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Tag: Ekiti STATE

  • Governors split as cattle settlements row rages

    Instead of subsiding, the dispute sparked by the planned establishment of Ruga (cattle settlements) for herders in some states keeps growing.

    To the Presidency, it is all a storm in a teacup as the project will eventually stop the herders-farmers clashes that have caused so much tension

    But the proposal continued to draw flaks from many quarters, even as Bauchi, Niger and Plateau states differed on Monday.

    In Jalingo, some youths protested the proposal. They said the proper thing was for herders to build ranches for their flocks.

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, who was in Orin-Ekiti to sympathise with the family of a hunter, who was allegedly killed on Saturday by yet to be identified gunmen, insisted that no land would be ceded to “outsiders”.

    Fayemi, who doubles as the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), said the killing of Emmanuel Ilori, whom he described as  one of the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the town, saddened his heart.

    Ilori was murdered while hunting with his colleagues.

    The governor, who spoke in Yoruba, said that the attack was being investigated. He promised to do everything possible to bring the perpetrators to book.

    Fayemi said that traditional hunters and security agencies would henceforth work together to ensure adequate security in the state.

    According to him, more soldiers, armed policemen and other security personel would be deployed in the state.

    He faulted the local chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for giving political colouration to the incident by alleging that he was planning to give Ekiti land to “outsiders” in exchange for a future political ambition.

    He said the allegation lacked validity, insisting: “Nobody is coming to take our land in Ekiti. The governor of Ekiti State has power over the land of Ekiti and it is the person that the governor gives land in Ekiti that can use the land of Ekiti.

    “If there are negative comments being peddled around, that some people are coming to take over Ekiti land, take over Orin land, take over Ido land, it’s a mere hearsay.

    “It cannot happen in Ekiti, except I am no longer the governor of Ekiti State and there is nobody that can be governor in Ekiti that will cede Ekiti land to outsiders because our land is not even enough for us.

     

    Fayemi: security matters most

    “Adequate security of our people is what concerns me most in Ekiti and Nigeria, and I want our people to ignore lies and falsehood some individuals are spreading around.

    “There is nobody that will be governor in Ekiti that will allow outsiders to take over our communities from the people here or say that people coming from elsewhere should come and take over Ekiti (land).

    “Those saying these are only playing politics with the matter. This is not politics; security is an issue that concerns all of us.”

    Fayemi went on: “Some individuals have been spreading baseless rumours to cause disaffection because they are no longer in power and it is their wish that Ekiti should be consumed by anarchy. I want to assure you that our government has not stopped work on security. One of the steps is that our local hunters will work with our security agencies.

    “Not up to three weeks now, our Kabiyesis (traditional rulers) and community leaders held a meeting and we deliberated on measures and ways to tackle security challenges.

    “No single individual or group can do the work of security; the local hunters know their areas and terrains very well than the men of our security agencies and it will serve the people well if they work together.

    “I am in Orin today (yesterday) to sympathise with you and tell you of the steps being taken by the government. There is no way we can be happy in Ekiti hearing that one of our people was killed, more so when the victim was one of our party leaders in Orin.

    “Since the incident happened on Saturday, you have seen more soldiers and policemen here in Orin and they are on the trail of perpetrators and we will not relent in our efforts until they are found.

    “Government will do everything possible to prevent a reoccurrence of what happened and from now, you will see more security people not only in Orin but in other parts of Ekiti. They are not here to fight you but to protect you.

    “Those responsible for this shall be made to face the full wrath of the law. Other steps that will be taken will be revealed in due course.”

    Speaking, the Eletin of Orin Ekiti, Chief Francis Falua, appreciated the governor’s visit and identifying with the people in their moment of grief.

    Falua urged the government to ensure that the perpetrators of the dastardly act are arrested and brought to justice.

    Ruga row uncalled for, says Lalong

    To Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, the controversy over the establishment of Ruga settlements is uncalled for.

    According to him, it was the same as ranching.

    He told State House correspondents after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja, that his state has nothing like “Ruga”, but Livestock business.

    Lalong said that there was nothing different between the Ruga project and the ranching under the chairmanship of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    He said: “I think, the Ruga thing should not be anything that should bring controversy with the level of sensitisation we have already made.

    “I am a member of the food security committee. I am a member of the herdsmen/farmers committee. We have gone a long way on this issue and we have said that the only solution that can address some of these insecurity issues between herdsmen and farmers is the ranching policy.

    “You remember that one time we have gone far when some people called it colony and called it this and that, and it created controversy.

    “Again, we have gone far under the leadership of Mr. Vice President, and then we are hearing other terms, what they are talking about it’s the same thing that we are talking about.

    “But I think when they mentioned Ruga, it may be particular to a particular tribe, but what we are doing is all-encompassing, it’s for the benefit of Nigeria. I have said particularly in my state that animal husbandry, live stocks rearing is not a prerogative of one tribe.

    “Everybody must get involved in it and that is what we have done in our state when we registered for it. We said we are going to put these structures to enable us to encourage youth, train youth.

    “Right now, we are training permanent secretaries, retired civil servants who would also get involved in it so that we can address some of the insecurity that we have in the nation.

    “So, when somebody mentioned another word, people would not wait to question and find out who and who are bringing those words, that is just the simple fact.

    “But if you go to what we have done because they have mentioned some states, which are included; yes, those states applied, those states said we have land for it. It’s not Federal Government that is imposing it on any state.

    “To the benefit of Mr. President, the President has not imposed that on any states; it was voluntary. And they said any state that is prepared to do that to address insecurity in his state should come and apply.

    “So, some of the states applied and we are at the level of the pilot scheme and some mischief makers would start bringing terms to cause confusion in the country. It’s very unfortunate.”

    Asked if the Ruga project controversy was politically motivated, Lalong said: “I don’t know whether it is political. Of course I am a member of the committee. By the time we addressed that issue, some people said yes we would prefer to do open grazing in our state, some said we would prefer to do ranching in our state and some said in our state we would call it Ruga model.

    “So, the different states, with their different approaches, but Ruga term is not general to everybody. In my, state we call it livestock something; it’s not Ruga and we have explained it to people.”

    Also asked if he was not worried over the allegation that the Federal Government was funding the project, he said: “No, I was here one time when people asked why is the Federal Government was subsidizing agriculture, subsidising ranching? And I also asked why is the Federal Government subsidizing agriculture?

    “This is a policy that we felt that it is not only for economic sense, but it would also address the issue of security. So, if it is going to address insecurity in a period the country is confronted with serious security challenges, then Federal Government would come and assist those who want to do it.

    “They are not imposing it on any state. I am a member of this committee under the chairmanship of the vice president; the Federal Government has not imposed that on any state.

    “They said if you have land for pilot scheme, they can assist, and donor agencies are coming from all over; it is not a Federal Government project. The World Bank is involved; the African Development Bank (AfDB) is involved.

    “So, if you have a scheme like this that can tackle poverty, bring revenue and also address insecurity, you will need to go into it but with due consultation from your state.

    “In my state, it took me three months to do sensitisation and we all agreed that we should bring this concept to empower people. It is not meant to empower one tribe it is for everybody and that would address the issue of insecurity because we don’t want people moving from one place to another, looking for grass.

    “The fact that the Federal Government is to bring the subsidy was a request from the committee chaired by Mr Vice President. Goodluck Jonathan did it and he budgetted about N10 billion but we didn’t see the money. If he has done that at that time, we would not be fighting insecurity among herders and farmers today.”

    Niger offers land for Ruga

    In Minna, the Niger State government offered the Bobi Grazing Reserve in Mariga Local Government Area as pilot for Ruga settlement in the country.

    Expressing readiness to spearhead the project, the state called on other governments in the North to accept the establishment of Ruga settlements to stop the continuous farmers/herders crisis.

    The Secretary to the Niger State Government (SSG), Alhaji Ahmed Matane, who unfolded the government position on the controversial issue, said the state has 43,000 hectares of grazing reserve which can be developed for pastoralists.

    Matane said that the North has the largest landmass and that if developed into grazing reserves, would create a buffer to reduce the crisis that have been occurring in several parts of the country.

    He said: “If the northern states can develop their grazing reserves and build the infrastructures, the pastoralists will not need to go south wards because they will have enough pasture and Water they can use and need.

    “The north is the only area of Nigeria that has large lands that can be overlooked into pasture and which would create a buffer to reduce the crisis. Unless we deliberately develop these grazing reserves, we will continue to have this crisis.”

    The SSG said that Nigerians would be the major beneficiary of the settlements as cattle rearing is a multi-billion naira business which can be a source of foreign exchange.

    Benue insists no land for grazing

    In Benue, Governor Samuel Ortom tackled the Federal Government over its claim that it has gazetted land in the state.

    He said the claim was far from the truth and also challenged the Federal Government to show proof of gazetted land in the state by showing the titles.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ortom, Tervwr Akase, reminded the Federal Government of the existence of an Anti-Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017 in Benue State.

    The statement reads: “We read the statement issued yesterday by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity Garba Shehu in which the Presidency stated that it has gazetted lands in the 36 states of the federation to establish Ruga settlements for herdsmen.

    “It is true that government at the centre has gazetted lands in all states of the federation.

    “We wish to make it clear that no land in Benue State has been gazetted for grazing routes, grazing reserves, cattle colonies and Ruga settlements, contrary to the Presidency’s claim.

    “We expect the Federal Government to publicly tender documents of the claimed gazetted lands in Benue State to put the matter to rest.

    “The Federal Government should show titles to the lands it claims to have in Benue State, the evidence of compensation it paid to owners of such lands, as well as the purpose for which the lands were acquired.

    “The Benue State government has already made known its stand on the Ruga settlements matter that the state will not be part of the project. This was why the government and people of the state rejected the attempt to impose the Ruga settlements projects on them without the consent and approval of the Governor who controls and administers all lands in the state in trust for the people.

    “We wish to restate that there is a law in Benue State which encourages ranching and prohibits open grazing of livestock.

    “The law is a win-win for herders and farmers, as it protects all. Anyone who intends to establish a livestock ranch in Benue State is encouraged to follow the procedure stipulated by the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2017.”

    Bauchi backs project

    Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, who also visited the State House in Abuja yesterday, said his people were entirely in support of the Ruga settlement project.

    The former Federal Capital Territory (FCT) minister noted that the Ruga project will help address the issues of insecurity.

    According to him, Bauchi State needed the Ruga project because the population of the state is 60 to 70 per cent Fulani.

    The state, he said, will always key into any Federal Government’s projects.

    He said: “Sixty or 70 per cent of the population in Bauchi are Fulani and, therefore, we must leverage on all these.”

    He said he was at the Villa to confer with the President on some of the insecurity challenges facing the state.

    Mohammed said: “We have illiteracy, insurgency and so many things that are bombarding us in terms of social challenges and security challenges. Definitely we will do that.

    “The President is there for all of us; he is not a partisan President. I am the leader of the people many consider more APC than PDP.

    “There are issues that are within us and there are issues that are beyond our capacity. Therefore, we must establish partnership. I have come to discuss very serious issues concerning Bauchi because people in Bauchi have given me that leadership.

    “I must establish relationship with the Federal Government because of the serious challenges that we have, challenges in development, social issues and security issues.”

    In Taraba, some youths protested the proposed Ruga settlement.

    They called on the state government to fully implement the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law passed by the Taraba State House of Assembly.

    Taraba youths: Ruga is threat to peace

    The protest took place at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, under the leadership of Taraba State Chairman of the Nigerian Youths Council, Udi Adamu

    The youths, in one voice, described the Ruga settlement as a coined idea and misplacement of priority over rising poverty, insecurity, armed robbery, banditry and increasing unemployment in the land.

    Some of the local government areas involved in protests included Lau, Zing, Ibi and Sarduana.

    Udi described the Ruga settlement scheme as a threat to tribes in the state and Nigeria at large, adding that herdsmen troubling the state are alien tied with the ulterior motives to grab the land from original owners.

    He expressed doubt over explanation Ruga settlement will mitigate kidnapping and killings by herdsmen.

    The protesters said they remain unshackling and unwaveringly with the Taraba State government on the Ranching Law, which they described as the best way to settle herders/farmers clashed in the state.

    The youths urged Governor Darius Ishaku, to enforce the Open Grazing and Ranching Establishment Law 2017 for the sake for peace and harmonious living.

    Udi appealed to the youths to remain law-abiding and support the government genuine programmes and policies, geared towards emancipating the people out of bondage of poverty and oppression.

    Obaseki assures Edo people

    In Edo the PDP accused Governor Godwin Obaseki of secretly conceding land to the Federal Government for the controversial settlement.

    It said the governor’s silence on the issue at a time other state governments are rejecting the establishment of RUGA settlement in their respective states was worrisome.

    The PDP,  through its chairman, Dan Orbih, vowed to use all possible means including legal actions to defend the interest of Edo people in respect of the RUGA settlement.

    But the governor defended his policy, saying his plan for agricultural development involved all value chain both crop production and animal husbandry.

    According to Obaseki, his plans were developed long before the Ruga settlement idea came up.

    Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Communication, Crusoe Osagie, the governor  said the safety, security and prosperity of Edo people were top priority and non-negotiable in all his agricultural programmes.

    Obaseki assured Edo people that he would not cede their rights and land to anybody, as his programmes as a sovereign state do not run on the back of any external entity.

    He said, “Edo people should disregard any contrary information circulated by the Edo State Chapter of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) or any other group or individual.

    “As for the Benin Central Hospital, it is up and running and is providing tertiary healthcare services which it was set up to provide.

    “It’s phased opening is in line with the vision of the state government and in the coming weeks and months, other phases will be unveiled to complement the primary and secondary health centres across the state.

    “Governor Obaseki will continue to put the interest of Edo people first in all his policies and programmes, as he has demonstrated in the past two years and seven months.”

    The Ekiti Parapo denounced kidnapping and other vices

    Members of the Lagos chapter of the socio-cultural group, urged their kinsmen to join forces with the government to finding a lasting solution to the security challenges.

    After their meeting in Lagos, they resolved to communicate its position to Governor Fayemi on how to nip in the bud cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and other social vices in Ekiti.

    Their President, Dare Ojo, said the issue of kidnapping had become rampant in Ekiti and a source of worry to everybody, including those at home and the Diaspora.

    On Ruga, he restated the group’s opposition to the establishment of cattle colonies in the state, noting that cattle herding and settlement should be treated as a private business.

    “The issue of Ruga or cattle colonies is alien to the Ekiti tradition. By implication, we have always bought cows for our events, we have always reared cattle in our environment and we have always lived with them mutually.”

    The Yoruba Council of Elders (YCE) kicked against the project, which it said was dead on arrival.

    It said an inch of Yoruba land would not be ceded for such.

    According to a statement, Council President Dansaaki Ade Agbede, wondered how a group of people that are being seen as threat to peace and security of others would now be made to own settlements in places outside their own domain, saying “to now think that the Federal Government that should be concerned and worried about the untoward activities of such people is the sponsor of Ruga is worrisome.

    The people of Agbada Nenwe in Aninri Local Government Area of Enugu State, members of the Hausa/Fulani community and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in the Southeast have dissociated themselves from a video trending on social media over the purported expulsion of some herders and their cattle from the community”.

    The police had denied that no such incident happened, explaining that after preliminary investigations, it was revealed that what transpired was “only the movement of cattle and herders from Cross River State, through Uburu in Ohaozara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, and a neighbouring town for grazing”.

    The police added that “such transit had nothing to do with escorting herders and their cattle out of Agbada Nenwe community”.

    When Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi led the Commissioner of Police, Director of Department of State Services (DSS), Garrison Commander, 82 Division of the Army, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Commandant of Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other stakeholders on a fact-finding visit to Agbada Nenwe yesterday, the traditional ruler, Dr. Francis Imo, said the video is untrue, stressing that “nobody drove the Fulani community out of Agbada Nenwe”.

    The monarch added that they enjoy cordial relationship with the Fulani community, noting that “no cow has ever been killed in this kingdom; no Fulani man has ever been hurt”.

    The leaders of the Northern community and Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Southeast zone, who thanked Ugwuanyi for his commitment to peaceful co-existence of all Nigerians resident in the state, said they have not come across any herder or Fulani man who has complained of molestation or being chased out from the community.

    The Sarkin Hausawa, Alhaji Abukakar Yusuf Sambo, said: “We have been enjoying peaceful co-existence in Enugu State, and we are here to say that mischief makers will not succeed.”

    Chairman of MACBAN Alhaji Gidado Siddiki cautioned the people against “the harm our individual or group’s unruly act can cause the wider society beyond our immediate environment”.

    Activist-lawyer Femi Falana said development in land in any part of Nigeria must be approved by the state governments.

    He said: “Some Nigerians have said that since the federal government had already acquired land in some states it can go ahead and use the land for RUGA. Buy in Attorney-General, Lagos v Attorney-General of the Federation (2003) the supreme court held that the development of such land cannot be carried out without a plan approved by the affected state governments.

     

  • Governor Fayemi laments erosion of Ekiti core values

    EKITI State Governor Kayode Fayemi has lamented erosion of the core values of the state with enthronement of social and moral decadence.

    This, he said, poses a potent threat to the security and peaceful co-existence of the people.

    The governor, who canvassed for value orientation, said efforts are at the top gear to nip in the bud value erosion by introducing values orientation into the state’s civic education curriculum of primary schools.

    He spoke on Tuesday in Ado-Ekiti during a meeting with Ekiti Council of Elders at the Government House, the state capital.

    Fayemi unveiled plans by his administration to establish a Values Academy in the state as a way of restoring the lost core values, which Ekiti people are known for.

    The governor, who hailed the elders for their roles in the creation of Ekiti State in 1996, said though the state is not yet where it  should be, his administration would not rest on its oars in ensuring that the state becomes the envy of all.

    READ ALSO: How to surmount security challenges, by Fayemi

    “The seat I occupy today is the result of the struggle of many of you here. We are not where we should be, but we have made considerable progress. A lot of what you shared with us formed some of the pillars of this government,” he said.

    Reacting to the request for the rehabilitation of Ado-Akure road, the governor explained that he had approached the African Development Bank for the dualisation of the road since the provision made by the Federal Government for the road was not adequate to dualise it.

    The council’s President, Prof. Joseph Oluwasanmi, who presented a copy of a book titled, ‘Omoluabi’, to Fayemi, urged him to “vigorously pursue” the restoration of Ekiti  values and dignity.

    “From time to time, we have been involved in advocacy to effect attitudinal changes towards imbibing and sustaining Ekiti core values.

    “We remember with gladness your thrust during your first term to revive and sustain the Ekiti values and dignity; the slogan ‘Ile Iyi, Ile Eye’ readily comes to mind. Your excellency is prayed to graciously pursue this much more vigorously,” Oluwasanmi said.

    Another elder statesman, Chief Deji Fasuan, also hailed Fayemi for standing for the core Ekiti values of integrity, hardwork and excellence, saying that the undulating course, which the state has faced in recent past, “will now be faced straightforward”.

    Fasuan said: “Thank you for the courtesy extended to us, thank you for the help and the appreciation of the little we are doing for the environment. We know that you stand for the values, which you and I, and all of us inherited. We have trekked a course undulating in the last few years, we hope the course will now be faced straightforward.”

     

  • Tension in Ekiti as suspected herdsmen kill hunter

    Palpable tension gripped residents of Orin-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti State on Saturday following the murder of a hunter by suspected Fulani herdsmen in the town.

    The hunter, Emmanuel Ilori was said to have been killed at   midnight while hunting for animals with some of his colleagues.

    This gory incident occurred barely 48hrs after a female undergraduate identified as Maria was killed in her father’s farm in Ise-Ekiti by unknown gunmen.

    Mr. Adeniyi Ajayi, a hunter who escaped during the incident alleged that Ilori was killed by Fulani herdsmen.

    Ajayi said: “We met the herdsmen numbering about thirty in the abandoned piggery farm in the town.

    “And we attempted to inquire about what they were doing in the farm. Suddenly, they brought out rifles shooting in our direction. Thus, resulting in the death of Mr. Ilori”.

    Read Also: Gunmen kill female undergraduate in Ekiti

    The lucky hunter claimed that the herdsmen were kidnappers using the forest as hideout to perpetrate heinous acts.

    It was gathered that the corpse of the hunter has been taken away by security officers for further investigation.

    The residents of the community dropped out in large numbers to stage a protest over the incident.

    They barricaded the major roads and made burn fire to express their displeasure over the killing.

    Addressing journalists during the protest, High Chief Francis Falua and Chairman of Rice Farmers in Ekiti State, Mr Kolawole Rotimi berated the uncontrollable attacks by the Fulani herdsmen in the community.

    They disclosed that few months back the ‘evil genius’ herdsmen allegedly killed a pregnant woman and her unborn baby.

    They, however, appealed to Governor Kayode Fayemi to take proactive steps to curtail the lingering herdsmen menace in the State.

    When contacted, the Ekiti Police Command Spokesman, DSP Caleb Ikechukwu confirmed the incident, saying they have placed a watertight security architecture to comb the forest and arrest the perpetrators.

     

  • Septuagenarian, two sons jailed six months for felony, theft

    An Igede-Ekiti Magistrate’s Court in Ekiti State on Wednesday sentenced a 70-year-old man, Adeyeye Olorunyomi, and his two sons – Akindele, 30 and Ojo – to six months imprisonment for conspiring among themselves to commit a felony.

    They were arraigned before Magistrate Adesola Omotoso on a six-count charge of forcibly entering a farm belonging to one Oluwadare Olowookere and Adekunle Olowookere.

    Prosecuting Sergeant Olubu Apata said the offence was committed between February 25 and 27.

    Apata said the convicts stole three timber of trees valued at N100,000 belonging to the complainant.

    The prosecutor added that the convicts also obstructed Inspector Aliyu Umar and four other police officers from effecting their arrest after a complaint was lodged against them at the Igede Ekiti Police Station.

    The Court heard that the convicts also conduct themselves in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace by marking 28 timber planks of wood with a cutlass on the farmland of the complainant.

    Apata added that the convicts did unlawfully damage the economic trees such as cocoa trees, kola nut trees, banana trees and cocoa yam trees belonging to the complainant.

    The convicts, Apata said, claimed that the land was given to the complainant by their great grandfather but the complainant countered that the land has been in their possession for over 100 years.

    The convicts pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Omotoso sentenced each convict on count one, two and three to six-month imprisonment, while in counts four, five and six, they were discharged.

    The sentence, she said, would run concurrently without an option of fine.

  • $4b World Bank grant for states

    The  World Bank is investing some $4 billion in critical sectors of the economy.

    But governors under the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) want the funding to be expanded beyond the current threshold.

    The fund is to assist the states in addressing health, education, soil erosion, water and infrastructural development.

    Besides, the grant has a lot of performance-based investments as each benefiting state will be rewarded on the basis of performance on certain indicator.

    The news was broken on Wednesday after the NGF meeting with two of its partners – the World Bank and Bill and the Melinda Gate Foundation (BMGF).

    According to Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, who doubles as the NGF Chairman, some of the states will be benefiting from a range of grants, which are better than borrowing at 25 per cent.

    Fayemi posited that the loans will be on a long-term moratorimum and with low interests.

    The NGF, Fayemi said, proposed some suggestions which the World Bank has taken up and will be implementing to better the relationship that has been built over the years.

    Briefing reporters at the end of the meeting in Abuja, Fayemi said it was important that the governors work with the World Bank team to address some of their states’ challenges.

    Elated with the coming investment, the NGF chair said: ”The bank is spending somewhere in the region of $4 billion in states and some of our states are benefiting from a range of grants; even the loans that we benefit from on the basis of the bank’s investments in our states, these are with long term moratorium and with low interest over a long period of time to offset those loan portfolios.

    “So, it is important for us to work on that engagement both in terms of the lending operations, in terms of adversary activities, in terms of the concrete action in our states.

    “I don’t know of many developments partners that have programmes in 36 states, the World Bank does and all of our governors were present at this meeting and that makes the statement about the importance attached to this partnership with the World Bank and we had extensive discussion on how to improve on existing relationship and how to build on those projects that have transitioned from one governor to the other.

    “Because, periods of transition can be challenging period and it is absolutely important that we treat government as a continuum and address whatever gaps that there are without throwing the baby away with the bath water. These are what came out from the investment/lending portfolio.”

    According to Fayemi, the Forum proposed a range of suggestions, which the bank has taken up and will be implementing to better the relationship built over the years.”

    He added: “For us, it is about development and if you look at some of the programmes,  whether you are talking about BESDA – The Better Education Service Delivery for All –  in our states, which focuses a lot on northern states, where we have a high percentage of out-of-school children, or you look at a Saving One Million Lives that deals with malaria and all other diseases that have been responsible for the high rate of child mortality, under five mortality in many of our states, and these are grants, these are not loans, or even which is about FISTA which is about fiscal transparency in our states, you will see that World Bank is a critical partner that we really need to work with to improve quality of life and living conditions of our people.

    “For us at the level of the NGF, we are passionate about accountability with those who want to work with us as development partners, we are extremely focused on performance and result now and that has more to do with our people.

    “The extent to which we will make a difference in the life of our citizens that will recommend us to those same citizens either for mandate renewal or for commendation in one form or another.

    “That is why we are returning to first principles, our state peer review mechanisms and this is one of the ways we are going to strengthen peer learning. Today, we could see from the states that are doing well, what they are doing in order to achieve the kind of results they are achieving in partnership with the World Bank.

    “And we could also see from the states that are struggling, what they really need to do to improve on their partnership in a manner that will benefit citizens. And that, ultimately, is what this is about; it is not so much about the dollars, it is about what we do with the dollars for our people.”

    World Bank Country Director Rachid Benmessaoud, said: “We, at the bank, have been particularly engaging with the NGF as the important platform for engaging with the sub-national governments, besides our engagements at the state level.

    “As you know, the World Bank mission is to fight poverty and build prosperity. We know that the number of poor people have increased in Nigeria in terms of number, though the trend is decreasing.

    Read Also: World Bank: economy in slowest growth

    “So, fighting poverty in Nigeria and Africa is going to be absolutely critical for reducing poverty globally. Therefore, our priorities which we have engaged with the governors will be investing in human capital and in people to have access to basic education, health services, social protection.

    “But we do recognise that developmental challenges also requires investing in infrastructure and filling the large infrastructure gaps. But with that we want to make sure that those infrastructure gaps are filled by bringing more of the private sector so that will enable to create the physical space for governors to invest in human capital, including financing from development partners like the World Bank, but most importantly, to increase the domestic revenue mobilisation for providing primary spending on the social sector.

    “So, the World Bank has the large part of its engagement at the state level. What we have done today in this workshop hosted by the NGF is to go over the portfolio at the state level and to how it can accelerate the implementation of the programmes.

    “The portfolio ranges from health, education, soil erosion, water and it has a lot of investments that are also performance based, where the state is rewarded on the basis of performance on certain indicator.

    “Like the chairman has said, better education, reducing the number of out-of-school children, the states’ fiscal performance, providing basic primary healthcare, a range of activities already implemented.

    “We wanted to make sure that the new governors as well as the returning governors are well aware of the programmes being implemented in their respective states and what it will take for them to accelerate pace of implementation.

    “We discussed around coordination mechanism, the alignment between projects funded by the World Bank and the state development plans. We discussed ways of ensuring that the funding provided by the World Bank are used for the intended purposes, how the governors can engage with the bank, accessed funds in the bank which they can benefit from.

    “We discussed the way forward and what I really appreciate, which I have expressed to the chairman, is that all the governors and deputy governors present today (yesterday) gave their commitment to really pay attention to the World Bank portfolio in their respective states and to ensure that this kind of conversation is done on a regular basis, not only at our level but at their level with their project coordinators, state coordinators to ensure that any issue that affects implementation is being addressed.

    “We are excited with this new partnership in the sense that this new tram of both the returning and new governors, we have the way forward so that at the end of the day it is not about how much money is being dispersed but how much lives we are willing to collectively transform.”

  • ‘We’ll transform Ilupeju-Ekiti to tourists’ centre

    Residents of Ilupeju-Ekiti, in Oye Local Government Area of Ekiti State have vowed to make the town one of West Africa’s tourists’ attractions.

    They said the town, strategically located in the local government has the potential to become one of the best tourists’ sites in Nigeria.

    The National President, Ilupeju-Ekiti Development Association (IDA) Chief Femi Babalola spoke at the get-together tagged Iyan Day organised by Lagos Zone II (Ota) of the association at Dalemo, Ogun State.

    The former Deputy General Manager Risk Management Department of the defunct Intercontinental Bank Plc, said those indigenous to the town would not relent from supporting government’s efforts towards the development of the town, even as he said they would continue their assistance in that regard through donations that will help in providing infrastructural facilities for the people’s well-being as well as make Ilupeju-Ekiti become relaxation centre for travellers.

    According to him, the town falls within the Ekiti-speaking area of Yoruba land, surrounded in the east by Itapa-Ekiti, to the west by Oye-Ekiti to South by Ire-Ekiti and to the North by Imojo- Ekiti.

    He said Ilupeju-Ekiti lies on the strategic Lagos-Abuja Highway, while its geographical location is unique as the town is almost equidistant from Nigeria’s economic capital, Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

    Chief Babalola urged both federal and state governments to utilise the town’s potential as great tourists’ centre to improve the country’s economic growth.

    He reeled off some of the natural deposits which the town boasts to include oroke ejia, the Granite Tosk situated at Aita which the Eseta warriors used as an effective military platform to mount surveillance and launch attacks and counter-attacks against enemy forces during the inter-tribal wars in Yoruba land.

    He said the town has tillable land for variety of foods and cash crops such as oil palm, kola nuts plantain and citrus fruits.

    The Chairman Lagos State chapter of IDA, Pastor Sunday Bamisaiye-Oni said the association was established as a forum for citizens in the Diaspora to have a way of communicating, chart a new way that they and their friends could contribute to the development of the town.

    He said through this, they have contributed greatly to the construction of the town’s modern palace, civic centre, Chief Magistrate’s Court and the ongoing Menara Market modernisation project.

    He appealed to those indigenous to the town to continue being united and ensure they contribute their quota to the development of the town to make it become a proud tourists’ centre in the future.

    The Chairman IDA Ota Zone II, Mr. Femi Durotawo said the programme was aimed at enabling the sons and daughters of Ilupeju-Ekiti come together, unite and pool their resources to pursue a common goal of developing the town.

    He said the programne tagged Iyan (pounded yam) was to practicalised Ekiti culture. He noted that it has been observed that generally people of Ilupeju-Ekiti relish pounded yam among other foods, even as he said the event was also aimed at ensuring that such tradition transcended to every Ekiti unborn children and those born in other parts of the country.

    Durotawo stressed the need for all sons and daughters of the town to embrace the programme for the progress of the community, saying government alone could not provide all the facilities needed by the community

  • Fayemi to youths: embrace technical education to decongest labour market

    Ekiti State Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi has appealed to unemployed Nigerian youth to harness technical and vocational education in order to reduce the high rate of unemployment.

    Fayemi who lamented the level of unemployment and the consequent spate of social vices in the country, said acquisition of employable skills will take many unemployed graduate from the unemployment pool.

    The governor who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi spoke at the opening ceremony of the Innovative and Change of Perception lecture organised for the students and staff of Government Technical Colleges held at GTC, Ado Ekiti on Tuesday.

    Fayemi who stressed the need for a paradigm shift from the erroneous perception that skill acquisition is meant for the academically weak people, noted that technical education remain a potent weapon of improving socio-economic development.

    He disclosed that his administration is committed towards repositioning and restoring the lost glory of technical and vocational education in the Ekiti State.

    The governor added that efforts are in the top gear to commence the second phase of the project that will face-lift other four Technical Colleges in the State.

    “As a government who has value for education, it is our vision and mission to have Ekiti State where our people can thrive and live in dignity.

    “We don’t want our youths to be roaming the street looking for white collar jobs. Graduate unemployment has increased just because most of them do not have any employable skills that can make them self-sustained.

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    “It is imperative for unemployed youth to appropriately harness and embrace this form of education to curb high rate of unemployment and the consequent societal ills.

    “There is no doubt that Technical and Vocational Education has the potential of improving the socio-economic sector of the State and the country”, he said.

    Prof. Sam Adejuyigbe while delivering a lecture entitled: Education: “Innovation and Change of Perception” advocated for the acquisition of technical education as a way of bridging the unemployment gap as well as addressing skills deficit in the country.

    Adejuyigbe said the era when vocational education was believed to be undertaken by school drop-outs and pushovers was over with the level of global technological advancements.

    He identified skills acquisition as a panacea to youth restiveness and all forms of social vices, urging them to explore the opportunities to create wealth and become employer of labour.

    Speaking earlier, the Chairman, Ekiti State Board for Technical and Vocational Education, Hon. Kayode Babade commended Governor Fayemi led-administration for transforming the moribund fortune of technical education in the state.

    Babade said the students of the college will now be able to compete with their counterparts globally with the state-of-the-art equipment in the college.

    He, however, implored parents, guardians and traditional rulers to partner with the government in mobilizing unemployed youth in the Ekiti State to imbibe skill acquisition by attending technical school and vocational centre.

     

     

  • Fayemi seeks AfDB’s backing for Ado-Ekiti-Akure road, others

    THE African Development Bank (AfDB) is ready to provide technical and financial support for Ekiti State Government to upgrade its infrastructure.

    The support includes fixing the Ado-Ekiti-Akure road, which is in a terrible state.

    Other projects, which the AfDB is willing to support, are the Ekiti Airport, the Ekiti Knowledge Zone (a smart city to promote knowledge economy) and the agriculture processing zone project, all geared towards improving infrastructure and socio–economic growth.

    These are some of the highlights of a meeting between the Ekiti State government team led by Governor Kayode Fayemi and the AfDB President, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, at the organisation’s headquarters in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire at the weekend.

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    The meeting was attended by top officials of the AfDB, including its Senior Vice President, Charles Boamah; three Vice Presidents, Celestine Monga (VP and Chief Economist); Vivienne Banke (VP Agriculture, Human and Social Development)  and Ms Bajabulile Tshabalala (VP Finance and Chief Finance Officer); Senior Director for Nigeria, Ebrima Faal; among others.

    Chief Press Secretary to the Governor Yinka Oyebode said the meeting reviewed the project proposals tabled by Fayemi and resolved to  support the government to actualise them, in line with the bank’s mission of supporting national and sub national governments’ development plans.

    As a follow-up to the meeting, a team of technical experts from AfDB headquarters would be in Ado-Ekiti in the next few weeks for further discussion and assessment of the various projects. The visit and other activities that would follow would prepare the ground for the bank’s final decision.

    Fayemi, who is also the chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), told the bank’s team his administration decided to seek AfDB’s support for the projects that are crucial to the infrastructure and industrial development of Ekiti State so as to improve the fortune of the state, reposition it as a destination of choice for investment and create jobs.

    Adesina said the bank is excited about the plans for job creation, especially for the youth and the plans to improve the stock of infrastructure. He said the menace of kidnapping and banditry in the country would be arrested with more investments and job opportunities for the youths.

  • Technical education key to economic prosperity – Fayemi

    THE governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has said technical education remains one of the key determinants of national development and economic prosperity.

    Fayemi disclosed that any developing nation which despises technical education will witness economy somersault in these modern days driven by technological advancements.

    Speaking through the chairman, Ekiti State Board for Technical and vocational Education, Hon. Kayode  Babade, in Ado Ekiti on Saturday,  Fayemi advised the state governors  to key into the agenda of technical and vocational education for citizens to have skills that can take them to economic growth.

    Fayemi said the state, upon realising the values of technological innovations, had invested heavily on  the Technical College in Ado-Ekiti, where students were being trained in technical programmes like ceramics, carpentry and joinery, electrical installation, motor building, ICT, garment making, shoe making, among others.

    He said: “Such nation that fails to invest in this sector can’t be referred to as a developing nation let alone a developed one, so that is why every nation of the world is now investing heavily on technical and technological education.

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    “Countries like China, South Korea, Singapore, France, USA, UK and Germany are all investing heavily on technical and technological education because without it, how do you generate power, manufacture automobile, how do you do electrical installation, transmit information via satelite, television and radio?

    “These are works of technology. Even the phones we are using today are products of technical education, and so without technical education, the world is nothing.”

    The governor, however, lamented that  policy somersault has been the major impediment knowing down the development of Nigeria’s educational system.

    “We always have policy somersault. The government that brought in the 6-3-3-4 policy really meant well for this country. Six years in the primary school, the first three years, which is the JSS1-JSS3, and then the SS1-SS3.

    “When this policy was introduced, you will discover that lots of the secondary schools were equipped with various kinds of workshops and tools, but today none of them are in the schools.”

  • Make positive impact on your hosts, Fayemi tells corps members

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has urged corps members in the state to impact positively on their host communities.

    Fayemi stressed the need for them to contribute to the development of the state, saying they are among the pillars needed in the developmental process.

    The governor spoke yesterday during the swearing-in of the Batch “B” Stream I corps members at the NYSC permanent orientation camp, in Ise/Orun/Emure.

    Represented by Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi, the governor advised the 2,019 corps members to always ensure that they take decisions that will improve the lives of their host communities.

    A statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, said the oath of allegiance was administered on the new corps members by Justice Abiodun Adesodun on behalf of the Chief Judge, Justice Ayodeji Daramola.

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    Fayemi said: “Let me at this juncture say that Ekiti is one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria of today. You can plan your life and actualise your dreams here in Ekiti. The indigenes are very hospitable, accommodating and peace loving.

    “While wishing you all a successful and rewarding orientation exercise, I enjoin you to relate freely with your colleagues and members of your communities to enable them benefit from your potential and professional expertise.”

    The State NYSC Coordinator, Mrs. Emmanuella Okpongete, expressed appreciation to the state for its contributions to the renovation and beautification of the camp.

    She warned that the scheme would not tolerate any act of indiscipline that could mar the image and purpose the NYSC was created for.