TheNewsGuru

Tag: Edo State

  • Uncollected PVC numbers 483,868 in Edo

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Friday said 483,868 Permanent Voter Cards had remained uncollected in Edo.

    The Head of Voter Education and Publicity in INEC in the state, Mr Timidi Wariowei, told newsmen in Benin that no fewer than 2, 219, 778 PVCs were received from INEC headquarters.

    Out of the number, Wariowei said, 1, 735, 910 had been collected by their owners, representing 78 per cent, with the balance of 22 per cent or 483, 868 PVCs uncollected.

    “The window for collection of PVCs ended on Friday, Feb. 8, 2019 but was extended nationwide to Monday, Feb. 11.

    “The extension was to ensure that no one was disenfranchised. So after the window for collection and the extension period ended, we have 483,868 left in the commission,” he said

    Wariowei also disclosed that the commission had trained 20, 284 ad hoc staff for the general elections, adding that the office also accredited 56 local observers to monitor the polls.

    He explained that adequate logistics had been made to convey ad hoc INEC officials to various polling centres.

    “The commission has also deployed people to monitor the activities of all ad hoc staff during the elections with a view to ensuring discipline among them,’’ he said.

     

  • Sensitive election materials arrives in Edo – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Edo office, said that sensitive materials for Presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled to take place on Feb.16 had arrived Benin.

    Mr Emmanuel Alex-Hart, the State’s Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), told the News Agency of Nigeria on Friday that the commission received the materials at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Benin.

    “Some materials arrived on Thursday afternoon from Abuja, while the last batch arrived at 2 a.m., Friday morning from Port-Harcourt.

    “We have received ballot papers and Result Sheets meant for the Saturday elections. And by this, we are ready for the exercise.

    “As we speak, sorting of the materials is ongoing at the CBN. When they are done, they will be transported by buses from the CBN directly to the 18 local government area of the state,’’ the state commissioner said.

    He said that party agents, local and foreign observers including security personnel were on ground at the CBN to monitor the exercise to ensure transparency of the process

    Alex -Hart, however, said that the materials will be escorted to the various local government areas by security personnel.

     

  • No plan to postpone elections in Edo LGs – INEC

    No plan to postpone elections in Edo LGs – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has dismissed an allegation that it is planning to postpone elections in some local government areas of Edo on Saturday.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) in Edo, Mr Emmanuel Alex-Hart, told the News Agency of Nigeria on Tuesday in Benin that the commission had no plan to postpone elections in any council area.

    The state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had in a statement alleged that INEC and the All Progressives Congress (APC) were planning to postpone elections in some selected council areas.

    Alex-Hart gave an assurance that elections would be held simultaneously across the 18 local government areas of the state on the dates scheduled by INEC.

    He noted that if there was any need for postponement, such directive would emanate from the commission’s national headquarters.

    The PDP Publicity Secretary in Edo, Mr Chris Nehikhare, in a statement made available to NAN on Tuesday, accused INEC and the APC of plans to sabotage the general elections in some council areas in the state.

    Nehikhare alleged that INEC in collaboration with the APC had concluded plans for “stand-alone” elections in selected constituencies.

     

  • 3,000 Edo households to benefit from Conditional Cash Transfer programme

    3,000 Edo households to benefit from Conditional Cash Transfer programme

    The National Social Investment Programme (NSIP) is to benefit no fewer than 3000 poor households in Edo during the first phase of its Conditional Cash Transfer programme, an official has said.

    NSIP Focal Person in the state, Ms Osayuwamen Aledeshelu, disclosed this in Benin on Wednesday.

    Aledeshelu said payment of the N5,000 to the beneficiaries in the first phase of the programme would commence before the end of June.

    She added that the enumeration of the poor households in the state was ongoing and would be completed before the end of March.

    The focal person listed Oredo, Ovia South West, Igueben, Esan West, Owan East and Etsako Central as the six pilot local government areas of the scheme.

    “We have gone far with the enumeration process of poor households and we are at the development of the social register stage to form part of the national register.

    “What we want to do is to have a social register, a document that can be used for any social intervention in the state.

    “When the register is completed, the data will be validated and payment can be made; we are hoping that before the end of the second quarter of the year, the scheme would be in place”, she said.

    Aledeshelu said the beneficiaries were being selected through a credible process as suggested by members of the communities.

    “Poverty is relative and differs from place to place.

    “When we get to a community, we have a town hall meeting with the leaders, men and women groups to tell us the level of poverty is in the community.

    “It is the community that validates the poor persons in their midst”, she said.

     

  • Edo Assembly passes Health Insurance Commission Bill

    The Edo House of Assembly on Monday passed a Bill for a Law to establish the Edo State Health Insurance Commission.

    The law would enable the state government provide improved and affordable healthcare services to residents.

    The motion for the house to consider the bill clause by clause was moved by the Deputy Speaker, Justin Okonoboh, and seconded by Roland Asoro, the Majority Leader.

    The passage of the bill was sequel to the suspension of House Rules, following a motion moved by the majority leader and seconded by the deputy speaker.

    The 8 parts bill, was adopted with minor amendments to parts 1and 2 to include that a representative of the house of assembly not below the rank of a director should be a member of the board.

    The bill also stipulated that a former member of the house who must be a medical doctor should also be among members of the board.

    The board would comprise of a chairman, director general and other members, not below the status of a director from state Ministries of Health, Economic Planning, Education, Justice, Office of the Secretary to State Government and the Office of the Head of Service.

    The representatives of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and Civil Society Organisation would also be members of the board.

    The bill, according to the house when completely domesticated in Edo, will enable government have access to funds from NHIS which will be complemented by the state government for the effective operations of the commission.

    The bill also sought to protect families from the hardship of huge medical bills and regulate, supervise, implement and ensure effective administration of the state contributory health insurance scheme.

    The house also passed a Bill for a Law to Eliminate Violence in Private and Public Life.

    It prohibits all forms of violence against persons and provides maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders.

    Speaker Kabiru Adjoto, directed that clean copies of the bills be sent to the governor for his assent.

     

  • Police rescue 20 kidnap victims in Edo

    Police rescue 20 kidnap victims in Edo

    The Police Command in Edo, on Friday said it rescued no fewer than 20 kidnap victims across the state in the last two weeks.

    Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Olusegun Odumosu, disclosed this in Benin while briefing journalists on the command’s achievements during the period.

    Odumosu also revealed that 83 suspects were arrested for various crimes in the state, adding that 55 of them were held in connection with cultism, and 15 suspects for armed robbery.

    He said that 11 suspects were arrested for alleged murder, and that the murder suspects included five persons arrested in connection with the murder of a police officer in Benin metropolis on Saturday.

    He added that 10 arms and ammunitions and 55 live cartridges were recovered from suspects during the period.

    “Also recovered within the period were six vehicles, two battle axes and cash of N200, 800.”

    Odumosu said that some of the suspects had been charged to court, while cases of others were still being investigated preparatory for prosecution.

    He, however, advised people with domestic staff to put the staff under watch, saying that the issue of pants and pad rituals were gradually creeping into the state.

    According to him, so far, one suspect has been arrested and the suspect has made confessional statement.

     

  • Auchi records 30 cases of Lassa fever in January – Official

    Dr Innocent Alenoghena, the Director, Primary Health Care Services in Etsako-West Local Government Area, Edo, on Monday said the area recorded 30 cases of Lassa fever in January.

    Alenoghena disclosed this during sensitisation/awareness campaign against the increase of Lassa fever in the locality.

    He said that the 30 persons diagnosed to be suffering from the ailment were currently at the Irrua Specialist Hospital, Irrua.

    “About 30 persons have been infected with the disease in the council area. Lassa fever disease is fast spreading across the local government.

    “Edo State has the highest number of persons infected with the disease with Etsako West topping the chart,’’ he said.

    Alenoghena said that the council had stepped up its campaign on maintaining a clean environment at all times to stem the tide of the virus, urging people of the community to be vigilant and avoid contact with rats.

    “The LGC has declared a state of emergency on the Lassa fever epidemic, following the scourge of the disease in the area.

    “We need to step up preventive measures and this means people must maintain a high level of hygiene at all times.

    “Foodstuff should be kept in rodent-proof containers and people should also desist from drying their food stuff on the road, as they never can tell when rats will defecate or urinate on them.

    “We will continue to carry out sensitisation at every flag-off opportunity of our health programme, to enable our disease surveillance officers to enlighten the people on the danger of Lassa fever and other related diseases.

    “We will continue to go round the communities to sensitise the people to ensure that they keep their environment clean from any form of diseases,’’ he said.

    Lassa fever, also known as Lassa haemorrhagic fever (LHF), is a type of viral haemorrhagic fever caused by the Lassa virus.

    The virus is commonly transmitted by rats with symptoms including fever, weakness, headaches, vomiting, muscle pains, bleeding and multi-organ involvement.

     

  • Edo, CBN partner on development of 100,000-hectare plantation

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has said that the state government is in discussions with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to develop a programme that will see investors taking up 100,000 hectares of agricultural land in the state for plantation development.

    The governor said this when he met with a delegation from the International Finance Corporation (IFC), led by IFC Vice President, Middle East and Africa, Mr. Segio Pimenta, on a courtesy visit to the Government House, Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    The governor said that the state is keenly interested in increasing agricultural land under cultivation in the state to create wealth, fight deforestation and boost the economy, noting that the concerns of environmentalists are taken into consideration in increasing the hectarage under cultivation in the state.

    According to him, “Edo State has the largest oil palm estate in the country even that is comparatively small when you relate it to what is happening in South-East Asia.

    “Total agricultural land under cultivation is under 70,000 hectares which is less than one farm in Indonesia.”

    He continued, “We want to make sure that what we produce can compete globally. As such, we decided to first deal with concerns of the environment by taking a forest audit and now we have been able to earmark close to 250,000 hectares of degraded forest land for agricultural purpose.

    “We made a commitment last week to CBN to make 100,000 available to be properly screened by investors, as the CBN wants to develop a programme with us as a pilot.

    “We want to get a commitment of getting or re-growing one hectare of forest from every four hectares cultivated in the state.

    “This will help us to be competitive in the next few years in terms of our forestry assets”.

    Pimenta, on his part, said the organisation has heard of all the good works the governor was doing to develop the state and its economy, which are geared towards making life better for the people of the state.

    He said the organisation is supporting progressive states that are doing well in various areas, with education as one of the major areas of focus, noting “Education is one area the state is getting our fundamental support.

    “We look at human capacity index focusing on how we can help build human capacity in countries and states we operate in.

    “This is responsible for the collaboration with Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation (EDOBEST) programme and BRIDGE.”

     

  • Gunmen kill policeman in Edo

    Edo police command says a police orderly attached to Dr Eric Osayande, Chairman of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state, has been killed by unknown gunmen.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Hakeem Odumosun, confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria on Sunday.

    Odumosun said he had visited family of the slain policeman, adding that efforts were on to arrest the killers.

    The slain policeman identified as Oisa Ehigie, was allegedly shot dead on Saturday night at Nomayo Junction, along Upper Sokponba road in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area.

     

  • NIS Edo issues 38,752 passports in 2018

    The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) Edo, said 38,752 passports were issued by the command in 2018.

    Mr Kayode Eniolorunda, State Comptroller of the NIS, made this known in his opening remarks at the End of Year/Award Ceremony of the command in Benin on Sunday.

    Eniolorunda said that the figure was an increase over 28, 237 passports issued in 2017, representing about 38 per cent increase.

    He noted that with 416 officers and men in the command, the command had diligently carried out various statutory duties ranging from surveillance to visa and residency and other ad-hoc duties.

    Eniolorunda said that in 2018, the command had a robust human capital development as no fewer than 173 officers and men were trained and retrained for enhanced service delivery.

    He noted that in 2018, about 64 officers and men of the command were promoted.

    The state comptroller also said that the command had witnessed tremendous growth over the last one year with various landmark achievements which had direct bearings on the residents of the state.

    He explained that some of the achievements included, streamlining the process of acquiring passports by making it seamless and time-bound.

    “Today with all modesty, I can proudly affirm that to acquire passport now takes not more than 48 hours in the command.

    “Time they say is money. The realisation of this informed the creation of a VIP room to cater for our high profile clients, ‘’ Eniolorunda said.

    He further said that the command had upgraded infrastructure in the office to create a conducive atmosphere for applicants during their stay.

    During the ceremony, awards were presented to three officers of the command who distinguished themselves in their services, as well as some corporate bodies and hospitality-providing bodies.

    The presentation of the awards was a maiden innovation introduced in the command.