Social Reporters News Service, published by IOE Publishers - CAC/BN/3400383

…Edo Govt. sees record time delivery of project The Edo State Government has said that efforts to industrialise the state is gaining momentum as China Harbour Engineering Company Limited intensifies work on the development of the Gelegele Seaport in Benin City. Special Adviser to the Edo State Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said “we are excited at the pace of work on the project. We foresee the delivery of this project well ahead of the scheduled delivery date. “Our partner, China Harbour Engineering Company Limited is living up to its billing as its personnel have been on ground for over about two months now. They have been working round the clock doing soil testing, ground mapping, following the aerial survey they did immediately they arrived Benin City, to ascertain the positioning of the facility in line with best environmental practice. “A visit to the site showed some de-watering, excavation and land reclamation work and the Project Execution

By Isaac Eranga IGUOMO - The indigenes of Iguomo village in Uhunwode   Local Government Area of Edo state have called to the Benin Monarch, His Majesty, Oba Ewuare 11, the Edo State Government and Security Agencies to come to their aid on what they described as the incessant attack on the indigenes of Iguomo by the people of Ikhuenbo village. Speaking, an indigene of Iguomo village, Mr. Johnbull Owenaze said in an  interview with Newsmen that the  appeal became necessary because the people of Ikhuenbo have refused to yield to the rulings and judgment from the palace of the Oba of Benin and the Supreme Court which clearly states that Iguomo village is the rightful owners of the piece of land which they, Ikhuenbo, are now forcefully occupying and claiming ownership. He further said the boundary dispute is supposed to be a thing of the past but some individuals from Ikhuenbo village are causing problems which led to the killings of two youths from Iguomo, Master Osazee Solomon    and o

By Isaac Eranga, Iyamho Prof. Emmanuel Aluyor, the Acting Vice Chancellor, Edo University, Iyamho, Edo, has warned newly admitted students of the institution against indulging in social vices. Aluyor gave the warning during the matriculation of 350 students for the 2017/2018 academic session of the institution held at Iyamho in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo on Thursday. “An act of gangstarism and violence will not be tolerated by the university management. It is management belief that students who err will be disciplined while students who do well should be rewarded consequently. “I want you to bear in mind that most effective way to put across your demands and grievances is through dialogue and all the established channels of communication in the university must be used,” he said. He said that the institution is three years in its existence adding that the institution is looking forward to producing its first set of graduates. “This is the third matriculation ceromon

By Lasisi Olagunju The oppressive one-North is on its death-bed. General Yakubu Danjuma sang the Nunc Dimittis on Saturday. But if the Middle Belt states are free finally, the credit cannot go to this taciturn General from Takum. The Fulani conquerors deserve the prize; they scored the golden own goal. It has taken the Hausa/Fulani and their Kanuri collaborators just three years of bloody indiscretion to unravel 104 years of one-North myth. The greedy mice of the tiny Fulani elite have peed into the North’s soup pot; everyone has now learnt to answer his mother’s name. We are at the threshold of a new phase in the struggle for a new Nigeria. But then, the battle has just started. The dying won’t let go of their inheritance quietly. Beyond Danjuma’s Taraba, Benue and Plateau, is there anywhere else that is not feeling the pangs of Hausa/Fulani/Kanuri elite destruction? I call their abode the Core-North which is not interested in catching up with anybody. Its interest is in dragging ev

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has unveiled plans to build three Super General Hospitals in the three Senatorial Districts in the state and assured medical personnel of improved working conditions for an effective and efficient healthcare system in the state. The governor gave the assurance when he received executive members of the Association of Resident Doctors with the Edo State Hospital Management Board (SHMB) at the Government House in Benin City, Edo State on Monday. Obaseki said, “This administration is aware of the challenges confronting the state healthcare system. We are working to resolve these challenges. We have held several meetings to see how to address the peculiar problems with the healthcare system in the state. We have records of medical personnel and state of facilities in the healthcare system in the state.” Obaseki, however, appealed to the medical doctors to be patient and continue to support the reforms of the state government to revamp the health se

As part of measures to check the incessant cases of kidnapping and armed robberies on the waterways of Edo State, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, has approved a marine police base for the state. The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Babatunde Kokumo, disclosed this at the weekend in Benin when the Chairman of Ovia South-West local government area, Comrade Destiny Oghayerio Enabulele, paid him a courtesy call to solicit his help in combating crime in the area. He said the problem in the local government area was that it had criminals in the land and waters, saying that the marine police base would be at Gelegele, with other outposts along waterways and creeks in the state. “On my arrival here, I discovered that Edo State did not have marine police, and I considered​ that as not healthy enough. But the IGP has approved marine police for Edo State for the first time. It was just last Thursday that the approval from the Inspector-General arrived,” he said. Earlier, Comr

By Isaac Eranga, Benin The Conference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP), Edo State chapter, has commended the leadership of Edo Forum of Patriots for organizing a security summit in a bid to addressing the lingering security challenges in the State.. This commendation was made through the Chairman of Edo CNPP, Prince Roy Oribhabor at the end of the weekly meeting of Edo CNPP held on 24th March 2018 at the state Secretariat in Benin City. According to Prince Oribhabor, "Edo CNPP commends Edo Forum of Patriots for mobilizing and organizing this security summit which is aimed at addressing and formulating workable direction to arrest the level of insecurity situation in the state. "Edo CNPP reviewed the general situation in Edo state with special regards to the security challenges facing the state and the terrorising disposition of herdsmen. "It is on record that a man once embarked on hunger strike to draw the world's attention to the chagrin level of insecurity

…gives 21 days ultimatum to Edo PDP to refund all loans Following reports of the role played by the Peoples Democratic Party-led administration in raising the debt figures of Edo State, with the collection of over N100 billion local and foreign loans, the Reform Mandate Forum (RMF) has called on Governor Godwin Obaseki to halt the repayment of the loans obtained by the former PDP administration in the state. In a letter entitled “Stop Paying Debts Incurred by the PDP” and addressed to the Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, the group led by Chief  Efosa Uyi-Wamagbe, said: “having x-rayed the issues recently raised by the Edo PDP with respect to the debt profile of Edo State, we are constrained to advise the Government of Edo State under the leadership of Godwin Obaseki to stop servicing the huge debts inherited from the PDP government in Edo State with immediate effect.” Uyi-Wamagbe stressed that “as citizens of Edo State, we believe that every individual should account for hi

Governor Godwin Obaseki for the past one year in office has brought hygiene into politics. While consolidating on what Oshiomhole has done, he has opened more areas of development and economic enhancement to the utmost satisfaction of all Edo people who gave him the mandate. As far as Edo people are concerned, Governor Obaseki is a silent performer, the covenant and promise keeper and a development warrior. The PDP cannot boast of a tenth of the achievements of Obaseki in one year when juxtaposed with their ten rotten years. In one year, Godwin Obaseki has touched on all areas that are encapsulated in the six thematic pillars of this government. From economic revolution to infrastructural development; environmental sustainability, tourism, Arts and Culture. Godwin Obaseki is even a governor without boundaries as his activities transcend the purview of his duties as governor of Edo State. He came to the rescue of a federal institution, the Irrua Specialist Hospital when Lassa Fever sto

By Akpomejero Friday, Benin The  Chairman Board of Management, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Bashorun Adedoja Adewolu yesterday  in benin  called on the management of the UBTH to embark on research and training to address problems facing  the health sector. Adewolu who noted the contributions of the founding fathers of the hospital said there is  need to sustain the legacies of Late Dr. Samuel Ogbemudia insisting that such can only be achieved by pursuing aggressive research and educational training in the health sector. Addressing the Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Prof. Osasere Orumwense, Adewolu urged the vice chancellor to partner with UBTH in the areas of research and training noting that the university community is a partner in progress with the University of Benin Teaching Hospital. “To make the Teaching Hospital meaningful, we need your cooperation and that is why you see the decree that set up the hospital make provision for the University repres

By Isaac Eranga Dr. Charles Umeh, a Medical Doctor and a Family Planning Advocate, has been selected as the new Country Coordinator of the International Youth Alliance for Family Planning (IYAFP), Nigeria after a competitive selection process. Dr. Charles Umeh takes over from Mr. Chibuike Alagboso who was the first country coordinator of the youth Alliance. Commenting on the development, Mr. Chibuike Alagboso congratulated Dr. Charles Umeh and pledged his support to advance the objectives of the organization. He encouraged the new country coordinator to run an inclusive system and use his leadership position to serve young people in Nigeria. Mr. Alagboso expressed satisfaction in the selection process because according to him, it clearly shows that diligence truly has its rewards. “I am delighted that Charles was selected for this position because it clearly shows that hard work truly pays. As a member, he was very proactive and passionate about issues that has to do with Family Pl

There was pandemonium on Tuesday when a newly ordained pastor of the Evangelical Church Winning All (ECWA) of Toro District Church Council, Rev. Isah Nanaf, was assassinated in Toro village near Jos. SOCIAL REPORTERS gathered that the late cleric was said to have been shot severally at close range by a gunman. The suspect whose name has not been disclosed has been arrested by the police in Toro village. The public relations officer of ECWA headquarters Jos, Rev. Romanus Ebenwokodi who disclosed the assassination to newsmen in his office on Tuesday said the remains of the slammed pastor has been deposited at the morgue of Bingham University Teaching Hospital (BUTH) Ebenwokodi said: “The entire ECWA community received with shock the assassination of one of our pastors in Toro, Bauchi state last Sunday evening. “The assassinated pastor was few days ago was shot severally at his neck, heart, stomach and at the pelvis by the gunman. “The late Nanaf was standing by the road side nea

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the state’s new security architecture will accommodate vigilante groups from various communities, who will be expected to assist in maintaining peace and order across the state. The new security architecture comes on the heels of recent attacks on innocent Edo people by bandits, and will serve as a robust framework incorporating the restructured Operation Thunderstorm. The new initiative will be supported with 36 operational vehicles to be supplied by the 18 local government councils of the state. The governor disclosed this at the Security Town Hall meeting held with security chiefs in the state, elders and other members of different communities in and around Ugboha, organised on Monday, at Esan South East Local Government Area Secretariat, Ubiaja, after the killing of three persons in the area by bandits.  According to the governor, the new security measures is intended to forestall breakdown of law and order across the state,

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has revealed plans to build at least 500 primary healthcare centres and revamp the state’s nursing school, beginning next month, April, to provide a conducive environment for the implementation of the compulsory health insurance scheme.  Obaseki disclosed this when he received members of the newly inaugurated Governing Board of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) at the Government House, in Benin City, the Edo State capital. The governor said the bill for setting up compulsory health insurance has reached advanced stage at the Edo State House of Assembly, stressing that the focus on primary healthcare by his administration is to ensure that basic healthcare needs are accessible and affordable by ordinary people. According to the him, “Plans to improve primary healthcare services in the state is ongoing. The basic philosophy is to strengthen the primary healthcare system which will create room for adequate structures for obtaining

The European Union (EU) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have trained fresh set of Libya returnees on business skills and cooperatives in Benin City. The Project Manager, Abrham  Tamrat IOM told reporters that the project is under the EU-IOM initiative for migrant  protection and reintegration in Nigeria. Represented by a Senior Project Officer, IOM Benin Sub Office, Mr Aigbeze  Uhimwen explained that the project was in series, noting  that "the training will equip the returnees with the knowledge for their start up Business. "After this training, we'll now commence their  reintegration proper thereafter they'll be empowered to  start a small and medium  scale business. Some will start as collective group while others will  start as individuals," the project manager stated. He said the beneficiaries include nursing mothers, pregnant women and other returnees who were assisted by IOM to return to the country. While advising the returned

Barely five days after the killings in Dekina and Omala Local Government Areas, a traditional ruler and 11 other persons have again been reportedly killed and several houses razed in separate attacks by suspected herders of cattle on Agbenema, Aj’Ichekpa, Opada and Iyade villages in Omala Local Government Area of Kogi State. Those killed included a traditional ruler, the Onu Okenwu Agbenema of Ife, Chief Musa Edigbo, his wife and 10 others by the assailants. Social Reporters reliably gathered that the attacks started on Sunday night and lasted till Monday morning. During the attacks, the residence of the former vice-chairman of Omala LGA and that of his father were also razed. It was gathered that the attackers, who were allegedly armed with sophisticated weapons, hid in the bushes around the villages from where they launched the deadly ambush on their targets. According to the residents, who managed to escape the assault on their communities, the herdsmen set houses ablaze and

---- Edo Govt. Prudent With Debt, Says Obaseki's Aid By Isaac Eranga Benin City - The Green Party of Nigeria (GPN), one of the registered political parties, has expressed concern over the debt profile of Edo State, saying the $232 million owed by the state was not a true reflection of the level of infrastructure development on the ground. The latest debts of states as released by the Debt Management Office (DMO), placed Edo as the third highest in the federation, behind that of Lagos and Kaduna States respectively. Against this backdrop,  Roy Oribhabor, state Chairman of Green Party of Nigeria in an chat with journalists in Benin City  yesterday, stated that the state’s debt profile has become worrisome and of concern, especially against the background that there was nothing on ground to show in terms of level of development. According to him, “As a party and stakeholder, we are seriously bothered about the debt profile of Edo State. “According to the DMO latest statistics,

... ‘We are still paying off PDP’s debts’ The Edo State Government has flayed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state for making unfounded claims of the state’s debt status, noting that the party was being mischievous with facts. Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Communication Strategy, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said the state government has been prudent with external borrowings incurred since the All Progressives Congress (APC) came on board and has utilised all the credits judiciously to fund developmental projects. Osagie said a significant portion of the debts the state is currently paying off was incurred by the PDP government in the state at the height of its dubious foray into borrowing, for which it got so notorious in squandering, that several multilateral organisations blacklisted the state from their financing facilities. According to him, “As at today, Edo state is still paying a N30 billion debt taken from the African Development Bank (AfDB) for the develop

The Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki, held a security meeting on Monday, in Ubiaja, Esan South East Local Government Area, to unveil new measures his administration has adopted to tackle the attacks on innocent Edo people. At the meeting the governor addressed elders from Edo Central Senatorial District, women, representatives of Hausa community and youths on plans that will ensure that the attacks on innocent people are not allowed to happen again. Specifically, he said each local government area of the state will receive two patrol vehicles to strengthen the operations of the security agencies while Operation Thunderstorm, the special taskforce dedicated to fighting violent crimes in the state, will be overhauled and revamped.

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved the promotion of teachers in public primary schools in the state. The outstanding promotions approved by Governor Obaseki covers three years, from 2013, 2014 and 2015. Obaseki has also directed that promotion letters be issued to the affected teachers by the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB). Acting Chairperson, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, said: "the details of the promotion letters are being finalised. A list of the teachers affected by the directive of the governor will be sent out to education secretaries in the Local Government Education Authorities (LGEAs) indicating teachers who have been promoted across the 18 local government areas." Dr. Oviawe explained that, "Clearing the backlog of promotion for teachers speaks to the prevailing narrative that Governor Obaseki cares about the welfare and wellbei

By Our Correspondent BENIN - The Conference of Nigerian Political Party (CNPP), Edo State chapter, says their attention has been drawn to the killing of five persons including a first year student of Ambrose Alli university Ekpoma, Edo state, Collins Ojierakhi by alleged herdsmen in Ugboha and Odiguete in Esan South East and Ovia North East local government areas respectively. This was disclosed by the Chairman of Edo CNPP, Prince Roy Oribhabor while speaking with The Social Reporters penultimate weekend in Benin City. He said about twelve persons have so far been  hospitalized. According to Prince Oribhabor, "Edo CNPP condemn in strong term the killing of promising young men and women in Edo state by the treaded herdsmen and we sincerely call on Edo state government to step up the game of security and rise to the occasion to protect lives and properties which is the primary responsibility of government. "Edo CNPP is sad to note with disappointment the killings and con

…takes responsibility of 5-year-old victim’s cancer treatment Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has visited and offset medical bills of persons who suffered various degrees of injuries, in a road accident involving a bus attached to the Governor’s Press Unit and two vehicles, in Ugbowo area of Benin City. Some of the victims are admitted and receiving medical care at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City. The governor, during the visit, learnt that one of the victims, Freeman Okoro, a five-year-old, was a cancer patient and had come for chemotherapy session at UBTH before the unfortunate incident. On learning of his condition, the governor pledged to take responsibility of his cancer treatment and also offset the bill of Freeman’s cousin, who had been held in the hospital for his inability to pay for his treatment.  Governor Obaseki said, “I came to see the condition of the victims of the accident myself. Just as we have promised on the day of the acci

…‘Benin Monarch’s curses, final blow to traffickers’    The wife of the Governor of Edo State, Mrs Betsy Obaseki, has reiterated the need for collaboration among relevant stakeholders to ensure that the incidence of human trafficking comes to a stop in Edo State. Receiving the Face of Oba Ewuare II Foundation, and the Secretaries to the Oba of Benin and the Benin Traditional Council at the Government House, in Benin City, the Edo State capital, Mrs Obaseki said she was ready to partner with Oba Ewuare II’ s foundation to boost the fight against human slavery.  The First Lady harped on the need for young girls in Edo State to develop their untapped talent and skills, instead of leaving the country for greener pastures illegally. She said the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II’s stance on the issues and the subsequent curse placed on traffickers and others connected to the ugly practice was a welcome development. She said the move will go a long way in liberating Edo girls that are still i