₦airaland Forum

Mismanagement of Edo state Water Board Assets:

Obaseki suspends pension benefits of Edo Urban Water Board retirees from 2015, demands probe of assets

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFPbhPkqaGQ

Esama @ 88: Obaseki, Shaibu, Obasanjo, Grace Dedication of Catholic Cathedral in Okada

By Henry Oqua & Tunde Tee Olatunji

The Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, His Eminence Cardinal John Onaiyekan, Bishop Matthew Kukah, Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon Comrade Philip Shaibu, Chief Judge of Edo State,
Joe Archer and wife, Senior Palace Chiefs representing the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty, Omo N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, and other dignitaries were present in Okada to witness the dedication of the newly built Archangel Gabriel Catholic Cathedral and Parish School on Saturday 17, September, 2022.

The edifices built by the Esama of Benin Kingdom, Chief Sir (Dr.) Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion to commemorate his 88th birthday, were dedicated by the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Benin City, His Grace, Most Rev. Dr. Augustine Obiora Akubeze in Okada, Igbinedion’s hometown.

The dedication mass was well attended by the Igbinedion family, top officials of the Edo State Government, and the catholic leadership in Nigeria.

Celebrating the Esama, Governor Obaseki said Government has a responsibility to support people like the Esama of the Benin Kingdom in bringing development to the people.

“As you know, the role of government is to enable things to happen in our society. So when you find a person like Chief Igbinedion, who over the last 40 years decided to bring development to this axis of our state, I believe that it is our responsibility to support and enable what he’s doing.

“I know chief’s dream is to have a diocese in Okada, but that may not be possible as we do not build the necessary infrastructure to bring the traffic to this part of our state.

“As part of celebrating you, I’m going to immediately instruct our town planning team to come here and complete the Masterplan for Okada and its environs. I assure you that in next year’s budget, we will be completing the dualisation of the road from Okada to the junction,” Obaseki said.

While delivering his mass, Archbishop Akubeze extolled the generosity of the Esama, calling on his children to emulate the kindness now synonymous with their family name.

“In the history of the Benin Kingdom, it is difficult to find a man whose charity has reached as many people like Esama of Benin Kingdom, the Catholic Church in Benin City and all over Nigeria.

“It is also important to point out the need for the children of Esama to draw and tap from the wisdom and disposition of the Esama. To the children of the great Esama, your father has bequeathed to you a legacy of generousity, a legacy of passion for the work of God and transformation of society.

“You must not allow this to end with your father’s earthly life."

Chief Gabriel Igbinedion is father to the former Edo State Governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion. He’s also the founder of Igbinedion University Okada, Independent Radio and Television, and the defunct Okada Air amongst other businesses.

The Edo State International Film Festival in pictures

By Isaac Aimurie, Nosa Agbonigiarhuoyi and Tunde Tee Olatunji

The Governor of Edo State, Mr Godwin Obaseki has said that tourism must become the mainstay of the State’s economy in the face of dwindling resources and the instability surrounding revenue from crude oil.

Obaseki said this during a tourism stakeholder meeting on Friday, September 2, in Government House, Benin City, the State capital.

Sharing his thoughts on the ongoing engagements in the State to develop a tourism masterplan that will harness the culture and tourism assets of the State, the Governor said: “We do not just want to create documents, our plans have to be what we have agreed, we need to change direction, because we cannot continue to behave the way we used to.”

He stressed that the over-reliance on hydrocarbon is dangerous for the nation’s economy, adding “currently things are very bad, we can’t fund many projects anymore. This has to be our mainstay not oil “

He urged representatives of the various ministries, departments and agencies at the meeting to own the Edo tourism project by harmonizing their thoughts as his administration is in a hurry translate potential to result.

“The challenge of this country is not inadequate resources but the way we have decided to approach development. Tourism ties everything together for us. The education ministry must tell us what the Principal’s cup will do for us in the medium to long-term. Now is the time to push” he added.

#EdoMEGA #InvestinEdo

On June 5th, 2022, a Joint Task Force consisting of the Nigerian Army, the Police, NSCDC, the Edo State Community Vigilante Security Network and other security agents completed a three-week operation to flush out kidnappers, bandits, and other criminal elemKidnappers, Bandits, Criminals flushed out of Edo forests
ents from the farms and forests in 11 communities in Ovia North East Local Govt Area of Edo State.

Several kidnapped farmers were freed, kidnappers' hideouts destroyed and properties were recovered in the process.

#EdoIsSafe #EdoMEGA #ObasekiCares

By Isaac Aimurie

As employees of the Edo State government bask in the euphoria of a new minimum wage of N40,000 in their salary accounts, which makes them the only workers on N40,000 minimum wage in the country today, experts say the new wage will improve the overall standard of living of the average worker in the State.

According to Mr. Cees Harmon, an analyst with National Economy Newspapers in Abuja, “The new minimum wage of N40,000 in Edo State will put more money in the hands of Edo workers thereby boosting their spending power.”

Harmon added: “That the Edo State Government has gone further in increasing the approved national minimum wage from N30,000 to N40.000 is a great feat, especially considering the fact that more than 50 percent of Nigeria’s 36 States are yet to implement the N30,000 minimum wage.

“The move is wise, not just for the welfare of individuals, but also for the economy of the State. As a matter of fact, by increasing the minimum wage, consumer spending will be increased.

“That, in turn, will spur producers to produce more goods and services in the State. Increased production and consumption means GDP growth has an impact on the macro level.”

Harmon, a former analyst at BUSINESSDAY Newspapers, further said: “On the micro level, the residents of the State would be more empowered to seek better healthcare, send their children to better schools, to name a few, which, in the long run, would have a ripple effect on the larger economy.

“Whereas some might raise eyebrows over possible inflationary effects, the fact remains, from the perspective of monetary economists, that more money in the economy spurs growth.

“Considering the fact, also, that Nigerians are reeling under the suffocating effects of 16.9 percent inflation, which has eroding effects on wealth, the government could at no better time make this move to mitigate poverty.”

Also, commodity futures broker and stock market analysts, J.B. Maverick, in his article published in Investopedia, said: “Higher earnings would improve the overall standard of living for minimum wage workers by providing them with a more appropriate income level to handle the cost of living increases.”

He added that “A boost to economic growth is another potential advantage of increasing the minimum wage, as consumer spending typically increases along with wages” adding that workers' morale would also be boosted.

Other experts agree that wage increase translates to economic growth in the State as much of the spending will go to small and other businesses and ultimately affect the look of the Edo economy.  

Recall that on May 1, 2022, while announcing the minimum wage increase, Governor Obaseki said during the May Day (workers’ day) celebration at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City: “As we all know, the minimum of N30,000 can barely sustain a family. It will be immoral and mindless of us to continue to pretend that we do not know that our workers are suffering.”

Obaseki added: “The government of Edo has now decided to review the minimum for Edo workers from N30,000 to N40,000 a month. Undoubtedly, Edo is the first state since the current outbreak of Coronavirus to take this initiative.

“Even though we would have loved to pay more, we hope that this little adjustment would enable us to cushion the impact of the inflation that we are faced with. There is no doubt that the financial implications will be heavy and put another burden on the government.

“But as a government, we are prepared to make the sacrifices so that the workers can live a better life. Your welfare is our number one priority.”

By John Ewah

Reactions have continued to trail Governor Godwin Obaseki’s minimum wage increment in Edo State.

The Governor while commemorating the 2022 Workers’ Day, disclosed this through a press statement by the Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie Esq.

With the increase in minimum wage from thirty thousand Naira (N30,000) to forty thousand Naira (N40,000), basic salaries of public servants in the State saw an upward review of 33.33 per cent.

Governor Godwin Obaseki’s commitment to workers’ welfare in the State consternates supporters and critics alike. In five years of Obaseki’s leadership, public servants in the State and pensioners have consistently received their salaries on or before 26th of every month. The backlog of pension arrears (batches 37 to 65) inherited by his administration, up to the tune of 4.3 billion Naira, has all been cleared by the Governor.

Some persons have classified this worker-friendly disposition of the Governor as a rare talent among leaders in Africa. To some, the Governor is not just a needle in a haystack but rather, a particular needle among a pile of needles. These descriptions are but litotical expressions to qualify the rarity of the Governor’s personality, as they still do not do justice to the underpinning features which distinguish the leadership style of Governor Obaseki, neither do they capture adequately, the void which Obaseki’s emergence as Governor of Edo State has come to fill.

Speaking to members of civil society organizations in the State, many expressed gratitude to the Governor for his numerous interventions in workers’ welfare such as the befitting civil service secretariat complex which the Governor has completely refurbished with state-of-the-art-facilities, geared towards ensuring a conducive work space for public servants in the State, and also the recent increment in the salaries of public servants, especially at a time when the country has become one of the most expensive to reside in sub-Saharan African, with inflation rate hitting multiple digits.

During an interactive session with the President of Network of Civil Society Organizations of Nigeria (NOCSON), Comrade Ogbidi Emmanuel, he noted that Governor Obaseki has demonstrated prudence in leadership, as no profligate governance system can encourage the steps which the Governor has taken so far in ensuring workers’ welfare. 

According to comrade Ogbidi, “I think from the civil society perspective and indeed the masses, this is a very welcome development. It is a clear indication that nothing is impossible when it comes to providing good governance to the good people of Edo State and of course Nigeria.

“It shows that if Government can be prudent and also have their priorities right, the workforce should benefit more, which in turn would make them put in their best. So what the Governor has done by increasing the minimum wage is to encourage and also wake up the capacity of the people; telling the workforce that their input is appreciated”.  

Also speaking during an interview, a former Director of Higher Education in the Edo State Ministry of Education, and now consultant on education matters, Monsieur John Obobairibhoje, saw this as a welcome development and a cause for celebration among public servants in the State.

According to Monsieur John, “I guess this minimum increase is first of its kind in the country. The Governor has taken the initiative to encourage and empower our workforce in Edo State. There is no doubt about the fact that workers and public servants in the State are going to be happy. He did not stop at the increment of salaries of civil servants; he has also touched the lives of retirees like myself through a corresponding harmonization that would follow suit”.

He noted that through such actions, the Governor has succeeded in restoring the dignity of labor in public servants.

Governor Godwin Obaseki’s emergence out of the woodwork to take the reins of power in Edo State has salvaged public service in the State. His commitment to the reforms currently ongoing in the public service remains a unique tie that binds and endears public servants to his administration.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved N40,000 minimum wage for workers in the State from the former N30,000 to cushion the hardship being experienced by the workers, particularly the effects of rising food prices.

Obaseki made the announcement at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Sunday May 1, 2022, during the May Day celebration.

The announcement which was received with wild jubilation by the workers, is in addition to the commitment made by the Governor to complete the Labour House for the workers, harmonize pension for retirees and a legacy of digitalgovernance (Edo-Gov) for the public and civil service before he leaves office.

The Governor said: “As a government we will continue to prioritize the welfare of workers in the State and sustain every effort to ensure a worker-friendly environment for the workers to be able to perform optimally.

“For the Edo worker to be effective, we have decided to review upwardly the N30,000 minimum wage of workers so that they can meet their basic needs.”

He explained that his administration is not unaware of the hardship being experienced by workers, and said that the current minimum wage of N30,000 could barely sustain the Nigerian worker given the harsh economic realities in the country.

“Accordingly, the Government of Edo State has decided to review the minimum wage of Edo workers to N40, 000 a month,” he declared.

While acknowledging the cost implication of the upward wage review, Obaseki assured “we are prepared to make the sacrifices for Edo workers to have a better life.”

The Governor further said that the John Odigie-OyegunPublic Service Academy was built to provide world-class training for public officers as his administration is resolute about moving work to a transparent and digital era from the age-old opaque, transactional and analogue system of doing government business.

He urged workers to engage in agriculture to mitigate the impact of the harsh economy and gave insight into the ongoing revamp of the Agriculture, the College of Agriculture in Iguoriakhi, the expansion work at the Stella Obasanjo Hospital as well as the gains of the health insurance scheme initiated by his government, which have begun to kick in; and reducing out-of-pocket spend on healthcare by the citizens.

Earlier, the Acting Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Edo State Council, Comrade Odion Olaye, and the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Marshall Ohue, took turns to commend the governor for the ongoing construction of the Labour House, the absorption ofsacked staff of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the absorption of former Bendel Brewery staff, promotion of workers, prompt payment of salaries and pension, amongst other achievements.

The event was rounded off with a parade by the various workers’ unions in the state.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has approved N40,000 minimum wage for workers in the State from the former N30,000 to cushion the hardship being experienced by the workers, particularly the effects of rising food prices.

Obaseki made the announcement at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Sunday May 1, 2022, during the May Day celebration.

The announcement which was received with wild jubilation by the workers, is in addition to the commitment made by the Governor to complete the Labour House for the workers, harmonize pension for retirees and a legacy of digitalgovernance (Edo-Gov) for the public and civil service before he leaves office.

The Governor said: “As a government we will continue to prioritize the welfare of workers in the State and sustain every effort to ensure a worker-friendly environment for the workers to be able to perform optimally.

“For the Edo worker to be effective, we have decided to review upwardly the N30,000 minimum wage of workers so that they can meet their basic needs.”

He explained that his administration is not unaware of the hardship being experienced by workers, and said that the current minimum wage of N30,000 could barely sustain the Nigerian worker given the harsh economic realities in the country.

“Accordingly, the Government of Edo State has decided to review the minimum wage of Edo workers to N40, 000 a month,” he declared.

While acknowledging the cost implication of the upward wage review, Obaseki assured “we are prepared to make the sacrifices for Edo workers to have a better life.”

The Governor further said that the John Odigie-OyegunPublic Service Academy was built to provide world-class training for public officers as his administration is resolute about moving work to a transparent and digital era from the age-old opaque, transactional and analogue system of doing government business.

He urged workers to engage in agriculture to mitigate the impact of the harsh economy and gave insight into the ongoing revamp of the Agriculture, the College of Agriculture in Iguoriakhi, the expansion work at the Stella Obasanjo Hospital as well as the gains of the health insurance scheme initiated by his government, which have begun to kick in; and reducing out-of-pocket spend on healthcare by the citizens.

Earlier, the Acting Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Edo State Council, Comrade Odion Olaye, and the Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Comrade Marshall Ohue, took turns to commend the governor for the ongoing construction of the Labour House, the absorption ofsacked staff of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), the absorption of former Bendel Brewery staff, promotion of workers, prompt payment of salaries and pension, amongst other achievements.

The event was rounded off with a parade by the various workers’ unions in the state.

By Osemudiamhen Gloria

Daily reports on global health show heart-breaking statistics of persons living with diverse ailments. The rate at which people fall ill is alarming and this, oftentimes, results in deaths or incapacitation. Managing these ailments is cost-intensive and thus, requires a lot of planning and definite action in executing a comprehensive health care plan.

Quality health care has been an effective and efficient way of containing and managing health-related issues. However, having access to quality health care is very difficult, especially in developing countries.

An assessment of the activities in Edo State health sector reveals a heartwarming trend with regard to the structures being laid by the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led government to make quality health care available and accessible to all residents.

In the words of Mahatma Gandhi, “It is health that is the real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver”. The growth of a state is highly dependent on the residents who are directly or indirectly agents of growth.

If they are not healthy physically, emotionally and otherwise, it would have a negative effect on the economy of the state whose growth would be retarded. So, if there is going to be
advancement in a state’s economy, healthy body and mind will be the major drivers.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “Health is a state of complete mental, social and physical well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”.

For Governor Godwin Obaseki, the well-being of the State’s residents is top priority; he is committed to raising a healthy people and this informed some initiatives, policies and programs that have helped tremendously to contain some infectious diseases and infirmities.

With the unveiling of various health policies, reforms and programs, and the provision of standard health facilities, there is a laudable improvement on the health of residents in the State.

One of such reforms is the establishment of Edo Health Improvement Programme (EdoHIP), which is ensuring an effective and efficient health care delivery. As part of the innovative policies in the health sector, Edo Health Insurance Scheme (EdoHIS) was launched by Edo State Government on 31st October, 2019, an initiative under the EdoHIP.
Edo State Health Insurance Commission, a body that implements and regulates the activities of Edo-HIS, ensures that Edo people benefit maximally from the health packages at relatively low cost, but only people who are registered under the Commission enjoy these benefits. Consequently, these programs have helped to reduce the challenges associated with access to health services by low-income earners.

In furtherance of the reforms, the Governor Obaseki-led administration has ensured the training of health workers in the State in order to enable them render quality and affordable health services to residents.

The administration has revamped more than 20 Primary Health Care Centers in the State. In 2021, the wife of Edo State Governor, Mrs. Betsy Obaseki, flagged off a sensitization campaign on free surgeries for those who suffered vesicovaginal fistula; an abnormal opening that forms between the bladder and the wall of the vagina.

Similarly, Mrs. Obaseki has liaised with the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) to offer free medical treatment for Edo people, and the services would include surgeries through the Primary Health care centers in the State.

In the same way, the State Government has partnered with some bodies like Eclat Health Care Limited, an Interswitch Group Company with a host of others both in the public and private sectors in a bid to ensure improved health services.

The State Government is determined to partner with other professional health bodies to continue to boost health care delivery in the State.

The Obaseki administration also established the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA) which is saddled with the responsibility of strengthening the foundation of Edo State Primary Health Care system by encouraging increased access to effective, efficient and sustainable health care services to residents.
All these efforts are geared towards improving the health sector of the State as well as to achieve a healthy society where everyone is hale and hearty.

#EdoMEGA #MEGA

Edo State government braved the socio-economic storms occasioned by the covid-19 pandemic to record 3, 121 jobs in first quarter of 2022, from the 13 job-creation programs spread across the 18 local councils of the state.

Managing Director, Edo Skills Development Agency, Mrs. Ukinebo Dare, presented the figures in Benin City, the state capital.

According to her, between January and March this year, 320 business owners out of the 806 verified, drawn from the 18 local councils received funding through the Edo State Micro, Small and Medium Enterprise Fund, an initiative of Governor Godwin Obaseki, designed to provide financial and support services to qualified MSMEs.

Mrs. Dare also said that residents numbering 676, benefited in “the Transforming Nigerian Youths Program, an online training designed for youths who are aspiring entrepreneurs or already existing business owners in the state, looking to gain expert knowledge on how to build and grow a successful businesses.”

She added: “150 residents benefitted from the monthly computer appreciation training organized by Edo Innovates that introduces individuals to technology”.

Others are “EDOWORX, which had 400 beneficiaries, targeted at offering Edo youth fully funded scholarships to learn in-demand skills such as Digital Marketing, Web Development & Data Analytics as well as free access to career guidance and online (remote) jobs under the Udacity Platform.”

On job matching and placement, the agency said it matched 369 job seekers with jobs in 268 organizations located in the 18 local government areas of the State.

The agency also trained 346 people on cosmetology; to formulate and commercialize liquid soaps, antiseptic, perfumes, insecticides, body lotion and more, Dare said.

She added: “102 residents benefitted from Edo Online Marketplace, a market expansion program for business owners in Edo to grow and increase their sales and reach more customers through global exposure.”

The agency said 65 residents benefited from the EdoJobs grant application training, a training for entrepreneurs and business owners in Edo on how to successfully access funding opportunities for their businesses.

“A total of 181 residents benefited from the tiling and POP installation training while 130 residents were trained on best practice in cassava cultivation.”

In the creative industry, Mrs. Dare explained that 73 residents were trained on script writing, sound engineering, post production and cinematography by ROKSTUDIOS.

Another set of 77 residents benefitted from the 2-week hands-on training on the techniques and processes of fixing and installation of industrial sewing, weaving and embroidery machines, while 232 residents gained knowledge in the Curriculum Vitae (CV) review classes.

By Nekpen Maureen Nwine

A State Government that has prioritized economic diversification through reforms that enable businesses seeking expansion to set up with ease, will attract investors from all parts of the world, who will in turn help in stabilizing the local economy.

Expanding a business globally attracts several benefits and challenges as well. But as opined by Carlos Slim Helu, “Courage taught me no matter how bad a crisis gets, any sound investment will eventually pay off”. This is why Governor Godwin Obaseki never gets tired of wooing investors to the culturally rich and business-friendly Edo State.       

During his recent visit to the Nigerian pavilion at the Dubai Expo 2020, the Governor again urged businesses and investors in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to leverage the reforms initiated by his government to extend investments to the State. This move which is indeed a great one is intended at diversifying and enlarging various enterprises in the State for a more robust and stable economy.

The proud infusion of the rich cultural heritage of the Edo people and the display of artworks from the Benin Kingdom at the Dubai Expo lends credence to the fact that Edo has long paid her dues and is about to reap the dividends, given the massive investments already being attracted to the State.

In wooing investors, Governor Obaseki made it a priority to put all necessary infrastructure in place, starting with power, as he recognizes that there is no meaningful development that can be embarked upon without electricity.

This conviction informed his decision to partner with a private company in setting up an independent power plant, Ossiomo Power, to power up Government offices, major business outlets in the State as well as communities.

The huge successes recorded by the Obaseki administration in the different sectors of the State, including agriculture, healthcare, technology, security, education, and pragmatic steps in repositioning the State’s industrial corridors, are opening up the space for investments.

It is therefore of immense benefit for investors to take advantage of the business-friendly environment in the State to invest in the new frontier that Edo State has become.

Frank Wang, managing Director of the Benin-based Chinese firm, Yongxing Steel Company, while calling for foreign investors to take advantage of Edo State’s growing economy to invest in the country, noted succinctly, “I want to use this opportunity to encourage other foreign investors not to run away from Nigeria. Nigeria is a growing economy and will continue to grow”.

Governor Godwin Obaseki remains committed to the expansion of Edo State into a business and commercial hub in sub-Saharan Africa, as these investments not only empower the citizens but also contribute immensely to economic growth.

#EdoMEGA #MEGA

By Godspower Eguasa

Residents of Benin City, the Edo State capital, have commended Governor Godwin Obaseki for bringing world-class health care to their door-steps at no cost to them.

The free medical program organized by the Edo State Government in partnership with the Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA) is delivering free treatment to residents suffering from conditions such as Hypertension, Diabetes, Fibroids, pediatric cases, mental health issues and those that need neurosurgery, dental care amongst other health challenges.

According to the Edo State Government, the program which was initially planned to cover three (3) primary health care centers in Oredo, Aruogba and Ugbor, has been extended to more centers including Iwogban, Ugbekun, Ewoyi in Esan North East, Ewohimi in Esan South East, Warake in Owan East and Jattu in Etsako West local government areas of the State.

A beneficiary of the program, Mrs. Eghe Agbonmwanre, applauded the Governor and confirmed that registration and treatments for various ailments are ongoing at the Oredo Primary Health Center on Sapele Road, in Benin City.

According to the beneficiary, the registration exercise enabled the organizers to screen the candidates and prepare them for surgeries, tests and scanning.

Other residents who participated in the registration process described the program as laudable and expressed their gratitude to Governor Obaseki and the physicians from overseas.

“We are so excited about this opportunity to be part of the free medical program; we want to thank Governor Obaseki for organizing this program for us. The Governor has shown he has a very kind heart for the common man.
“We are particularly excited about the plan to extend the free medical program to other parts of the State so that our people in villages can benefit from this program” some of the participants interviewed said.

Governor Obaseki’s commitment to revamping the health sector is part of his administration’s MEGA Agenda. The free medical program is a prelude to the telemedicine program that will also ensure that Edo people have access to world-class treatments available in the developed world.

Contrary to the falsehood being circulated on some social media pages that the Ekehuan Road Project has been abandoned by the contractors, the Edo State Government has said that the contractors are on site and making steady progress on the road dualization project.

Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Adaze Emwanta, who spoke to journalists in Benin City, the State capital, explained that "Ekehuan Road dualisation project has not been abandoned, and the contractors are not protesting.

Hon. Emwanta said: “The contractors are on site and construction is ongoing. However, due to inflationary pressures occasioned by the rising cost of diesel and other road construction materials, the contractors are doing their best to adjust to the new realities.”

“Due to inflation, the agreed upon cost is no longer tenable and the needed adjustments are being done.”

He advised Edo residents to ignore those peddling the falsehood, as the Edo State Government is committed to executing the Ekehuan Road dualisation project to boost socio-economic activities of residents in that axis and expand the emerging business corridor leading to the Benin River Port project in Gelegele.

By Nekpen Maureen Nwine

Centuries ago when Daniel Webster made his popular statement ‘’when tillage begins, other arts follow, the farmers, therefore become the founders of human civilization’’, it had very little or no impact on the African mind.

But now, nations have come to terms with the realization that the Agriculture sector is not one to be ignored if any meaningful development is to be achieved at any given point in time.

This is particularly so for Edo State as the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration has not only taken cognizance of the importance of the agriculture sector to development, but has taken giant strides in making the sector even more beneficial than expected.

With over 57,000 hectares of land allocated to small holders and large scale oil palm plantation investors in four local government areas of the State, under the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP), the State Government has demonstrated a mind boggling quotient of preparedness to launch the State into an era of economic boom.
This is in recognition of the contributions of small holder farmers in the oil palm sector which accounts for over 60 percent of crude oil palm produced globally.

Despite the fact that Nigeria is currently Africa’s largest oil palm producer and the fifth in the world, with almost 2.5 million hectares of land under cultivation, over ninety billion naira worth of oil palm produce is still being imported yearly into the country.

The business-oriented Governor has therefore keyed into the prospects in the oil palm sector as a means to diversifying the State’s economy and making profits from the high demand for palm produce in the country.
Paul Chatfield seemed like a prophet when he said ‘’Agriculture is the noblest of all alchemy; for it turns earth, and even manure into gold, conferring upon its cultivator the additional reward of health’’.

Just months after the allocation of hectares of land under the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP), over $531.2 million has been attracted to the oil palm sector in the State.
Speaking during the flag-off of the 2022 farming season in Benin City recently, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Stephen Idehenre, noted, “So far, we have attracted investments valued at 531.2 million dollars in nine months to the oil palm sector alone via the Edo State Oil Palm Programme (ESOPP).

The programme approach involves the use of Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) and Free Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) Guidelines to engage communities in land allocation. A total of 62,500 hectares have been allocated to investors”.

In prioritizing the agriculture sector, the Godwin Obaseki-led administration has brought economic opportunities to large, medium and small scale investors in the oil palm sub-sector with the goal of de-risking investments in agriculture. In addition to the economic turn over for the state, there is an anticipated increase in employment possibilities and wellbeing as part of the ripple effects of giant strides such as this.

In addition to the expected generation of thousands of jobs across the value chain, it is equally expected that the state will add over 1,000,000 metric tons to local production of crude palm oil (CPO) by 2030. This is geared towards the realization of Governor Obaseki’s agenda of Making Edo Great Again (MEGA).

…Says number of flights into Edo rises by 600%

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has enumerated various gains made from the strong private sector partnerships in Edo State since he assumed office in 2016, which have positively impacted the lives of residents of the State.

Obaseki made this known in his lecture at the Distinguished Lecture Series of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), in Lagos on Tuesday, March 22, 2022.

He listed the achievements in education, infrastructure, security, agriculture, industry and hospitality which account for the success of his administration.

According to Obaseki, the most obvious indicator of the impact his administration has made is the number of investors trooping into the state on a daily basis.

Benin City, the Edo state capital now has at least 12 inbound flights as compared to the two airlines that operated that route before he was elected as Governor.

“When we came into office, there were only one, probably two airlines flying into Edo State. Today we have over 12 flights coming into our airport. The State has become more attractive to the private sector with the influx of investors in areas such as real estate, hospitality, oil and gas, industries, technology, agriculture and manufacturing amongst others,” the governor said.

Through his lecture titled: 'Making Politics work for Citizens, Governance and Development; The Edo State Experience,’  Obaseki, an investment banker by profession, walked the audience through the elements required for politics to impact people’s lives. 

According to him, in the education sector, the Edo State Basic Education Sector Transformation (EdoBEST) programme has so far transformed the lives of over 400,000 pupils and their parents across the state, with improved learning outcomes. 

“There has been a deliberate emphasis on strengthening partnerships with the private sector from which we have reaped immense benefits. We signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Ossiomo Power to provide stable power to government institutions and also drive the State’s industrial sector. 

“Today, the company generates 55 Megawatts of power out of the 95 which it set out to provide. This close link with the private sector has also led to the establishment of the Edo refinery, a 6,000 barrels per day refinery, which is now complete in addition to several other private projects. 

“We have also launched extensive agricultural development programs particularly the Edo State Oil Palm Program (ESOPP) amongst others, which have opened up the space for large scale commercial farming in the State, creating thousands of jobs and impacting the lives of many farmers,” Obaseki explained.

Obaseki maintained that as the population in the State grows, more people are seeking to maximize opportunities in real estate, hospitality, oil and gas, technology and agriculture, amongst other sectors.

“There is no better illustration of the expanding private sector space in our state than the evidence which is clear. Try and book a flight to Benin today, you will pay a premium for it if you get a seat, try and book a hotel in Benin City today, you will be on a waiting list if you don’t book on time," he added. 

On how the country can learn from his re-election in 2020, Obaseki said: “In the last election of September 19, 2020, our people freely exercised their franchise and elected a leader of their choice. There is a need to scale this political achievement to the entire country. 

“If what happened in Edo State can be replicated in the forth-coming Presidential and National Assembly elections, Nigeria would have taken a critical step to democratic consolidation.”

He called for a rethink of the approach to politics in order to make politics and governance work for all Nigerians, adding “it is time to set sentiments aside, our country is aggrieved, it is time to take very tough decisions to rescue our country from the brink.

"We must now adopt proven methods and innovations in retooling our politics and democracy and make them work for the delivery of good governance and development to our good people.”

…Gives insights on Edo Tech Park, state policy responses to Covid-19, environmental restoration

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday joined world leaders at the 2022 Smart City Mayors’ Summit taking place in Taipei, Taiwan, to discuss his administration’s innovative steps towards making the state a smart city.

Obaseki who was the only African leader invited alongside leaders from France, the United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Czech Republic, Malaysia and Taiwan, said his administration is taking advantage of the covid-19 pandemic era to leapfrog development in the state.

Speaking to the topic “New Normal with digital transformation”, the Governor explained how the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the earnings of families in the state and Nigeria as a whole, forcing national and sub-national governments to seek internal solutions to reduce the effect of subsequent pandemics.

He said the pandemic helped Edo double-down on its ongoing initiatives like the Benin Enterprise Park, Benin Medical District, among others to build resilience and improve the quality of life for residents.

The Benin Enterprise Park is a private sector-led industrial park which aims to provide efficient and competitive infrastructure to international and local companies.

The project is being developed in phases, on a 900-hectare location along the Benin-Sapele highway and would include a designated area for oil and gas service companies to maximize Edo’s competitive advantage in gas production.

Obaseki noted that Edo “is focusing on technology and for us; it’s about building people, young people through technology. We have built a technology park in partnership with the private sector where we are training between 10,000 to 15,000 software engineers and other technology experts.

“For us our focus as a people is on our cultural heritage, trying to understand who we are and how to engage the world from that standpoint.

“We are working on the preservation of our ecosystem particularly our rainforest and to utilize technology to drive our human development in the areas of education and skills development and security.”

He added: “Benin City has about 2,000 square kilometers of land and our aspiration is to first, plan our cities and take advantage of the post covid-19 to build infrastructure; we see this as an opportunity to leapfrog using technology in building our infrastructure and human capacity.”

 The Governor explained to the world leaders and the nearly 1000 viewers on the live-streamed event how Edo’s focus on building its infrastructure, sourcing investments and leveraging technology in governance, education and health care systems became the framework for the transformation.

Edo’s Digital Response To Pandemic Era Gets Global Attention At Taiwan Smart City Summit

The series of digital solutions initiated by the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, in tackling the challenges associated with the ‘new normal’ occasioned by the corona virus pandemic have earned the state a talking slot at the annual Smart City Mayors’ Summit in Taipei, Taiwan.

Obaseki will on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, join leaders from France, the United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Malaysia, Czech Republic, Lithuania and Taiwan to showcase efforts in the digital transformation of their cities at the summit.

The summit is a global platform for mayors and city leaders from around the world, who are usually selected to share their experiences in modernizing their infrastructure using digital technology to ultimately transform their societies into smart cities.

Governor Obaseki is the only African selected to speak at the summit and Edo was chosen based on the recommendations of innovative leaders from the United States of America and Japan.

Recall that the Governor was also the only sub-national leader/state governor from Nigeria to address the United Nations climate change summit, also known as Conference of the Parties (COP 26) four months ago, where he shared his administration’s strategies for curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

At the Taiwan Smart City Summit, the Governor will be highlighting Edo State as the cultural capital of Africa with her huge ecotourism assets, thousands of unique artifacts, namely; bronze and woodworks that will be exhibited in the digital museum being undertaken by his administration.

He will also be speaking on the impact of the Edo Technology Park and the huge investment the State has made in bringing highly sought after digital skills to the doorsteps of thousands of Edo youths.

Other projects that the Governor will parade at the Smart City Mayors’ Summit include the anticipated gains of the Benin River Port project, the 30-acre Medical District and the emerging smart city in the State on the back of the massive fiber optic cables laid across major towns as part of the State government’s digital response to the ‘new normal’ occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Obaseki will take participants through the Edo State 30-year Development Plan and some of the strategies to achieve the plan, including development of more hubs for economic transformation and up-scaling the technology ecosystem. 

The huge investment in the transport sector, according to the State government, was informed by the fact that Edo State serves as a transport hub and a gateway to many other States of Nigeria which make it the centre for trade, commerce and industry.

 The organizers added: “The theme of the 2020 Smart City Mayors’ Summit is ‘Smart City Transformation and Innovation’ and the mayors and city leaders are expected to benefit greatly from the discussions that will revolve around how the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected people’s daily lives, governmental operations and the economies of most cities.

“Participants will also compare notes on how they are using technology to help their cities recover from the pandemic.”

Since the inception of the summit, the Smart City Mayors’ Summit has always been the highlight of the Smart City Summit & Expo (SCSE).

Edo’s Digital Response To Pandemic Era Gets Global Attention At Taiwan Smart City Summit

The series of digital solutions initiated by the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, in tackling the challenges associated with the ‘new normal’ occasioned by the corona virus pandemic have earned the state a talking slot at the annual Smart City Mayors’ Summit in Taipei, Taiwan.

Obaseki will on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, join leaders from France, the United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Malaysia, Czech Republic, Lithuania and Taiwan to showcase efforts in the digital transformation of their cities at the summit.

The summit is a global platform for mayors and city leaders from around the world, who are usually selected to share their experiences in modernizing their infrastructure using digital technology to ultimately transform their societies into smart cities.

Governor Obaseki is the only African selected to speak at the summit and Edo was chosen based on the recommendations of innovative leaders from the United States of America and Japan.

Recall that the Governor was also the only sub-national leader/state governor from Nigeria to address the United Nations climate change summit, also known as Conference of the Parties (COP 26) four months ago, where he shared his administration’s strategies for curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

At the Taiwan Smart City Summit, the Governor will be highlighting Edo State as the cultural capital of Africa with her huge ecotourism assets, thousands of unique artifacts, namely; bronze and woodworks that will be exhibited in the digital museum being undertaken by his administration.

He will also be speaking on the impact of the Edo Technology Park and the huge investment the State has made in bringing highly sought after digital skills to the doorsteps of thousands of Edo youths.

Other projects that the Governor will parade at the Smart City Mayors’ Summit include the anticipated gains of the Benin River Port project, the 30-acre Medical District and the emerging smart city in the State on the back of the massive fiber optic cables laid across major towns as part of the State government’s digital response to the ‘new normal’ occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Obaseki will take participants through the Edo State 30-year Development Plan and some of the strategies to achieve the plan, including development of more hubs for economic transformation and up-scaling the technology ecosystem. 

The huge investment in the transport sector, according to the State government, was informed by the fact that Edo State serves as a transport hub and a gateway to many other States of Nigeria which make it the centre for trade, commerce and industry.

 The organizers added: “The theme of the 2020 Smart City Mayors’ Summit is ‘Smart City Transformation and Innovation’ and the mayors and city leaders are expected to benefit greatly from the discussions that will revolve around how the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected people’s daily lives, governmental operations and the economies of most cities.

“Participants will also compare notes on how they are using technology to help their cities recover from the pandemic.”

Since the inception of the summit, the Smart City Mayors’ Summit has always been the highlight of the Smart City Summit & Expo (SCSE).

Digital Responses To Pandemic Era

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, will on Tuesday, March 22, 2022, join leaders from France, the United Kingdom, Poland, Belgium, Malaysia, Czech Republic, Lithuania and Taiwan to showcase efforts in the digital transformation of their cities at the annual Smart City Mayors’ Summit in Taipei, Taiwan.

The summit is a global platform for mayors and city leaders from around the world, who are usually selected to share their experiences in modernizing their infrastructure using digital technology to ultimately transform their societies into smart cities.

Governor Obaseki is the only African selected to speak at the summit and Edo was chosen based on the recommendations of innovative leaders from the United States of America and Japan.

The Governor will be highlighting Edo State as the cultural capital of Africa with her huge ecotourism assets, thousands of unique artifacts, namely; bronze and woodworks that will be exhibited in the digital museum being undertaken by his administration.

He will also be speaking on the impact of the Edo Technology Park and the huge investment the State has made in bringing highly sought after digital skills to the doorsteps of thousands of Edo youths.

Other projects that the Governor will parade at the Smart City Mayors’ Summit include the anticipated gains of the Benin River Port project, the 30-acre Medical District and the emerging smart city in the State on the back of the massive fiber optic cables laid across major towns as part of the State government’s digital response to the ‘new normal’ occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Obaseki will take participants through the Edo State 30-year Development Plan and some of the strategies to achieve the plan, including development of more hubs for economic transformation and up-scaling the technology ecosystem.

The huge investment in the transport sector, according to the State government, was informed by the fact that Edo State serves as a transport hub and a gateway to many other States of Nigeria which make it the centre for trade, commerce and industry.

The organizers added: “The theme of the 2020 Smart City Mayors’ Summit is ‘Smart City Transformation and Innovation’ and the mayors and city leaders are expected to benefit greatly from the discussions that will revolve around how the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly affected people’s daily lives, governmental operations and the economies of most cities.

“Participants will also compare notes on how they are using technology to help their cities recover from the pandemic.”

Since the inception of the summit, the Smart City Mayors’ Summit has always been the highlight of the Smart City Summit & Expo (SCSE).

By Isaac Aimurie

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has added fillip to his administration’s commitment to the processes that would enable the state gain in the ease of doing business ranking and become the preferred investors’ haven.

Before the latest strategy, the Edo State Investment Promotion Office, created by the Governor and headed by Mr. Kelvin Uwaibi, has been working on a series of programmes to vigorously market Edo to potential investors in Nigeria and in Diaspora, who constantly seek environments with liberal economic policies.

Interestingly, with the coming on stream of the Ossiomo Independent Power project which currently feeds the Edo production centre, some government offices, the ongoing street light project across the state and a network of reconstructed roads across the three senatorial districts, Edo is clearly way out in front of other states in Nigeria as the new investment frontier offering new opportunities.

In addition, the Obaseki-led administration has cut the time for getting certificate of occupancy (C-of-O) for property to a few weeks, from the over five years it used to take, prior to his emergence as governor.

 Edo parades a huge pool of ready-to-work and skilled youths, a robust market driven by foreign receipts, other support structures like security, availability of raw materials, a friendly tax regime, a functional industrial court for the resolution of business-related matters, amongst other business-support structures.

According to Obaseki, one of the ways to make the top spot in the ease of doing business ranking is to spur the ongoing economic diversification effort across the state and effectively communicate achievements in the key sectors.

The governor said this while inaugurating the 15-man Business Enabling Environment Task Team, set up to identify the challenges militating against businesses and recommend solutions that would raise the state’s ease of doing business profile in Government House, Benin City, the state capital.

Beyond ranking, Obaseki stressed that in the long term, only states with liberal economic policies and a business-friendly disposition will do well in the face of dwindling revenue from the federation account.

He explained: "This is a team that has been set up to prepare the state for a baseline survey on the ease of doing business in Nigeria as was decided by the Nigeria Economic Council. As you are aware, states today are typically funded by the federation account.”

"Investors use the National survey as a guide when they are selecting states where they will invest in. One of the indicators is how long it takes to get a Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O). They want to see the process and compare it to other states.

"If we are at the bottom of that survey, we will not be a priority state to come into, and this survey is so internationally. I think it is something we should take seriously,” Obaseki told the team of experts, headed by the commissioner for finance, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe

He maintained that in a normal environment, states depend on tax revenue and so the states’ ability to do well depends on the ease with which business is conducted in their domains, adding that the federal government still give subvention to states today but states’ growth cannot be satisfied by such allocations.

"Over the years, the attitude of states is to run themselves with the view that at the end of the month, funding will come from the federal government. In a normal environment, states depend on taxation for their sustenance.”

He added: “States ability to do well depends on the businesses in the environment. What has happened today in Nigeria is that the federal government still gives subvention to states on a monthly basis. But the growth requirements for states today cannot be satisfied by the allocations.

"So, for any state to survive going into the future, you must have enough businesses that can pay taxes from which you can derive revenues. For businesses to be able to do well based on which you will now collect taxes, the environment for them to do well must be conducive.

"You must create an environment where businesses will thrive. Let's take transportation for instance, if your roads are not good, and drivers don't meet up with their desired targets, you cannot collect enough taxes.

"If it's the manufacturer that cannot have access to reasonable electricity cost, how are they going to make profits? How are they going to pay taxes? How are they going to increase the number of staff in their workforce? So, the purpose of the government is to create an environment for people to do well.

"Unfortunately, the government has evolved in a very arrogant manner, wanting to suck the blood out of these businesses for our own survival as government, whereas, our first priority should be the public and businesses. If you look at the way we are operating today, our first priority is to take care of ourselves.”

The team has Mr. Kelvin Uwaibi as Secretary. Members include Frank Evbuomwan, Ukinebo Dare, Dr. Joan Osa-Oviawe and Edugie Agbonlahor, Isoken Omoand the Edo Communication Organization amongst others.

Speaking on behalf of the team, Mr. Eboigbe assured the Governor of an excellent job and thanked him for finding them worthy for the task.

In Commemoration of the International Women Judges’ Day (March 10th 2022)

By Violet Osatohanmwen Obamwonyi

“Any society that fails to harness the energy and creativity of its women is highly disadvantaged,” says Television Host, Tian Wei.

As posited by Elizabeth Broderick “gender inequality is the unfinished business of the 21st century”. This is to say that despite the pivotal and momentous role of the female gender in the society, the female gender is still grossly undermined.

Judge Vanessa Ruiz, the current President of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ), opined that “by their mere presence, women judges enhance the legitimacy of the courts, sending a powerful signal that they are open and accessible to those who seek recourse to justice”.

Redressing gender inequalities in Edo State has been one of the focal points of the Governor Obaseki-led administration, and the judicial arm is not left out. In its efforts towards strengthening the Judiciary, the State Government increased the number of female judges in the state.

The state government recognizes the importance of creating a level playing field to afford women a competitive advantage in the global judicial framework.

In January 2021, Edo State Governor swore in eight ( Judges into the State High Court, out of which seven (7) were females, the female judges include: Igho Patricia Braimoh, Esohe Irene Bazuaye, Etinosa Gloria Adekanmbi, Hassana Garuba Oshione, Theresa Irenonsen Eghe-Abe, Ogbevoen Rachel Aiteseme and Itsueli Mary Enoredia.

While acknowledging the fact that an appropriate environment has to be provided for judges to work efficiently and smoothly without compromising their integrity, the state government handed over the newly built Judges’ Quarters to the then Chief Justice, Hon. Justice Esther Edigin, with further plans to build courts and more judges’ quarters outside the state capital.
Gender equality and empowerment of women are crucial to achieving progress across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The representation of women in the judiciary is significant for many reasons. A diverse judicial workforce that is composed of both the male and female genders from different backgrounds can bring different voices and perspectives to the bench, and such diversity would strengthen the integrity of the Judiciary.

Increasing the participation of women in the judiciary can also serve as a catalyst for the development of strong, independent, accessible and gender-sensitive judicial institutions and, more broadly, the achievement of gender justice within the society.
Achieving equality for women judges in terms of representation at all levels of the judiciary and on policy-making Judicial Councils should be a priority. This is not only right for women, but also because it is right for the achievement of a more just rule of law. Women judges are strengthening the Judiciary and helping to gain the public trust as people equate a gender diverse judiciary with inclusive governance.
The entry of women judges into spaces from which they had historically been excluded has been a positive step in the direction of the Judiciary being perceived as transparent, inclusive and representative of the people whose lives they affect. According to Michelle Obama, “there is no limit to what we as women can accomplish”.

As Governor Obaseki continues to create more opportunities for women in this space, the judicial system in the state will become better rated in fairness, transparency and a true representation of the people which it stands for.

By John Ewah

The old forest on the borders of Buckland according to folktales was able to come alive; trees that could whisper, talk to each other and even move.
Such were the stories we read from J.R.R. Tolkien’s classics, particularly the first in the series of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’.

Beyond fairy tales, were it possible for trees and plants to be sentient and granted that singular vehicle of mobility, humanity would have long reaped the bitter fruits of the havoc which it continues to wreak on forests vis-a-vis the ecosystem. Notwithstanding, nature has always found ways to dish out its recompense.

The industrial revolution which led to the plundering of natural forests constituted great survival threats to both flora and fauna which were dislodged from their natural habitats. The emergence of industries at this point in history led drastically to deforestation and destruction of the natural environment.

This indiscretion saw to the up-spring of environmentalists who with prophetic eyes peered into the future and spoke against the doom that mankind was inviting upon itself. Romantic literature which promotes love towards nature and its preservation was basically an offshoot of this environmental recklessness.

The concept of natural nature was discarded by industrialists who were hell-bent on enriching themselves irrespective of its cost on the physical environment. The old world was consumed in the fires of industries, resulting in the countless felling of trees which fuelled the industrial fires. Writers, poets and environmentalists wrote treatises and poems which condemned the activities of human encroachers, upholding the sanctity of nature as well as the need to protect and preserve the human environment.

Over two centuries since the advent of the industrial revolution, man has continued its devastating activities on the ecosystem, through indiscriminate logging and several illegal operations in forest reserves. The depletion of the ozone layer through the burning of fossil fuels and its resultant effect on weather conditions world-wide and diverse forms of ailments, ought to have been enough to teach mankind a unique lesson, but the quest for wealth without due recourse to its environmental impact has continued to aid deforestation without an end in sight.
It is against this backdrop that Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, understanding the implications and future threats posed to the state by the activities of loggers, committed his administration to forest preservation and conservation.

The issue of tree felling without concrete plans to replace them will only expose the state to dire consequences. The ecosystems in Nigeria are collapsing due to the depletion of our forests and their rich biodiversity, resulting in endangerment and extinction of some plant and animal species, and mostly, leaving posterity with nothing. With these negative environmental outcomes, the need to make necessary laws that would guide forestry in the state cannot therefore be overlooked.

Indiscriminate forest activities without necessary laws to regulate the activities of loggers as well as laws which advocate reforestation will create a consequential vacuum which nature so horridly abhors. Just recently, Governor Obaseki sent the Edo State Forestry Commission Bill to the Edo State House of Assembly for consideration. The bill when passed into law will ensure the efficient management and preservation of the state’s forest assets; the Parks and Gardens Agency Bill which is geared towards creating a more serene and healthier environment through the maintenance of functional parks and gardens as well as planting of trees, was also sent to the House of Assembly for consideration.

The Governor had on several occasions decried the indiscriminate and arbitrary manner in which loggers plunder and violate various forest reserves in the state. The Governor had opined that the neglect of the forests over the years has left it in bad shape.
According to the Governor, “If those that came before us consumed and treated the forest badly this way, we would not have met the forest.”
Obaseki has therefore put plans in place to ensure that a million trees are grown annually in the state in order to preserve and conserve forests. This, according to him, is paramount if any form of business with forestry is to be accommodated. The Obaseki administration is not only concerned with the preservation of the forests for future generations but also the protection of forest covers in the state to tackle climate change and the dynamic and ever evolving weather of the world.

It therefore behoves all indigenes and residents of the state to support the Governor’s vision to create a sustainable environmental plan for the state rather than give in to the whims and caprices of those whose only interest is to take undue advantage of the state’s forest reserves for their selfish gains and at the expense of Edo residents, as the earth remains ours to plough, not to plunder.

By Godspower Eguasa

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has kick-started a 30-acre Medical City in Benin City, the Edo State capital, with the rebuilt state-owned college of nursing sciences commissioned on Thursday, March 10, 2022, by the national chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Dr. Iyorchia Ayu.

According to Obaseki, the college of nursing sciences and the ongoing expansion of the Stella Obasanjo Hospital are integral parts of the medical city that will serve as a one-stop health care community and a hub for medical tourism.

The Governor who said this during the commissioning ceremony, added: “We are starting with this, this is just part of a 30-acre complex.

“At the other end, we are rebuilding the Stella Obasanjo Hospital and fixing a whole medical city where private clinics, private hospitals can come and take space and help build specialization around here. We are fortunate this place is served by the independent power network from Ossiomo and so they have 24-hour electricity.”

He further said that the medical city is part of a strategic and carefully articulated plan to revamp and redevelop the health care system in the state beginning with the primary health care system.

He explained that human capacity development is paramount in building an efficient health care delivery system, adding, “It is part of our plan to redevelop the health care systems in our state. One of the lessons Covid-19 pandemic taught us is that if you are ill, you have no control of where you will get care from.

“So for us the elite who used to think that it didn’t matter the state of our health care system, as long as we have the money, once we are ill, we can always fly abroad, Covid-19 has taught us that sometimes it is impossible to do so. So that motivated us to decide as a state not only to reestablish our health care system but to make Edo State a medical hub.

“So what you are witnessing today is part of a very well-articulated strategic plan first to develop the human capacity not just at the high end, but the people who support the health care system; nurses and midwives. We are also retooling and rebuilding our school of health technology such that the new design of our health care system emphasizes primary health care so that you have a health care service not more than five kilometers from where you live.

“That fits into the specialist care that you cannot go to a specialist hospital in Edo except you are referred from a primary health care center. That also means therefore that the human capacity at those centers needs to be properly developed.

The PDP National Chairman while commissioning the facility expressed his delight at the laudable achievements of the Governor, noting that the college of nursing sciences was a historic one, and was only possible under the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party.


He commended the Governor for creating a healthy environment for students and teachers in the state to thrive.

Senator Ayu said: “If you are sick you will know the importance of facilities like this that will produce the necessary manpower to look after you. When we are well, I think we don’t necessarily appreciate it, every one of us is going to be sick one day or the other.

“This is a very important program for us as a party and I am happy you are taking it seriously from the base level upward. When we drove in here, I was very happy to see young students well dressed and they look very happy because everybody wants to study in a healthy environment, we don’t want to leave our students and our teachers to be working in poor environment and I am happy you’ve resuscitated this very historic institution.

“I read a little bit about it in the program and I understand that you didn’t even enjoy accreditation a few years ago. Today only the PDP can do this. Which takes me to the fact that by the time PDP takes over power this in 2023, the president that we will produce will give you massive support in the cardinal areas that you have chosen to touch the lives of Edo people.

“I am happy with what you are doing and congratulate you, and I pray you continue in the same vein”.

The PDP national chairman who was accompanied by national and state party leaders including the chairman and members of the National Working Committee of the party, also commissioned the newly constructed Central Bus Terminal in Obakhavbaye, close to the city center and a Marine Police Base, armored guns and speed boats in Ologbo, near Benin City.

In her remark, the College Provost, Patricia Ukaigwe expressed great optimism about the leadership of Governor Obaseki.

She maintained that the significant milestones achieved in rebuilding the college into a world class institution with full accreditation was only possible under the visionary leadership of the Governor.

According to her, the operations of the college are strictly in line with the mandate from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the college is currently collaborating with universities in America and carrying out faculty development workshops to deliver world class services.

She Said: “We have achieved significant milestones because of the head start you gave to us. We run the school according to the mandate received from the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria. We operate a smart campus, with functional library and an e-library, skills laboratories, internet connection and uninterrupted power supply.”

Residents of Etete Community, where the college is located, expressed joy over the reemergence of the college in the community, which they said has helped in creating a new economy in the area.

...says rare act of courage by Uromi youths is commendable

The Edo State Government has extolled citizens of the state for the growing synergy with security agencies to ensure that the state remains unsafe for criminals.

Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Adaze Emwanta, who gave the commendation, urged more Edo youths to key into the community-driven security architecture of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration.

Emwanta said: “Every crime is local and this explains why Governor Obaseki has designed the state’s security architecture with community participation and inter-agency collaboration as the focus.

“For the first time in the history of our dear state, we have seen robust collaborations among the police, the military, vigilante groups, local hunters, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), members of the Public Works Volunteers scheme (PUWOV), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), community groups and individuals.

“Our youths in Uromi who rose to the occasion on the day of the robbery incident to block the escape route of the criminals deserve our praise for the rare act of courage they displayed.

"The robbers we learnt had to abandon some of the stolen money, vehicles and other items and fled the town on motorcycles.”

The commissioner added: “As a government, we are closing the gap between our people and government policies through a series of communication activities and we are seeing the result as demonstrated by our people in Uromi and elsewhere who liaise with the government and security agencies daily to keep our communities safe.

“One of the greatest legacies the Obaseki administration will leave behind is community ownership of the projects, policies and programmes that the governor and his team are delivering daily to Edo people and residents.
"We promised people-centric and community-driven governance and we are delivering exactly what we promised.”

As the police and other security agencies intensify search for the robbers, Mr. Phillip Ogbadu, the Edo State Commissioner of Police told journalists on Friday that about N37 million carted away by the armed robbers and five cars suspected to have been used by them were recovered at a bush where they were abandoned.

...says rare act of courage by Uromi youths is commendable

The Edo State Government has extolled citizens of the state for the growing synergy with security agencies to ensure that the state remains unsafe for criminals.

Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Hon. Adaze Emwanta, who gave the commendation, urged more Edo youths to key into the community-driven security architecture of the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration.

Emwanta said: “Every crime is local and this explains why Governor Obaseki has designed the state’s security architecture with community participation and inter-agency collaboration as the focus.

“For the first time in the history of our dear state, we have seen robust collaborations among the police, the military, vigilante groups, local hunters, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), members of the Public Works Volunteers scheme (PUWOV), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), community groups and individuals.

“Our youths in Uromi who rose to the occasion on the day of the robbery incident to block the escape route of the criminals deserve our praise for the rare act of courage they displayed.

"The robbers we learnt had to abandon some of the stolen money, vehicles and other items and fled the town on motorcycles.”

The commissioner added: “As a government, we are closing the gap between our people and government policies through a series of communication activities and we are seeing the result as demonstrated by our people in Uromi and elsewhere who liaise with the government and security agencies daily to keep our communities safe.

“One of the greatest legacies the Obaseki administration will leave behind is community ownership of the projects, policies and programmes that the governor and his team are delivering daily to Edo people and residents.
"We promised people-centric and community-driven governance and we are delivering exactly what we promised.”

As the police and other security agencies intensify search for the robbers, Mr. Phillip Ogbadu, the Edo State Commissioner of Police told journalists on Friday that about N37 million carted away by the armed robbers and five cars suspected to have been used by them were recovered at a bush where they were abandoned.

Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, has charged the nine newly sworn-in permanent secretaries in the state to adopt best practice and shun divisive tendencies in the discharge of their duties.

Obaseki gave the charge at the swearing-in ceremony of the permanent secretaries on Tuesday February 22, 2022, at Government House, Benin City, the state capital.

The permanent secretaries are: Iryn Ekhorose Omorogiuwa, Efosa Aisien, Nyamali Joseph Erumuse, Igbinomwanhia Naps Abieyuwa, Imoihosen Solomon Oziegbe and Peter Aibuedefe Osagie.

Others are Sabina A. Chikere, Osawemwenze Edith Kayode-Iyasere and Bernard Aigbe.


According to the governor, “these appointments were not made on the basis of any political affiliation; they have been made principally on the capacity of the individuals involved.”

He stressed that “no government can succeed no matter how lofty her initiatives and ideas, without a strong and competent civil and public service.”

He maintained that his administration’s resolve to work with competent people is “in line with my promise which I made during my electioneering campaign for my second term that I would bring the much needed transformation to the civil service by enhancing and strengthening the human capacity.

“So what we are doing today, some people find strange but it is the only way to go, which is to professionalise our civil service and make sure that only competent and proven people who have a track record can now manage our public service.”

Obaseki added: “We have also introduced a mix of people from the outside because we are talking about public service, people who can render service to us, it doesn’t mean that only one set of orientation can do this; we need diversity both in terms of experience and gender.

“I want to use this opportunity to reiterate here that I am fully committed to redeeming my campaign pledges through the six thematic pillars on which the Mega Agenda rests.”

He recalled that Edo citizens demonstrated their trust and support for his administration “by voting us back into power to continue the good work which was visible to them during our first tenure in office.”

The governor emphasised that “It is therefore only right and justified that we reciprocate through quality governance and leaving lasting legacies for the people of Edo State, one of which will be a professional, formidable and highly motivated civil service workforce.

“While all institutional reforms are ongoing, I therefore charge the new permanent secretaries, that in line with the vision and mission of our state, we must all now work collaboratively with the existing teams that are on ground to realize the transformation goal of our government.

“As I have always repeated; that we have no choice, the days of receiving huge allocations from the federal government are coming to an end, we must now look at the way to organize ourselves properly and rely on ourselves internally.

“I want to urge all of you to be dedicated in the discharge of your duty and we work together as a team. We will not accept you playing politics.

“You are not the political heads of these agencies. Leave politics for the political heads, do your work as professionals. So as you assume duties in your various ministries, note that we don’t want super stars, a lot of work has already been deployed, so we expect you to key in and adjust whatever we have done which you think may not be adequate.

“You are not coming to reinvent the wheel and start the process, no you are not. There is a Mega Agenda and we have to key into that Agenda so that we get to our destination much quicker than we have planned.”

He advised that Nigeria was fast changing and only a new orientation that promotes unity is needed at this time. “Nigeria is changing, we will not allow ourselves to be divided and manipulated again, Edo is one. Whether you are in the South, Edo Central or Edo North, Edo is one.

“So when people begin to manipulate and try to create divisions where they do not exist, telling lies and manufacturing information and figures where they don’t exist, just because they want to continue to divide us and manipulate us, they have now gotten a Government that has refused to be divided. Many of us share lineage across the state, so where is this issue of dividing people coming from?”

Responding on behalf of the permanent secretaries, Mr Bernard Aigbe, thanked the governor for providing the enabling environment for civil servants to perform optimally.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said that the federal government must partner with sub-national governments to fully harness the huge potential which the nation’s mining sector holds.

Obaseki made the declaration during a courtesy call on him by the Minister of State for Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, on Thursday, February 17, 2022, in Government House, Benin City, the Edo State capital.

According to the governor, the partnership has become necessary to avert the activities of illegal miners who degrade the environment and in some cases use proceeds from mining to sponsor insurrection as it is the case in some African countries.

“We must partner with the federal government so that we can coordinate the sector, as mining is one of the areas of focus for our administration. We need to collaborate on licensing, regulation and environmental management” he said.

Obaseki told the minister that Nigeria’s overreliance on oil and gas has not helped the country much, adding “the outlook for hydrocarbons is not particularly great. We have to look outside to grow our economy, but in doing that we must not repeat past mistakes.

“We need sub-laws, and derive our own state laws from the national laws to give us enough strength to enforce some of these policies as this will check illegal mining in the state and the country.

"The centre that has the control on mining activities doesn't have the ability to enforce that control and people are just doing what they like and because of that weak regulation, multiple environmental problems are created.

"For us to get mining activities right, the federal government must cooperate and coordinate with states very closely to improve revenue for both the state and federal government. I call on the federal government to enforce the mining laws to ensure sanity in the sector. We are committed to partnering with the federal government to jointly coordinate and regulate the sector,” the governor added.

Earlier, Dr. Ogah commended the governor for prioritizing human capital development and economic transformation of the state, assuring that his ministry was ready to partner with governments at all levels to ensure that the socio-economic gains derivable from the sector are shared to guarantee sustainable growth.

The Edo State Governor Mr Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, took a tour of the Lekki Deep Sea Port being constructed in the Lagos Free Zone.

The governor was accompanied on the tour by the Special Adviser on Strategy, Policy, Projects and Performance Management, Mrs. Sarah Ajose-Adeogun, and Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, Chairman Benin River Port Implementation Committee.

According to Obaseki, the tour was necessary to have a close-up view of the multipurpose sea port and visualise the ongoing development of the Benin River Port in Gelegele.

The governor used the opportunity to ask very important questions about specifications of some aspects of the project, including clarifications on wind breakers, the foundation of the port itself amongst others.
He later made a stop at the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical plant also located in the Lekki Free Zone.

Recall that the governor while receiving the director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) recently said the Benin River Port project is critical and strategic to Nigeria’s economy.
Obaseki told the management of NIMASA led by the director-general, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, at the Government House in Benin City, that: “Edo State ecology remains unique, with swamp, rain forest and savanna planes.

“There is nothing we cannot grow here and with a port here, it will be a unique opportunity, as it will not be moving traffic one way.
“For us, agricultural activities will be further enhanced with the access to this port. The blue economy has always been critical to our growth as a people and I am glad to inform you that over the last four years, a lot of work has gone on with the project.”

Obaseki maintained that the project was important to the state, as long as government at all levels want to diversify the Nigerian economy.

He added: “We don’t have a choice or an option. The global economy will be driven by other factors outside crude oil or the fuel economy we are used to.”

Latest checks on the dualisation of Ekenhuan Road leading to the Benin River Port in Gelegele, a major component of the port development project, showed contractors expediting work as they take advantage of the dry season.

The Edo State Governor Mr Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday, February 15, 2022, took a tour of the Lekki Deep Sea Port being constructed in the Lagos Free Zone.

The governor was accompanied on the tour by the Special Adviser on Strategy, Policy, Projects and Performance Management, Mrs. Sarah Ajose-Adeogun, and Engr. Greg Ogbeifun, Chairman Benin River Port Implementation Committee.

According to Obaseki, the tour was necessary to have a close-up view of the multipurpose sea port and visualise the ongoing development of the Benin River Port in Gelegele.

The governor used the opportunity to ask very important questions about specifications of some aspects of the project, including clarifications on wind breakers, the foundation of the port itself amongst others.
He later made a stop at the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical plant also located in the Lekki Free Zone.

Recall that the governor while receiving the director-general of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) recently said the Benin River Port project is critical and strategic to Nigeria’s economy.
Obaseki told the management of NIMASA led by the director-general, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, at the Government House in Benin City, that: “Edo State ecology remains unique, with swamp, rain forest and savanna planes.

“There is nothing we cannot grow here and with a port here, it will be a unique opportunity, as it will not be moving traffic one way.
“For us, agricultural activities will be further enhanced with the access to this port. The blue economy has always been critical to our growth as a people and I am glad to inform you that over the last four years, a lot of work has gone on with the project.”

Obaseki maintained that the project was important to the state, as long as government at all levels want to diversify the Nigerian economy.

He added: “We don’t have a choice or an option. The global economy will be driven by other factors outside crude oil or the fuel economy we are used to.”

Latest checks on the dualisation of Ekenhuan Road leading to the Benin River Port in Gelegele, a major component of the port development project, showed contractors expediting work as they take advantage of the dry season.