Connect with us

News

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

Published

on

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.

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

Nigerian govt agencies to unlock $25bn revenue through electricity, digital development

Published

on

Two Nigerian government agencies, the Galaxy Backbone and the Rural Electrification Agency, have signed a partnership to provide electricity and digital connectivity to schools, hospitals, and other public institutions across the country.

This comes as the federal government agencies said the initiative is expected to help unlock $25 billion in revenue annually associated with the lack of electricity and other infrastructural development in Nigeria.

This was made known during a Memorandum of Understanding signing event in Abuja on Friday.

Speaking on the partnership, the Managing Director of GBB, Prof. Ibrahim Adeyanyu, said it would ensure effectiveness in government services to Nigerians.

He explained that the collaboration will ensure that hospitals, universities, security outfits, and government institutions have access to electricity and digital connectivity.

“We are going to target public institutions to make them more efficient and reduce the cost of governance.

“Already, we are looking at starting with a number of federal institutions within Abuja, including the National Hospital and some security outfit institutions within Abuja, and we would like to work this infrastructure deployment to get out of Galaxy Backbone, Abuja.

“Imagine providing access to the internet and electricity to the lowest micro-level of the sub-national, the local government level. Imagine how we would transform local government administration. And this is very much also in line with Mr. President, where the roles and responsibilities of local government have been brought back to make them more effective and to make sure that governance has gone down to the community level,” he stated.

On his part, the Managing Director of REA, Abba Abubakar Aliyu, said the MoU is an effort by President Bola Ahmed to drive inclusive development in Nigeria.

He emphasised that the initiative would unlock $25 billion annually associated with lack of electricity and infrastructural development in the country.

According to him, the partnership will ensure that no community is left behind in Tinubu’s government’s renewed hope agenda and the realisation of its $1 trillion economy target.

“For us, today (Friday), we are showing and demonstrating how two different government agencies can collaborate towards the development of this country. Today, we are showing we are planting the seed to unlock a $25 billion economy. The cost of lack of electricity and associated development initiatives within the country is costing the country $25 billion annually.

“Today, we are looking at contributing to the objective of Mr. President towards the realisation of the $1 trillion economy. Today, we are planting the seed for the development of small, medium, and micro enterprises across the country. Today, we are enhancing the governance of this country by making public institutions more efficient, operating with less cost, and also having all the necessary digital requirements for them to carry out their own functions.

“The nexus between electricity, financial inclusion, and the digital economy cannot be overemphasised. We have seen it over and over in the study that wherever there is no electricity, there is no financial inclusion, and there is no digital value that has been created within those communities. Nigeria has the highest number of people without electricity, which by extension means that the country has the highest number of people that are financially excluded, and they are not reaping the benefit of the digital economy,” he stated.

Continue Reading

News

Jigawa police arrest man for alleged murder of sister over land dispute

Published

on

The Jigawa State Police Command said it investigating a tragic case of culpable homicide that occurred on July 1, 2025, around in Galadanchi village, Dutse local government where a 70-year-old man allegedly killed his sister over a land dispute.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect, one Adamu Yakubu aged 70 of Galadanchi village, allegedly struck his sister, Hannatu Hashimu aged 45yrs of the same address with a stick during a heated argument over the sharing of family inheritance land.

The altercation, which began as a verbal disagreement, allegedly escalated into physical violence, with the suspect attacking the victim with a stick.

The Police spokesman, SP Shi’isu Lawan Adam, in a statement on Friday said the deceased exited the house bitterly and fainted upon entering the matrimonial house.

She was rushed to Dutse General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead by the medical doctor on duty.

According to him: “The suspect was arrested and is currently in police custody, assisting with the ongoing investigation.

“The assault stick was recovered and kept as an exhibit.”

The Command has condemned the incident and reiterated its commitment to ensuring justice is served.

The Command also urged members of the public to seek peaceful and legal ways to resolve family and land-related disputes.

“Following the completion of the investigation, the suspect will be arraigned in court.”

“The Jigawa State Police Command expresses its condolences to the family of the deceased and assures the public that justice will be served,” he added.

Continue Reading

News

BREAKING!! Natasha Floors Akpabio as Court Orders Senate to Reinstate Her

Published

on

 

Federal High Court orders Senate to reinstate Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan to continue her legislative duties, ruling that her 6-month suspension is excessive and in default of Section 14(2) of the Senate’s Privileges Act. 

However, the court also found Senator Natasha guilty of contempt for commenting on social media while the case was ongoing and ordered her to apologize in two national dailies and on Facebook, and to pay a fine of N5 million to the federal government within seven days.

Continue Reading

Trending