News

Flood: Okpebholo vows to demolish houses, property on waterways in Benin City

Published

3 months ago

June 18, 2025

The Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo has threatened to demolish houses and properties built in the Government Reservation Areas in Benin City.

Ekwutosblog reports that the Governor, however, assured that compensation would be paid to property owners with verified documents by the government while others would be relocated to safe areas.

“Private and commercial houses built along waterways will be demolished to pave the way for proper surface and underground drainages, especially in Government Reservation Areas in Benin City.

“Property owners with verified documents will be compensated by the government, while others will be relocated to safe areas”, he said.

Okpebholo gave the hint in Benin City while announcing the engagement of a team of environmental and hydrology experts to understudy the perennial flooding challenges confronting the state, particularly the capital.

He said the technical team from four companies have been hired to conduct comprehensive feasibility studies and environmental assessments aimed at designing a permanent and sustainable solution to Benin City’s flood problem.

He added that the planned multifaceted flood control project across the state capital would commence after the heavy rains, and the project would be completed in no distant time.

The Governor explained that the study would be after the Akwa Ibom and Rivers States’ models, which had transformed the states most flood-prone areas with efficient flood management systems.

“With the rainy season already tilting towards its peak, the timing of the exercise is strategic. It will provide the experts with a unique opportunity to observe and assess the true extent of flooding in real time across Benin City and other vulnerable parts of the state.

“The focus will be on understanding the terrain, existing drainage infrastructure, and recurring flashpoints of overflow and erosion.

“Their findings and recommendations will be submitted to the Governor for thorough evaluation and subsequent implementation.

“There will be zero tolerance for corruption or cosmetic solutions. Every kobo earmarked for the projects will be accounted for and directed solely toward its intended purpose which is the protection of lives, properties, and the environment.

“The government remains unwavering to make Benin City and its environs more resilient, livable, and economically viable. This bold intervention is part of the government broader development agenda to reposition Edo State as a model of modern urban infrastructure and environmental planning in Nigeria.

“The era of seasonal flooding, paralyzing communities, and threatening livelihoods in Edo is coming to an end”, he added.

He added that the administration is taking firm steps to deliver a future where residents would no longer live in fear each time it rains, and look forward to a new lease of life marked by proactive leadership and responsive governance.

Okpebholo posited that the government is committed to ensuring that the process is neither cosmetic nor politicized but rather driven by empirical data and genuine concern for the safety and wellbeing of Edo residents.

News

‘I entrusted over $9billion (N13.9 trillion) to Dauda Lawal Dare, the current governor of Zamfara State’: Ex-Petroleum Minister Diezani

Published

20 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

ByIbrahim Bamidele

•

Sep 17, 2025, 7:20 PM WAT

Former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, who served under ex-President Goodluck Jonathan and later fled to the United Kingdom over fears of investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has alleged that she entrusted $9 billion (approximately ₦13.9 trillion) to Dauda Lawal Dare, the current Governor of Zamfara State.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has revealed that former Petroleum Minister Diezani Alison-Madueke, who is reportedly battling stage two cancer, is pleading with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to permit her return to Nigeria to confess her alleged financial misconduct while in office.

Speaking to journalists in London after a medical appointment, Mrs. Diezani admitted she is now prepared to disclose details about the billions of dollars she is accused of misappropriating during her tenure as Minister of Petroleum.

‘’I am a born again Christian and currently suffering from second stage cancer, which my United Kingdom’s physician adviseded me to continue taking medication for the rest of my life. Yes, no human is perfect, but some time, God Almighty allows some of such to happen

I have been accused of misappropriation when I was the petroleum minister, which is true! but I would like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Nigerians to forgive me to come back home and offer my contribution because life is temporal”, a statement from EFCC says Diezani said in tears

Article continues below…

The statement from EFCC further reads;

“My husband and my entire family members including My Nigeria lawyer based in the United Kingdom knew my relationship with Dauda Lawal Dare, the current Zamfara State governor whow I entrusted over 9 billion dollars for safe keeping while he was the Executive Director of the First Bank Nigeria PLC .

“Sadly, it has reached a point where Mr. Dauda Lawal no longer answers my calls and has even collaborated with the UK police to place me under surveillance, perhaps with the intention of claiming the money I entrusted to him after my death,” she said.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by King Tunde Ednut (@mazitundeednut)

Business

Court restrains NUPENG from going on strike, disrupting Dangote refinery’s operations

Published

21 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The National Industrial Court has granted an interim injunction restraining the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) from blocking Nigerian roads, or frustrating and shutting down the operations of Dangote refinery, MRS Oil Nigeria Limited, and MRS Oil and Gas Company Limited.

The court also restrained NUPENG and other drivers’ associations from embarking on an industrial action or compelling other truck drivers to join in its industrial action.

Emmanuel Subilim, the presiding judge, delivered the ruling on Wednesday following an ex parte motion filed by George Ibrahim, the refinery’s lawyer.

Granting the ex parte, the judge said ‘irreparable damage” may be caused to Dangote refinery if the necessary orders were not granted.

Ibrahim approached the court with an ex parte motion filed alongside the originating processes and a motion on notice, dated and filed September 15.

The lawyer prayed the court to direct NUPENG and its members to continue petroleum trucking services to the refinery, MRS, and the Nigerian public pending the determination of the motion on notice.

In an affidavit deposed by Ahmed Hashem, the group’s general manager, government and strategic relations of the refinery, the applicants provided an undertaking of damages to the organisation if the court ultimately rules against the restraining request.

After hearing Ibrahim, the judge held that “this court, having satisfied itself that there is a serious issue to be tried, that the balance of convenience tilts in favour of the Applicants (Dangote Refinery), that irreparable damage may be occasioned if the necessary orders are not granted, and that the Applicants have given an undertaking as to damages”.

He ruled that NUPENG ought to be restrained, granting interim injunction on the refinery’s request.

‘RESTRAINING ORDER TO LAST FOR SEVEN DAYS’

The judge noted that the restraining orders would remain in effect for seven days.

He further directed the applicants to serve the respondents with the motion on notice and all accompanying processes in the suit within seven days from the date of the order.

The judge also noted that the court’s authority to sit during the ongoing vacation would expire on September 23.

Consequently, he ordered that the case file be forwarded to the president of the National Industrial Court of Nigeria for reassignment to another judge, who will hear and determine the motion on notice as well as the substantive case on its merits.

On September 11, NUPENG placed its members on red alert for the resumption of its nationwide industrial action — two days after it suspended its strike action, in protest against Dangote refinery’s “anti-union practices”.

The union said it made the decision after Sayyu Dantata, the owner of Mrs Oil, allegedly instructed his truck drivers, who had been NUPENG-Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) members for several years, to remove union stickers from their trucks.

NUPENG said the action led to an altercation between the truck drivers and its officials.

News

Edo Govt rescues citizen poisoned in Burkina Faso

Published

22 hours ago

September 18, 2025

Ekwutos Blog

The Edo State Government has successfully repatriated an indigene, Godstime Uwoghiren, who has been battling life-threatening health complications after allegedly being poisoned in Burkina Faso.

Uwoghiren, who was said to have been poisoned out of jealousy for purchasing a motorcycle, had been struggling with paralysis and deteriorating health for over three years before Governor Monday Okpebholo intervened to secure his return.

According to the Director-General of the Edo State Migration Agency, Lucky Agazumah, the matter was first brought to the agency’s attention four months ago, prompting the governor to act swiftly in collaboration with the Nigerian Embassy.

Uwoghiren arrived at Benin Airport around 1 pm on Wednesday aboard a flight from Burkina Faso. He was received by Agazumah and officials of the agency before being rushed by ambulance to the Edo Specialist Hospital, Benin City, for emergency medical attention.

Agazumah revealed that the rescue mission faced initial resistance from some family members but emphasised that the state government remained committed to saving his life.

“If not for Governor Okpebholo’s quick intervention, this young man would have died quietly in a foreign land. He was poisoned out of sheer envy because he bought a motorcycle. We caution Edo youths not to be deceived by the illusion of greener pastures abroad, as many Nigerians are being lured into hardship and modern slavery,” Agazumah said.

Uwoghiren’s mother, Mrs Susan Uwoghiren, expressed gratitude to the state government for stepping in to save her son. She disclosed that before travelling to Burkina Faso, Godstime had trained as an automobile mechanic in Nigeria.