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Tag: Kwara State

  • World Bank ready to partner Kwara on vocational training

    The World Bank has said that it is  ready to partner with the Kwara State government in the study of technical education and vocational training in the state.

    World Bank Senior Education Specialist, Dr Tunde Adekola told reporters after the facility tour of the International Vocational, Technical & Entrepreneurship College (IVTEC) in Ajase-Ipo, Irepodun local government area of the state.

    Dr Adekola, who led other officials of the bank said the team was at IVTEC to explore available opportunities for partnership with the Kwara State government in skill development and technical vocational training.

    Adekola expressed satisfaction with the equipment and facilities available at IVTEC and added that the curriculum of the college is in line with the agenda of the World Bank.

    Read Also: Obaseki, World Bank, step up consultation

    He described the establishment of the College by the Governor Ahmed-led administration as a right step in a right direction.

    Adekola added that the global financial institution will be prepared to support the State Government in its Technical and Vocational education reforms to increase access, improve quality and learning outcomes.

    In her address, the State Commissioner for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaja Bilikis Oniyangi said the State Government is working on the Public Private Partnership with the World Bank as a prelude to the partnership.

    She assured that the state government would fast track all requirement necessary to facilitate the quick participation of the Bank in the states’ vocational and skill acquisition drive.

    Bilikis noted that the State government anticipates full commitment from the World Bank in the shortest possible time.

  • Nigeria to phase out non-bio degradable plastics – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday said that the Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with critical stakeholders, has developed a national strategy for the phasing out of non-bio degradable plastics in Nigeria.

    Osinbajo disclosed this while speaking on Tuesday at an event to mark the 2018 World Environment Day at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He also said that the ministry was working in partnership with the state governments to develop a national plastic waste recycling programme involving the establishment of recycling plants across Nigeria.

    According to him, eight of the plastic waste recycling plants have been completed and handed over to the states, while 18 others were in various stages of completion.

    “In addition, the federal government is also collaborating with the state governments to establish plastic waste recycling plants under the community-based waste management programme in the ministry,” he said.

    The Vice President said that two plants have been completed in Ilorin, Kwara State; one in Lokoja, Kogi State; while work was ongoing on another in Karu Local Government Area of Nassarawa State, all in North Central geopolitical zone.

    He said that there were two privately-run plastic recycling plants in Gombe and Kano States that work for the recycling of plastic.

    He said questions have been raised about limited options for cheap packaging of food and drinks, especially where consumers are relatively poor; micro marketing methods of fast moving consumer goods in sachets; and the retailing of detergents also in sachets.

    Read Also: Nigeria on right path – Osinbajo

    Osinbajo challenged multi-national corporations that produce fast-moving goods in plastics to take action towards managing plastic wastes.

    “It is my view that for controlling the proliferation of plastic sachets, we must go back to the major producers of fast-moving goods to put in place recycling programmes that could effectively ensure that while we seek environmentally-friendly options for packaging, we are keeping the environment as free of plastics as possible,” he said.

    Professor Osinbajo said that Nigeria expects multi-nationals like Coca Cola, which has committed to collecting and recycling the equivalent of all drink containers it ships, including  110 billion plastic bottles; and Unilever and Procter and Gamble, which have begun recycled plastics; would make and fulfill the same pledges in Nigeria.

    He also called on the multinationals to partner with governments at the states and local governments “to ensure that we maintain the critical balance between economic growth and a safe and livable environment.”

    “Nigeria is in a good place to lead Africa and indeed the world in beating plastic pollution,” Osinbajo said.

    He pointed out that there are a good number of effective initiatives that are being considered towards develop policies.

    Speaking at the event, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, represented by Senator Victor Umeh, said the Senate would continue to support the Ministry of Environment “by providing robust laws that would ensure healthy and sustainable environment.”

    Speaking earlier, the Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Jibrin said the ministry has done quite a lot in the area of pollution and waste management.

    He said the ministry has formulated and articulated policy targets and regulatory benchmarks that end at reducing plastic pollutions in Nigeria.

  • Once upon a sugar factory

    The Nigerian Sugar Company, Bacita, Kwara State, once flaunted its sweet profile, employing over 4,000 happy workers. Now comatose and stripped down to about 200 agonising staff, the firm has since become a study in bitter decline, ADEKUNLE JIMOH reports

    Moribund Bacita Sugar Company in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State is begging for attention. The company that once had about 4000 workforce now has about 200 workers with a backlog of unpaid salaries. Indeed both serving and retired workers are being owed between 25 and 40 months’ salaries, it was gathered.

    About 400 communities make up Bacita, a predominantly agrarian settlement catapulted to limelight by the sugar company. Established in 1956, the company prided itself on blindness to race, colour, creed and religion. It bustled with life. Now Bacita is a ghost of its former self.

    Then, suddenly, it was sold in what was understood as part of then President Olusegun Obasanjo administration’s privatization policy. But rather than spur on the firm to greater glory, Bacita began to decline after the sale. As the years went by, things got worse for the sugar firm.

    Scores of community members and ex-workers of the company recently staged a peaceful protest to elicit the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    The protesters held aloft placards, some of which said: “PMB hurry and rescue us,” “saboteurs are using AMCON to frustrate your government,” “Buhari the hope of Bacita,” “Federal Government of Nigeria, bring back Nigerian Sugar Company Bacita,” “Bacita people are suffering”.

    One of the workers who pleaded anonymity said there was a time the “surrounding of the company was overgrown with weeds and men of the underworld were using that as cover to perpetrate crime. But the community members last year came and cleared it for us. Then we wrote a letter to the National Assembly, presidency and three television stations but no response.

    Edu local government chair, Alhaji Umar Yusuf said, “We are facing a lot of challenges here with respect to the moribund Bacita Sugar Company. We have been lamenting on how government and foreign firms can come in to revive it. Unfortunately nothing yet has been done about it.

    “We are appealing through you media people now to the federal and state governments as well as foreign firms to come to our aid to revitalise this company.”

    A retired employee of the company and ex-chair of National Union of Foods, Beverages and Tobacco, Mohammed Adamu accused the receiver-company of romancing with the former owners of the company.

    He said, “Exactly two years ago Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) appointed one A. B Sulu-Gambari as the receiver for the sugar company to reposition it but to our surprise the receiver has been romancing with the indebted owners of the company.

    “We are aware that there are saboteurs within AMCON partnering with the receiver to frustrate the effort of Federal Government in taking over this moribund company.

    “Over 40,000 youths have been left unemployed and the economy of over 40 communities in this area has been crippled. We will like to use this opportunity to remind President Buhari and the Federal Government that the company has over 30,000 hectares of sugarcane farm with production capacity of 300 metric tonnes of sugarcane per day.

    “The company also has sugar refining capacity and is well positioned for backward integration into planting, harvesting, milling and processing as well as refining of sugar.”

    Also speaking, former staff of the company Augustine Ezechi, who hails from Delta State, said he now fetches and sells firewood to earn a living.

    He said, “I came to Bacita in 1986. Earlier I was working with the company. I rose to become a manager. Suddenly, when everything scattered, I went into farming and hewing firewood. That is how I have been surviving.

    “The company began to collapse when it was privatized as the company was given to a wrong hand. It was handed down to one Josephine Kuteyi. She came and started having issues with people in the community. She was not happy with us. She went and brought people from Coca-Cola to manage the company.

    “These people didn’t have the expertise to manage it. The company was running aground. She started bringing raw sugar for refining here. In fact, at the sugarcane plantation nothing was happening there and eventually everything got out of hand. She herself died in the process. Now to refine the raw sugar is impossible. The whereabouts of the children is unknown. Before you knew it Federal Government brought in Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON). AMCON brought in some people called receivers. These people came and worsened everything. Incidentally, the day the receivers came security men did not allow them to enter otherwise a lot of things would have been looted away from the company.

    “The company has no problem. It is the father company to all sugar companies in the whole of West Africa. Even the Savanah Sugar Company at Numan, Adamawa state many of us here left to go and bring it up. Some other sugar companies are coming here to poach our workers. We feel that Federal Government has forgotten about us here.

    “The solution is for Federal Government to come to our rescue. It is either FG resells it to somebody who will manage it well or it should take over the company after about two years it can decide to sell it off as nothing is wrong with the company. Everything is intact. All the instruments that can be used to bring it back are there.

    We have three Senators from Kwara State, even the Senate President is from Kwara and they cannot work for the reactivation of the company. During the election time they come canvassing for vote and we will vote for them.”

    Speaking on behalf of the village head, Alhaji Haruna Soliu, a retired worker of the company, Mohammed Musa said: “This company started in 1956 and it was commissioned that same year during the time of Sardauna of Sokoto. Present at the commissioning were Western Region Premier Samuel Ladoke Akintola, and Sir Okotie-Eboh.

    “Then they elicited the cooperation of the community for the smooth running of the company. And true to type there was harmonious relationship between the company and the community.

    Things have gone from bad to worse for the company. Therefore, we urge the Federal Government to revive this company. Federal Government is placing high premium on other sugar companies than this. This is the best and largest sugar company in the whole of Nigeria.

    “Instead of planting sugarcane on the plantation, they are now planting rice. That was not the agreement at the start of the company. The community is not happy.

    If the company is revitalized many youths will get jobs, unemployment or joblessness is one of the factors responsible for the social vices in the country.

    “The company used to have staff strength of over 4000 but now the workers are less than 200. Those who are working there now are suffering.

    “This company was a major employer of labour in the community during its heyday. Now many of its former workers take to Okada riding, firewood selling and farming. Even the market women are not selling. Our call is for the federal government to take it over again or resell to another company.”

  • Offa robbery: I’m to respond in writing to the allegations within 48 hours – Saraki

    As a follow up to the allegation leveled against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, concerning his alleged involvement with the criminals who wrought mayhem on the people of Offa, Kwara state, the Nigerian Police Force in a letter to Saraki said he is no longer required to appear at any station, but to respond to the sundry allegations in writing within 48 hours.

    It can be recalled that the Police through its spokesman – Jimoh Moshood, yesterday said that Saraki was to report to the Force Intelligence Response Team office in Guzape, Abuja, to clear the air on the allegations against him.

    However, in a recent development, Saraki has informed the Nigerian public that he is no longer required to appear in person at the police station, but to respond to the allegations in writing within 48 hours.

    He made this known via his twitter handle a few hours ago:

    Following my earlier tweet, I have received the letter from @PoliceNG. They are no longer asking me to appear at any station, but to respond in writing to the allegations within 48 hours — which I plan to do.

    Whether his response will vindicate him and clear the air or become part of the undulating saga, is one that Nigerians, especially the people of Kwara state earnestly anticipate.

  • Offa bank robbery: Dismissed cop admits over 20 murders

    Says he was on a mission to kill policemen

     

    The dismissed Corporal turned leader of the armed robbery gang that attacked commercial banks in Offa, Kwara State, Michael Adiku has told detectives why he wasted many lives including those of policemen that day.

    Adiku, who said he was on a killing spree, told operatives of the Inspector-General of Police (IG) Intelligence Response Team (IRT) that he personally killed over 20 people, mostly policemen during the operation.

    The suspect said he deliberately killed those policemen that day because he has scores to settle with the system, adding that they took Tramadol and other hard drugs before embarking on the mission.

    Adikwu, a Corporal attached to the Kwara State unit of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), was dismissed after he was accused of freeing suspected armed robbers. He was later charged to court and sent to prison, where he spent three years.

    A police source who gave update on the case, told our Correspondent that from findings, Adikwu had vowed to deal with the police for dismissing and jailing him.

    He said: “Adikwu, while in prison, had been threatening to the hearing of other inmates, that he would kill as many policemen as possible once he had the opportunity. He said that since police dismissed and made him go to prison because he released armed robbers that he too would deal with the police.

    “He was the organiser of the robbery. He recruited other members and they had series of meeting while planning the attack.

    “The gang went to Offa three times on surveillance mission. The police station and banks were carefully studied.

    Read Also: Offa Robbery: Police arrest two wanted suspects

    “Adikwu led three others into the police station, while others stayed outside. They walked into the station as if they wanted to lodge a complaint with their pistols concealed under their clothes.

    “Immediately they entered, Adikwu said he shot the station guard he killed nine policemen at the station and carried their rifles.

    “The suspects confessed that they took Tramadol and other hard drugs before embarking on the operation. Over 30 people were killed that day and Adikwu said he personally killed over 20.

    “One of those he went into the police station with was Arrow (Kunle Ogunleye). They took those at the station by surprise and opened fire immediately they entered.

    “The attack on the police station was a vendetta led by the dismissed policeman. After the operation, he went to each of the banks which were being robbed to issue orders. He was captured on CCTV shouting at his members, telling them what to do and what not to do.”

    Continuing, the source said Ogunleye told them he did not fire any shot at the police station, adding that he killed about two people during the bank robbery.

    “He said It was Adikwu that shot and killed all the policemen. He went from one office to the next, killing everyone. They only gave him cover.”

    Another arrested suspect, Abel, the source said, confessed to killing five people, adding that he also sprayed bullets indiscriminately that injured many others.

  • Kwara community disowns Offa robbery suspect

    Oro community in Irepodun local government Area of Kwara state has disowned one of the arrested two gang leaders of the recent bank robbery in Offa, Kunle  Ogunleye.

    Ogunleye was reportedly said to have hailed from Oro

    In a statement National President of the community, Chief Bode Alayoku said the suspect whose alias is “Arrow” was not a native of the community but was only arrested in the town

    Alayoku who said that there was no family that bears Ogunleye in the entire history of Oro explained that the suspect was nabbed in the town in the course of his tuning away bid from justice.

    Read Also: Offa Robbery: Police arrest two wanted suspects

    The Oro president, while commending the police for efficiency in arresting about 22 suspect s of the bank robbery so far said indigenes of the community were peace loving and not giving to crime.

    “We implore the police authorities to note that throughout history, Pro people has generally been known to be law abiding, peace loving, industrious and reputable, never giving to any form of crime, criminality or deviant behaviour.

    “On the contrary, Oro town prides itself in a reach galaxy of retired and serving illustrious sons and daughters in business, industry,  the civil service,  academia,  politics and all facets of our national life,” the statement reads.

    The statement advises the people of the community not to be misled by the publication as they go about their normal business.

  • Religious leaders carpet JOHESU, FG over strike

    Ex-national commissioner, Public Complaints Commission, Osun state, Prof Razak Abubakre and former Kwara state scribe of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Rev Cornelius Fawenu have blamed the Federal Government and health workers on the current Joint Health Workers Union (JOHESU)’s strike.

    They both said the action of the workers is morally and spiritually not bad. Abubakre, a retired professor of Islamic Studies from the University of Ilorin (UNILORIN) said that the workers are “entrusted with the care, concern and treatment of patients in the hospital. Money is important but it is secondary. Secondly, the primary role of the health workers is to save lives; when you are on such sensitive appointment, if you go on strike you are dishonouring your role as an instrument in the hands of God.

    “Thirdly, if you pay Zakat on the money being paid for the work not done there is no reward for it. Eating from the money they pay you from the job you did not do is haram. “Workers should not go on strike on frivolities and asking for parity with those who are trained for seven years. It is unfair. They should look for something else to talk about not on parity. Ab initio the structure of the strike is very weak. It is unreasonable. Even if it is reasonable the strike is not good.

    Read Also:Religious leaders carpet JOHESU, FG over strike

    “The Federal Government should be responsible enough by encouraging the culture of no strike. Government should listen to complaints before workers embark on strike. It should be alive to prevent strike.

    “Going on strike for months by the health workers is not fair to all as nobody knows who is the next victim of emergency?

    “The policy of no work no pay is another reactionary move by government. I don’t want no work no pay. That is an attempt to muzzle up labour instead of by mutual understanding.”

    Rev Fawenu, former Special Adviser to Kwara state Governor Abdulfatah

    Ahmed on Religious Matters said: “I am looking at the strike from both moral and biblical perspectives. From the biblical perspective, the scripture is very unambiguous with working and its commensurate wages. It says he who does not work is not expected to eat. It is not right
    and immoral to expect payment for the work you have not done. The scripture also says the wages of labourer must be paid without delay.

    “In the particular case of JOHESU, part of the agitation is that the wages they are being paid have not been commensurate with the work they have done in the past. And they are also asking for improved services.

    “It is for them to consider the nature of their work in this particular case. Their work has some humanitarian dimension. This is a work that somebody the humanity side of you should be able to make you to be considerate. Those who are actually suffering from this strike now are not people in government. Those that are well to do access Medicare outside the shores of Nigeria. They need to be considerate of the masses. They have a good cause but that turn to bad one if they are not considerate of the masses.

    “I urge the government to at least sit up by setting its priorities right and do the right thing because something necessitated what has happened. Let us go back to the issue and deal with the roots.”

  • Buhari, IGP observe Jumaat prayer in Aso Rock

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday observed his Jumaat prayer along with other Muslims faithful in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Among those in the mosque during the Jumaat prayer were the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris and Kaduna State Governor, Nasir el-Rufai.

    When the IGP went to exchange pleasantries with the President at the end of the prayer, President Buhari asked him: “Are you back?”

    Read Also: Saraki to meet Buhari over ‘IGP’s plot to implicate him’

    Idris in recent weeks had not been in good term with the Senate as he failed to honour three invitations extended to him over increasing killings by herdsmen and harsh treatment against Senator Dino Melaye by the Police.

    The Senate had subsequently passed a vote of no confidence on the IGP, describing him as “enemy of democracy’’ and unfit to hold any public office anywhere in the world.

    The Senate President Bukola Saraki, on Thursday, accused the IGP of trying to implicate him and Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed, in a criminal case involving some suspected cultists.

    Following the accusation, the Senate has raised a 10-man panel to meet with President Buhari over the allegation leveled against the IGP by Saraki.

  • Kwara youths defend Lai Mohammed on arrest of APC members

    Group under the aegis of Concerned Kwara South Youths on Friday said that Information and Culture Minister Lai Mohammed did not have a hand in the alleged arrest and subsequent transfer of some All Progressives Congress members in Kwara state.

    A faction of the APC under the umbrella of Kwara South Youth Stakeholders had on Thursday this week accused the police of arresting seven of its members from Kwara South senatorial district on trumped-up charges.

    The party added that the members were allegedly arrested, intimidated and witch-hunted in Kwara south during last Saturday’s local government congresses in the state.

    The group alleged that the arrest was orchestrated by Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    Addressing reporters yesterday in Ilorin, spokesperson of Concerned Kwara South Youths Kayode Ogunlowo described the allegation against the minister as malicious and total falsehood calculated at projecting the minister in bad light.

    Mr. Ogunlowo added that the allegation was aimed at instigating members of the public against the minister.

    Read Also: Govt feeding 7.5m people not anti-youths, says Lai Mohammed

    Said he: “About a week ago, the state commissioner of police paraded some cultist in Ilorin. Various alleged criminal acts perpetrated by the cultists paraded and they made confessions of killing more than eleven other rival cultist and other people were mentioned by the police boss. Of all the alleged cultists, none is a native of Oro town and Kwara South.

    “Let us remind those sycophants to note that their leader on the floor of the Senate was the one who accused the IGP of not doing enough to stem the spate of killings and banditry across the country. If the IGP has now taken the challenge posed by their leader and decided to rise to the challenge and redouble his efforts at eradicating crime by moving against suspected criminal, what is the big deal in that?

    “May we also admonish the sycophants and scavengers that they will do well by waiting for the outcome of investigation before pointing accusing fingers at anyone. Blackmailing Alhaji Lai Mohammed or any Southern leaders cannot in anyway help those arrested. We strongly believe that if those arrested have nothing incriminating, they will be vindicated and they will be in good stead to seek redress in the court of law for unlawful arrest and detention.”

    The group, which claimed to loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari and his second term ambition added that “we warn the so-called Kwara South Youth Stakeholder and their sponsors not to contemplate harming the minister. Should anything happen to this illustrious son of Igbomina and pride of Oro, we shall hold them responsible.

    “President Buhari is hereby invited to come to the aide of his priceless minister before those whose stock in trade is to do evil. He should also direct the IGP to invite the leaders and sponsors of the group that unjustly accused the minister to substantiate their allegation.”

  • Kwara Assembly flays IGP over transfer of cultists

    The Kwara State House of Assembly on Thursday said that the sudden transfer of six suspected cult members earlier paraded by the state police command was an after thought.

    The House added that it was an attempt to manipulate the criminal justice system to implicate the Senate President Bukola Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

    The legislature added that several other cultists have their matters pending before the judiciary

    The assembly therefore urged well meaning Nigerians to impress it on the Inspector General of Police, not to destroy the institution of the Police Force in Country.

    A member representing Ilorin North West Constituency, Abdul Rafiu Abdul Rahman said this in a motion entitled IGP versus  KWSG: A dangerous attempt to undermine the fight against crimes, especially cultism in Kwara state.

    Reading the resolutions of the House, the Speaker Dr Ali Ahmad, explained that the call, became expedient to prevent unnecessary disharmony between the state Ministry of Justice as prosecuting agents, the Police and other investigative authorities which, according to House,will affect the fight against crime and cultism in the state and the general maintenance of law and order.

    The House also called on National Assembly to formally alert the United Nations Human Rights Commission on the dangers of misusing the criminal Justice system in targeting independent voices in a democratic system of governance.

    Abdul Rahman said that since the state had demonstrated zero tolerance for crimes in general and cultism in particular by enacting 3 laws in 2004, 2013 and 2016.

    He noted that the state had a turning point in the fight against cultism, during the tenure of then Govrrnor Bukola Saraki, when he assented the first and toughest anti – cultism law, set up and funded anti-cultism Squad led by a late ASP popularly known as Ogidan, to ensure effective implementation of the anti-cultism laws.

    The Law maker disclosed that in furtherance of the zero tolerance for cultism, the state House of Assembly on 15th May, 2018, organised security Summit with the personal attendance of the state commissioner of police, other security agencies and traditional rulers with far reaching recommendations on the containment of the criminal activities, in which  Governor Ahmed immediately gave his commitment to implement the Summit recommendations.
    Other members who spoke on the Motion said, that the alleged offences were triable in the state, but the action of the IGP according to them were aimed at carrying out smear campaign against the Senate President and the state governor.