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Tag: kwara

  • 242 pharmacies, patent shops shut in Kwara

    The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed off no fewer than 242 pharmacies and patent medicine shops in Kwara state contravening laid down guidelines of the council.

    The affected shops included 14 pharmacies and 228 patent medicines in Ilorin, Offa, Oro, Omu-Aran and Ijagbo.

    PCN’s Deputy Director and Head of Enforcement, Stephen Esumobi told reporters at the weekend in Ilorin, the state capital that offences for the closure of the shops “range from dispensing poisons without the supervision of a pharmacist, poor storage conditions, selling medicines above the approved list for patent medicine vendors, non-registration of premises with PCN. ”
    Eleven premises were issued compliance directives for offences like poor documentation, untidy environments.
    “In Kwara state we discovered that so many premises commenced operations without following laid down guidelines; while many of the premises are located in environments that are not conducive for the sale of medicines, so many others failed to meet minimum requirements for storage and personnel thus exposing members of the public to the dangers of consuming medicines whose quality, safety and efficacy cannot be guaranteed.

    “Another category of offenders are registered premises that failed to renew their premises certificate with PCN. The annual renewal certificate is mandatory and it is to ensure that registered premises continue to maintain or improve on the standards that made them qualified for licensure,” Esumobi stated.

    He explained that the PCN took the decision to sensitise all stakeholders to follow the laws that regulate the sale of medicines in Nigeria as the council will not tolerate the sale of medicines without submission to regulatory control.

    “Furthermore, members of the public who wish to operate patent medicine stores or pharmacies are advised to visit the PCN state or zonal offices for proper guidance.”

  • N338b loans for Ekiti, Oyo, Kwara, Ondo, Osun, others

    N338b loans for Ekiti, Oyo, Kwara, Ondo, Osun, others

    CBN-backed cash ready for 27 states to pay workers

    Cash-strapped workers who are being owed salaries are set to smile again, with the disbursement of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) – backed bailout loans for states.

    Fourteen banks are disbursing N338 billion “to stimulate the economy”.

    Kwara and Zamfara have received their loans and have begun the payment of salary arrears to workers.

    A CBN source confirmed that the other states will get the cash this week.

    A breakdown of the loans repayable at an interest rate of nine per cent over 20 years is as follows:

    Abia- N14.152b; Adamawa- N2.378b; Bauchi- N8.60b; Bayelsa – N1.285b; Benue – N28.013b;

    Borno – N7.680b; Cross River – N7.856b; Delta – N10.036b; Ebonyi – N4.063b; Edo – N3.167b; Ekiti – N9.604b; Enugu – 4.207b; Gombe – N16.459b; Imo – N26.806b; Katsina – N3.304b; Kebbi – N0.690b; Kogi – N50.842b; Kwara – N4.320b; Nasarawa – N8.317b; Niger – N4.306b; Ogun – N20.00b; Ondo – N14.686b; Osun – N34.988b; Oyo – N26.606b; Plateau – N5.357b; Sokoto – N10.093b and Zamfara – N10.020b.

    The CBN last week announced that it had approved that Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) lend money to requesting states to pay salary arrears owed their workers.

    Some of the conditions for accessing the loan include:

    • resolutions of the State Executive Council authorising the borrowing;
    • State House of Assembly consenting to the loan package; and
    • issuance of Irrevocable Standing Payment Order (ISPO) to ensure timely repayment.

    With the signing of the  ISPO, “it is clear that the facility is not free as the states’ financial exposure to the banks becomes first line charges deducted from their monthly allocation”.

    The CBN official explained that specific figures were attached to the facilities to be disbursed to the states is because “every state is to come up with its specific needs in order to access the facility from the commercial banks. They’re (states) working out what they need from the banks according to the conditions they reached with the banks”.

    The decision to borrow money from commercial banks is sequel to the decision by the National Executive Council (NEC) at its June 29 meeting, requesting the CBN “in collaboration with other stakeholders to appraise and consider ways of liquidating the outstanding staff salaries owed by state and local governments.”

    The Buhari administration announced a bailout package for states to take care of the backlog of workers’ salaries and access funds for development through the rescheduling of their debts by banks with the CBN’s guarantee.

    Eleven states have had their commercial debts to DMBs restructured with a proviso to pay 14.83 per cent of the value of their bonds which their commercial debts were converted to. Eleven others are also to have theirs restructured.

    Debt Management Office (DMO) Director-General Abraham Nwankwo said “the restructuring was effected using a re-opening of the FGN-Bond issued on July 18, 2015 and maturing on July 18, 2034. The pricing was based on the yield to date of the bond at a 30-day average, resulting in a transaction yield of 14.83 per cent.”The impact of the restructured states’ commercial debts to domestic bonds, he said, is that “management operations will include: monthly debt service burden will drop by a minimum of 55 per cent and a maximum of 97 per cent, among the 11; and interest rate savings for the 11 states ranging from 3 per cent to 9 per cent per annum.”

  • Kwara unveils plans to audit workforce

    Kwara unveils plans to audit workforce

    Kwara State government has unveiled plans to conduct an audit of its workers, to eliminate ghost workers and certificate racketeering.

    Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed, who spoke yesterday in Ilorin at a meeting with heads and bursars of state-owned tertiary institutions, said the audit would go beyond biometric verification, as it would involve a thorough assessment, including the authentication of the certificates of workers, to eliminate ghost workers.

    He said no blackmail or misinformation would deter his administration from growing internally- generated revenue (IGR), as that was the only way government could meet its obligations to the people and survive the economic downturn.

    The governor said while it was common for some people to resist change, the interest of the people must prevail.

    Government’s directive to tertiary institutions to open a single revenue account with designated banks in a pilot scheme was greeted with speculations that it was planning to hand the management of the institutions to its holding company, Harmony Holdings Ltd.

    Urging the people to ignore such rumour, Ahmed said the newly-established Kwara State Internal Revenue Service was the only establishment authorised by law to collect and manage state and local government revenue.

    He said the single revenue account would ensure transparency and budgeting, as government would have a better idea of the revenue coming into the coffers of the affected agencies so that it could support them where necessary.

    The governor enjoined heads of tertiary institutions to embrace the account, as the new scheme would be a litmus test for their managerial ability.

  • Kwara Assembly summons Town planning authority

    The Kwara State House of Assembly has summoned the state management of the Town Planning and Development Authority over non-enforcement of town planning regulations in towns and cities in the state.

    This is part of resolutions of the House of Assembly after considering a motion titled: “Conversion of residential buildings to hotels, club houses and beer parlours.” The motion was moved by a member representing Ilorin Central Constituency, Hajia Segilola AbdulKadir. The Speaker Dr Ali Ahmad while reading the resolutions of the House said that the  non-enforcement of the town planning regulations had led to disorderliness of towns and cities in the state. The House equally charged the Town Planning Authority to be alive to its responsibility by ensuring that residential buildings are not inappropriately converted to event centres without necessary approvals and taking into consideration the public nuisance and security implications that such places would pose to residents.

    Hajia Abdul Kadir had observed in her motion that the town planning and development Authority was charged with the responsibility of controlling, regulating and maintaining all laws guiding the physical planning of the state to ensure healthy development of settlements and communities. She however expressed worries that the indiscriminate conversion and distortion of environmental planning as well as the master plan of cities in the state had resulted into security and social problems for other residents in the affected areas.

    Others, who contributed on the motion, said the authority had over stretched the patience of the people, and as such, had caused numerous problems for government and the people of the dtate to content with.

  • Wasteful 3SC lose in Kwara

    Wasteful 3SC lose in Kwara

    Shooting Stars fell 1-0 to Kwara United in Ilorin on Sunday after they threw away several chances in front of goal including a penalty.

    Shooting Stars have 32 points from 24 games, while Kwara have 29 points.

    Ismaila Gata scored the only goal of the game in the 14th minute when he tapped in after goalkeeper Danladi Isa spilled a shot.

    On the half hour, Ajani Ibrahim failed to score in a one-on-one situation with Kwara goalkeeper Kazeem Yekeen, who pulled off a save.

    Five minutes later, Yekeen cleared Yinka Adedeji’s free kick.

    Two minutes later, Yekeen was on hand to stop 3SC Tope Orelope in another one-on-one situation.

    A minute after that, it was the turn of 3SC goalkeeper Danladi Isa to make a save off Femi Oladapo’s header.

    In the 68th minute, Segun Alebiosu’s effort crashed against the goal post.

    In the 42nd minute, Tope Orelope’s penalty after Akeem Onigbari fouled Tayo Fabiyi inside the box was saved by the outstanding Yekeen.

  • Flood wreaks havoc in Kwara, destroys electric poles

    Governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state has directed the permanent secretaries in the ministries of Works and Environment to inspect the areas affected by the recent flood that wreaked havoc in the state.

    Speaking on the development, the senior special assistant on Media and Communication to the governor, Dr. Muideen Akorede, said the state government is saddened by the incident.

    He said the government officials directed to inspect the affected areas are expected to give on-the-spot assessment on the damages, those affected and prevent a re-occurrence.

    Said he: “You will recall that the state government set up a committee headed by the immediate past commissioner for Works, Dr. Amuda Kannike last year to come up with a recommendation on the affected areas and the people with a view to relocating them.

    Meanwhile, de-silting of drainage and construction of drainages opposite Royal Shekinah and other roads along the axis were planned for.

    “Unfortunately, funds have affected our ability to complete the work because we could not give the contractor all the necessary money to complete the work on the road. Nevertheless, the governor has asked for reports on the incident with a view to implementing remedies and resettling those affected.

    Flood caused by torrential rains on Thursday evening destroyed electricity poles, shops and vehicles in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital.

    The rains which started around 4.30 pm lasted for about three hours. They started like a drizzle cascading into a heavy downpour wrecking havoc in parts of the metropolis.

    Areas hardest hit by flood includes; Omoseebi Hospital and Pipeline in Gaa-Akanbi; Adisco, Royal Shekinah, Pipeline Offa Garage, Unity, Cocacola in the metropolis.

    It could be recalled that similar kind of flood, occurred in some of these areas last year, which claimed the lives of two school pupils and destroying property worth millions of Naira.

    Then the state government took some measures to forestall recurrence of the incidence.( One of the measures then was the opening up of the cover of a drainage at the front of an hotel in the area believed to be obstructing free flow of water in the drainage.

    Narrating their ordeal, some the residents of the areas said that there would have been casualties if the incident had happened in the dead of night when people would have slept off.

    It was also gathered that most culverts, drainages and gutters along major roads and streets in the areas were flooded, while the flood spread into nearby houses and shops to destroy property.

    Speaking with reporters yesterday in Ilorin, some of the residents appealed to the federal government to intervene in the perennial flood occurrence in the affected areas of Ilorin metropolis, saying that the past efforts of the state government at solving the problem had not yielded any solution.

    Alhaji Abdulwaheed Adigun, who owns an Engineering company; Adisco Nigeria Limited, along Offa Garage Road said the area started to experience perennial flood disaster since the dualisation of the Challenge-Offa Garage Road.

    “The road was in single lane with about six-feet wide and deep drainage on both sides of the road. We were not experiencing this annual flood then. But since government constructed the dual express road, the drainage on both sides of the road was reduced to about three feet. It’s now narrow! So, it cannot contain the volume of water from such areas like Offa Garage, Gaa Akanbi, Omoseebi and the rest. And so we have this flooding.

    “Whenever it rains and the drainage is filled up, it spreads to our houses, shops and pulled down our fences, destroyed our roads and other valuable property.

    Alhaji Adigun, therefore urged the federal government to come to the aid of the people of the affected areas and end their suffering by taking up the challenge. He said the problem had gone beyond the capacity of the state government since it had not been able to fulfil its pledge at finding lasting solution to the perennial flooding problem.

    Also speaking, Mr. Sunday Alabi, a community leader at Omoseebi area of Ilorin metropolis said the concerned authorities should assist the people of the area with the dredging of rivers and streams in the affected areas, adding that this should be complemented with channeling of the rivers.

    “We thank the state government for this bridge. But this our bridge at Omoseebi community linking us with other areas of the metropolis is narrow. More especially, it gathers refuse easily making it difficult for water to pass under freely. When refuse block the water flow it spreads to houses nearby. Government should re-channel the river and give us bigger and stronger bridge to contain this flood challenge. At least, we support the government with our votes, they should come to our support too in this our time of need”, he said.

    Innocent Ibe, who lives at Royal Shekinah area also said that residents of the area are usually apprehensive and frightened whenever it is about to rain because of usually attendant flooding.

    Ibe said that widening of the drainage on both sides of the Offa Garage-Challenge road would solve the perennial problem of flooding in the area.

    He cautioned residents to change their attitude of dumping refuse in drainage and gutters.”

  • 16 feared dead in Kwara cults clashes

    16 feared dead in Kwara cults clashes

    No fewer than 16 people were feared dead at the weekend in   clashes of suspected cult members in  Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.

    Though, the causes of the clashes could not be ascertained last night, it was gathered that suspected members of Aiye and Eiye confraternities clashed at an higher institution.

    The Police said  they arrested more than 30 suspects.

    Police spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who confirmed the arrests, added that 14 had been found culpable after screening.

    Okasanmi said the 14 suspects would be charged to court this week.

    It was gathered that one of the victims was gunned down during screening of aspirants for a Students’ Union Government’s election at the weekend.  Another victim was reportedly killed at Asa Dam Road area of the town by suspected members of the Eiye confraternity.

    An eyewitness account said the death triggered reprisals and a renewed clash among members of the Eiye and Aiye confraternities, adding that it later spread to other parts of the metropolis, including: Agbooba, Baboko, Sabonline, Irewolede and Niger Road.

    A resident of Niger Road said: “It all started around 4pm at the weekend. A victim who lived at Agbooba was killed beside a bridge close to the filling station at Oja Tuntun area of Ilorin.

    “Another body was found at a popular hotel, on Sunday. One suspected cult member  was murdered at Irewolede yesterday. The deceased was chased to the area and was matcheted by his assailants,” the source said.

    A students’ leader, who pleaded for anonymity, confirmed last night that there was a violent attack last Thursday, which left an unidentified student seriously injured.

    But he denied knowledge of any reprisal attacks on the campus.

    The student said: “I can confirm to you that there was an attack on campus last Thursday carried out by unidentified persons. We are still trying to know their identity.

    “The attackers are on the run; the police and Department of State Services operatives are aware of the incident. The victim of the attack is not yet confirmed dead but he is seriously injured. He was rushed to the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) in Oke-Oyi, Ilorin.

    “I cannot confirm if the Thursday incident led to any reprisal but there was no killing on our campus, Kwara Polytechnic. Although we heard about clashes in several areas, which are far away from the school, I can confirm none of our students was involved.”

    Another student, who simply gave his name as Lateef, also confirmed the attack, saying it happened at Motion Ground.

    He, however, could not give the name of the victim, but he said the attack may have led to several reprisals, which allegedly left more than 10 students died.

  • 16 dead in Kwara State Polytechnic students’ cult clash

    No fewer than 16 people were at the weekend, killed in bloody clashes between suspected cult members of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin.
    Though, the cause of the clashes have not been ascertained, it was gathered that suspected members of Aiye and Eiye confraternities struck first at the polytechnic.
    The state police command said it has arrested more than 30 suspects in connection with a renewed clash among student cultists in the state about16 victims were reportedly killed.
    Authorities of the institution had since shut down the campus indefinitely.
    State police command’s spokesperson, Ajayi Okasanmi (ASP) confirmed the arrest of the suspects, adding that 14 people among the arrested suspects were found culpable after screening.
    Mr. Okasanmi who said investigations still continued on the development, added that the 14 suspects would be charged to court for prosecution this week.
    It was gathered that one of the victims was gunned down during screening of aspirants for the Students Union Government’s election at the weekend, while another victim was reportedly killed at Asa Dam road area of the town by suspected members of Eiye confraternity.
    An eyewitness account said that the death led to a renewed clash among members of Eiye and Aiye confraternities, adding that it later spread to other parts of the metropolis such as Agbooba, Baboko, Sabonline, Irewolede and Niger Road.
    A resident of Niger Road in the metropolis said “it all started around 4 pm at the weekend. A victim who lived at Agbooba was killed beside a bridge close to the filling station at Oja Tuntun area of Ilorin.
    “Another dead body was found at Victory Hotel, Agbooba on Sunday. One suspected cultist was murdered at Irewolede yesterday. The deceased was chased to the area and in the process was matcheted by his assailants,” the source said.

  • Kwara Governor Ahmed, Speaker shocked

    Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Dr. Ali Ahmad, have commiserated with the government and people of Borno State on the death of the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Zanna Umar Mustapha.

    Ahmed, in a condolence message by the Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahaab Oba, described the death of the Borno deputy governor as a shocking and painful loss to the progressive forces and the country at large.

    The governor prayed Allah to give the deceased’s family the fortitude to bear the loss and the late deputy governor eternal rest.

    Ahmad said the death of Zanna was a great loss to democrats.

    He said the deceased died at a time the nation needed his service to enhance the well-being of the internally-displaced persons (IDPs).

    Dr. Ahmad described the late deputy governor as the pillar of support to the IDPs, adding that he was a loyal public officer, who committed his life towards the restoration of peace in the Northeast.

    He noted that his service to humanity would be missed by the people of Borno State.

  • Kwara Poly suspends students for alleged crimes

    Authorities of the Kwara State Polytechnic, Ilorin have suspended four students for alleged involvement in criminal activities.

    The Principal Assistant Registrar (Academic), Mr. Ahmed Yahaya, said in a statement that the suspension followed a report received from Oke-Oyi Divisional Police Headquarters.

    One of the students, with registration number ND/12/PA/PT/610, was arrested for alleged unlawful possession of two live cartridges. Two others with registration numbers ND/13/COM/FT/394 and ND/14/COM/FT/843 were nabbed by the police for alleged membership of an unlawful society.

    The statement said a female student among the suspended students, with registration number ND13/PS/FT/903, was accused of unlawful possession of knife and charm.

    It said the suspension was in line with the polytechnic’s practice to suspend any student under investigation, pending the outcome of the investigation by the police.