation during an inspection visit to the Assembly complex in Benin City, the Edo State capital, said it was noteworthy that the renovation work was carried out through prudent resource management as no special fund was set aside for the exercise.

    Obaseki said, “I am happy with what I see here today. I am excited because special allocation or fund was not given for this renovation, but you did this from your regular allocation. I am pleased as the Assembly has properly utilised its fund. It shows you are prudent in spending.”

    He said politics is about public service and not self-interest, and expressed delight that the assembly complex is wearing a new look.

    Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Kabiru Adjoto, who welcomed the governor and his entourage, acknowledged the massive infrastructural development in the state which he said has been extended to the parliament.

    He praised the governor for the beautiful and conducive environment in the assembly complex, as members and staff of the Assembly now spend more time in the office, in discharging their duties which has increased productivity.

    Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Roland Asoro, expressed appreciation to the governor for the visit, assuring that members of the legislative arm will key into the governor’s developmental programmes to transform Edo State.

     

  • Deforestation: Edo partners NGO to regenerate forest reserve

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state government is committed to rolling back the effects of deforestation through mutually beneficial partnerships to regenerate forest covers that were depleted over the years.

    The governor disclosed this at the commissioning of the 1200 trees plantation, an initiative by Association Bernadette Strebel World Peace, in Ehor Forest Reserve, Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state.

    Read Also:Edo finalizes audit of roads as contractors mobilize to site

    Obaseki, who was represented by the Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Dame Omua Alonge Oni-Okpaku, said that the state government is encouraging Public Private Partnership (PPP) in environmental regeneration, which will provide room for more stakeholders to contribute to efforts at replenishing the state’s forest cover.    

    According to him “Our forest has been greatly devastated and there is an urgent need for massive reforestation and protection of the little available forest. Edo State Government has high potential for forest regeneration and this government is committed to the planting of tress to restore our lost forest reserves. As a government, we will not relent in fighting deforestation and its resultant effects with all the measures within our reach. We are more determined now than ever to bring back our forest.”

    The governor said that one of the ways the state government is driving this programme is by encouraging Private Public Partnership (PPP) in forest regeneration, noting, “In furtherance of this, the state’s contribution towards the success of the One Million Trees project was the donation of 400ha of deforested land and the continuous supply of seedlings. Since the inception of the project, Edo State Government has not relented in the provision of seedlings. Some other NGOs are also part of this great initiative.”

    He added: “Our state forest tree nurseries are established to facilitate supply of planting stock for forest plantation establishment. Most of the seedlings raised are usually distributed to schools, individuals and corporate bodies. Between last year and this year, 200,000 seedlings have been distributed of which One Million Trees project got 100,000 seedlings, 50,000 each for 2017 and 2018.

    “I wish to applaud the initiative of the Association Bernadette Strebel World Peace. The laudable project of planting one million trees will restore and enrich the forest resources and the environment of Edo State.”