Category: South West

Lagos State Government has urged stakeholders on the need to adhere to safety protocols when they handle and transport gases, to prevent gas explosion.

The Director General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola, gave the advice yesterday at an oil and gas stakeholders’ safety summit held in Alausa, Ikeja.

Mojola, represented by the commission’s Technical Adviser, Mr. Seun Awojobi, said findings showed that gas explosions were often caused by improper handling and storage.

He said: “This summit is important due to gas explosions being reported on a daily basis in Lagos State. At the commission, our objective is to ensure  we reduce accidents, incidents, or fatalities that come as a result of the use of cooking gases.”

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Mobolaji Ogunlende, represented by Dr. Bukola Ayinla, noted the efforts of the government to ensure safety of lives and property.

The Head of Distribution System, Storage Infrastructure, at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Oluwakayode Oyegoke, said from records, most of the incidents were caused by those who refused to follow the culture of safety and guidelines in handling hydrocarbons.

Ahun-Ekiti has come to stay as an autonomous community in Efon Local Government of Ekiti State, Ahun-Ekiti Progressive Union said yesterday.

Its General Secretary, Emmanuel Ajewole, said in a statement that Ekiti State Government has not committed any affront on the judiciary by giving recognition to Ahun.

He faulted the claim by the Efon Development League that due process was not followed before granting the autonomy, slamming the umbrella organisation for distorting facts.

Ajewole said it was the Obaloja of Obalu, and not the Alahun of Ahun that was served court papers.

He rejected the erroneous impression that Efon Local Government is indivisible, recalling that it is made up of 21 towns and villages.

Ajewole accused the League of bias and sentiments, saying the body should desist from causing friction, disaffection and hate among the communities.

He said such restraint was crucial to peaceful coexistence in Efon Council.

History was made today, as Efon-Alaaye recorded the unveiling of a new professor by the authorities of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Prof. Joshua Dada.

The Professor of Quantity Surveying Technology is a 1988 product of Christ Apostolic Church Grammar School, Efon Alaaye (CAPOSTO) and former Chairman of Osun State branch of Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveying (NIQS).

An ordained pastor of the Christ Apostolic Church (C.A.C.), Joshua, son of the late Pa Dada Arowosafe of Atiba, was confirmed today as a Professor of Quantity Surveying, OAU. The confirmation was backdated to 2018.

The governorship candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Oyo State, Sen. Teslim Folarin on Wednesday said no fewer than 10,500 youths across the State have been lifted out of poverty in the last three years since his return to the Red Chamber.

The Oyo Central Senator said they were empowered through his various intervention and empowerment programmes.

He noted that the interventions have been made easy, courtesy of Federal Government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies most especially Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) led by Engr. Simbi Wabote.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony Of 500 youths trained By NCDMB on GSM phone repairs, hardware, software and enterprenureship development in Oyo State, Folarin said he don’t just give the youths fish but also teaches them how to fish for them to be self reliance without waiting for government job.

He lamented that government jobs are scarce, which informed the need for youths to utilised skills and competencies acquired to uplift themselves, families and also contribute to the economic growth of the state.

The chairman, Senate Committee on Local Content maintained that the current graduating 500 youths are significant additions to the already empowered 10000 youths in the state who have been trained in Modern Agricultural Techniques, ICT Skills Acquisition, Digital Literacy and Entrepreneurship.

He said the 500 beneficiary youths that are graduating underwent four weeks intensive trainings at Distance Learning Centre, University of Ibadan; LAUTECH Ogbomoso and Atiba University, Oyo. And also spent another four weeks of practical at selected phone repair workshops.

“Let me quickly highlight some of my interventions on youth and women empowerment, between 2019 and today, I’ve facilitated establishment of multi-billion naira state-of-the-art University of Ibadan Vocational School on Oil and Gas; N200Million worth of empowerment for youths and women including People With Special Needs; N132million for 200 youths through National Youth Volunteer Programme; N10.5Million TKF Business Empowerment Scheme; N25million FG COVID-19 Loans for 20 constituents; N5m COVID-19 Relief for young teachers, N4million for 200 vulnerable women through the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, and many other personal interventions too numerous to mention.”

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“Today’s graduation ceremony is a milestone in your lives as it marks the end of a formal knowledge and skills acquisition phase of your development and launches you into an opportunity phase where you will seek to exploit your new knowledge and skills to make a difference in the world around you. You can look back with pride at your learning journey and hold your heads up in acknowledgement of your achievements.”

“With what what we have packaged for each of you, you are out of poverty and joblessness. The package include phone repair toolbox, stipend of N130,000 for each graduate, fully paid workshop for each graduate, and registration with SMEDAN for SMEs Loans and other opportunities. Besides, 100 best graduates are to be given fully installed laptops with Phone Repairs Software.”

He however said 2023 is another opportunity for the people to vote out the self-serving administration in the State, saying incoming APC administration under his watch would move the state forward for growth and development.

The NCDMB General Manager, Research, Statistics and Development, Abdulmalik Halilu said the programme was part of president Buhari’s mandate and commitment to empower Nigerian youths to be a contributors towards national development.

Dignitaries at the event include former Oyo Deputy Governor, Engr Rauf Olaniyan, Barr. Sharafadeen Ali, Engr. Akeem Alao, Dr. Yunuf Akintunde, Prince Niran Adeyoku and APC leader among others.