Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, on Thursday, ordered the freezing of all state bank accounts with immediate effect, until further notice.

The governor warned commercial banks, heads of ministries, departments and agencies to comply with the order freezing the account immediately without delay.

The governor also asked the Commissioner of Police to halt the violent cult clashes in the state in 48 hours.

These were disclosed in statements by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Fred Itua, on Thursday.

In one of the statements, the governor warned that anyone, including heads of MDAs and civil servants who flouted the order on the accounts would be severely punished.

He said, “All bank accounts in all the commercial banks have been frozen. Commercial banks must comply with the order and ensure that not a dime is taken out of the confers of government until there is further notice.

“Heads of ministries, departments and agencies must comply with this order and ensure that there is a full compliance without any further delays.

“After the necessary investigations and reconciliations, the governor will do the needful and decide on the way forward. For now, this order stands.”

The governor asked the relevant government agencies to reverse the Ministry of Roads and Bridges to the Ministry of Works.

Okpebholo said since no bridges or good roads were constructed by the administration of Godwin Obaseki, it was, therefore, absurd to maintain such a name.

He ordered relevant government agencies to implement the new order and immediately reflect the new name.

“It is funny how you can call a government institution the Ministry of Roads and Bridges. Ironically, no single bridge was built by the same administration. Not even a pedestrian bridge.

“In the coming days, we will look at more actions taken by the previous administration and more decisions will be taken that will be done in the best interest of the state.”

On the cult clashes, the governor asked the police commissioner to instruct his officers and men across the various formations to immediately swing into action and halt the unnecessary bloodbath.

The statement read, “As the governor of Edo State, cultism cannot be allowed here.

We must end it very fast too.

“I have ordered the Commissioner of Police to halt the madness within 48 hours. All those involved in the killings should be stopped.

“Some associations that are causing trouble in the state, especially in Benin City, cannot be allowed to operate.

“They all remain banned, and the commissioner of police must ensure that his men carry out this instruction by giving teeth to this ban.

“Edo must be safe. That was one of my key priorities during the campaigns and I plan to ensure that we restore it at all costs. We will not fold our arms and allow them to create unnecessary tension.”

Speaking late night on Wednesday, the governor said his traducers tried hard to pull him down but God gave him victory at the September 21 governorship election.

Speaking at a thanksgiving service at the Sam Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin, he also recounted how he found a dead bat on his bed hours before he was declared the winner of the election.

He urged Nigerians to trust in God alone, irrespective of their challenges in life.

In his words, “I want to thank God. In this last election, while I was praising God, they (traducers) were busy operating from Arise. They were busy operating from Facebook. They were busy operating from Channels.

“But, I took the battle to God because I know the secret. A few days before the election, they said this guy (Okpebholo) was crazy when we gathered to praise God in this state.

“They asked, ‘What is he doing?’ They were there at Arise. But, I was listening to the voice of God and I won the battle.”

He said after the election on Sunday morning, he came to his room and met a dead bat on his bed.

“After the election on Sunday morning, I came to my room. I met a dead bat on my bed, without me shooting any arrow. But, the spirit of God was there. The arrow of God; the hand of God delivered me.

“I am grateful to the men of God that stood in the gap. I am grateful to those who believe that with God, all things are possible. And I will advise you to trust in God alone because he will do it for you,” Okpebholo said.

The governor disclosed that he did not consult any native doctor, or prophet or visit any native doctor to seek help throughout the electioneering period.

The thanksgiving worship service had in attendance prominent politicians and clergymen, among others.

President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of three Directors-General of various agencies and one special adviser on Public Communications and Media.

Mr. Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy), made this known in a statement on Thursday in Abuja.

Onanuga said the new appointees are; Mr. Olawale Olopade, D-General, National Sports Commission, Dr. Abisoye Fagade, D-G, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism and Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, D-G, Bureau of Public Procurement.

He named Daniel Bwala as Special Adviser, Media and Public Communications (State House).

According to Onanuga, Olopade, the new D-G of the National Sports Commission, is a sports administrator with many years of experience in the sector.

” He served as commissioner of youth and sports in Ogun state and was chairman of the local organizing committee of the 2024 National Sports Festival.”

Similarly, he said that the new D-G of the National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, Fagade is a marketing communication professional.

Fagade is the founder and managing director of Sodium Brand Solutions.

Onanuga also explained that Adedokun, the new helmsman of the Bureau of Public Procurement, was the director of Research/Training and Strategic Planning at the bureau before his appointment.

He stated that the Special Adviser on Public Communications and Media, Mr. Bwala is a lawyer and notable public affairs analyst.

Onanuga said that President Tinubu enjoined the newly appointed officers to discharge their duties with dedication, patriotism, and excellence.

Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday approved a $2.2 billion external borrowing plan to strengthen the country’s finances and support economic reforms.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, disclosed this to State House Correspondents at the end of the meeting.

He explained that the financing package would be raised through a combination of Eurobonds and Sukuk bonds, with approximately $1.7 billion expected to come from the Eurobond offer and $500 million from Sukuk financing.

He added that the move aimed at completing the federal government’s borrowing programme and would proceed once the National Assembly reviewed and approved the plan.

According to Edun, the borrowing would occur within this fiscal year, and the ultimate funding arrangement would be decided by market conditions and transaction adviser advice.

He said, “The first objective is to complete the federal government’s external borrowing program with the approval of the $2.2 billion financing package, which will include access to the international capital market through a combination of Eurobonds and Sukuk bonds—approximately $1.7 billion from the Eurobond offer and $500 million from Sukuk financing.

“The actual composition of the financing will be finalized once the National Assembly has considered and approved the borrowing plan. After the external borrowing approval is granted, the funds will be raised as soon as possible within the year.”

The minister said, “The exact combination of instruments will depend on the advice of transaction advisers and market conditions when we decide to enter the market.

“Earlier in the year, we demonstrated the resilience of the Nigerian financial markets and their capacity to handle more complex and sophisticated offerings, such as the domestic issuance of dollar bonds that attracted investors from both Nigeria and abroad.”

As an indication of increased trust in Nigeria’s economic recovery under President Tinubu’s administration, Edun emphasised the significance of this approval.

He used recent triumphs in issuing domestic dollar bonds that drew in both domestic and foreign investors to demonstrate the Nigerian financial market’s tenacity.

He said that this most recent overseas borrowing was made possible by the government’s economic agenda, which includes market-based pricing for important economic variables like foreign exchange and petroleum goods.