The Nation Newspaper

Category: South West

  • LG poll: Ikeja traditional rulers, community leaders buy nomination form for Illo

    LG poll: Ikeja traditional rulers, community leaders buy nomination form for Illo

    …insist on son of the soil 

    Traditional rulers and community leaders in Ikeja have thrown their weight behind Prince Adeyinka Illo’s ambition to contest in the upcoming local government chairmanship election, purchasing a N5.5 million nomination form on his behalf.

    The Regent of Ikeja, Prince Adekunle Apena, revealed this on Tuesday at his palace during Prince Illo’s official declaration.

    In his address, Apena urged party leaders and chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to endorse Illpo as the party’s flag bearer for the July local government election.

    “We the community leaders in Ikeja with other stakeholders have resolved and insist to support our own son of the soil, Prince Adeyinka Illo to succeed the present chairman Mojeed Balogun, who is also the son of the soil in Ikeja.

    “We are appealing to the party leaders and Chieftains to consider our plight and anoint our candidate for the local government election.

    “That’s why the community contributed money to purchase the nomination form for him to show our support for his aspiration,” the traditional ruler said.

    Read Also: Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA empowers artisans, traders with N100m cash grant

    Chief Lateef Oluwaseyi, the Oluwo General of Ikeja also in his remarks appealed to the party leaders to give Prince Illo the mandate of becoming the flag bearer of the party during the coming local council election in Lagos State.

    He is tested and trusted, we know him and know his root, we will be comfortable working with him for development like the present chairman that’s why we are urging the party stakeholders to anoint our candidate.

    Mrs Munirat Ibraheem the Akeweje of Ikeja, in her remarks also demanded the party to give the Prince the opportunity to be the flag bearer of the party.

    Ibrahim added that Ilo would also perform well if given the mandate to become the council chairman.

    Alhaji Olusola Coker, a Community Leader said that Ilo would be the best candidate to represent the party at the coming local government election.

    Coker added that Prince Illo would work according to the laid down legacy of his predecessor and follow the development trend in Ikeja local government.

    Mr Peter Izuchukwu, the Representative of Igbo Community in Ikeja said that his group also supported the aspirant’s ambition of becoming the council chairman.

    “We are in full support of his ambition, we know him and trust him for he will continue the good work of his predecessor,” he said.

    Prince Illo while given his remarks thanked the community leaders, the chiefs and other groups for the trust and confidence they have in him to purchase the nomination form for him to become the council chairman.

    “I assure you that I will not let you down, my priorities are mainly based on development and infrastructure and I promise I will fulfill them if given the mandate.

    “And I urge you all to support our party to the funnest to ensure total victory during the election in July,” he said.

  • Council poll: Lagos APC appoints Ogala as Election Committee chair

    Council poll: Lagos APC appoints Ogala as Election Committee chair

    As preparations hot up towards the July 10 local government election into the 57 local government chairmanship offices and 376 councillors in the legislative arm, All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has appointed a former national legal adviser of the party and one-time member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Babatunde Ogala, as the chairman of the Electoral Committee. Mr. Babarinde Nurudeen was appointed as the secretary.

    Read Also: El-Rufai: SDP not interested in merger, high profile politicians

    The state Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr. Seye Oladejo, said the committee was empowered to oversee the activities and processes leading to the conduct of elections into the grassroots positions.

    He said: “The party has considered the immense experience of the gentlemen in making the appointment. We have no doubt that they will deliver on this important assignments.

    “We urge all and sundry to give the requisite support and cooperation to ensure our collective success.”

  • NOA, NACA partner to strengthen HIV prevention

    NOA, NACA partner to strengthen HIV prevention

    In a significant stride towards combating HIV/AIDS in Nigeria, National Orientation Agency (NOA) and National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) have solidified their collaboration through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

    The partnership aims to bolster HIV prevention efforts, reduce mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) and eliminate stigma against individuals living with HIV across the country.

    Read Also: El-Rufai: SDP not interested in merger, high profile politicians

    NOA, renowned for its extensive grassroots communication network spanning 774 local governments, joins forces with NACA’s specialised expertise in HIV response. Together, they plan to launch comprehensive public awareness campaigns utilising diverse channels such as radio, television social media, town halls and community engagements. These initiatives are designed to ensure the inclusive and widespread dissemination of crucial information.

    Key components of the collaboration include the training of state directors and health desk officers across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

  • Ekiti Council boss wins UK award

    Ekiti Council boss wins UK award

    The Chairman of Ajoni Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ekiti State, Prince Michael Ogungbemi, has been shortlisted for the prestigious African Community Heroes’ Award in the United Kingdom.

    This was contained in a letter dated March 16, 2025 signed by Global Skills Hub, United Kingdom, Africa Heroes’ Project, Country Director, Dr. Honey Olawale, and addressed to Ogungbemi.

    The prestigious award, according to the organisers, is geared towards celebrating outstanding grassroots African leaders, who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to integrity, professional excellence, community development and national transformation.

    Read Also: El-Rufai: SDP not interested in merger, high profile politicians

    The letter said: “We have decided to honour the proclaimed Africa heroes while they are still alive. We will also present a proclamation certificate to the verified recipients. We are mobilising national and international media platforms to report this event.

  • Lagos signs MoU with firm to expand water supply infrastructure

    Lagos signs MoU with firm to expand water supply infrastructure

    Lagos State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with an international consortium company, Belstar and ENKA, for the rehabilitation and expansion of water supply infrastructure across the state.

    Speaking after the signing in Alausa, Ikeja, yesterday, Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, said the collaboration aimed to address critical water infrastructure challenges.

    Read Also: CJN, Fashola warn against rising misconduct among lawyers

    “This project entails construction, rehabilitation and installation of water treatment facilities, as well as distribution networks to provide reliable and sustainable water supply to underserved communities,” he said.

    Wahab said the initiative would include establishment of new waterworks to ease distribution challenges, noting that the state government would ensure full compliance with all relevant regulations, including social and safety standards.

    He said the project was divided into two components: the Brownfield, which involved the rehabilitation of existing waterworks, and the Greenfield, which covered the construction of entirely new facilities in various parts of the state.

  • Fajuyi’s eldest son accuses wife of plotting to seize dad’s property

    Fajuyi’s eldest son accuses wife of plotting to seize dad’s property

    Mr Donald Fajuyi, the 76-year-old eldest son of the late Lt-Col. Adekunle Fajuyi, former military governor of the defunct Western Region, has accused his wife, Lanre, of attempting to take over his father’s properties.

    In a chat with our reporter in Ado-Ekiti, Fajuyi, a lawyer, said his wife believed she was entitled to his properties simply because she was his wife and he was the only surviving child of the late military governor.

    Read Also: CJN, Fashola warn against rising misconduct among lawyers

    He denied demolishing the late military governor’s house at Fajuyi Lane in Ado-Ekiti and rebuilt by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, explaining that the house that was demolished was a different property, which was inherited by him after the family shared his late father’s properties in 2014.

    He said: “Adekunle Fajuyi house is the family home, which was rebuilt, courtesy of Asiwaju Tinubu. This is where my late father lived and it is not demolished or sold. The one that was demolished is the house my late father bought the land, which was still at foundation level when the coup of January 1966 occurred and he had to rush down to Lagos in response to the coup.

    “Subsequently, he became Governor of the Old Western Region. Upon assuming office, he instructed that the construction going on at his house on Textile Road, Ado-Ekiti be stopped. My father said as a public officer, he didn’t want people to say he was using public funds to finance his private building.

  • IBEDC consumers threaten to migrate to other DISCOS

    IBEDC consumers threaten to migrate to other DISCOS

    Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) consumers have threatened to migrate to other energy distribution companies if IBEDC does not improve on its services.

    The consumers complained of purchasing transformers by themselves, kits for IBEDC workers, arbitrarily billings, customer abuses, lack of pre-paid meters, disregard to capping, among other issues.

    Speaking with reporters yesterday in Ota at the opening day of a three- day FCCPC/Electricity Consumer Forum organised by the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, in conjunction with Sango/Ota Community Development Committee (SACDC), Ado Ota, Ogun State, the consumers said they were tired of the lackadaisical attitude of IBEDC workers towards their customers.

    Read Also: CJN, Fashola warn against rising misconduct among lawyers

    Addressing reporters, the Chairman of the Zonal Community Development Committee for Ado Odo Ota, Prince Olatunji Onaolapo, said the community had bought up to 200 transformers ‘’because when a new one is needed or replacement is needed, IBEDC will just leave the communities to their fate.

    “In Itele axis, the communities have purchased more than 80 transformers, including communities in Ado Ota. In all, we have purchased up to 200 transformers because this area is still developing.”

    He said members of the community were coughing out between N4million and N5million for each transformer in the past, ‘’but now the price is much higher.

  • Dockworkers protest at Lagos ports as maritime police assure calm

    Dockworkers protest at Lagos ports as maritime police assure calm

    Tensions flared at Lagos ports on Monday as scores of dockworkers staged a peaceful protest against alleged interference in the forthcoming branch elections of the Maritime Workers’ Union of Nigeria (MWUN), even as maritime police personnel maintained security across the ports.

    The protest, which began at the first gate of Tin Can Island Port, extended through critical access points including the TICT second gate and the Apapa Port gate, before culminating at the MWUN headquarters on Osho Drive, Olodi-Apapa.

    Chanting solidarity songs and carrying placards with inscriptions such as “Say No to Injustices,” “We Want to Choose Our Leaders by Ourselves,” “No to Sentiments from Past Leaders (MWUN),” “Tony, Stay Away from Our Union Election,” and “We Don’t Want Terminal Operators to Interfere in Our Union Activities,” the protesters voiced their anger at alleged attempts to manipulate the electoral process.

    They accused terminal operators and a former President General of the union, Tony Nted, of seeking to influence the elections in favour of a preferred candidate.

    The workers alleged that Nted was orchestrating moves to install a candidate from ENL Consortium—the same terminal from which the outgoing branch president emerged.

    The demonstration remained peaceful as security operatives closely monitored activities to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

    “We are saying it loud and clear: we want to choose our leaders by ourselves,” said a protesting dockworker who identified himself as Ibrahim.

    “Tony Nted should stay away from our elections. We want justice, we want fairness, and we want to follow the constitution of our union.”

    The dockworkers insist that leadership within the Dockworkers Branch must be rotational, as stipulated in the union’s constitution, to ensure fairness and inclusivity across all terminals operating within the ports.

    They recalled that the immediate past President General, Comrade Adewale Adeyanju, had laid down a blueprint to guarantee a peaceful and transparent electoral process; an arrangement they fear is now under threat.

    “Comrade Adewale Adeyanju gave us a structure for a peaceful election. Now, Tony wants to impose someone on us. That is not what we signed up for. The union belongs to the workers, not to one man or a terminal,” another protesting worker, who declined to provide his name, said.

    Amid the growing unrest, the Maritime Police Command moved swiftly to douse tensions, assuring port users and stakeholders that the situation remains under control.

     Personnel were deployed across strategic points to maintain law and order, prevent disruption to economic activities, and safeguard critical infrastructure.

    The Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) in charge of the Maritime Police Command, FHQ Annexe, Lagos, Musa Yusuf Garba, appealed for calm among all parties involved.

    Read Also: Lagos ports experience steady container traffic

    “We appeal to all parties involved to exercise restraint and seek amicable resolutions through dialogue and other peaceful means,” AIG Garba said.

    He reassured stakeholders and other port users to go about their daily activities, noting that the command will continue to monitor the situation closely to prevent any breakdown of law and order.

    For further information or to report any incidents, the Maritime Police Command advised the public to reach out through its Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Adebayo Rasheed, via 07045004639.

    The MWUN, founded in 1996, remains a formidable force within Nigeria’s maritime sector, representing thousands of dockworkers, seafarers, and shipping and port workers. Its elections traditionally draw significant attention both within the sector and among wider labour circles, underscoring the high stakes surrounding the current unrest.

    As of press time, neither the MWUN leadership nor the terminal operators had officially responded to the dockworkers’ allegations.

  • Alaafin of Oyo urged to foster unity among Yoruba Obas

    Alaafin of Oyo urged to foster unity among Yoruba Obas

    The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, has been urged to extend a hand of fellowship to other traditional rulers across Yorubaland to promote cultural heritage and drive regional development.

    The call was made by the National Old Students Association of Baptist High School, Saki, during a visit to the monarch to congratulate him on his ascension to the throne.

    The delegation was led by the association’s national president, Deacon Sola Togunde.

    Oba Owoade, an alumnus of Baptist High School, Saki, hailed the visit, which was facilitated by his 1992 classmates.

    During the meeting, a member of the delegation, Afolayan, appealed to the Alaafin not to forget his alma mater, acknowledging the school’s role in shaping his leadership qualities.

    In his response, Oba Owoade expressed deep appreciation for the visit and lauded the school for instilling moral and academic discipline in him.

    Read Also: Seaman Schnapps celebrates culture at Lisabi festival, Alaafin of Oyo coronation

    He noted that without the school’s firm guidance, he might have taken a different path. The monarch pledged to remain committed to the growth of the institution and promised to honour invitations from the association.

    The visit also featured prayers offered by Reverend Sijuade Okunade, an alumnus and ordained pastor at Gloria Baptist Church, Saki, who prayed for divine strength and wisdom for the Alaafin.

    The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of gifts to Oba Owoade, including a royal staff and a large hide hand fan.

    Other members of the delegation included Prince Remi Adegbola (General Secretary), Dr. Jare Adegbola (3rd Vice-President), Mr. S. A. Adeniji (Financial Secretary), Deacon E. O. Ogundiran (Auditor), among others.

  • Maiden Oba Olateru-Olagbegi Lawn Tennis Championship concludes

    Maiden Oba Olateru-Olagbegi Lawn Tennis Championship concludes

    The maiden edition of Oba Olateru-Olagbegi Lawn Tennis Championship, on Saturday, 26th April, 2025 held in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    The tournament was organised in honour of Sir Olateru-Olagbegi II, a first republic monarch, a nationalist and passionate sportsman from Owo, Ondo State.

    The championship, which took place at the Ibadan Recreation Club premises, celebrated the sporting legacy of the late king, who was an avid enthusiast of tennis, billiards, golf, and other sports throughout his lifetime. It also served as a platform to promote discipline, sportsmanship, and unity among young talents.

    Speaking at the event, son of the late monarch, Prince Adegoke Olateru-Olagbegi, thanked everyone involved in bringing the championship to life. 

    Reflecting on his father’s legacy, Prince Olateru-Olagbegi said, “Growing up, I believed my father would live forever. His passage devastated me. I have always dreamed of something that would immortalize him, hence the beginning of the Sir Olateru-Olagbegi KBE Tennis Championships.”

    He described his father as “an enigma, a philanthropist, and a sports lover par excellence” who used sports, especially tennis and billiards, as avenues for networking, friendship, and maintaining his spirits during challenging times.

    President, Ibadan Recreation Club, Mr. Olaitan Akinola, commended the initiative, describing it as a remarkable tribute to a figure who embodied royalty, modernity, and sportsmanship. 

    “Sir Olateru-Olagbegi was not just a monarch; he was a symbol of excellence both in leadership and personal pursuits. Celebrating him through a sport he loved deeply is not only fitting but inspiring.”

    The Special Adviser on Media to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, Hon. Alabi, said the event was more than just a tennis competition. 

    “It is a celebration of legacy, a symbol of royalty and cultural heritage. Sir Olateru-Olagbegi’s life reminds us that sports are powerful tools for unity, discipline, and human development.”

    Also present at the championship were notable dignitaries including the Ajia Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oloye Abiola Iyiola, who represented the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.

    Read Also: Ibadan to host maiden Oba Olateru Olagbegi lawn tennis tourney

    Oloye Iyiola said: “Sports have always been a great unifier across tribes and communities. Honouring an icon like Sir Olateru-Olagbegi through this tournament is a step toward preserving cultural heritage while fostering unity among our youth.”

    Oba Adekunle Adebowale, who represented the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), added that “Sport, especially tennis, mirrors the discipline, strategy, and grace required in leadership. Sir Olateru-Olagbegi epitomized all these traits, and it is fitting that he is remembered in this way.”

    A member of the Board of Trustees of Ibadan Recreation Club, Obi Alakija also emphasized the importance of sustaining the championship as an annual tradition. 

    “It is not just about playing tennis. It’s about inspiring generations to come, reminding them of the virtues of excellence, friendship, and service,” he said.

    Born in 1910, Sir Olateru-Olagbegi ascended the throne of Owo in 1941 and led the kingdom through a transformative era marked by growth, modernisation, and an unwavering commitment to education and development. As a nationalist, he played an active role in Nigeria’s journey to independence, attending constitutional conferences in London alongside Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

    His passion for sports was legendary, building extensive sports facilities within his palace and sponsoring major tournaments across Nigeria. He was a patron of prestigious clubs such as the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Island Club, and Yoruba Tennis Club, and partnered with notable figures like Sir Mobolaji Bank Anthony, Dr. Olusola Saraki, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, and others to promote sports development in Nigeria.