The Pacesetter Frontier Magazine

Tag: edo

  • Death toll rises to 13 as Edo confirms 115 Lassa fever cases

    Death toll rises to 13 as Edo confirms 115 Lassa fever cases

    The death recorded from Lassa fever in Edo State has risen to 13, as confirmed cases climbed to 115 since the outbreak of the disease in the state.

    The State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akoria Obehi, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin over the weekend said the fatality figures from Lassa fever have risen to 13 while confirmed cases are 113.

    According to him, the government was stepping up efforts to contain the disease across communities in the local governments in the state.

    “We have recorded eight new cases, with the new figures; we now have 115 persons affected with the virus who are currently receiving care at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital.”

    While noting that the state is adequately prepared and equipped to handle reported cases of Lassa fever, Prof. Akoria, charged the people who experience symptoms such as severe headache, vomiting, and high fever, among others to rush to the nearest healthcare for treatment.

    (Daily Trust)

  • FG yet to release Funds for Edo State to host National Sports Festival

    The Federal Government is yet to release the fund it promised Edo State for the hosting of the 2020 National Sports Festival with less than a week to its commencement.

     

    Musa Ebomhiana, a Project Manager in the Media and Communications Sub-Committee of the festival’s Local Organising Committee, disclosed this on Sunday in Benin.

     

    He told the News Agency of Nigeria however that, while the Edo State Government still remained hopeful the fund would be released, an early release would be better.

     

    “This will ensure smooth planning for the nation’s number one sports fiesta,” he said.

     

     

     

    Ebomhiana pointed out that the need to have a smooth planning was the reason the state’s Deputy Governor, Philip Shaibu, had last week appealed for the fund’s early release.

     

    “We are taking seriously the promise by the Minister of Youth and Sports Development, Sunday Dare, that money will be released before the commencement of the festival.

     

    “We know and are sure that the Federal Government will not want to disappoint the youths and sports enthusiasts. We believe that it will do the needful.”

     

    Ebomhiana however said all that was needed, aside fund, for the successful hosting of the country’s biggest sports event had been put in place by the Edo government.

     

     

    He said sports men and women would be provided with the best and most modern sports facilities in the country.

     

    The festival official added that the participants and other visitors would enjoy the hospitable nature of the people.

     

    “The remodelled Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin boasts of the best facilities in the country, so also are other centres that will play host to various sports during the festival,” he stated.

     

    Ebomhiana disclosed that the accreditation of sports journalists for the festival would begin on Tuesday.

     

     

    “Only journalists with duly-confirmed media organisations will be considered,” he said.

     

    The 20th NSF has been scheduled to hold from April 2 to April 14.

     

    It was earlier billed to take place in March 2020, before it suffered several postponements as a result of the  outbreak of the COVID-19.

     

    (NAN)

     

     

     

     

    Source: www.punchng.com

  • Edo State Government bickers Over Storm Water Project

     

    Edo State Government and All Progressives Congress (APC) are bickering over N30 billion multi-phase Benin flood and erosion control project (Storm Water Project) commenced by the administration of former governor Adams Oshiomhole.

     

    Governor Godwin Obaseki had, while inspecting the Textile Mill Road catchment of the project on Monday, alleged that the project was conceived to defraud Edo people, adding that his administration will probe the project and recover all the money stolen through it.

     

    “They have to explain to us how they spent the N30 billion on a project they claimed will drain water from a community. But the project drains the water to nowhere. They have the boldness to claim that we abandoned the project which were never made or designed to work in the first place.

     

    “Clearly, we will take the necessary precaution to recover all the money due to Edo people that was stolen from this project,” Obaseki said.

     

    The government, yesterday, alleged, in a statement by Secretary to the State Government, Osarodion Ogie, that attempts were made to set fire on the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, housing sensitive documents relating to the project.

     

    But the APC, led by David Imuse, has dared Governor Obaseki to carry out his probe threat.

     

    The party, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary, Chris Azebamwan, urged the governor to institute the storm water probe and make its findings public so that the enlightened and informed Edo people would know the truth of the matter.

     

    “Edo people know that the project was jointly handled by the state Environment and Public Utilities and Works with several commissioners, including Ogie, who was in charge of the Works Ministry.

     

    “While the project was ongoing, Obaseki (as chairman of the economic team), regularly accompanied his predecessor to inspect the progress of work after he played the key role of sourcing the first N25 billion from the Capital Market through his company, Afrinvest, which reportedly got N1.5 billion commission from the deal.

     

    “The commission paid to Afrinvest was for acting as consultants to the project and drafting the proposal which, Obaseki, as the head of economic team, presented for approval to the state executive council and followed it up by shortlisting contractors for the project.

     

    “It will be comical and equally ingenious of the governor to carry out this probe. It will not only be revealing but end up as a milestone which could well turn out to become a benchmark for the country,” AP C said in the statement.

     

     

     

    Source: www.sunnewsonline.com

  • Gunmen suspected to be herdsmen kill 7 in Edo State

     

    GUNMEN suspected to be herdsmen have reportedly killed seven persons, including farmers at Ugboke, Oshodi, Okokodo, Ariyan and Yoruba Camp in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of the state on Wednesday.

     

    Meanwhile, the PPRO of the State Command, Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident and said all efforts were being made to arrest the perpetrators.

     

    According to Mrs Janet Ighodaro, an indigene of the area, the residents were caught unawares by the blood-thirsty herdsmen.

     

    She said, “The suspected herdsmen took over the popularly know Yoruba camp located in Ovia North-East as a base to launch attack into various communities in our state.

     

    “Four of the victims were returning from their farm when they were shot and killed on the spot. I was lucky to escape and I am currently in Benin where I am putting up with family members.”

     

    She lamented that the gruesome attack on the camps and communities was reported to the police, adding that security presence in the locality was zero.

     

    Ighodaro stressed that the policemen, who came to the area on Thursday after the dastardly act, only stopped at Okokhua community.

     

    She added that the policemen insisted that they would not to go further, but instructed the affected communities to bring the dead bodies to them at Okokhuo.

     

    Nwabuzor confirmed the incident and promised that the criminals would be arrested and brought to justice.

     

    He said, “The DPO and his operatives visited the crime site and evacuated the bodies while moves are on to ensure that the place is calm and liv es return to normalcy.”

     

     

     

    Source: www.punchng.com