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Tag: Uhunmwode Local Government Area

  • Obaseki’s EdoFAC excites farmers

    Farmers in Edo State have expressed delight at the vast opportunities in the Edo State Food and Agricultural Cluster (EdoFAC) in Ehor, Uhunmwode Local Government Area, set up by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration in the state.

    A cross section of the farmers and produce aggregators commended the state government for the initiative and urged the governor to extend the structures at the center in Ehor to other parts of the state so as to cause a revolution in the state’s agricultural sector, such that subsistence farmers would have a system to mop up their produce.

    The EdoFAC facility at Ehor has existing aggregators who buy farm produce such as cassava, plantain, yam, pineapple, meat among others in large quantities from the farmers and distribute them to different parts of Nigeria.

    The facility also organises training for youths with a focus on agriculture, providing them with classroom and office space as well as accommodation.

    One of the farmers, Mr. Philip Osaze said that the state government has been very responsive to the needs of farmers which resulted in setting up of the EdoFAc, noting that the location was strategic as it allows for ease of transportation for those bringing in their products and those taking theirs out.

    According to him, “We are indeed delighted at how the EdoFAC runs. It has provided farmers in the state ample space to expand their production. This will contribute to the state government’s food security policy.

    Mrs. Uwa Igbinovia, an aggregator, said that the Ehor facility is a one-stop-shop for agricultural innovation, and has provided the platform for aggregators to engage with farmers and negotiate favourable prices for produce, whereby all parties are farily treated.

  • Edo flags off 740m College Road in Uhunmwode LGA

    The Edo State Government has flagged off the construction of the 740m College Road project in Uhunmwode Local Government Area, assuring that the project would boost socio-economic activities in the area.

    At the flag-off ceremony in Ugieghudu, Uhunmwode LGA, at the weekend, Edo State Head of Service, Mr. Isaac Ehiozuwa, said the road was part of the State Employment and Expenditure for Result (SEEFOR) projects, noting that finance to ensure its completion has been budgeted for.

    He said, “We want to thank our wake and see governor for the developmental efforts in Uhunmwode council. Through the state government, we have renovated schools and markets, town halls, health centres, water facilities as well as road projects.”

    He assured residents in the area of the state government’s commitment to carry out more projects, adding that the people were in support of the transformation agenda of the state government and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The residents applauded Governor Godwin Obaseki for the completed and ongoing developmental projects in the area, which they described as motivation to vote for candidates of the APC in the forthcoming general elections.

    According to residents who spoke to journalists at the flag-off of the road project, they said the APC led-government in the state has brought more dividends of democracy to their doorsteps.

    Chairman, Uhunmwode LGA, Hon. Napoleon Agbama, said since the inception of the Obaseki-led APC administration, residents of the area have benefitted from the pilot scheme of Edo Health Improvement Programme (Edo-HIP), 22 water projects and renovation of about 20 primary schools, among others.

    “We just witnessed the flag-off of College Road construction in Ugieghudu Community. The governor has also marked out three other road projects for rehabilitation in the area. We thank him for his developmental projects,” he added.

    The Odionwere of Ugieghudu Community, Mr Ekoma Edobor, described Governor Godwin Obaseki led-administration as people-oriented, which has restored hope to the community.

    Edobor said people of the community would vote for the candidates of the APC in the 2019 elections as a way of showing gratitude to the governor.

  • Edo MDAs meet, brainstorm on priorities

    Consequent upon the inauguration of ward development committees in Uhunmwode Local Government Area by the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, relevant government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) are meeting with the committees to brainstorm and agree on development projects for the council.

    The committees, set up few weeks ago by the governor, is a non-partisan platform that aggregates interest of the various wards in the local government and prioritises sustainable projects and initiative for rapid development in collaboration with government agencies. A brainchild of Governor Obaseki, the committees’ work is being spearheaded by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Chief Osaro Idah.

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    Each ward development committee includes two women, two youth, a traditional ruler, one retired or serving teacher and nurse, one member of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), a member of an opposition party and a religious leader.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education and Acting Chairman, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, said that a team comprising officials and representatives of key MDAs, including Ministry of Infrastructure, SUBEB, Edojobs, Post-Primary Education Board, among others, would continue engagement with the ward committees and a meeting has already been scheduled to reach a consensus on priority projects.

    According to her, “After Governor Obaseki inaugurated the committees, we have been in touch and are working to align the development imperatives to meet pressing demands. So, we will be meeting with the committees in Uhunmwode on Tuesday and Wednesday and that of Orhionmwon by Thursday and Friday.

    Chief Osaro Idah said, “It is important to emphasis that the committees are non-political in nature. We are going to be holding extensive discussions with them, surveying the environment and developing a shopping list and costing for projects.”

    Noting that the delegation will be working within existing development plans for the communities, he noted, “We intend to align the development needs of the wards with the MDAs’ strategic plans and also prioritise them according to the most pressing of needs. The initiatives are going to be rolled out in August.”

    Chief Idah added that the state government was committed to grassroots development, which inspired the setting up of the committees. Noting that the strategy will about coordinated and people-driven development in the grassroots, he urged members of the different wards to work with the committees and the state government in actualizing the different projects to be initiated.

  • Obaseki plans special intervention fund for Uhunmwode LGA

    …schools, roads, hospitals, others to get facelift

     

    Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, says his administration has resolved to set aside special intervention fund that will be used for the development of infrastructure in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state.

    Obaseki said this at an interactive session with indigenes and residents of Uhunmwode Local Government Area, at the council’s headquarters in Ehor at the weekend, noting that the special fund will be expended in developing basic education, healthcare system, roads, and rural electrification.

    He explained, “I have decided to have in place a master plan for the development of Uhunmwode Local Council Area. Certain amount of money will be set aside as special intervention fund which will be used for the development of Uhunmwode LGA in the next three years.”

    He noted that the objectives of the master plan are to make the council area attractive for investors and assist the council’s administration improve its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) receipts to meet its financial obligations.

    According to him, “In the next six months, all the 90 primary schools in Uhunmwode LGA will be refurbished. Teachers will be assigned to teach in all these schools. The schools will be automatically integrated into the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EDO-Best) programme. We will introduce the school feeding programme across the state.”

    Read Also:Obaseki vows to recover funds from EDSOPADEC contractors

    Obaseki disclosed that, “We have commenced work on the designs for the old roads that will be reconstructed in the area. The reconstruction will be carried out in the next 18 months to link communities and open the area to more economic activities.”

    He said the state is working with the Federal Government on rural electrification which will be extended to Uhunmwode LGA, noting, “Since the area has the highest number of rural communities in the state without electricity, with our plan in place, we will change the narrative.”

    The governor assured the people that a security arrangement will be in place to protect life and property in the area, which will make the area more attractive to investors.

    On road construction, Obaseki explained that a committee will be set-up at the ward level with members drawn from the community to include religious and political leaders.

    “The state will work with the committee to ensure completion of the designs for roads, appointment of contractors and supervision of the contractors to meet deadlines project delivery.”

    The Enogie of Ehor, Chief David Igiehon, told the governor that Uhunmwode LGA has long suffered neglect and people in the area are desirous of development that will attract investors to the area.

  • ‘How Pastor caused deaths in our community’

    Elders and residents of Iguomon community in Uhunmwode local government area has blamed activities of a fleeing pastor as being responsible for the deaths and afflictions killing those they termed factional leaders of the community.

    Secretary of the community, Pastor Joseph Ighodaro, had on Monday told journalists that deaths and strange ailments in the community was as a result of a curse by a past Oba of Benin.

    Pastor Joseph who said they want the present Oba Ewuare II to revoke the curse claimed that sacrilegious acts of former members of the Community Development Association made the Oba to place a curse on the community.

    However when our reporter visited the community Wednesday to ascertain how many people were suffering as a result of the curse, some elders laughed it off insisting that there was no time any Oba cursed the community.

    The elders said Pastor Ighodaro and his factional leaders were the ones experiencing deaths and affiliations in the community since they caused the problems.

    They said trouble started for Pastor Ighodaro after he invited one unknown Pastor to hold a crusade in the community in December 2016.

    After the crusade, the elders said the unknown pastor led some of the villagers to destroy some shrines in the community including the sacred Okhuaihe N’ Ahonde shrine and cut down a iroko tree planted by Oba Ewuare.

    Pa Jolly Agbontean who spoke on behalf of the elders said all the shrines in the community were sacred as they belonged to the Benin Monarch.

    His words, “The iroko tree is over 500 years old. The iroko and the shrine were planted by Oba Ewuare. We serve it on behalf of the Oba. The pastor said it was the iroko that is causing them not to progress in life.

    “They said all the witches and wizard were in the iroko tree. Policemen were around to protect them while they destroy all the shrines including Oguedion (elders place). They were many that came after the crusade. We only watched after which we reported to the Oba.

    “When the Oba invited them to produce the Pastor, they said they can no longer find him. The Oba told them what to do for them to be saved but they refused to perform the sacrifice. Three of them have died since that time.

    “We were not cursed by any Oba. This shrine is a tourist place. We worship it every three days and people visit the place from across the country.”

    Another elder, Pa. Sunny Igbinovia, said he was forced to delete pictures he took on the day the shrines were destroyed and the iroko tree fell.

    Priest of the Okhuaihe N’ Uleku shrine, Joseph Uyi Odeh, said affliction would not affect the entire community but those that cut off the sacred tree.

    “The Oba told them they will suffer if they did not appease the gods. The shrine is owned by the Oba. Only the Oba will know what to do to them. The Oba did not curse us.”

    Read Also: Pastor arraigned for ‘fraudulently obtaining vehicle, money from member’

     

  • 57-year-old grandmother, others nabbed for cultivating indian hemp 

    57-year-old grandmother, others nabbed for cultivating indian hemp 

    Four persons including a 57-year old grandmother have been arrested for allegedly cultivating Indian hemp at Ogorie village in Uhunmwode local government area.

    Three other suspects were also nabbed after one of the workers who was recently employed was arrested by men of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    Names of the suspects were given as Joy Issele aged 57, Amadin Eribo aged 22, Lucky Osele aged 42 and the village head, Peter Igbinudud.

    Speaking during a parade at the state headquarters of the NSCDC, the suspects said they were just workers who earned N7000 monthly.

    The grandmother, Joy, said it was her husband identified as Gowon that usually gave them land to cultivate Indian hemp.

    Joy claimed that her husband ran away when security operatives closed in on him which led to her arrest.

    She said her husband does not know what type of crop the farmers plant on the farm.

    According to her, “My husband ran away and they arrested me. I don’t sell Indian hemp. My husband does not sell. He gave them the land for N5000 per plot.”

    But other suspects countered her saying her husband was the farm manager who helped to hire farm workers.

    Amadin said he opted to work in the Indian hemp farm to enable raise money to pay his debts.

    He said he was promised two bags of hemp after one year of service.

    His words, “I am a worker with Gowon. I entered jungle to look for money. They are to give me two bags of hemp after a year. I went to cultivate some hemp from the farm to pay for debt. Gowon ran away and they arrested his wife.

    Lucky claimed he was just a worker under Gowon and was paid N7000 monthly for feeding.

    He said he does not harvest the crops.

    Peter Igbinudu said he was arrested because he is the village head and did not stop the indian hemp farmers from carrying on with the trade.

    “I have been warning them to stop but they didn’t need to my warnings. Police arrested me because I am the village head.”

    Edo State Commandant of NSCDC, Iskil Makinde, said his men would carry out more vigilance in order to keep the state safe.

    He said the suspects would soon be handed over to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) for prosecution.

    The suspects however caused a stir when they prostrated before the Commandant to beg for leniency.

  • Illegal land sales: Father in detention as Edo Taskforce hunt for son  

    Illegal land sales: Father in detention as Edo Taskforce hunt for son  

    The Edo State Private Property Protection Taskforce has handed over Mr Johnbull  Agbonsomwan of Iguomon Community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state,  to the Police over his son’s involvement in illegal sales of land.

    Mr. Agbonsomwan will be released when his son, Mr Owenaze Johnbull, who is currently on the run, is apprehended.

    According to the Vice Chairman of the Taskforce, Chief Osaro Idah, Mr. Agbonsomwan will be released when his son, Mr Johnbull Owenaze, who is currently on the run, is apprehended.

    Speaking to journalists at Government House in Benin City, Chief Idah said Agbonsonwan promised to bring his son Owenaze, to be investigated by the taskforce over his involvement in illegal land sales and alleged violent crimes with some youths in Iguomon Community.

    He added: “Owenaze and his cohorts have constituted themselves into a group that unleashes violence on landowners and an alternative government in Iguomon community in the name of youth association. They flout government directives and indulge in the sales of people’s land and extort and harass land developers.”

    The Taskforce Vice Chairman explained that “Owenaze has refused to honour several invitations by his team and the government will ensure that the activities of the disbanded Community Development Association under any guise is checked. We learnt that Owenaze and some youths beat up one Mr Benson Ekhator, a landowner in the community this morning, and Owenaze’s  father will remain in police custody until he is found.’’

    The victim, Benson Ekhator, said he was manhandled by some youths in the community, led by Johnbull Owenaze and his father.