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Tag: ibadan

  • Alumni reward Loyola College pupils

    As the Loyola College, Ibadan celebrates its 63rd-anniversary, ex-students of the College, 1976-1981 set,  have stepped in to motivate and encourage excellence among the current pupils of the college.

    They presented prizes to outstanding pupils during the valedictory service of the boys-only secondary school founded by the Catholic Church in 1954.

    The alumni delegation was led by the President of the 76/81 Set, Mr Babajide Ogundana and General Secretary, Mr Oluwole Esan.

    The recipients of the prizes included Yisau Yomi (SS1), Olaniyan Ifeoluwa (SS2), and Okpala Christian (SS3). At the Junior School, they were Oyedokun Bolaji (JSS1); Olatoye Segun (JSS2); Sijuade Jubril (JSS3).

    In his address, Ogundana said the Secondary School Leaving Certificate was the basic educational qualification needed to attain the highest office in Nigeria, which is the office of the President.

    He, therefore, admonished the students to go ahead in life to add to their secondary school qualifications and imbibe other virtues, especially good reputation, as stipulated in the Constitution.

    “We encourage you to work hard and go further in your education. Even if you cannot go further for any reason, your secondary school certificate already qualifies you to be the number one citizen in the country.  Therefore, just go ahead and be the “best in every way”, as the motto of our school states,” he said.

    He also urged them to always remember the college’s crest inscription – “Veritas”, which means “truth” in Latin, and therefore always seek the truth in all the things they do.

    In his response, Principal of the school, Mr O. A. Adejare thanked members of the 76/81 set for devoting their time and resources to the College. He remarked that the cash prize was the highest ever.

    The Old Boys also visited the first indigenous Principal of the College, Venerable Godwin Daramola, who was pleasantly surprised to receive them.

    He prayed for his visitors and all the other members of the set.

    Meanwhile, the National Association of the Loyola College Ibadan Old Boys Association has put plans in place to commemorate the 63rd anniversary of the school, which began last Friday.

    The activities will include a cocktail party, dinner and thanksgiving service, all on the school premises.

     

  • Islamic cleric hosts first mass wedding in Ibadan

    Twenty-five Muslim couples were married at the weekend in a mass Nikkah (holy matrimony) in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

    It was held at Oja Oba Central Mosque at Mapo in the ancient city.

    The event was the first in  the state and Southwest.

    The mass wedding was attended by the Chief Imam of Ibadan, Sheik Abdul-Ganiy Agbotomokekere; the Chief Preacher of Ibadan, Sheik Abdul-fatai Alaga; Chief Ajanaasi of Ibadan, Sheik Zakariya Ona-Ido; the Mogaji Abata community, Alhaji Abdul-Mojeed Abata, among others.

    The facilitator, Sheik Taofeeq Akeugbagold, said it was meant to tackle adultery and fornication, which he said is rampant among youths.

    A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Al-Balag Islamic Organisation, through one of its arms, Ebi-Alayo (Happy Home), said many youths were fornicating because of the challenge of getting godly spouses.

    Addressing the couples, their families and other Islamic leaders, Sheik Akeugbagold said the weddings had the consent of parents of the couples.

    The cleric said since the initiative was introduced through the Ebi-Alayo (Happy Home) media outreach in January, over 100 applicants have showed interest.

    He said many applications were received from Lagos and Ibadan, adding that the group decided to join the 25 couples in Ibadan after checking their background, preparations and agreements (to abide by Islamic ethics).

    Akeugbagold, who chairs the Muslim Wing of the Pilgrims Welfare Board, said the group was also planning another mass wedding targeting 200 couples.

    The Islamic scholar urged willing Muslims to express their interest through the group’s hotline: 08057818180.

    He said his aspiration to cause a positive change emanated from the encouragement he got from Governor Abiola Ajimobi.

    According to him, the governor always told him to find ways to touch the lives of residents through his appointment into the pilgrims board.

    Agbotomokekere enjoined couples to remain together, irrespective of challenges they may face.

  • Ibadan collapsed bridge turns death trap

    Ibadan collapsed bridge turns death trap

    the downpour of Tuesday, June 20 badly affected Kuola in Iddo Local Government Area of Oyo State. Apart from flooding experienced by hundreds of people that live very close to the Aworere River that passes through the community, it also destroyed the bridge on the river at Olorunadaba that links Apata with the uncompleted New Garage-Apata Expressway, Lagos-IbadanExpressway and Ijebu-Ode Road.

    The destroyed bridge has become a death trap. Water has eroded the sands beside the bridge across the road and underneath of the bridge. Water had dug a side of the bridge to the extent that the tar, which linked the road with the bridge, was delicately suspended. The underneath of the tar had been eroded by water.

    But for the barricade and warning signs put on top of the bridge to caution road users, the hanging link between the road and the bridge would have caved in and unsuspecting motorists would have gone down into the river.

    Many vehicles were parked by the roadside on both side of the bridge because they could not cross over to the other side. The alternative route would take motorists about one hour to cover instead of 10 minutes. The bridge could be an accident waiting to happen for motorcyclists and pedestrians crossing. The tension is heightened by the impending August heavy rains. Residents fear that the whole bridge could be completely swept away by flood because its foundation and sides have been eroded by water.

    The Chairman, Olorunadaba Landlords Association, Kuola, Mr. Muritala Afolabi said: “Each time heavy rain falls in this area, Aworere River always overflows its bank and submerges many houses.”

    Afolabi added that the bridge was destroyed by the flooding of Tuesday, June 20. He said the volume of water passing through the bridge was probably higher than its capacity.

    He appealed to Oyo State government to urgently reconstruct the bridge. He said the association having realised the danger posed by incessant flooding of the areas, contacted Ministry of Environment and Water Resources to help dredge the river.

    Aworere River is one of the 40 rivers in Ibadan dredged by the Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP) in collaboration with the ministry early in the year.

    Afolabi added: “Based on incessant flooding caused by the river we took steps by going to the Ministry of Environment and Water Resources. Officials of the ministry later sent some engineers to inspect the river. We were persistent in going to the ministry and later the government brought some equipment and dredged the river for us. We were happy that the river was dredged.

    “But the problem we have now is that the Olorunadaba Bridge on Aworere River has become impassable. The underneath of the bridge has collapsed and has become a death trap. This is why we stopped vehicles especially cars from crossing the bridge. The bridge got to this stage because the volume of water coming from the other side is more than the water passage path created in the bridge.

    “When the bridge was destroyed by flood, we went to the ministry again to complain. We submitted a letter on the state of the bridge with photographs. We also submitted a copy of the later and pictures to the Governor’s Office. We were told that the officials of the government would come and check the bridge for us.”

    The bridge has been an important link for the residents of Kuola and its environs. Apart fr4om that, motorists coming from Lagos, Ijebu-Ode and Challenge usually pass through the road because it is shorter. It is also an alternative route to avoid the rampant logjam between Odo-Ona and Apata axis of Ibadan-Abeokuta Road. It is a busy road, which leads to Apata Market. Motorists going to Omi-Adio and Abeokuta pass through the place at the same time.

    However, about 500 metres away from the bridge, there is another bridge at Aba Eleshin that needs urgent attention of the government. This Aworere River also leads to the second bridge. The bridge was said to have collapsed two years ago and the community contributed money to reconstruct it. But they now need the help of government to complete the bridge.

    A pedestrian plank bridge was constructed on the river at the site of the second collapsed bridge. But whenever there was downpour, the water level usually rose beyond the makeshift bridge and nobody would be able to cross from one side to the other.

    Owodunni Landlords Association, Zone III, Kuola Treasurer Peter Aweda said the road that passes through the community from Apata, via Confidence Bus Stop leads to Oluyole Estate, Ibadan.

    He said: “When this bridge collapsed, there was nowhere to pass again. The landlords contributed money and started making the bridge. We have been on it for the past two years.

    “We are appealing to the government to assist us. We have been to Iddo Local Government and we were asked to write latter, which we did. We made a makeshift pedestrian bridge. But whenever there is heavy rain, we would not be able to pass through this bridge. We have eight zones of landlord association in this area and thus bridge is located in zone three.”

    Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project (IUFMP) Coordinator  Dayo Ayorinde said the Aworere River was dredged earlier this year up to Olorunadaba bridge, promising that the IUFMP would send a team to the collapsed bridges and appropriate actions would be taken.

  • Let Ibadan technical varsity be

    The establishment of a technical university is supposed to be a welcome development in any society, especially in any state in technologically under-developed countries like Nigeria. Resulting from its massive population of about 200 million and decades of poor economic performance, Nigeria has the largest informal sector in Africa with an average national unemployment rate of 24.7 per cent in 2013 and poverty incidence of about 70 percent in 2010. It is a settled issue in development literature that a robust and dynamic informal sector can contribute significantly to the Gross Domestic Products (GDP), create employment and reduce poverty, only when practitioners are equipped with requisite technological skills. Technical university/education therefore remains a critical tool of empowerment for nations. This is because such venture has the tendency of raising the capability and expertise of the students and, as a consequence, increases the output and eventual developmental drive of such societies. It is on this prism that the raging debates about the propriety of a technical university in Oyo state are situated.

    For some reasons, some right, many other clearly incomprehensible and apparently politically-laden, there have been debates about whether or not Oyo State government should venture into establishing any type of university at all. Part of the arguments is the prevalence of economic recession affecting virtually all the states of the federation, except, perhaps Lagos, with the state owing its workers some month salaries, and with the LAUTECH debacle unresolved. Given the foregoing, some critics would not even want to hear of establishment of any capital project, which they consider a misplaced priority at this point in time. I have looked at some of the issues raised by critics of the establishment of the Technical University Ibadan (TUI) critically and come up with my views on why the establishment of the university is a laudable project for which kudos should be given to the governor for his foresight and his uncommon courage.

    First and foremost, the importance of education cannot be over-emphasised as it is the pinnacle of universal knowledge and a platform for global development. Indeed, one of the factors that indicate development in any society is the provision of access or avenue for universal knowledge. Thus, Oyo State, and in particular Ibadan, being the largest city in West Africa, undoubtedly deserves the establishment of its own university with prospects of not just access to indigenes and non-indigenes of the state to universal knowledge, but also the tendency for job opportunities for teaching and non-teaching staff alike.

    The issue of access to higher education has been particularly problematic in Nigeria year in year out. On the average, while about two million candidates seek admission to higher institutions annually, the total carrying capacity of all the universities combined is less than a quarter of admission seekers. This scenario becomes a big challenge especially in states without own university, forcing parents to seek alternative avenues for their children and wards, including private and foreign universities for those who can afford them.

    In addition, the newly established Technical University Ibadan is not just any university; it is a special type specialising in engineering, technology, applied science and natural sciences to solve societal problems. These special courses not readily available in the regular universities and which would be provided by the institution will give tulip to technological advancement at this period in the life of Nigeria. According to Governor Ajimobi, the university is founded on the “principle of unique innovation, research collaboration, exceptional service, integrity, excellence, and uplifting of the human condition, knowledge, skill, classroom, industry and theory and practical”. The university, he added, would provide succour for parents who often send their wards to neighbouring countries for higher education. As argued by the Pro-Chancellor of the university, Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, the 12 programmes to be offered in the university are in line with tackling unemployment in the country, with teaching emphasis being on “building skills, aside from imparting knowledge”.

    Being one of the largest cities in Nigeria, Ibadan deserves more than the present number of tertiary institutions. The establishment of the technical university will, therefore, go a long way in addressing the problem of access to higher education by admission seekers in Oyo state.

    Findings suggest that the technical university Ibadan is established at almost a zero cost to the state government since it is largely on a Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement. The state government has already expressed its readiness to release 90 percent of the university’s shares to private investors while it would retain only 10 percent. Already, private investors have been indicating interest in partnering with state government of the noble venture. For instance, Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha has said that the university would be readily available for students of the Okorocha Foundation-owned secondary school in Ibadan.

    Perhaps the loudest criticism of the establishment of the university is from Oyo State chapter of Accord Party (AP), which has criticised the location, not the merit of establishing the university. The AP wants the state government to be sensitive to the geographical composition of the state by siting the newly created Technical University Ibadan (TUI) in Oke-Ogun zone, which has 40 per cent of the state’s landmass; 10 Local Government Areas and population next to Ibadan, the state capital. In truth, Oyo state is made up of five geo-political zones, namely Ibadan (11 LGAs), Oke-Ogun (10 LGAs), Ogbomoso (5 LGAs), Oyo (4 LGAs) and Ibarapa (3 LGAs). The party had argued that Ibadan and other towns jointly owned the state, hence there is need for fair and equitable distribution of projects in the state.

    It is noteworthy that Oyo is not the only state that has established its university at the state capital. Osun State University is located in Osogbo, the state capital, while the newly approved University Of Science and Technology in Ogun State is located at Abeokuta. Besides, does it conform to the principle of fairness that the only technical university, the state’s first ever, be established at a zone which does not have the largest population? Again, is it in the principle of fair play that Ibadan should be neglected for Oke-Ogun in this sense? Be that as it may, one may suggest that satellite campuses of the Technical University Ibadan be sited at other zones of the states, including Oke-Ogun in a bid to extend access to higher education to Oyo state students in these areas.

    It is my sincere wish that all stakeholders and lovers of Oyo state will have the necessary political will to rise above partisan politics and support the noble effort of Governor Ajimobi in the task of repositioning and restoring the lost glory of the pacesetter state. I am deeply convinced that what Nigeria needs at this time are institutions which could offer career development to the middle level needs in the field of technical knowledge. Such middle level technical know-how is necessary for the country to achieve inclusive development, tackle unemployment and conquer poverty. Nigeria can no longer totally depend on the traditional system of university education. It has served a good purpose, and it is still serving a purpose. But, in my view the immediate need is to diversify the tertiary education system with an emphasis on technical and vocational education, which is the focus of Technical University Ibadan. At a minimum, this effort should be supported by all and sundry.

    Technical education, like university education, should become an integral aspect of the development process in the country. Only an institute of this nature, with varied products of highly skilled labour, can respond to labour market demands in a country like ours. The reason is that such Institution can operate multi-disciplinary programmes in various technical fields and the TUI promises exactly that. I end this piece by quoting Albert Einstein to wit: “Education is what remains after one has forgotten everything learnt in school.”

     

    • Oladeji, PhD, a Senior Research Fellow, writes from NISER, Ibadan.
  • Oyo 2019: Can Ibadan retain power?

    Oyo 2019: Can Ibadan retain power?

    As politicians step up preparations for the 2019 elections in Oyo State, BISI OLADELE examines the strengths and weaknesses of the Ibadan Zone in its quest to retain power in the next dispensation

    Political activities are gathering momentum traction in Oyo State as politicians are gearing up for the next general elections, which are expected to hold in February, 2019. Governorship aspirants are multiplying. many of the rely on the strength of their constituencies or political parties.

    Since civil rule returned to Nigeria in 1999, the Ibadan Zone has produced three out of the four governors. They are Lam Adesina,  Rashidi Ladoja and Abiola Ajimobi (incumbent). The four other zones in the state are Ogbomoso, Oyo, Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun.

    Prior to 1999, two of the three civilian governors were Ibadan indigenes – Dr Omololu Olunloyo and Chief Kolapo Isola. The late Chief Bola Ige, who was the first civilian governor of the old Oyo State, hailed from Esa-Oke (now in Osun State). Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala, who was governor from 2007-2011, hails from Ogbomoso.

    This history has propelled calls for power shift to other zones. Oke-Ogun Zone, which comprises 10 local government out of the total of 33, has been consistent in this call.

    Ajimobi recently pandered to their desire when he voiced support for their agitation. Yet, most of the current aspirants are Ibadan indigenes. Will power shift in 2019?

     

    Ibadan and other zones

    In population and voting strength, Ibadan towers above other zones in the state. It has the highest population and by implication, the highest number of voters. With 11 local governments in a central city bubbling with commerce, civil service and agriculture, Ibadan commands a huge advantage in Oyo State.

    Out of a total of 906,870 votes cast for the five top governorship candidates in the 2015 election, Oke-Ogun had 23 per cent, Ibarapa had six per cent, Oyo had nine per cent, Ogbomoso had 15 per cent while Ibadan had 47 per cent.

    Similarly, Ibadan accounted for the 51 per cent of total votes cast in the 2011 governorship election. Oyo had 105,020, representing 9.7 per cent, Ibarapa 57,641, representing 5.3 per cent, Ogbomoso 151,803, representing 14 per cent and Oke-Ogun 216,299, representing 20 per cent, Ibadan recorded 552,994 votes representing 51 per cent of the total 1,083,757 votes.

     

    Ibadan elders as factor

    In governorship elections, Ibadan elders have a strong voice in determining the candidates that will emerge as the overall winner. Though the group is a coalescence of elite who see themselves as apolitical, it has strong influence on many indigenes living across Ibadan and other towns in the state. The solidarity of the group for any candidate goes a long way in swaying the result of the election, in spite of the fact that over 70 per cent of them are not card-carrying members of any political party.

    The elders wielded their influence in 2007, although their preferred candidate, Abiola Ajimobi, did not win due to alleged rigging of the election. He was actually the adjudged winner. He was the candidate to beat and he gave Alao-Akala a serious nightmare. The 2011 and 2015 elections, however, went in their favour for Ajimobi.

     

    The aspirants

     

    APC

    Niyi Akintola (SAN)

    Akintola, an erudite lawyer, hails from Ido Local Government in Ibadan. He is a former Deputy Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly and a close associate of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. He resigned as Deputy Speaker in 1992.

    The lawyer has won many election petition cases since 1999. By the reason of his career, he is a friend to many present and former governors and senators.

    Akintola has been going round the state seeking the support of party members and critical stakeholders. He hinges his campaign on the need to sustain the good work Ajimobi started, stressing continuity is the secret of the stable success of Lagos State since 1999.

     

    Adesoji Akanbi

    Senator Rilwan Adesoji Akanbi is currently representing Oyo South District. He hails from Ibadan North West Local Government.

    A former member of the House of Representatives, business man and grassroots politician, Akanbi was a governorship aspirant in 2011. After losing the ticket to Ajimobi, he shunned politics, until he returned to contest and won the 2015 election to represent Oyo South District at the Senate.

    Akanbi is keeping a tight hold on his constituents to serve as launchpad for the governorship race. All the densely populated local governments in Ibadan are within Oyo South District. They include Ibadan North, Ibadan South West, Ibadan South East, Ibadan North East and Iddo. The district also comprises the three local governments in Ibarapa Zone.

     

    Adebayo Adelabu

    Adebayo Adelabu is a grandson of the late popular Ibadan political titan, Adegoke Adelabu (aka Penkelemeesi).

    Currently a deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), it is believed that the banker is seriously nursing the ambition to participate in the 2019 governorship election.

    Young, brilliant and talented, Adelabu is thought to be a major contender for Agodi Government House. But, he has not openly declared his ambition.

     

    Azeez Adeduntan 

    Dr Azeez Adeduntan hails from Ibadan  South East. A medical practitioner in the United States of America (USA), Adeduntan vied for the Peoples Democratic Party  (PDP) governorship ticket in 2011 and lost before moving over to the Labour Party (LP) for the same ambition in the build-up to the 2015 elections. He joined the APC shortly before the election.

    The Commissioner for Health, is not dropping his ambition to govern the state.

    Adeduntan is said to be widening his tentacles within the APC to be able to give the 2019 race a good shot.

     

    Accord Party

    Accord is the major opposition party in Oyo State. Its leader, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, said he would unlikely contest in 2019. His decision leaves only Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin as the aspirant from Ibadan Zone.

     

    Olufemi Lanlehin 

    Olufemi Lanlehin was the senator representing Oyo South from 2011 to 2015 on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which metamorphosed into the APC. He crossed to the Accord party during the preparation to the 2015 elections.

    The politician, who once served under Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s administration in Lagos State as a Special Adviser, hails from Ibadan North West. He is also a former member of the House of Representatives.

    He was a governorship aspirant in the ACN in 2011. He lost in the primary to Ajimobi. Since then, Lanlehin has sustained his desire to govern the state.

    It is believed that the politician only retreated after the last election to gather more strength for the 2019 election.

     

    SDP

    Oluseyi Makinde 

    Oluseyi Makinde, an engineer, is the backbone of the SDP in Oyo State since he joined the party from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015. He has remained stable in the party and pulls many juggernauts together.

    Since he joined the governorship race in 2015, he has remained resolute, rejecting offer of other positions.

    Though the SDP is less popular in the state when compared to other leading parties, Makinde’s profile is rising as a young and decent politician with philanthropic credentials. His political machinery has started working in preparation for the 2019 election.

    Though the aspirants from Ibadan have good credentials, belong to popular parties and will enjoy the advantage of a huge constituency, it is believed that whoever emerges as the flagbearer of the APC will need the support of the incumbent governor. With Ajimobi expressing support for Oke-Ogun candidacy on one hand, his natural interest in having a loyalist to succeed him and the need to sustain the relationship with Ibadan elders on the other, analysts believe that the coast is not yet clear as to where Ajimobi’s successor will come from.

     

  • Early, exclusive breastfeeding can help reduce neonatal mortality – Consultant

    Dr Olukemi Tongo, a Consultant Neonatologist at University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, has stressed the need for early and exclusive breastfeeding to reduce neonatal mortality in the country.

    Tongo, a member of the Nigerian Society of Neonatal Medicine (NISOMN), said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Sunday.

    According to her, most neonatal deaths are due to preventable causes.

    She explained that “the most common causes of neonatal deaths are related to prematurity, failure to breath or cry at birth and infections.

    “All these conditions can be prevented through education of mothers and frontline health workers.

    “We can reduce the rate of neonatal deaths in our country even without high technology, provided there is basic level of healthcare and education.”

    She announced that NISOMN would hold community awareness rally on newborn care and prevention of newborn infections on July 4 in the Ibadan to address the issue of poor education and awareness.

    She added that “NISOMN, which is a group of doctors involved in care of newborn babies, seeks to bring this information to the fore by sensitising mothers and empowering frontline healthcare workers.

    “The rally is to educate mothers and health workers on how to take care of newborn.”

  • Muslim faithful mark Eid in Ibadan amid tight security

    Muslim faithful mark Eid in Ibadan amid tight security

    •Downpour stalls prayers in Bauchi

    Islamic prayer to mark the end of holy month of Raman fasting  in different parts of Ibadan witnessed large turnout of Muslim faithful amid tight security yesterday.

    Stern-looking policemen and other sister security agents, including Civil Defence and plain cloth state security agents were observed in most of the praying grounds across the city and environs.

    Commissioner of Police Abiodun Odude had on Friday told reporterswhen he visited the Oyo State Chief Judge, Justice M.L. Abimbola, that his men had been posted to strategic areas to forestall breach of the peace during and after the Eid-Fitiri celebration.

    In all the praying ground visited yesterday, there was peaceful conduct of prayers by Muslim faithful who trooped enmass as early as 9am to supplicate to God for the successful end of the fasting period.

    The Chief Imam of Ibadanland , Sheik Busari Agbotomojekere, who led prayer at the Yidi praying ground at Agodi , Ibadan, prayed for the unity of the country and President Muhammadu  Buhari .

    In Bauchi, heavy downpour in the early hours yesterday prevented teeming Muslim faithful in the metropolis from performing congregation prayers.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the rainfall, which started at about 8am, lasted about  two hours, taking worshipers that had already arrived at open prayer grounds, by surprise.

    As it intensified, worshipers had to seek refuge in nearby buildings and tents, most of them, soaked in their new Sallah attires.

    When the rainfall subsided, most of them, particular women and children,  returned home. Few others sought for alternative places where the prayers were delayed.

  • One dead, 18 injured in Ibadan auto crash

    One person died while 18 others were injured on Wednesday in an accident involving 19 persons on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accident, which occurred at about 8.30 a.m. Close to Guru Maharaji ji village in Ibadan, involved three vehicles.

    Eye witnesses said  a tanker with registration number  EPE 88 XT  had  a brake failure and rammed into  a  Mazda bus marked  WWD 772 XA and  Toyota Camry car  with registration number  LSR 349 SF.

    Confirming the incident, Mr. Yusuf Salami, the Oyo State Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), said that the accident occurred as a result of wrong overtaking and mechanical deficiency which resulted in brake failure.

    He said a male adult died, adding that his corpse had been deposited at the Adeoyo Hospital morgue.

    Salami said the 18 persons who were injured had been taken to Ibadan Central Hospital and University College Hospital for treatment.

    He said among the injured were four children while the remaining were adults.

  • Abattoir opens in Ibadan

    Abattoir opens in Ibadan

    After years of construction and perfecting administrative procedures, another landmark project is set to grace the Nigerian health and economic landscape from the stable of the Oyo State government. A multi-billion naira abattoir, which is the largest in Nigeria, is set to open in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. BISI OLADELE writes on the project that will bring world-class standard to meat processing and transform the economy of the city.

    Four billion Naira and 10 hectares of land are involved. It took one year of construction. All these and many more went into the emergence of Ibadan Central Abattoir which is, perhaps, the largest abattoir in West Africa.

    The sprawling modern structure, which is situated along Ibadan-Oyo Expressway in Akinyele Local Government Area, holds the key to hygienically-produced meat, job opportunities, revenue generation for the government as well as protection of public interest.

    By the time Governor Abiola Ajimobi inaugurated its operation by the end of the year, meat processing will move up to the standard of the World Health Organisation (WHO), with no fewer than 200 traders, including meat retailers and those trading in ancillary products and services, opening shop at the market complex and the in-built motor park thereby injecting life into the small community.

    With a police station, clinic, commercial bank and other social services incorporated in the abattoir complex, Ajimobi’s name will go down in the history of Oyo State as a governor whose tenure witnessed massive economic rebound and urban renewal. After inauguration, the abattoir will create an economic cluster and mini-town with potential for growth and development based in meat and allied products from the slaughtering and processing centre.

     

    The project

     

    The Ibadan Central Abattoir is a Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) project undertaken by C and E Limited, a local construction company that specialises in PPP ventures. The abattoir project was conceived and initiated in 2009 during the tenure of former governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala. It was conceived as a build-operate-transfer (BOT) project for 30 years.

    His successor, Abiola Ajimobi, continued with the arrangement though with a minor amendment in the shareholding and tenure structure. Currently, the tenure stands at 25 years with the government earning 30 per cent of the abattoir’s total annual revenue.

    The abattoir offers both modern and traditional slaughtering methods, rapid turn-around time and excellent hygienic conditions as against the current informal structure that leaves room for unhygienic slaughtering and meat distribution.

    The project has the capacity for 1,000 heads of animals (cow, sheep/goats and pigs) per day and is expandable to 5,000 heads per day with excellent ancillary facilities.

     

    Manual slaughter slabs

     

    The abattoir has two manual slaughter slabs with average area of 1,500 m2 each and well-furnished to accommodate over 200 butchers slaughtering cows, pigs, goats and sheep simultaneously.

     

    Mechanical slaughter slab

     

    The mechanical slaughter slab which is used in all developed countries was installed in the abattoir. It has the capacity to slaughter 500 cows per day, which is expandable to 2,000 per day.

     

    Lairage

     

    The lairage comprises the veterinary doctors’ office, health officers’ office, modern aboratory and three concrete paved holding pens for animals before slaughtering. The holding pens are approximately 12, 000 m2 in size.

    Arrangement for offices for veterinary doctors and health officers makes the environment conducive to the discharge of their duties. Since animals are brought into the abattoir in large quantity, the doctors and health officers will find it more convenient to offer services in a centralised place thereby ensuring that all animals pass health test before they are slaughtered and passed on to the public for consumption. Their services will also be enhanced with the provision of the modern laboratory.

    The holding pens offer a comfortable place for the animals to stay for minimum of 24 hours before they are slaughtered. This enables the animals to be stable after a long journey from the northern part of the country before they are slaughtered. The pen for the cattle is different from the sheep’s and pigs’.

     

    Security and storage

     

    The abattoir has two large cold rooms with 24-hour electricity supply and a modern red brick incinerator. It also has three gate houses and a police station for security purposes.

     

    Administration/hospitality

     

    Within the large complex lies an administrative block comprising offices for staff of the firm and related workers. The block also houses Butchers Co-operative Building, a commercial bank, a canteen and a clinic to cater for ailing butchers, members of staff of abattoir and customers.

     

    Market and shops 

     

    There are currently 224 shops for grabs by meat sellers and other traders in the abattoir.

     

    External services

     

    The abattoir contains five conveniences, good road network with asphaltic pavement and concrete drains as well as external electrification, including solar-powered street lights.

    As part of the agreement reached by the government and the firm, all other abattoirs in the 11 local government areas in Ibadan are to move to the central abattoir to undertake hygienic slaughtering of animals. The idea is to ensure standardisation of the meat being processed in the city for the health of consumers.

    Other smaller informal abattoirs in the city have already been declared illegal by the government with the expectation that butchers will move to the central abattoir to begin operation before the end of the year.

    The firm and government representatives have held series of meeting with the butchers’ association to educate them on the importance and gains of the central abattoir to their business and the health of members of the public. The association, in a December 10, 2014 letter to Ajimobi, also expressed their preparedness to move to the new abattoir.

    Government has also written to all other abattoirs in the city to move to the new modern abattoir for further activities.

    When the government finally enforces the order by December, activities in the central abattoir will be in full swing, bringing fulfilment to all stakeholders, including residents in the community.

    It is estimated that the project will generate about 2,000 jobs with coordinated revenue to the government and protection of the health of the public.

    Much more than the government and members of the public, veterinary doctors practising in the state are very excited at the project.

    Speaking on the abattoir, the Chairman of the Oyo State branch of the Association of Veterinary Doctors, Dr Musbau Ibrahim, said the association would be the happiest to witness its launch

    According to him, the association had been in the forefront of agitation for a modern abattoir given the dangers inherent in informal abattoirs which he described as unfit.

    Dr Ibrahim said a modern abattoir is central to the health of the public; given the fact that Nigerians consume a lot of meat.

    He further explained that the new project will ensure that all necessary ante-mortem and post-mortem tests are conducted on all the animals before they are passed onto the public for consumption.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Three jailed for drug trafficking

    Three jailed for drug trafficking

    Justice Nathaniel Ayo-Emmanuel of the Federal High Court, Ibadan, on Thursday, sentenced three men to 29 months imprisonment for dealing in Indian hemp.

    The convicts are Azeez Olagboye, Kehinde Saheed and Taofeek Ajadi.

    In three separate judgments, Ayo-Emmanuel held that he convicted the trio based on the evidence before him.

    The judge sentenced Olagboye and Ajadi to one-year imprisonment while  Saheed bagged three months in jail.

    He said that the sentence would  run from the date of their arrest.

    Ayo-Emmanuel, however,  warned them to refrain from crime after serving their jail terms.

    Mr Musbau Olapade, counsel to the convicts, had prayed the court to temper justice with mercy in his judgment.

    Earlier, NDLEA counsel, Mr Raphael Himinkaiye, said that the convicts were arraigned on a one-count charge of unlawful dealing in Indian Hemp.

    Himinkaiye added that Olagboye, Saheed and Ajadi committed the crime on May 17, April 10 and April  12 respectively at various spots in Oyo State.

    He said the offence committed by the trio was contrary to and punishable under Section 11 (c ) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30 Law of Federation of Nigeria, 2004.