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Edo@33: Obaseki Launches Benin City, Edo Regional Devt Masterplans
Published
10 months agoon
By
Editor
… stakeholders chart paths for State’s sustained growth, prosperity
The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, on Tuesday, launched the 30-year Benin City and Edo Regional Development Masterplans.
The event is part of activities lined up to celebrate the State’s 33rd year anniversary with the theme, “The Glory of the new Edo Nation.”
Obaseki was joined by two former governors of the State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and Prof Osarienmen Osunbor, among others.
Other guests at the event include the Edo State First Lady, Betsy Obaseki; Deputy Governor of Edo State, Marvellous Godwins Omobayo and his wife, Sandra; former Deputy Governors of the State, Peter Obadan and Mike Ogiadome; Edo State Head of Service, Dr. Anthony Okungbowa; the PDP governorship candidate, Asue Ighodalo and his wife, Ifeyinwa; his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, serving Commissioners, captains of industries, traditional and religious leaders, among others.
READ ALSO: Obaseki Hosts Victorious Edo Queens, Champions Of WAFU Zone B
The governor said: “I welcome all of you today, as we launch Edo State Regional Development and the Benin City Master Plans. These are two critical documents that would help us tidy up our administration and summarise what we have been trying to do in the last 8 years. It will also guide and establish a trajectory for where our State is heading in the next 30 years.
“These plans have been carefully put together and we have consulted widely across the State to ensure participation of our citizens. Our people have been involved in this process and will continue to be involved because it’s a living document, and not static.
“They are subject to review every 5 years and there will be 6 reviews in the life span of these documents. Today, we are glad that we have been able to make a significant departure from what we met.
“When we did our first flyover across the State in 2017, it became clear to us that beyond issuing titled documents, we needed to plan for the State following what we saw. We saw a disordered mode of development, particularly in Benin City.
READ ALSO: Edo Guber: APC Afraid Of Defeat, Cooks Up Lies, Obaseki’s Aide Fires Back On Rigging Allegation
“We were also concerned about the growing trend where almost 50 per cent of the population was migrating to Benin City and the lopsided development needed to be addressed and dealt with.”
Obaseki, however, noted that it will be difficult to stop the migration into Benin City if the government fails to provide good amenities and improve the lives of the people in the rural communities.
According to him, “The document that is being launched today took a lot of issues into consideration. We didn’t wait till today to start implementing the plan as we have already started this process. We have made huge progress in the last 8 years.
“We have built a medical hub, technology hubs, among others which are all plans for the future. We have started the plan and done short term quick wins. We are developing the State.”
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Noting that lack of planning was one of the problems hindering the country’s development, Obaseki stated, “As a people, we have always planned and taken our future and destiny in our hands in Edo.
“We would not be different today as we would continue to plan for our future. Thanks to all those that have worked over the last two years, putting the plan together and today we are launching it. I believe we are set for the future and set to restore the new Edo nation.
“By the grace of God when we leave office on November 12th, the administration that will take over from us will have inherited what we never had the privilege to inherit, a master plan that will guide them into the future.”
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News
Immigration Officer Gets N5m For Arresting Fleeing Ritualist
Published
4 hours agoon
June 10, 2025By
Editor
An immigration officer, Ugochukwu Orji, who arrested a fleeing Enugu State-based native doctor accused of killing and kidnapping people for rituals, has been rewarded with N5 million for his efforts by an industrialist, Ebuka Onunkwo.
Onunkwo, who is also a senatorial aspirant for the Anambra South senatorial by-election on the platform of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, hosted the immigration officer at his residence in Ihembosi, Ekwusigo Local Government Area of Anambra State, according to a press statement released by his media team on Tuesday.
Orji was at his duty post along the Seme Border area last month when the fleeing native doctor, popularly known as “Ichie Billion” attempted to use a motorcycle to cross over to the Benin Republic from Nigeria at Seme Border, but having seen his face on the internet, he quickly intercepted him.
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Recall that “Ichie Billion”, who hails from Umuojor village in the Isiagu Community of Enugu State, had been on the run after being declared wanted by the Nigerian Police Force in connection with the kidnapping of a 13-year-old girl and alleged multiple ritual killings.
The native doctor was thereafter intercepted by the Nigerian Immigration Service and subsequently handed over to the Lagos State Police Command following his arrest at the border by the immigration officers.
Onunkwo, an industrialist, while presenting a cheque of ₦5 million to the immigration officer at his residence, said the gesture was part of his company’s Corporate Social Responsibility and encouragement for moral renaissance in the society.
News
Tariff Hikes Won’t Solve Nigeria’s Power Crisis, Expert Tells Tinubu
Published
4 hours agoon
June 10, 2025By
Editor
Attempts by the current administration to rely on increased electricity tariffs to resolve Nigeria’s chronic power supply issues are unlikely to succeed, according to energy expert Nick Agu.
Speaking during an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday, Agu argued for a fundamental restructuring of the power sector, prioritising infrastructure over tariff hikes.
Responding to the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu’s optimism and recent celebration of Nigeria reaching a new peak generation of over 5,000 megawatts, Agu acknowledged the incremental increase as “a good thing, is good news.”
However, he quickly added, “But should we celebrate? The answer is probably not.”
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Agu underscored Nigeria’s severe “energy poverty” by drawing comparisons with other nations.
He noted that while Nigeria, with over 200 million people, struggles with around 5,000 megawatts, South Africa (65 million people) boasts 55,000 megawatts, Brazil (200 million people) supplies 150,000 megawatts, and even Qatar (3 million people) provides 8,000 megawatts.
“So, you can see that three million people are enjoying more electricity than Nigeria, which has 200 million people,” he highlighted.
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Agu underscored Nigeria’s severe “energy poverty” by drawing comparisons with other nations.
He noted that while Nigeria, with over 200 million people, struggles with around 5,000 megawatts, South Africa (65 million people) boasts 55,000 megawatts, Brazil (200 million people) supplies 150,000 megawatts, and even Qatar (3 million people) provides 8,000 megawatts.
“So, you can see that three million people are enjoying more electricity than Nigeria, which has 200 million people,” he highlighted.
News
From 158 To 351: Lagos Teen Excels In UTME After Initial Glitch
Published
5 hours agoon
June 10, 2025By
Editor
A 16-year-old student, Oyindamola Apampa, has achieved a remarkable aggregate score of 351 in the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination, with 65 in English Language, 98 in Mathematics, 98 in Physics, and 90 in Chemistry.
Apampa, a student of Lagoon Secondary School in Lagos, described the feat as the result of determination, strategic preparation, and divine favour.
A statement on Tuesday revealed that it was her second attempt at the UTME, explaining that her initial score of 158 was later invalidated due to technical issues experienced at her exam centre.
She said, “In my first UTME attempt, I scored 158. However, the results were widely criticised and later acknowledged by the authorities as inaccurate due to technical glitches affecting several examination centres, including mine.
READ ALSO: Mass Failure: UTME Candidates To Sue JAMB Over Technical Glitches
“Consequently, the examination body authorised a resit to address these irregularities. In the resit, I achieved a score of 351.”
She added that her parents played a crucial role in supporting her academic journey by fostering a learning-friendly environment at home.
“My parents made our home a positive place for studying. We have a full library in the family living room, in addition to a separate multimedia study room where the whole family often gets together to talk about different topics and help each other learn,” she shared.
Apampa also credited a learning centre in Lekki, Lagos, for providing her with additional academic support through UTME preparation classes and frequent mock examinations.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: JAMB Admits To Errors In 2025 UTME
“The frequent mock exams at our learning centre were a great help in my preparation for UTME,” she said.
In his reaction to the learning centre head, Osayi Izedonmwen, stellar 98 per cent pass rate in the 2025 UTME, attributed the achievement to its hybrid learning approach.
“At Teesas, we are fully IT-equipped to seamlessly support both online and physical learning within a convenient and friendly environment. This has played a key role in helping our students excel,” Izedonmwen stated.
Apampa is no stranger to academic excellence. She was placed on her school’s Honours list after securing 10 As and one B in her Junior WAEC.
She has also represented her school in international competitions, such as the Conrad Challenge, where her team reached the final stage and earned a special mention.
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