Connect with us

News

REVEALED! Over 150,000 Houses Built On Edo Government Land

Published

on

A shocking revelation of how individuals and communities have illegally taken over Edo State government lands for their personal and other uses has been revealed.

Eugene Okoloise, State Coordinator, Protection of Government Property, while speaking with journalists in Benin City on Thursday, revealed that not less than 150,000 buildings in Edo State were sitting on government land, adding that such lands were illegally converted.

According to Okoloise, 27 Hectares of land retrieved from the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria (RRIN), meant for a park by the immediate past administration was diverted and sold to individuals by an unnamed senior official of that administration.

Advertisement

Further speaking in land grabbers and their activities, Okoloise said that over 30 schools have been recovered from intruders, adding that the taskforce has received over 3,000 petitions in less than three months that it was set up.

READ ALSO: Youths Block Highway In Edo, Protest Kidnapping, Poor Infrastructure

He also lambasted some foreign companies especially Chinese firms who connive with corrupt individuals to deny the state of revenue in terms of land use charges and taxes that they ought to remit to the coffers of the state government

Advertisement

“Ours is to protect government property, overtime, a lot of government properties in Edo State have been taken over, 70 percent of the moats in Benin City have been taken over by individuals.

“The most attacked institutions in the state are the schools including tertiary institutions. We have recovered about 2000 plots from the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma taken over by land grabbers.

“The UBTH outreach in Ekpoma, the houses there were destroyed and the land sold to individuals and they are building houses there.

Advertisement

READ ALSO: Instead Of Providing Security, Infrastructure, They’re Campaigning For Tinubu, Edo Youths Knock Politicians

“Over 150,000 houses in Edo State are on government land because most of these communities just deforest a place and start selling government land, we are going to recover all. If we say a new Edo is rising, we should rise with the new Edo.”

Okoloise added: “We have been able to recover a lot of landed properties for schools. Some of them will destroy the school land and erect private buildings.

Advertisement

“Like Ujoelen Secondary school where they built a brothel inside the school compound. The brothel has been seized and sealed.

“Iyeoba Secondary School, the community, divided the school land into two parts and started selling part of it to developers.”

READ ALSO: Edo Deputy Gov Assures Red Cross Of Govt’s Collaboration, Support

Advertisement

He said there was the case of a contractor who connived with the community to shift a beacon of a school to enable them sell the school land.

He added that in Auchi, the land of a public school was sold to a proprietor to build a private school inside a public secondary school.

According to him, in another school, they sold the football pitch and built a personal house there, adding, “and they did not even bother to remove the goal post which is still standing behind the house.”

Advertisement

News

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

Published

on

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.

Advertisement

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.”

Advertisement

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

Advertisement

 

Continue Reading

News

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

Published

on

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.

Advertisement

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.

Advertisement

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.”

Advertisement

 

Continue Reading

News

Okpebholo Salutes Edo Muslims, Seeks Continued Support, Prayers

Published

on

Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has urged Muslims and all Nigerians to continue to pray for peace, unity and progress in the country even as they celebrate the annual Eid-al-Adha

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Dennis Idahosa, stated this during the annual Eid-al-Adha celebration with Muslim faithfuls held at Government House in Benin City.

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to fairness, inclusivity and equal opportunities for all citizens irrespective of religion and tribe.

Advertisement

READ ALSO:ADC Penetrates Okpebholo’s District As Defections Strengthen Party in Edo Central

According to him, the present administration remains determined to building a government that reflects the diversity of Edo State, noting that competent and qualified Muslims have continued to play vital roles in his government because of their capacity, integrity and commitment to service.

“As a government, we remain committed to fairness, inclusivity and equal opportunity for every Edo citizen, irrespective of religion, ethnicity or political affiliation. This is why quality and competent Muslims are serving in key positions in our administration.”

Advertisement

Okpebholo appreciated the Muslim community in Edo State for their unwavering support and continuous prayers for his administration, noting that such prayers and support have contributed immensely to the peace and steady development being witnessed across the state.

READ ALSO:Okpebholo Felicitates Muslims On Eid-el-Fitr Celebration

He then called on all Nigerians to use the occasion of Eid-al-Adha to pray for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, stressing that the country needs collective prayers, unity and cooperation to overcome its present economic and security challenges.

Advertisement

I urge all Muslims and indeed all Nigerians to use this occasion to pray for our dear nation and for the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Nigeria needs our collective prayers, unity and support as we strive to overcome our challenges and build a more prosperous future for all.”

In his remarks, the Chief Imam of Edo State, Abdulfatai Enabulele, applauded the governor for what he described as remarkable developmental strides recorded in less than two years in office.

The cleric commended the administration for ongoing infrastructural development and efforts geared towards improving governance in the state, but appealed to the government to revisit and complete some abandoned projects inherited from the previous administration for the benefit of the people.

Advertisement

 

Continue Reading

Trending