The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Oyo community in desperate need of help

    Oyo community in desperate need of help

    The rate of rural urban/ migration in Nigeria is alarming and worrisome, as urban centers are geometrically over-populated due to dearth of social infrastructures needed to encourage and motivate the settlers to contribute to Gross Domestic Productivity.

    One of such rural communities in deplorable conditions is the Olori village in the Oyo-East Local Government area of Oyo State.

    The riverside community, it was gathered had been in existence for over a century, as the inhabitants were said to have originated from the ancient town of Oyo.

    Before the creation of Osun State from the old Oyo State 22 years ago, the villagers were living harmoniously, with their neighbouring communities of Owu and Ife-Odan.

    But shortly after the creation of Osun State in 1991, the Olori villagers maintained their origin of Oyo State, while Owu, Ife-odan and four other communities were ceded to the new state. However the decision of Olori villagers to remain in Oyo State did not go down well with their neighbours who, it was gathered wanted them to be part of Osun State. All efforts to make the villagers change their minds and opt for Osun state, it was gathered fell on deaf ears hence tension began to rise between the hitherto peaceful neighbours.

    Angered by the uncompromising stance of Olori villagers and apparently considering the fact that the village is located in the Forest Reserve richly endowed with natural resources like gold and other tourist attractions, both Owu and Ife-Odan communities it was gathered considered the option of violence, in order to force the villagers to be part of Osun State.

    The simmering tension reached a climax in 2008 when hoodlums allegedly fro m Owu and Ife-Odan communities invaded Olri village and wreaked havoc.

    On that fateful day, the unsuspected villagers, who were predominantly farmers, had gone to their farms when the hoodlums, numbering about 100 and armed with dangerous weapons like guns, cutlasses and knives invaded the village.

    Many of the villagers, including the aged were attacked and sustained serious injuries, while properties estimated to be worth several thousands of naira were destroyed by the hoodlums. That was a huge loss by village standard.

    One of the villagers, Jimoh Adejare, a security guard attached to the maternity centre by the Local Government, who has just returned home from work that fateful day, was murdered  in cold blood by the hoodlums as he was preparing to go to his farm.

    Before ending their dastard mission, the hoodlums abducted 15 of the village elders and held them hostage for four days without food. They were later released on the orders of the Nigeria Police, Zone 11, Osogbo, Osun State capital.

    Three of the elders who narrated their ordeals in the hands of the hoodlums described their experience as saddening and horrible.

    One of them Yekini Ayanfemi aged 70 years displayed to The Nation five of his teeth forcefully removed by the thugs with a big stick after which according to him he was tied with a rope like a ram and severely injured with machete.

    “The hoodlums asked me to lie down and one of them went to the bush and brought a big stick and hit me on the cheek. It was indeed very painful. I was also tied with rope and seriously hit with machete, but God did not allow the cutlass to cut me”.

    Two other elders, Shadiat Oseni (60 years), and Kareem Olawale (80 years), who spoke in the same vein explained how they were abducted.

    Shadiat said “Immediately after abducting us, the hoodlums took us to the Palace of Head of Ife-Odan community, who ordered that we be kept and tortured without food for four days.. On the fourth day, the head of Ife-Odan Community, whose traditional title is ADIMULA, directed the leaders to take us to Ejigbo Divisional Police Command Headquarters, and tell the D.P.O that we came to invade their community”.

    Pa Olawale, who narrated in tears said the Ejigbo Divisional Police Officer turned down the allegation and refused to detain them after which they were also taken to Okefia Divisional Police Headquarters at Osogbo where both the Divisional Crime Officer and the D.P.O refused to accept the allegations levied against them.

    “Thank God, it was at the zone 11 of the Nigeria Police headquarters in Osogbo, where we regained our freedom and were saved from the hoodlums. In fact, one Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ajiboye came to our rescue, as he provided us with delicious food and ordered that four of those who brought us be detained for wrongful and unfair allegation. The Divisional Crime Officer refused to believe that as aged as we are, we can invade a community”.

    Two motorcycles and five grinding machines were reportedly taken away by the hoodlums from the village.

    Also commenting, the widow of the slain security guard, Idiatu Jimoh Adejare ,who was in tears throughout the interview described the murder of her husband as wicked.

    Reigning curses on the perpetrators of her husband’s death, Mrs Adejare said “i am now at the mercy of God with four under-aged children still in school. I have no other means of sustenance, except subsistence farming. I have not been receiving any assistance to take care of the children.’’

    The invasion happened during the tenure of the immediate past administrations of Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala and Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola in Oyo and Osun States respectively.

    The two former governors were said to have sought the intervention of the National Boundary Commission in Abuja, which ceded Olori village to Oyo State.

    Following this development, the Akala administration, it was gathered pledged to provide the needed infrastructures like school, primary health care centre, potable water supply, rural electrification and canoe with rudders for the village.

    The Oyo East Local Government was also directed to include in its budget certain amount of money for the well-being of the villagers.

    Besides the establishment of a primary school, all other pledges by both the immediate past administrations at the State and Local Government levels did not materialise.

    The problem in the village is compounded by a long river, Oba, that passes through the community but which had been a threat to the villagers, especially during the rainy season, as movement to and from the area is usually hindered.

    Consequently, a wooden canoe was provided by the villagers, but this has proved inadequate, unreliable and unsafe especially after heavy rains which often increase the water level in the river, leading to its overflow.

    A couple of years ago, ten villagers reportedly drowned in the river when a canoe in which they were crossing capsized when the paddle broke. Some of those that could be rescued were later taken to the hospital for medical attention.

    The incident brought the State Deputy Governor, Moses Adeyemo who represented the Governor to the village on sympathy visit , while the entire members of the State House of Assembly led by the Speaker, Monsurat Sunmonu also paid similar visit.

    Both the Deputy governor and the Speaker, who is from the village pledged to come to the aid of the villagers by ensuring budgetary allocations for the construction of a bridge across the river, and provision of other essential needs for the downtrodden villagers.

    The local government also pledged to provide another canoe to the villagers.

    All these promises are yet to be yet to fulfilled.

    Interestingly, both the former Secretary to the State Government during the last administration, Chief Layiwola Lakojo, and the present Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu are from the village.

    Speaking with our correspondent, Head of the community Chief Teslim Adekunle II, said ‘’ our immediate need now is how to construct a bridge across the river.  Without this, the community will be cut off from the rest of the neighbouring villages. We find it difficult to reach our community. Our children are finding it difficult to go to school. We can’t get to where our sources of income are due to the rising water level in the river whenever there is heavy down pour. We urge the state government to come to our aid by fulfilling all the promises made for us.’

    Chief Adekunle however enjoined the state government to investigate the N157million allegedly earmarked to the Local Government for the construction of a bridge across the river by the Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala administration, but which has not been executed.

     

  • Access Bank, customer in legal tussle over loss of varsity scholarship

    Access Bank PLC and one of its customers, Mr Abosede Olusola Zealot, are currently locked in a legal battle over the latter’s alleged forfeiture of a scholarship in a Canadian university last year.

    In the case before an Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, the state capital, Mr Abosede is seeking a declaration that the bank was liable for his forfeiture of a full scholarship to study at the University of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada due to its alleged negligence in crediting his account with a deposit he made in February last year.

    He joined the cashier that received the deposit as a defendant in the suit.

    He also stated that the bank was liable for breach of contract by allegedly dishonouring a cheque he issued in favour of an insurance company towards the same admission.

    Abosede is seeking N4.5 million damages for losing the admission allegedly due to his bank’s negligence.

    In his statement of claim, Abosede explained that he maintains a joint current account with the Ojoo, Ibadan branch of the bank.

    According to him, he made a deposit of N12,000 into his account at the bank’s Bodija, Ibadan branch on February 28 last year with a clear explanation to the cashier that the sum was meant for an online payment of a non-refundable fee of $100 as application fee for the university having completed all other registration process. He added that the new deposit was to shore up a balance of N3,766 in the account to be able to pay for the said fee.

    He averred that he instructed the banker to credit his account without delay given  the fact that the deadline for the payment was March 1, 2012.

    Abosede said that the bank, however, failed to credit his account. He claimed that he went back to lodge the complaint severally before the deadline of the application process and that he was assured each time that his account would be credited but that the bank never fulfilled its obligation to him.

    Consequently, according to Abosede, he forfeited the admission and the scholarship to the university “despite the rigorous efforts and financial expenses made towards the application process.”

    Abosede averred further that he issued a cheque of N35,000 in favour of an insurance company to effect payment of a premium  in respect of a life insurance plan for his daughter but that the company returned the cheque on the excuse that his account was not funded whereas he had enough fund to defray the cost in his account.

    He said he had to withdraw cash from the same account to pay the insurance company to prove that the cheque was wrongfully returned.

    He wants the court to hold Access Bank liable for all the alleged negligence that led to his loss of the admission and full scholarship.

    The case has been adjourned till November 25.

     

  • Road to 21st Century cities

    Road to 21st Century cities

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Thirty Seven years old Ogun State has had the rare luck of producing great sons and daughters – dead and living.

    Such great names as Madam Efunroye Tinubu, the Ransome-Kutis, Dr Tai Solarin, late politician and business tycoon, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, Senator Abraham Adesanya,

    Professor Wole Soyinka, and General Oladipo Diya(rtd) as well as past leaders in Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Chief Obafemi Awolowo among others, have come out of the Gateway state

    Ogun is equally home to many historical and tourists sites such as the Olumo rock, in Abeokuta, Yemoja river in Magbon – Ijebu, Birikisu Sungbo shrine in Oke – Erin in Ijebu – Ode, aside natural resources endowment even as it is strategically located within the Southwest of Nigeria – sharing boundaries with the states of Lagos, Ondo, Oyo and even with the neighbouring Republic of Benin.

    But analysts have since agreed that these vantage positions have not reflected much in her in terms accelerated development.

    Intra and inter – state movements remained a huge challenge for residents, visitors and prospective investors particularly during rainy season and in some cases at weekends because of the deplorable poor roads networks.

    And infrastructure wise, the state remains stunted in its growth. Its convoluted and rocky terrain in parts of the state, do not help matters even as poor physical planning, cultural practices and traditions that proved impervious to change, lack of political will on the part of successive  administrations to enforce building regulations conspired to rob its cities of their beauty and much business appeal.

    But today Abeokuta, the state capital, is wearing a new look. And same goes for other parts of the state – Sagamu, Ijebu – Ode, Ago – Iwoye, Sango, Ijoko and Ilara – Ijoun.

    Things are looking up. In the last two years, the Gateway state has become a huge construction site – all cutting across the three Senatorial districts, and all equally geared towards opening the state for accessibility and development.

    This is redefining the shape of things as more investors – local and foreign, have begun to find the state attractive. In recent times, no fewer than 100 industrialists have expressed readiness to berth in Ogun with about 32 of them already on ground to begin business.

    They were spurred by standard road networks, bridges and ultra – modern shopping complexes in advance stages of construction which  are springing up in places hitherto occupied by narrow and windy roads, unhygienic markets, clusters of dingy shops that not only defaced the state capital but also provided hideouts for criminals and peddlers of illicit drugs.

    From Onikolobo, Lalubu, Totoro, Sokori, Sapon, Abiola way, Saje to OGBC all in Abeokuta to Ijebu – Ode, Sagamu, to the 110km Ilara – Ijoun road, and Sango – Ojodu, the trappings of emerging Mega towns and cities beckon with the on – going multi – billion naira roads projects and modern shopping complexes being built to take care of traders whose shops were brought down to give way to the roads expansion scheme.

    One of such is the  lbara / Lalubu / Ita-Eko Overhead Bridge. The 2.4km dual carriage Premier Fly – Over which was built at the cost of N1.5billion begins at Lalubu – Ibara  and opens into the new Totoro – Oke -Sokori six lanes road  also constructed at the  cost of N1.3billion.

    The Totoro – Oke – Sokori road is studded with features such as drains, median, greenbelt, walkway, street lights, modern bus-stop and pedestrian bridge with an air-conditioner.

    The Pedestrian Bridge alone which runs across it costs N260m.

    The massive investment in road infrastructure, according Governor Ibikunle Amosun, was in fulfillment of his electoral promises to the people but they have proved to serve purposes more than just fulfilling campaign pledges.

    The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, captured this essence of the changing face of Abeokuta months back when he appreciated the first state – built Lalubu – Totoro bridge.

    Gbadebo who likened it to the time pipe borne water and Railway station arrived Abeokuta during the colonial era, said the development has predictably transformed the state capital from the 19th century status to that of the 21st century.

    He said:”The flyover can only be compared with the day electric power came to Abeokuta or the pipe borne water was installed in Abeokuta or 1906 when the train entered Abeokuta.

    “The flyover is as major as any of these and I thank the Governor for bringing Ogun State and Abeokuta in particular from 19th century to the 21st century.

    “When visitors come to Abeokuta and they pay courtesy call at the palace, they are always whispering, and asking is this the state we have talked so much about, where are the roads we expect Abeokuta to have, the first class medical facilities, the first class schools as the fountain of education in Nigeria?

    “They expect the very best in Ogun State. We thank God now that we have the governor who has started very well.

    “Our people do say, morning shows the day, if under two years, this government have been able to put in place the flyover in Ibara  and several others like it, we know that in a matter of another year or two, we will be where the best state capital of this nation are.

    “We have been lagging behind all of them for so long; by the grace of God, we are going to overtake all of them that did not move in the same pace they started with.

    “For this, I want to thank the Governor (Senator Ibikunle Amosun) and his team for a job well done, somebody asked me what do we have for the people.

    “ I want to congratulate them for their support and tell them please pay your tax, without paying your tax, good things like this cannot happen. I beg you, anybody who want to enjoy the goodies of life should pay the tax as and when due.”

    Also, a transport consultant, who declined name mentioning, told The Nation that the roads and bridges would facilitate easy, pleasurable movement of goods and services, easy flow of traffic, reduce manpower-time wasted on the road, thereby improving the productive time of persons  plying the road.

    The transport expert added that the roads would also help monitor traffic flow, determine bottlenecks points for solutions as well as assist the police, medical team and other people responding to emergency situations to arrive at the scene or their destination quickly aside the aesthetic values  they add to the environment.

    According to the initiator, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, “the goal is to put Ogun State in the league of advanced economies and make it an investors’ destination of choice, not only in Nigeria, but the sub-Saharan Africa.”

    The governor noted last January that  to achieve that feat, the importance of modern day and world class infrastructure cannot be overemphasised.

    He said: “For this reason, we will continue to rehabilitate existing infrastructure and put them in a position where they will not only stand the test of the time, but stand-out as a reference point for others anywhere in the world. Where the need arises, we will construct not just modern but high-tech infrastructure that will enhance the magnificence of our environment and act as a catalyst for our socio-economic development.

    “I urge all our people to exercise more patience, and continue to support us in prayer and in deeds. As we do this, we will have more dividends of democracy across the nooks and crannies of our state for the overall benefit of our people. Also, I want to use this opportunity to call on the private sector to partner with our administration in the actualisation of the socio-economic development of our State.

    “ Our policy is to create the necessary atmosphere for the private sector to thrive. We need the private sector to make use of these infrastructure while establishing industries that will help to provide jobs for our people. As you do this, we shall be creating wealth for our people and bringing smiles to their faces.”

    But a serving House of Representatives member and Governorship aspirants on the platform of Labour Party(LP) in the state, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade, while admitting that Amosun’s infrastrutural development and roads expansion are “desirable,” last Friday, cautioned the government against  going about its road projects in a manner that puts Ogun people in pains.

    Akinlade said: “As we note the efforts of the state government to handle these road expansion projects in a way that protects the economic interest of the people, preserve their heritage and improve their welfare, the current approach is creating hardship, homelessness and joblessness for Ogun State people.

    “We believe that it is completely anti – people to first demolish their homes, uproot their businesses before inviting them for compensation which the people are even complaining of being arbitrary and non – commensurate to their properties demolished. We should not expect people who are hungry and homeless to appreciate roads, even if the roads are gold plated.”

  • Lagos commuters: No more suffering and smiling?

    Lagos commuters: No more suffering and smiling?

    Not a few Nigerians could recall that popular song ‘Suffering and smiling’ by the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Anikulapo-Kuti, lamenting the agony of Lagos commuters as they move from one point to another in overloaded rickety buses. That was over two decades ago.

    Fela sang about 49 passengers sitting and 99 others standing in a bus that was probably meant for less than 100 passengers. He might have exaggerated, but the truth was that public transportation in Lagos was and probably still is chaotic and less than befitting the status of Lagos as an emerging mega city. It is driving some residents of the city state crazy, even as the Lagos State Government continues to make commuting easier, better and more comfortable for the over 20 million inhabitants of Nigeria’s centre of excellence.

    Patrick Omele is one of those fed up with the traffic gridlock that often grips Lagos for hours unending, and is considering relocating away from the emerging mega city.

    Last week was his happiest day and he shocked his friends when he threw a party in celebration of his transfer from Lagos to Benin, the Edo State capital. He was simply happy to leave.

    “None of them could understand me when I told them of the stress I go through getting to my office and coming back home daily,” he said; adding, “I had to wake up 4.30 am everyday and leave my Ikotun-Egbe home for office at Lekki, by 5.00am, or latest 5.30am daily, yet I wouldn’t get to Lekki until 8.00am.

    “If that was bearable, returning was usually hell. There was never a time I got back home earlier than 11.30pm, most of the time I ate dinner in the bus, as I wouldn’t be able to eat anything by the time I got home, I sleep about 12 midnight, invariably having not more than four hours of sleep daily. This was already taking its toll on my health and I was already considering resignation, when I got my transfer letter.”

    For Patrick, the greatest immediate impact of his transfer would be in the area of his health, and he had his employer to thank for giving him another opportunity.

    If he was that lucky to get a breather, so many workers living and sharing similar experience had no choice but to continue to cope.

    One of such people was Mrs. Agnes Akpodonor, who shared same seat with this correspondent on Oshodi-Agege route of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Agnes, a mother of three, works as a marketer for a company at Ajah, after Lagos Island and goes to the office, from Matogun, an Ogun State community, one of the several, that shared same border with Lagos. “The earliest I get home daily is 11.00pm, leaving office 5.00pm,” she said.

    She doesn’t get to Oshodi till 8.00 or 9.00pm from where she connects the BRT to Agege. From Agege she would still take another bus to Ishaga, before she would board another to Matogun, where she lives. She would get home only to sleep as she has to wake up at 4.00am to prepare breakfast and break time food for her three children.

    By 5.00 am, she is already on the road, to beat traffic as she must resume at the office by 8.00am. Her schedule unlike Patrick includes Saturdays and her Sundays, she spends virtually in the church, moving from one meeting to the other after service, till evening.

    “My brother, I have been living like this since 2005, at times, I ask myself how I’ve been coping, but what would I do? Would I stop work to become a house wife? I have God to thank for still keeping me alive despite the stress. I board BRT all the time, because it affords me an opportunity to sleep. Its not easy, but life goes on,” she said.

    Living practically on the road has been part of the experience of many a resident of the state. A respondent told how she had lost a vital contract for her firm because of the mad traffic within the metropolis. It is usual in this part to build the traffic hiatus into one’s daily plan before setting out from home, such that you might have to leave your house by 7:00am to shuttle from the mainland to the Island in order to catch a 10am appointment.

    But that has not always been the case in Africa’s megacity and the world’s third fastest growing city after Tokyo and Bombay, in India.

    Up until the 1900s, Lagos Island, which covers a mere 1.55 sq. miles, was a rather small piece of land that provides accommodation for 65.4 per cent of the population that lived there then.

    The situation was not helped by the lack of adequate transport facilities which would have encouraged people to live on the mainland and shuttle to the island daily for business.

    For those living on the swampy Island, boats therefore became the means of transportation. The situation however changed with the commissioning of the Carter Bridge in 1901, which for the first time connected the mainland to the Island, thus encouraging the use of motor vehicles, the new status symbol of the era.

    The pressure shifted from canoe, which conveyed commuters on the waterways, to road, the new mode of transportation, promoted by the Europeans and the growing elite, which used it as a means of commuting.

    As a result of the pressure on Carter Bridge, due to the share number of automobiles, and the need to deepen the infrastructure base of the city, which operated as the nation’s federal capital, fresh constructions were embarked upon, with the taking off of Eko bridge, which opened in 1975, and the Third Mainland bridge, which was inaugurated in 1991, by then President General Ibrahim Babangida.

    The third Mainland bridge was again borne out of the need to resolve the growing challenge of managing the vehicular traffic, occasioned by the rush by residents to purchase their vehicles due to the oil boom and the emergence of the nation’s rich middle class as road transport gained primacy as the most important means of transport in Lagos for its immediacy.

    In the beginning

    Prior to the formal establishment of commercial road transport services however, Lagosians could ride on the Lagos Steam Tramway which ran from 1902 to 1913.

    In 1895 the Lagos Government Railway began to force its way from Iddo, on the mainland to Ibadan and was opened six years later on March 4, 1901. Carter Bridge was completed the same year, construction having commenced in 1896, to connect Lagos Island with the mainland.

    The tramway was informed by the erroneous termination of the railway at Iddo. Lagos, the administrative capital and the only seaport of the Colony of Nigeria, was without any public (or indeed, at that time,wheeled) transport to connect it with the railhead.

    That this had been in the minds of the administration is evidenced by mention of a tramway in the Colonial Report for 1899. By 1901, it decided to build a 2ft.-6in gauge line over Carter Bridge and construction began. The opening of the Lagos Steam Tramway took place on May 23, 1902.

    The original line ran north-west along the waterfront, from a point near Government House and the European residential area around the Race course, to Customs Wharf, where it turned north-east towards Ereko Market and Idumota. A 95ft. radius curve took the line north-westwards again, through Ebute Ero and over Carter bridge to the railway station at Iddo.

    In spite of the success of the improved services and after much track laying and a deficit of £248 in 1913, the government took a very short-sighted view and decided to close down the passenger service, principally because the original rolling stock needed renewal. The closure which signaled the first neglect of the train service was effected on January 1, 1914, but not until 1933 did Lagos lose the service of the tram service completely, with the closure of the sanitary Tramway, built in 1906.

    What the railway lost in patronage became gains for the road transport and by the time the Federal Government moved the federal capital away from Lagos to Abuja in 1992, road transport has supplanted all other modes as answer to passengers and goods mobility across the metropolis.

    The absence of an early intervention by the government in developing a mass transportation policy, informed the emergence of private owners who provided mammy wagon fleets locally known as Bolekaja (come down let’s fight), which mushroomed and provided the essential mass transit service, all through to the early 70s.

    With Bolekaja off the road, came the Molue, which covered a large swathe of the city, and very popular for its cheap, and reliable operations. The ubiquitous Molue gained notoriety for the manner it packed commuters and for providing itinerant hawkers an avenue to ply their trades.

    Perhaps a more defined measure by the government to seize the mass transit space was in the second republic when the government of Alhaji Lateef Jakande established the Lagos Metropolitan Transport Service, (LMTS), which took the first bold attempt to develop the road and water modes of transportation, while similar attempt was made to initiate the light rail. An ambitious Metroline was initiated but was abandoned when the military took power in 1984.

    Successive governments since then have tried to initiate a mass transit blueprint that would address the growing intractable transportation sector whose growth remains dominated by the unorganised private sector. But each attempt had been met with limited successes as the vehicles in no time were often run down.

    Perhaps government’s most successful efforts at solving the intractable transport problem was initiated by the administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2003 when it approached the World Bank for assistance for the development of a transportation master plan for Lagos mega city. The World Bank intervention gave birth to the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, a special purpose vehicle to drive the new initiative, which was to develop the infrastructure backbone, which was the dedicated lanes for the buses, and to procure and manage the buses, unlike the case in the past.

    The LAMATA initiative ultimately gave birth to Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) scheme, the first phase of which was flagged off by Governor Babatunde Fashola on March 24, 2008. It goes from Mile 12 to CMS through the Funso Williams Avenue (formerly Western Avenue).

    The service being run by two operators: the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Cooperative and LAGBUS, an Asset Management Company owned by the Lagos State government thus began a new initiative to frontally address the transportation menace in the state.

    The agency also provided 26-bus shelters along the Mile 12-CMS route; three bus terminals are also placed along the corridor (at Mile 12, Moshalashi and CMS), with the bus terminal at CMS designed to integrate with transport modes of rail and ferry services. Since its launch five years ago, more than 100 million passengers have commuted in it.

    Before the coming of BRT, Lagos recorded an average of 224 vehicles per kilometre contrary to the national average put at 30 vehicles per kilometre. Research further showed that over three million cars, 100, 000 commercial vehicles and over two million commercial motorcycles move on the over 900 road network in the state daily.

    The concentration of movement on the roads which runs contrary to what obtains in other cities of the world which depend on more than one mode of transportation, makes it imperative for government to pursue alternative modes of transportation such as rail and water.

    The commitment of the Fashola government to promote these two modes of transportation led to the increase of the water operational routes from one in 2007 to 12 routes. These are the Ikorodu-Marina/CMS; Marina to Mile 2; Ikorodu-Adax/Falomo; Ikorodu- Ebute Ero; Marina-Ijegun Egba-Ebute-Ojo; Mile 2- Marina/CMS-Mekwen-Falomo; Badore-Ijede; and Badore to Five Cowries. Others are; Marina-Oworonsoki; Ebute Ojo-Ijegun Egba; Oworonsoki-Five Cowries and Baiyeku-Langbasa.

    With government planning to further expand the routes, there are more investors running the ferry services with the government limiting its intervention to the provision of the basic backbone – jetties.

    The plan is to connect the BRT network to these existing ferries for the purposes of moving ferry passengers from the jetties to the terminals in different parts of the metropolis, the ferries would equally be linked to the light rail terminals while the BRT buses will also service the light rail stations and terminals.

    Rail service

    The Lagos Rail Mass Transit, the first modern rail-based public transport in Sub-Saharan Africa outside of South Africa, is envisioned to consist eventually of seven lines. The railway equipment including electric power, signalling, rolling stock, and fare collection equipment will be provided by the private sector under a Concession Contract, while LAMATA is responsible for policy direction, regulation, and infrastructure for the network.

    With the ambitious blue line light rail project which has reached an advanced stage along the Badagry Expressway, government said another one million passengers would be using the blue and the proposed red line light rails when it finally flags off.

    Speaking on the public transport activities of the state government, the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa said, the intention of the government is to provide a reliable, safe and affordable means of transportation to residents as part of the dividends of democracy.

    He said part of the plans of the government is to completely phase out the use of commercial motorcycles or tricycles as means of transportation in the state, stressing that when its plans fully matures, residents would have the Fashola government to thank for its forward looking plans that sought to put commuters at the centre of its transformation plans for the transport sector.

    He said not only would the BRT buses continue to be re-fleeted in line with the desire to provide safer means of commuting for the people, government would also continue to develop new route network as it continues to expand the shuttle service.

    He disclosed that other plans aimed at ensuring safer transportation and making public transportation available is the planned resuscitation of the defunct Lagos Mass Transit Service (LMTS), reform of the Lagos mini-bus (danfo) operations; reforming and restructuring the Bus Franchise Scheme (BFS).

    “By the time all these are in place, more and more Lagosians would be encouraged to put their vehicles in their homes while they make use of public transport scheme, because we are going to ensure that all alternatives are provided, from buses, to mini buses, to cars/taxis all in an attempt to ensure that you keep that extra car off the road, thereby reducing the green house gasses emissions etc, and improving the health and wellbeing of the people,” Opeifa said.

    Cable car

    To further address the issue of congestion, he disclosed that the state is also planning to, and has already signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and a franchise agreement with Ropeways Transport Company for the purpose of providing cable car services (Cable propeller transit line) in the state. The project is another public, private partnership initiative of the state government, that would cost it nothing.

    The company, Opeifa disclosed, would build the system on two selected corridors which will serve as crucial links to Apapa, Lagos Island, Obalende/Ikoyi and Victoria Island.

    The commissioner said government is committed to making the road safer for Lagosians and ensure the security of roads, improve traffic management and control the free flow of traffic anywhere in the state and would continue to improve public transportation with the intention of making it attractive to more commuters.

    He said the restriction of the Molue operators from all bridges, especially the total restriction from plying Lagos Island is part of efforts to further deepen public transportation services, even as he assures that with the plan currently in place, public transportation would no longer suffer neglect.

    Ferries to the rescue

    In spite of the success of the BRT and other road transport service, more and more Lagosians are discovering the new alternative and relieving experience of the Lagos waterways, the third leg of the intermodal options to mass transit being made available by the state government.

    Residents, especially those living around Ikorodu and adjoining communities have come to appreciate that plying the waterways through ferries have become an easier way to commute around the coastal metropolis.

    A bank executive, Mr. Seyi Thomas, who lives in Odongunyan have since realised the beauty of ferry service, which he has been using in the past seven months to and from his office.

    He said: “Until April, I used to get to office late, at times getting to work around 10am, despite leaving home at 4am. Then in May, I decided to try the ferry. I parked my car at their parking lot and bought a ticket for N600. In 20-minutes, we were at Marina and I just took a stroll down to my office. Since then, I’ve been patronising the ferry. I leave home at 6am and get to work by 7.30am. I have stopped agonising over the terrible traffic in which I usually spend six or seven hours before.”

    Mr. Thomas is not the only one enjoying the new found bliss of shorter routing time. Mr. Bukola Amusan, who lives in Ikorodu is another, and he almost swore he would never go to Lagos Island by road again. He is a regular face at the Igbogbo jetty, where he boards the ferry and though there are usually a crowd he said, particularly in the morning, the terminal is so comfortable you’ll almost forget your troubles.

    “I found the ferry a very good alternative especially now that the Lagos State Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) is expanding the Ikorodu expressway. The ferry is fast and so many people are patronising it,” he said.

    To make the ferries safer, the state government has purchased no fewer than 5,000 life jackets it intends to distribute to all ferry operators for the use of their passengers.

    Opeifa said the jackets further underscore the commitment of the state government to safety on its waterways and to boost the confidence of passengers who patronise the operators.

    He said from 300,000 passengers, the ferry operators now cater for 1.8 million passengers weekly, adding that government will continue to put in place measures to boost the waterways transportation and make it more attractive for investors and passengers. He said more than 20 other new routes are already penciled down and these would be opened as soon as enough capacities are developed along such routes.

    Opeifa said only a vibrant waterways and rail system could soak away the pressure on the roads and make the roads last longer than they hitherto are.

    He disclosed that when the blue and red light rails being developed around Mile 2 is ready, it would further boost rail transportation and relieve travelling experience within the metropolis.

    Before such begins however, the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), has been filling the gaping need for a safe, reliable and affordable means of transportation that the rail exemplified.

    At a forum recently, NRC’s Managing Director Mr. Adeseyi Sijuwade said the Corporation is presently running eight shuttles to and from Iddo to Ijoko-Lemode, in Ogun State, daily. Though this according to him translates to 16,000 passengers daily, the mere fact that many passengers still hang or sit on moving trains are signals that the shuttles need to be increased.

    Sijuwade, an engineer, said the NRC has placed order for new rolling stock which would be delivered before year end.

    He said passengers are going to enjoy more comfort as these locomotives would further boost the mass transit service of the corporation.

    An Ijoko resident, Mrs. Omolewa Adamson, said she has been patronising the corporation since her family moved to Ijoko three years ago. “The train would make Oshodi from Ijoko under 40 minutes, and this is what can take three hours or more by road. With N150, you can ride to Iddo, whereas, the same destination by road would cost not less than N500. That is why so many people, especially the youth, artisans and labourers who work at Isale-Eko and other areas prefer to patronise train because it is cheaper,” she said.

    Alhassan Jibril, who sells handkerchiefs and sundry items, and lives at Agbado Station, in Ogun State, said the train and molue are his best forms of transportation because of their affordability and opportunity to hawk his trade.

    “In the morning I ride in the train to Oshodi and from Oshodi, I follow the Molue round. Until they were banned, I used to follow it to Ebute-Ero, but these days, we merely run from Oshodi to Agege and at times Iyana Ipaja to Sango-Ota,” he said.

  • ‘Our plan for a friendly environment in Osun’

    ‘Our plan for a friendly environment in Osun’

    THE Osun State government has intensified its efforts to foster a friendly and healthy environment through tree-planting.

    The state is planting 2.5million trees in first phase of its tree planting programme just as 1.5million trees have been planted already. It hopes to achieve a 10million-tree target.

    These facts were revealed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment predence Hon Bola Ilori, noting that prudence in the management of resources and positive response of the residents remain a major impetus.

    Making reference to the tree planting programme tagged: igi iye, he said he was impressed with the responses of the people of Osun to the programme.

    According to him, “Our ultimate target is to plant 10 million trees by Novembers 2014. What we are injecting now in the first phase is 2.5 million in all and in the last seven months, we have been able to inject 1.5 million trees. We still have 1 million trees to go before the end of this rainy season after which we will increase them to 5 million trees during the dry season in our nursery. That will take us to our expected 10 million igi iye before November 2014.” The programme has applauded from within and outside the country

    Ilori disclosed that the governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, was awarded Gold Award on Environment by Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife. The National Park Abuja and the Environmental Registration Officers Council of Nigeria, Abuja, also gave him an award on igi iye . Also, the Nigerian Botanical Society has also conferred on Ogbeni a Fellow of the Botanical Society of Nigeria. The Nigerian citizens in Netherlands have also recognised the importance of igi iye by giving Aregbesola an award too.

    He disclosed that the ministry has achieved so much because of its prudence. According to him, the purse of the state is lean. The ministry has been creative with the resources available to it that is why it has achieved so much within a short time with its lean resources.

    While allaying the fear that the tree planting exercise might come in conflict with the urban renewal programme which is currently ongoing in the state, he said tree planting was part of urban renewal programme. “In the traditional African urban setting, every household has a tree, it is just natural. It is just natural that we are talking about urban renewal. Africans are tree loving.”

    He said igi iye is different because of its neighbourhood tree campaign. It is not forestry regeneration. According to him, “we are planting trees on 64 hectare of land to mark Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu’s 64th birthday, rather than just throw parties, we will plant trees. For us, it is our own way of immortalising Asiwaju and do something for the environment in a very creative manner.

    “Igi iye is not about forestry, it is people getting back to nature. That is what we are doing, we are taking nature back to man. We hope that in two to three years, many homes in Osun will have trees not just one but many trees because we are talking about 10 million trees. We don’t have 10 million, we are really focusing on people to imbibe the culture of tree planting, their neighbourhood will become friendly.”

    Ilori said people are happy, because of the tag on tree. “The name is nice, the name is inviting. They all want to have igi iye. Even when we were initially said one tree per person, some students took 10 and 20 to plant. That was why we did not force the parents again, but if one student who is entitled to one is taking 20, what else do you need?

    Ilori explained that the prudent approach adopted by the ministry has really helped a lot in achieving greater results with its limited resources. According to him, the nylon picked from wastes formed the bulk of what was used for the nursery of the trees.

    Though the initial plan was to recycle through its buy-back programme, “it will interest you to know that out of 2.5 million seedlings of igi iye that we have, 2 million were from the nylon of pure water that we got. So, the nylon we retrieved from the drains and roadsides were what we used in planting the trees that made it cheaper for us and that was why we were able to deliver on igi iye because we did not depend on fresh nylon. The cost of fresh nylon alone would have made it impossible for us to do the project, we only did 500 black virgin nylon that we purchased. For us that is double gain.”

    He said government would soon start planting trees on the major highways, apart from what the people will plant in their homes.”

    He disclosed that waste had disappeared from the streets of Osun because the ministry is working with the private sector to cart wastes from houses, “We are spreading the bins gradually all over the state and if you go round you can’t have refuse in Osun as you have in other states. We are not doing badly in that area. Before now, it used to be the government doing it, but now we have introduced private sector participation in waste management.”

    While admitting that the biogas programme has not met the expected target, he expressed optimism that at the end of the day, the ministry will deliver on bio-gas.

    On ‘quit mosquito’, Ilori revealed that the ministry had begun a study and very soon, mosquito would be a thing of the past in the state. As of today, according to him, the ministry has been able to cut malaria incidence in the state by 50 per cent. “We want to bring it down to 20 per cent or so. Some people have been able to eradicate malaria, there is no basis to say it is impossible here. But it is not what we can eliminate in a day. We are launching the attack using several formulas that is why we say we are confident in what we are doing. We are distributing nets which take care of direct attack on mosquitoes, we want to attack their population that is why we are planning the war on mosquito. That is why we are doing what we are doing now before we launch major offensive on mosquito. We are hoping to get genetically modified mosquitoes so that we sterilise all that have survived our attacks.”

    Though there are enforcement agencies, the SA on environment and Sanitation is happy that many people have complied without being compelled.

    He attributed the success of its agency to its resourcefulness.”Ours is not about resources, it is about being resourceful.”

  • Govt lifts rural areas with a bouquet of projects

    Govt lifts rural areas with a bouquet of projects

    Even the Shoko ancestors rejoiced with the living, as electricity was switched on by Commissioner for Rural Development Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi, for the Badagry rural community last Tuesday.

    Represented by two Sangbeto masquerades, (one decked in raffia and the other in polyester material); the ancestors danced and danced, gyrating to drumbeats that evoke their awesome divinity, trumping the ground, as their spirit joined the living in praising the government for bringing modernity closer home.

    For decades, the Shoko people, in Badagry West Local Government Area of Lagos State had bore in silence the pain of using bush lamps at night. Though the community was a shouting distance from Kankon, where the state government sited one of its model secondary schools, it was shorn of all basic social amenities.

    But that has changed. Handing over the project to the people, in the presence of other notable personalities among who were the Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development, Mr. Babatunde Hunpe, the Secretary to Badagry West Local Government Mr. Abraham Mautin and the Chairman Community Development Advisory Council (CDAC), Prince Gabriel Awomodu, the Commissioner for Rural Development described the electrification as “a demonstration of Governor Babatunde Fashola’s commitment to ensuring that the rural communities also enjoy the dividends of democracy.”

    Continuing, he said: “This is one project that I would have loved my colleagues in the executive council to come and hand over, because some of them believe we do not have any rural areas in Lagos State. That notwithstanding, I envisage that this project would bring about rapid development as several cottage businesses would spring up from here. We should encourage our youths to get involved in agriculture. Even if they planted cassava, soon we could start garri processing factory here, we could even start exporting. With electricity, people have no need migrating to the urban areas in search of jobs, let them stay back and create jobs as the era of the white collar jobs has gone. By staying back, you are promoting a livable environment.”

    He said government was handing over the project to the community so that the people can take ownership of the project and maintain them.

    He, therefore, urged the CDA chairman, Alhaji Kolade Ogungbe to ensure adequate security of the project as government would not respond to any community that allows any of its facilities especially the armoured cables to be stolen.

    The head of Department of the Electrical Unit, Mr. Abiola Olowa, described the project, which spanned three kilometres of feeder pillars, and a 500 KVA transformer, as one that was conceived by the ministry under this year’s budget and executed by direct labour.

    Before hitting Shoko, Ojelabi had led the entourage to Ijegun, where his ministry rehabilitated and expanded a micro water scheme for the people of Olorunsogo/Ijegun communities in Igando/Ikotun LCDA.

    The project engineer, Adisa Yinusa, said the water scheme had been vandalised and for several decades, the people of the area had been living without potable water. He added that besides rehabilitating the two old boreholes, the government constructed two new ones to further increase the capacity of the project to 10,000 litres, adding that before the end of first quarter next year, the project would be extended to adjourning communities.

    Handing over the project to the community at a ceremony that had the representative of the Onijegun of Ijegun, Chief Balogun in attendance, the CDA Chairman Mr. Adeola Adegbite, thanked the government for the water project, adding that the residents had agreed to levy themselves some amount monthly for the maintenance of the facility.

    “The CDA has set up a committee to ensure that the project would not become moribund again. Every house would be levied beginning from January for the purpose of maintaining this project,” Adegbite said.

    Ojelabi, who praised the CDA for being proactive in already mapping out strategies for maintaining the facility, assured that government would maintain the project for two years, during which it would ensure that all other neighbouring communities are connected to the water scheme before handing over to the host community.

    He said the issue of water is germaine to the state government and no efforts would be spared in ensuring that as many parts of the state as possible are covered by the state’s water corporation for the purpose of ensuring that safe and potable water is made available to all and sundry.

    He, therefore, urged the people to continue to support the government in its efforts to ensure the improvement in the quality of life of the people.

    Handing over the project to the people, Mr. Omotayo Fakolujo, who represented the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Ben Akabueze, said the tour to Ijegun has afforded him the opportunity of knowing that some rural communities really exist and that some could even be as close as Ijegun. He assured that he would ensure the people’s request for assistance on the state of the 1.2 kilometre long Ijagemo-Afurugbin road and Orilaku road which is the only access to the project as well as the primary healthcare centre get the attention of the commissioner. He assured that though the projects were not captured in the next fiscal allocation as government is irrevocably committed to completing all existing construction projects, the roads could at least be graded and made passable before the next round of rain.

    The project train shortly thereafter headed for Igbanko, near Imeke, in Olorunda LCDA, where the council Chairman Mr. Amida Abdul, led other eminent personalities and management team of the council in giving a rousing welcome to the Rural Development Commissioner and his team, who were in the area to hand over the Igbanko rural electrification project over to the community.

    Speaking at the ceremony, one of the ministry’s engineer, Mr. Amzat, said the project which consists of 132 high tension poles and 50 low tension poles fed by a 33 KVA transformer took the department about four months to complete.

    The CDA chairman Evang. E.O.Ogunyemi, thanked the state government for remembering the Igbanko community in its rural electrification programme. He said: “This is the first time in the last 30 years that this community would be feeling the impact of government directly. The closest community to us here, Imeke, is over 100 kilometres and and we go as far to Imeke to

    charge our phones. We are grateful that at least we can do so many basic things in the confines of our community.”

    He assured the government that the entire community would guard the project jealously and not let anything tamper with it.

    Ojelabi who expressed happiness for seeing the inauguration of the project, urged the people to continue to support the government in all its activities. He said the ongoing residents’ registration exercise is another initiative that would enable the government have accurate statistics of the number of people in the area and which would enable proper planning. He, therefore, canvassed the people to rally behind the council chairman and register anytime the project was brought to the area.

    He added that the registration exercise would also assist his ministry to defend its intervention proposals before either the state executive council or the law makers, who hitherto have a wrong impression about the population of rural dwellers in the state.

    Apologising for the absence of his colleague in the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure Mr. Obafemi Amzat who was to have handed over the project to the people, Ojelabi said, though Amzat is presently defending his ministry’s budget before the House of Assembly, he would have at least ensured that the Deputy Governor Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire make the trip and perform the handing over ceremony, if he knew the roads would have been made passable.

    Branching at Oto-Awori LCDA, just as the dusk was settling in, Ojelabi again delivered another people-centred project – a footbridge, to the rural coastal people of Etegbin-Ese-Ofin.

    Ojelabi who was regarded as a home boy, having his roots in this LCDA, said the project was dear to his heart, as he, by the project, has permanently solved the age-long crisis facing these Island dwellers who had to cross from Ese-Ofin to Etegbin via a wooden bridge before the new concrete bridge was constructed by the government.

    He said the new bridge has gone into history as the first concrete footbridge to be constructed anywhere in the state and has won the admiration of the governor who according to him, has adopted it as a reference to be copied anywhere in the state.

    Thanking the people for the forbearing and patience with the government, Ojelabi said with the footbridge, cases of people falling into the river as a result of rotten woods on the now discarded wooden bridge, has become a thing of the past, even as he urged residents of the two riverside communities to take ownership of the project and ensure its regular maintenance to prevent degeneration.

    He equally secured the commitment of the Oto-Awori LCDA Chairman Mr. Bolaji Kayode Roberts, who was at the ceremony to provide one sweeper to ensure the cleanliness of the bridge.

    The Head of the Civil Engineering Unit of the Ministry, Dehinde Oduyemi said the 240-metre long bridge has a two-metre width and took about 52 piles on over five metres of drilling. He said his men carried out a number of soil test to come out with the requirements which he said would stand for as long as the people could assure its adequate maintenance.

    Robert had in his welcome speech, praised the government for bringing the footbridge which he said might look insignificant to others to the people of the area.

    “This project as insignificant as it looks would reduce mishap that has become a daily occurrence along this area and I see it as the beginning of rapid development of our area. Ese Ofin has been neglected for a very long time due to inaccessibility and I thank God that that has been addressed with this project; this would undoubtedly open a new vista of government’s presence in this rural area. I would also encourage the people to put this bridge to good use as this would encourage the government to do more,” the council chief said.

    Undoubtedly, Ojelabi was very proud of his ministry’s intervention in these four local government areas.

    Fielding questions shortly after the exercise, the commissioner said he was always driven by the passion to change the lives of the downtrodden that live in these rural areas and was always uneasy anytime anyone argues that there were no rural areas in the state.

    “This ministry has exposed quite a number of rural areas, places that you would wonder how we managed to get there. For some, their major problem is road, for others it is electricity, or Primary Health Care Centre, or even school. There are so many forgotten communities on some of these islands that we have provided electricity, water and so on. We are committed to changing the face of the rural dwellers in Lagos State and making sure that they equally enjoy the same facilities like their kith and kin in urban areas because this is the only way to keep them where they are and prevent further rural-urban migration,” Ojelabi stated.

  • Stakeholders meeting where UNIOSUN charted new course

    Stakeholders meeting where UNIOSUN charted new course

    The Osun State University, a multi campus institution, established by the UNIOSUN Law of December 2006 passed by the state House of Assembly and which commenced full operation on September 21st, 2007 as the 30th state university and 80th university in the country, is gathering momentum for a rapid development. To achieve its set objectives, the university authorities recently organized a meeting with stakeholders and the media in Osogbo, the state capital city.

    Some of the members of the audience include bankers, parents, students, traditional rulers and council chairmen.

    The vice chancellor, Prof. Adekunle Basir Okesina, who succeeded the pioneer vice chancellor of the university, Prof. Sola Akinrinade, in his address reminded the audience of the institution’s vision which is making the university a centre of excellence to provide high quality teaching and learning experiences that can engender the production of entrepreneurial graduates capable of impacting positively on their environment while being globally competitive.

    He maintained that it was the mission of the university to create an institution committed to the pursuit of academic innovation, skill-based training and a tradition of excellence in teaching, research and community service.

    Speaking further he said: “As second vice chancellor to be in the office from 2013 to 2018 by the grace of God, I am glad to have you as stakeholders in our quest for positioning the university to greater height.

    My vision is to position the university as one of the best universities in Nigeria and Africa in terms of cutting-edge research, quality teaching and learning and relevant academic practices in compliance with best global educational standard. My mission is also to leave behind in 2018 a university well positioned to compete favourably with world leading universities.”

    In his tenure as vice chancellor, Prof. Okesine promised to focus on improving the academic and research standard of the university, to provide adequate supports for staff and students for optimal productivity and augmenting efficient provision and utilisation of the university’s library services. Other areas where he will give priority, according to him include internationalization of the university’s activities and engagements, attainment of financial sustainability and assurance of optimal utilisation of the university’s financial and material resources.

    The vice chancellor, therefore, called for support of all stakeholders, including the provosts of the university’s six colleges, deans of faculties, directors, staff and students in making the dream of a world class university a reality.

    He urged the all the stakeholders to identify various challenges of the university and look for ways to work together to solve them.

    “Our expectations from the various colleges include the development of research agenda for respective colleges and enhancing their research output by encouraging scholarly publications and strengthening research capacities of their staff and students. This can be achieved only by strengthening and reviving college seminar series, developing more marketable and skill—driven academic programmes,” he said.

    However, he listed funding among the critical challenges facing the university, saying the funds the university is receiving from the state government is not enough to develop our infrastructures, promote teaching, research and community service.

    He said: “Conducting cutting edge research into all areas of human endeavours is our top priority at UNIOSUN. We want to partner with corporate organizations, private and public institutions and research institutes to promote scholarship and support our staff to contribute to the development of the society through research. However, little progress has been made in this direction.”

    The university’s Director of Development, Prof. Siyan Oyeweso, said the meeting with stakeholders was designed to establish formal partnership with the institution’s key stakeholders, corporate organizations, philanthropists, community leaders and others that can invest in the future of UNIOSUN.

    Speaking further at the meeting tagged “Why We Are Here: A Window into the Functions of Development Office and Our Priorities,” Oyeweso said a number of programmes have been lined up between now and end of 2014 to bring together all stakeholders in building up UNIOSUN.

    The don, who said the university is primarily for the students, said the management is committed to attracting the best students all over the country, to study and learn at all levels, regardless of their backgrounds. “It is certainly impossible to have a great university without great faculties. At UNIOSUN, we boast of world renowned scholars and award winners. Our faculties help us to fulfill our duties to our students and society.

    They are not stellar teachers but top scholars in their fields,” he said. He implored all stakeholders to support the university achieve its objectives, saying a gift from people’s will can help Osun State University to continue to find solutions to societal challenges or alleviate people’s suffering.

    Oyeweso told the audience that in the coming months, the management will announce UNIOSUN CAPITAL CAMPAIGN PROJECT 3080. Before the commencement of the project, he said the university would be asking for peoples support.

    He said: “We need a befitting state of the art teaching hospital, well equipped with Accident and Emergency Unit Centre. In short, the Development Office Team will soon be interacting with you on UNIOSUN’s key priorities.

    Along this line, we will be recruiting UNIOSUN GOODWILL AMBASSADORS. I call on everyone to invest in UNIOSUN in terms of provision of infrastructural facilities, scholarship and endowments.”

    The state Commissioner of Information and Strategy, Mr. Sunday Akere, noted the university high standard, assuring the government would at all time support the institution to achieve its set goals.

     

  • Adedibu political family seeks resuscitation from ruins

    Four years after his death, members of the political family of the strongman of Ibadan politics, Chief Lamidi Adedibu, are struggling to locate the thread that binds them, report BISI OLADELE.

    The expansive palatial home of the former Ibadan political warlord, Chief Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu, is speedily dwindling in fame and importance. Located on a plane land by a large piece of land and a building of the defunct Nigerian Telecommunication (NITEL), the large compound is about 300 metres from the popular Molete Bridge.

    In the last few years before his death on June 11, 2099, Adedibu’s house was the most powerful political location in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. It was always a Mecca of sort as the high and mighty in politics across the nation visited continuously. The residence also received budding politicians coming to receive tutelage in the Nigerian kind of politics. So were hoodlums, mainly members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state. Adedibu was their Grand Patron. Residents who felt cheated by others as well as those seeking one favour or the other also thronged the politician’s house.

    The large compound received visitors from morning till evening, seven days a week, culminating in unending activities.

    But all that is dead. ‘Baba’, as he was fondly called, went away with all his power and influence.

    A visit to ‘Baba’s house, last week, revealed the death of all that was known with the late politician. Aside the repainting of the buildings that confirmed that the family is still together, nothing else announces Adedibu’s exploits in his hey days.

    The compound, made up of seven buildings and a mosque, was however, still kept neat and alive. Security men still occupy the gatehouse while some of Baba’s nuclear family members still live there. Weed has occupied an unused portion of the compound.

    Molete itself is wearing a new look through the urban renewal exercise of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi’s administration. The open spaces under the bridge that used to play host to hoodlums and street trading has been protected with beautiful iron bars while commercial buses using the roundabout as park have been relocated to a piece of land in front of Baba’s residence, thereby bringing beauty and orderliness to an area that was once a dirty, dreaded motor park.

    Motorists now move freely without fear of being attacked or exploited by hoodlums.

    The change is impressive!

    However, the active members of Adedibu political family are returning to the basics. Having scattered and pursued individual ambitions laced with strife for four years, a common interest is forcing its way among the political players, paving way for a new harmonious relationship.

    But the odds are clear and strong as ambition still reigns strong in the heart of stakeholders.

    Lamidi Ariyibi Adedibu died on June 11, 2009, taking colour and shine off partisan political activities in Oyo State and the Southwest at large.

    Adedibu, who was practically the backbone of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, would be remembered for his shrewd politicking skills and astute political leadership and his controversial positions on political issues. He was a towering figure within his party and Yoruba land at large.

    Adedibu spent at least 80 percent of his lifetime playing politics. He wined and dined with national, regional, state and local government political figures, some of who passed through his Molete school of politics.

    His death did not come as a big blow to the political terrain, it dealt a heavy blow to many of his followers and beneficiaries of his leadership within the PDP. His was a huge star that dropped from the clime and his shoes were too big for any other player to wear, according to his followers.

    Members of his political family include Elder Wole Oyelese, Alh. Hazeem Gbolarumi, Nureni Akanbi, Asimiyu Adio, Bola Alphonso, Sen. Teslim Folarin and Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, Ambassador Taofeek Arapaja and the late Chief Kolapo Isola.

    Confirming his membership of the family in an interview with The Nation, Oyelese said: “Not only am I a member of the Adedibu political family, I was the number two man to him. Together, we installed Sen. Rashidi Ladoja as governor in 2003.”

    He continued: “There are many other members of the family. They include Hazeem Gbolarumi, Nureni Akanbi and a lot of people you may not have heard their names. They include Aleshinloye, a former chairman of Ibadan Southwest Local Government, Ado, Bola Alphonso. Some of them have passed away. But the active ones include Asimiyu Adio and Layi Ajakaye.”

    Asked about membership of others such as Alao-Akala and Folarin, the former minister said:”Those ones came later. They were latter members of the family because they were initially beneficiaries. The family was formed since the days of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). We started since 1988 and those people were not part of us then.”

    Is the Adedibu political family still alive?

    Oyelese believes that the family is practically dead but that members of the family may still find a way to work together towards the 2015 election. According to the politician, Baba made some mistakes like any other human being towards the end of his life which he believes led to the inability of the family to hold itself together.

    He said: “Unfortunately before Baba died, a lot of things happened and some of us were forced to leave the family. Unfortunately again, many of those who benefitted from the family ruined the family because they did not take concrete steps to sustain the family. I can say they neglected it because they were not original members of the family.

    “Some of us who were really loyal to him were already annoyed with him. The few who are still loyal to him did not struggle to put the family together. Those who benefitted behaved like birds which fly away after they are given birth to. They were not entrenched in the system. So, one could not blame them. Baba made some wrong choices and that is what is responsible for the family not being formidable as it should be.

    “I wouldn’t say there is an Adedibu political family now. No. There are Adedibu former followers but not a family. There is a big difference between those who merely benefitted from Baba and the original members of the family. The fist group benefitted, but were not original members or who only became members because of the benefit they enjoyed. There is a clear difference between the two. They are still powerful players in the political terrain but the former cannot still be called core members of the Adedibu family. They can trace their roots to Adedibu  but that still does not make them core members of the family. We started a long time ago. We built the family during the SDP days and it has weathered the storm until Baba passed away.”

    The PDP chieftain however, believes that Adedibu’s name will continue to reverberate in Oyo State politics because many players passed through him in one way or the other.

    “It is just like Chief Awolowo’s name. Chief Awolowo died a long time ago but his name is still ringing. People can still refer to what he did in Yoruba land. Chief Adedibu’s name will continue to ring a bell but his influence will not be there because he was a powerful, colorful politician. So his name will continue to ring bell.

    “But Baba made some mistakes, just like any human being. Those mistakes are now causing problems in Oyo State. He threw up a lot of people who should never have smelt the corridor of power. These people are inexperienced and they are now causing problem in the party. Baba’s method can only be practised by Baba. His method was unique and can only be practised by him. Anybody who tries to imitate Baba Adedibu will destroy himself. This is because he was a unique man. He had a system and the system worked for him. But things have changed.”

    Oyelese acknowledged that Oyo State politics cannot have the same colour it had in the days of the strongman of Ibadan politics because things have changed. Besides, he disclosed that those who could function as an overall leader are still interested in political offices.

    His words: “Adedibu knew that he was there with a big basket in front of him. Other people would go out to their local governments, they would win the positions and bring them (returns)and put them in the basket. Nobody can do that in Oyo State now. Those of us who can practise it are still interested in political contest. Baba Adedibu was not a contestant but a godfather. Not many people have that experience or the know-how. Those of us who have the know-how are still interested in political offices.

    “Baba Adedibu was an enigma. He would tell you things that are not in any political publication. He had it in his head and he would bring it out and it would work.

    But a lot of inexperienced people have been thrown up. That also is part of the mistakes he committed. Many of the people now parading themselves as leaders, where did they have their training? At the appropriate time, when we have to mention names, we will talk. And the boys will know themselves and the men will know themselves in Oyo State.”

    Speaking along the same position, another core member of the Adedibu political family, Alh. Hazeem Gbolarumi, stressed that the family was scattered by dictatorial tendencies of some members who believed they knew it all.

    His words: “Where one person is dictating, it can’t work. It is not done. That was the problem that faced the PDP then. But everybody has realised his mistakes.  We are integrating now; we are working together. Soon, you will see us together.

    “If Baba was alive, it would not have happened this way because Baba had his way of leading people. He would tell you why things had to be done in certain ways and people always fell for his wisdom. That was then when we all had a common rallying point. But for now, everybody wants to be a leader. There is an ego problem. But now, we are planning to have a common leader, a rallying point.

    “We all miss Baba Adedibu. In fairness, we all miss him. Even in the entire Nigerian political landscape, Baba Adedibu is missed. But we thank God. We shall get out of this problem.”

    As the last second in command to Adedibu, Gbolarumi believes that the family still exists because of the hope of working together again after all have come to the realisation that only a united family members can achieve success in the political terrain.

    “The family is still there. It is just that we are not all that united. The reason being that everybody wants to be the leader. Even people who had the opportunity to become councilor would claim they are leaders. Since the demise of Baba, everybody has become a leader. That has been giving us setback. They have forgotten that leaders emerge naturally. It is not by election, selection or appointment.

    “But we all miss Baba. Baba was a politician with local intelligence. We all benefitted from him. He was our benefactor, mentor – everything to us.  He was a good listener. He would ask everybody to contribute to issues. He listened very well and took advice. Once Baba discovered you, you won’t need to spend your money unnecessarily before he would present you for the right position.

    “We miss his advice, leadership, intelligence, wisdom. We miss everything. (The effect of )his death is like that of a father and a son. The father loved the son so much. He could do anything for the son. If such father dies suddenly, it is tragedy for the son.”

    Recalling how decisions were made during Baba Adedibu’s days, Gbolarumi said: “We would all gather. The issues would be tabled. Everybody would contribute and offer solutions. Then, Baba would take the final decision. The decision always came from our deliberations. By the time he took the decision, we would all embrace it.”

     

  • This boy wants to be a lawyer

    This boy wants to be a lawyer

    It is no more news that some Nigerian youths have embraced internet fraud otherwise known as “Yahoo Yahoo”, seeing it as an avenue to make brisk  business and get rich quick without much ado.

    But one teenage boy is not looking in that direction, he simply believes in the dignity of labour.

    He is of the opinion that hard work pays.

    Seyi Oluwafemi, a native of Akure, Ondo state capital has decided to help his mum to sell pounded yam otherwise known as “Iyan”, a Yoruba favourite delicacy.

    From one street to the other, this young mobile restaurant carry a bowl filled with wraps of pounded yam and soup on his head to sell to customers.

    Although, he finished his secondary education in 2012, paucity of fund has cut his pursuit of higher education short, but the young lad is determined to further his education very soon.

    Hence, he has to assist his mother to sell pounded yam to ensure he actualises his dream of becoming a lawyer.

    Seyi, who graduated from Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) Grammar School, Akure, had credit in four subjects.

    The 18- year old boy intends to sit again for NECO and WAEC exams to ensure that he is able to study law, his dream profession.

    He said: “I am helping my mummy to sell pounded yam because I want to further my education. I hail from a very poor background and we rely on my mother’s business to survive.

    “I don’t feel ashamed while selling pounded yam because I know that I must realise my dream of becoming a legal practitioner in life”.

    He was optimistic that at the end of the day, fortune will smile on him with determination and perseverance.

     

  • Police arrest teacher for alleged torture of school girl to death in Ondo

    Police arrest teacher for alleged torture of school girl to death in Ondo

    An undergraduate student of Adekunle Ajasin University (AAUA) Akungba-Akoko in Ondo State,  Adebayo Alade, has been arrested by men of the state Police Command over the death of a four-year-old girl, Elizabeth Wanogho.

    Alade, who teaches a kindergarten class at Falaiye Memorial Nursery/Primary School Old  Ologede, Akure, was alleged by Elizabeth’s father, Mr. Ovie Wanogho of torturing her late daughter to death.

    Elizabeth was said to have complained to her parents several times about the attitude of her teacher, Adebayo when she returned from her school.

    These complaints came following the resignation of her former teacher, a female, before Alade was appointed to take over the class. This prompted her parents to report the class teacher to the proprietor, Mr. Kola Alade, who happens to be the father of the class teacher.

    When the suspect was summoned, he did not deny it, according to the father but only said he was only playing with the little kid.

    Elizabeth’s father, Wanogho, 45, accused Adebayo of putting his finger into the private part of his late daughter and also pressed her neck for reporting the sexual assault to her parents when she got home.

    The little girl complained of neck pain before she was rushed to a military hospital at 32 Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, Akure and later referred to Mother and Child Hospital in the city where she later died.

    Speaking with reporters, Wanogho demanded for justice over the death of his daughter, insisting that Adebayo deliberately killed the four-year-old girl.

    Wanogho said he was transferred from Bauchi to Akure few months ago which  warranted the changing of his daughter’s school to Falaiye Memorial Nursery/Primary School, which was very close to his new residence at Adebowale off Ondo Road in Akure.

    He said: “I am a civil engineer with HFP Construction Company and I got transferred from Bauchi to Akure three months ago and I decided to enroll my children in Falaiye Memorial Nursery/Primary School Old Akure-Ondo road, Ologede, Akure.

    “I have paid all the necessary fees demanded by the school and I also went to the school to see the person who will be the class teacher of my daughter, who is a female and I was satisfied with her.

    “But one day, Elizabeth after returning from school told us that her aunty has resigned and that she liked that her aunty. My response to her was that she will also love the new aunty or uncle who may likely take over her class.

    “Though, Elizabeth was fond of informing us about what is going on in the school particularly in her class. One afternoon after returning from school, I overheard my daughter telling her mother that her new uncle put his hand in her private part and touched her.

    “I went to her school the following day to report to the proprietor who summoned the teacher and asked Elizabeth to repeat what she told me and which she did in our presence. When the teacher was asked why he did such, he only responded by saying in Yoruba that ’mo kan nba sere ni’ meaning (I was only playing with her). I then warned him seriously that such should not repeat itself again. The proprietor promised that such will never happen again.

    “On getting home, Elizabeth still reported the uncle to me that because I came to warn him, he pressed her neck, saying that ‘your parents are not here I will deal with you’. She told me that the teacher is the proprietor’s son.

    “She complained of neck pains and I went to a nearby chemist and bought the prescribed drugs and administered it on her, only for her neck to swell overnight and I rushed her to the hospital that night. It was on my way I met Kola (the school proprietor) driving out and I explained my plight to him but he said my wife and I should wait for him which I did but Kola never returned.

    “It was while waiting with a neighbour who is a retired police officer that he saw us and decided to take us to the Military Hospital at the barracks where Elizabeth was placed on drips and antibiotics. She was also given nine bottles of drips and N2,800 worth of antibiotics each to just reduce the swollen neck but to no avail.

    ‘All along I was concerned with my daughter’s recovery but with all the treatment she was not responding well and each time she asked for food she could not swallow when the food was brought to her.

    It was after few days spent at the hospital that the soldiers asked about the proprietor and I took them to the school. The proprietor claimed that he was not aware of what happened and revealed that the alleged teacher is his own son and also an undergraduate of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, but only assisting him due to the ongoing ASUU strike and because some of the teachers have left the school. He told us that his son is a cult member at his institution.

    Wanogho said: “We were later referred to Mother and Child Hospital in Akure, where I was asked to buy blood but because I did not have money I volunteered to donate my blood in which two pints was taken from me to just save my daughter’s life.

    ‘It was then that I received a call from the police that the proprietor was negotiating the release of his son when I rushed to the police station and insisted that am still concerned about my daughter’s recovery. I was there when I was called on phone from the hospital that I had to rush back.

    ‘When I got to Mother and Child hospital I saw my daughter and she stretched her hands to me and called me, ‘Daddy! Daddy!’. As soon as I moved to her and carried her she breath her last’.

    “I thought it was a joke I raised her hand it dropped and I realised she was gone”

    At this moment, Ovie betrayed emotions and cried like a baby.

    Wanogho said the doctor’s report revealed that something struck her vaginal and she was strangled on the neck.

    “She is in the mortuary now and what I want now is justice. I want fellow Nigerians to help me, I have three kids and have lost one she is my carbon copy. I gave her my blood to keep her but she has left me.”

    The proprietor of the school, Mr. Kola Alade, denied all the allegations leveled against his son by the deceased’s father.

    He said: “Ovie never came to my school as claimed it was the mother of the deceased that came to the school with her children to complain and I summoned my Headmistress and the teacher, Adebayo who in turn denied that anything of such happened”.

    Alade said when the girl was in the hospital he told the Headmistress to go and visit her and we even advised the father to take the child to Mother and Child hospital but he preferred that his child be taken to the Military Hospital.

    He further alleged that Wanogho was complacent on the treatment of his child which resulted in the death of the girl. “He was reluctant all along as he did not respond when he was called to donate blood for his daughter which was late before he eventually did.”

    The proprietor lamented that Wanogho simply wants to tarnish the image of his school as all he claimed are untrue.

    The proprietor said: “We have urged him to let an autopsy be carried out on the girl but he has been avoiding that because when we know the cause of death, we will be able to know what really happened to the girl.”

    Also the headmistress, Mrs Tinuola Ajimajasan said, Elizabeth was neither beaten nor assaulted, claiming that the school was not aware if the deceased was sick.

    Reacting to the matter the state  Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Wole Ogodo, said the suspect, Mr Alade Adebayo, has been apprehended and he is presently in detention at the  State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Akure.

    Ogodo said, the case is still under investigation and it is only a postmortem that can reveal the cause of death because we cannot ascertain if it was the beating that resulted to her death or something else.

    “We will need an expert to do the autopsy on the deceased as the police cannot rely on an un-recognised hospital,” he said. Ogodo noted that the case is under investigation and the autopsy will soon be carried out.