The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ekiti

  • One dies in Ekiti/Kwara boundary dispute

    One dies in Ekiti/Kwara boundary dispute

    A boundary dispute between Eda Oniyo in Ilejemeje Council Area of Ekiti State and Obbo Ayegunle in Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State has claimed one person.

    The two communities, which have been at loggerheads over land dispute, renewed their clash on Saturday, resulting in the death of one person from Eda Oniyo.

    It was gathered that the crisis escalated when armed men from Obo Ayegunle allegedly attacked the people of Eda Oniyo on their farmland.

    The Ekiti State Government has appealed to residents of Eda Oniyo to remain calm over the attack on the community.

    Its Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement in Ado Ekiti, the state capital, who confirmed the clash, said the situation had been brought under control.

    Read Also: Tinubu appoints InfraCorp to develop Nigeria’s Green Industrial Zone, Evergreen City

    Olatunbosun said security agencies had moved to the scene to maintain peace.

    The commissioner, however, added that additional troops had moved to the area to protect the community while the Army formation in Kwara State has been contacted to deploy troops along the Kwara side of the border to curtail further attack from both sides.

    He reiterated the commitment of Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s government to fostering peace and security across the state, urging the residents to remain calm.

    While expressing condolences to the family of the deceased, he assured that the perpetrators would be fished out and brought to justice.

  • Ekiti begins clampdown on contractors violating local content laws

    Ekiti begins clampdown on contractors violating local content laws

    Ekiti state government has commenced clampdown on the contractors handling various projects in the state for violating the existing local content laws. 

    The monitoring exercise was carried out at the Step Development Ltd at Okesha, Immobilare Construction Ltd handling the Ado-Iworoko road and Lead Gate Construction Ltd handling the Ilawe-Erinjiyan and Ilawe-Igede Roads

    Speaking with journalists in Ado-Ekiti while monitoring the compliance of the law, the Director General, Bureau of Local Content in Ekiti State, Olalekan Ijidale, said the law content law stipulates that 40% of Ekiti indigene are expected to be employed by the contractors. 

    He disclosed that the contractors are expected to employ artisans both skilled and unskilled from Ekiti State in the execution of the projects that are being funded through tax payers monies. 

    He said that the Bureau will soon begin full enforcement for the compliance of the law and review working conditions of these companies that make it difficult for Ekiti indigenes to gain employment. 

    He said: “We are out to enforce local content law as being amended and to ensure that the compliance rate is improved. We have met with the contractors about two or three meetings to explain to them and synergise together on how Ekiti can be partners in the execution of projects in the state. 

    “We have a law now in Ekiti State that was accented by the governor and passed by the House of Assembly. The law stated that local content project execution should be minimum of 40% and we want to see at what rate our people comply.

    Read Also: Ekiti okays N314.5m for furniture, laptops, others

    “If government are pushing out contracts worth several billions by monies being paid by tax payers, the contractors should also do their bid by including our artisans both skilled and unskilled in the execution of those projects.

    “We discovered that these companies bring in a lot of people from other states even in Cotonou to execute projects in the state and Nigeria and we see a lot of people in that locality still struggling to get a job. This is what we want to reduce and ensure that our artisans are partnered. We want to ensure that our skilled and professionals are patronised. 

    “That is why our governor insist that our people both skilled and unskilled are patronised and we do this by enforcement because people are not ready to comply.

    “We have started orientation and collaboration with professional bodies. We are trying to orientate our people towards the execution of their skills. Some of these companies, their conditions are not favourable. We need to mediate between the two”, he added. 

  • Ekiti okays N314.5m for furniture, laptops, others

    Ekiti okays N314.5m for furniture, laptops, others

    Ekiti State Government has approved N314,500,000 for procurement of furniture items, office equipment, laptop computers and other working tools for workers.

    This was made known yesterday in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun, after the State Executive Council.

    Read Also: Olubadan: Olakulehin’s enthronement takes another twist as Ladoja, kingmakers differ on terms of settlement

    He said the move was part of efforts to boost efficient service delivery of some selected workers across the Ministries, Departments and Agencies to collate report of the activities of the state government for measurement and evaluation purposes.

    The commissioner said the council approved N112,268,921 for procurement of additional 20 single 12CBM Dino Bins with rollers through direct acquisition.

  • Ekiti approves N314.5m for furniture, laptops, others

    Ekiti approves N314.5m for furniture, laptops, others

    Ekiti State Government has approved N314,500,000 for procurement of furniture items, office equipment, laptop computers and other working tools for workers in the state.

    This was contained in a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun on Thursday after the State Executive Council.

    Olatunbosun said the move was part of efforts to boost efficient service delivery of some selected workers across the Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs) to collate report of the various activities of the state government for measurement and evaluation purposes.

    The Commissioner also announced the Council approved N112,268,921 for procurement of additional 20 single 12CBM Dino Bins with rollers through direct acquisition.

    Olatunbosun added that the approval for direct purchase was premised on  the existing technical partnership on Waste Management and transfer of knowledge and technology between the Ekiti State Waste Management Authority and Lagos State Waste Management Authority.

    He said: “The Council noted that the volume of waste being generated within Ado Ekiti is increasing daily due to rapid urbanization of the city and the 20 Dino Bins earlier fabricated in collaboration with the LAWMA would soon become grossly inadequate to collect the large quantity of waste being generated in the metropolis.

    Read Also: DSS denies shooting man at Lagos filling station

    “It was therefore agreed that production of more Dino Bins will go a long way in ensuring a cleaner Ekiti. The Dino Bins are expected to be delivered within 45 days after mobilization”.

    “The State Executive Council proactively instituted a committee to look into the State’s environmental sanitation system and come up with a holistic framework that will engender improved sanitation practice in the State.

    “The Committee is made up of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Barr. Dayo Apata as Chairman; Commissioner for Environment, Erelu Tosin Aluko-Ajisafe; Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Mr. Folorunsho Olabode; Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Oyebanji Filani; Commissioner for Trade, Industries, Investment and Cooperatives, Mrs. Omotayo Adeola; Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr. Gold Adedayo and the State Chairman of the Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr. Oluwasegun Ojo.

    “The State Government remains committed to ensuring a clean, healthy and safe environment. This involves maintaining a clean and hygienic environment that is free from contaminants, pollutants, and disease-causing organisms.”

  • Ekiti govt won’t abandon PWDs, says commissioner

    Ekiti govt won’t abandon PWDs, says commissioner

    Ekiti State Commissioner for Information Taiwo Olatunbosun has reiterated the commitment of the Governor Biodun Oyebanji administration to the welfare of persons living with disabilities (PWDs).

    The commissioner, who spoke in Ado-Ekiti, urged interested individuals and corporate organisations not to fan the embers of hatred and strife, but should support government’s efforts at making life more meaningful for stakeholders.

    He recalled that in January, the government launched free health care programme that allowed people with disabilities access to health care services at no cost in the state.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu, Abiru make case for road dualisation

    He said the health care programme organised by the Office of Special Education and Social Inclusion, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, was designed to enable people living with disabilities enjoy free health care services at government-owned primary, secondary and tertiary health facilities.

    Stressing the efforts of the government to sensitise and inform people of the programme, Olatunbosun said it was highly advertised.

    He said people living with disabilities were to register with the Ministry of Health with their National Identification Number (NIN) and one passport photograph each to benefit from the programme.

    Olatunbosun noted that besides the existence of the three government special schools established to cater for the education of PWDs, education is free, compulsory and qualitative from primary to senior secondary schools.

  • Land crisis: Why our dispute with Eda Oniyo persists, by Obbo-Aiyegunle community

    Land crisis: Why our dispute with Eda Oniyo persists, by Obbo-Aiyegunle community

    The people of Obbo-Aiyegunle in Ekiti Local Government of Kwara State have attributed their persistent land dispute with their neighbouring community, Eda Oniyo, to the aggressive and provocative attitude of the latter’s monarch.

    They said the Eleda of Eda, Oba Julius Awolola, whose community is located in Ilejemeje Local Government of Ekiti State, had been “the initiator of the crisis as always and tormenting near mob action between the youth of both communities.”

    Obbo-Aiyegunle community was reacting in a statement issued to refute Eda monarch’s recent allegations and claims on the disputed land.

      Oba Awolola had recently alleged that youths from Obbo-Aiyegunle had vandalised their local government secretariat and attacked some of his people on their farms.

    Read Also: Govt committed to workers’ safety

    He had alleged: “People from Obbo-Aiyegunle, a Kwara community, have been farming on our land, but the government of Ekiti State wants to use the land for youth empowerment and deploy equipment there preparatory to beginning work. That was what provoked them to attack us.

    “They came on bikes. I was even on my farm at that time, they went to vandalise our local government secretariat and then attacked some of our people who were already on their farms. The cars parked by the roadside were vandalised; three motorbikes were set ablaze. One of the farmers was beaten and has been hospitalised.”

    But a statement issued on behalf of Obbo-Aiyegunle community by the National President of Obbo-Aiyegunle Descendants Union(OADU), Enoch Ade Ogun, described the allegations and claims as untrue, saying the monarch had been the one fomenting trouble between the two communities.

  • Ekiti students protest corps member’s death, demand justice

    Ekiti students protest corps member’s death, demand justice

    Hundreds of students in Ekiti state on Tuesday, April 30, took to the streets to protest the death of a corps member, Damilola Iyanda, who was reportedly killed by a policeman. 

    Iyanda, a native of Ogotun-Ekiti in Ekiti Southwest Local Government area of Ekiti state, was allegedly shot by a trigger happy policeman deployed to the scene of a fracas that ensued during an after-party of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, convocation ceremony. 

    The students under the auspices of the Federation of Ekiti State Students’ Union who were  chanting different solidarity songs, marched to the Ekiti State House of Assembly Complex to demand justice for the deceased. 

    Speaking on behalf of the students, the FESSU national president, Adekunle Benjamin, who described the incident as sheer wickedness, demanded justice for the slain corps members and his family.

    He noted that the peaceful protest to the Ekiti State House of Assembly complex was to call the attention of the Speaker, Hon. Adeoye Aribasoye “to look into the ugly incident and liase with his Oyo State counterpart in ensuring justice is done. 

    “We demand for a swift investigation into this unfortunate matter and the culprit should be brought to book. We demand for compensation for the family of the deceased. 

    “We equally demand for comprehensive treatment of his brother that sustained gunshot injury. He is at home and his health is deteriorating. We demand an end to police brutality in Nigeria. Police should be our friend, save us and not kill us.

    “We have come to the House of Assembly today to speak with th Speaker to liase with his counterpart in Oyo State for swift justice for Iyanda Damilola and Iyanda Oluwafemi. They are from Ekiti State, precisely Ogotun Ekiti.”

    Read Also: Ekiti hails NERC on state’s electricity mandate

    Receiving the protesting students, the Speaker who condemned the killing of the corps member, added that the House would make sure that justice is served. 

    “We express our condolences to the family and we condemn the killing and unprofessionalism of the police officer who murdered one of us, a youth from Ekiti State who is also serving his fatherland in cold blood.

    “Whatever it is, I don’t believe any police officer will take the life of any human being and shot him, who is not a criminal and defenseless citizen without provocation.

    “We condemned it and the House will be sitting. We will have a position during our plenary. Our resolutions will be passed and I know the House will condemn it. It’s so unfortunate his life is cut short”, Aribasoye added. 

  • Ekiti hails NERC on state’s electricity mandate

    Ekiti hails NERC on state’s electricity mandate

    The Ekiti State Government has its joy and excitement at the official transfer of the regulatory oversight by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission to the Ekiti Electricity Regulatory Bureau.

    The Commissioner for Information, Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun, in a statement on Wednesday described the development as a remarkable milestone that would reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks in the efforts to ensure seamless supply and distribution of electricity in the State.

    Olatunbosun noted that Ekiti state being one of the first two states in the country to officially take regulatory oversight of the electricity markets in their respective states made the feat more astounding.

    He explained that the development was in compliance with the 1999 Constitution (amended) and the  Electricity Act 2023 (Amended) as well as the directive of the regulatory body, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

    Olatunbosun reiterated the commitment of the  Governor Biodun Oyebanji-led administration to developing the State and improving the lots of the people, adding that the State Government was particularly passionate about provision of stable electricity to boost socioeconomic activities in the State.

    He explained hat the state government had requested for transfer of regulatory oversight of intrastate electricity market in the state, adding that the request was in fulfilment of the NERC’s mandate to interested states to make formal request to transfer the regulatory authority over  electricity operations to the state.

    He stressed that the EkitiState Electricity Regulatory Bureau (ESERB) would henceforth be responsible for enforcing the provisions of the law including issuing of licenses and permits for generation, transmission and distribution of electricity across the State; enforcing the yearly energy efficiency compliance certification for vendors and marketers of energy products as well as the certification of energy professionals, contractors and companies and all other functions previously performed in the State by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

    Read Also: Ekiti hails NERC’s transfer of regulatory oversight of state’s electricity

    Olatunbosun added that the Bureau would also be in charge of carrying out electrical inspection, monitoring and certification of new and existing electricity networks as well as enforcing statutory technical electrical standards and regulations for safety and security across the state and other functions previously performed by National Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA).

    The Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Professor Bolaji Aluko

    commended the governor for his support towards achieving the feat.

    “We welcomed the “definitive statement by NERC, and look forward to working closely with it, NEMSA, the Federal Ministry of Power, BEDC and IBEDC during this transition period for the full realization of the lofty goals of ECA2023 and EA2023. 

    “More legal frameworks  and a solid financial structuring still need to be done, but we are confident that these will in time be properly put in place”, he added.

  • JUST IN: Many injured as hoodlums attack Ekiti LG secretariat over land disputes

    JUST IN: Many injured as hoodlums attack Ekiti LG secretariat over land disputes

    There was palpable tension in Eda Oniyo, headquarters of Ilejemeje Council Area of Ekiti State as hoodlums from Obbo-Ayegunle in Kwara state, a neighbouring community on Tuesday, April 16, attacked the council secretariat and some residents over land dispute.

    The hoodlums, who were heavily armed, stormed the secretariat on motorcycle and fired gunshot to the air to scare the council workers.

    The council secretariat’s windows and doors were vandalised as workers took to their heels from being caught in the web of the violent attack.

    The traditional ruler, the Eleda of Eda Oniyo,Oba Julius Awolola, who confirmed the incident, said that the hoodlums also attacked some residents in their farms. 

    He added that one of the injured farmers is currently receiving medical attention in a hospital.

    Oba Awolola said: “People from Obbo-Ayegunle, a Kwara State community, have been farming on our land, but the government of Ekiti State wants to use the land for youths and deployed equipment there preparatory to beginning work. That was what provoked them to attack us.

    Read Also: Ekiti govt appoints 23 Justice of Peace to enhance justice delivery

    “They came on bikes. I was even at my farm that time, they went to vandalise our (Ilejemeje) local government Secretariat and then attacked some of our people that were already at their farms. Car parked at the roadside were vandalized, three motorbikes were set ablaze. One of the farmers beaten has been hospitalized,” the monarch said. 

    The traditional ruler, who said tension was already brewing up in the community, said that the state government, following the incident had appealed for calm and advised residents against reprisal attack.

    Awolola said: “The government has sent soldiers and policemen to the community. They pleaded with our people not to retaliate. Soldiers and policemen are still at the Council Secretariat now. I learned Amotekun would join in the security endeavour”.

    The chairman of Ilejemeje Local Government, Alaba Dada, who expressed shock over the incident, added that security agents had been mobilised to the town to douse the tension.

    Dada said there was need for the Ekiti and Kwara governments to meet to settle the land dispute in the interest of peace and harmonious relationship.

  • Ekiti govt appoints 23 JPs to enhance justice delivery

    Ekiti govt appoints 23 JPs to enhance justice delivery

    Ekiti state government has appointed 23 Justices of Peace (JP) to enhance justice delivery at the grassroots level and deepen peaceful co-existence in the state.

    Speaking on Monday in Ado-Ekiti at the one-day workshop organised for the 23 Justices of the Peace (JP), the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Ekiti State, Dayo Apata (SAN) said that the nominees were selected having been adjudged worthy of being honoured with the title.

    The Attorney General noted that the 23 nominees were carefully chosen by the government to ensure that the state is better as it relates to the administration of justice.

    Apata admonished the nominees to use their appointment to promote peace and delivery of uncompromising justice in their respective communities and areas of jurisdiction.

    He equally implored them to see their appointment as a responsibility toward the promotion of peace, the rule of law, and the deepening of good governance in their communities.

    He said: “What we have done is to screen every one of them to ensure that those powers are not abused and the powers that are conferred on them are utilised for the administration of justice in Ekiti State so that Ekiti can be better off as it relates to the administration of justice.

    “Administration of justice starts from the communities and when you bring the administration of justice to your community, you are easing off all the problems which can trigger police arrest, court congestion, and prison congestion.

    Read Also: Ekiti chiefs boycott palace over alleged monarch’s assault

    “What we have done now is to reduce these problems and have these men of impeccable integrity, who are very close to the community to able to be able to administer the administration of justice in their domain within the powers conferred on them by the law so that Ekiti can be a better place.”

    The Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ekiti State Ministry of Justice, Sunday Bamise said their appointments would be pivotal in the promotion of rule of laws and deepening good governance in the state.

    He noted that the training was designed to equip the 23 Justices of the Peace nominees with “the requisite knowledge towards enhancement of administration of justice in the state.

    “The Ministry of Justice is confident that the calibre of the set of people approved by the governor for the conferment of this prestigious position of the Justice of the Peace is up to the task and will do the state proud by bringing their experiences to bear in the discharge of their duties as Justices of the Peace”, he added.