Category: South West

  • Ondo varsity to honour Bamidele at 13th convocation

    Ondo varsity to honour Bamidele at 13th convocation

    A human rights activist and former governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele, is among the three personalities to be honoured by the Joseph Ayo Babalola University (JABU), Ikeji-Arakeji, at its 13th convocation.

    Others to be honoured are Chairman Christy Caleb Foundation, a frontline entrepreneur and a philanthropist Elder Aderemi Olowookere and former Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr. Boboye Olayemi Opeyemi.

    Vice Chancellor, Prof. Olasebikan Fakolujo, who disclosed this at a pre-convocation news briefing, said 481 students would be awarded first degree at the ceremony.

  • Ogun Speaker’s alleged corruption case adjourned again

    Ogun Speaker’s alleged corruption case adjourned again

    For the second time in a row, the alleged corruption case against the Speaker of the Ogun House of Assembly, Taiwo Oluomo, has been stalled with no reason given for the development.

    Speaker Oluomo was first arraigned at a Federal High Court in Lagos where he secured bail after he was arrested by the anti-graft agency at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, early in September last year after which the case was transferred to Ogun State.

    The hearing was initially scheduled for November 21, 2022 but was allegedly stalled due to pre-election matters.

  • Ex-Osun Amotekun boss Amitolu alleges threat to life

    Ex-Osun Amotekun boss Amitolu alleges threat to life

    Fresh facts have emerged following the resignation of the Field Commander of Osun State Security Network code-named Amotekun, Comrade Amitolu Shittu.

    Amitolu, who resigned his appointment last Friday amid controversial circumstances, fingering conspiracy by his superiors, alleged that his life was under threat.

    The Nation’s findings showed that unchecked insubordination by erring officers of the outfit made Amitolu to resign his appointment.

    It was gathered that some of the officers were involved in illegal activities across the state, which included participating in illegal mining, extortion, impersonation, embezzlement, involvement in partisan politics, bribery, killing, among others, which Amitolu wanted to curb, but was frustrated.

    A source close to the Ministry of Finance said the state withheld the salaries of some of the corps, following complaints by the public against them and some of their superiors.

    The source said: “When this punitive measure of withholding their salaries was introduced, it generated ripple effects, as some Amotekun bosses frowned at it, seeking forgiveness for the erring officers. After that lack of punishment on the officers, there have been issues within the outfit.”

    Contacted, Amitolu refused to make comments on the reasons behind his resignation, but alleged that his life was under threat since he resigned.

    He said: “The corps commandant, Gen. Bashir Adewinbi (rtd), has been threatening to send thugs to my house to kill and maim me because of reasons best known to him. I want it to be on record that if anything happens to me, he should be held responsible. Although Governor Ademola Adeleke has intervened, I know my life is not safe. I don’t have problem  with the new governor, he tried his best but…”

    Contacted, Adewinbi denied knowledge of threatening the life of Amitolu.

    He said: “I don’t know anything about the alleged threat, Amitolu has resigned for reasons best known to him. The state government will react to his resignation, not me.”  

  • Eroton confirms well head fire incident

    Eroton confirms well head fire incident

    Eroton Exploration & Production Company has confirmed a well-head fire incident at the Akaso field of the Cawthrone Channel operational area of its OML 18 Asset last Friday.
    The company spokesperson Mercy Max-Ebibai informed reporters the well is reported to be releasing hydrocarbon to the environment with wildfire due to suspected vandalisation and bunkering activity attempts on the XMAS Tree containment valves of the wellhead.

    She said an oil-ladened wooden boat was initially observed in the vicinity and a loud bang was also reported.

    This, according to Max-Ebibai, resulted in the fires drifting to two wellheads with only one of still aflame at the point of reporting.

    She said Akaso6LS fire has died out while Akaso15L is still on fire.

    The spokesperson reported an Emergency Response Team (ERT) has been convened and the company’s well control engineers are working with an experienced wild well control vendor who has been contacted to carry out assessment of the current wild well fire situation, design a technical solution and

    firefighting strategy.

    The spokesperson also confirmed all regulatory obligations have been adhered to with the relevant authorities duly notified within the allowed window, assuring they are working closely with the relevant authorities to investigate the cause of the incident and determine the extent of the damage.

  • Ohuabunwa, Ojudu, others discuss new Nigeria at summit

    The Brian Reuben Organisation has concluded plans to assemble some of Nigeria’s finest business professionals and leaders at the 2023 Nigeria edition of the Leadership
    Agenda Summit (LAS).

    The highly-acclaimed event with the theme: ‘Nigeria at an inflection point’ holds on January 27 at Radisson Blu Hotel, Victoria Island in Lagos.

    Those expected to grace the event are business founders, change-makers, Chief Executive Officers of industries, c-suite executives and other notable personalities

    in the world of business, finance, government, and investment.

    Speakers at the summit include Mazi Dr Sam Ohuabunwa, the

    founder and the former president of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria; Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari,

    Senator Babafemi Ojudu; former Deputy Jigawa Governor Senator Ibrahim Hadejia and Seyi Owotoro, CEO of

    Meristem Registrars & Probate Services Limited among others.

    Dr Brian Reuben, the Director of The Brian

    Dr Reuben explained that Nigeria cannot afford to get things wrong at this time because according to him, Nigeria is at an inflection point.

    He said: “We approach the design of the Summit each year with sophistication, discipline and most importantly, shared vision. We focus on providing insights and brokering relationships that lead to strategic collaborations at every edition of the Leadership Agenda Summit.

    ‘’At this pivotal time in our country and all that the

    world is going through right now, events such as the LAS will help leaders in both the private and public sectors in Nigeria to work together to deliver a new Nigeria that can

    work for everyone.’’

  • ‘Sanwo-Olu invests in people through EKOEXCEL’

    ‘Sanwo-Olu invests in people through EKOEXCEL’

    Lagos-based educationist, Misan Thorpe Kudos, has hailed Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for prioritising education, especially by investing in people through EkoExcel.

    He spoke while assessing the education sector as Lagos State marked this year’s International Education Day.

    Thorpe said the governor had never ceased to affirm his administration’s commitment to providing quality and 21st-century relevant education in his affirmation and confirmation in several of his speeches.

    The Chairman of Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State chapter, Akintoye Hassan, praised the way his members had been supported.

  • Kwara gets World Bank funding to boost primary health care

    Kwara gets World Bank funding to boost primary health care

    •Governor launches programme today

    Kwara State has secured a World Bank funding to support infrastructure upgrade in at least one primary health care facility in each of the 193 wards of the state.

    This is another fruit of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s constant payment of counterpart funds for health care services.

    The governor will formally launch the programme today, where cheques will be presented to the benefitting Primary Health Care centres (PHCs) across the state.

    Executive Secretary of Kwara State Health Care Development Agency Dr. Nusirat Elelu said in a statement that the N887,800,000 support came under the Immunisation Plus and Malaria Progress by Accelerating Coverage and Transforming Services (IMPACT) project, for which the government had paid a counterpart fund.

    “In the pursuance of Universal Health coverage for ‘Kwarans’ and repositioning the Primary Health Care system to be able to meet the demands of all and sundry, Kwara State Government along with 13 other states have secured a facility to strengthen Primary Health Care centres across the state,” the statement said.

    “This support is coming through the World Bank assisted- IMPACT project through a Decentralised Facility Financing (DFF), with an initial disbursement of investment fund to one Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in each of the 193 geopolitical wards in Kwara State. This initial investment fund is meant to support the PHCs to achieve an ideal level 2 primary health care centre that has the capacity to provide the basic minimum package of health services. 

    “The utilisation of these funds will be governed by a work plan developed by the health facility workers in conjunction with the Ward Development Committee, to be approved by the Kwara State Primary Health Care Development Agency. This plan will take care of basic needs in the health centre, such as infrastructural upgrades, equipment, drugs, consumables, clean water sources and security, based on identified needs.

    “Furthermore, through the DFF mechanism, operational funds will subsequently be transferred quarterly to these 193 PHCs to meet the day-to-day running of the benefitting health centres. The quarterly operational fund will be jointly administered by the Ward Development Committee chairmen and the officer in charge of the PHCs to foster transparency and accountability. Oversight will also be jointly provided by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, State Primary Health Care Development Agency, LGA Health Authority and the World Bank.”

  • ASUP executives promise inclusive administration

    ASUP executives promise inclusive administration

    The newly-elected executives of Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP), The Polytechnic Ibadan chapter, have assured members that they would run an all-inclusive administration where nobody would be left out.

    The union urged members to have faith in the new administration, to serve them better.

    Speaking in Ibadan at a two-day retreat for the executives, ASUP Chairman Dr. Kola Lawal implored members to cooperate with the union, to avoid recurrence of the crisis it found itself in the last six years.

    He said the interest of every member would be prioritised.

    The Rector, Prof. Kazeem Adebiyi, stressed the need for a harmonious relationship between the management and unions in the institution.

    The Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Labour Matters, Bayo Titilola-Sodo, said ASUP should be dynamic, tactical and sensitive while making their demand from the government, adding that they must have facts and figures before confronting the government, to avoid being defeated.

  • Akeredolu, Makinde, Odu’a GMD get awards

    Akeredolu, Makinde, Odu’a GMD get awards

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN); his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde and the Group Managing Director (GMD) of Odu’a Investments Company Ltd, Mr. Adewale Raji, are among distinguished individuals and corporate Nigerians to be honoured with awards in Ibadan on January 29, for their contributions towards making Nigeria work and thrive “in these dire times.”

    Others on the roll call of honour are Lagos and Delta State governors Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa; Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Brig.-Gen. Buba Marwa (Retd); first female Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Sen. Monsurat Sunmonu; Chief Medical Director, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Prof. Jesse Otegbayo and ace musician and Chairman, Fresh FM,  Yinka Ayefele.

    Corporate awardees include Dangote Cement, United Bank of Africa (UBA), Access Bank PLC, Bovas & Company Ltd and Oyo State Health Insurance Agency (OYSHIA).

    The conferment of the awards billed for the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, is the highpoint of the 10th anniversary celebration of Newspeak Media, publishers of Newspeak Magazine and newspeakonline.com.

    The multimedia news outlet, which began operations 10 years ago, publishes quarterly news and special magazines in addition to running a vibrant news website and publishing video contents.

    Its Editor-in Chief, Yinka Fabowale, in a statement commemorating the firm’s 10th anniversary, said Newspeak was rolling out the drums to celebrate “a decade of resilient, excellent and productive operations at a time media businesses face harsh economic conditions leading some to rapid collapse.”

  • Makinde to raise monarchs’ allocation to 10%

    Makinde to raise monarchs’ allocation to 10%

    Members of the traditional institution in Oyo State may soon be getting 10 per cent of the net allocations of the local government areas, Governor Seyi Makinde has said.

    The constitutional allocation, which was pegged at five per cent, has been a source of complaint from traditional rulers around the country.

    Makinde has, however, indicated that he would find out if the changes could be made by an Executive Order and start the payment of the 10 per cent before the end of his tenure.

    Governor ‘Seyi Makinde 2023 Campaign Council in a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, said the governor made the disclosure in Egbeda Local Government, Ibadan, while addressing monarchs in the council.

    While also addressing party faithful and residents of the local government, who converged on Airport junction, Ibadan, the governor said the government would expand Olodo Bridge like it did with the General Gas Flyover, Akobo.

    He promised to fix the road from Erunmu to Egbeda junction as part of his rural development programmes, if he is re-elected.

    Makinde, who appreciated the residents for their support to his administration and their acknowledgement of his achievements, said more would come under Omituntun 2.0.

    “I appreciate you my people of Egbeda Local Government. I appreciate you for your support for our government, your government and for acknowledging our achievements.

    “I believe you are enjoying Omituntun 1.0. The massive infrastructure we are building in Egbeda, are you seeing them? Our interventions on the Ibadan Airport, are you seeing them? What about the scrapping of N3,000 education levy and the distribution of textbooks and exercise books to our students? What about the creation of Amotekun, which has helped the security of our state?”

    “But everything you have seen so far, are nothing compared to what you will witness under Omituntun 2.0. Just ensure you vote for me and other PDP candidates in the National and State Assembly elections. You have done it before, you can do it again.”

    Speaking with the traditional rulers about the issue of allocation, the governor said: “Concerning the percentage for traditional leaders, since I came in, we have never defaulted in payment of salaries to you, though it may actually not be enough.

    “On the issue of whether it is gross or net, one thing I can promise is that we will look at it and see if we can even pay up to 10 per cent and we will do it and pay it before the end of this tenure.

    “If it requires implementing it through Executive Order, I will do it immediately, but if not, I will work with the House of Assembly to carry that out. All I am saying in essence is, instead of five per cent for our traditional rulers, I will make it 10 per cent under Omituntun 2.0.”