The Nation Newspaper

Author: The Nation

  • Osun communal crisis extends to Oyo

    Osun communal crisis extends to Oyo

    • Ilobu farmers seek intervention

    Farmers in Ilobu community, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government of Osun State, yesterday protested against alleged harassment, intimidation and looting of their farm produce by indigenes of Ifon community.

    Communal clash had ensued between Ilobu and Ifon communities over land dispute, which resulted in loss of lives and property in October, before Osun State Government intervened, ordering ceasefire.

    After the clash, crisis has extended to over 10 villages in Oyo State where residents of the two communities are engaged in farming.

    The leader of the protesters, Basiru Adegbenro, alleged that indigenes of Ifon were intimidating them with guns and other weapons, adding: “After the clash, people of Ifon community have been intimidating and harassing us. They burn our cash crops, loot farm produce, destroy our houses in the villages in Oyo State.

    “They invaded Waale, Agana Amoo, Abebi, Oloso, Ojeyemi, Idi-Iroko, Bara, Toolu, Ikimon and Bada villages. They have turned us homeless and hopeless. We are poor now; we can hardly feed our family because the farm is the source of our livelihood.”

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    The National Publicity Secretary of Ilobu Development Union, Tairu Babatunde, said Ilobu farmers working in villages in Orolu Local Government were facing the same plight.

    He demanded that the Osun State government and security operatives should intervene in the crisis before snowballing into another communal clash, and called for the arrest of the perpetrators.

    Reacting to the protests, the Special Adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke on Boundary Matters, Bukola Onifade, berated the claims that some land belonged to Oyo State, saying: “Osun State owns the land they claim belongs to Oyo State. The people of Ilobu want to cede those land to Oyo State, they have applied to a court for that. We have also warned people of Ifon not to chase anybody out of their land. “

    When contacted, the Secretary of Ifon Board of Trustees, Jide Akinyooye, could not be reached as his phone number was out of reach. He did not respond to the SMS sent to him at press time.

  • ‘Ogun to provide shelter for victims of gender-based violence’ 

    ‘Ogun to provide shelter for victims of gender-based violence’ 

    Ogun State Government yesterday said it would provide a befitting accommodation for victims of Gender Based Violence (GBV).

    Governor Dapo Abiodun made this known in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, when he received his wife and other women, who were on a road show as part of activities for the 16 days’ Activism Against Gender Based Violence in the state.

    The governor, who said gender violence had become pronounced among men and women in the country, added that the state government would provide a befitting building to serve as a shelter for people that had been sexually harassed or subjected to other forms of molestation.

    The shelter, he said, would save them from the stigma usually associated with the problem.

    He added that the government would also work towards instituting a Gender Based Violence Trust Funds to finance the welfare of the victims.

    “You want us to ensure that we have a befitting shelter and you made a case for that, and you emphasised the fact that people abused in the house or at home cannot go back home. There are those who do not have anywhere else to go back to. There is a lot of stigma associated with those who are abused.

    “I believe that we have identified somewhere previously, but I am told that it may not be befitting.

    “By this, I am now instructing the Secretary to the State Government to work with the Ministry of Housing to identify either a building; if they can’t find one, we identify a parcel of land and we will construct a befitting building to serve as the needed shelter for those persons who have been subjected to all kinds of sexual harassment,” he said.

    Speaking on the call for a specialised court to try cases of gender based violence in the state, Governor Abiodun said: “

    Fortunately, our head of court in Ogun State is a woman. In fact, the two courts we have, the state High Court and the Customary Court of Appeal, are both headed by women. I am sure that the Chief Judge will be more than happy to see what she can do to expedite the request.”

    The governor said his administration will support women at the executive level and at the judiciary to ensure that all that is required to reduce gender violence to the barest minimum in the state, is implemented.

    He also brought to the fore the need to look into violence against men.

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    He said: “I also want to bring to the fore that violence against persons is not only violence against women alone. Men also are being abused. But often times, nobody talks about that, and I want to be the advocate for men who are being abused.

    “On the Gender Based Violence Trust Fund, I will do everything that I can to ensure that we sit down and plan on how to mobilise resources towards this noble cause. 

    “Once again, I want to assure you that I do identify with you and as your governor, I will do everything within my power to ensure that we reduce this incidence of gender based violence to an absolute minimum in Ogun State.”

    Mrs Bamidele Abiodun noted that there was an increase in cases of rape and incest in the society, calling for the provision of a safe space for those who had been abused or harassed.

    Speaking earlier, an expert on gender based violence, Dr. Mojisola Akinsanya, said there was an urgent need to relocate women who had experienced violence at home for them to have a peaceful place to stay.

    Akinsanya, who advocated for a Gender Based Violence Trust Fund in the state, acknowledged poverty as the driving force for GBV, noting that once women are well empowered, they will adequately cater for themselves.

  • LASIEC receives updated voters register from INEC

    LASIEC receives updated voters register from INEC

    Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has received the updated register of voters and the list of newly created polling units in the state from the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), for the conduct of the next local government elections.

    INEC has as part of its statutory responsibilities, the mandate to register eligible voters across the country, while the State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs) need such for the organisation and conduct of local government elections in various states

    Presenting the document on behalf of INEC, in a soft copy format, the Resident Electoral Commissioner for Lagos, Prof. Ayobami Salami, appreciated the long-standing working relations, collaboration and partnership between INEC and the State Independent Electoral Commission, particularly the LASIEC.

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    Salami urged LASIEC to adapt and use the document according to the rules, regulations and procedures in the overall interest of ensuring free, fair and credible elections for the advancement of democracy.

    Receiving the updated version of the document, the representative of LASIEC’s Permanent Secretary Ademola Gbadegesin, hailed INEC for the timely manner at which the document is being handed over to the commission.

    He said this would help in the early preparation for the next local government election.

    He said: “No doubt, our structure is different from INEC as theirs is based on 20 local governments and 245 wards, ours is 57 local governments and LCDAs as well as 367 wards. We have to sit down and dissect to suit our demographic distribution.”

    He said the commission is committed to build the confidence and trust of the electorate.

  • Sanwo-Olu swears in two exco members

    Sanwo-Olu swears in two exco members

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu yesterday swore in Biodun Ogunleye and Olufemi Daramola as members of the State Executive Council. 

    Ogunleye was sworn in as Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, while Daramola was appointed Special Adviser to the Governor on Infrastructure.

    Governor Sanwo-Olu urged the two to begin work immediately by taking their responsibilities to an enviable height so they can meet the yearnings and expectations of Lagos residents. 

    He said: “It is clear that you will add value. You have been carefully chosen. It is clear to us that you have the pedigree that can take those responsibilities to an enviable position. 

    “Engr. Daramola is a young man that I have followed up and I have seen his tenacity, commitment to ensure that he puts his very best into assignments and responsibilities that have been given to him. He is an example to all other public officers and civil servants that, the Lagos State Executive Council is not an exclusive preserve of external appointees. If you have done well and we see it, you can indeed get on to this level. 

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    “I am sure there are other permanent secretaries that will aspire to get to this level. We believe that as a former permanent secretary, who we know too well, he (Daramola) will bring a lot of experience into his office as a Special Adviser in the Office of Infrastructure.” 

    “Mr. Biodun Ogunleye is a man who has a lot of energy. It is not a coincidence that he is Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources. This is an important ministry for us because we led the conversation for the actualisation of the unbundling of that sector as a government. So, we have carefully brought in someone that we believe can help achieve and realise the energy sufficiency that we require in Lagos. 

    “The needs of Lagosians and their aspirations are that every household wants power. They want a sector that will completely meet the yearning of the citizens and we believe with his (Ogunleye) expertise, industry knowledge and wealth of experience, we hope that he will hit the ground running knowing fully well the expectations of that office.”

  • TRACE efforts yielding results

    TRACE efforts yielding results

    •Ogun records low road crashes

    Efforts of the Ogun State Traffic Control and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) are yielding positive results, as the number of crashes and deaths recorded between January and June 2023 is decreasing.

     The agency Commander and Chief Executive Officer, Commander ‘Seni Ogunyemi, made this known in his welcome address read at the 8th annual TRACE Commanders’ Conference/Retreat with the theme: “Traffic Management Solutions and Capacity Building as a Panacea for Traffic Challenges in Nigeria”, held at the Valley View Auditorium, Isale Igbehin, Abeokuta.

    Ogunyemi, who attributed the feat to the effective service delivery and professionalism deployed by the TRACE officers and police, said there were 257 crashes with 429 injuries and 68 deaths within the period, which is a decline from the previous records.

    He said; ‘’The agency over the years has exposed its operatives and officers to different levels and categories of training and retraining for human capital development geared towards professionalism as well as be abreast of contemporary traffic management techniques for effective service delivery’’.

    The TRACE boss said the agency had lined up quite a number of seasoned, highly cerebral and erudite scholars with a great reservoir of knowledge, expertise and experience in road traffic administration and management to deliver papers at the retreat, assuring the people of the state that it would continue to strive harder and intensively on its 24 hours service delivery initiatives to ensure utmost safety on the roads.

    The Commissioner for Transportation, Olugbenga Dairo, said the plan of the current administration for the transport sector is to strengthen it to enable the officers have the capacity and capability to undertake their duties and responsibilities towards achieving the government’s mandates for the people of the state. He implored the public to cooperate and collaborate with TRACE to further achieve more in road management and other related activities.

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    The Head of Service, Mr. Kolawole Fagbohun, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Public Service Reform, Mr. Jola Oyeneye, said effective traffic management required skilled and disciplined personnel with the use of modern technological equipment that would ease their operations.

    He commended the officers for their efficient service delivery on the state roads and corridors, urging them to do more in the discharge of their duties to save lives and property.

    The Chairman, Civil Service Commission, Tokunbo Odebunmi, enjoined the traffic management officers to be proactive and committed to their duties, noting that series of training sessions would be organised to improve officers, as capacity building was imperative in all government agencies.

     Speaking, the guest lecturer, a don at the Faculty of Administration and Management Science, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Prof. Olayiwola Solanke, in his lecture titled:” Traffic Management Solutions and Capacity Building as a Panacea to Challenges in Nigeria’’, said technology innovation would reduce challenge being experienced in Nigeria, adding that for the country to achieve the desired and effective management of traffic, there would be need for adoption of the technology-driven mode of operation.

  • 2024 budget proposal passes second reading at Oyo Assembly

    2024 budget proposal passes second reading at Oyo Assembly

    The 2024 Appropriation Bill of N 434,221,765,938. 79 presented to Oyo State House of Assembly by Governor Seyi Makinde on Tuesday, has passed second reading.

    This followed a thorough debate on the budget on the floor of the house yesterday.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the governor had, on Tuesday, presented the budget, tagged: “Budget of Economic Recovery” to the legislature.

    During the debate, Mr Dele Adeola, representing Iseyin/ Itesiwaju Constituency, called the attention of the House Committee Chairman on Appropriation to the N150 million allocated to tourism, which he described as too small.

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    “The money allocated to the tourism sector is too small if we indeed want to revive the sector in our dear state,” he said.

    Mr Sola Owolabi, representing Ibadan North-East II, however, urged his colleagues to note all that needed clarifications in the budget proposal ahead of defence by heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).

    The Deputy Speaker, Mr Mohameed  Fadeyi, who presided over the plenary, urged all members who had one question or the other to direct same to the house committee chairman on finance and appropriation, Mr Sunkanmi Babalola.

    Fadeyi also advised Babalola to ensure that his committee took time to study the budget proposal so as to prepare adequately for the heads of MDAs who would be coming for budget defence.

  • Akwa Ibom SEMA understudies LASEMA in emergency management

    Akwa Ibom SEMA understudies LASEMA in emergency management

    Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA) is partnering Akwa Ibom State in disaster management and response.

    The partnership is to help Akwa Ibom State develop a formidable emergency response team.

    Akwa-Ibom State team is in Lagos on a three-day visit to understand and understudy disaster management and operations from LASEMA.

    Permanent secretary, LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the team from Akwa Ibom State was on ground for shared knowledge on disaster management.

    He said part of the learning process for the team was to understand what made LASEMA thick.

    He said the agency’s mandate encompassed emergency and disaster prevention, preparedness, mitigation, recovery and relief.

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    Oke-Osanyintolu said LASEMA was positioned to provide swift and effective responses to a diverse array of emergencies within the territorial boundaries of Lagos.

     “I take pride in sharing that our legislative framework empowers LASEMA to coordinate the activities of primary, secondary and tertiary responses. “

    This collaborative approach enhances our collective response capabilities and builds resilience in the face of emergencies and disasters.

    “Recognising that the impact of emergencies is most deeply felt at the grassroots, LASEMA has established Local Council Emergency Management Committees and Local Emergency Cadets. These initiatives ensure prompt and effective responses to emergencies across the state,” he said.

    Oke-Osanyintolu said the success story of LASEMA could be attributed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who gave the support, political will and passion to ensure that LASEMA continued to save lives and property.

    A representative of the team from Akwa Ibom State, John Isangedighi, said they settled for Lagos because of LASEMA’s giant strides in disaster management.

  • ‘Akeredolu committed to grassroots development, others’

    ‘Akeredolu committed to grassroots development, others’

    Executive Vice Chairman of of Oyemekun Local Council Development Area(LCDA), Mr Adeleye Damilare ,has lauded Ondo State Governor  Rotimi Akeredolu, for what he called  his commitment to grassroots development in the state.

     He said the establishment of major Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) across all (18) local governments stands as a testament to his commitment to fostering significant development and bringing the government closer to the people and ensuring full grassroots representation.

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     In a statement, Damilare noted that decentralising power in all local councils, as envisioned by Akeredolu’s administration is a brilliant idea to  ensure government’s presence is deeply felt at the grassroots level, allowing  faster communication and responsiveness to the needs of the people.

    He said this aligns with President BolaTinubu’s commitment to strengthening collapsed local government administrations across the country.

     “I urge all citizens to unite and rally behind  Akeredolu’s genuine cause by supporting the newly created LCDAs.

     I firmly believe that the establishment of LCDAs by the Ondo State government is the right path to harnessing and promoting grassroots impact within our democratic setting. In the coming years, we can anticipate positive and massive development  throughout the state,” he said.

  • 18 professional artists for induction tomorrow

    18 professional artists for induction tomorrow

    The Guild of Professional Fine Artists of Nigeria (GFA), will tomorrow  induct 18 professional artists  at the Ebonylife Place, Victoria Island.

     An induction/exhibition   had been held in honour of the inductees with each of their artworks displayed at the National Museum gallery, Onikan, Lagos.

     The art works exhibited include sculptures, paintings and bronze  castings among others.

     GFA is an association of Artists positioned to protect and promote the interests of full-time professional fine artists in Nigeria.

     According to the President of the Guild, Mr George Edozie, the 18 inductees were carefully selected based on the standing criteria of the Guild’s membership selection saying, “We are pleased and honoured to induct these exceptionally talented individuals into our fold while we charge them to be dedicated and upright in their career and endeavours. 

     He added that only full-time practitioners of artists are accepted into the guild, “You must be a full-time studio artist without having any other paid job to be qualified to join the GFA,” Edozie said.

     Edozie called on other professional bodies, embassies, government agencies, ministries and stakeholders in the art industry to work hand in hand with the Guild to bring out the best of Nigerian art.

     “We are open and willing to collaborate with any institution for the common good of all creatives.”

     Inside the gallery display of inductees’ artworks, acrylic on canvas work belonging to Mr Sabitu Adu titled “National Discuss” depicts his political background.

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     According to Adu, who was a one-time All Progressives Congress (APC) local government party chairman, the painting with an abstract image of gathering northern men in turban regalia is about the north inference in the last election, “The last election we had was almost into serious chaos, if not for the Hausas, we Yoruba’s appreciate them because they stood their ground and said that the election must go back to the South,” he said.

     Another artist, Wande George described his art titled “The Staying Power” which is under the Naked Truth series as issues that have to do with the challenges of life. He added that such issues are naked and factual.

    ” So what I do is that whatever happens to me, I try to put it on canvas for inspiration to challenge and inspire people to do better,” he said.

     Those to be inducted into GFA include Abiodun Agbelusi, Wande George, Akin Aluko, Owoyemi Taiwo, Akporode Abinoro Collins, Sabitu Hassan Abu, Ato Arinze, Olukotun Opeyemi Matthew, Ekpenisi Steve Ucheka, Olajide Peters Salako.

     Others are Elizabeth Ekpetorson, Nwadiogbu George Olisa, Emeka Nwagbara, Nathalie Djakou-Kassi, Emmanuel Dudu, Millicent Ogochukwu Osumuo, Funke Oladimeji and Hassan Aliyu.

  • How to reposition student unionism, by group

    How to reposition student unionism, by group

    • By Tunde Adeniyi, FCET

    A non-governmental organisation, MaroonSquare, has stressed the need to reposition student activism in the country.

    During its annual roundtable at the Federal College of Education Technical, Yaba,  Lagos, tagged, ‘The Nigerian Students Movement: 1982-1992’, the organisation noted that there are continuous attempts to re-organise the students’ union movement in the shape that it was before its ideological bankruptcy from the late 90s till date. The  programme was supported by the Ross Luxemburg Foundation, a non governmental organisation.

    Keynote speaker Hauwa Mustapha, a  Development Economist, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said  student activism must reach beyond the narrow focus of local interests, adding that  increased energy must be directed towards global issues – issues that address our commonality the world over as humankind and which have effects on our well-being and those of future generations.

    Mustapha, who was represented by Lagos Coordinator,  Amilcar Cabral Ideological School, Sheriff Sholagbade noted that ‘the calamity’ that befell  students union movement is a part of an organised global war of capitalism against socialism, against people’s power and against collective struggle. 

    She said: “While advocating for an overhaul of the education content, we must begin to collaborate to contribute to infusing critical debates and learning circle in our secondary and tertiary institutions. As the world becomes globalised, student activism must reach beyond the narrow focus of local interests. Instead, increased energy must be directed towards global issues – issues that address our commonality the world over as humankind and which have effects on our well-being and those of future generations. Such issues include; climate change, migration, trafficking in people, afrocentricism and free market, governance, democracy, gender and inclusions.

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    In other words, Nigerian student activists must become global development activists; an active pressure group on national and international development matters; leveraging on the powers of information and communication technology to educate, inform, energise, mobilise capacity to function as effective watchdogs of the Nigerian state and its activities in the global political scene.”

    Policy Director of MaroonSquare, Onyeisi Chiemeke, stressed the need for  training of union leaders, adding that it was essential for females to participate  in unionism. She flayed poor moral standards  and indiscipline in students’ unionism, being fuelled by excessive  lust power and money.

     Editor of Youth Digest Magazine, Yomi Gidado, in a paper on ‘Voices, representation and the dynamics of students unionism: An interrogation of the activities of Students’ Union in Ondo State University in Ado-Ekiti (1986-1992)’, underscored the importance of  political education and re-orientation of SUG leaders to align with the original aim of unionism  and activism on campus. Gidado, who was once a student union leader, said unionism these was longer what it used to be. He said true leaders no longer existed on campuses.

    He urged students to be effective watchdog of the Nigerian state and its activities on the global political scene.