The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ekiti

  • World Bank, Fed Govt spend $9m on community development in Ekiti

    The World Bank, in collaboration with the Federal Government and the Ekiti State government, has spent $9 million on poverty eradication and rural development in the last nine years.

    The General Manager of Ekiti State Community and Social Development Agency (EKSCDA), Mr. Stephen Bamisaye, stated this yesterday at a workshop on partnership building for the maintenance of communities’ micro projects.

    Bamisaye said the huge fund was facilitated into the 133 communities in the state to provide facilities that would be beneficial to the masses at the grassroots.

    The agency chief noted that the prudent management of funds provided by the World Bank, the Federal and state governments earned it accolades from within and outside the state.

    He said: “The Federal Government sourced for $5 million from the World Bank as grants to communities to carry electrification, civic centre, construct bridges and other communal facilities.

    “But because of the way we managed the money, the Federal Government decided to facilitate another $4 million additional financing loan from World Bank for Ekiti to begin another phase.

    “These projects began in 2009 in Ekiti. This workshop is targeted at making the community leaders and associations take ownership of these projects that have been abandoned, they must not be allowed to decay.”

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi urged the towns not only to take ownership of the projects but to also key into the developmental strides of his administration to banish poverty.

    The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, regretted that the projects executed through such partnership were abandoned by immediate past government.

    He said: “The World Bank has spent a lot on these projects; we must protect them and make them sustainable. So, EKCSDA must organise the community associations into groups for them to be responsive to the task of making these facilities functional.

    “The four pillars of our government, which border on knowledge economy, human and infrastructural development, rural and agricultural development and health, are designed to make poverty history in our dear state.”

    The lead consultant handling the project, Prof. Olaniyi Okunlola, said the World Bank will continue to support the implementation of community and social development projects at the grassroots for better sustainability.

     

  • Court remands 20-year-old man for alleged murder

    An Ado-Ekiti Magistrates’ Court in Ekiti on Thursday ordered the remand of one Basit Yusuf, 20, for alleged murder.

    The defendant of no fixed address is standing trial on a charge of conspiracy to murder and murder.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Monica Ikebuilo, told the Court that the defendant committed the offence on November 7 in Ado-Ekiti.

    Read Also:Two men in court over cultism, possession of dangerous weapons

    Ikebuilo alleged that the defendant conspired with unidentified persons and murdered one Shaliu Jamiu.

    “The defendant requested the victim to get an okada for him and when he could not provide it, he threatened to waste him,” Ikebuilo said.

    She said that after some days, the victim was found dead in a canal around Odo-Ado area in Ado-Ekiti, as the victim was apprehended by the police when he wanted to escape.

    According to her the offence is punishable under Section 324 and 319 (1) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ekiti State, 2012.

    The prosecutor urged the Court to remand the accused in prison pending legal advice from office of Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).

    The plea of the accused was not taken.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Omolola Akosile, ordered the remand of the accused and adjourned the case until December 13 for mention.

  • Ekiti artisans hold rally for President’s re-election

    Artisans in Ekiti State yesterday held a solidarity rally in support of the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Acting under the aegis of Artisans, Traders and Allied Technicians’ Association (ATATA), the artisans described President Buhari as the “best man for the top job” on the strength of his achievements in the last three and a half years.

    They marched on the streets of Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, before ending the rally at the Government House where they were received by Governor Kayode Fayemi and his deputy, Otunba Bisi Egbeyemi.

    The artisans submitted a letter backing President Buhari’s second term bid to Fayemi for onward delivery to the President.

    They spoke through the state ATATA President Ebenezer Fadipe, who said: “In view of the laudable programmes his administration initiated and executed and which have impacted positively on the lives of Nigerians with special interest in his tremendous achievements in Ekiti State, we have resolved to endorse him for re-election in the 2019 presidential election.

    “We are particularly elated and impressed by the laudable achievements of Mr. President in the anti-graft war. Of special interest to us is his diversification programme, which has revamped the solid minerals and agriculture sectors and rescued our economy from the monolithic structure of dependence on oil and blocked all leakages leading to humongous pilfering of national wealth by a few cabals.

    “We praise Mr. President for ordering the extension of the proposed Lagos-Kano rail project to Ekiti out of the love he has for the people of this state. We know this will in no small measure boost the economy of the state when completed.

    “Added to the foregoing was the introduction of N-Power programme for the unemployed youths, where over 11,000 Ekiti graduates have benefited; transformation of the nation’s rail and air transportation sector, aggressive road construction, especially in the Southwest, the School Feeding Scheme, which will soon begin in Ekiti and the construction of a Federal secretariat and low cost housing estate for affordable homes under the National Housing Scheme.”

    Fayemi said President Buhari deserves a re-election because the Southwest benefited immensely from his administration.

    He said: “Under President Jonathan, we saw how the offices of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), the Minister of Finance, Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Chief of Staff to the President were concentrated in just two zones in the South while the Southwest was abandoned.

    “But when President Buhari came on board, he made a Southwest person his Vice President, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing is from this zone, the Minister of Health and other juicy positions were also allotted to this zone.

  • Edo, Ekiti, Delta, Ondo, power consumers protest blackout

    A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs) under the aegis of BEDC Franchise State Peoples’ Alliance, yesterday protested against the management of Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) at the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in Abuja.

    The protest was led by power consumers from Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti states.

    The protesters also visited the offices of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to lodge their complaints against company.

    The power users from the four states called for the overhaul of the company’s management.

    The President of Edo Civil Society Organisations, one of the CSOs in the alliance, Mr. Leftist Agho, said the BEDC had not recorded any improvement since it took over the distribution of power to the affected states.

    The address was jointly signed by Comrade Terry Ajagbawa, Delta State Coalition of Civil Society Groups; Comrade Omopariola Dare, Ondo State Electricity Customers; Comrade Akinsuroju Olubanjo, Bring Back Our Light and Ibukun Ogundipe, Ekiti State Residents’ Association.

    Agho said: “Since takeover, the BEDC has not recorded any discernible improvement or added value to what it met on ground. Nigerians in the affected states have been groaning under heavy estimated and ‘crazy’ bills, deliberate non-supply of meters and molestation of consumers with the military.

    “There is also the refusal by BEDC to connect communities to the national grid, non-provision of transformers, poles and other ancillaries, creation of special electricity lines for certain institutions and individuals, while the majority are served total darkness, among other inefficiencies numerous to outline.”

    He urged the Federal Government not to extend the date for the review of BEDC’s performance agreement with the BPE.

    He said: “While Edo, Delta, Ondo and Ekiti people are waiting for the end of the terrible activities that BEDC has dealt on them for over four years running. It was shocking to read in the media of the purported plan by the BPE and the NERC to extend the performance agreement with additional one year, which hopefully, will elapse in December 2019.

    “This is insensitive, to say the least, of a government in the face of several protests, complaints and petitions from citizens, civil society groups, communities and youth groups from the four states of BEDC franchise area.”

    In October, the Federal Government announced that the date for the final performance review of the privatised electricity distribution companies will be on December 31, 2019.

    The BPE said the announcement became imperative due to the interest shown by various stakeholders in the electricity industry on the date for final review of distribution companies’ (DISCOs’) performance.

  • Three killed in fresh Ekiti bank robbery attack

    It was a bloody Monday in Ijero-Ekiti, headquarters of Ijero Local Government Area of Ekiti State where a gang of armed robbers attacked a new generation bank.

    The robbers killed two policemen and a bank workers during the attack which took place at about 4.30 pm few minutes after the bank had officially closed for work.
    Apart from those killed in the attack, other bank workers and some customers at Automated Teller Machine (ATM) gallery sustained injuries.
    An eyewitness disclosed that the robbers announced their arrival with gun shots which sent frightened residents scampering for safety.
    The bandits reportedly blew the bank’s security door with dynamite to gain access into the baking hall.
    They were said to have made away with unspecified amount of  money during the raid which was said to have lasted for about an hour.
    The heavy shooting by the robbers paralysed transportation, economic and social activities.
    Situation in the community was said to be calm at the time of this report as residents gathered in groups discussing the bank raid.
    The raid the bank in Ijero was coming barely three months after a similar incident at a first generation bank in Igede Ekiti in which a police man was killed.
    Efforts to speak with the Police spokesman, Caleb Ikechukwu were not successful as his mobile phone was switched off as at the time of filling this report.

  • Buhari assures of credible elections

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday again gave assurances of his determination to lay a foundation for free, fair and credible elections in the country.

    He was responding to a speech by a delegation of Imams and senior Islamic scholars from the 36 states of the federation at the State House, Abuja.

    According to him, a number of measures put in place have seen the gradual improvement of elections, as in Edo, Anambra, Ekiti and Osun States from what he described as “dismal and unacceptable levels witnessed in Rivers and Kogi States.”

    The President, in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said “What I want to assure Nigerians is that I will continue to pressure the Police and other agencies to do their best to ensure a conducive atmosphere for free and fair elections.”

    On the issue of security raised by the religious group, President Buhari said he will continue to nudge security agencies to find lasting solutions, stressing however, the need for community and religious leaders to play a part in identifying criminals in their midst.

    Read Also: Buhari pledges more employment opportunities for citizens

    He thanked the Muslim religious leaders for recognizing the various achievements of the administration especially, in dealing with security, fighting corruption and progress in agriculture.

    “I am not satisfied with the reporting of agriculture.  Millions of our citizens have returned to the farms with many leaving white collar jobs for opportunities in agriculture,” he noted.

    The leader of the delegation, Dr. Khalid Aliyu, who is the Secretary General of the Jama’atul Nasril Islam, had lavishly praised the President’s achievements in key areas of his campaign in 2015 namely, security, corruption and the economy.

    “So far, so good, government has gone a long way in meeting its promises.” he stated

  • Ekiti to renew partnership with World Bank

    The Ekiti State government has expressed its readiness to renew its partnership with the World Bank to accelerate its socio-economic development.

    The Commissioner for Finance and Economic Development, Mr. Dapo Kolawole, spoke yesterday at a meeting with a delegation from the global financial institution.

    Kolawole said the government would work with foreign donors, corporate organisations and individuals to work out practicable strategies for the state’s economic development.

    The commissioner recalled that the World Bank ceased having serious relationship with the state after the first tenure of Governor Kayode Fayemi.

     

  • Panel summons Fayose’s aide over Ekiti Radio/TV closure

    The Fact-finding Committee set up by the Ekiti State government to look into the running of the State Broadcasting Service (BSES) has commenced investigation on how the corporation was managed under the last administration.

     

    The Panel has summoned former Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, who also headed BSES between October 2014 and July 2018 to shed light on how the station was run in the period under review.

     

    The corporation was shut down by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) for alleged serial breach of broadcasting code.

     

    According to a letter signed by the Panel’s Secretary, Alhaji T.I. Ganiyu, Olayinka is expected to appear on Tuesday, 13th November at 11.00 am.

     

    The letter reads: “As parts of the efforts of the state government to reposition the BSES, the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, inaugurated a Fact-finding Committee on Friday, 2nd November, 2018 to examine the adherence of the BSES to the enabling law and the NBC broadcasting code as well as other related issues.

     

    ” The Committee has since swung into action immediately after its inauguration. As the head of the broadcasting station in the previous administration, I have been directed to invite you for a briefing with the Committee on issues relating to the closure of the broadcasting station.

     

    “Kindly note that your briefing will in no small measure assist the Committee in its fact-finding assignment for the improvement of the station.”

     

    The venue of the sitting is the Conference Hall of the Bureau of Transformation, Service Delivery and Strategy, Ado Ekiti.

     

    The corporation was earlier fined N500,000 for breach of broadcasting code which was not paid before it was finally closed down on July 14 over alleged declaration of the result of the governorship election by former Governor Ayo Fayose when collation was still ongoing.

     

    The NBC had also written a letter to Olayinka demanding explanation on why he accepted to serve as the Director of Publicity of Kolapo Olusola Campaign Organisation (KOCO) when he was serving as Acting DG OF BSES.

     

    KOCO was the campaign platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate at the election, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

     

  • Ekiti to become nation’s food basket, says Fayemi

    …as NDE trains 230 youths in the state

    EKITI State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has revealed his administration’s plan to reposition the state as a food basket for the country. The measure, he said, is part of his administration’s focus on agriculture and rural development. Fayemi, stated this while he inspected facilities at the National Food Reserves Agency’s silos in AdoEkiti, on Thursday. He said the Federal Government established the silos as a repository for food storage, that, people can depend on during nonharvest period. He added that his administration will encourage farmers to take advantage of the storage facilities, which he said were currently under utilised. “I am aware that the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has put up a bid for people, who are in

    terested to run the silos to take them up, we are hoping that process would be completed soon and that would be put to use. “And we can then encourage our own farmers to go beyond subsistence farming, that is really the challenge, there is no point having a facility like this if it is not going to be utilised and it can’t be utilised if we don’t produce food in commercial quantity. “Grains particularly in commercial quantity. Be it rice, be it maize, soya bean, all these things require rededicated approach to agriculture beyond farming. That is what we pioneered when we set up the Youth in Commercial Agriculture Programme and that is why we set up a Technical and Agriculture College so that there is a

    consistent line of mid-level manpower. For this to become a model, agriculture is the way out,” he said. The governor, who noted that farming remains the number one pre-occupation of Ekiti people, said his government will partner with farmers and some private organisations to boost food production through agricultural enterprise. According to him, Ekiti has the capacity to become the food basket not only for the south-west region, but for the country at large, because of its rich farm land. What the government needs to do is to create an enabling environment and support the state’s farmers with infrastructure and access to funding. Fayemi noted that the importance of agriculture in the state’s drive towards economic development cannot be over empha

    sised. He encouraged farmers to go beyond subsistence farming and embrace large scale farming for commercial purpose. Meanwhile, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), has commenced training of 230 youths in Ekiti State, under its Skills for Job (S4J) component of Youth Employment and Social Support Operation (YESSO). Other states benefiting from the scheme are Bauchi, Niger, Cross River, Kwara, Oyo, Kogi and Osun, with the trainees receiving stipends throughout the nine months of the training. Speaking on Wednesday at the orientation ceremony for the beneficiaries, NDE Director General, Dr. Nasiru Ladan, said the scheme will equip them with skills through training, internship and ap

    prenticeship for employability. Ladan, who was represented by Tinuke Alabi, from the NDE headquarters in Abuja, said the agency floated the scheme as a complementary and coordinated platform for social safety nets as an effective tool for poverty reduction. He disclosed that NDE is being supported by the World Bank and the Federal Government to ensure smooth implementation of

    S4J activities in all the participating states, since the scheme commenced two years ago. The beneficiaries, according to him, would be deployed to competent Private Sector Operators (PSOs) for internship/apprenticeship. The NDE boss urged the state government to provide basic working tools and equipment as starter packs to beneficiaries, who would be self-employed at the end of the training.

  • Ekiti to hand over commercial ventures to investors

    •Govt to reposition dilapidated, abandoned projects

    Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has expressed the resolve of his administration to hand over commercial ventures to professionals.

    Fayemi, who addressed reporters during the continuation of his tour of project sites and infrastructure across the state, promised that the government would soon begin work on all abandoned and dilapidated projects.

    The governor decried the sorry state of almost all legacy projects that were hitherto the pride of Ekiti people.

    He recalled that such projects were in full operation before he left office four years ago. Fayemi said Fountain Hotel will soon bounce back as his administration will embark on rapid rejuvenation of the facility to return it to its glory and position it as a profitable venture.

    The governor wondered why a government that claimed to be for the people allowed the people’s projects to rot away under its watch.

    He said: “We are going to fix all these things. But it is important for Ekiti people to know the type of leadership that just left office in our state. Because this facility was in full operation when I was governor up to the last day I spent in office.

    “This facility was one of the sought-after facilities for use because it is attached to the hall that provides very good usage for public. And then, the 32 rooms here were always almost fully booked.

    “So, for me to see it in this state, I just ask myself: it’s not rocket science to manage a public property. You really need to think of yourself. How do you manage your own property at home?

    “The last time I checked, former Governor Ayo Fayose managed his private property very well. So, it means that public property means nothing to him. That is why he would allow this to be destroyed like this.

    “We will revive it; we will rejuvenate Fountain Hotel, and then let it out to professionals to manage. What this also proves is that we really need to get government out of managing commercial ventures in our state. This is because government would come and go, but the property would still be here. They are legacy property. All of us should see them as sources of pride to Ekiti people.

    “Most people who came to Ekiti about one decade ago, this is probably the only hotel they knew. But look at this place now; this is a shadow of itself. This is a ghost town.”

    Fayemi said the purpose of the tour was not to witch-hunt or cast aspersion on anyone but to have an on-the-spot assessment of the information he got through the ministerial briefings from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

    He said: “The purpose of this assessment is not even to pass blame or cast aspersion on anybody. It is to just see what the officials have told me during the briefing by the MDAs. I did not want to go by what the MDAs told me.

    That is why I am out to examine all these things myself and to form my own judgment about how our state has been governed and what we need to do as a people, collectively, to ensure that never again should we subject our state to people who neither know anything about governance nor development.”

     

     

    Other projects the governor visited in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, are: Ekiti Parapo Pavilion, Adunni Olayinka Civic Centre and Oja Oba.