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Tag: Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium

  • Obaseki signs N183.7bn budget for 2019

    …as Edo Assembly reviews estimate upward by 4.3%

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Wednesday, signed the N183.7 billion 2019 Appropriation Bill passed by the Edo State House of Assembly into law.

    The budget estimate, earlier pegged at N175 billion, was reviewed upward to N183,744,326,962.19 by the House of Assembly to provide funds for the completion of ongoing infrastructural  projects across the state.

    The governor, who signed the budget after Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Kabiru Adjoto presented the 2019 Appropriation Bill to him at the Government House,  thanked the legislature for the timely consideration and passage of the budget.

    According to him, “Last year, when parliament considered our budget and approved the budget before 31st December 2017, people taught we were joking. I recall you said as long as you are Speaker, this will be the tradition. You have kept your word. I want to thank you sincerely for considering the budget in this manner.

    Noting that the House of Assembly was flexible enough to accommodate additions to the budget due to new developments, he said, “What is significant is your flexibility and sensitivity. We just got the right to host the 2020 National Sports Festival last Sunday and no sooner, an application was made to the committee, you moved into action to incorporate the expenditure that will be required to ensure that we successfully host the game.

    “We want to thank you for the gesture of putting in reasonable amount to support our security architecture. We want to assure you that from the plans we have in place and from the operational details we have, this fund will be put to very good use and we would not disappoint Edo people,” he added.

    Presenting the 2019 Appropriation Bill for his assent, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Kabiru Adjoto, said due consultation was undertaken with different Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) before the upward review of the bill.

    Adjoto explained that the upward review, which is in the area of capital expenditure, is 4.3 percent of the N175 billion presented to the House and is to ensure the completion of ongoing infrastructural projects in the state.

    He said “We decided to adjust the budget from N175 billion to N183 billion to accommodate preparation for the hosting of the 2020 National Sports Festivals. We had to also make more money available for the Agriprenuer programme, healthcare and infrastructure. Special focus was also paid to the completion of the State High Court project and the revamp of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.”

  • Edo athletes protest non-payment of allowances

    Edo athletes on Tuesday shut the gates of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, venue of the state’s training camp for the 19th National Sports Festival (NSF), against their coaches and other workers at the sports arena.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the athletes were protesting against the non-payment of their two weeks’ camp allowances.

    NAN reports that the protesting athletes, in their hundreds, prevented workers and other staff of the stadium from gaining entrance into the arena.

    The athletes said that they have been in camp for two weeks, training without the necessary facilities, feeding and transporting themselves to and from the stadium, for the morning and evening sessions.

    The athletes, who all joined in the protest, said they would no longer train for the sports festival, until their outstanding camp allowances were paid.

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    NAN reports that following about an hour of consultations between the athletes and the Edo Director of Sports, Sunny Airende, the athletes agreed to back down on the protest.

    Airende, who later addressed them, assured the athletes that efforts were being made to pay their outstanding allowances.

    He said although the money had been approved, it was yet to hit the camp, from where it would be withdrawn.

    According to him, “I am with you in this. Your camping allowances is not the only issue affected. As we speak, the state is yet to pay the participation fee for the festival.

    “Government officials had to rally round on Monday to raise some money for the advance team to travel on Tuesday, to make arrangements for accommodation, as well as pay the participation fee.

    “All I can assure you is that your camp allowances will surely be paid before you depart Benin for Abuja on Wednesday.’’

    NAN reports that the state is expected to be represented at the festival with 350 athletes.

  • Sports sector reforms: Work intensifies on Ogbemudia Stadium revamp

    The Edo State government has intensified work on the revamp of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium to meet international standard as part of the overall reform of the sports sector in the state.

    According to the Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, the walls are being reinforced with concrete pillars and all the roads and drainage system in the area hosting the stadium are undergoing reconstruction.

    “Edo people deserve a world class stadium. Our contribution to sports globally is common knowledge both in the number and quality of athletes Edo State has produced for the world stage. We also want to provide standard playing fields for our young ones whose turn it is to replicate the success stories of yesteryear,” Obaseki said.

    He maintained that “sport is a huge industry with allied businesses that can take most of our idle youths away from the streets. We want to produce more Victor Moses, Julius Aghahowa, Austin Eguavoen, Osazee Odemwingie and Odion Ighalo.”

    He said part of the reforms of the state’s sports sector includes the rebranding of Bendel Insurance and the club’s restructuring to ensure that the club can overcome funding, administrative and other challenges.

    The 20 mini-stadia that will be spread across the state will serve as talent grooming and skills honing ground for youths in the 18 local government areas.

    On completion, the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium’s tartan tracks and the offices will be modernised while the synthetic grass in the pitch would be replaced with natural grass. The gymnasium and the lawn tennis courts would also be upgraded to international standard.

    There will be a roof over the entire stand of the stadium. The trusses that will support the roof are being erected already.

    The swimming pool is part of the project but it will be done in the second phase. The entire renovation work will be completed by October.

    Bendel Insurance of Benin will now play its home matches at the University of Benin football field as a result.

  • Edo begins upgrade of Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium

    The renovation of the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, for it to meet international standard has commenced in earnest, the News men reports.

    Mr Femi James, Site Engineer, Peculiar Ultimate Consult, handler of the contract, said in Benin on Tuesday that all the seats in the 20,000 capacity stadium would be replaced with modern ones.

    According him, the tartan tracks and the offices will be modernised while the synthetic grass in the pitch would be replaced with natural grass.

    James said that the gymnasium and the lawn tennis courts would also be upgraded to international standard.

    “There will be a roof over the entire stand of the stadium. The trusses that will support the roof will be erected in the next two weeks.

    “Good drains will be built to take care of the flooding challenge in the stadium.

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    “The swimming pool is part of the project but it will be done in the second phase. The entire renovation work will be completed by October,” he said.

    The News men reports that the Bendel Insurance of Benin will now play its home matches at the University of Benin football field as a result.

    The Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, formerly known as Ogbe Stadium, had undergone various forms of renovation under past administrations in the state.

    Its last major one was in 2002 as part of preparation for that year’s National Sports Festival, which the state hosted.

    The stadium is named after a two-time governor of the state, Dr Samuel Ogbemudia.

    He was the Governor of the then Mid-West Region and later Military Governor of Bendel State, all between 1967 and 1975.

    NAN

  • NFF moves games out of Abuja for lack of facilities

    NFF moves games out of Abuja for lack of facilities

    The Nigeria Football Federation ( NFF ), on Wednesday, said it had to play most national teams’ games outside the Abuja National Stadium, due to lack of facilities there.

    Mohammed Sanusi, the NFF Secretary-General, told newsmen in Abuja, that the national stadium currently lacked the necessary facilities for the teams to play conveniently.

    Sanusi, however, disclosed that the various states had indicated interest in hosting the national teams.

    The female national teams have taken refuge at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, while the Super Eagles moved from the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo to the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium, Port Harcourt.

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    “Some of these states indicated interest in hosting the teams and that is why we went there. The Abuja National Stadium is under renovation and so there is no facility for us to play our matches here.

    “We have our technical centre here, but there are no dressing rooms. So we are making efforts to see if the dressing rooms can be provided,” he said.

    The Secretary- General added that the football house was planning to take the matches of the teams across the country, so that Nigerians can watch their national teams play live.

    NAN

  • Obaseki to cheer Falconets, as they face Morocco in Benin City

    Obaseki to cheer Falconets, as they face Morocco in Benin City

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki will on Saturday lead residents of Edo State to the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, to cheer Nigeria’s U-20 female national football team also known as the Falconets.

    The Falconets will battle the Moroccan girls in the second-leg of the U-20 FIFA Women World Cup Qualifiers on Saturday at 4 pm.

    Commissioner for Youths and Special Duties, also supervising Sports, Hon. Mika Amanokha, who spoke on behalf of the governor, said that Governor Obaseki’s presence at the stadium will give the girls the morale boost to overpower their counterparts.

    He added that necessary arrangements have been made to ensure an incident-free match, stressing that the Super Falconets have no reason not to beat Morocco in Benin City, as Edo State has become a victory ground for Nigerian national teams.

    “We are ready for the game. As you know, Edo State has become a winning ground for Nigerian national teams. This particular match is not going to be different. I am proud to say that the state governor will personally lead members of his executive to the stadium to give maximum support to our girls” he said.

    He added “We are very much committed to ensuring that the Super Falconets win the game to advance to the last stage of the qualifiers. Our goal is to support them to the last. We have to be at the World Cup in France in 2018. We are very confident that we will carry the day. We know that the Moroccans are not a push over, but with the home support, the girls will do us proud.”

  • Obaseki fetes Falconets, Tanzanites after U-20 World Cup match

    Obaseki fetes Falconets, Tanzanites after U-20 World Cup match

    The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Saturday, hosted the victorious Falconets and their Tanzanian counterparts to an elaborate Dinner at the Government House in Benin City, to foster strong brotherly relationship between Edo people and their guests from Tanzania.

    Obaseki who watched the 3-0 triumph of the Falconets over the Tanzanites at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, congratulated both teams for their spirit of sportsmanship and the level of professionalism displayed by the match officials.

    He urged guests at the Dinner to see the soccer encounter as a means for promoting and strengthening the bond of brotherhood among Africans and not just a competition.

    He explained that his administration was determined to harness all the gains inherent in sports tourism by making the state the preferred destination for sporting events and develop young people who are endowed with talent for sports.

    “It is all about promoting brotherhood and Africa. The purpose of the game is to help us bond better as a continent,” the governor said, and added that as hospitable people, his administration was ready to accommodate as many Tanzanites as are willing to make Edo State their home.

    He disclosed that one of the strategies being deployed to boost sports development in the state is to discover those with sporting talent at a young age. “Our strategy in our overall plan to make the state number one in sports is to catch them young,” he stressed.

    In his response, the High Commissioner of Tanzania in Nigeria, Elias Mwandobo, commended the Nigerian Football Federation for the warm reception they were given in Abuja and the exceptional hospitality the Edo State government extended to them in Benin City.

    Mwandobo also commended both teams for putting up a good performance to the delight of the spectators, noting that the country was ready to play host to the Falconets come September 30 in Dar es Salaam for the second leg of the game.

    The Deputy Governor of Edo State, Rt.  Hon. Philip Shaibu, expressed his appreciation for the successful hosting of the match and emphasised that Edo State was not only a destination for business investments but the new destination for sporting activities in Nigeria.

    In his remarks, the Edo State Commissioner for Youths and Special Duties, Hon. Mika Amanokha, congratulated the state government for contributing three players of Edo origin to the U-20 female national team.

    The commissioner said the state was ready to groom sports loving youths who will represent the country both at national and international competitions.

    The Falconets’ 3-0 win was the first leg match in their African qualification campaign for a place in the finals of the 2018 FIFA Under-20 Women’s World Cup in France.

  • Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium will be rebuilt to host international competitions -Obaseki

    Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium will be rebuilt to host international competitions -Obaseki

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Tuesday in Benin said plans were being made to remodel the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin to meet international standards.

    Obaseki made the announcement while receiving executive committee members of the Amalgamated Union of Public Corporations, Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employees, Edo Council at Government House in Benin.

    The governor said his administration was hopeful of repositioning sports in the state through investment in sports facilities which would then attract global competitions to the state.

    He assured that before the end of the year the state would host at least an international event or competition in the stadium.

    “Our plan is to rebuild facilities in the stadium to host international events which will cut across sports like football, track and field, swimming, lawn tennis and indoor sports.

    “We will improve on what we have as a state and ensure we revive sports to enhance its development in the state and the country at large.’’

    Obaseki also said plans were being made to ensure that every local government area in the state had a sports arena.

    Earlier, the Edo Council Chairman of the union, Julius Erharuyi, had expressed appreciation at the commitment of the Obaseki administration in repositioning sports in the state.

    He also commended the state government for its financial commitment to Bendel Insurance Football Club of Benin.

    Erharuyi, however, requested that an institution that will improve the academic knowledge of sportsmen and women be created in the state.

    “There is the need for the provision of more medical facilities, personnel, drugs, computers in the stadium, as well as provision of utility vehicles to convey sports men and women to venues of competitions,’’ he said.

    The union leader added that sports activities should be revived at the Afuze Games Village.

    “We also suggest that the state government should acquire the Etete Indoor Sports Hall from the Federal Ministry of Youths and Sports for a more effective usage,’’ he said.

  • Obaseki vows not to owe salaries

    Obaseki vows not to owe salaries

    • Assures TUC, NLC of retraining

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State met with members of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and Trade Union Congress (TLC),  on Monday, to mark the annual International Workers’ Day and readdress the relationship between the government and the labour force.

    This was at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, where the Edo State Governor outlined his plans for rejuvenating the civil service to loud cheers from hundreds of Union members gathered.

    Governor Obaseki appreciated what he described as “the strategic place of workers in the wealth creation process” of the state, disclosing that he would stand with both unions and their affiliates to improve working conditions and reward systems for workers in the state.

    I have no doubt that working together and putting the interest of our state first, we can rapidly reposition our state for peace and progress

    “Be assured that this Government will not take your support for granted. Our most valued asset as a government is our workers.  Labour and Government must collaborate to assist the Local Governments to restructure so they would be better positioned to address their perennial problems of unpaid salaries and pensions, low revenue generation and poor service delivery,” he said.

    He also added that it would be recidivistic if the government owed salaries to workers, so he would ensure that all salaries are paid by the 26th of every month.

    Gov Obaseki flanked left and right by the State TUC and NLC chairmen respectively exchange pleasantries with a worker at the stadium.

    While the TUC Chairman, Comrade Ohue Marshall had earlier commended the governor for his policies and urged him to devote even more attention to the civil service buildings, the governor responded by saying that the expectation of the people would be better met if the state’s most valued asset – the civil and public services – were performing effectively, efficiently and collaboratively.

    On that account, he, therefore, reiterated his vow to renovate the Palm House and State Secretariat, adding that the government was concluding plans for a new administrative building in the Government House.

    Nonetheless, to uptick productivity in the workforce, the governor revealed that the Civil Service Training School would be revivified and the state would invest in retraining its workers before deploy cutting edge technology as a tool to enhance service delivery.

    To accomplish his promises, the governor called on both unions to work with it in ensuring efficiency and productivity, as its efforts to curb waste in revenue and productivity had already witnessed internally generated revenue (IGR) double.

    He charged the workers that: “The Labour movement should draw inspiration from the patriotism, sacrifice and contributions of it past leaders and heroes to chart a new paradigm. Our administration has zero tolerance for corruption and inefficiency. I therefore expect a partnership that would eradicate such bad practices where they exist in the public and civil services. In this way, we can build and sustain a culture of accountability, transparency and productivity.”