Obaseki Inaugurates Advisory, Steering Committee For Edo Health Improvement Programme

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has inaugurated the Edo Healthcare Improvement Programme (HIP) Advisory and Steering Committee, charging members to ensure sustainability of the programme.

Speaking during the inauguration of the committee at Government House in Benin City, the state capital, the governor said, “Our emphasis is on the sustainability of the programme because we want to have a healthcare system that goes on forever within the limits of financial, social and environmental resources.”

He charged members of the Advisory and Steering Committee to come up with modalities on how the challenges confronting the state's health sector could be tackled, drawing from their professional expertise.

“We have so many issues to deal with in our healthcare system, which include the payment for healthcare services, data gathering mechanism, getting Universal Health Coverage and health regulations," he noted.


He said the Edo HIP Programme should be structured in such a way that would allow for diversity and flexibility to accommodate all persons irrespective of status, level of income and location.

He also charged the committee to come up with modalities to get people to key into the programme and improve access to qualitative healthcare.

“Healthcare is not cheap because medical equipment is expensive. So, if we need quality healthcare service, we have to get people to pay for it.”

The Edo HIP Advisory and Steering Committee is made up of three sub-committees, namely; Primary Health Care Advisory Committee, chaired by Dr. Julie Erhabor; the Secondary Health Care Advisory Committee, chaired by Dr. Patrick Okundia, and the Health Financing Advisory Committee, chaired by Dr Alex Okoh.

Responding on behalf of the Edo-HIP Advisory and Steering Committee members, Dr. Erhabor thanked the governor for the opportunity given them to serve.

She also assured of the committee members' commitment to live up to the confidence reposed in them.


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R-L: Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; Chairperson, Primary Healthcare Advisory Committee, Dr. Julie Erhabor; Chairperson, Secondary Healthcare Advisory Committee, Dr. Patrick Okundia; and Chairperson, Health Financing Advisory Committee, Dr. Alex Okoh, during the inauguration of the Edo Health Improvement Programme (HIP) Advisory Committee, at Government House, in Benin City, Edo State.

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Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (left); Director, CCETC Clean Energy/Ossiomo Power Plant, Dr. Uwa Igiehon (second left); and Plant Administrator, Di Xiaohui (second right), during the governor’s inspection of ongoing construction work at the CCETC Clean Energy/Ossiomo Power Plant site in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, recently.

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Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd right); Director, CCETC Clean Energy/Ossiomo Power Plant, Dr. Uwa Igiehon (right); and Plant Administrator, Di Xiaohui (middle), during the governor’s inspection of ongoing construction work at the CCETC Clean Energy/Ossiomo Power Plant site in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, recently.

Plan To End Darkness In Edo: CCETC-Ossiomo 55MW Transmission Equipment Sails Out Of China

…As work progresses on site

Barely a week after Edo State Governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki visited the site that will host the 55 Megawatts CCETC-Ossiomo Power plant in Ologbo, near Benin City, the governor on Wednesday said that transmission equipment; transformers, cables, supply lines amongst others, have sailed out of China, heading to Edo State.

According to Obaseki, “the latest information made available to me by those tracking the movement of the equipment from China, said the transmission cables, transformers and other supply infrastructure have sailed out of China and heading to Nigeria.

“I have also been told that work is being fast-tracked on the 55-Megawatt power plant, which is coming from Saudi Arabia, to be positioned for sail out.”

The governor explained that “the current cycle of darkness foisted on electricity consumers in Edo State by the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) is killing businesses and ruining social activities,” assuring that a new era is in the horizon with his administration’s bold initiatives.

He further said the April date for the commissioning of the first phase (5 Megawatts) of the project is realistic as the project partners are intensifying work on site.

Recall that after a tour of the site last week, Obaseki told journalists that “We believe that before the end of the first quarter of the year, the first 5MW would be delivered to light up government offices and streets within the Sapele Road corridor of Benin City.”

He explained that “to ease distribution of the power, a substation would be set up around Kings Square, which would power streets in the city.”

The governor added: “We are concluding transaction to light up 200 Kilometres of our streets across the city. When the plant is completed, it will free up some electricity for the state. We believe that if the megawatts produced increase, the distribution company will have more power to distribute to other cities in the state.

“The ordinary Edo people will benefit from this power arrangement because there is an arrangement to drop power in certain processing centres where artisans can move into and do their businesses with the assurance of steady power supply.”


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Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (middle); Director, CCETC Clean Energy/Ossiomo Power Plant, Dr. Uwa Igiehon (left); and Plant Administrator, Di Xiaohui, during the governor’s inspection of ongoing construction work at the power plant site in Ologbo, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, recently.

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Obaseki Allays Workers' Fears As Edo NLC Threatens Election Boycott Over N30,000 Minimum Wage

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has reaffirmed his commitment to pay the N30,000 minimum proposed by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) when passed into law, noting that the state already pays N25,000, which is higher than the national wage.

The governor said this when members of the Edo Chapter of the NLC staged a protest to the Government House, in Benin City, vowing to boycott the 2019 general elections if the N30,000 minimum wage bill was not transmitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The governor, who was represented by the Head of Service, Mr. Isaac Ehiozuwa, said the state was labour-friendly and has gone ahead to pay N25,000 minimum wage when other states were still paying N18,000.

"The NLC chairman has said it all. The state is labour-friendly and we will implement whatever is passed into law by the National Assembly."

He commended the union for the peaceful conduct of the protest and assured that the workers would smile at the end of the day.

Chairman, Edo NLC, Comrade Emmanuel Ademokun, who led the protest, said Nigerian workers were the least paid in the world, stressing that "It must be N30,000 minimum wage before the election or no election.

“We are here to express our grievances over the non-transmission of the N30,000 minimum wage to the National Assembly because we are aware that the bill has been presented to the President. Workers must decide who will govern them.”

He said the Union had no issue with the Edo Government regarding workers' welfare, noting that the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration has promised to pay the N30, 000 amount when passed into law.

Ademokun presented a copy of the Union's notice of impending strike to the Governor.


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Representative of Edo State Governor and Head of Service, Mr. Isaac Ehiozuwa; addressing members of the Edo State Chapter of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), during their protest march to Government House, in Benin City, on Tuesday, January 8, 2019.

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Ongoing rehabilitation work at Benin Technical College, in Benin City, Edo State, during Governor Godwin Obaseki’s inspection of work at the College.

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Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd right) and Team Lead, Government Science and Technical College, Benin Rehabilitation Programme, Giles Omezi (right); during the inspection of ongoing work at the college in Benin City, on Friday, January 4, 2019.

Benin Technical College Revamp: Obaseki Assures New Workshop Equipment Will Be Ready In 90 Days

…as school gets dedicated power line

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured that the Government Science and Technical College (GSTC), Benin, formerly known as Benin Technical College being remodeled by his administration will be equipped with new set of workshop equipment in the first quarter of this year.

Speaking to journalists after inspecting ongoing rehabilitation work at the college, in Benin City, Edo State, the governor said he visited the college to inspect the progress of work at the laboratories and workshops as equipment ordered for the laboratories and workshops would be available in 90 days' time.

The governor expressed optimism that a greater section of the college would be ready within the next six months.

He noted that though the pace of rehabilitation has been rather slow, “the time-consuming aspect of the work has been concluded. So, within the next 90 days, the new building should be completed. It should be roofed in the next one month and the internal finishing completed."

“The new building will sit between 400 and 500 students. The idea is to have a school that can accommodate about 1,500 students at the same time,” he added.

He said the Minister of Power has approved a dedicated 133 KVA power line which will supply electricity to the College and the University of Benin directly from the Ihovbor Power Plant to take care of the electricity need of the college.

“We have a team coming from the Transmission Company of Nigeria next week. We are getting a 133 KVA power line directly from the Ihovbor power plant to the college,” he said.

According to him, the state government is already in talks with the World Bank and other relevant bodies on how to gradually develop the manpower required to get the college running.

The team lead on the project, Mr Giles Omezi, said they were on track and will deliver the first aspect of the project before the end of the third quarter of the year.

Omezi said by September 2019, the school would have been rehabilitated with full accreditation secured, as about 45 percent of work has been done in some respect.

“Based on our last review, we have done about 45 per cent of work. What we have left are the service, internal and external fittings and refurbishment of the existing college building,” he said.

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Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd right); Team Lead, Government Science and Technical College Benin Rehabilitation Programme, Giles Omezi (right), during the governor’s inspection of the ongoing rehabilitation work at the college in Benin City, Edo State.

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Rector, Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, Prof. Abiodun Falodun (right); Prof. of Organic Chemistry, Prof. Muhammad I. Choudhary (2nd left); and Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Christopher Adesotu (3rd right); during the Maiden International Symposium of the polytechnic and unveiling of the Prof. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary Centre for Natural Product Research (ICCNPR), at the institution in Usen, near Benin city.

Edo Poly Usen Set For Natural Product Research, As Pakistani Researcher, Choudhary Lists Successes Of Ethnomedicine

With the unveiling of the Prof. Dr. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary Centre for Natural Product Research (ICCNPR) at the Edo State Polytechnic, the Pakistani researcher has said that the institution is now positioned to provide direction in ethnomedicine research in the country to treat different ailments.

Prof. Choudhary, who is an expert in organic chemistry, said this at the Maiden International Symposium of the Edo State Polytechnic, tagged ‘New Discoveries in Natural Product Sciences.’

According to him, some of the success stories from natural product research include discovery of ISOX from Delphinium Denudatum, most active epileptic natural product to date (at 2nd phase clinical trials in United States of America, USA and Canada); health supplement (10 dietary herbs, spices and essential oils) effective against Parkinson’s Disease (preclinical studies completed, and open clinical trials underway) as well as MDR Resistance Reversal Agent from Morus Mesozygia, increasing the activity of several classes of antibiotics (in progress).

He added that 44 United States patents have been obtained in the last five years based on the discoveries.

Prof. Choudhary explained that it takes over $1.2 billion to $1.8 billion, eight to 12 years and screening of over 100,000 compounds, among other steps to develop a new drug under the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) model, noting that drug discovery was in crises, which has left many people suffering from orphan diseases untreated.

“We therefore decided to create our own niche by using ethnomedicinal practices and local flora for drug development and microbial biotechnology on known drugs to create new drug leads.”

He added that the systematic evaluation of indigenous ethnomedicinal practices in order to contribute to improved healthcare in marginalised regions has been an effective approach for drug discovery against neglected and poor men diseases.

Prof. Choudhary was accompanied by dignitaries at the symposium to unveil the ICCNPR, which is named after him.

Rector of the Polytechnic, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, said that the state government will benefit from the ICCNPR, which will lead the way in natural product research in the country, noting that the centre will be a training ground for researchers.

He added that the department of pharmaceutical technology in the polytechnic will also play a vital role in the growth of the centre, which will benefit from the school’s multipurpose laboratory.


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Commissioner for Science and Technology, Dr. Christopher Adesotu (left); Professor of Organic Chemistry, Prof. Muhammad I. Choudhary; and Rector, Edo State Polytechnic, Usen, Prof. Abiodun Falodun, during the Maiden International Symposium of the institution and unveiling of the Prof. Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary Centre for Natural Product Research (ICC-NPR), at the polytechnic, in Usen, near Benin city.

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Cross-section of contractors at a meeting with the Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) at Government House, in Benin City, on Thursday, January 3, 2019

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Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (left), with Chairman, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe, during a meeting with SUBEB contractors at Government House, in Benin City, on Thursday, January 3, 2019

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Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd right), Chairman, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe (right); SUBEB member representing Edo Central, Hon. Steveson Ehimhen (left); SUBEB member representing Edo South, Hon Elizabeth O. Ighodaro (2nd left), and SUBEB member representing Edo North, Rev. Fr. Anthony Ekhaisomi, during a meeting with SUBEB contractors at Government House, in Benin City, on Thursday, January 3, 2019.

Obaseki Meets Contractors On Revamp Of 230 Schools, Threatens Prosecution Over Sub-Standard Job

The Governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has vowed to prosecute any contractor who delivers sub-standard work on the 230 public primary schools being refurbished by the state government through the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB).

The governor gave the warning when he held a meeting with the contractors handling the school renovation project, at Government House, in Benin City, on Thursday.

He said, "Ordinary, I will not interact with contractors but because of the priority we place on basic education, I decided to have this all-important meeting with you. We have five pillars of our SUBEB system and one of them is the refurbishment of our schools.”

He added that the state government has set up a team that will monitor the refurbishment of the schools, noting that any contractor who does not perform as expected will be prosecuted.

“To fix basic education, you need to look at all aspects, the training of teachers, review of curriculum and refurbishment of the physical environment of the schools. We want you to understand that you are a part of our efforts at rebuilding our basic education system and thus you must deliver on the job as specified. We are taking the process seriously and anybody that does not perform as expected will be in trouble,” he warned.

He urged the contractors to fast-track delivery of the job, so they could bid for the additional 230 schools recently advertised.

Some of the schools to be refurbished include Ojirami Primary School in Ojirami, Akoko-Edo Local Government Area (LGA); Ugbogo Primary School in Igarra, Akoko Edo LGA; Amegor Primary School in Uwelu, Egor LGA; Eweka Primary School in Egor LGA; Olua Primary School in Egor LGA; Ivbiyeneva Primary School in Ikpoba Okha LGA; Aduwawa Primary School in Ikpoba Okha and Uhie Primary School.

Others are Egbokor Primary School, Idunmwingun Primary School, Iguere Primary School, Evboeghae primary school and Oza Primary School, in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, and over 200 other schools across the three senatorial districts.



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Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd right), Chairman, Edo State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and Special Adviser to the Governor on Basic Education, Dr. Joan Osa Oviawe (right); SUBEB member representing Edo Central, Hon. Steveson Ehimhen (left); SUBEB member representing Edo South, Hon Elizabeth O. Ighodaro (2nd left), during a meeting with SUBEB contractors at Government House, in Benin City, on Thursday, January 3, 2019.

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Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (2nd right); immediate past Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kukomo (2nd left); new Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosun (right); and Edo State Head of Service, Mr Isaac Ehiozuwa, during a courtesy visit by the new commissioner to the governor, at Government House, in Benin City, on Wednesday, January 2, 2019.

Obaseki Assures New Police Commissioner Of Support, Charges Him On New Security Architecture

Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has assured the state’s new Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Olusegun Odumosun, that the Edo State Security Architecture, will guarantee well-coordinated policing that will benefit from input from relevant stakeholders, especially local communities, in the state.

Obaseki gave the assurance during a courtesy visit by the state’s new Commissioner of Police, at Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital, on Wednesday.

The governor also noted that a permanent emergency response centre, where activities of the new security architecture will be coordinated, will be ready before the end of the first quarter of 2019.

He said, “We are building an emergency response center to be ready in the quarter of this year. For now, we will set up a temporary center to coordinate all the activities of the operatives under the new security architecture recently launched in the state.”

The governor commended the outgoing Police Commissioner, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, for his cooperation and support in birthing the security architecture, which has made the state safer for citizens.

He said the security trust fund will be managed transparently, urging Edo people and residents in the state to support and contribute to the fund.

“We can’t secure the state alone without the support and cooperation of Edo people. The security information management system which Kokumo has helped the state to set up is vital. All the information in the database will help in understanding the incidence of criminality in the state as well as assist in policing the state.

“The system has been launched. In the next few days, officers that will be coordinating the Security Trust Fund, operationally, will be made public. Also, those that will be in charge of the Public Works Volunteers (PUWOV) will be made known. The formal fundraising of the security trust fund will be done,” he said.

He further assured the new Commissioner of Police of his administration’s support to ensure that he succeeds while urging him to quickly fit into the shoes of the outgoing CP, especially with regards to the Edo State Security Architecture.

Obaseki urged the new Commissioner of Police to run a corruption-free command and ensure that the people of the state trust the force.

The new CP, Hakeem Odumosun said his mission in the state is to protect life and property and ensure the state is safe for all.


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Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (middle); immediate past Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kukomo (left); new Commissioner of Police, Hakeem Odumosun (right), during a courtesy visit by the new commissioner to the governor, at Government House, in Benin City, on Wednesday, January 2, 2019

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has urged the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Johnson Kokumo, to investigate the shooting incident at Ring Road, Benin City, on New Year’s Day, which reportedly claimed one life.

In a statement, Special Adviser on Media and Communication Strategy to the governor, Mr. Crusoe Osagie, said “the governor has asked the Police CP to thoroughly investigate the incident and assured that anyone found culpable will be brought to book.”

Osagie further said that “the governor is disturbed by the incident and wants a clear report on what actually transpired and the condition under which the reported shooting took place.”

He noted that the Obaseki-led administration has prioritised the security of life and property with the huge investment in the state’s security architecture and trust fund, launched recently, and would stop at nothing to get to the root of the Ring Road shooting incident.

“Unconfirmed reports trending on some news platforms claim the incident at Ring Road happened during the frenzied celebration of the cross-over to the New Year. It is alleged that a life was lost, but we are yet to get the full detail of the incident from the Police and other concerned security agencies.

“The governor has urged the police commissioner to investigate the incident thoroughly. I am confident that we will have the true picture of what transpired after the investigation. I can assure you that the state government will take a decisive action on the matter,” the governor’s aide said.

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Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki (right), with the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate in Akwa Ibom State, Nsima Ekere, at the flag-off of President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election campaign at the Akwa Ibom International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki has mourned the passing of former Nigerian President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari, whose death at the National Hospital, Abuja, was announced on December 28.

Alhaji Shagari, aged 93 years, served as Nigeria's President from 1979 to 1983.

The governor said that Shagari played an active role in the growth and development of Nigeria, and until his death, rendered invaluable support to successive administrations for the uplift of the country.

He said, "It is with great sadness that I received the news of the passing of former President, Alhaji Shehu Shagari. As an elder statesman, Shagari maintained a rather quite and simple lifestyle and was always available to advise the nation's leaders. I commiserate with his family, the government and people of Sokoto State on his passing and pray that God grants them the fortitude to bear the loss."

The governor noted that it was quite regrettable that Nigeria was losing someone like the former president at a time the country needed his wisdom and experience to forge ahead and build a more united nation.

According to him, "The former President remains a major shaper of what Nigeria has become today."

Alhaji Shagari was born in Shagari village in Sokoto State in 1925 and served the country in various capacities as a minister, with his political career culminating in his election as Nigeria's only president in the Second Republic.

SOURCE: http://thebellng.com/obaseki-mourns-as-former-president-shagari-passes-at-93/