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Why Edo Govt Cannot Repair Federal Roads – Obaseki

Published

3 years ago

July 19, 2023

By Joseph Ebi Kanjo

… Laments FG Treating Edo People Unfairly

The governor of Edo State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has revealed why his government cannot rehabilitate collapse portions of federal roads in the state.

He said the confusing policies and procedures put in place by the Federal Government as regard repair of its (Federal Government) roads has made it difficult for any state government to embark on repair of federal roads.

Obaseki who made this known in Wednesday when he paid a visit to the secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Edo State council, Benin, lamented that as a governor his legs and hands are tired as regards repair of federal roads.

He added: “We are in a very difficult situation in Edo. Our hands and legs are tied and they say we should run. because the only governmemt people know is their state government.”

He continued: “Federal policy relating to its road is very confusing. In the past we could go as a state, rehabilitate and go and give the Federal Government the bill and say we have carried out palliative on your roads, please refund, and we would get the refund. At a point they said state can only apply and take over those roads, but I am yet to see the state they have given federal road to repair.”

The Governor who said his attempt to carry out palliatives measure on a federal road in the state was frustrated, disclosed: “I will give you an example. Auchi-Ibilo road was so bad, contractors were not mobilised there, so we say we want to carry out palliative measure on the road, but they so no. They said it is a federal road and that the road has already been given to a contractor. What do we do in this kind of situation.

“Even when I said I want to fix Benin-Sapele Road now, I am not allowed to. Because first, it is not our road, and secondly the Federal Government feels they have already given out the road to contractor.”

Obaseki who lamented that Edo people are being unfairly treated by the Federal Government in what he termed ‘probably because of their political stance’, declared that Nigeria belongs to everyone hence individuals should be treated in a fair manner.

He said: “I am not here to critise the Federal Government, but I am here to say that we are all Nigerians. So, it is only fair and proper that the Federal Government treat Nigerians like human being. Treating us the way we are being treated in Edo State, as if we do not belong to this country, it is really really unfair. You don’t have to vote for a government for the government to care about you, we are all Nigerians.

He added: “It is like you have no one to talk to on these bad roads. When you call the federal road controller, he will say he is in Abuja. It is like no body care in Abuja. Because we come from Edo, they don’t care about us, they don’t like us, if they do we will know.”

On why he visited the secretariat of the NUJ, the Governor said he was there to seek journalists support for the task ahead in the next few months, and to also let know what he has done so far in the past six years, boasting that he has done much but just don’t like noise.

“I am here to reconnect as I started six years ago. In the next few months, many things will be happening, and I will be relying on you. They said we have not done anything, but we know we have done much. We just decided that for people to know what we are doing, we will get the journalists who are objective like you to do the job of informing them,” he added.

He continued: “I am here to tell you that we are still partners. They said Obaseki is not doing anything, we have not seen anything he has done, but I want to tell you that we have done much, and very soon we will be rolling out our works. We are concerned about the next generation of Edo. How do we ensure our children have the best education.”

Obaseki who eulogized chairman of the council, Festus Alenkhe, for the ongoing transformation in the Edo NUJ, said Alenkhe is replicating the kind of transformation his governmemt is doing in Edo State particularly in public and civil service.

“Congratulations Mr. Chairman. The amount of improvement I saw, I am proud of you. I am proud of you because you have taken the kind of transformation we are taking as a Government.”

Related Topics:Edo NUJ Festus Alenkhe Obaseki

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News

Six Corps Members Receive N10m Grants To Boost Agribusiness

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Six members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) have received a total of N10 million in grants to expand their agribusiness ventures under the Farmers for the Future Programme.

The programme was organised on Monday by the British American Tobacco Nigeria Foundation (BATNF) in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage young Nigerians to embrace agriculture and develop sustainable businesses.

Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries in Abuja, the NYSC Director-General, Brigadier General Olakunle Nafiu, urged Corps members to maximise the opportunities provided by the service year by venturing into commodity marketing and other viable businesses.

Nafiu said agribusiness remained a viable avenue for young people to build sustainable enterprises, create employment and generate wealth.

He also stressed the importance of value addition to the success and sustainability of business ventures, while commending BATNF for placing Nigerian youths at the centre of its entrepreneurship initiatives through value-chain development, employment creation and its partnership with the NYSC.

“I charge you to spread the news around. We have seen the outcome, and it is a good idea,” he said.

The beneficiaries are Dominic Olufemi (FC/25C/1143), who received N3 million; Temitope Adewole (ED/26A/2251), N2 million; Abdulwaheed Bala (ED/25B/1402), N2 million; Olanike Mayungbe (OG/26B/1037), N1 million; Kingsley Udoeyen (KG/26A/1735), N1 million; and Lorember Lorsue (JG/25B/1742), N1 million.

Speaking on the selection process, the Acting Director, Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development (SAED), Mrs Winifred Shopeka, said the programme began with an online registration portal through which Corps Members engaged in agribusiness submitted their business plans.

She said nearly 3,000 Corps members applied and underwent a rigorous selection process that produced 20 finalists.

According to her, the finalists participated in a boot camp and a final pitching session, which produced the 10 best presenters before the six ultimate winners were selected.

Shopeka said the beneficiaries had also been mentored and attached to established market operators to assist them in marketing their products.

She added that Corps Members who did not make the final stage of the competition were also trained by BATNF.

The BATNF Team Lead, Mr Oludare Odusanya, congratulated the beneficiaries and urged Corps Members engaged in agribusiness to master the fundamentals and acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to succeed.

“We are happy with our collaboration with the NYSC, and it will continue,” he said.

Odusanya explained that BATNF was an independent organisation established to contribute to poverty reduction in Nigeria through sustainable agricultural practices and other interventions.

He said the Farmers for the Future Programme was instituted in collaboration with the NYSC to encourage Corps Members to venture into agribusiness and become job creators.

He added that the beneficiaries would be attached to mentors who would guide them towards achieving success in their respective businesses.

According to him, the programme has, since its inception, continued to enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of Corps Members.

News

CBN Reduces Interest Rate To 23%

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Tuesday announced the reduction of the interest rate, also known as Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) to 23 percent.

Briefing the media in Abuja, the Governor of the CBN, Mr. Olayemi Cardoso, said at the 307th MPC meeting held on September 22, 2026 agreed the resetting of the MPR and recaliberation of the monetary policy market.

According to Cardoso, the committe is satisfied with the disinflation progress, adding that members noted stable banking sector following successful recapitalisation.

Meanwhile, according to Nigerian Tribune, reports that that the MPC, at its 306th meeting in July 2026, disclosed its resolution to retain the interets at 26.5 percent.

According to the Governor of the CBN, Olayemi Cardoso, “the Committee’s decision to maintain the current policy stance followed a thorough assessment of the balance of risks. Although headline inflation moderated marginally in June 2026, global uncertainties have heightened, due mainly to the renewed hostilities in the Middle East.

“In view of the evolving developments, maintaining a cautious monetary policy stance remains appropriate. In arriving at its decision, the Committee noted the recent resurgence of hostilities in the Middle East, with particular attention to its spillover effects on global energy prices and the potential pass-through to domestic inflation.”

News

NURTW: KWAM1 Settles Long-time Rift Between MC Oluomo, Tafa Sego

Published

2 days ago

September 22, 2026

Editor

Nigerian Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, popularly known as KWAM1, has brokered a peace deal between the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) National President, Musiliu Akinsanya, popularly known as MC Oluomo, and the Lagos State Chairman of the union, Mustapha Adekunle, aka Tafa Sego.

The reconciliation took place at Ojusagbola in Ijebu, Ogun State, where several NURTW chieftains gathered for the meeting.

The development was announced on Tuesday on KWAM1’s digital media page on Instagram, alongside photographs from the meeting.

According to the post, the two union leaders have resolved their differences after years of strained relations.

“After years of an age-long rift, MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego have finally settled their differences. And from what we know now, this is final,” the post said.

The musician was said to have intervened as the Mayegun of Yorubaland, with the aim of bringing an end to the longstanding disagreement between the two NURTW figures.

“K1 acted in his role as the Mayegun of Yorubaland by seeking an end to the long-standing rift, once and for all,” it said.

The post also described the meeting as a significant step beyond previous public displays of reconciliation.

“This time, it was not just another handshake for the cameras. The two old friends and colleagues came together at Ojusagbola, with King Wasiu Ayinde Marshal (K1) playing the peacemaker.”

Both MC Oluomo and Tafa Sego were reported to be pleased with the outcome of the intervention.

“Both parties are delighted about the new development,” the post said.

The two men had previously been allies and prominent figures within the Lagos NURTW before their relationship became strained amid disagreements linked to leadership of the union in the state.