Author: The Nation

By Oyebola Owolabi

Construction of the proposed Fourth Mainland Bridge will now cost $2.5 billion, Director General, Office of Public Private Partnership (PPP), Mr. Ope George, has said.

He addressed reporters as part of activities to mark the second year in office of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The government last September said the construction would cost $2.2 billion.

The 38km bridge is expected to connect Lagos Island through Lekki, Langbasa and Baiyeku towns, and across Lagos Lagoon to Itamaga in Ikorodu. It is expected to be the longest bridge in Africa.

George said: “The preferred bidder of the six bidders, who tendered their bids, will be determined in October.

“The project will be funded under PPP and is undergoing technical processes to eliminate glitches.”

By Oyebola Owolabi

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly have called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address Nigerians over the insecurity and rising sectional agitations across the country.

The House said it supported the decisions taken by southern governors, especially the ban on open grazing and calls for restructuring.

Deputy House Leader Noheem Adams noted that the Assembly had always called for the establishment of state police.

He urged his colleagues to support the governors, as they have shown that they are alive to their responsibilities.

He, however, urged the governors to start restructuring in their states by implementing autonomy for the legislature and judiciary.

Kehinde Joseph said the Act establishing the Nigeria Police Force should be reviewed to allow the creation of state police.

Jimi Mohammed, who corroborated Joseph, said the decision of the southern governors boils down to insecurity. “We can’t clamour enough for the creation of state police,” he noted.

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa hailed the governors for speaking out, especially at a time insecurity had taken the ‘front seat’ of discussions.

Sanni Okanlawon said the governors have made a statement by calling for the ban on open grazing, which he described as “archaic and leading to the death of many”.

He stressed that restructuring of the country was long overdue, and praised the southern governors for their other decisions.

House Leader Sanai Agunbiade said: “A country cannot be drifting this way and the president is quiet. The president must address this country and assuage nerves.

“The National Assembly should come up with a bill to address the issue of state police. The bandits are multiplying like amoeba.”

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa hailed the governors for speaking out, especially at a time insecurity had taken the ‘front seat’ of discussions. He also praised some members of the National Assembly for supporting the governors.

Obasa, who lamented the rise in the number of groups agitating for secession, insisted that Nigeria can be restructured if there is the willpower.

“People are getting tired of the call for constitutional conference because nothing had happened to previous ones. Nigeria needs true federalism at this stage,” he said.

By Segun Showunmi, Ibadan

The Federal Government has said a conducive environment will be provided for agriculture.

Speaking during the 45th Annual Conference of the Soil Science Society of Nigeria, (SSSN), held at Bowen University, Iwo, Osun State, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, represented by Mr. Gbenga Awe, said the government is trying its best through creation of an enabling environment and giving special interventions that will boost food production and enhance the livelihood of the people.

Osun State Deputy Governor Benedict Alabi described the theme of the conference, “Understanding Soil Organic Matter Dynamics: Key to Sustainable Ecosystem Health and Food Security”, as apt, considering the current challenges in the world, especially in Nigeria, with the phenomenon of climate change and the quest for a favourable ecosystem to guarantee food security.

The Vice Chancellor of Bowen University, Prof. Joshua Ogunwole, said the institution has enjoyed support from the Osun State Government since his assumption of office three years ago.

The President of SSSN, Prof Basiru Raji, said mechanisation is the only way to tackle food security, to eradicate poverty.

Lagos State Government yesterday began a three-day training/workshop for the retirees of Lagos State Public Service, on how to become employers of labour, remain active and have a veritable source of income even in retirement.

The training is organised by the Office of the Head of Service, Post Service Department, at T -Block Conference Room, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Alausa, Ikeja.

Head of Service (HOS) Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola said the training was the second edition of the quarterly training and sensitisation programme for the retirees of Lagos State Public Service.

He said the government has realised that the retirees, though retired, are not tired, adding: “They have worked tirelessly to sustain Lagos State as a Centre of Excellence. Most of them may not be up to 60 years. Probably they began work at a tender age and retired just after 50 years. These people cannot be left un-catered for, hence the need to further train them to be employers of labour.”

Muri-Okunola, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr. Samson Ajibade, said as energetic, vibrant and dynamic officers they were when in service, he did not believe that they were tired.

“This administration of our amiable governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is of the opinion that your exit from the Lagos State Public Service is definitely not the end of your work life. Your retirement is therefore perceived as an opportunity for you to explore and pursue your aspirations.”

”It is based on this premise that a form was introduced to you for the purpose of informing us of your areas of interest, in order to facilitate training and provide support,” he said

The HOS said the training would focus on the competence and innovative skill for entrepreneurship development in fish, poultry and snail farming.

“The maiden edition of this programme held last December has provided retirees with the opportunities of being equipped with the competence and innovative skills for entrepreneurship development in diverse areas. This year’s training is focused on fish, poultry and snail farming,” he added.

The Director, Post Service Department, Office of the Head of Service, Mrs. Bukola Durodola, said there was no doubt that some of the retirees were eager to begin their startup and could not wait to get busy with income earning activities after retirement.

“This is a fantastic idea, but the need to learn the ropes cannot be overemphasised, hence the need for the  learning and training event being introduced to ensure that retirees are schooled in the art of running successful and profit making enterprises,” she said.

By Adekunle Jimoh, Ilorin

Two people have been feared killed in a clash between Nupe and Fulani in Kwara State.

Many others were reportedly injured in the fracas between the youth at Kpada village in Edu Local Government.

It was gathered that the clash occurred, following an attack on a Fulani settlement.

The clash was said to have occurred when herders invaded the village with their cows.

It was gathered that the clash was triggered by a report that some cows had destroyed a rice farm belonging to a farmer.

Police spokesman Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the incident. He said the matter has been resolved, adding that the incident is being investigated.

By Yinka Adeniran, Ibadan

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde said yesterday that the Supreme Court judgment has validated the sacking of the chairmen of the 68 local governments and local council development areas.

He said the judgment will give way for the conduct of fresh council polls to take place on Saturday.

Makinde claimed that God gave Oyo State Government and the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) victory at the court because He is greater than the sacked chairmen, who caused a lot of crises in the state.

He spoke in Ibadan during the official presentation of flags to the PDP candidates contesting Saturday’s elections in Ibadan Northeast and Ibadan Southeast local governments.

By Bisi Oladele, Ibadan

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State has moved to stop Governor Seyi Makinde and the leadership of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) from conducting the local government election scheduled for Saturday.

The party alleged its exclusion from the election, stressing that the governor was out to waste the state’s scarce resources again and make a mockery of democracy and the rule of law.

It said the plan to go ahead with the conduct of the local government election without the APC and other registered parties was legally wrong.

Although judiciary workers are on strike across the nation, the APC said it has filed its processes to the chief judge of the state with the expectation that he will assign it to a judge for expeditious hearing, based on the importance and time limitation for the issues raised for litigation.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC in Oyo State, Chief Akin Oke, made this known yesterday at a news conference in Ibadan.

He said it became compulsory for him to address the press on the alleged deliberate and unconstitutional acts of OYSIEC, which has excluded the APC from the local government election.

Oke recalled that the court action of the members of the Association of Local Governments (ALGON) in Oyo State challenging the dissolution of the duly elected executives of the 33 local governments and 35 local councils development areas (LCDAs) in the state was finally laid to rest by the Supreme Court judgment of May 7.