The Edo State Government has opened talks with various embassies to establish modalities and strategies aimed at reducing or completely eliminating irregular migration, while promoting safe migration practices.

The Director General (DG) of the Edo State Migration Agency, Lucky Agazuma, disclosed this during the premiere of the film “Cold Dishes” held in Benin City.

He emphasized the need for stakeholders to work together to end the scourge of irregular migration in Nigeria.

Agazuma, who was part of the audience that watched the movie, said the Edo State Government has made remarkable progress in tackling irregular migration.

He noted that the Monday Okpebholo-led administration has continued to deliver good governance to the people of the state.

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According to him, the government is creating jobs, regularising teachers’ appointments, improving the educational system, and intensifying public enlightenment campaigns to educate citizens on the dangers of embarking on irregular migration.

He expressed appreciation to the governor for prioritising the issue of irregular migration and for working tirelessly to curb it in the state.

Agazuma described irregular migration as “dangerous and deadly,” and assured that the agency would continue to assist intending travelers on safe and legal travel options.

“We are discussing with embassies in Nigeria to help promote safe migration and ensure Nigeria is a VISA free nation as it will help reduce the process of embarking on illegal migration.

“For the film that has been premiered today, it talks about migration and irregular migration and the dangers surrounding it.
As an agency we are working to check traffickers in the State and we have a government that is accountable to it’s citizens, working to improve their lives”

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“The last administration relegated Edo people bringing in consultants to do the job here but the Governor Monday Okpebholo led administration has changed the narrative creating the atmosphere for Edo people to fix Edo themselves,” he said.

Agazuma further revealed that the agency has continued to rescue Edo indigenes from the hands of traffickers, including those who have been held in captivity for years in their search for greener pastures.

He called on citizens to shun irregular migration and ensure that they only travel through legal means to avoid falling prey to traffickers.

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“Our work and focus as an agency is bringing the world to Edo. The administration of Monday Okpebholo is bringing good governance to Edo and in the long run eliminating irregular migration.”

A lead actor in the premiered film “Cold Dishes” and an Edo indigene, Osas Ighodalo, also expressed appreciation to Okpebholo for creating an enabling environment for the entertainment industry to thrive.

“Edo State is taking the lead in the fight against irregular migration and the government has continued to support all efforts to eliminate the scourge. I thank the Edo State government and the migration agency for standing with our returnees and rehabilitating them. The film is a call on all Stakeholders to do more,” she said.

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has signed law prescribing 10 years Imprisonment for anyone who violently or forcefully enters into state-owned property.

The governor also assented to, law prescribing five years imprisonment for anyone who is involved in an unauthorized sale or transfer of government property without the governor’s consent.

This was disclosed in a statement signed by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, and made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Benin.

Itua in the statement quoted the governor as emphasizing that the “new legal framework is a clear demonstration of his administration’s zero tolerance for corruption, impunity, and misuse of government property.”

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The governor’s CPS said the law also prescribed stringent penalty for professionals who aid or abet illegal land transactions involving state property.

The statement partly reads: “The Edo State Public Property Protection Law, 2025, establishes the Edo State Public Property Protection Committee, a statutory body mandated to oversee, safeguard, and recover all public properties belonging to the State. The law empowers the committee to prevent unauthorized occupation, vandalism, encroachment, alienation, or destruction of public assets.

“Under the new law, the committee shall have the authority to identify, inspect, seal, and recover encroached public properties, investigate disputes, and collaborate with law enforcement agencies to ensure strict compliance. It also empowers the committee to initiate legal actions through the Ministry of Justice against any individual or entity found in contravention of the provisions of the law.

“Public assets belong to the people of Edo State, not individuals. This law ensures that no one, no matter how highly placed, can appropriate public property for private gain,” he said.

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“The law prescribes stringent penalties for violations. Unauthorized sale or transfer of government property without the governor’s consent now attracts a five-year prison term, while violent or forceful entry into state-owned property could lead to up to ten years’ imprisonment, depending on the severity of the offence.

“Professionals who aid or abet illegal land transactions involving state property will also face sanctions, including prosecution and referral to their professional bodies for disciplinary action.

“Additionally, false petitions or fraudulent claims relating to government lands will attract severe penalties to deter abuse of process.”

The governor of Edo state, Monday Okpebholo, has expressed his administration’s readiness to embark on the production of essential drugs from 2026 in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

The governor stated this
during an inspection of the Central Medical Stores, presently under the supervision of the Edo State Drugs and Health Commodities Management Agency (DMA).

Represented by his Deputy, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, the governor revealed the state’s readiness to bring to life the moribund Edo Pharmaceutical Company.

The governor, who said the essence was to bring to an end medical tourism in the state, noted that facilities at the Edo pharmaceutical company and central medical stores were vandalised during the EndSARS protest in 2020.

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“The state was desirous to put the facility to good use through the production of essential drugs, which will ease medical costs in the state and even the South – South geopolitical region,” he said.

Okpebholo affirmed that the state was ready to harness the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), which aims to accelerate the transformation of Nigeria’s healthcare system.

He said this would attract investment, increase local production of medical products, and expand the private sector.

“The Governor is passionate about the welfare of the people of Edo State. Hence, he told us to come look around and let him know where there are areas of concern and where they need immediate intervention.”

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Idahosa stated, “We also did inspection on those drugs that have been supplied by the state government for the use of Edo people.

“What we did at the government medical stores is to ensure that the manufacturing date and the expiration dates were intact which means those drugs are good enough for Edo people.

“We also went round the pharmaceutical company that used to produce drugs. Because of the end SARS vandalization, the place is no longer effective.

“We will bring this back to the attention of the governor and he will bring it back to use.”

READ ALSO:Edo Vows To Reclaim Looted Assets, Strengthens Public Healthcare

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole speaking after the extensive inspection, said, “The drug management company was created for a purpose, and, it is unique, based on the fact that during campaigns this administration had promised affordable and accessible healthcare.”

He revealed that the DMA is all about “having the 36 States of the federation coming together to do a pull purchase,” which he asserted leads to price crashes, even lower than the manufacturing price.

He noted that the federal medical centres and even private pharmacies will buy from the state and thus create a win-win for everyone involved, especially the downtrodden.

Oshiomhole harped on the need to take advantage of the PVAC, a presidential initiative to encourage local manufacturers, saying that “It is going to be in our 2026 annual plan, and other plans for our next financial year.”

He revealed that the state partnered with the Federal Government to revive the production of essential drugs such as Panadol, antimalarial, and all other essential drugs.