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Tag: Benin

  • Women should not make ‘this’ hairstyle – Benin Traditional Council

    Women should not make ‘this’ hairstyle – Benin Traditional Council

    The Benin Traditional Council (BTC) has asked members of the public, especially women, to desist from a hairdo tagged: Okuku, reserved for wives of the Oba of Benin.

    The Osuma of Benin, Chief Norense Ozigbo-Esere reiterated this at a media briefing at the Oba of Benin’s palace on Thursday.

    The council emphasised that Okuku hairdo was strictly reserved for the Oba’s wives (Queens) and not for the public.

    According to Chief Ozigbo-Esere, the Oba of Benin, Ewuare II, directed that the public be enlightened on the Okuku ban following appeals from the kingdom’s sons and daughters in diaspora seeking clarification.

    According to him, the different aspects of Okuku hold significant religious and cultural value, which cannot be explained to those unfamiliar with the tradition.

    While displaying photographs of Okukus’, he said: “The different aspects you see of Okuku are of religious and cultural significance which cannot be explained to the uninitiated.”

    He also reiterated the ban on the public use of Ada (sceptre) and Eben (Scimitar) during social events, stressing that only authorized persons were permitted to use the symbols.

    Additionally, Osuma of Benin recommended the Ewu Iwu dress with long beads for Benin males who wished to wear traditional attire.

    He emphasised that the bottom part of the Ewu Iwu should not be in Ododo form or adorned with symbols.

    “Such symbols include palm trees, stars, moons, suns, or leopards, as these hold significant religious and cultural value to the Oba of Benin,” he said.

  • 49 years after, Oba of Benin issues guidelines for mother’s funeral

    49 years after, Oba of Benin issues guidelines for mother’s funeral

    The Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, on Sunday released guidelines for the funeral of his mother, Iyoba Omo N’ Ikuoyemwen, who died 49 years ago.

    The guidelines were realised via a public announcement issued by Frank Irabor, Secretary to the Benin Traditional Council.

    Irabor noted that Ikuoyemwen transited to eternal glory 49 years ago, but her funeral rites could not hold due to the Benin customs.

    According to him, the funeral rites have to wait until the Edaiken, the Crown Prince – is thereafter crowned the Oba of Benin in line with Benin customs and tradition.

    The secretary recalled that Oba Ewuare II, posthumously conferred the title of Iyoba on his mother on Nov. 21, 2021 to commemorate her legacy.

    Irabor, meanwhile, announced a suspension of the use of traditional coral beads in Benin during private royal family ceremonies, scheduled to begin on Feb. 15.

    He said the Isorhanfua and Ekasa traditional rites would hold in March.

    He said the first phase of the funeral activities would hold between Feb. 15 and Feb 28, at Eguae Iyoba N’ Uselu, by five-junction within the Benin metropolis.

    “It will be followed by Ekasa traditional rites between March 1 and March 26 at the same venue, while the climax slated for March 27 will hold at the Oba Palace, Benin City.

  • Gunmen kill 1 at Benin nightclub

    Gunmen kill 1 at Benin nightclub

    The police in Edo have confirmed the killing of a guest at the popular Raptor Club and Lounge, Stadium Road, Benin.

    The victim was shot dead by gunmen in the early hours of Friday, while his female passenger sustained gunshot injuries.

    SP Moses Yamu, Public Relations Officer of the Police Command in Edo, told NAN that investigations into the incident were ongoing.

    According to him, the police received a distress call at 3 a.m. that there were gunshots at Raptop Club.

    He said the operatives of the command on reaching the scene went after the hoodlums, who escaped and abandoned a pump action gun and two expended empty shells.

    Yamu explained that efforts were ongoing to arrest the perpetrators.

    The incident, which occurred at about 2 a.m., has left the management and patrons of the nightclub in shock.

    A source told NAN that the deceased, whose identity has not been disclosed, was shot inside his white Lexus Jeep vehicle, while the female passenger was hit by stray bullets on her lap.

    The incident left the club with some damages, including shattered show glasses and a destroyed glass door.

    Policemen were seen at the scene of the incident, as the deceased’s vehicle was towed away.

  • Morocco 2025: Osimhen’s late header seals top spot for Nigeria

    Morocco 2025: Osimhen’s late header seals top spot for Nigeria

    Victor Osimhen’s late effort for the Super Eagles against Benin Republic on Thursday ensured that Nigeria qualified for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco as Group winners.

    This was after Mohamed Tijani opened scoring for the Cheetahs in the 16th minute at the Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny in Abidjan.

    The game played under heavy rain produced a number of interesting moments, but the biggest was when Osimhen celebrated wildly as his 81st minute header sailed past goalkeeper Marcel Dandjinou.

    The goal not only secured Nigeria’s first place in the group, but also put Osimhen at par with the legendary Segun Odegbami in goals’ tally for Nigeria.

    Both are now joint second to the top man, Rashidi Yekini (of blessed memory) who scored 37 goals in 58 matches.

    Osimhen’s goal, in which he profited from a pinpoint cross from Moses Simon, and restored parity on the night, was his 23rd for the senior team.

    Odegbami, the former captain of the team who took the 1980 Africa Cup of Nations finals by the scruff, scored his 23 goals in 46 matches.

    Nigeria secured a ticket to participate in the AFCON finals (the continent’s flagship football championship) ,for the 21st time after a 1-1 draw with Benin Republic in Abidjan.

    The result also put the Cheetahs’ prospects for qualification on the wire.

    The downpour ushered the two teams into a game of two halves, with the Cheetahs keeping possession and running rings round the Super Eagles for large swathes of the first period.

    However, Tijani’s header from a cross by the vibrant Junior Olaitan that found the net by going through the legs of goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali, was against the run of play.

    Minutes earlier, Alex Iwobi had miscued when Osimhen headed down the ball for him from Bruno Onyemaechi’s cross, and Osimhen himself was foiled by Dandjinou just before the Cheetahs struck at the other end.

    Nwabali was alert to punch away as Olaitan broke loose three minutes later, and it was ding-dong affair until four minutes before the break.

    This was when Osimhen should have scored from a brilliant Onyemaechi cross, only to watch the ball roll away from goal after his header.

    In the 55th minute, Ademola Lookman and Osimhen caused anxious moments at the Benin Republic rear.

    But Olaitan also got close after Captain William Ekong and Olaoluwa Aina fumbled with the ball down the line.

    Onyemaechi, coming forward a lot, saw his shot roll agonisingly away from goal just after the hour, and Osimhen headed wide away in the 74th minute as the Cheetahs began to nurse hopes of a win.

    Osimhen had other ideas as his goal ensured the Eagles remain unbeaten in the AFCON qualification campaign with 11 points, going into their last game of the series against Rwanda in Uyo on Monday.

    Rwanda, with five points from their five games after an unexpected 1-0 loss to Libya in Kigali also on Thursday, must beat the Super Eagles in Uyo to stand a chance of qualifying.

    The Amavubis would also hope that Libya overwhelm Benin Republic with seven points in Tripoli on Monday, to spring to second place and collect the second ticket to the finals from Group D.

    “It was a tough game and I congratulate the players for a spirited display in the second half that earned us the equaliser.

    “The downpour made the game difficult for both teams, but I am happy we have the AFCON finals ticket in the bag ahead of the final game of the series against Rwanda in Uyo on Monday,” Coach Augustine Eguavoen said.

  • Police neuralise suspected kidnapper in Benin, rescue victim

    Police neuralise suspected kidnapper in Benin, rescue victim

    Operatives of the Police Command in Edo have neutralised a suspected kidnapper  and rescued his victim in Egor area of the state.

    The Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Moses Yamu made this known on Tuesday in Benin.

    Yamu said that the suspect allegedly ambushed his victim, Iyobo Ighodaro, who was in his silver-coloured Mercedes Benz C350 car at gunpoint, and abducted him.

    Yamu said one Valentine Igbinevbo reported the matter at the Ugbowo Police Station on Sept. 15.

    He said the Divisional Police Officer, CSP John Emmanuel, swiftly mobilised and led a surveillance team to track the suspects to their hideout in Egor, on the outskirts on Benin.

    At the hideout, he said the suspects were negotiating for ransom using the victim’s phone.

    “On sighting the Police, a gun battle ensued and one male suspect, whose identity is yet unknown, sustained fatal gunshot injuries and was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead.

    “The second is believed to have narrowly escaped with gunshot injuries.

    “The operatives recovered the said vehicle, one cut to size gun, one live cartridge, a cutlass and three phones.

    “The victim was rescued unhurt, received medical attention and reunited with his loved ones while the corpse of the suspect was deposited at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH),” he said.

    The police spokesperson quoted the Commissioner of Police in the state, Nemi Iwo, as commending the DPO and his operatives for their effort in combating crime.

    The commissioner, however, warned all criminal elements in the state that their days were numbered if they continued in crime.

  • BREAKING: Lookman, Osimhen strike as Super Eagles beat Benin

    BREAKING: Lookman, Osimhen strike as Super Eagles beat Benin

    Super Eagles of Nigeria defeat Benin Republic 3-0 at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium on Saturday.

    The encounter is beginning of the qualification stages for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.

    The Eagles who had lost 1-2 to Benin Republic in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire in June took the lead in added time of first half.

    Ademola Lookman put Nigeria ahead after going past four defenders before placing beyond the goalkeeper.

    Victor Osimhen who replaced Victor Boniface in the 72nd minute, scored the second goal for the Super Eagles in the 78th minute, slicing in a well-calculated pass from Wilfred Ndidi.

    Lookman went on to add the third goal in the match’s closing minutes to comfortably place the Super Eagles in their group ahead of their next match on Tuesday in Kigali.

    With this victory, the Eagles have put a stop to their three-match winless run at home after whitewashing Sao Tome and Principe  6-0 in September 2023.

    Nigeria will take on hosts Rwanda in their next group game in Kigali on Tuesday.

  • EFCC arrests 24 suspected internet fraudsters in Benin City

    EFCC arrests 24 suspected internet fraudsters in Benin City

    Operatives of the Benin Zonal Directorate of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested 24 suspected internet fraudsters on Wednesday at various locations in Benin City.

    According to EFCC Spokesperson, Mr Dele Oyewale, the suspects were apprehended based on actionable intelligence regarding their suspected involvement in internet-related fraud.

    “Items recovered from the suspects include 11 exotic cars, laptops, and phones.

    “They will be charged to court once investigations are concluded, Oyewale said.

  • NERC report reveals $14.19m electricity debt from International customers

    NERC report reveals $14.19m electricity debt from International customers

    This headline concisely summarizes the main point of the article, highlighting the key finding from the NERC report.

    The Federal Government of Nigeria has revealed that the countries of Togo and Benin Republic owe a total of $14.19 million in unpaid electricity bills for the first quarter of 2024.

    This information was made public in a report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which highlighted the non-payment of electricity bills by four international bilateral customers who receive electricity supply from Nigerian power generating companies (GenCos).

     

    The report identified the debtors as Para-SBEE in Benin Republic, owing $3.15 million, Transcorp-SBEE in Benin Republic, owing $4.46 million, Mainstream-NIGELEC in Togo, owing $1.21 million, and Odukpani-CEET in Togo, owing $5.36 million.

    According to NERC, none of these companies made any payments towards the cumulative invoices issued by the Market Operator for services rendered during the quarter in question, resulting in the significant outstanding debt.

  • Disruption in gas supply from Nigeria causes blackouts in Ghana, Togo, Benin

    Disruption in gas supply from Nigeria causes blackouts in Ghana, Togo, Benin

    Many  parts of Ghana and other  neighbouring West African countries have been thrown into blackouts as a result of the disruption in gas supply from Nigeria.

    Findings have shown that the blackouts are visible in most parts of Ghana, Republic of Benin and Togo, due to the disruption in Gas supply from Nigeria.

    Recall that the West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited in Accra, Ghana, had on Wednesday announced it was experiencing a drop in gas volumes available for transportation.

    In a statement, WAPCO said one of its gas producers in Nigeria was carrying out some maintenance works. As a result, the gas producer was said to have shut its facility for a three-week maintenance work.

    This, it said, resulted in a decrease in gas available for WAPCo to transport to customers in Togo, Benin and Ghana.

    “The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited regrets to announce that it is experiencing a drop in gas volumes available for transportation due to ongoing maintenance works by one of its gas producers in Nigeria.

    “One of the producers of the natural gas WAPCo transports from Nigeria has shut down its facility for a three-week maintenance, resulting in a decrease of gas available for WAPCo to transport to customers in Togo, Benin and Ghana. The current situation is entirely out of WAPCo’s control.

    “WAPCo continues to transport gas from the Westen Region of Ghana to Tema, also in Ghana, and we expect normalcy to return after the maintenance activities,” the statement read.

    Consequently, the affected countries are now currently experiencing power challenges due to the development, according to findings.

    Although, the  Ghana Grid Company Limited and the Electricity Company of Ghana have informed electricity consumers in the country that would be  plunged into the darkness the duration it would last for wasn’t disclosed.

    In a jointly signed statement, Ghana Grid Company Limited and the Electricity Company of Ghana said they “wish to inform the public that due to a reduction in gas supply from Nigeria since Wednesday 12th June 2024 some areas across the country have experienced interruption in power supply.”

    The statement read further, “The West Africa Gas Pipeline Company, in a statement, has explained that the reduction in gas supply was due to maintenance works being undertaken by a gas supplier in Nigeria and is projected to last three weeks.

    “The maintenance has caused a reduction in overall power generation capacity in Ghana which could result in load management over the period of the work.”

    While apologising to its customers, GRIDCo and ECG assured the public that they were collaborating with other stakeholders in the power value chain to optimise available resources to ensure minimal impact of the reduction in gas supply on consumers.

    “GRIDCo and ECG sincerely apologise for the inconvenience caused,” the statement concluded.

    The West African Gas Pipeline Company Limited owns and operates the West African Gas Pipeline, a regional infrastructure linking natural gas resources to customers within the West Africa sub-region especially in Ghana.

    The WAGP is a bi-directional pipeline system with gas supply from both the east (Nigeria) and the west (Ghana) of the pipeline system.

    Normalcy would return to these countries as soon as the maintenance works is completed.

  • National Trials: Nigeria Athletics team lands in the Ancient city of Benin

    National Trials: Nigeria Athletics team lands in the Ancient city of Benin

    The creme de la creme of Nigerian athletes land in Benin City, the Edo State capital and Nigeria’s fourth largest city for the National Athletics Championships Trials.
    The championship scheduled to start on Sunday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium is gleaming with expectations as the hopes and aspirations of top Nigerian athletes will be brought to light on the track.
    The journey to Benin City, the centre of Nigeria’s rubber industry for the Championship was not an easy one for the athletes as dedicated, commitment and hardwork defined their qualifying performance in various events.
    Much attention is focused on the event, as it’s the trials for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and the African Seniors Athletics Championship in Douala, Cameroon later this week.
    Those who are yet to hit the qualifying mark are looking forward to making their faces known from the 16th to 18th of June, with those who have booked their tickets to Paris looking to consolidate.
    The center of attraction at the National Championship, the men and women’s long and short sprints is fully guarded with renowned athletes led by Tobi Amusan, Favour Ofili, Rosemary Chukwuma and Ashe Favour ready to set the track ablaze.
    For Nigerian athletics officials, it is heart warming sight and a melody of glad tidings to see Nigerian men sprinters bouncing back again after been overshadowed by Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya and Akani Simbine of South Africa in recent years.
    Spearheading Nigeria’s march to reshape the African storyline is Ashe Favour with a doctorate in speed and agility who has consistently gone under 10.00 seconds. He has a season and personal best of 9.94 seconds.
    The A+ sprinter is on the quest to erase Olusoji Fasuba’s national record of 9.88 seconds since 2006.
    Godson Brume is another sprinter gathering speed, establishing himself as a force to reckon with posting a Personal Best of 9.90 seconds and a season best of 9.99 seconds.
    Udodi Uwazurike, the final piece of the men’s trio is begining to rediscover himself and grabbing all the attention after being slowed down by injury.
    Udodi has a Person Best of 9.92 seconds and a season best of 10.24 seconds. He remains the athlete to beat in the 200m with a personal best of 19.76 seconds and a season best of 20.13seconds.
    Kayinsola Ajayi with 10.01seconds season and Personal Best is also a strong contender in the field that is expected to produce an African or world leading time ahead of the African Athletics Championships and Olympics.
    In the women’s category, Favour Ofili takes the spotlight with a personal best of 10.78 seconds and a national record of 21.96 seconds. The athletics amazon, is closely followed by Rosemary Chuwkwuma and Tima Godbless, another sprinter of note coming to the party.
    The men and women 400m is another category worthy of mention. For the first time in a number of many years, Nigeria can boast of four 44.00 seconds runners in the men’s quarter mile. Samuel Ogazi leads the pack with 44.52 seconds trailed by Dubem Nwachukwu, Bamidele Emmanuel and Chidi Okezie.
    In the same vein, Ella Onojuvwevwo, Elo Esther Joseph and Omolara Omotosho Ogumakinju also have a shot at glory.
    On the field all eyes will be on high jump sensation Temitope Adeshina to display her new found form in front of the home crowd. She has only the cross bar to contend with as she aims to clear 2.00 meters after she achieved 1.97meters recently to erase her national record.
    Ese Brume is still holding sway in the women’s long jump. She is aiming for her fourth African Championships title in Douala, Cameroon. Compatriots Ruth Usoro with a personal best of 6.87m and up and coming former junior athlete Prestina Ochonogor 6.67m are hot on her heels.
    Still on the AFN National Trials, the President of the Federation, Chief Tonobok Okowa, says the athletics governing body will select only the very best athletes, who are capable of winning medals for the country at the African Seniors Championships in Douala the economic capital of Cameroon.
    “For years, we have been looking for a way to top the medals table at the African Seniors Championships, and I believe we have the chance to make history this year in Douala, Cameroon based on the quality of stars at our disposal, Okowa who is also the President of Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) Region 2 stated.
    “We will select only our best athletes in this National Trials not just for our trip to Cameroon but also for the Paris Olympic Games,” Okowa added