The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kwara News

  • Thieves set house on fire after operation in Kwara

    Thieves set house on fire after operation in Kwara

    A three-man gang of thieves has set a house on fire after allegedly stealing foodstuffs, groceries and clothing in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    The incident happened around midnight yesterday at No. 59, Afenifere Community, Onireke, Gaa-Akanbi area of the metropolis.

    Spokesperson of the state Fire Service Hassan Adekunle confirmed the incident, said: “Upon arriving at the scene, the fire officers found a three-bedroom bungalow engulfed in flames. Despite their efforts, two rooms were ravaged, with items such as a mattress, valuable documents, a plasma TV, and clothing destroyed.

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    “Investigations indicated that the fire was an act of arson committed by a gang of thieves who had stolen foodstuffs, groceries, and clothing.

    After being discovered by residents and community members, the gang set the house on fire in a desperate attempt to escape.”

    It was gathered that community members apprehended 18-year-old Olawumi Ayomide, a member of the gang.

    “During his capture, Ayomide stabbed a man twice before being handed over to the community Chairman, Mr. Azeez Jamiu, and subsequently turned over to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Tanke Division,” he added.

  • Kwara to conduct first computation of GDP since 1967

    Kwara to conduct first computation of GDP since 1967

    Kwara State has not carried out computation and compilation of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP), it was gathered.

    Accordingly, Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved the conduct of an exercise leading to the computation and compilation of the GDP for the first time since it was created in 1967.

    The exercise will be conducted along with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), according to a statement by the State Bureau of Statistics.

    “The Bureau of Statistics has received an approval of Governor AbdulRazaq for the exercise, which is the first of its kind in the history of the state,” Press Secretary of the state bureau, Alabi Taiwo, has said.

    “The bureau consequently invites stakeholders to attend a sensitisation programme on the computation and compilation of the GDP.

    “The stakeholders’ meeting is slated for Saturday at the State Banquet Hall in Ilorin.

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    “The exercise is part of the socio-economic indicators to drive growth and development in the state,” Taiwo added.

    The exercise will begin on July 13.

    The agency urged sectors of the economy, public and private, to cooperate with the team that goes around for data collection, as the exercise is in the best interest of the state and its people.

    Elated by the development, Pioneer Permanent Secretary of the Bureau of Statistics, Alhaji Nasiru Ibrahim, said the exercise would be a historic step for the state, as it was the first since Kwara was created.

    “What we had in 2011/2012 was a rebased GDP exercise conducted by the NBS with the base year being 1990. Unfortunately, Kwara did not pay the counterpart funds of about N14.1 million to have its own data.

    “What has been in use was the UN estimates for every state according to a 2007 UNDP Report. Since 2012, the bureau had been asking Kwara to pay its counterpart funds, but it wasn’t paid.

    “Essentially, Kwara has not conducted GDP exercise since its creation, and that means a whole lot. I am the happiest person that this is happening because we have always been calling for it,” Ibrahim said.

  • 25 die in Kwara’s multiple auto accidents

    25 die in Kwara’s multiple auto accidents

    Multiple auto accidents have claimed no fewer than 25 persons in Kwara State.

    About 15 persons also sustained serious injuries in the accident, which occurred around 4pm on Tuesday, it was gathered.

    Fire service source said the accident occurred at Peke, Okoolowo area along Jebba-Bode-Saadu road in Moro Local Government of Kwara State. The crash involved a petrol tanker, truck and an 18-seater bus.

    Spokesperson for the state Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, said “the accident involved a petrol tanker with registration number JJN 17 XW, a heavy-duty truck, and an 18-seater bus.

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    “The firemen diligently worked to quench the inferno, but unfortunately, 25 lives were lost, and around 15 people were rescued with injuries.

    Investigations revealed that the petrol tanker, travelling from Niger State, was using the wrong side of the road, resulting in a head-on collision with a heavy-duty truck from Lagos State.”

    “The collision ignited a fire that rapidly consumed both vehicles, also affecting the 18-seater bus from Lagos.”

    He urged road users to prioritise “safe driving practices, issuing a warning to adhere to safety measures consistently.”