Category: South West

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State has said victory is sure for All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming guber election slated for July 16th 2022.

This is just as mammoth crowd thronged out to welcome him to Ede yesterday as Oyetola campaign train moved to the community for his re-election bid.

Oyetola addressing his supporters at Oba Laoye Grammar school, Ede, said, “With the turnout of today, It is green light for APC in Ede in the forthcoming election. Masses and God is on our side. I am impressed by the massive turnout of today, I am really surprised”. He added: “The forthcoming election slated for 16th July 2022 is very important for our dear state because God gave our party the power in Osun and Abuja, power is not ready to leave our hand, Osun is for continuity, we have been able to ensure development for our state”.

He continued: “Ede road is the first rehabilitation I did when I was sworn in as governor, the only way you can compensate me is by voting for our party, APC. The monarch, Timi of Ede rated me high in performance which is an endorsement for me. I don’t use to lie as governor, I only promise things that I will do.

“No room for rigging again, with the introduction of BVAS by INEC, anyone plotting election malpractice is wasting its time. We will rejoice after the election.”

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa has has appealed to qualified residents of the state to get their Permanent Voters’ Card (PVC) and vote.

Obasa spoke yesterday at the eighth annual Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting held simultaneously by lawmakers across the state. The theme of the stakeholders’ meeting was ‘2023 General Elections: The Imperatives of Permanent Voters’ Card’.

The speaker, while addressing stakeholders at his Agege Constituency I, noted that the theme was very apt especially as the country matches towards the elections. He praised the people for being responsive to matters affecting their communities and state, but worried on the state of PVC collection.

He said: “It is worrisome that over 20 million Permanent Voters’ Card (PVCs) still remain uncollected across the nation, according to a recent INEC report. And of this number, one million is from Lagos State.

“This situation does not augur well for our progress, our democracy and the development of the state, as it may create an opportunity for incompetent persons to be elected as our leaders and representatives and thus overturn our achievements.

“As you know, Lagos has been so blessed with great and visionary leaders and representatives, right from the Second Republic in 1979 when Alhaji Lateef Jakande came on board as the first civilian governor, supported by a vibrant House of Assembly, and most significantly from 1999 in the Fourth Republic with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, not just emerging as Governor of Lagos, but revered as the architect of modern day Lagos.

“All these were made possible due to citizens’ actively voting at elections to choose the right candidates. Consequently, the Lagos State House of Assembly is reiterating the need for everyone to obtain their PVCs and vote in the 2023 elections. Your PVC is your power, not just to continue building the state, but the nation as well. It is your power for continuity, for the stability and sustainability of our enduring and cherished democracy; it is your power to secure a bright and promising future for our children, state and the nation.”

Head of Electoral Operations at the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Felix Daramola also lamented the ‘very poor outing by voters during elections’. He emphasised the need for mass participation in the elections, adding that Lagos now has 13,325 polling units, with Agege having 696 of the number thus bringing voting centres closer to the electorate.

Daramola said the introduction of the BIVAS machine has made it very difficult to rig elections since it allows for election results to be transferred electronically.

To sustain the operations of regulated bus services in Lagos State, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved a flat rate increase by N100 in bus fares for all Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) and standard routes.

With the increase, a bus ride from Ikorodu to TBS will now cost N600, Berger to Ajah becomes N700, Oshodi to Abule-Egba will cost N450 and Abule-Egba to CMS/Obalende will becomes N600.

The increase will become effective July 13.

Governor Sanwo-Olu also approved proposal for a bail out for the bus operating companies (route franchise operators/concessionaires), to cushion effects of the harsh operating environment, safeguard private partnership investment, and forestall the demise of formalised bus operations in the state.

Operations of the transport scheme, of late, has been hampered due to rising cost of inputs required for sustainable service offering, and the attendant high number of buses out of operation due to lack of spare parts.

For instance, the exponential increase in the pump price of diesel from N187 to N830/litre between August 2020 and June 2022 has affected the optimal performance of the bus operating companies leading to the withdrawal of buses from operation and longer waiting time at bus stations.

The Governor also approved appeals by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) for the conversion of the current diesel buses to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and a shift to economically-viable and environmentally-friendly mobility energy solution that are cost efficient and maximise operations cost, such as electric vehicles, hydrogen buses and the development of hybrid energy sources as alternative fueling for the current Bus Reform Initiative (BRI) buses.

 

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun has inaugurated an eight-man Judicial Commission of Inquiry to undertake a comprehensive review, analysis, and investigation of land allocation, documentation and general land dealings in the last 11 years.

A statement by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, said the commission, headed by Justice S.A Olugbemi (rtd), has three months, in the first instance, to carry out its assignment.

Other members of the aommission are Adetunji Onabowo a lawyer; former Commissioner of Police Edward Ajogun; Chairman, Ethics Committee, Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Oyebanji Akinhanmi; an estate valuer Toyin Aluko and a representative of the Deoartment of State Services (DSS).

Abiodun, while inaugurating the commission, emphasised the role of land in the economic development of any nation. He highlighted the commission’s mandate to include unraveling the circumstances surrounding rampant illegal land transactions; identify and unravel all illegal land transactions till date; identify all perpetrators involved in any discovered illegal dealings.

The commission is also to receive and investigate general complaints from the public around land acquisition and documentation; make recommendations to curb bottlenecks, delays, and corruption in land acquisition and documentation; unravel money involved in the illegal dealings; identify the value of government loss; and recommend methods of recovery.

The governor also told the commission to recommend necessary punishment for erring person(s); suggest ways to forestall recurrence of illegalities or inefficiencies and make suggestions and recommendations that could assist the government in other related matters.

He said: “I have authorised the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), and relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to provide the required support – personnel and material – that the commission will need to perform its task.”

“In our own peculiar situation, land is our gold. It is our crude oil, and thus plays a crucial role in our administration’s ‘Building our Future Together’ agenda. This is more especially in agricultural production and industrialisation; affordable housing and urban renewal; rural- infrastructural development as well as employment generation…”

Justice Olugbemi (rtd) promised that the commission will do its best to unravel all illegal and improper allocations of land as stipulated in its term of reference, and make recommendations appropriately.

The College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU) in the Adeyemi College of Education (ACE), Ondo State, has threatened to extend its 21-day warning strike by another four weeks if the government fails to attend to its demands.

A statement by the Chairman Adetokunboh Adepoju, and Secretary Joel Edafe, said academic activities will not resume until all national and local issues were resolved.

According to them, Colleges of Education system has suffered abandonment by the Federal Government. It said several pleas for urgent revamp of facilities, and recruitment of adequate qualified persons has yielded no result.

The statement reads: “This neglect has gradually culminated in aggravated decay of infrastructures in the Colleges of Education system. Based on poor conditions of service, the sector has also witnessed monumental academic staff attrition without significant effort by the government for their replacement.

“The resultant gross deficit of staff, and the backlash effect on the quality and quantity of teachers produced by the Colleges of Education system is best imagined. This has left our union, having exhausted all other avenues of gaining government’s attention, with no other option than to embark on this warning strike in the face of government’s insensitivity.

“Some of the lingering issues which necessitated the industrial action are the obnoxious tax regime on staff consolidated salary, which include allowances as against basic salary, and capturing in the annual budget the Peculiar Earned Allowance; non-release of the approved N15 billion of the N456,599,691,914.18 revitalisation fund recommended for both federal and state Colleges of Education, contrary to repeated promises by the Federal Government.

“There is the non–implementation of the consequential effect of the implementation of CONTISS15 on Lower Cadre (a.k.a. Migration) since 2018; poor funding of Colleges of Education and poor conditions across state-owned Colleges of Education especially in Ogun, Kwara, Abia, Kogi, Zamfara, Yobe, and Edo states; as well as the Federal Government’s recalcitrant insistence on the satanic IPPIS that does not take into account the peculiarity of the College of Education system as against the more reliable alternative of UTAS.”

They also listed other local issues already communicated to the school management to include four-month salary arrears for 2019 recruited academic staff; and Responsibility Allowances for HODs, Dean’s/Directors, among others.

“In light of the foregoing, our chapter will not resume academic activities until all national and local issues are resolved,” the statement added.

The College’s alumni association has however urged the Federal Government to begin steps towards the full conversion of the institution to a University of Education.

It appealed to the Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, to set aside recommendations for renewal of terms for principal officers of the college. It urged the minister to rather concentrate on the appointment of a visionary Vice Chancellor to kick start the University of Education.

A statement signed by Chairman Odelade Oluwatoba, and Secretary Steve Akintimehin, said the association was worried over delays in the implementation of the Adeyemi Federal University of Education Act, six months after it was signed into law and gazzetted by the Federal Government.

It therefore called for the setting up of a transition implementation committee, comprising persons of impeccable character.

The statement reads: “We appreciate President Muhammadu Buhari for assenting to the bill upgrading our alma matter to a Federal University of Education. This laudable feat that is commendable, well deserved and long overdue.

“However, it is worrisome that after about six months of signing into law and appropriate gazetting of the Act of the Adeyemi Federal University of Education, no positive steps have been taken by the school management to actualise the implementation.

“Instead, the meager resources are being channeled towards actualising the tenure elongation/renewal of terms for principal officers of the college, which has no legal basis since the law establishing the College has been repealed.

“We passionately appeal to the Governing Council, the Osemawe of Ondo Kingdom, Senator Ayo Akinyelure and Dr. Abiola Makinde to impress it on the Minister of Education to start the process of the implementation so that the labour of our heroes’ past will not be in vain.

“Similarly, we enjoin the minister to set up a transition implementation committee, comprising people of impeccable character, and appoint a visionary Vice Chancellor with requisite academic and professional qualifications to man the new university.”

 

Epe, riverine Lagos fishing community, was aglow with festivities yesterday, following the commissioning of projects facilitated through the Office of Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) by Senator Tokunbo Abiru.

The projects included the Oluwo Fish Market comprising 399 shops and 961 capacity mini-stadium, financial grants to 1,250 market women, distribution of farming equipment  and financial support for 200 rural farmers.

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who commissioned the projects, lauded Abiru, Chairman of Senate Committee on Industries, for achieving great feats for his district, barely one year in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly.

He said he was not surprised by the senator’s dedication and commitment to public welfare, having known him in the past 35 years as a goal getter, a shrewd banker, successful technocrat,  former Finance Commissioner and a man of the community.

Sanwo-Olu also lauded Abiru’s commitment to progressive ideals and principles, reminiscent of the disposition of his illustrious father, the late Senator Akanbi Abiru, an eminent jurist and Awoist.

Party leaders, including Deputy Governor Abiodun Ogunleye, Chief Akanni Seriki, Asiwaju Olorunfunmi Basorun, Chief Bode Oyedele and Omooba Muyiwa Sosanya, also praised the senator for living to expectation.

Also at the ceremony were SDGs Director-General Mrs. Tawa Orelope-Adefulire, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, Kunle Saheed, Hon. Tobun, and Information and Strategy Commissioner Gbenga Omotoso.

The governor hailed Abiru for sponsoring the people-oriented empowerment programmes, saying that he is living to the vision of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in a bid to uplift the lives of Epe and Lagos East people.

Sanwo-Olu said:”This is what democracy is all about,” urging the Senator and other representatives not to relent in their efforts at serving Lagosians with diligence.

The governor said the recreational facilities will enhance the health and wellbeing of Epe residents and lay the foundation which can be built upon in the future.

Sanwo-Olu urged beneficiaries to use the facilities judiciously. He also advised beneficiaries of the grants to be productive and justify the extention of the duty of care.

The governor called for a maintenance culture that will protect the facilities and make it a worthy monument.

An elated Abiru tendered his stewardship before the governor, party leaders,and constituents.

He also praised Sanwo-Olu, Orelope-Adefulire and the party leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for their support.

He said: “I must also seize this opportunity to congratulate all of us on the resounding victory of our national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as the APC Presidential Candidate for the 2023 eneral elections “ Awa Lokan”.

He added: “As we journey into the year 2023, I urge us all to not only get fully registered but to also step up the civic advocacy for our people to register with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) which the electoral umpire has graciously extended. We need to also educate those who have earlier registered to check the validity of their PVCs.

“This is crucial for all of us and our great party, APC, especially now that our revered leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is the presidential flag bearer of the APC.

“Like Asiwaju said when he met with HRM (Oba) Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos and his chiefs at the palace, the major task ahead is getting people to register for PVCs and ensure they vote for the APC at the general elections. Therefore, galvanizing and educating voters is the best support we can give for the aspiration to come into fulfilment.”

Abiru recalled that he came into the senatorial assignment with a determination and passion to improve the lots of Lagos East and elevate its socio-economic conditions, and to compliment the efforts of Sanwo-Olu.

He said he conducted a need assessment after his inauguration to ascertain the real, peculiar and most pressing needs of the 98 wards in the 16 Local Government Areas and Local Council Development Areas in the Lagos East.

Abiru said the feedback generated have been the compass in navigating where and what to facilitate in respective communities in the order of priority and expediency.

He added: “So, in the last 18 months that I have held the people’s mandate, I have prioritized my focus and responsibilities on three  pillars; Legislative role; Empowerment, and endowment.

In the area of legislation, the senator said in the last 18 months in the Senate,he has  sponsored  13 private member bills and co-sponsored three three others, adding that ” all the bills have scaled first reading.”

He stressed:” Two of the bills are of particular interest to our entrepreneurs (MSME) and the youth. They are: Copyright bill 2021 (Repeal and Re-enactment) which has gone through first and second readings, public hearing and third reading and has been passed in the Senate. The second bill is the Franchise Regulation Bill 2022 which has gone through first and second readings and is now awaiting public hearing.”

I have also moved two motions. The first is motion on the ban of cryptocurrency in Nigeria and motion on the urgent need for the rehabilitation of the Ikorodu-Shagamu and Ikorodu-Itoikin-Epe roads to further bridge the infrastructural gap and enhance economic growth in the corridor of our district.

Please, let me speak briefly on the Ikorodu/Sagamu Road. The efforts I made through legislative interventions led to the virement of the funding of the road to Sukuk Financing Scheme. I am glad to inform you that the efforts have yielded desired results.

From Sabo to First-gate, Odogunyan, Ita-Oluwo, Ogijo, Gbaga , Sotubo to Mosimi, almost all critical sections of the road have been reconstructed. This has brought a great relief to commuters, motorists and businesses along the Ikorodu/Sagamu corridor.

Equally, I have made efforts for the improvement of Ikorodu-Itoikin-Epe road which connects our town with the rest of Lagos. The road which was constructed in 1975 by the General Yakubu Gowon regime is indeed due for major rehabilitation. I wish to assure that our efforts are receiving necessary attention by the Federal Government for the rehabilitation of the road.

In February 2022, I presented a petition from the Magodo Residents Association on the illegal invasion and occupation of Magodo Estate by armed policemen purportedly acting on the order of the Attorney General of the Federation and Inspector-General of Police.

“In the same manner, I have set up a Community Innovation Space known as Senator Abiru Innovation Lab (SAIL) in partnership with a renowned technology and Social Enterprise company, The Co-creation Hub (Cc-HUB) in Lagos to train youths in the senatorial district on relevant digital and innovation skills, and build the best entrepreneurs that can compete in the ever-dynamic global economy.

The Center is currently situated in Ikorodu within our district, starting from the constituency office but planning to move into a bigger permanent facility by July 2022. Five (5) pilot programmes have been put together with a view to proffer solutions to some of the challenges identified and many of our youths have started applying for opportunities to participate in the programmes.

“Over 2,300 young people across the Lagos East Senatorial District applied for the SAIL programmes. Currently, over One Hundred Fifty (150) students are participating in the Five (5) Pilot Programmes at the SAIL Centre in Ikorodu while over One Thousand (1000) eligible applicants were trained online.

“I must publicly acknowledge and appreciate the magnanimity of the Presidency, through the Office of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for the projects we are commissioning today, those we had commissioned in the past and the ones that are yet to be commissioned. I specially thank His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and Her Excellency, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on SDGs.

The projects attracted to Epe town that are being commissioned today are: a 960-capacity mini-Stadium , which include; Football pitch, Basketball and Volleyball courts, administrative offices, changing rooms and other amenities; and the remodelling of the popular Oluwo Fish market which now comprises 240 open stalls, 82 lock up stalls, 5 open floors, 12 toilets and 4 new offices for Iya Oloja and Baba Oloja, Tourism Board and Local Government Staff Security post.

We are also empowering about 1,250 market women and traders with the sum of N50,000 each as financial grants totalling N62.5 million. Our respective Iya Olojas in the 16 LGs/LCDAs were given the direct responsibilities of selecting 50 members each in their localities totaling 800 market women, while the remaining beneficiaries were nominated by the party structure.

The empowerment also includes the distribution of Hand-planters to about 200 farmers, along with financial grants of N20,000 for our farmers in the agrarian part of the district.

These projects and support for market women and rural farmers are part of the fulfilment of the social contract I solemnly had with the people of the Lagos East Senatorial District while seeking their mandate in 2020.

Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola yesterday opened the 100-bed Mother and Child Hospital; 80-bed Multipurpose Hospital, Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurial Centre, and Transit Home and Vocational Centre for abused Women and Girls.

The health facilities are located in Iragbiji, headquarters of Boripe Local Government Area.

Oyetola said his administration remains committed to the people’s health and well-being.

According to him, the projects were facilitated by the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in partnership with the state.

“The 80-bed and 100-bed state-of-the-art multipurpose hospitals are another fitting and timely complement to the ongoing effort of our administration at transforming the health sector.

“The second facility, the Abused Women Transit Home, is unique in its conception as a solution centre for providing succour to women who are victims of abuse. This sprawling centre is equipped with multidimensional skills acquisition facility, alongside a hostel for over 100 people ”

Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire praised the governor for striving to build a healthy population.

She said the projects were in fulfilment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s promises to providing quality health service delivery to Nigerians, particularly women and children.

 

Chairman, Planning Committee of the 30th Graduation Anniversary of the Association of Mass Communication Graduates (AMACOG) (1992 set) of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) Abeokuta, Dr. Femi Adefila, has emphasised the need for old students to play active roles in developing their alma mater.

Adefila, in a statement yesterday, said alumni associations could become the pillars on which the development of the nation’s schools will stand.

He noted: “The economic situation across the globe isn’t favourable at the moment. Nigeria’s situation is particularly precarious and this has led to schools, especially government-owned, being sidelined in the allocation of very scarce resources.

“This has placed a responsibility on old students to embark on a rescue mission by pulling resources together to support the schools.”

Adefila, who founded RAVE FM, Osogbo, Osun State, explained that this understanding informed the decision of AMACOG ’92 to renovate the television studio of the Mass Communication Department of MAPOLY, and install modern facilities that will aid the students in quality learning.

The studio will be unveiled on Friday at an event to be attended by Acting Rector Adeoye Odedeji; Head of Mass Communication Department, Lekan Togunwa, and the Olota of Ota, Prof. Adeyemi Obalanlege.

Adefila added: “The unveiling is part of events to celebrate the 30th anniversary of our graduation from the school. We were also in the school five years ago to support the department in various areas. The celebration will be rounded off with a dinner same Friday.”

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has opened the newly-built containerised modular classroom block in Vetland Junior Grammar School, Agege.

Sanwo-Olu described the event as a fulfilment of his promise to replicate facilities at the new  Elemoro Comprehensive Junior Secondary School in Ibeju-Lekki, across all education districts in the state.

The containerised modular school building comprises nine regular classrooms, three laboratories and four staff rooms, all solar- powered. The pupils, 620 in all, also have the opportunity to learn remotely.

The old buildings were also demolished and the grounds developed into playground comprising modern sporting facilities.

Sanwo-Olu said: “Our goal is to build schools of the future, public schools that are driven

by cutting-edge technology and that can compete favorably with the best schools anywhere in the world.

“All the classrooms are equipped with interactive touch-screens, and all the pupils will be given electronic tablets to aid both in-class and virtual learning.

“This is the future of public basic education in Nigeria and Africa, and is a welcome

milestone on our journey towards ensuring that no child is left behind in Lagos State.

“So far, our administration has constructed more than 800 new classroom blocks in the public school system, while also completing the rehabilitation of about 200 public primary and secondary schools, with several others ongoing.

“Also, about 150,000 units of furniture have been supplied to our public schools across the six education districts. We have improved security by installing watchtowers, perimeter fences, panic bells and flood lights, and have

prioritised the comfort of boarding students through the provision of beddings and other necessary items…

“We have not limited ourselves to infrastructure; the welfare and training of teaching and administrative staff in

our public school system have received significant attention as well. And I assure you that we will do more…”

Commissioner for Education Mrs. Folashade Adefisayo thanked Sanwo-Olu for keeping his promise of increasing the ministry’s yearly budgetary allocation. She described the building as ‘one for the ages’.

Chairman of the Special Committee of Rehabilitation of Public Schools (SCRPS) Hakeem Smith noted that ‘four derelict sinking buildings gave way to the new intermodal containerised building which will encourage hybrid learning’. “Pupils can learn remotely because of the type of technology deployed in the school,” he added.