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OPINION: Recommending Oba Erediauwa To President Tinubu

Published

3 months ago

June 24, 2025

By Suyi Ayodele

Everyone has someone he adores. I have many such people; men and women who made or are making meaningful impacts. One of such men was Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, Oba of Benin (22 June 1923 – April 2016). May his soul continue to rest peacefully in the midst of his ancestors. Isee! The Oba was an epitome of what a good leader should be. Diplomatic, humane with a deep milk of kindness running in his veins, Oba Erediauwa was the people’s Oba. He was close to his subjects and drew strangers to himself, too.

People, from time immemorial, do funny things to get closer to their leaders. In some extreme cases, some do weird things to get noticed by their rulers or leaders alike. A woman and a man did something weird and funny to get the attention of Oba Erediauwa a few years ago.

Some years into the reign of Oba Erediauwa (1979-2016), a woman used to come into the palace chanting two sentences to wit: Emwenoba romwonu (I have something to say to the Oba), and Edohia gha hena humwenhe (Benin must hear what they are doing to me). She would target whenever the Oba was within earshot to utter the statements and would leave.

Initially, Oba Erediauwa pretended not to hear. But like the story of the persistent widow in the Bible as recorded Luke 18:1-8, the woman kept coming to the palace until the Omo N’Oba could no longer resist her. So, one day, Oba Erediauwa asked her to be brought forward and asked her what she wanted to tell the king and what she wanted Benin to hear.

The woman, who hailed from Kwale, Delta State, narrated how her husband, also a Kwale man, died and was buried in accordance with Kwale tradition and Benin custom of Igiogbe. Despite those rites of passage fulfilled by the eldest son of the man, the extended family of the deceased wanted to chase her and her children out of the house which the deceased husband built and where he lived, died and was buried. Then she asked Oba Erediauwa if that was right.

Omo N’Oba Erediauwa wasted no time. He settled the matter and assigned some senior palace chiefs to follow the woman home and restore her rights and those of her children to their late father’s estate. Till date, nobody has ever gone to trouble the woman in her matrimonial home. The Oba’s pronouncements, especially on land matters, are final. It is not for fun that the Benin people say: Aiguobasimwin-otor (You don’t drag land with the Oba). But what if that woman had no access to Oba Erediauwa? Think about that while I share the second short story.

Again, a man was brought before Oba Erediauwa by some palace functionaries. The crime the man committed was that he inscribed a chieftaincy title on his car and was in the habit of driving the car frequently around the King’s Square otherwise known as Ring Road. After repeated warnings to the culprit to remove the inscription failed, he was ‘arrested’ and brought before the Omo N’Oba.

After listening to the complaint against the man, Oba Erediauwa asked those who ‘arrested’ him to state which offence the accused had committed. The palace functionaries explained that the title the man claimed did not exist in the Benin Kingdom. But more importantly, he must give the name of the Omo N’Oba who conferred the chieftaincy title on him.

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Turning to the accused, Oba Erediauwa asked him to respond to the issues raised by the palace chiefs. The man, paying obeisance to the Oba simply said in Benin Language: “Ima yegbemwen-yunu vbiayasekenuye sir. ” The simple interpretation is: “If I had not fooled myself, how could I have ever reached your presence sir?”

Omo N’Oba Erediauwa looked at his chiefs and looked back at the man. He asked his chiefs if they heard what the accused man said, and they answered in the affirmative. The Oba asked again if there was still anything the chiefs wanted to know, and they chorused “No”.

Turning to the man again, Oba Erediauwa prayed for him that now that he (the accused) had fulfilled his life ambition of standing in the presence of the Omo N’Oba, may he prosper and live long. The king rose. The man simply went outside and removed the sticker on his car and drove off.

To see his king, the man conferred on himself a non-existent chieftaincy title. Thank God for the wisdom with which Oba Erediauwa handled the message. The monarch was sensitive enough to know that there were many of his subjects out there who longed to see him, but protocols, traditions and custom would not allow them.

The Omo N’Oba was knowledgeable enough to realise that a lot of commoners would do anything from the funny to the weird and the absurd, just to catch a glimpse of him. These two occasions were just a few of how many times the monarch descended from his high throne to meet with those at the bottom of the ladder in his kingdom. Oba Erediauwa knew that without the people, there is no kingdom. He was a monarch with the mantra: the people first!

An incident close to these happened in Kaduna last week when Citizen Mohammed Umar, whom the Kaduna Police called a ‘madman’, attempted to get close to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the podium where the President was addressing the dignitaries that were present in the event the number one man had with Kaduna people.

The narratives that followed the short video of that incident are not complimentary ones for the President. The commentaries show the feelings in the land. The police responded by saying that the narratives were by the enemies of the President. Honestly, I believe the police. President Tinubu himself must believe the police too. With the way Tinubu has handled the lives of Nigerians in the last two years, he has successfully acquired a horde of enemies!

But if I were President Tinubu, I would be wary of those who call themselves my friends. The President is no doubt surrounded by too many friends who don’t tell him the truth. Those are men and women who are members of the Hallelujah orchestra; the máa jó lo mò ún wo èhìn e (keep dancing, I am watching your back) gang. Those are the ones who tell the president how much Nigerians love him and his non-existent or pain-inflicting reforms and how Nigerians wished they had had a Tinubu long before now!

MORE FROM THE AUTHOR: OPINION: Federal Republic Of Loans

The President’s friends he should be wary of are the ones who hailed him when he announced, to the embarrassment of the entire nation, that he could not travel to Yelwata, where over 200 Nigerians were slaughtered and roasted last week by bandits because of “the rain, flood and bad road!”

I listened to President Tinubu utter those words; those flimsy excuses from the Commander-in-Chief, and all I could say was sè e ùngbó òrò burúkú lénu eye (hope you can hear terrible chirp from the mouth of the bird)? What did Tinubu go to do in Benue State if he could not get to Yelwata? Who did he go to ‘sympathise’ with? What happened to the road? What is the duty of a government if it cannot fix roads and control erosion? If the President needed to go to Yelwata to canvass for votes, would “the rain, erosion and bad road” be hindrances?

Was it not the same rain that the Benue State Government pushed school children to, to welcome Tinubu? What is the value of a president that could not defy the rain, brace the erosion and suffer bumpy rides to reach Yelwata where those God has put under his watch were slaughtered? How much was spent on the reception for the President in Makurdi, and how much would it have cost to do emergency palliative work on the Yelwata Road? Did the government not clear the bushes on the roads the president would use within Makurdi?

And come to think of it. Are the choppers in the Presidential Air Fleet (PAF) bad? Not a single of the five helicopters “tailored for VIP transport” is functional enough to convey the President to Yelwata and back?

What President Tinubu did in Benue State is a bad example of how a leader should not treat the dead or demean the living. It is also a negative testimony of how distant our leaders are from the people they pretend to lead. This is why we will continue to have the likes of Mohammed Umar of Kaduna who are ready to do anything to catch a glimpse of the president.

Incidentally, President Tinubu is not alone in this malady of distant rulership. Check your neighbourhood and ask how many times you get to see your councillors. How many local government chairmen are accessible to their constituents? Once they have the prefix, “Honourable”, do we get to see our legislators? How many so-called ” Distinguished ” senators walk the same paths with the commoners once they ascend those lofty heights? Here in Nigeria, the convoy of a governor is as long as the entire length of the Niger Bridge in Onitsha!

That is why our leaders don’t feel what we feel. They don’t go to the marketplaces; they don’t attend the shambolic death houses they call hospitals for us commoners. Protocol men and women are there to screen us when we approach them. Overzealous security agents are handy to rough handle the common men that try to get close to ‘His Excellency.

I saw how startled President Tinubu was when Umar made that weird attempt in Kaduna. Nothing wrong in that; the President is a human being. But his gesture sent a strong message to me. I don’t know who shares the same feeling. President Tinubu was momentarily rattled in that video! He was scared; he was fazed! It was written all over him! So, the rich also get scared? Can someone help tell the President that that is the common food of poor Nigerians; we live perpetually in fear!

Seriously, President Tinubu has something to learn from that incident. A good leader needs not fear by the appearance of a mere ‘madman’, especially when he is in the midst of his people. Thank God, Umar, as we were told, was just a fanatical supporter of Tinubu. And he was not armed. So, if the President was that scared seeing one of his own approaching him, what would he do if he were to be in a hostile environment?

The lesson here is not for President Tinubu alone. Our leaders should learn how to lead well and make life more abundant for the people. The streets are not smiling, as we say in our usual street lingo. Things are not adding up for the common man. The next few months are going to be tough. This is not my prediction; Lasisi Olagunju said so in his Monday Line Column of yesterday (Monday, June 23, 2025)

While concluding the column: “Let Tehran, Tel Aviv bleed, Abuja will pay the price” the columnist wrote: “They pull the trigger, the mugus of the world pay the price.” Olagunju said this with the valid projections that the war in the Middle East would gravely affect the African continent. I could not agree less.

When the pangs of the ongoing madness in the Middle East begin to take its toll on us, our leaders will witness more weird behaviours from the citizens. The poor will get more desperate. And in gatherings like we had in Kaduna last week, more’ mad’ fanatics of our leaders will show up. The security aides will have more work to do. And, who knows, the number of the ‘mad fanatics’ may one day become too large for the security aides to rein in!

But we can avert that. Our leaders can drink water and drop the cups peacefully if only they will do the right thing. What I prescribe here is that the leaders should get close to the people. Feel their pains, share in their agony and stop giving excuses of “the rain, flood and bad road.” It is not an honour for the chief hunter to announce that he was chased out of the forest by a wild animal! Bad road is too cheap an excuse for the President not to visit the victims of a genocide as we had in Yelwata.

It is not too late. Let the President begin to ameliorate the pain in the land. Let Tinubu begin to give human face to his governance. Should the prices of crude go up with the war in the Middle East without corresponding measures to cushion the effects on hapless Nigerians who will be made to buy petrol at higher prices, many ‘mad’ men and women; those who adore and those who hate, will approach presidential and gubernatorial podiums with the vociferous lunacy birthed exclusively by either anger or hunger!

News

Fastest Cars With Highest Top Speed In 2025

Published

1 hour ago

September 29, 2025

Editor

Most of us look for sensible things in a car, such as its speed, reliability, and lower running costs. However, many of us crave speed and performance, and sports cars, in this case, are no exception. So, have you ever wondered which is the fastest car in the world? If yes, then you are at the right place.

We have compiled a list of the top 11 fastest cars in the world, ranked by top speed, which can break the 250 mph barrier and even reach speeds of up to 300 mph. Let’s delve into the blog!

1. BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme (Fastest Electric Car Tested in 2025)

The BYD Yangwang U9 Xtreme is a high-performance electric hypercar that recently set a new top-speed benchmark.

Design and Aerodynamics

The car uses active and dynamic aerodynamics, allowing real-time airflow optimization to maintain stability at extreme speeds.

Engine and Performance

It is powered by a quad-motor electric drivetrain producing over 2959 hp, utilizing the DiSus-X intelligent body control system and an advanced carbon-fiber chassis.

Speed

During official track testing, the U9 Xtreme has proven to be one of the fastest cars with highest top speed of 308.4 mph (496.3 km/h).

Production and Price

The car is now being available to the customers with a limited production of 30 units. BYD launched the base Yangwang U9 in China at price of about ¥1.68 million (≈ USD 236,000).

2. Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut

Koenigsegg unveiled the Jesko Absolut in 2020 as the speed-focused variant of the Jesko lineup. The company calls it the fastest car they will ever produce, aiming to push the boundaries of modern hypercar performance.

Design and Aerodynamics

It is a high-speed hypercar with a stunning design and unmatched speed. Its shape and every part are made to reduce drag and increase speed. It has a drag coefficient of 0.278, which makes it one of the most aerodynamic cars ever.

Additionally, Koenigsegg replaced the Jesko Absolut’s rear wings with two rear fins, which enhance high-speed stability and reduce drag force. The car uses carbon fiber materials and an advanced chassis system for its body.

Engine and Performance

Koenisegg Jesko Absolut is powered by a 5.0L twin-turbocharged V8 engine that can produce up to 1600 horsepower when running on E85 biofuel. The engine is paired with a 9-speed light transmission. Its engine rev limit can reach up to 8500 rpm.

Top Speed

Regarding the top speed, it is the fastest car in the world, capable of exceeding 500 km/h (310 mph), due to its lightweight body and reduced drag. However, it is worth noting that Koenigsegg hasn’t officially set a speed record yet, and time will tell if the car achieves this impressive top speed on the track.

Production and Price

The Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut is part of a 125-unit limited production run, shared with the Jesko Attack variant. It is priced around $2.84 million, excluding bespoke options.

3. Bugatti Tourbillon

Design and Aerodynamics

Bugatti Tourbillon is an upcoming mid-engine sports car and is a successor of Chiron. It shares some design elements while keeping alive the Bugatti’s brand lineage. These are horseshoe shaped front grille, central spine, C-shaped side lines, and two-tone color body.

Bugatti teamed up with Divergent

Technologies to make originally shaped 3D-printed suspension components. In addition, Tourbillion’s suspension is 45% lighter than Chiron.

The rear diffuser in the car helps to protect the car in a crash, manages the airflow at high speed, and enhances its stability at high speed.

Engine and Performance

It is powered by an 8.3L V16 engine developed by Cosworth capable of delivering 1000+ hp and runs in conjunction with three electric motors from which 2 of them are located on the front axle and 1 on the rear. The engine is mated with 8-speed dual clutch transmission which is mounted longitudinally on the rear of the vehicle.

If we talk about acceleration and speed, this luxury missile can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 2.0 seconds and can reach up to a top speed of 277 mph ( 446 km/h). However, it is not confirmed yet in real-world conditions.

Top Speed

A faster version of the Bugatti can be expected in the near future since the company has already achieved over 300 mph with the previous Chiron.

Production and Price

Its production is limited to only 250 units and its price is US $4.1 million rupees.

4. SSC Tuatara

SSC Tuatara is a sports car designed by SSC North America and is a result of design collaboration between Jaston Catriota and SSC.

Design and Aerodynamics

Moving onto the design, the car uses carbon fiber for its body, including a carbon monocoque and carbon fiber wheels.

This sports car has the leading drag coefficient of 0.279 with active aerodynamics. It is due to the presence of rear winglets, side butteresses, a front wing, and an active rear wing that helps to reduce drag, and increase downforce at high speeds.

If we talk about the interior, it features aluminum and leather upholstery. SSC Tuatara includes a center console, and drivers can control all functions through a touchscreen.. Plus, there’s a customizable digital display behind the steering wheel that displays the necessary information about the car along with the speedometer. It has three driving modes i.e., Sport, Track, and Lift. The car’s height is different at the front and at the rear in each mode.

Engine and Performance

It uses a 5.9L twin-turbocharged flat-plane crank V8 engine that produces 1750 hp on E85 fuel and pairs with a 7-speed automated manual transmission.

The Bugatti’s W16 engine is undoubtedly impressive. However, you just can’t beat sometimes the power of a big V8 engine with two turbos bolted on. One such engine can be found in SSC Tuatara that produces horsepower of 1750 hp when it’s running on ethanol. If we talk about its acceleration and speed, it can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.5 seconds.

Top Speed

SSC claimed the Tuatara crossed the top speed of 331 mph in October 2021. However, later in 2022, the test showed that a car can hit an actual top speed of 295 mph ( 474 km/h).

Production and Price

The company limits the car’s production to 100 units and sets its price at US $2 million.

5. Hennessey Venom F5

Hennessey Special Vehicles manufactured the American sports car Venom F5 in 2017. The company built its chassis and body from carbon fiber, which enhances performance and stability.

Design and Aerodynamics

Regarding the design, the exterior is simple with minimal sharp lines that control the air flow during high speed driving. The interior is also spacious and comprises carbon-fiber bucket seats that offer relaxing driving experience under extreme acceleration and at high speeds. It has a yoke-shaped bespoke carbon fiber steering wheel which also contributes to its overall aesthetics.

It has a drag coefficient value of 0.39d contributing to its sleek, and aerodynamic body designed for ultra high-speed stability.

Engine and Performance

Moving towards the engine, it has a powerful twin-turbo 6.6L V8 engine 1817 hp ( 1842 PS) and 1193 lb-ft ( 1617 Nm) torque. The engine pairs with a 7-speed single-clutch automated transmission with paddle shifters and a rear-wheel-drive system. It can rev up to 8500 rpm in F5 mode.

If we talk about the acceleration and speed, this car can launch from 0-60 mph in 2.6 seconds.

Top Speed

Venom F5 can go onto a top speed of around 272 mph (437.7 km/h).

Production and Price

Hennessey limited the Venom F5’s production to 24 units and priced it at $1.6 million in the United States. However, the company increased the price to $2.1 million for the remaining 12 models.

6. Rimac Nevera

Another on the list is Rimac Nevera, the fastest car in the world with exceptional speed and unmatchable power. This electric sports car has ultra stiff suspension, engineering, and build quality.

Design and Aerodynamics

If we take a look at its design, it uses active aero elements including a moveable front splitter, rear diffuser, and wing that maintains the car’s speed at high speeds. Its drag coefficient is 0.3 in low drag mode.

Nevera has an advanced interior including minimal gearbox, digital high-resolution displays, and premium material seats.

Engine and Performance

Regarding the specs, an electric motor drives each wheel independently through a single-speed gearbox. The car delivers combined output of 1914 hp and 2340 Nm torque. It uses a 120 kWh lithium manganese nickel battery integrated into the carbon monocoque for reliable weight distribution and rigidity. Rimac’s R-AWTV system offers more grip and sends more power to the wheel when needed. Revera’s WLTP battery range is 489 km based on final testing.

Top Speed

Regarding the speed, the car can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 1.85 seconds that makes it one the fastest electric cars in the world. The official top speed of Nevera is 258 mph ( 412 km/h).

Production and Price

The company has produced only 150 units, and in 2025 the price will start at $2,200,000 and reach up to $2,500,000.

7. McLaren Speedtail

Speedtail is Mclaren’s fastest hyper GT car that offers ultra aerodynamic efficiency and stability. However, it provides outright straight line speed rather than performing purely on the racing track.

Design and Aerodynamics

Design-wise, this hyper car is all about aerodynamics. It comprises a long teardrop-shaped body, flexible rear ailerons, and no traditional side mirror. These retractable high-definition cameras have replaced these mirrors. This helps reduce drag and improve high-speed stability.

The interior allows you to accommodate three people with the driver seat in center and two passenger seats set slightly back just like the ones in McLaren F1.

Engine and Performance

Moreover, it operates on a hybrid petrol-electric powertrain that combines a 4.0L twin-turbocharged V8 engine with an electric motor. The car delivers a combined power output of 1070 PS (1036 hp) and 1150 Nm torque, and its engine pairs with a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission.

The car can accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) in just 3.0 seconds and 0-200 km/h in just 6.6 seconds.

Top Speed

It’s top speed of 250 mph ( 402 km/h).

Production and Price

McLaren produced a total of 106 Speedtail units, each priced at over $2 million USD.

8. Koenigsegg Regera

The 8th on our list is Koenigsegg Regera, a luxury megacar alternative to the company’s lightweight racing cars. It is the first car in the world with fully automatic body openings. The car has proximity sensors that protects its doors from hitting the nearby objects during opening or closing.

Design and Aerodynamics

Moving towards the design, the interior comprises 8-way adjustable memory foam seats, smart center touch screen, and dual zone climate control. In the exterior, the constellation DRLs provides a view of the night sky with a carbon fiber background that enhances its aesthetic appeal.

Engine and Performance

Koenigsegg manufactured Regera as its first car with a hybrid powertrain. It consists of a twin-turbo aluminum 5.0L V8 engine that delivers the total horsepower 1500+ and over 2000+ Nm torque. Moreover, the car uses an 800-Volt 4.5 kWh flooded liquid-cooled battery pack that weighs 75 kg.

Regarding the transmission, Regera comprises Koenigsegg Direct Drive transmission that does support gear shift mechanism. Instead of this, the engine directly engages with the wheels through a single speed gearbox which in turn helps the car to accelerate faster without an abundant energy loss.

Performance-wise, the Koenigsegg Regera can go from 0-60 mph in just 2.8 seconds.

Top Speed

The car’s top speed is 250 mph ( 402 km/h) just like the McLaren Speedtail.

Production and Price

Koenigsegg planned to build only 80 Regress and all sold out before two years after the unveiling of the Car in Geneva.

9. Aston Martin Valkyrie

Aston Martin Valkyrie is a hybrid sports car having an extremely aerodynamic body with carbon fiber material all around. It weighs around 1030 kg.

Design and Aerodynamics

Regarding the design, the car’s striking aerodynamic elements like rear diffuser, and open underbody maximize downforce and control the overall air flow, especially at high speed driving.

Engine and Performance

Valkyrie comprises a 6.5L naturally aspirated V12 that produces up to 1140 hp. The engine pairs with a 7-speed automated single-clutch transmission for reliable track performance and acceleration.

Acceleration-wise, the car can accelerate from 0-60 mph in just 2.5 seconds .

Top Speed

It has a top speed of 250 mph ( 402 km/h).

Production and Price

Aston Martin produced 150 coupes, 85 spiders, and 40 AMR Pro Models combining to total 275 units. In addition, the company said it had sold all the produced models but had not yet delivered them.

10. Pagani Huayra

Pagani Huayra is a stylish sports car with efficient active aerodynamics that contributes to its reliable performance. The four flaps in the front and rear control the airflow around the car’s body and adjust the downforce at different speeds and driving conditions.

Design and Aerodynamics

Regarding the design, Huayra has aggressive and low front with wide rear consisting of quad exhaust that creates its visually appealing powerful stance. The designer of the Huayra i.e., Horacio Pagani claimed that it has a drag coefficient between .31 and .37.

Engine and Performance

The car consists of Mercedes AMG developed 6.0l V12 engine which offers 730 hp and 1000 Nm torque. The engine in Pagani aims to minimize turbo lag and improve performance. It is paired to a seven-speed sequential gearbox and a single disc clutch. It has Brembo brakes, rotors, and calipers.

In terms of acceleration and top speed, the car can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.8 seconds .

Top Speed

It has a top speed of 238 mph (383 km/h).

Production and Price

Only 100 Huayra Coupe cars were made, and they are all sold. There are also special versions like the Huayra BC and Huayra Roadster. The price of Pagani Huayra starts at around $3.4 million USD.

11. Chevrolet Corvette ZR1

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 is the high-performance version of the Corvette. The upcoming Corvette will include active aerodynamics that reduce drag and maintain the car’s speed.

Design and Aerodynamics

In terms of design, the interior consists of driver-centric cockpit, excellent quality material, and bespoke options. The exterior includes covered underbody, 10-spoke carbon fiber wheels, and split rear window with hatch intakes that improves the cooling and airflow over the engine.

Engine and Performance

It consists of a 5.5L twin-turbo V8 engine that produces 1064 hp horsepower, paired with an e-dual clutch transmission and rear-wheel drive setup.

Moreover, the Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 2.3 seconds.

Top Speed

It has a top speed of 233 mph ( 375 km/h).

Production and Price

Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 for 2025 model year has not been launched yet. However, the starting price of Corvette ZR1 is expected to be $174,996 before options.

Wrap Up

From powerful V8 engines to cutting-edge electric motors, the world of performance cars is more exciting than ever. Whether it’s the raw speed of the Koenigsegg Jesko Absolut or the breakthrough electric performance of the BYD U9 Xtreme, these machines represent the fastest cars with the highest top speed. As technology evolves, these records will keep shattering.

News

Edo IGR Hits N79bn September

Published

1 hour ago

September 29, 2025

Editor

Executive Chairman of the Edo Internal Revenue Services (EIRS) Otunba Oladele Bankole-Balogun on Monday said the state’s Internally Generated Revenue increased has increased to ₦79bn.

Bankole-Balogun, who spoke in an interview, said the state’s IGR as at the end of August was N74bn, stressing that it has hit N79bn by September ending.

According to him, the state government had deployed technology and innovation that would help it to meet up targeted ₦100bn in Internally Generated Revenue by December ending.

He disclosed that the EIGR has made tremendous gains in the area of increasing the state IGR and being able to manage some of the challenging issues with tax evasion and tax avoidance.

Bankole-Balogun said the state was making steady progress through audit processes, assessments and good use of the courts.

He said the current administration of Monday Okpebholo inherited a virtually non-existent digitalized system.

The EIRS boss said his team was working assiduously to totally digitalize collections in Edo State such that in the near future, cash collections and manual collections would be reduced to the barest minimum.

According to him, “At the moment, the Edo State Internal Revenue Service is making tremendous gains in the area of increasing the IGR of this state. There are so many components to our taxation and each and every part of this mix is seeing significant improvement as compared to last year in review.

“There are some other companies that are lined up and individuals lined up somewhere. It has been traditionally difficult, as you say, to come to grips with high net worth individuals. They have all the resources to evade and avoid tax, but we’re on top of it.”

He expressed the state preparedness for the new tax regime from January 1st, 2026.

He added: “As you know, the new tax regime that will come in on the 1st of January 2026 places very little emphasis on the low income and places a lot of emphasis on the high income. Our objective is to tap into the high net worth individuals who are able to pay much more than the lower income so as to harness that group and maximize the potential from the group.

“Digitalization is on top of it. Tax bodies on top of it. The FIRS, which will now be the Federal Revenue Service, is also on top of it. The Edo State Internal Revenue Service is also on top of it. Technology will help and as you know TINs, BDNs and NINs are going to be critical to doing any financial transaction in Nigeria from the 1st of January. So all of these mechanisms put together, hopefully, will help us to be able to get more from these people who can pay more actually to give everybody a better life.“

News

Edo Deputy Gov Orders Installation Of Solar In PHC Facility

Published

2 hours ago

September 29, 2025

Editor

Deputy governor of Edo State, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, on Monday, ordered the immediate installation of solar power at Aruogba Clinic, Benin to ensure uninterrupted service delivery.

A statement by Friday Aghedo, Chief Press Secretary to the deputy governor, said the order was given when Idahosa went on an inspection visit to the health facility.

The deputy governor, while reinstating the state government’s commitment to strengthening grassroots healthcare system across the state, noted that as a result, Primary Health Centers (PHCs) across the state were being transformed to deliver on governor Monday Okpebholo’s SHINE Agenda.

While commending the pace of work at Aruogba Clinic, he said: “We are here to ensure that the health facilities closest to the people are well equipped to bequeath the healthcare system that the Governor has promised.

“From what we are seeing here today, it is clear that Governor Okpebholo is a man of vision. The accessibility is very good, and the nurses and health workers here are doing commendable jobs,” he stated.

The deputy governor added that the government would intensify supervision of PHCs across Edo to identify and fix areas needing urgent attention.

“We are going to visit many other centres and act within 24 hours on areas of improvement,” he assured.

Idahosa emphasized that proper supervision was key to ensuring compliance with medical standards and improved service delivery at the grassroots.

His remarks were echoed by Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole, who explained that the administration was working with the “3As” of healthcare: accessibility, affordability, and availability.

“The solar installation at Aruogba Clinic, officials said, will boost critical services such as antenatal care, child delivery, and malaria treatment, all of which are already being offered free of charge,” he explained.