Category: South West

No fewer than 15 suspected smugglers and contraband worth over N5 billion were arrested and intercepted by men of the Ogun1 1 Area Command of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in 2022.

Controller of the command, Comptroller Bamidele Makinde, said this while presenting the 2022 annual report to reporters at his Idiroko office, in Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.

According to Makinde, the command generated a sum of N97, 87,777.50 from the auction sales of petroleum products and baggage assessment of some items brought in from neighbouring countries.

Makinde disclosed that the revenue generated in 2022 represented an almost 300% increase on the year 2021 revenue, which was N36,655,401.50.

He explained that within the 12 months, 957 seizures were made, including 45,773 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, which is equivalent to 76 trailer loads, and 130 units of vehicles including foreign used vehicles and other vehicles used as means of conveying prohibited items.

He added: “Other seizures recorded during the period under review include the following: 451,100 litres of petrol, which is equivalent to 14 tanker loads; one tanker load of adulterated diesel; 43 Sacks, 351 small bags and 1,083 wraps of Cannabis Sativa; 2,250 packets of Tramadol; 30 units of motorcycles used for the conveyance of prohibited items and of second-hand clothing, among others.”

“The total Duty Payable Value (DPV) of the above seizures is N5,088,982,569.92, while that of the year 2021 was N1,378,276,656.00 a differential of N3,710,705,913.92 which is about 269% higher,” Makinde explained.

‘’On a very sad note, however, I wish to inform you that during the last quarter of the year 2022, the Command lost an officer to a ghastly motor accident. While on duty at Ebute axis of Yewa North LGA in Ogun State, the officer was seated with other officers at their patrol base and a Toyota Avalon Saloon Car driven by one Mr. Idris ran into the officers, knocking down 2 of them in the process.’’

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji has called on Nigerians to the candidate of the All Progressive Congress, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in the February 25 general elections.

Oyebanji said that Tinubu is the most qualified among those jostling to lead the country at this moment on account of his experience, competence, capacity, antecedents, brilliance, and satisfactory performance as the governor of Lagos State.

He spoke in Ado Ekiti, the State capital during the official inauguration of the Tinubu/ Shettima Grassroot Independent Campaign Council in Ekiti State.

The governor represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Chief Jide Awe, noted the former Lagos governor has been tested and trusted to provide progressive and purposeful governance for the people.

He appealed to the members of the APC across 177 wards in the state to move out and mobilise their support for Tinubu and other candidates of the party.

He said: “No stone should be left unturned in reaching every household on the need to vote for Tinubu. Let us forget the differences of the past and focus on what is before us. The presidential election is very important to us based on what Tinubu means to us in Ekiti State.”

The council’s Deputy National Coordinator, South, Akin Awodeyi, who inaugurated the group, said: “February 25 is the deciding day of Nigeria’s future. Let us vote APC for the expected future.”

The Senator representing Ekiti Central, Michael Bamidele, said TSGICC was an opportunity for him to support Tinubu who he described as a political father and helper.

Bamdele said that he would work closely with other stakeholders to deliver Ekiti votes to Tinubu and other candidates in the election.

Meanwhile, Oyebanji, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode has declared Tuesday, January 24 as a work-free day to enable eligible voters to collect their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) at designated centres.

Crisis has trailed the resignation of the Field Commander of Osun Security Network codenamed Amotekun, Comrade Amitolu Shittu following the allegation that his military superiors conspired against him.

The Nation recalled that Amitolu was appointed by former governor Adegboyega Oyetola on April 24th 2020 alongside other leaders of the outfit.

Amitolu, however, tendered his resignation on January 20th, 2023.

His resignation as the Field Commander of the corps has raised controversy and revealed internal wrangling among the leadership of the board of Amotekun.

Speaking shortly after his resignation, Amitolu alleged that his bosses are after his life as they are threatening to kill him with voodoo and vowed to deploy thugs to bully him.

He said: “I don’t have anything against the governor. He has done nothing to me. I have never been paid a dime. Since the last four years I have been in Amotekun, I have never collected a dime. So, how would I say the governor offended me? We only have charlatans heading the management team of Amotekun. What does the retired Adewumbi know about security and operations? Is it because he is a retired military (officer)? The arrests I have made since I was field commander, was he part of it? In all the celebrated cases God has assisted me in actualizing, was he part of the successes? I am not bragging. I thank God we made an impact.”

However, the boss of Amitolu, the Corps Commandant, Gen. Bashir Adewinbi reacting to the incident denied the allegations.

He said: “The (state) government is in charge of the Amotekun corps, as at the time of this interview I am not aware of his resignation because it has not passed through the normal channel. If he wants to resign, he is supposed to drop his resignation letter with the secretary of the board. I am not sure the secretary has received his letter.”

Prominent movie stars under the aegis of Connecting Grassroots Initiative (CGI) took to the streets in major areas of Lagos metropolis to canvass support for the presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the re-election bid of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

The entertainers visited residential areas, markets, and other public places to campaign for Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu.

 Some of the movie stars at the rally were Damola Olatunji; Bimbo Akintola;, Doyin Kukoyi; Ibrahim Yekini aka Itele; Olaiya Igwe; Dayo Amusa; Bimbo Thomas; Yomi Fash-Lanso; Murphy Afolabi; Toyosi Adesanya; Sikiratu Sindodo; Peter Ijagbemi; Abbey Lanre, Madam Saje; Yetunde Wunmi; Ireti Osayemi; Soji Taiwo; Baba Tee; Aderupoko, and many others.

 Speaking during their campaign in Mushin Local Government Area, Damola Olatunji who led the group, said the actors were prepared to do everything possible to ensure the victory of Tinubu and Sanwo-Olu at the forthcoming polls.

Spokesperson of CGI, Bimbo Akintola, said members of the group are not bothered by the criticisms they face over their choice of preferred candidates.

 ”I appreciated Asiwaju because he empowers the youth and I believe the youths are the future of the country. Asiwaju has the knack for bringing intellectuals, and key people who are skilled enough to help us refine Nigeria. That is one of the major reasons that I am voting for Asiwaju. The truth of the matter is everybody has a right to choose who they want to vote for,” she said.

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has restated that those areas yet to feel the impact of his administration will soon begin to enjoy infrastructure developments.

Abiodun asked the people to be patient as efforts are being intensified to spread more basic amenities in line with the vision of his government.

Abiodun gave the assurance on Thursday during the commissioning of 5.7 kilometre Oru-Awa-Alaporu Road in Ijebu North Local Government Area, as he continued his second term campaign tour in Ijebu North Local Government, describing the newly inaugurated road as an important bypass that would boost the socio-economic development of the axis.

Abiodun explained that the road was the third to be commissioned within one month, noting that it was another testament to his administration’s drive to open up the state through ease of movement of people, foods, and services.

 He said: “This will be the third time we will be in this local government to commission road projects. We were here to commission the Igan road in Ago-Iwoye. About five weeks ago, we were at Ijebu-Igbo to commission the Molusi College Road and today we are here to commission the Oru-Awa-Alaporu road.

 ”This local government area is indeed lucky to have three projects in less than four years. You can recall that this local government did not benefit from any project from the past government, but now you have three”, he said.

 The governor stressed that the road would serve as a bye-pass to Ijebu-Igbo and travellers from the state to Ibadan in Oyo State. He urged the residents to support his re-election in order to enjoy more dividends of democracy.

 The governor also thanked the traditional rulers for their support, noting that all the people-oriented projects executed in the state by his administration were made possible through their cooperation.

 The Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, in his remarks, said the road which was in a deplorable condition, would ease people’s movement within the axis, adding that the road was provided with road furniture such as walkway and streetlight for the security of the residents.

 In his remarks, the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, Oba Lawrence Adebajo, lauded the state government for extending developmental projects to the local government, calling on the people to support the governor for a second term.

The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke has been criticised for the inclusion of drilling of boreholes across 332 wards of the state as part of his 100 days in office achievement.

 Adeleke was berated by the Coalition of Civil Society under the auspice of The Osun Masterminds on Friday during their monthly ‘State of Affairs in Osun’ address held on Friday in Osogbo capital of Osun State.

 The Executive Director of the group, Professor Wasiu Oyedokun-Alli described the planned drilling of boreholes as backward, primitive, and disrespectful to the citizens of the state who voted for him.

 Oyedokun-Alli said: “We have also followed his recent announcement of certain government initiatives ahead of his 100 days in office. We must say that no matter the thought behind the announced initiative, sinking boreholes across the 332 Wards in Osun State is not a progressive step at this point in the history of the State.

 ”In trying to pursue a comprehensive water supply policy, the Governor is not supposed to take populist steps such as the sinking of boreholes at this time in history, but look more at water supply solutions that are more comprehensive and more relevant on the long term.”

He noted that there is a pending Ilesa water project and also abandoned mini-water scheme of the Oyinlola administration adding that there is also the abandoned mini-water projects of the Federal lawmakers that represented Osun between 2011 and 2015 which are comprehensive enough to provide more practical solutions to the water supply problems in the State.

Oyedokun added: “We advise that the Governor reviews his government’s decision in this regard and take more futuristic steps on issues of governance going forward, as the goal of government is supposed to be long-term security of the livelihoods of citizens and not short-term applause.”