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Edo Spent Over $150 Million On Erosion Control, Says Obaseki

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The governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Friday said his administration has spent over $150 million in addressing erosion problems which, according to him, has degraded the environment and threatened the lives and livelihoods of inhabitants.

The governor made the disclosure at the launching of Edo FEWMA, formerly known as Edo NEWMAP.

He attributed most of the environmental challenges to poor land management and decrease in forest areas.

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READ ALSO: Again, Suspected Herdsmen Kill 3, Kidnap 13 Others In Edo, Protests Rocks Govt House

He equally blamed contractors for not disclosing their plans to address erosion problems and hinted that federal agencies, the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) will not be allowed to work in Edo “if they do not share their plans with the state government particularly erosion plans, because they are giving us more trouble to our environment.”

“Over the last 10 years, we have spent over 150 million dollars trying to repair what we have damaged ourselves.

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“Majority of the cases are all man-made. You have a contractor, who was given a contract, he decides to begin construction, he doesn’t share the plan, he doesn’t tell how the water will be terminated.

“So, as a government, we will insist, going forward, that no agency, not federal, not local, will undertake projects without coming to register with FEWMA because you just can’t come to the state to say you have a contract, you begin to work and not letting us know the extent of engineering drawings and you are going to deal with issues of erosion control”, he said.

He added: “As you know in Edo State, over the years, due to neglect, we are now witnessing many  challenges that we didn’t see before, particularly gully erosion.

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“Our number one priority is our environment because we cannot continue to behave the way we are behaving now. If our forefathers had behaved this way, we will not be living here. We can hardly see trees and this means the land cannot hold water if there are no trees.

“So, the environment is a very serious area of focus which we must pay attention to and it is because we have not being paying attention to the environment that is why we have the challenges we have today,” he added.

The governor, while assuring the new agency of the state government’s support, explained that NEWMAP was conceived as a world Bank project to help state government with environmental sustainability and erosion control.

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READ ALSO: JUST IN: Herdsmen Butcher Family Of Six, Others, Eight Corpses Recovered In Benue

Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Officer of Edo FEWMA, Dr. Tom Obaseki, said a total of 23 states participated under NEWMAP in the last 10 years and Edo came top in achievements, accounting for 17 per cent of the overall success.

This came to pass by true, conscious deliberate and passionate demonstration of strong will by his Excellency, Godwin Obaseki, particularly in efficient project implementation, procurement done without zero interference, demonstration of commitment to NEWMAP through prompt payment counterparts funding by the governor as well as demonstration of ownership of project.”

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Migration Agency Warns Migrants Against Irregular Travel Routes

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The International Organisation for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with Giving is Healing Foundation, has sensitised residents of Ayobo in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State on the dangers of irregular migration and the need to embrace legal travel procedures.

Speaking during a sensitisation programme held at Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association in Ayobo, the founder of Giving is Healing Foundation, Mr. Gbolahan Ayediran, warned intending migrants against using illegal travel routes.

Ayediran said many Nigerians desire to migrate abroad in search of better opportunities but often ignore proper procedures, thereby exposing themselves to several dangers.

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“Lots of people want to migrate and most of them do it in the wrong direction. The reason for the programme is for us to advise people on how they can migrate in the right way. As much as migration is their right, they should do it correctly,” he said.

READ ALSO:How Wike Rescued Me From Political Oblivion — Oshiomhole

He advised intending travellers to obtain the necessary travel documents before embarking on any journey, noting that such documents include international passports, visas, flight tickets and yellow cards, depending on the destination country.

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According to him, migrants should also gather adequate information about their destination countries to enable them make informed decisions before travelling.

Ayediran further highlighted some of the dangers associated with irregular migration, including abuse, exploitation, discrimination and forced labour.

Also speaking, the Chairman of Megida Ifelodu Community Development Association, Elder Mathews Amusan, commended the organisers for enlightening members of the community on safe migration practices.

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READ ALSO: He Can’t Fix His Party Let Alone Nigeria – Oshiomhole Blasts Atiku

He urged residents planning to travel abroad to always follow legal migration procedures to avoid falling victim to human trafficking and other migration-related challenges.

One of the participants, Mr. Kolawole Adenoko, said the programme enlightened him on the dangers of irregular migration and the importance of travelling through the proper channels.

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He added that he would also educate his relatives and friends on the risks associated with illegal migration.

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Shatta Wale Bailed Burna Boy From Ghana Prison After Arrest For Smoking Weed – Captan

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Ghanian singer, Captan, has claimed that his former record label boss, Shatta Wale, once bailed Nigerian singer Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana after he was allegedly arrested for smoking weed.

Speaking in a recent podcast interview, Captan claimed that Shatta Wale sent him and others to free Burna Boy from police custody.

He also claimed that Shatta Wale and his group once accommodated Burna Boy when he was being hunted by some dangerous men.

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READ ALSO: Wale Edun Opens Up After Sack

Captan said, “I once bailed Burna Boy out of prison in Ghana when he was arrested for smoking weed. Shatta Wale sent me and some guys to go and free him from police custody.

“There was a time we also accommodated him when some people were after his life. We helped him settle the case.”

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He added that he and Burna Boy are no longer in good terms after the Nigerian artist’s fallout with his mentor, Shatta Wale.

He, however, said he and Shatta Wale are open to reconciling with Burna Boy if he asks for it.

Watch the video here

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Children’s Day: Chaos At Ogbe Stadium As Dozens Faint

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Chaos erupted on Wednesday during the Children’s Day celebration as dozens of students reportedly collapsed following a stampede triggered by the use of pepper spray.

The event,
organised by the Edo State Ministry of Education at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium was disrupted after some male students of Ihogbe College allegedly made uncompromising advances towards female students at the venue.

‎ A parent who identified himself as Oboh Emmanuel said, “the behaviour of those uncultured students attracted the attention of bouncers stationed at the stadium as they rebuked the male students.”

‎Oboh said the affected students later regrouped and attacked the bouncers, leading to a confrontation within the crowded arena.

READ ALSO:Children’s Day: Edo Commits To Child Protection

It was gathered that in the ensuing confusion, the bouncers were reported to have deployed pepper spray in an area occupied by a large number of students.

‎Several students, particularly female students, reportedly fainted after inhaling the substance, while others sustained injuries after being stepped on during the ensuing melee.

‎The panic was said to have spread across the stadium as students, teachers and parents scampered for safety.

‎Many of the affected students were reportedly rushed to the Edo Specialist Hospital for medical attention.

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READ ALSO: Egor LG Chair, Ogbemudia, Vice, Osawe Impeached

Reacting to the incident, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Monday Okpebholo, Dr Patrick Ebojele, said the security personnel that fired the tear gas had been detained.

He said all the students, except two, that were rushed to the hospital have been discharged.

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Ebojele stated that doctors wanted to observe the students till tomorrow before allowing them to go home.

The two students are not seriously injured. Doctors want to observe them overnight. Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education is still at the hospital. The man who used pepper spray has been detained.

“The incident did not happen the way it is being exaggerated. All modalities were put in place to ensure the children enjoyed their day.”

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