News

Edo: Ijaw Community Cries Out Over Marginalisation, Neglect, Others

Published

3 years ago

November 30, 2023

Editor

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo, Okomu

The indigenous people of Okomu in Ovia South West Local Government Area of Edo State have decried what they described as “continuous neglect and marginalisation” of the area.

They lamented that despite being an ancient community that plays host to a National Park and an international oil palm company, the community and the ones under it are completely neglected and oppressed.

Speaking with INFO DAILY, Mr. Friday Atele, a community leader said what the Indigenes expected from Okomu Oil Palm Company when it came on board in 1976 is quite different from what is being experienced presently.

“When the Okomu Oil Palm Company came in 1976, we expected development and impact in our communities, but rather, we are experiencing the other way round. Now, all our communities have been driven to the river,” he said.

On the National Park, Atele said: “When the National Park came up with their expansion bid, the people of Okomu told them that the land belongs to them, and that they don’t need to expand it, but they refused. Our communities are being threatened day and night.”

He further lamented: “The National Park presently uses arms and ammunition to threaten our communities that they want to take over the land, and that the government said they want to make use of the land. When we are not from Ghana, we are Nigerians for crying out load. If not that we are peace-loving people, there would have been crisis in the state as experienced in the North.”

According to him, Okomu community has over 35 communities under it with an estimated population of over 15,000, yet no government presence, neither do they have telecommunication to communicate in the area.

“...Despite the large population and a host to the oil palm company and National Park, we have no network in our communities.

“For instance, due to lack of network, we were unable to register many persons during the last voter registration. We have about 15,000 population, all put together from our different communities, but we managed to have only 1,000 persons registered during the last registration. These are the challenges we are facing in this kingdom,” he lamented.

On his part, Chief Freeman Cousin, while lamenting the neglect of the area, identified Edo State Government’s refusal to recognise the Okomu people as a unique and indigenous people, as a major challenge the area is facing.

He added: “I want to say irrespective of the Ijaw man’s position in government, he should be recognised. As you can see, we have no access road to take us to the city. We are being marginalised. Is it because we have no people in power?

“Okomu is an ancient community not only in Nigeria but in West Africa. It is a recognised ancient community. Significantly, we have our own native authorities, even in the then pre-colonial era, so why giving us the needed recognition in the state a rocket science?” he questioned.

He, therefore, “called on the Federal Government to intervene because the state government claims we are tenants, but I dispute that claim. We are not tenants to anybody; we did not meet anybody here, we came on our own.”

Also, Chief Tamarauetunemi Makilolo, added: “Come to Okomu, you can’t see any government projects. We are being neglected and oppressed. They call us tenants but I make bold to say that we are not tenants to anybody. We are aborigines here. Our forebears were here even befy the colonial masters came. Our forebears ferried them with boat to the interland. So, how come a people who have occupied a place for centuries are tenants? Those claiming this must be jokers!”

News

Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

1 day ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

News

CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

News

NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.