Category: South West

THE First Lady of Ogun State and patron of JBS Elderly Health and Wellbeing Foundation (JBS EHWF Africa), Mrs Bamidele Abiodun will be leading professionals, women of substance and captains of industry at a walk for the underprivileged elderly people on Saturday March 26, 2022 .The walk will commence at 7am from Quest Petrol station, Lekki.

The event tagged The ‘Gran-D Walk’ for the elderly is put together by the founder, Dr Olutoyin Ajala to give special attention and support to this peculiar demography whose plight is yet to be met and attended to by the government and society at large.

According to a press statement signed by former General Manager, Zenith Bank PLC, Olubukola Latunji on behalf of the fundraising committee for the foundation , the major aim of the walk is to create awareness for the ‘Adopt a Gran’ programme and be able to raise funds towards expanding the much needed work to roll out to more states across Nigeria with a target above 2,000 grandmas and grandpas.

The statement reads, The fund is for preventative hygiene/medical supplies, clean water and distribution of 1million meals in 2022.

“Already, the foundation has distributed over 20,000 meals this year 2022 and seeks more support to reach more people because of the high numbers that still require the care, attention and support.

THE joy of some residents of Eruwa in Ibarapa East State Constituency knew no bounds as they smiled home with motorcycles, deep freezers, generating sets and cash courtesy of the Speaker Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin.

No fewer than 21 brand new motorcycles, six generating sets and five deep freezers were among items presented to the constituents at the empowerment program held infront of PDP office in Eruwa.

Additionally, about 40 constituents were presented with cash to support their businesses at the ceremony.

The Speaker who said a similar empowerment program had been done for the constituents in Lanlate noted that aside from the fact that he is giving back to the constituency, it is also aimed at boosting their businesses and enhancing their movement in and around Eruwa town.

He said “This gesture is in continuation of my efforts to make positive impacts in the lives of my people. It is a way of appreciating them for trusting me with the mandate to represent them in the Oyo State House of Assembly.

“I am happy we are making steady progress. The love and support given to me by the teeming constituents in Eruwa and in Lanlate cannot be quantified, and I will forever be grateful”, Ogundoyin said.

He hinted that a mega empowerment program for both Eruwa and Lanlate residents is in the offing, assuring that more people will be captured and considered as beneficiaries in the said program.

On the PDP in Oyo State, the Speaker urged all members of the party in the state to come under one umbrella and desist from intra party bickering capable of derailing the good programs and policies of Governor Seyi Makinde.

“There’s bound to be dissention in any association, organization or even among family and friends. The best is to always explore all ways of resolving those disputes.

“Time is now for everyone to join the PDP mainstream under Governor Makinde. It is when we remain united that we will be able to consolidate on the gains and achievements of the present administration, and it is through unity that we can successfully win the 2023 general election in the state and at the federal level”, the Speaker added.

NIGERIAN Bar Association, Lagos Chapter law week commences and the event with the theme, ‘Democracy and Legal Order: Shaping the Future,’ would have cash and kind donations at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre and the Massey Children Centre, Lagos.

According to the Chairman of the Law Week Committee, Mr Wale Adesokan (SAN), the annual law week would explore the need for deliberate action in utilising Nigeria’s democracy and the law in shaping the future that Nigerians desire.

Adesokan also said the event would serve as a warning against the consequences of inaction in the face of ills plaguing Nigeria and society.

He said, “This year’s Lagos Law Week comes against the backdrop of Nigeria’s multifaceted crisis and the resulting mounting pressure that threatens the future of the country. By leading this discourse, the NBA, Lagos Chapter, seeks to chart a new course for the redemption of the nation’s legal system and the freedom that citizens should enjoy in a democratic nation.

“It is a chance to listen, contribute, learn, unlearn and relearn, as we all work towards building a working system and a free world, in the most relaxing and comfortable environments.”

THE Director, Federal Highways, South West, Mr Adedamola Kuti on Saturday, announced that  the  Ijesha bus stop pedestrian bridge on Apapa-Oshodi Expressway,  Lagos State,  has been shutdown for  safety concerns.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the  bridge was damaged by a truck on Wednesday.

Kuti while inspecting the cordoned  pedestrian bridge,  told Journalists that it  was not structurally safe because some beams and slabs of the infrastructure were damaged by the reckless truck driver and its closure became inevitable.

“Wednesday, early morning of 16th March, 2022, a truck was coming from Apapa axis, probably, the truck must have been faulty with its bucket opened and raised and it was coming on top speed and getting here, of course it could not go because it was already up, it  hit the pedestrian bridge.

“This pedestrian bridge has been here for more than 30 years and this is just a deliberate destruction of public infrastructure,” he said.

He said the headroom of the Ijesha foot bridge was higher than the normal heights for bridges and accommodated all kinds of trucks and containers with lots of top spaces left but the reckless driver damaged it because his buckets were hanging high up.

He said the truck driver had been apprehended, would  be made liable for the cost of repairs and also prosecuted for deliberate damage to public infrastructure.

He lamented that the Federal Government was expending huge resources to construct and repair roads and other infrastructure and it was  not fair that such facilities got damaged or abused by residents.

“But for now,  the issue of safety is very important to us, we are going to shut down this pedestrian bridge for the main time by not allowing the public to make use of it for safety reasons pending the time we fix the repairs. We are bringing in our contractor to asses the level of damage and then check the integrity of the bridge,” he said.

Kuti said some of the beams and slabs of the damaged facility that were hanging delicately would  be removed immediately to prevent further accidents.

He appealed to pedestrians and other road users to bear with government while assuring speedy rehabilitation of the bridge.

Kuti said the Police were already on ground to ensure safety around the damaged facility and that calls had been put through to the Federal Roads Safety Corps and the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to assist pedestrians.

Kuti appealed to pedestrians who now had  to cross the highway to apply caution for safety while crossing the expressway.

He appealed to motorists to make sure their vehicles were in good condition before they put them on the road to avoid unnecessary risk to other road users.

“Whatever needs to be done to protect lives and property  around here, we shall do them,” he said.

Some pedestrians who spoke to NAN expressed fear and worries over the danger of dashing across the expressway.

Mrs Bukky Babalola, a trader told NAN that her children and several others in her neighborhood had stopped going to school because of inability to cross the expressway.

“I cannot run across the expressway because of my weight. For safety, I usually take commercial motorcycle to Cele Bus stop to go and use the bridge there.

RESIDENTS of Somide Odujinrin Avenue under the Omole Phase II Community Development Association have lauded the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s effort at ensuring the security of lives and properties in the area with the approval of a security gate at the main entrance of the community. The gate which will be mounted at the Berger Axis of the community will serve residents of the CDA and adjourning communities.

For many years, residents of Somide Odujinrin Avenue have lived in fears and they have been at the mercy of hoodlums, robbers, and vandals who regularly attack them with little or no resistant. To curtail this menace, the Lagos State Government through the Ministry of Transportation and the Lagos State Physical Permit Authority approved a security gate that will be jointly managed by members of the benefiting communities.

In a chat with the media, residents of the area noted that the approval of the gate by Governor Sanwo-Olu has further demonstrated that he is a caring Governor who would always ensure that residents of the state are happy, living in a peaceful and secured environment.

One of the residents on Somide Odujinrin Avenue, Chief Olawale Osun enthused that with the approval for the gate, the resident can now sleep better because there would be a better and a more coordinated inventory of peoples’ movement in and out of the community.

“Our appeal to the Lagos State Government over the past five years has finally been heard. Although we are members of the Omole Phase II Community Development Association, our area which is outside the current gate left us exposed. Our lives have been in danger over the years due to the activities of hoodlums around the area. Many times, robbers have snatched money from people that are using the Automated Teller Machines (ATM) of banks in the avenue. We have had several cases of burglary and attempted rape. Therefore, we sincerely appreciate the Lagos State government for the gate approval because once the gate is installed, the crime rate will reduce” Oshun said.

Another resident who is a retired teacher in her seventies Mrs. Ololade Adefulu, expressed her happiness at the development while sharing her experience. “Last year, the iron bar used on the culvert at the entrance of my gate was carted away by some robbers and I needed about N500,000.00 to replace them due to the length and quality of the iron needed for that purpose. Again, about the same time my car was vandalized along with those of others on the avenue and we had to cough out some unexpected amount for the repairs. I am glad with this approval from the Governor and we believe that the gate will significantly increase monitoring in this area and reduce the nefarious activities taking place here” Adefulu said.

In his reaction, Chairman of the Omole Phase II CDA, Mr. Moshood Shehu said that residents in the affected area have suffered for too long and now is the time for relief.

“This is a piece of cheery news from the Lagos State Government for us at the CDA and also the residents of the Somide Odujinrin Avenue. For five years, we have been making efforts to get this approval because our people have been exposed to external disturbances and hoodlums with unhampered access for far too long”

As the residents eagerly wait for the project to fully commence, they appeal to all the stakeholders involved to fully cooperate with Governor Sanwo-Olu’s administration in securing the lives and properties of Lagos residents.

A former gubernatorial candidate of Mega Party of Nigeria in Ogun State in 2015, Iyabode Adenaike and over 200  members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Thursday, defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The defectors said their defection was to support Senator Solomon Adeola Olamilekan’s ambition to contest for Ogun West Senatorial seat in the National Assembly.

They announced their defection at a mega rally organised by Yayi Liberators with the slogan: “Yayi for Ogun West in 2023 Not Negotiable.” in the Ado-Odo-Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Speaking at the event, the President, Yayi Liberator, Chief Ibrahim Fayomi, popularly known as Olumako, said Yayi has better experience in politics which he can use to transform Ogun State to a better city as a replica of Lagos State.

“We organised this rally in support of Senator Yayi to enable Ogun West to have adequate knowledge and understanding that he is the only man that can transform the zone into a better position. We believed he will use his wealth of ideas, knowledge, and understanding to do better than other ‘chop I chop’ politicians.”

In her words, Adenaike, said: ”We decamped from other political parties to support Yayi because we all believed in him that he will perform better if Ogun West electorates could vote for him.”

No fewer than 74 awardees were honoured by the Institute of Leadership Manpower and Management Development (ILMMD) during an investiture and induction held at Ikeja Airport Hotel, Ikeja Lagos.

At the occasion, the management of the professional body for development experts, specialists, and practitioners conducted the investiture for 27 distinguished fellows/doctorate awardees, 19 doctoral fellows, and 28 fellows.

Among the distinguished fellows and doctorate awardees was Arit Etukudoh, an Abuja-based management expert from Akwa Ibom state who received a full-circle award in three different areas.

A scholar, Elochukwu Adibo also received a doctorate degree in Leadership and Development at the occasion.

A member of the House of Representatives Hon. Mohammed Bio has splashed a sum of N130 million on students, artisans, market women, and others in Kwara state.

Bio is representing Baruten/Kaiama Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

The programme tagged ‘mega empowerment’, took place at Kosubosu, the headquarters of Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Items distributed include fertilizer, herbicides, spraying cans, hand tractors with tillers and weeders, sewing machines, grinding machines, hairdryers, vulcanising machines, photocopy equipment, cameras and printers, welding machines, cattle salts, motorcycles, refrigerators, cash empowerment to market women and widows, and scholarships for students.

In his remark at the event, Bio said his mega empowerment programme second was to put smiles on the faces of the beneficiaries.

He added that “it is constitutionally believed in Nigeria that core mandates of the legislature is lawmaking, oversight and effective representation. In lawmaking, I am privileged to say that I have several motions and bills to my credit, especially in the area of response to happenings and developmental projects in our Constituency.

A Lagos-based activist, Chief Sumbo Onitiri has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC), to conduct the 2023 general elections according to the constitution of the country.

Onitiri, in a statement issued in Lagos on Friday, said the elections must be free and fair, credible and transparent.

He said: “The democrats and patriots in Nigeria wish to implore INEC and its officials to let the votes of Nigerians count in 2023 as this will determine the continued existence of our country.

“The coming elections in 2023 must be fair, free, credible, and transparent. This is the only panacea to the peace and stability of our country.  Where there is no fair play and justice,  certainly there will be no peace.”

He further urged INEC to beware of the antics of the politicians who might want to play their dirty games or bamboozle the Electoral umpire to tamper with the wishes of the citizens.

Onitiri also urged the INEC to obey all court orders and adhere to the Electoral guidelines, and the constitution, just as it (INEC) has urged the two main parties the APC and PDP to do so.

Commenting on the governorship imbroglio, Chief Onitiri advised the INEC to comply with the court’s judgment and immediately issue the new candidates of PDP in Ebonyi state certificate of returns as Governor and Deputy of the state.

He added: ”Besides, INEC should make the 2023 general elections very transparent by transmitting the results electronically to its Abuja platform for every Nigerian to see.”

”The results must never be tampered or toyed with. This will surely remove any apathy in our electoral system.”

Ahead of the 2023 general election, a political group chaired by former Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Adejare Bello on Friday backed the presidential ambition of a stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu ahead 2023 general election.

The group, Bola Ahmed Tinubu Our Choice (BATOC 2023) during the official inauguration of the campaign group vowed to use their resources to rally support for Tinubu to emerge as the president in 2023.

The Director-General of the group, Dr. Isiaka Ayodele Owoade said, “the convener of our group, former Osun State House of Assembly speaker and Nigeria’s Ambassador to Mexico, Adejare Bello is resolute on the candidacy of Tinubu.

“Our choice in Tinubu is also because he stood true to his progressive credentials and precedence. He planned and plotted. He co-hatched the biggest and most successful political coalition of all times in Africa – the All Progressive Congress.

“Asiwaju has paid his dues and this is the time to reward him. He has built bridges. He has built leaders. He is a rare-breed Nigerian and Nigeria must not lose the opportunity of his presidency for another he may never come again.”

He said: “BATOC23 decision is in glaring realities of the difference Tinubu has made in people’s lives, in expanding economic opportunities, in the transformation of his state’s physical infrastructure, and in steering Nigeria into a new and progressive course. His politics is better reflected in the context of his socio-economic objectives while he has excelled in tackling these noble tasks. Talking of resilience and consistency, BATOC23 believes Tinubu was the arrowhead of a stable, robust opposition culture for 15 years while the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)  ruled at the Centre.”

The statement added: “He has contributed immensely and painstakingly to Nigeria’s democracy. Asiwaju towers above all the other aspirants, hidden and known, and it might be a no-contest at the end of the day. Without mincing words and any fear of equivocation, all objective Nigerians will attest to the sterling qualities of Asiwaju as a visionary leader, a builder of bridges a builder of leaders.

”We have decided to support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu because in him lies the solution to Nigeria’s hydra-headed challenges of nation-building, a solution that has evaded government after government since independence in 1960.”