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Tag: Edo State

  • Obaseki unveils Edo security architecture, launches N2bn trust fund

    Obaseki unveils Edo security architecture, launches N2bn trust fund

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Monday in Benin City, the state capital, unveiled the Edo State Security Architecture, a new framework that will boost security in the state.

    The governor also launched the Edo State Security Trust Fund, with the state government committing N2 billion as seed fund.

    The components of the state security architecture include: 50 special security cars fitted with modern communication and security gadgets; 30 Toyota Hilux patrol vans; 30 patrol motor bikes and three Tropicalised Armoured Personnel Carriers; three Ambulances; Integrated Command and Control Centre and five special security check points to be manned at all the entry and exit points in the state.

    Others are Special Patrol Units (land and waterways); Integrated Electronic City Surveillance Unit; Establishment of a Special Force unit/anti-kidnapping squad; establishment of K-9 unit; establishment of paramedics unit; establishment of the Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV) scheme with 3000 trained and kitted workforce and a community police radio network.

    Speaking at the launch of the initiative, the governor explained that security is central to his administration’s reform agenda, noting, “Thanks to the chairman of the Edo State Security Trust Fund, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede for kickstarting and donating N200 million to the fund. I call on all Edo State citizens to contribute to the Security Trust Fund.”

    Stressing that the new security architecture is a comprehensive programme, he said, “Apart from the police, Military, Department of State Security and other security agencies, we are recruiting 100 young men and women from each ward across Edo State. The first 1,000 of them have been recruited and trained by the Nigeria Police, as they will help in intelligence gathering, and monitoring of government assets across the state. We believe by involving the community, we would be able to obtain enough information as to what is going on in the state. The effectiveness of our new strategy is based on community participation.”

    The Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Idris, who was represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Emmanuel Inyang, applauded the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government for embarking on the ambitious project and urged the private sector to support the fund to bolster policing across the state.

    “We are very happy to witness this wonderful gesture. I want to call on all on other private and public enterprises to support this initiative so that what succeeded in Lagos will also succeed in Edo State. Gone are the days that people left policing for the police alone. I also want to thank the Chairman of the Trust Fund for deeming it fit to come and assist the state.

    “With the launch of this security architecture, Edo people and residents will now sleep with their eyes closed. I am also aware that gun boats have been procured in addition to the vehicles and other equipment we are launching today.

    “This means we will be able to cover activities on land and sea which will be augmented with aerial surveillance using the Police helicopter. With all these efforts, Edo will become very safe for everyone. The security architecture will ginger security agencies to collaborate more, and where there is collaboration there will be coordination among us.”

    Chairman of the Edo State Security Trust Fund and Chairman, Coronation Capital, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, commended governor Obaseki for his foresight and his commitment to building a strong and peaceful state with initiatives such as the Edo State Security Trust Fund and Edo State Security Architecture, codenamed “WABAIZIGAN”.

    He assured that he would join efforts with other Edo sons and daughters at home and in the diaspora to replicate the success story of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, in Edo State.

    The former Managing Director of Access Bank, donated N200 million naira to the Security Trust Fund, and explained that he was instrumental to the establishment and success of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund and.

    “I and the companies I represent donate the sum of N200 million to the fund. I call on citizens of Edo State to join hands with the Edo State government and all the security agencies to make the state safe and peaceful for all.”

    “This process is not for the government alone but also for the private sector, companies and individuals to join hands with the state government in pushing the agenda for a peaceful Edo State.”

    Edo State Police Commissioner of Police Johnson Kokumo commended the governor for the support he has extended to the police command, which he said has made the state safer for residents.

     

  • Obaseki gives employment to all physically challenged applicants

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved the employment of all 25 physically challenged applicants who participated in the last recruitment exercise by the Edo State Civil Service Commission.

    In a statement, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the governor gave the approval after a review of the last civil service recruitment process showed that a number of persons with physical challenges were screened out either because they applied incorrectly or the system didn’t make provision for their special needs.

    He said that the affected applicants include all persons with visible disabilities who appeared for interview irrespective of their level of performance, noting, “These persons were not initially invited for the Computer-Based Test conducted by the Information Communication Technology Agency due to the fact that they did not apply correctly during the online application stage.

    “These persons were however screened out by the Computer System which had no means of identifying them as persons with visible disabilities,” he said.

    According to him, the governor also approved the employment of two physically challenged persons to work at the Information Communication Technology Agency, who fell below the Commission’s established standards and one-visually impaired person, into the civil service.

    Osagie said the governor has mandated the State Civil Service Commission to develop a database of persons with physical disabilities who are employed by the state government.

    He said the 25 persons with disabilities whose appointments have been approved will be evaluated by the Commission based on their academic qualifications and the approved scheme of service for placement into the civil service and provision made to take care of their special needs.

    He said plans are also in place to provide appropriate facilities that will enable the physically challenged persons to carry out their roles effectively.

     

  • Assembly passes Bill to checkmate secret cults mayhem

    The Edo House of Assembly on Monday, passed a Bill for a law to repeal and re-enact the law to prohibit the existence, membership and activities of Secret Cults in the state.

    The motion to consider the Bil,l at the committee of the House, was moved by the Majority Leader, Roland Asoro, member representing (APC Orhionmwon South) and seconded by the Chief Whip, Iyoha Osaigbovo (APC-Oredo East).

    The passage of the 11-section Bill was sequel to the suspension of House rules 20,27,42,43,44,45,46,47,48 and 49.

    The Bill prescribes 21-year jail term for secret cult members and 7-year imprisonment for anyone who harbours a cultist.

    The Bill also prescribes that all offences under the law shall be by summary trial and empowers the police to arrest suspected cultists without a warrant.

    Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House, Kabiru Adjoto, has constituted a 5-man Ad-hoc Committee to investigate the circumstances surrounding the abandonment of the Tayo Akpata University of Education from taking off approved by the state government, few years ago.

    The committee is chaired by Ojo Asein, member representing ( APC Owan West),Henry Okhuarhobo (APC Ikpoba -Okha) Patrick Iluobe (PDP Esan North East).

    Other members of the committee are: Festus Edughele(APC Esan South East ) Nosayaba Okhunbor (APC Orhionmwon East) and Elizabeth Ativie (APC Uhunmwode) .

    The constitution of the committee followed a petition by 11 host communities of the institution to the House protesting the abandonment of the University.

     

  • CBN disburses N53.3m to cassava farmers

    CBN disburses N53.3m to cassava farmers

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has disbursed N53.3 million to local farmers in Auchi through the Elephant Group PLC/Edo State Government Cassava Project.

    The Coordinator of the project, Alhaji Abdullahi Muhammed, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Auchi, saying 120 farmers had started receiving N444,800 each.

    “This cassava project is being initiated under the Elephant Group PLC in conjunction with the Edo State Government.

    “A total of 120 farmers have been screened and CBN has disbursed the sum of N444,800 each to 120 farmers totaling N53.3 million.

    “As I am speaking to you, the farmers are receiving the alerts,” he said.

    Muhammed further said the 120 farmers were grouped under the Ozemoya Farmers Multipurpose Cooperative Society, adding that the group was expected to cultivate 240 hectares of cassava.

    The coordinator thanked the apex bank for granting them the funds and the Otaru of Auchi for the donation of land for the farmers to cultivate.

    He appealed to the state government to commence the land preparation in order for the farmers to begin cultivation.

    “We want to thank the Otaru of Auchi who graciously approving the land for the cultivation of cassava.

    “We want to thank the CBN for giving us the opportunity to access the fund directly; individuals have gotten the sum of N444,800 each credited to their accounts in readiness for the project.

    “We are appealing to the state government that as the CBN has already disbursed the money to the farmers, government should commence land preparation so that we farmers can start to grow the crop.

    “The farmers are ready, CBN has already done its part and the state government is what we are waiting for.

    “The supply of chemicals and fertilisers and training of farmers have been completed to make the farm project a success,” he said.

    In his contribution, the Edo Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Monday Osaigbovo, said funds would soon be released in order to carry out land preparation for the cassava farmers to cultivate the land.

    “This is a state government project and there is already a memo to that effect.
    “We are awaiting the approval for the release of funds and as soon as funds are ready we will begin land preparation,” he said.

     

  • Edo Assemble probes delay in opening hospital inaugurated by Buhari 2yrs ago

    Edo Assemble probes delay in opening hospital inaugurated by Buhari 2yrs ago

    The Edo Assembly has constituted a seven-man committee to investigate the delay in opening of the ultra-modern Central Hospital, Benin for use, two years after President Muhammadu Buhari inaugurated it.

    The ad-hoc committee has Damien Lawani, (APC-Etsako Central ) as Chairman and Ojo Aisen, (APC-Owan West), Foly Ogedengbe (APC-Owan East) and Iyoha Osaigbovo (APC-Oredo East) as members.

    Others are Sunday Osazemwinde (APC- Ovia North East), Godwin Adenomo (APC-Ovia South West) and Monday Ehighalua (PDP-Esan West).

    The constitution of the committee followed a petition by a group of Civil Society Organisations known as “Talakawa’s Parliament” to the house.

    The group, led by Mr Kola Edokpayi, on Monday protested to the house of assembly, and presented its petition over the delay, saying the hospital had been taken over by rodents.

    It noted that the hospital built by the colonial masters was demolished to pave way for the construction of the new one that had not admitted a single patient even with the modern equipment.

    The Speaker, Kabiru Adjoto, said the terms of reference of the committee included inviting the contractors involved in the supply of the hospital equipment for interrogation.

    Adojo mandated the committee to also invite any other person that could give useful information on why the hospital was not functioning.

    “The committee is expected to submit its report to the house for consideration within two weeks,” he said.

    Meanwhile, a bill for re-enactment of a law prohibiting the existence and membership of secret cults in the state has been referred to the House Committee on Rules and Business.

    It was referred to the committee for further legislative inputs ahead of its consideration and passage into law.

     

  • Police kill kidnap suspect in Edo, arrest 46

    Police kill kidnap suspect in Edo, arrest 46

    The police in Edo have killed a suspected kidnapper and arrested no fewer than 46 other suspected criminals in the last few weeks.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Johnson Kukumo, disclosed this at a news conference on Tuesday in Benin.

    He said police operatives also recovered 126 assorted arms and ammunition from the suspects.

    Among those arrested, he said, were 17 suspected kidnappers clerics at Urhonigbe near Agbor, Delta.

    The Police CP said investigation showed that the same suspects were responsible for the kidnap one Anthony Atemagbo, his wife and daughter on the Ubiaja-Uromi road in Edo.

    Kukumo said that while detectives successfully arrested the criminals in their hideouts, they also rescued their victims unhurt.

    He also said that nine robbery suspects and 20 suspected cultists were among those arrested in different parts of the state.

    Kokumo added that the command recovered about N3 million from some of the kidnap suspects.

    While reiterating the commitment of the command to ridding the states of crime, he urged residents to be careful of the company they keep and be mindful of their utterances in public.

     

  • Breaking: Obaseki proposes N175bn 2019 budget for Edo State

    Breaking: Obaseki proposes N175bn 2019 budget for Edo State

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Monday presented a budget proposal of N175 billion for 2019 fiscal year to the state House of Assembly.

    The budget proposal is 9.2 per cent above the 2018 budget of N146 billion.

    The proposed budget tagged: “Budget of Socio-Economic Inclusion’’ has N95.8 billion as capital expenditure, while N79.9 billion is proposed for recurrent expenditure.’’

    The governor said the budget proposal had a deficit of N27.4 billion which would be funded through internal and external financial interventions from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s Special programmes and World Bank.

    He said the budget was planned with 60 dollars benchmark crude oil price and increased state internally generated revenue.

    ‘‘The 2019 budget will consolidate on the infrastructural and socio-economic gains of the outgoing year 2018,’’ he said.

    The budget breakdown shows that N42.7 billion is allocated to infrastructure development, N9.3 billion for health, N26.8 billion for education and N7 billion for investment promotion.

    Others are N2 billion for security, N9 billion for payment of pension, while N967 million is proposed for the judiciary.

     

  • Constituent petitions Chevron Nigeria

    Senator Clifford Ordia, representing Edo Central in the National Assembly, on Thursday during Senate plenary, raised a petition against Chevron Nigeria.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Senator Ordia raises the petition on behalf of a constituency member against Chevron Nigeria on their refusal to keep to terms of engagement.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki then referred the petition to the committee on ethics, privileges and public petition to report back in 2 weeks.

    Meanwhile, at resumed plenary sitting on Thursday, the Senate revisited the sealing of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly by security agents.

    Senator Bassey Akpan cites orders 42 and 52 and informed the House of progress on the matter.

    The “security agents are still there. No legislator has been allowed in or out. We owe the people of Akwa Ibom this responsibility. It is not right. An injury to Akwa Ibom State is an injury to Nigeria,” Senator Akpan said.

     

  • INEC says collection of PVCs’ continues in Edo

    INEC says collection of PVCs’ continues in Edo

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Edo office, said collection of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at ward levels continues across the state.

    Mr Emmanuel Alex-Hart, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, made the disclosure in Benin on Tuesday.

    He explained this when he presented INEC’s 50 plastic chairs and a public address system to the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo council in Benin.

    Alex-Hart said ‘‘although the number of days approved for the display of voters’ register and collection of PVCs in various wards and units has ended, we decided to extend the collection of PVCs aspect of the exercise at wards levels.

    ‘‘The efforts are to bring the PVCs closer to the people ahead of the 2019 general elections for collection,” he said.

    According to him, there were no complaints from the field during the display of voters’ register which ended on Nov. 12, adding that it was a pointer that all was well.

    The state resident electoral commissioner appealed to the media to, at all times, balanced their stories before publication.

    ‘‘Please if you do not understand anything contact us, so that we can give you our side to balance your reports. Do not just publish without hearing from us,” he said,

    Mr Roland Osakwe, the NUJ, Edo Council Chairman, thanked INEC for the commission’s donation to the union.

    He gave assurance that journalists would continue to partner with the commission’s officials for peaceful and credible elections in 2019.

     

  • 2 Years in Office: Obaseki presents score card to Edo people

    2 Years in Office: Obaseki presents score card to Edo people

    Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo on Monday presented his administration’s score card to people of the state, with assurances of better days ahead.

    Speaking at the Edo Summit held in Benin as part of activities to mark his second anniversary in office, the governor said his administration was enhancing confidence in leadership, governance and government.

    Obaseki said that with the support of President Muhammadu Buhari, the ruling All Progressive Party, the Benin, Monarch, Oba Ewuare 11, as well as the good people of Edo, his administration had achieved a lot of transformation and reforms in many sectors of governance.

    The governor said his administration had holistically transformed the education sector, putting in place a framework that had brought about institutional transformation in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

    “We are improving infrastructure in our schools, trained over 7000 teachers on digital learning in our basic education sector, completed the revamping of Benin Technical College, as well as consolidation of our College of Education.’’

    In the heath sector, the governor said he had strengthened all aspects of the health value chain, including that of the Primary Health Centres (PHCs), which were ongoing.

    “We have rolled out the remodeling of 20 PHCs across the state and intend to do 200, and have initiated the Edo Healthcare Improvement Programme (EDOHIP) to achieve improved health structure and the wellbeing of the citizens.

    “The state and local governments saved 1 per cent of their federal allocation to make investment in the health sector.’’

    The Governor said his administration on assumption of office promised the creation of 200, 000 jobs, noting that 77, 200 jobs had been created in both private and public sectors in the state.

    “We have initiated job matching, skills acquisition and entrepreneurship development, Edo Innovate, Train-to-Hire, Edojobs Internship scheme for graduates and artisans, Edo Food and Agricultural Clusters, Edo Film and TV Village and the Edo Production Centre.

    “All these initiatives are to develop the entrepreneurship skills of our people, as well as create massive employment and jobs in the state.’’

    He said much investment was also being made in the housing sector, as the first phase of the Emotan Garden Estate which started a year ago would be delivered before the end of year.

    Obaseki listed his other achievements to include reduction of the cost of acquisition of Certificate of Occupancy to N50, 000, spear-heading the installation of night landing facilities at the Benin Airport, reformation of Bendel Insurance Football Club, as well as the ongoing construction of the Edo Public Service Training Academy, among others.

    He added that the Edo Summit was focused on job creation, Education and Primary Healthcare with the aim of sensitizing the people of the state on possible opportunities open to them in those fields.