Category: South West

The National Coordinator of Owo is One Association, Mr Akinboro Aruwajoye has said that the ancient town has been in shock, devastated and paralysed since the tragic massacre of worshipers at St Francis Catholic Church in Owo on 5th June 2022.

About 40 persons, including children, were killed while over 60 were injured in the attack.

Addressing the newsmen in Lagos, Aruwajoye described the attack unleashed on the ancient town as barbaric, insisting that people are still living in fear.

“Everybody is afraid, wondering what is next. At no time in its history has there been so much uncertainty and insecurity and dismay in the land as there is now,” Aruwajoye said.

The national coordinator added that the mayhem has unravelled the many loopholes as he harped on the dire need to provide critical tools for police and other emergency services.

He said, “despite the near-war situation in most parts of the country, it does not seem any part of the agencies picked up any information about this attack. Total lack of intelligence support to guide our security response activities need to be rejigged.”

The Ogbeni Oja of Owo, described the emergency response in Owo town as very poor while reminding the government of its primary purpose – to see to the security and welfare of the people.

He said: “Let it be clear, the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of the government. No government can lay claim to legitimacy if it cannot protect its citizens from internal turmoil or external aggression or cannot provide the minimum conditions for peaceful and healthy living.”

A Trustee of Owo is One Association, Jumoke Anifowose, called for urgent sensitisation of inhabitants on handling emergencies while urging the citizens to be vigilant and suspicious of all strange people and movements in the community.  “Personal security requires the citizens to be vigilant. Therefore, they should report their findings to the authorities,” she said.

On his part, Honourable Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi pleaded with the federal government to recognize the internally displaced persons through the activities of herdsmen in the community and to capture them within its IDP programme.

“The herdsmen constantly torment, kill, rape, burning down houses and overrun the farms in Okeluse, Arimogiga and Molege in Ose LGA. Schools are closed in these communities, life is brutish. The Government does not even recognize them as internally displaced- No government assistance, no protection, no future. We plead with the Federal Government to capture these people within its IDP programme,” he appealed.

The Owo is One Association, the apex body of all societies and associations in the Owo kingdom, also called for massive recruitment of able-bodied youths into the military and police forces in a transparent exercise that gives fair representation to all parts of the country in recognition of our ethnic diversity.

They further requested the immediate decentralisation of the command structure of the military and the police forces. “This has to do with a strategic management of Human Resources which does not need to wait for Constitutional reforms.”

In a fresh attempt to make the business environment become more friendlier to operators in Nigeria’s business landscape, the Advertisers Association of Nigeria, (ADVAN) is organising a business dialogue to discuss the role of regulators on the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

The event is scheduled to take place on June 22nd, 2022 at Radisson Blue Hotel GRA Ikeja with the theme: ‘the role of government regulations in the ease of doing business’.

The keynote paper will be delivered by the Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Ease of Doing Business, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos recently, ADVAN President, Osamede Uwubanmwen told Journalists that the dialogue will be an avenue to bring together stakeholders to discuss the way forward on how to move the industry forward, stressing that, the idea is that you have industry regulators in a room and you have people they regulate in the same room, and they ask themselves questions on burning industry issues.

According to him, “when regulators comes up with policies, they need feedback on how regulations are affecting the industry, and we believe that’s what dialogue is all about, it’s something we have done over the years and the essence is to ensure we have sanity in where we do business.”

He further stressed that, industry dialogue is an annual event organized by ADVAN in which we bring stakeholders together, and why we are considering the ease of the doing business is because, we are of the believe that regulations should help business to succeed, because when business grows, the revenue grows, the economy grows and everybody will be happy.

The Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, at the weekend, appealed to residents along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to resist the theft of construction materials on-site for speedy completion of the project.

Fashola made the appeal during an on-the-spot inspection of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway project.

He said he received information that some persons took sand from the construction site to use for their buildings and other purposes, noting that such actions would lead to degradation of the road, while still under construction.

He said the Lagos-Badagry Expressway reconstruction/rehabilitation project was now enjoying steady funding unlike before.

He added that the early 2023 target for completion of the highway depended on factors like weather, traffic management, and the cooperation of the communities.

Fashola appealed to communities along the corridor of the project to be patient and compliant with traffic management efforts because of the impact of rainfall on the project.

“I think that the progress of work speaks for itself. The main problem on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway was always funding and budget, now, that has been substantially addressed with the NNPC Tax Credit Scheme.

“So, the contractor is progressing as you can see. And even while the work is going on, you heard from one of the traditional rulers we spoke to this morning, the Oba of Ibereko (Oba Israel Okoya).

“And he said their journey times had been reduced significantly; places that used to take them three hours are now a short drive of fewer than 10 minutes.

“And work is still going on, you can see we are standing on a substantially completed part of the road,” he said.

He called for patience on the part of road users as the construction work continued with the rainy season, which was likely to cause discomfort to road users.

“I do actual progress assessment; you are standing on concrete and ashpalted portions as I have told you. On one side we have 16 kilometres of single carriageway apart from the dual carriageway completed. We will transfer work to the other side.

“You saw in the early part from the Agbara area where earthwork is going on, you saw some of the parts that have been covered by FERMA (Federal Roads Maintenance Agency) around LASU (Lagos State University).

“And the Lagos State government is working on the Eric Moore bound section; so, it is progress,” he said.

He also recalled that Nigeria hosted ministers from Ghana, Cote d’ Viore, Togo, and Benin Republic about a fortnight ago because of the importance of the highway, as part of the Lagos-Abidjan route.

He said the link, about 1,048 kilometres, was a strategic investment that Nigeria was contributing to boost West African Trade and the local community.

Earlier, Onibereko of Ibereko land, Oba Thomas Okoya, the traditional ruler of one of the communities within completed sections of the road, thanked the federal government for the project, which had eased gridlock.

Nigeria is an increasingly important market for the process industries, that is why we are collaborating with the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria (AHK Nigeria), Chief Executive Officer of DECHEMA exhibitions, Thomas Scheuring has said.

Scheuring made this assertion at a press conference in Lagos ahead of ACHEMA, a world’s leading trade show for the process industries.

“Against this background, and also in the context of current geopolitical turbulences, it is even more essential for us to reach out to new destinations – which is why this time we are holding, in close cooperation with the Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria (AHK Nigeria), our first-ever press conference in Lagos,” he said.

The trade fair which is scheduled to take place from 22nd – 26th August, in Frankfurt, Germany, will feature the newest high-quality offers in the areas of chemical engineering, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, food production and environmental protection.

Scheuring boasted that the event will offer a complete 360-degree perspective on all trends and technologies in the process industry.

“After a two-year dry spell, the need for an intensive technical and personal exchange is palpable. This year, for the first time, ACHEMA will fully integrate the congress into the exhibition programme. Manufacturers and service providers from almost 50 nations will present their products and currently, more than 2,000 exhibitors have already registered.

“ACHEMA is sticking true to its motto: ‘Inspiring Sustainable Connections’, we are bringing together what belongs together. We are ready to host experts from all over the world to discuss the latest technical developments and solutions for the challenges in the process industries,” he said.

In her remarks, the Delegate of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria, Katharina Felgenhauer pledges her support to the team for focusing on the Nigerian market.

“I sense a great spirit of optimism in the chemical industry. The urge to push ahead with new projects to build the global circular economy as well as to reduce greenhouse gas emissions continues to grow. I am sure: because of the magnitude of the tasks, cooperation will be the key to success. The personal exchange at ACHEMA can provide an initial spark for further initiatives and co-operations. After long discussions about goals, we are now talking about solutions. I’m looking forward to it,”  Dr Klaus Schäfer, Covestro’s Chief Technology Officer expressed.

Trendsetting technology and global networking will continue to characterise the process industries’ leading show in 2022. Manufacturers and service providers from almost 50 nations will present their products for the chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, energy and environmental sectors. Founders and young entrepreneurs will meet in the Start-up Area.

According to CEO/Chairman of the Executive Board of Samson AG, Andreas Widl ACHEMA had always had special significance for her organization.

“We would continue to support German business.As a major industrial employer in the Rhine-Main region and a traditional exhibitor, ACHEMA has always had a very special significance for SAMSON.

“We are very much looking forward to meeting our customers and partners in person again in 2022, presenting technological innovations and discussing the opportunities and challenges of the future together.

“This is exactly what ACHEMA 2022 will address with the focus topics “Modular and Networked Production”, “The Digital Lab” and “Product and Process Security”. The mega-topics of digitalisation and climate neutrality are also moving even more into the focus of ACHEMA with the “Digital Hub” and the “Green Innovation Zone,” Widl said.

Osun State Governor, Adegoyega Oyetola has advised youths and students in the state to shun electoral violence and protect their votes during 2022 Governorship election slated for July 16th.

Oyetola speaking during the leadership summit tagged “Free, Fair and Credible Election, Bedrock for National Development”, organised by the National leadership of National Association of Nigeria Students (NANS) held at Osun State University, Osogbo Campus.

The governor who was represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Student Affairs and Social Mobilisation, Comrade Kehinde Ayantunji said student unionism is leadership recruitment platform for national development and the student must strive hard to sustain current democratic transition in the state through free, fair, credible and acceptable election.

He said: “You must reject electoral violence, no matter the monetary offer or any form of inducement,  such conduct will only mortgage your future and deny the citizens the democratic right to choose leadership which is dangerous for our democracy. As the ruling party, we have no fear, we are so confident of winning because of our performance especially on education and youth development, all we are asking for is conducive atmosphere that will guarantee credible process with equal opportunity to all political parties.”

Osun State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Abduganiyu Olayinka said out of 1,955,657 total register voters in Osun, youths between the age of 18 – 50 years constituted 75% of the total eligible voters saying the youths in Osun now have a better opportunity to choose their preferred candidate with the larger voting population advantage.

In his their seperate addresses, National President of NANS, Comrade Sunday Asefon and Secetary Comrade Adekitan Lukman said the workshop was organised by the Secretariat of NANS to sensitise the students on electoral process and need for more participations in election as part of the organisation’s contributions to  free and fair election  and Nigeria democratic development..

Ogun State governor, Dapo Abiodun, yesterday, embarked on the inspection of two major road projects being carried out by his administration within the Abeokuta metropolis.

The governor, accompanied by his cabinet members and top government functionaries paid inspection visit to the 5.3 kilometer Lafenwa-Rounda and the 5.7 kilometre Kemta-Somorin roads, to ascertain the level of work.

Addressing the residents and market women at Lafenwa, Abiodun reiterated the decision of his administration to deal ruthlessly with anyone caught disturbing the peace being enjoyed by the people of the state.

He condemned disturbances in the market by miscreants, vowing that he would deal with anyone caught disturbing the peace in the area.

While promising to complement the work of the police in the axis with men of the South West Security Network, code named ‘Amotekun’ and the OPMESA, the governor urged parents and guardians to warn their children and wards who are involved in the disturbances in the market to desist from such act or face the full wrath of the law.

“The last time I came here, I was told that miscreants were bothering the people and I called for the change of the Divisional Police Officer; I understand that this present Divisional Police Officer is doing much better than the other one.

“However, I am going to complement his efforts with the operatives of the Amotekun Corps and the OPMESA, and I am hereby warning that any parent of any miscreant should take note.

“If I catch any miscreant that is disturbing the peace of traders, businessmen and women in this market, I will prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law”, Abiodun stated.

He assured the residents of the area that upon completion of the drainage along the road, the issue of flooding would be a thing of the past as the drainages were constructed in a way that the volume of water from the rain would easily be accommodated.

Abiodun also assured the people that his administration would in the next two months work towards restoring power to the popular Lafenwa market.

“The market men and women have brought it to my attention that their expectation is to ensure that this drain is wide enough to carry the body of water all the way to the Ogun River, and I have assured them that the drain will be 1m by 1m, just like the one at the adjacent side of the road and it will be wide enough to carry the volume of water to Ogun River and this place will cease to flood.

“It has also been brought to my attention that there is no power in Lafenwa Market and I have made a promise to the traders  that in the next 60 days, there will be power in Lafenwa market,” the governor added.

In their respective responses on behalf of the traders, Alhaja Rashidat Oyedele and Alhaji Akeem Alalade, commended the governor for embarking on the Lafenwa-Rounda road which was abandoned by the immediate past administration,  pledging the traders’ support for the governor second term aspiration.

Speaking with newsmen after inspecting Kemta-Somorin Bye Pass road, Abiodun said his administration would continue to prioritize the welfare of the residents of the state.He explained that the road is an important by-pass road that would help to decongest the ever-busy Obantoko Road.

Abiodun who also commended the residents of the area for supporting the contractors, promised that the road would soon be completed.Earlier, the Baale of Itoko-Ilugun Community, Chief Gbeje Orobiyi, appreciated the governor for the reconstruction of the road which he said had been in a deplorable condition for years.He, however, stated that since the construction of the road began, the economy of the area has improved tremendously.

Muslim clerics have been urged to preach an effective sermon that will promote peace, unity, and security in society ahead 2023 General election.

This call was made during a training session organised by Al-Habibiyyah Islamic Society for Imams across Osun State.

Speaking at the event, the project coordinator, Dr. Rekiya Momoh-Abaji disclosed that the programme was organised to provide the Imams sermon guides to help in their weekly Juma’t and prepare their congregation ahead 2023 General election.

Delivering the Sermon guide, a professor from Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, Ibrahim Uthman, said, the weekly Jumat sermons were designed in Islam in other to sensitize and inform Muslims such that they are well informed about topical issues in society.

“The 2023 general election should form part of the sermon to educate Muslims in their whole on their civic responsibilities in the society.”

While reviewing the sermon practical guide, a lecturer from the University of Ilorin, Professor Yusuf Badmus that God purposely created people with different tongues, saying, humans should tolerate each other without discrimination.

Ooni of Ife, Oba Babatunde Ogunwusi has appealed to rich Nigerians at home and in the diaspora to invest their resources in the country.

Oba Ogunwusi said this at Ogbondoroko in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State at the commissioning of $15 million HMA Medical intravenous fluid manufacturing company.

The monarch said:  “The joy of origination is the greatest joy in the World, it is better to remember your root and give back to the society where you come from after your sojourn in a foreign land and that is what Dele organization has done.

“I’m celebrating him because I want to encourage others who have migrated abroad in search of greener pastures to come back home and contribute to the society”, Oba Ogunwusi said.

Oba Ogunwusi appealed to the state government to rehabilitate the road leading to the company.

In his remarks, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq said that the government was providing an enabling environment for both foreign and local investors in the state.

Represented by his deputy, Kayode Alabi, the governor said that for the government to change the narrative in the State, the administration is committing resources to infrastructure for the overall wellbeing of its citizens and businesses in the state.

AbdulRazaq commended the initiative of HMA Medical Limited and invited other well-meaning indigenes of the state to join hands with Government to improve the living conditions of its people.

‘The big step you have taken by establishing this allied medical company will not only provide job opportunities for our people but shall also fix challenges occasioned by non-availability of medical consumables and intravenous fluids at the crucial points of needs.’

“We also encourage collaborations, partnership, and mutual relationship towards the provision of deliverables to our citizens in keeping with the Goal 17 of the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)”, the governor added

Group Executive Director of HMA Medical Limited,  Damilola Shittu, said that the company was established to fill the gap in the shortage of intravenous fluid production in the country adding that it was sited at Ogbondoroko in Asa Local Government Area of the state to provide employment for the youth and halt the rural-urban migration in the state.

Shittu, said that the factory has the capacity to produce over 500 million syringes and over one billion needles per annum.

He stated that the first phase of the project has the capacity to produce 60,000 litres per day of different formulations of IV fluids and medication, using best practices and adhering to global standards.

“Presently our group employs about 1,000 people directly. Our five-year plan has a potential of employing about 2,000 more Nigerians directly while attracting over $100 million in foreign direct investment,” he said.

An activist, Adesunbo Onitiri has blamed ex-military men turned politicians for being responsible for Nigeria’s 23 years of retarded democracy.

In a press statement issued in Lagos, Onitiri said that politicians have learnt nothing and forgotten nothing.

He said:  “Surely this is not the democracy we fought for. This democracy has been badly bastardised and monetised.

“Our struggle to actualize June 12 by sending the military back to the barracks was hijacked by the military adventurists who dropped their khaki uniforms and dramatically changed to agbada.”

Onitiri recalled that when the symbol and martyr of the June 12 struggles, Chief MKO Abiola was incarcerated and died, a retired army general took over to midwife Nigeria’s democracy.

“What do you expect from an ex-military man trained to kill and destroy, but elected to midwife democracy? What you don’t have you cannot give,” he stressed.

“As if that was not enough, another ex-military chief became the Senate president for many years. What do you expect from such a formation? Our democracy was totally disillusioned and turned into something else.

“Those of us that struggled and suffered for democracy were completely annihilated and sidelined.”

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has cautioned the intending pilgrims to Mecca and Medina from the state not to engage in any unholy acts capable of tarnishing the image of the state and the country.

Abiodun gave the warning on Friday while inaugurating the Ad-hoc Committee of the Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, held at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He noted that pilgrims from the state had no criminal records in the Holy Land, hence the need for them to sustain the records.

“You should also remember that you are ambassadors of Ogun State and Nigeria. You should therefore desist from all illegal and immoral acts that could tarnish the image of our dear state and our country.

“We are proud to say that we do not have records of pilgrims of Ogun State in conflict with the laws of the Holy Land. I charge you to sustain this enviable record. Obey the laws of the land. Do not take into the land anything they do not wish to be taken into their land; and when you get there, do not do anything they do not wish to be done in their land.

“My dear intending Alhajis and Alhajas, as you proceed on this Year’s Hajj, I want you to know that you are carrying the flag of Islam and you are also ambassadors of your family, Ogun State and Nigeria. You will have first-hand experience of the spiritual might of Almighty Allah, it is also an opportunity to offer prayers at the holy sites. Pray for yourselves, pray for your family, pray for Ogun State and pray for Nigeria”,  the governor advised.

Abiodun explained that the committee members were carefully selected from a pool of equally dedicated and spiritually upright Muslims, hence the need for them to commence work in earnest to have an improved Hajj operation this year.

He further admonished members to realize that they are not performing a duty to people, but to God, the Creator.

“You must build a working team with the Civil Servants in the Board so that pilgrims from Ogun State will have an enjoyable and spiritually-uplifting Hajj exercise”, he counselled.

The governor who described Hajj as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity in the life of a Muslim, said it was expected that it must be done with all seriousness and in observance of all the tenets of the religious exercise just as the same was expected of the organisers of the Hajj and the leaders of the pilgrims to the Holy Lands of Mecca and Medina.

He further pointed out that the inauguration of the Committee to handle the 2022 Hajj exercise for the state pilgrims was a demonstration of the seriousness that his administration attached to Hajj operation and its import on Muslim faithful in the state, just as it was also part of government commitment to the fulfillment of our “Building our Future Together” agenda.

In his remarks, the Amir Hajj, Prof. Kamal Balogun noted that it was the first time an Amir was chosen by government without political consideration, assuring that the Committee would live up to the expectations of the government and people of the state.