Category: South West

The First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, has called on Nigerian youths to look inward as opportunities abound in the country.

Mrs. Abiodun made the call while addressing the youth at the ongoing Victory Life Bible Church’s 2022 Convention and 30th anniversary in Abeokuta tagged, “The Day of His Power ”

She said though the country is facing many challenges, opportunities are lurking around that they can tap into.

The Ogun First Lady also urged the youths to make the word of God their guide and anchor, adding that they should honour their parents just like the Bible instructed.

Reiterating that youths are future leaders, the Governor’s spouse described herself as homegrown and saw the need for the coming generation to be resourceful and responsible.

Harping on the needed factors for the actualisation of a New Nigeria, the Lead Pastor of Victory Life Bible Church, Apostle Lawrence Achudume charged those at the helms of affairs to make available needed amenities for the young ones to thrive in their chosen fields.

Also,in a remark, the Wife of VLBC Lead Pastor, Reverend Fola Achudume informed that the much required success will elude anyone that ignores the power of God.

A member of Lagos State Advocacy Committee of Special Marshals of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Alhaji Sadiq Adebowale, at the weekend called on religious leaders, traditional rulers and transport union leaders to assist the Corps in its safety awareness campaign to bring sanity to the roads.

He decried  the bad attitude of motorists on the road, which has resulted in increased number of road crashes.

He disclosed this at the public enlightenment campaign organised by Safeway Unit 13 and 82 of Special Marshals at Anthony Village Central Mosque in Lagos.

Alhaji Adebowale attributed some of the road traffic crashes to excessive speeding, overloading, use of phones while on the wheel, driving under the influence of drugs/alcohol, fatigue, lack of vehicle maintenance and failure to obey traffic control devices and laws, adding that FRSC would not relent from enforcing road users to comply strictly with traffic rules.

He warned motorists against driving on the road without a valid driver’s licence and other vehicle documents.Alhaji Adebowale also warned aggressive motorists against attacking road safety officers while on their lawful duties, noting that it is unlawful to assaults road traffic operatives while carrying out their lawful duties.

Safeway Unit 13 Coordinator, Olukayode Funmilayo, also stressed the need for tricycle and motorcycle operators to always obey traffic rules while on the road.

The People’s Democratic Party(PDP) in Ondo State has criticized the decision taken by the Ondo state government to demolish structures at the Trade Fair Complex, located along Igbatoro road in Akure, the state capital

The opposition party said the demolition has brought wailing and tears to entrepreneurs doing business within the premises.

A spokesman for the Ondo PDP, Kennedy Peretei, in a press statement, said the owners of the structures were the few individuals providing employment and helping to energise the economy.

Paretei said owners of the structures claimed to spend over N70m to upgrade the entire premises to its present state.

He said the funds invested were converted to rents in which some investors have over three years of unexpired rents.

The statement reads:  “Did Mr. Governor give any consideration to the families of those who own businesses in the place? Are the people behind this illegality aware of the economic implications of their actions to the state? If indeed, the government is desirous of establishing a Business District, is the Trade Fair the most suitable place in Akure?

“Why does Governor Akeredolu always take joy in making people cry? What is really urgent about establishing a Business District that, your tenants of over fifteen years have to quit within 14 days?”

Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Donald Ojogo, however, said the move to turn ‘the moribund Trade Fair Complex which had since transmuted to a criminals’ hideout to a fruit-bearing business hub remains unwavering.’

Ojogo said there was no plan to demolish Shoprite but would be given a more befitting ambiance beef-up.

He explained that the building housing Shoprite served as the precursor to the planned Central Business District which hosts a ‘proposed Five Star Hotel, the novel Entrepreneurs’ Village, Revenue House, the envisaged Business Hub with varying degrees of luxuries, development comforts, and others in the pipeline along that strait.’

“Our plans for development, especially through credible investment drives shall remain on an enviable cruise throughout the tenure of the Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN)-led administration. No amount of falsehood and blackmail will be given a chance to play any role.

“It is, therefore, unfortunate that PDP has again, offered itself to remain the undertaker scavenging for permanent rots.”

Meanwhile, the Ondo State government has commenced demolition of structures within the Trade Fair Complex.

Ondo Commissioner for Lands and Infrastructure, Mr. Raimi Aminu told journalists the demolition began after a court order.

Meanwhile, an Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure, on Friday, restrained the state government from demolishing structures at the state’s trade fair complex.

Defendants in the case include the Ondo State government, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice as well as the Commissioner for Commerce, Investment, and Corporative Services.

Justice Adegboyega Adebusoye, granted the application restraining the defendants from continuing further demolition pending the hearing of an application for an interlocutory injunction on April 25, 2022.

Monarchs in Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State have faulted the legal advice issued by the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Titiloye, on the judgment of a state High Court regarding the prescribed authority of the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade.

The monarchs under the aegis of the Council of Obas and Registered Trustees of Olus and Baales in Akure North described the legal advice as a misinterpretation of the judgment delivered in March, 2018.

They claimed the judgment in contention never declared the Deji of Akure as the prescribed authority of any community in Akure North Local Government Area of the state.

Communities listed in the judgment included Ipinsha, Aule, Ilara, Eti, Aiye (6) Odudu, Ishinigbo, Osi, Iloro, Udopo, Ishafirin, Ugbemo, Oda (14) Igbatoro”.

The monarchs who spoke in a letter to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and signed by their lawyer, Femi Emodamori, said the legal advice was orchestrated and compromised in favour of the Deji of Akure.

According to the letter, “it would however lead to a disastrous breakdown of peace and order in the state unless it is immediately withdrawn.

“Consequently, our clients are calling on Your Excellency to direct the immediate withdrawal of the fraudulent legal advice, and order an inquiry into the circumstances or motives behind its issuance as well as those behind same.”

The Lagos State Government has alternative routes for motorists around Abule Nla, Brewery and Gaskiya level crossings, ahead of the maintenance works earmarked by the Federal Ministry of Transportation.

The Federal Ministry of Transportation has slated April 8, 15, and 16, 2022, for maintenance works on the level crossings at these locations.

According to the rehabilitation schedule, Gaskiya Level Crossing is scheduled to last for a duration of eight days, while Abule Nla and Brewery will take place on the 15th and 16th of April respectively.

The schedule further explained that a counterflow will be created in each opened lane for motorists plying Gaskiya axis. In the same vein, motorists will be diverted to Costain Bridge during the 24-hour repair work on Abule Nla and Brewery level crossings.

To further manage traffic, the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde explained that traffic guides will be mounted along the affected routes to help motorists navigate the axis, adding that the State Traffic Management Authority will be on the ground to coordinate movement.

Ogun and Lagos police commands have warned owners of abandoned and recovered vehicles parked at Ijebu Igbo, Owode-Egbado, Lagos Trade Fair, and Ogudu Divisions to remove them within 14 days or risk forfeiture.

The statements read: ”Ijebu -Igbo: Five unregistered Bajaj motorcycles; two unregistered Jincheng motorcycles’; one unregistered Honda motorcycle; two Jincheng motorcycles(OG 896 7ZA, APP 886 QA) and five Bajaj motorcycles(AAB 089 VQ; WEN 632 QD; FNN 095 UP; JGB 112 VG and SRA 642 VZ).

”Owode-Egbado: Eight unregistered Bajaj motorcycles, three unregistered HAOJUE motorcycles, two unregistered Jincheng motorcycles, two unregistered Honda motorcycles, and six Bajaj motorcycles(TTN 714 WS; KNN 573 WH; QJ 192 KJA; SGM 873 UL; FKA315 UV and MEK 251 VU).

“Lagos Trade Fair and Ogudu: unregistered Passat car, Caravan Dodge saloon car, two unregistered Chevrolet Green  Jeeps, two unregistered LT Yellow buses, unregistered black Mitsubishi bus, unregistered BMW saloon car, unregistered Caravan saloon car, LT bus(AAA 99 XJ), unregistered Toyota Corolla car and unregistered Mercedes Benz 200.”

Apapa Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) says that it has intercepted hard drugs including tramadol, codeine syrup, and other contraband valued at N1.143 billion in the first quarter of this year.

The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Yusuf Malanta Ibrahim, at a briefing on Thursday said the items were among the 46 seizures recorded by the command.

He noted that anti-smuggling activities have been a matter of Central concern in the command, following attempts by recalcitrant traders to undermine Custom’s system.

He disclosed that the enforcement unit of the command has been strengthened through strict monitoring, enhanced collaboration and sharing of credible intelligence with relevant government agencies to contain smuggling activities to their barest minimum.

‘The command recorded 46 seizures of various items with a duty paid value of N1.142 billion as against 28 seizures made in the corresponding months of the year 2021.

‘These seizures include unregistered medicaments such as tramadol and codeine syrup, unprocessed wood, used clothing, footwear, foreign parboiled rice and other sundry items that fall under the prohibition list. These importations are in clear contravention of sections 46 and 47 of Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP C45 LFN 2004.”

He added: ”In the period under review, he said the command generated N264.536 billion in revenue into Federal Government’s coffers within the period under review, which shows a significant increase of N104 billion as against N159 billion collected in the corresponding months of the year 2021, representing an increase of 65.7 per cent in revenue.

”For the first quarter of the year 2022, statistics from the export report indicate that goods worth N34.072 billion, with a Free On Board (FOB) value of $87.992 million were exported as against N32.2 billion, which is equivalent to a FOB value of $82.1 million between the months of January to March 2021.”

Organized civil societies groups and youths have embarked on protests in Osogbo, Osun State capital following the killing of a 32-year-old businessman, Abiola Afolabi, arrest of his friend, Mathew, and harassment of the victim’s mother.

Civil Society Organisations(CSOs) including Osun Police Watch, Dialogue 360, Transparency Accountability Group, and youths on Friday barricaded the popular Ola-Iya Iconic flyover bridge and roads thereby forcing motorists to take a detour.

The leader of the protesters, Comrade Oluwasegun Idowu said: “While Abiola Afolabi was in front of his house in the Capital Area of Osogbo on Sunday 3rd of April, 2022, when some policemen arrived his house, shot him on his leg and arrested his friend and one other person. The police denied him access to his lawyer and family members. A family member who visited one of them was beaten by the police.

“We are demanding the removal of CP Olawale Olokode for aiding police brutality in Osun State. He has swept several cases of killing by police under the carpet.”

The aunt to the deceased, Bunmi Olaiya said: “Our son is not an armed robber, he was a businessman and gentle person to the core, I brought him to Osogbo, his mother is on the way to Osogbo, she must not know that her son was gruesomely murdered. The police authority must produce the killer policemen who killed Abiola Olabomi, a cousin to Aragbiji and others else we shall be mobilising for a massive protest against the police in the coming days.”

Meanwhile, the spokesperson of Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola warned against any planned protest against the policemen executing their lawful duties in the state by youths.

She noted that; “Commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode wishes to set the record straight that, on 29th March, 2022 at about 02:14 am, we received a distressed call from a woman around Dada Estate Area of the State, Zone Nine, about the activities of some suspected criminals who had jumped into her compound and invaded the premises carted away 1 laptop, 5 phones, N300, 000, and other valuable items.

“On Monday 4th 2022 at about 02:15am, the information received based on intelligence was that some fully armed suspected criminals and hoodlums were holding nocturnal meeting behind a house around the same Dada Estate Area. The police quickly stormed the area. On sighting the Police, the suspected criminals opened fire on them, police responded accordingly and in the process, one of the suspected criminals was hit and injured, two were arrested including a lady while others escaped through the bush. The injured suspected criminal was taken to a hospital for treatment but later died.”

The Muslim Lawyers’ Association of Nigeria,(MULAN), Osun State chapter will hold her annual Ramadan Programme today.

The 9th day of April, 2022 is equivalent to Ramadan 8th,1443AH.

A statement issued in Osogbo, by the association’s Publicity Secretary, Dawood Ajetunmobi said the programme will hold at Osogbo City Hall, Olokoro, Osogbo in the state capital of Osun by 9.00 am prompt.

The release stated that the annual programme would feature two lectures which will be delivered by erudite Islamic scholar and the Head of Media, Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria, Alhaji Femi  Abbas, and a medical practitioner in Osun State,  Dr. Akeem Bello,.

While Alhaji Abass will be speaking on: ‘Social Delinquencies in Nigeria: Islam as Panacea,’ Dr. Akeem will engage  his audience on  “Ramadan in the Era of Pandemics”