The introduction of SEEFOR plus by the Edo State governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, into the existing State Employment and Expendure for Result (SEEFOR) has been identified as factor in making the project to stand out amongst the three other states the project covers.
SEEFOR is a project funded by the World Bank, European Union and with a counterpart funding from the state governments of Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Rivers respectively.
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Dr. Aliyu Aminu Ahmed, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) expert and consultant made this revelation during a M&E retreat and bi-annual review meeting held in Benin City recently.
The retreat drew participants from sister agencies and concerned ministries in the state and other stakeholders with special focus on SEEFOR performance in the state in the past few years and the way forward.
A cross section of participants at the retreat.
Speaking further, Dr. Ahmed said amongst all the SEEFOR states, Edo State is the most advanced in terms of budget reforms and employment.
In technical and vocational training, the M&E expert disclosed that Edo SEEFOR rose from its previous quarter of 2,970 to 3387 beneficiaries in this current quarter.
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Dr. Ahmed said number of people with access to services supported in targeted communities by Edo SEEFOR increased from 186,131 to 186,142 as reported in the previous quarter.
According to the expert, while Edo SEEFOR maintained a marginal increase project beneficiaries, it, however, surpassed the 30% target in direct project beneficiaries.
Another cross section of participants
While pointing out areas Edo SEEFOR needs improvement, Dr. Ahmed noted that with the introduction of the SEEFOR plus, the project has made huge impact in the state.
On his part, Mr. Moorieno Diftuffte, M&E Officer, and National Planning Coordinating Unit, identified counterpart funding as method of sustaining the project in the state.
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He noted that, as officer in the Co-ordinating unit, there are many success stories particularly done through the SEEFOR plus which are not reflected in their quarterly report.
Dr. Aliyu Aminu Ahmed giving analysis on his evaluation on Edo SEEFOR during the retreat
” There are many success stories of which are known but you do not reflect in your quarterly report. Please do take time to record such stories and properly reflect such in your quarterly report. These are the things the World Bank and the EU want to see and read in your report,” he said.
Participants from the state Auditor-General office said SEEFOR has helped the office in procurement of audit software and also produce audit manual.
Also, participants from ICT agancies also acknowledged that SEEFOR helped provide IT equipment; assist in developing oracle software for financial management; capacity building for staff; enhancement of biometric process, among others.
Meanwhile, a representative from the Ministry of Infrastructure said as part of SEEFOR sustainability programme, Edo State government created a SEEFOR PLUS using SEEFOR template which has given birth to construction of over 153 access roads across the 18 local government areas of the state.
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Stakeholders all agreed at the end of the retreat that, with the satisfactory performance so far, there would be need for second phase of SEEFOR as this first phase raps up soon.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended a reception hosted by the Chief of Defense Staff.
This was after they attended a volleyball game earlier in the day.
During the reception, which held at the Armed Forces Officers Mess & Suites in Abuja, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex received asho oke gifts from Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM).
The purpose of the visit was to introduce the royal couple to Nigeria’s rich socio-cultural heritage and provide an opportunity for the Duchess of Sussex to explore her Nigerian lineage.
Barely 16 days after Dana Air was shut down by the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authorities, another aircraft belonging to XEJET Airlines also skidded off the runway and landed in the grass at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos on Saturday.
Following this development, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has shut the 18/Left runway of the airport
The Airbus with registration 5N-BZZ with 52 passengers on board departed Abuja and landed in Lagos at 11.29 am.
Just last month, Dana MD-82 aircraft was involved in a skidding off of the runway, necessitating the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Festus Keyamo, to order the suspension of the carrier for a comprehensive auditing.
Last year, in November, two aircraft from two different airlines skidded off the runway, in one week.
Aero Contractors, flight NG 119 with a registered Boeing 737 aircraft 5N-BYQ from Lagos to Abuja had a total of 133 passengers on board.
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All passengers were safely evacuated through a controlled disembarkation.
The temporary closure of the runway by FAAN limits the airport to one single runway which is expected to lead to aircraft delays and landing.
The spokesperson of the Nigerian Safety Investigation Bureau, Bimbo Olajide, confirmed that an aircraft belonging to Xejet Airlines skidded off the runway of the domestic wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport on Saturday.
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She stated that a team had been deployed to the site of the incident.
“Our teams are there and on top of the matter. But whether or not the runway will be reopened today, i cannot immediately answer questions on that.” NSIB spokesperson told PUNCH Online.
The entire direct descendants of World War II Veteran and a recipient of World War II Medals of Honour, Capt. Ededuna Walter Obaseki, has congratulated His Majesty King Charles III on his first coronation anniversary.
A congratulatory message signed by Mercy Ededuna Obaseki on behalf of The descendants, and made available to INFO DAILY prayed God to bless the King with long life, honour, and good health.
“We wish His Majesty good health so that he can effectively pilot the affairs of The United Kingdom of Great Britain, Northern Ireland and The Realms of The Commonwealth,”the message added.
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The descendants, while thanking the British government for preserving the records of their late father, urged the King of the Great Britain to “start soon, the Colonial Legacy review in Nigeria because it is so important to us.”
While approaching efforts being made by His Majesty to review Colonial Legacies, the descendants said in hearing the King’s move to review it, “our Joy knew no bounds, and this feeling of great Joy increased more abundantly when we saw that indeed he was already doing this.”
“We watched with great happiness and excitement, The King presenting replacement World War II Medals in Kenya to the Veterans of The Second World War.
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“We hope the King will also take action soon in actualising and fulfilling our dreams that both the British and the Nigerian government meet our demands that our father’s entitlements and work benefits be paid to we his direct descendants. It is also our prayer that the King empowers and supports us in our quests and in the present circumstances that we are in right now, your quick help is highly solicited.
“Our father Ededuna Walter Obaseki was a captain of the British Merchant Navy, a World War II Veteran and a recipient of The World War II Campaigns and Gallantry Medals of Honour. The 1939-1945; Atlantic Star; Italy Star; British War Medals were Awarded to our father Ededuna Walter Obaseki and other officers and Seamen of the British Merchant Navy by HRM King George VI.
“Obaseki was a pioneer industrialist, governor, prime minister and head of government, and he handled the British administration in Southern Nigeria that brought great success to Nigeria in many areas like modern agriculture, education, healthcare, and maritime Shipping. The forming, shaping and developing of the navies during the time of the boom that both countries enjoyed and its citizens can still speak well of in sheer glories of remarkable advancement today.
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“We are aware of some attempts by the Federal Government of Nigeria particularly in 2014 to help bring out and make known, the legacies of those that played active and very important roles in making this country Nigeria to be great, especially the Merchant Navy Officers who were the first ambassadors, head of administration and head of the British Board of Trade that brought about very positive growth and boom in Nigeria through the exports of timber, rubber, cocoa and palm produce, etc.
“We also want the distinguished senators and honourable members of the House of Representatives of Nigeria to grant our request that our father’s entitlements and work benefits for service in Nigeria to be paid to us by the Nigerian government. We need them (The Law Makers) to use their voice to also make our demands from The British Government.”