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Tag: Edo State

  • Edo to set up task force to combat trafficking

    Edo state Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Thursday, highlighted some of his administration’s measures to tackle human trafficking, revealing that a special task force led by the newly-sworn in Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the state, Professor Yinka Omoregbe, would be set up to address the social malaise.

    He added that the DSS, the Nigerian Police, and other security agencies would work with the task force to baulk the scourge.

    This was at the 4th Edo Women’s Conference, themed ‘Modern day slavery: policies and programmes to combat/end trafficking in Edo state’, where the governor, who was the special guest of honour, expressed disapproval at Edo’s involvement in the illegal trade.

    Describing trafficking as “a threat to our survival as a race and as a people,” Governor Obaseki assured that his administration would do everything humanly possible to combat the problem, while also charging citizens of the state to combat the problem.

    Pinpointing the causes of human trafficking, he fingered poverty, illiteracy, greed and the breakdown of the education system, especially the basic education system, as eminent culprits occasioning for the rise of the scourge.

    Meanwhile, the governor explained that strategies to address the issue would include diplomatic international collaboration, economic, empowerment, education, job creation, and skill acquisition initiatives.

     

    Furthermore, he elucidated that other modalities were being instituted to encourage education, such as refurbishing technical and vocational schools such as Benin Technical College.

    In addition, the governor expressed confidence that the Benin Technical College project, which would be completed in about 9 months, would not marginalise female students, but would encourage them to study and acquire necessary skills to become independent.

     

  • Obaseki orders employment of 4,200 youths

    Obaseki orders employment of 4,200 youths

    In line with his promise to create at least 200,000 jobs within 4 years, the Governor of Edo state, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has ordered the employment of 4,200 youths across the state under the Edo state public works program from July 1st, this year.

    In a statement endorsed by the governor’s Chief of Staff, it was also revealed that Governor Obaseki had directed the engagement and training of 50 civil engineers to supervise the public works program and that the successful applicants were sourced from the database of unemployed youths developed by the government for the Edo Jobs initiative.

     

    According to the Chief of Staff, “The newly employed beneficiaries will work across the state on 45 inner roads selected under this special window. The governor also promised to engage another set of 4,200 in August 2017 under another window that will see the state government constructing and maintaining another set of 55 roads, culminating in almost 100 kilometers across the state.”

     

     

     

    He further enjoined the workers to be dedicated for the period of their engagement with the state government, as it would eventually amount to experience gathering and capacity building.

     

     

     

    Meanwhile, to complement jobs originating from road construction, the state government also finalized arrangements to train young electrical and electronic engineers under a special arrangement with Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC).

     

     

    The program, would build the capacity of young men and women on the practical side of electrical engineering in line with the ‘Electrify Edo project’, which kicked off with the signing of a power purchase agreement between the government and, at different times, Siemens AG and Ossiomo Power limited, a few months ago.

     

     

  • Edo first lady advocates for victimized widows

    Wife of Edo state Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki has spoken against harmful widowhood practices still prevalent in some parts of the state and country while also taking advocacy measures to address the situation.

     

    The Governor’s wife, addressing the Felix King Foundation at Edo State Government House in Benin City, described the practices against widows as barbaric and inhuman, emphasising that the time had come for concerted efforts from the government, NGOs, corporate bodies and individuals to unite against harmful practices directed at “hapless, harmless and helpless widows making their plight even more heart-breaking.”

     

    She also commended the leader of the delegation and founder of the Felix Kings Foundation, Mr. Felix King Eiremiokhae, saying, “You have taken your plans to the right quarters. We thank God that you have come to Edo state and we recognize that you cannot be doing this work far away from your people. We are calling on all well-meaning Edo people to come back home and make a difference because God has come to Edo state to do great things and you are an evidence.

     

    Meanwhile, Eiremiokhae described the foundation as a non-profit organization aimed at caring for disadvantaged widows and their children through advocacy, empowerment, funding, and scholarships for children of such widows.

     

    Mr Felix stated that the foundation empowered 96 disadvantaged widows spread across Edo State in March through skills acquisition and business start-up grants.
    He also commended the First Lady, saying, “This foundation is my way of touching lives. When we did the opinion poll in the state we realized that the people love you because of your way of life, and we believe if you add your voice, we can fight this scourge.”

     

  • Obaseki issues stern warning to political appointees in Edo

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State has issued stern warning to political appointees in the state.

    He said newly appointed Special Assistants (SAs) and Senior Special Assistants (SSAs) in Edo may be relieved of their appointments if found guilty of acts of corruption, abandonment of duty posts, failure to submit reports as at when required, sabotage, and general incompetence.

    Governor Obaseki reading out the riot act, admonished the aides to regard their appointments as opportunities to impact positively in their communities, while also acquainting them on their roles in the transformation drive of his administration.

    This was at a two-day workshop organized for recently appointed aides in Benin to brief them on the details of their appointments and their functions in the development agenda of the Godwin Obaseki-led administration.

    Tasking them to live up to the confidence reposed in them, he said: “The whole idea was to address the issues of marginalization and inequality, and with what we have done today, there is no ward in Edo State that can say that they do not have a voice in government”.

    “Let me emphasise that while Government will do everything possible to provide an enabling environment that will enhance efficiency and productivity, this administration will not hesitate to relieve anyone whose performance is below expectation in their duties,” he added.

    He said that his administration was keen on revolutionising six key sectors in the state, including strengthening of institutions, economic revolution, culture and tourism, environmental sustainability, social welfare enhancement and infrastructure, adding that the political appointees needed to key into the quest.

    Governor Obaseki also said that his administration had resolved to adopt the ‘Grassroots to Top’ approach; hence, the political appointees would represent the government at the grassroots level.

    On their modus operandi, the governor revealed that the SAs would report to his office through his Political advisers and they would operate from the offices already created for them in the 18 local government councils in the state.

    Meanwhile, the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie tasked the SSAs and SAs on discipline, accountability, and responsibility, especially at the grassroots.

     

  • Obaseki urges FRSC on traffic clean-up

    In line with the ‘Clean-up Edo Project’ commenced last month, Governor Godwin Obaseki, on Friday, said the state would collaborate with relevant government security agencies to ensure that traffic was free-flowing and that the state was safe for economic activities.

     

    The Governor made this disclosure at the Edo State Government House where he also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to solve problems related to traffic management, and take measures to open up road networks in the state.

     

    Receiving officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps, led by the Commander of Edo State Sector Command, Samuel Odukoya, Governor Obaseki noted that the government had invested enormously in infrastructure through the rehabilitation of roads, and urged the command to acquaint the government with helpful information for Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSMA) to discharge its responsibility.

     

    He expounded that the State had recruited senior management staff and traffic officers would be deployed to work with the police and FRSC after completing their training next week

     

     

    Meanwhile, Odukoya commended the Governor especially on the infrastructural development already started in the state, adding that the evacuation of debris in the most strategic areas by the state government had enabled the command to achieve 80% success in traffic management in the state

     

     

    In addition, he revealed that the command had impounded 20 stolen vehicles, aided by the National Vehicle Identification System (NVIS), adding that a conman specialising in duplicating fake drivers’ license was also cooling off his heels in police custody and assisting with investigations to curb the criminal trade.

  • Herdsmen Encroachment: Edo schools to get perimeter fencing

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, on Sunday, disclosed that perimeter fences would be erected around schools in the state to address the increasingly indiscriminate grazing of cattle within school premises in Edo.The Governor made this revelation during a thanksgiving service at Christ Embassy Church in Benin where he also thanked God for his victory at the appeal Court.

    Meanwhile, the Governor, who was accompanied by his wife Mrs. Betsy Obaseki to the church, noted that his administration was already working out measures to curtail the menace of Fulani herdsmen in the state.

    It would recalled that last week, some cattle gained access to classrooms inside Ohovbe Primary School at Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state and displaced both students and teachers.

     

    At the thanksgiving service, the Governor additionally restated his commitment to developing Edo State and making it one of the best, having received a favourable judgement at the Court of Appeal.

    Obaseki ascribed his election as Governor of Edo to the Grace of God upon his life, adding that he would capitalize on that to develop the state.

     

    Meanwhile, Reverend Tom Amekhena, addressing the church, commended the Governor for his progressive leadership, stating that despite never meeting him, he had been acquainted with his developmental policies and projects in the state.

     

    He said “We are seeing the burning desire you have not only to develop the state but also to transform it.”

  • Army arrests 24 suspected Boko Haram members in Edo

    His Royal Highness, Alhaji Aliru H. Momoh, the Otaru of Auchi Kingdom, in Edo, on Monday announced the arrest of 24 suspected Boko Haram members in the community by the Nigerian Army.

    The monarch, while speaking in his palace at Auchi, headquarters of the Estako-West local government area of the state, said the commandant of the Nigeria Army School of Engineering, NICOHO, near Auchi, informed him of the arrest of the suspected insurgents in his palace.

    “Shortly before you came, I had audience with the commandant.

    “He informed me about what they are doing and the arrest of some 24 suspected members of Boko Haram operating under the guise of Fulani herdsmen in the community,’’ he said.

    The Otaru said: “the commandant also informed me that the suspects would be transferred to Benin’’.

    He commended the commandant for taking proactive steps to have taken the fight to the suspected insurgents in the forest, saying that the “issue of security needs careful planning and execution’’.

    The Otaru, who described the activities of the herdsmen in the area as worrisome, said “we have asked farmers, especially the women, to stop going to the farms for now.

    “We gave them some grants to enable them to engage in petty trading in the mean time, to avoid the incessant attacks on them.

    “The traditional council is collaborating with the army, security agencies, and some vigilance groups, and we have recently incorporated the hunters to help to evolve lasting solutions to the problem,’’ he added.

     

    (NAN)

  • Edo pensioners urged to revalidate documents

    Edo pensioners urged to revalidate documents

    In a bid to harmonize and prevent fraudulent collection of pension across the state, the government of Edo State, has called for eligible pensioners to turn up for the revalidation and biometrics exercise ongoing in the state. According to a statement from the Office of the Chief Press Secretary (interim), the exercise is code-named ‘I Am Alive’.

    “The one-week verification process will run from June 12 until June 16 this year, and will take place at the respective Local Government Headquarters in the state”.

     

    The statement said, “All the pensioners needed for the verification exercise were their Pensioner’s Identity cards, biometric slip and pension authority letter”.

     

    However, it said pensioners in Oredo should not go to the Local Government Headquarters, but to Imaguero College in Benin City for their verification.

  • ‘Appointment of Special Assistants in Edo a call to service’ –Akerele declares

    ‘Appointment of Special Assistants in Edo a call to service’ –Akerele declares

    Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State on Friday announced the appointments of 192 Special Assistants from each of the wards in all 18 Local Government Areas of the state. His Chief of Staff, Mr Taiwo Akerele, has explained that their appointments constituted a call to serve the people, noting that the task ahead was huge and did not call for superfluous celebration.

     

    In a statement by Akerele, he revealed that the appointments came on the heels of the submission of the final report of the special committee set up to review the recommendations of eligible candidates from the various wards and LGAs.

     

    Akerele said: “We congratulate all those who have been appointed and state categorically that this is a call to service. This is not the time to spend too much celebrating, as the task ahead is enormous and comes with a high sense of responsibility, decorum, humility and leadership.”

     

    Meanwhile, he also added that the special assistants were mandated to support the Governor in project monitoring and evaluation, liaison with various stakeholders in the wards to ensure peace and overall security of lives and property, as well as attend meetings and establish a channel of communication between the government and those at the grassroots.

     

    Other duties included ensuring peace and harmony, sending regular monthly reports to the governor for necessary action and follow-up, discharging other duties as may be directed by the governor, and taking up residence in their various wards.

     

     

     

     

  • Obaseki shuts down Edo Line, relocates staff to Ministry of Transport

    Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has shut down state-owned transport outfit, Edo Line, indefinitely and directed that its staff be relocated to the Edo State Ministry of Transport.The Governor gave this directive in Benin as he paid an on-the-spot assessment of Edo line to ascertain the state of the transport company, which had allegedly been systematically collapsing for several years.

    The Governor, accompanied by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Osarodion Ogie, his Chief of Staff, Mr. Taiwo Akerele, and other top officials, lamented the condition of the state-owned transport company.

    He said: “We will shut down this place, clean it up, and decide on how to liquidate the debt and plan how to use the premises for other ventures”.

    Noting that company’s debt was about N1.5bn, he said: “This is a typical waste. Can you see how many vehicles are around? We have been paying people close up to four years without doing any work. The company has a huge amount of debt and as a government, we cannot continue in this situation. What we are doing is that we are absorbing the staff”.

    The company, which last operated on May 2015, had workforce that was 186-people strong with its headquarters located at James Watt Road, Off Mission road, Benin City and other outlets in Lagos, Abuja, as well as other parts of the country.