Category: South West

Osun State Government yesterday apologised to residents for failing to deliver the Ola-Iya flyover slated to be completed today.

Governor Adegboyega Oyetola in February launched the construction of the bridge and he promised residents that the project would be ready in nine months.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ismail Omipidan, said: “Improved aesthetics, expansion of the scope of work and torrential rainfall witnessed in Osogbo, coupled with the desire not to compromise standards, were responsible for the delay in completing the Olaiya Flyover at the scheduled time.”

The government, however, assured the residents that with the current pace of work, the project would be delivered before the end of the year.

the layers, we have to carry out test before we proceed.

“At the beginning too, we lost some weeks because the consultant insisted that the samples of the reinforcement and even the rock under it must be taken to three laboratories in different states to satisfy due diligence before we proceeded.

“All these were responsible for the reason we won’t be opening up the place this November as earlier promised. We are deeply sorry about that. However, let me assure us that with the level of work so far done, before the end of December, Olaiya Flyover will be up and running. We thank the people for their understanding and cooperation.”

 

 

 

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ogun State, Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran, has given his reasons for resigning.

He said:  “My attention has been drawn to some online news publications purporting to provide reasons for my resignation as the Ogun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

“While it is true that on November 8, I formally notified Governor Dapo Abiodun of my decision to resign from the Executive Council (Exco), I must state that contrary to the online news publications, my reasons for resigning are purely personal. I am not aware of any “massive corruption” in the administration and I am indeed very proud of what we have been able to achieve in the administration of justice over the past two years.

“I want to assure the governor and my colleagues in the Executive Council of my continued support. I have enjoyed working with such an amazing group of administrators, technocrats and experts in fields of endeavour.”

 

 

 

The Owa of Idanre Kingdom, Oba Frederick Adegunle Aroloye, Arubiefin IV, has urged Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to rehabilitate the Akure-Idanre highway.

Oba Aroloye, who spoke through the chairman of his 45th coronation anniversary, Dr. Anthony Omolola, said the Akure-Idanre road had not been touched in the last six years.

He said all roads leading to villages and towns in Idanre have become a death trap.

Besides the Akure-Idanre road, the Idanre monarch also implored Governor Akeredolu to consider rehabilitation of the Owena-Alade road in the 2022 budget.

He said Idanre contributed hugely to the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) due to revenue from taxes and levies on cocoa, timber and other cash crops.

He said the community needs the intervention of the government so that the people will not be cut off from civilisation.

“Most of the invited guests, including governors, eminent Obas from the Southwest and traditional rulers from other parts of the country, business leaders among others, who are coming will pass through Akure to Idanre for the event and we don’t want a situation where that road will define their perception about the good work the governor is doing in Ondo State.

“The community that contributes that much to the economic life of the state also deserves an attention.”

 

 

A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday adjourned the trial of a former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, for N338.8 million money laundering.

Ikuforiji was arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) alongside his former Personal Assistant, Oyebode Atoyebi, on a 54-count charge.

They had pleaded not guilty before Justice Mohammed Liman, and were allowed to continue on bail granted them in 2012 when they were first arraigned.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the trial of the defendants, earlier scheduled to continue yesterday, was stalled as the trial judge was said to be indisposed.

A new date will be communicated to parties in the suit.

At the last adjourned date, on March 17, the EFCC closed its case after calling its second witness, Mr. Adewale Olatunji, a former Clerk of the House.

Olatunji was led in evidence by the EFCC counsel, Mr. Ekele Iheanacho, while he was cross-examined by defence counsel Mr. Dele Adesina (SAN).

Liman is, however, presiding over Ikuforiji’s trial on administrative fiat.

NAN also reports that the defendants were first arraigned on March 1, 2012, before Justice Okechukwu Okeke on a 20-count charge bordering on fund misappropriation and money laundering.

They pleaded not guilty and were granted bail.

The defendants were subsequently re-arraigned before Justice Ibrahim Buba, following re-assignment of the case.

Buba granted them bail in the sum of N500 million each, with sureties in like sum.

 

Tension heightened yesterday in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in  Lagos State, as the party was ejected from its secretariat on Adekunle Fajuyi Way, Ikeja over rent arrears.

The ejection was done in line with a Lagos Magistrates’ Court order.

Following owing of rent, the owner of the property, the late Chief Duro Ogundiran, through his children, instituted the action against the Registered Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party, Lagos State and one other.

After hearing the plaintiffs’ counsel, Prof. Babatunde Oni, Chief Magistrate Adelaja I. O. gave a judgment and an order to execute her verdict against the PDP.

According to the court, a sum of N10,467 million was awarded against the PDP.

In her order of executing the judgment, Adelaja said: “Pursuant to the motion exparte dated 7th October, 2021, seeking an order to force open the gate of 57, Adekunle Fajuyi Way, G.R.A., Ikeja, Lagos State, to execute the judgment of the court of 18th February, 2021.

“That leave is hereby granted to the deputy sheriff of the court to forthwith use reasonable force to open the gate to 57, Adekunle Fajuyi Way, G.R.A, Ikeja, Lagos in the presence of at least a member of the Nigeria Police Force.”

Armed with the Execution Order, fully armed policemen escorted court bailiffs to take over the property.

The court officials yesterday morning went into the premises and threw out some of the properties in the building belonging to the PDP.

The operation, which lasted for over two hours, drew the attention of

neighbours, many of who expressed shock over the incident.

The presence of a police formation next to the building could not prevent the execution of the court order.

Mr. Taofic Gani, PDP state’s image maker, who confirmed the party’s indebtedness to its landlord, however, said the opposition party would take legal step to address the matter.

 

 

No fewer than 750 women in Ogbomosho and Ibarapa areas of Oyo State at the weekend benefited from an empowerment programme by the wife of the governor, Mrs. Tamunominini Makinde, in collaboration with local government chairmen.

The programme, according to the governor’s wife, was to cushion the effect of economic hardship on women across the state.

She said it would also stabilise their financial income.

Items distributed for the empowerment include hair dressing dryers, cooking gas cylinder, burners, grinding machines, sewing machine, among others.

Speaking with reporters while handing over the equipment to the women in Ogbomosho and Igboora, Mrs. Makinde noted that the programme was part of her husband’s campaign promises to alleviate the suffering of the masses.

She urged the women to make use of the items given to them judiciously, saying the governor was passionate about their well-being.

The beneficiaries thanked the governor’s wife for her gesture, promising to use the items judiciously.

Dignitaries at the event included the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr. Bayo Lawal; Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion, Alhaja Faosat Saani; Special Adviser to Governor Makinde on Diaspora, Mrs. Bolanle Sarumi; Mrs. Christianah Abioye, among others.

 

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde yesterday said that the ranking of the state as seventh in the states’ Internally Generated Revenue Index by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) for the first two quarters of 2021 did not come as a surprise.

He said the development was a result of hard work.

Makinde said the leap in IGR is the manifestation of his administration’s pragmatic approach to governance since May 2019.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, which provided insights into the IGR leap, said that the administration’s commitment to turning Oyo State into an economic and investment hub, as well as the bold initiatives taken by Governor Makinde to encourage the ease of doing business, transform the agriculture and infrastructure sector, and ensure adequate security, were the pillars behind the state’s leap on the IGR index.

The statement said the Makinde administration would not relent in its determination to expand the economy of the state and improve its finances.

The statement quoted Governor Makinde as maintaining that his government would continue to be bullish in its approach to expand the state’s economy, saying this is in line with his commitment in the Roadmap for Accelerated Development of Oyo State, 2019-2023.

He said agribusiness and infrastructure development to target the economy would continue to receive priority attention.

The National Bureau of Statistics recently published its 2021 half-year report of Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of Nigerian States, indicating that Lagos State topped the chart with N267.23bn IGR, followed by FCT with N69, 072,879,664.43 and Rivers State with N57,324,672,372.42.

Oyo State with N25, 191,713,455.75 was in 7th position, while Yobe State with N4, 031,033,046.55 was at the bottom of the table.

With the information made available in the report, Oyo State ranked third among states with highest IGR in the Southwest, coming behind Lagos and Ogun states.

The report equally showed that the revenue area where most of Southwest states got the highest revenue was Pay As You Earn (PAYE), with Lagos generating N152.7 billion, while Oyo State came second with N18.6bn, indicating the strength of the manpower in the states.

Commenting on the data, the Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Prof. Musibau Babatunde, maintained that the ranking of the state on the half-year NBS report reflected the economic realities in the state, where several business-friendly policies of the Governor Makinde administration have resulted in more investments.

He explained that the prompt payment of salaries and pensions, as well as the massive completed and ongoing infrastructure development projects and investments on improving security, which have brought positive improvements to the business environment, have all played huge roles in the state’s improvement on the IGR index.

“You would recall that Oyo State experienced a 42.23 per cent year-on-year growth from N26.75bn in 2019 to N38.04bn in 2020, a growth that was faster than the 8.57 per cent year-on year growth recorded between 2018 and 2019 when its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) grew from N24.64bn to N26.75bn.

“You would also recall that on assuming office, Governor Makinde made it clear that his administration would lay a solid foundation for the economic development of the state and with a solid structure in place, it would progressively improve the finances of the state.

“What you are beginning to see is the practical manifestation of the policies and programmes of the government in the area of economic expansion through agribusiness and infrastructure development.

“The business-friendly policies and the introduction of several incentives to investors by the state government will no doubt culminate in more investments and thereby bring more revenues in the coming months and years. So, residents of the state can look forward to more improvements as we move on.

“In 2018, the half year IGR was N12.379 billion; in 2019, it was N14.060 billion; and in 2020, it moved up to N17.773 billion. For 2021, it is N25.19 billion.

“The governor has always made it clear that the administration will not relent in its efforts to expand the economy of the state using the tripartite approach of developing the agribusiness sector to attract large investments, building solid infrastructure that target the economy and executive well-thought-out policies and incentives that will make doing business easy for investors.”

 

 

The Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) has issued a Certificate of Return to Mustapha Nathaniel of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the duly elected councillor for Oriade Ward A, Kirikiri in Oriade Local Council Development Area.

LASIEC’s decision followed the judgment of the Appeal Tribunal, which affirmed the decision of the Lower Tribunal that declared Nathaniel as the rightful winner of the election.

LASIEC Chairman Justice Ayotunde Phillips (retd), represented by a commissioner, Olusegun Fasu Ayedun, hailed Nathaniel for using the instrumentality of the law to reclaim his victory.

She urged him to work relentlessly for the common good of the people so as to justify the confidence reposed in him and be magnanimous in victory.

He stressed that the commission will continue to stand by the dictate of the law in carrying out its duty.

The Certificate of Return earlier issued to Omolabake Onyeahasi of the All Progressive Congress (APC) was withdrawn and rendered invalid.

The Lagos State Universal Basic Education Board’s (LASUBEB’s) EKOEXCEL, an education reform programme that has made gains, will showcase part of its successes at the quarterly meeting of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) management with executive chairpersons of SUBEB.

The meeting will hold in Benin City, the Edo State capital, from today till Thursday.

Its theme, “Enhancing Access, Equity and Standards in Basic Education through Technology-driven Initiatives,” draws attention to the growing importance of an integrated system-wide approach, using teacher coaching and technology to improve pupils’ learning outcomes at scale.

LASUBEB Executive Chairman Wahab Alawiye-King said the essence of the meeting is to come up with a collaborative approach geared towards ensuring that every child has access to education.

LASUBEB’s Permanent Board Member and Oversight Chair of EKOEXCEL, Bayo Adefuye, said the intervention would become more popular and adopted.

“Lagos wants to be an exemplar and a trailblazer. Although Edo State started first, we are making appreciable progress that others can learn from too,” he said.