The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • Group tackles child sexual abuse

    As part of efforts towards curbing rising cases of child sexual abuse the world over, an international non-profit organisation, Jose Foundation in collaboration with United Kingdom experts has presented to the public a book on child sexual exploitation (CSE) which aims at understanding its consequences drawing from the Rotherham experience.

    The book entitled Child Sexual Exploitation after Rotherham: Understanding the Consequences and Recommendations for Practice, was launched at the Kingston University, London.

    The book was written to address the issues of child sexual exploitation (CSE) that has gained ground in several countries, using the experiences of fighting the menace in Rotherham, United Kingdom.

    Organisers of the book launch said the presentation was also part of the planned workshop on CSE slated for Abuja next month. The presentation will be in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    The 310-page book is co-authored by Adele Gladman and Angie Heal, gives an insight to the horrific experiences of organised child sexual exploitations. It will help survivors of CSE to share their experiences in order to help professionals get a better understanding of sexual exploitation, abuse and process in which it was groomed.

    The authors say it is better to hear about CSE from the victims’ point of view, give presentations and talk to professionals, families, communities and others to raise awareness which will change the way the society has failed children.

    In a press statement, President, Jose Foundation, Prince Martins Abhulimhen, said the book is a key apparatus to strengthen the awareness against child sexual exploitation in Nigeria.

    He further said a similar presentation will be done in Abuja on peculiar cases of child sexual abuses in Nigeria, outcome of which will be published in different Nigerian languages to sensitise Nigerians to the dangers of the menace.

    He lamented that child sexual abuse is on the rise in the country while concerted effort at addressing it is lethargic.

    “We cannot pretend that child sexual exploitation is not ravaging our society. Daily reports in the country show that everyday a child is sexually abused by one adult or the other.

    “The situation is getting worse; with father sleeping with daughter. That, in some cases, results in death or permanent injury. This is aside the trauma the kids go through in their life time. We cannot fold our hands as individuals and as a nation to allow these atrocities to fester in our country,” Abhulimhen said.

    The occasion was attended by the United Kingdom’s Commissioner for Children, Mrs Anne Longfield (OBE).

     

  • Waste management takes revolutionary approach in Lagos

    Waste management takes revolutionary approach in Lagos

    Waste management is a major challenge in every metropolitan society. Lagos is no exception. Fifth columnist are not helping matters. But Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has unveiled a revolutiuonary approach that promises to turn the state to the cleanest in the country, WALE AJETUNMOBI reports.

    With a population of over 22 million, Lagos had course to grapple with resurgence of waste in major parts of the state. The development was attributed to the new waste management policy of the state government encapsulated in the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI). Yet more than casual observers noted that the sudden appearance of waste in some parts of the city, was the handiwork of those who are not comfortable with the policy and have vowed to stand against its implementation.

    However, they have their match in Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. Last Wednesday, he told Lagosians of how the new policy, when fully implemented from next month, would indeed transform the waste management subsector and bequeath a functional, healthier and livable environment to the people of the state.

    The ultimate goal of the initiative, said the governor,  is to make the mass of the people healthy, and when the people are healthy, they are likely to be more productive and productivity according to him, is about services and goods, which in turn, will translate to the growth of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the State.

    The assurances of the true intention of the new policy came to fore at the 2017 Third Quarter Town Hall Meeting, the 8th in the series, held at the Badore Ferry Terminal in Ajah.

    Addressing a large gathering of politicians, artisans, concerned Lagosians and residents at the meeting, which was specifically designed by his administration to intimate people about the policies and programmes of government and as well get the necessary feedback, Ambode said he deliberately asked that the meeting be held at Ajah taking into account the flooding recently witnessed in the area, and to assure the people that government was working round the clock to comprehensively address the challenges once and for all.

    He urged residents of the State to be patient with government on the Cleaner Lagos Initiative billed to commence next month, saying that the policy which is a holistic and comprehensive waste management plan was currently in its gestation period.

    He said once fully operational, waste would be collected in line with international best practices, while all parts of the state would always be kept clean.

    The governor, however, urged residents to adopt new attitude to disposing waste and desist from dumping in drainages and canals, assuring that the government would provide adequate bins to discourage indiscriminate dumping.

    While giving further explanation, the governor said: “The question to ask is why are people putting their waste in the drains and canals hoping that somehow the water will flush it away? The answer comes back to government because we have not been able to provide the people with enough bins or places where they can put the dirt.

    “They cannot leave the dirt in the house so they must have a channel to get it out. Another question is, has government been able to provide enough locations, bins, bags and so on? where they can put that refuse and then we can collect it and when we collect it efficiently, as part of their attitude, they will not go back to the canals and the drains. They will only go back to where we have provided for them.

    “Now, do we have enough equipment to clean Lagos? Are we having enough dino bins, plastic bags, compactors that can go round the population of 22million people? The answer before now is no. We are the largest waste producer in the world more than New York. New York produces 10,000 tonnes of waste every day, the waste accounted for in Lagos is 13,000 tonnes per day, not to talk of areas that are not documented.

    “Do we have enough equipment and compactors? We don’t have, but how do we get it? We have not increased the taxes you are paying. The population is increasing and by that fact the waste is increasing and we have not increased revenue. But we need new equipment. Some people were doing it for us before but we all saw the equipment they have been using to clean up the State and the truth is they can never do it right.

    “If we say we want to be a smart city and globally competitive, we must use the approach that allows you to collect waste in a globally competitive way and that is what we have done with the CLI without me punishing tax payers. We have a partnership that provides 600 brand new compactors without me paying one naira yet and with the partnership, we will provide 27,500 sanitation workers in all our wards across the State, who will be uniformed and clean Ikorodu, Ayobo the same way they clean Victoria Island and then they will provide bins where our people can now have the culture and attitude to put their dirt in the bins instead of putting it in the canals and drains,” Ambode said.

    Ambode said the 20 Local Government and 37 Local Council Development chairmen have been mandated to ensure constant cleaning of the environment, while officials of the State Government would be moving round to evacuate waste.

    Under the CLI, apart from the 600 brand new compactors that would be used to collect waste, 900,000 electronically tracked bins would be provided in homes across the State, while wastes generated by the commercial sector would be handled by licensed private sector participants waste managers otherwise known as PSP operators.

    The dump sites in Olusosun, Igando and other areas which had been major eyesore would be closed for Engineered Sanitary and Engineered Hazardous Landfills which are being constructed by the new partners, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions Limited. For efficient collection and disposal operations, the State Government has also concessioned three Transfer Loading Stations/Material Recovery Facilities at Agege, Oshodi and Simpson and three Waste Depots at Mushin, Ogudu and Simpson with the aim of rehabilitating and retrofitting the facilities to world class standard.

    In addition, while the 27,500 sweepers would be deployed to all the political wards in the State to keep the inner streets clean, mechanised sweeping equipment would be deployed to all the highways to prevent the incidence of sweepers being hit by oncoming vehicles.

    Speaking on other issues at the Town Hall Meeting, Governor Ambode said work on the proposed expansion and reconstruction of the Oshodi-International Airport Road would commence next month, while plans are already underway to commence the construction of 181 local government roads also next month.

    On the Oshodi-International Airport Road, Governor Ambode said the construction, which has already been awarded, would see the transformation of the road from four lanes to 10 lanes, from Oshodi to the International Airport with interchange and flyover that would drop commuters to the Local Airport.

    It would be recalled that in May 2017, Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo approved that the road be handed over to the Lagos State Government for total reconstruction.

    Ambode, who had described the current state of the road as a national disgrace, said that work would begin in earnest come September.

    On the delay in the commencement of rehabilitation of 181 inner roads, Governor Ambode said the development was due to the fluctuation in dollar rate at the time the bid was last opened, but that a new bid would be opened in the next two weeks, while work would commence in September.

    “By the next two to three weeks, I will reopen the advert to get a new cost and all things been equal the job would start on the roads by end of September,” he said.

    Governor Ambode also assured residents that the State Public Works would seize the period of the break of the rainy season to fix all potholes across the State in order to improve drive time for motorists.

    As part of the initiatives to enhance commuting within the State, the Governor said new modern bus terminals would be constructed commencing from this quarter in Marina, Ajah, Ojota, Agege, Iju Ishaga and Iyana Ipaja, while as part of the integrated transport system, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) would be constructed to connect Badore Jetty to Ajah.

    Ambode also said that his administration has earned the trust of Lagosians in the last 26 months, adding that taxes paid have been judiciously utilised to make life more comfortable for residents in the state.

    He thanked Lagosians for cooperating and helping his administration to translate its visions and plans for the state to reality, noting that without their taxes, it would have been impossible.

    “I urge all other taxable individuals yet to join the tax net to go to the nearest Lagos State Inland Revenue office to register.  Feel free to honour your civic obligations.  We believe we have earned your trust.  Every kobo paid as tax will be judiciously used for the good of Lagosians.

    “Our government feels emboldened by the tremendous support and cooperation you have continued to give us. This was also evident in your action of July 22nd when you voted massively for the All Progressives Congress during the just concluded Local Government elections,” Governor Ambode said.

    He added that the Badore Road would be expanded at its entrance from Ajah Roundabout, while plans are afoot to construct Oke-Ira Nla Road as an alternative to totally eliminate traffic along the axis.

    Responding to complaints by a resident of the axis, Mrs Abiodun Dina on the activities of dredgers who are fond of spoiling the road and parking indiscriminately on the road thereby subjecting people to avoidable traffic snarl, Ambode said in as much as government was not interested in shutting down businesses, he said the government would have to wield the big stick if the dredgers fail to comply with rules of engagement.

    The town hall meeting had in attendance the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu I, members of the State Executive Council, members of the House of Assembly, top government functionaries, party chieftains, traditional rulers, among others.

  • BEDC takes Ekiti people for granted, says ex-bank chief

    A former Managing Director of the defunct First Interstate Bank, Chief Samuel Bandele Falegan, has accused the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) of taking the people of Ekiti State for granted.

    Falegan, in a letter to the company, said: “I know that my name, writing a letter to you will send jitters and uneasiness among those of you with whom I have been having problem in BEDC upto your Managing Director, Mrs Osibodu.

    “The last two months have been another example of man’s inhumanity to man as will be shown below:

    “The disconnection of light to the entire Ile-Abiye community comprising three (3) major institutions, Ile-Abiye Hospital, College of Health  Science and Technology and Anglican High school.

    “For the reason best known to you when your attention was drawn to the disconnection of light to the community by Mr. Osekita of Ile Abiye Hospital, not only did you fail to turn up for two days, he had to report  to your office to remind you of your promise.

    “Your officers finally came the third day only to find a giant generator belonging to the high school working and connected to your grid.

    “Not only did they disconnect the generator a meeting of representatives of the three communities were summoned to meet your officers in your office where I learnt the following proposals were made to them

    (a) Each has to have to buy a recline from your company.

    (b) You may have to take the three communities to court for illegal use of your line.

    (c) The representatives of the three communities have to come to your office for negotiation.

    “At the time of writing this letter to you, the only thing that has come out is the reconnection of the giant generator owned by the High School.

    “It is not only amusing but puzzling that the very institution that made such illegal connection to your line is having the same generator reconnected for the same illegal operation. Why? I just heard on authority that the children of your staff are attending that High school hence the favour which is part of Nigeria’s problem today- corruption, impunity, and insecurity all of them lumped together with your company having its fair share. I know you will deny it.

    “Can I remind you once more that Agric Olope station would not have come to operation today but for me. Can you swear an oath that those sixty four transformers have been installed in Ekiti again. Where are the sixty four transformers I saw and counted when that station was being re-vitalised?

    “The assurance was given that with those transformers, no part of Ekiti will be in darkness again.

    Can you swear an oath that the bulk of those transformers have not been transferred out of Ekiti?

    “Otherwise, why are there cries all over the state about lack of electricity?

    I gave you one illustration, Adere community very close to me here has one of the transformers installed but not connected to your grid since more than one year ago because your company wants the community to pay for the connection contrary to Nigeria Electricity Regulation Commission which says no community should be forced to pay any money for repair/reconnection.

    “Another illustration is Bawa/Ajowa area where there is a transformer where two of your officers are living. The complaint is rampart in the area that it is only your staff enjoy light each time there is light at week-ends. Yet each time the community leads any complaint or protest to the station, they are rebutted on abuse of office, corruption and impunity.

  • How can I live a healthier, longer life despite heart disease?

    Perhaps you have a heart disease, perhaps you don’t, perhaps a close relative or a friend does – don’t panic. Anyone can live a healthier, longer life despite heart disease. How? Don’t worry, I’ll get there. Before I do, it is important to note that, unfortunately, heart disease, especially hypertensive heart disease, is the leading cause of death among adult and aged Nigerians. Also remember, this statement does not need to apply to you and your loved ones, which is the purpose of this article.

    First, you need to know what heart disease means. Heart disease refers to any condition that causes the heart not to function appropriately. For example, atherosclerosis heart disease results from the build-up of plaques that clutters the arteries and vessels, thereby causing the heart to pump against high resistance. Other examples of heart diseases include hypertensive heart disease, congenital heart defects, coronary heart disease, inflammatory heart disease, ischaemic heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, and so on. All these heart conditions cause the heart not to pump well, which can cause heart failure, and even heart attack. If not monitored well, they can lead to cardiac arrest, and worst, sudden cardiac death.

    Secondly, you need to know if you’re either at risk of developing a heart disease, or at risk of complicating your existing heart-related condition. So, who is at risk? The answer is anyone and everyone, especially:

    Unborn babies in the womb (foetus)

    Adults from their 30s, and the aged

    Youths in their 20s with excessive drinking and/or smoking habits

    Individuals with diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and kidney disease

    Individuals with a family history of heart (-related) diseases

    Women experiencing their menopause

    Thirdly, you need to know the factors that increases your risk of having heart disease, and your loved ones:

    For an unborn baby: taking non-prescribed medications, not controlling and monitoring existing diseases such as diabetes and hypertension in the mother, not keeping up with your immunisation schedule, stressing a lot, drinking alcohol and smoking, and taking hard drugs.

    For children, adults, and aged folk: smoking or dwelling for long in smoke-filled environments, eating an unhealthy, salt-rich diet, non-compliance with prescribed medications, and physical inactivity.

    Fourthly, you need to know the symptoms of heart disease, and know that they vary depending on the kind of heart condition and individual.

    For many Nigerians, chest pain and discomfort in the arms, upper abdomen, or shoulder are the first signs

    Pain or discomfort in the face and neck area, including the jaw and tooth ache

    Physical weakness and light headedness

    Breathlessness, Gasping, Panting, Shortness of Breath

    Cold sweat

    Swollen ankles and foot

    Feeling ‘sick to your stomach’/nausea

    Make daily lifestyle changes to help reduce your risk of (further) heart complications including:

    Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables, and foods low in saturated fats. Eat whole grain products, fish, beans, and lean meat.

    Avoiding drinking alcohol by reducing your intake (including red wine!), or simply never start drinking.

    Maintaining a healthy weight. Have you checked your BMI lately? If no, check and talk to a doctor about your weight if it doesn’t feel right.

    Quit smoking and protect yourself from tobacco by avoiding smoke-filled environments.

    Get active! A 30-minute walk everyday can help reduce the likelihood of a heart attack and stroke. Please, avoid aggressive, heart heavy sports – leave that for healthy teenagers – plus, I prefer football for the kids. Before adults embark on any form of excessive exercise/sport such as tennis and football, check your numbers (see the next point).

    Know your numbers: check your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels regularly.

    Carefully take your medication as prescribed – don’t wait until your first ICU admission to make a change. Instead, avoid it by carefully taking your medication.

    Take your existing heart conditions seriously, especially high blood pressure.

    Finally, discuss with your cardiologist about the best ways to reduce your heart disease risk. Join a heart healthy club such as LECC’s Cardiac and Vascular Care Programme for those with chronic heart condition.

    • Dr. Alli is Consultant Cardiologist at Lagos Executive Cardiovascular Clinic

  • Stakeholders rob minds on food security

    Postharvest Loss Alliance for Nutrition (PLAN) under the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) is working to end hunger in the country through food security.

    This emerged at a three-day workshop held in Lagos State, which  was supported by the Rockefeller Foundation Yieldwise Programme and USAID. It had in attendance All Farmers Association of Nigeria, market association, manufacturers and government officials.

    Senior Project Manager for PLAN Dr. Augustine Okoruwa said Nigeria is a nation that could thrive on agriculture, but should work toward a postharvest scheme.

    He said: “We discovered that for you to feed the family, you need to have the product available in the market to sell. However we discovered that for fresh foods and vegetables, the losses after production is very high. In fact, on average it is about 50 per cent but in some locations in Nigeria, people lose 70 to 100 per cent of the fresh fruits and vegetables they have grown because of lack of cold chain logistics, no cooling facilities, poor transportation and lack of processing facilities close to the place where they are producing.

    “To ensure that we reduce postharvest loss is to ensure that people understand the importance of postharvest handling of fresh foods and vegetables. Apart from that, the issue of food safety is critical, so that when they are handling it, they are conscious of the fact that human beings would consume it.

    ”We decided as part of our project to build capacity for businesses. We have been doing a lot of capacity building in finance, on development of bankable business plans and now we are doing on food safety.

    “We identified Kaduna and Lagos, Kaduna being one of the largest regions in the north that produces tomatoes and other fresh foods and vegetables and Lagos being the hub for consumption and processing. So here we are seeing more processors in attendance, and the essence is to build the capacity of agro businesses in the agricultural value chain to adhere to international best practices, even on the farm.”

    Okoruwa explained that the identified challenges to food security was the high wastage.

    “For a hectare of land, you get 120 tons of tomatoes compared to the Nigerian farmer who will only get 10 tons using the same resources. If we continue that way, it would get to a point were a lot of people will go hungry and a lot of resources would have been wasted. So food safety is one of the identified drivers of food security.

    ”We hope that participants would go back to their various organisations and train others. We have a lot of executives here as well as Government representatives so we hope that they would go back and deploy what they have learnt and then improve on their operations.

    ”For instance, Lagos state has land policies that are being developed and there are market sensitisation projects that Lagos and Ogun States are running. One of the economic recovery plans is focusing on developing agriculture. Awareness at that level is now high. At the Federal Government level it has been recognized and has been listed as one of the drivers of economic recovery,” he said.

    A lead trainer for Kowafresh, Ademola Adebowale,  said consumers should demand quality for the sake of their health, noting that Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), Production Requirements & Control should be the benchmark.

    He said the government needed to set a pace for standard, stressing that there should be national GAP. He cited countries like Thailand, Japan and Malaysia as counties with the benchmark.

    “Today’s consumer is demanding value and wants quality. If someone can go to Shoprite and spend N2000 to buy a few pieces of tomatoes, it simply means the individual wants value. Consumers today are tired of eating things that pose a threat to their health. Stakeholders need to come together, form collaborations, put a standard in place for the agriculture industry as fruits and vegetables needs to be standardised.”

  • 5,000 benefit from NGO’s free eyeglasses

    A United States of America-based non-government organisation (NGO), Eyes4Africa Foundation, has distributed 5,000 eyeglasses to people having eye problems in Nigeria.

    The Director, Dr. Michelle J. McCollin, said the programme was taken to 30 cities, towns and villages across eight states, which included Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Kwara, Ekiti and Osun.

    She said the programme, tagged: “Changing the world one person at a time”, was aimed at providing aid to people having visual problems.

    According to her, “we brought 5,000 eyeglasses to Nigeria and are concluding the distribution this week. We provide education, coordination, resources and aid by conducting free eyeglass clinics and distributing free eyeglasses to people who are tested. We also provide school supplies, such as books, bags, shoes and school uniforms to children in Africa and the West Indies.

    “I will plan a big show in the next summer. I was flabbergasted by the award received from the people, especially in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government of Ogun State.”

    The coordinator of the scheme in Oshodi, Lagos State, Mrs. Oluwaseun Agboola, said she supervised the distribution of over 200 eyeglasses in Oshodi and the Togolese community, adding that Ayoni Primary Health Centre in Mafoluku, Oshodi, was used for the distribution.

    In Sango Otta, Ogun State, Oluwo Fashola Faniyi Babatunde said he created awareness before the beginning of distribution at the local government secretariat, adding that the award received by the chairperson of the NGO from the local government administrator was a source of encouragement.

    He said: “The young and old benefited from the scheme. We created enough awareness before the programme, which gave us leverage on the distribution.”

  • UNICEF, Lagos govt partner to stop children imprisonment

    Disturbed by strict punishment being meted out to children in conflict with the law, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Youth and Social Development and Grace Springs Rehabilitation Home has established Community Rehabilitation Programme to serve as alternative approach for the correction of offending children.

    The programme was created against the backdrop of the growing number of offending children being lumped with condemned criminals in maximum prisons across the country. This pilot scheme is being implemented in three key local councils in Lagos where there is high rate of offending children. They are Oshodi-Isolo, Mushin and Odi-Olowo councils, but the rehabilitation facility is opened in Ilupeju area.

    It was a disturbing moment for participants at a meeting, held at Golfview Hotel and Suites in GRA Ikeja last Thursday, to sensitise the media about the programme, when Child Traffic Consultant for UNICEF in Lagos, Dr. Wilfred Mamah, disclosed that that there are dozens of children between ages 10 and 17 years languishing in prisons across the country.

    Sending children to jail, Mamah said, is as an aberration in a country where legislations supporting rights of children are in force. Going by the Child’s Rights Law domesticated in Lagos, he said any child under the age of 10 years cannot commit crimes, adding that it was an infraction of the law to imprison children below 18 years.

    He said: “In Nigerian law, a child is defined as a person below 18 years. We want the public to know that the underlying principle of punishment for any child offender is rehabilitation. Even, in a case where the child has committed major offence, such as felony and murder, the society must understand that the offender is child. Rather than sending the child offender to prisons, we must take the child to correctional homes for the purpose of rehabilitation.

    “This programme does not support children to be committing offences. But, the Child’s Rights Law stipulates that children in conflict with the law should not be treated as criminals. They should be exposed to child justice system for the purpose of rehabilitation and reconciliation in order to encourage them to be better persons.”

    A Director in the Ministry of Youth and Social Development, Mr Jubril Yakubu, said the rehabilitation programme would provide the law enforcement agents an option to divert children in conflict with the law from going through criminal justice system.

    He said in cases where children are charged to family court with unassailable evidence, the judge needed to consider the provisions of Lagos’ Child’s Rights Law of 2015 to determine how the cases should be adjudicated, including placing the offending children under supervision of rehabilitation homes.

    Speaking on the children recently released from the Badagry prison by the intervention of the Chief Judge of Lagos, Yakubu said the Lagos government was in contact with family members of the affected children, adding that most of them were undergoing medical screening and counselling programme for complete rehabilitation.

    Mrs Toyin Giwa-Ododo, who is managing the programme on behalf of the ministry, said the rehabilitation facility was opened for children between the ages 10 and 17 years, adding that the aim was to ensure adolescent cases are decided in child-friendly manner.

  • Muslim group to Fed Govt: find solution to restructuring calls

    The Muslims Association of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to find a quick political solution to agitation for restructuring and secession.

    The association’s second vice president, Dr. Dhikru-llah Yagboyaju, gave MAN’s position at the end of the second national quarterly meeting in Lagos and inauguration of triennial conference slated for December 1 to 3, 2017.

    It said the agitation should be seen as Nigerians expressing their fundamental rights.

    MAN noted that the constitution is very explicit on what should be on Exclusive, Concurrent and Residual List.

    It emphasised that the constitution is also explicit on how to amend the 1999 Constitution.

    The association, however, said it was against any attempt to tamper with the country’s present territorial entity.

    The group, he said, deliberated and reviewed the 2017 National Ramadan Lecture, which discussed the Nigeria Leadership question.

    “We are here to deliberate on a number of issues, prominent among which is the 2017 Ramadan lecture of the association held in June at Oke-Iho, Oyo State.

    “It is to do an analysis on how best we are able to achieve the national Ramadan lecture, which is titled “ Leadership in Nigeria; using Nigeria as a case study to look into world history. What leadership looked like in the past and what benefit Nigeria can draw from that.

    “In addition, it is an opportunity to discuss national issues, and number one is to commend the Federal Government in its effort to ensure security is guaranteed.

    “But beyond that, we also urged the government not to rest on its oars, particularly in terms of kidnappings here and there.

    “The current economic realities in Nigeria, which to a very large extent, indicates  that there is a lot to be done in the economic sector. We are charging the government to do more to sustain peace and security in the country and resuscitate the national economy.”

    On restructuring, he said: “The position of MAN on restructuring or reconfiguring or repackaging Nigeria is that one, it is a democratic dispensation, where various opinions and interests should be accommodated. It is not out of place for people to express their opinions and desires and government should be ready to look into the merits of such opinions.”

    The Chairman of National Triennial National Conference, Alhaji Taoheed A.Tyson, who is also Chairman, MAN Lagos State Branch, said the members were saddled with finding out what will be required to fund and hold the event as well as how to source for funds.

  • Ogun residents decry state of community roads

    The residents of Orile Iloye in Adalemo, Sango/Ijoko Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Ogun State have appealed to the state government to come to their aid and construct drainages from Ojo Oladiran to Iya Alfa Road.

    They described the lack of the drainages on both sides of the roads as a major challenge facing the community.

    The residents lamented that the decrepit state of the roads has impacted negatively on their standard of living. They said some landlords had abandoned their property, while commercial activities had been affected due to the poor state of the road.

    The residents, comprising those of Ojo Oladiran, Sanyaolu, Community, Iya Alfa, spoke during the inauguration of a local bridge constructed at Iya Alfa Junction. They said they had spent over a million naira to construct the bridge, adding that more has been spent in repairing the roads.

    They also said their appealed to the state government has been to no avail.

    The Community Development Association (CDA) Chairman, Sanyaolu Oguntoyinbo, said the communities contribute periodically for repairing the roads.

    He said the residents could not afford to construct the drainages because they are capital intensive and above their ability. He appealed to the state government to come and assist them.

    He said vehicle owners among them had been finding it difficult to drive to their houses due to the deplorable conditions of the roads.

    He said residents ride on commercial motorcycles. He lamented that the cyclists also hike their fares anytime there was a downpour.

    He noted that Johnson Market, Tarmac and Ariya roads that should have been their escape routes were also in same conditions.

    According to Oguntoyinbo, this has led some residents, including landlords, to pack out of the communities.

    He said Ojo Oladiran-Iya Alfa road, should have been another major link to Ijoko, Itoki and Agbado Oke Aro, if the roads were tarred.

    He appealed to Governor Amosun to assist the communities.

    He appealed to the residents to use the bridges with care, urging them to avoid dumping of refuse under it and avoid driving heavy duty trucks over it.

    Oguntoyinbo thanked the residents for their support to community developmental projects.

    The former CDC Chairman, Philip Olorunsola also lamented the flooding.

    He confirmed that the residents had over the years contributed for repairs.

    He said: “The road is worse now; many vehicle owners have even stopped plying the road.

    “Ogun State government has some years back promised to repair the road before the rainy season but all to no avail.

    “Tenants and some landlords are already leaving the communities because the road is bad. Shop owners are leaving in droves.”

    One of the commercial cyclists Gbenga Adedipe said business  was dull anytime it rained. ‘’For instance, I make close to N2,500 daily on the average, but anytime it rains, I barely make up to N800.

    “The situation, apart from its possible environmental impact, kills business activities.”

    Another cyclist, who identified himself as Chime Ambrose, told The Nation that the problem had affected their trade as passengers shunned motorcycles when it rained.

    He said people were scared of riding on motor cycles when it rained, adding that they prefer walking. He used to make between N2,000 and N3,000, but now he barely made  N900.

  • Ikere-Ekiti community celebrates odun oba festival

    Ikere-Ekiti community celebrates odun oba festival

    Issues of development of Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State was on the font burner earlier last week when the people of the town celebrated the Odun Oba Festival amidst pomp and pageantry. The rich cultural heritage of the community was also showcased at the festival. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

    Ikere-Ekiti is regarded as the gateway to Ekiti land and the town has been witnessing rapid socio-economic development since the ascension to the throne of the reigning Ogoga, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu Alagbado, Agirilala Ogbenuotesoro II.

    The monarch has led the way in taking the kingdom to the next level by initiating various community development efforts including personally building an ultramodern palace and attracting the illustrious sons and daughters to their motherland for development.

    The template set by Oba Alagbado who himself has investment in the community has seen well-heeled citizens establishing businesses like hotels, event centres relaxation centres, supermarkets, hospitals, commercial farms, filling stations, big schools, among others.

    A large expanse of land had long been acquired for the establishment of a private university and a radio station in the town which is a signal that Ikere is going higher under the kingship of the urbane monarch.

    As it is the custom in other Yoruba cities and towns, the New Yam Festival known in local parlance as Odun Ijesu, is one of the most celebrated local fiestas in the traditional calendar and Ikere is not an exception.

    The Odun Ijesu also known as Ijesu Oba in Ikere had been celebrated in the community from time immemorial until the enthronement Oba Alagbado who upped the ante by making it a big celebration in which indigenes come from far and near to be part of the show.

    This year’s edition was expanded and now christened the Odun Oba. It was celebrated for one week between 22nd-29th July with the climax being the homage received by the Ogoga from various groups, unions, associations and institutions in his kingdom.

    The Odun Oba Ikere 2017 which was partly sponsored by a brewery featured prayers for peace and tranquility,cultural dances, all-night musical concert, display of the new yam and receipt of blessings from the “Saki Alaye”, the Ogoga.

    Other features of the festival included traditional cultural display by chiefs and priests, children cultural carnival, performance by Ekiti State Cultural Troupe, and the community’s native drummers, display by Ubedo and Usaka age groups and 43 registered clubs/associations.

    For Ogoga and his chiefs, it was a celebration of a bumper harvest of yam and other crops which they attributed to the favour received from God Almighty and their ancestors. They also celebrated the fertility of the land which is a God-given resource for agriculture.

    This year’s festival was attended by the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, who was represented by his wife, the Eyesorun of Ado-Ekiti, Olori Margaret Bosede Adejugbe; the Attah of Ayede-Ekiti, Oba Mumini Adebayo Orisagbemi; Chairman, Ikere Local Government, Mr. Ola Alonge and House of Assembly member representing Ikere Constituency 1, Mr. Wale Ayeni.

    Others are popular alternative medicine practitioner, Chief Akintunde Ayeni (Yemkem); Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Olayinka Ogundayomi; Provost, College of Education, Ikere, Prof. Mojisola Oyarekua; former Ekiti State Attorney-General and Commissioner for

    Popular musician and son of the soil, Micho Ade, was at his best thrilling guests and residents alike with his brand of music. Traditional hunters were at their best firing gunshots to the air in ecstasy.

    The Chairman of the Odun Oba Planning Committee, Otunba Sola Adewumi, said the festival which is also known as Idupe Oba, offers Ikere indigenes at home and abroad to contribute to the growth of their community annually.

    Adewumi said: “As it was from the days of our ancestors, today is a day set aside by our forefathers to display rich culture of Ikere Kingdom and pay homage to Kabiyesi, this is the grand finale of all Ikere annual festivals.

    “Today history is being made in Ikere kingdom, Ikere kingdom is witnessing the birth of ‘Odun Oba’, which is the rebranded ‘Idupe Oba’ inherited from our ancestors..”

    Oba Alagbado explained the reason for the change in nomenclature  from Ijesu Oba to Odun Oba. He said Ijesu Oba was a congregation of many memorable and traditional events of the people’s heritage which include Ogun Oye, Idijo Ijesu Oba, Osanyin Akinla, Amudankuwo, Eobeo Ree, Iduge, Upekele, Ayaba, Olosunta, Momokile, Idupe Isu Oba and Ogun.

    Suspected hoodlums disrupted an all-night show organised as part of activities for the festival at Holy Trinity Primary School in Odo Oja area of the town which prompted security beef-up by soldiers and riot policemen on the D-day on July 29.

    Oba Alagbado praised non-indigenes like Igbos, Hausas, Ebiras, Urhobos, Igalas, Igedes for contributing to the growth and economy of Ikere saying they have become part and parcel of the community who have rights and privileges like indigenes.

    Oba Alagbado after receiving homage danced round the palace square acknowledging cheers.