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Tag: ogun State government

  • We’ll facilitate Joshua’s visit to Nigeria – Ogun govt

    We’ll facilitate Joshua’s visit to Nigeria – Ogun govt

    Ogun State government on Monday said it would facilitate a proposed visit of the World boxing champion, Anthony Joshua, to Nigeria when he is ready.
    The government said the heavyweight boxer had expressed intention to visit the country and home state, Ogun.
    This was disclose by the Secretary to the State government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, while addressing journalists in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, after the weekly State Executive Council meeting.
     Adeoluwa described Joshua as a “pride to the state,” saying the feat achieved by him was a good news to the state.
    He noted that the government would continue to support Ogun State indigenes across the globe.
     “Anthony Joshua contacted Ogun State because of that ‘Omoluabi’ in him, we didn’t make that plan, he indicated his intentions to come back home.
    “He said that he would be willing to visit Nigeria, of course, he will visit Ogun State and Sagamu and we will facilitate his visit to Nigeria.
    “Everywhere we find our people doing things that appears to demonstrate the ‘Ogun Standard’, we support, we celebrate, we identify, and that is why Ogun state sent delegation to Cardiff.
    “Yes, Joshua spent a larger part of his years and professional accomplishment in the UK but the truth is that he comes originally from Sagamu and I was happy to hear that the parent spoke to Ogun State delegation in Ijebu dialect.
    “Today, we celebrate Joshua just as we will continue to celebrate all our people in different categories of sporting and other activities.
    “Joshua is a model to the youth of Sagamu, Ogun East and Ogun State at large. We will continue to wish him well so also all our youths aspiring in different fields,” Adeoluwa said.

  • OOPL Park would promote Ogun tourism, says commissioner

    The Ogun State Government has disclosed  that the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park would have a positive effect on the economy of the state.

    The state commissioner for culture and tourism, Mr. Muyiwa Oladipo said  this in Abeokuta rercently at the opening ceremony of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Wildlife Park. He  said the innovation was a worthy idea,  which would further add to the tourism potentials of the State and the country.

    ” This is a Wildlife Park, a Zoo, where you have animals in their natural state,  as many animal as possible are all here for people to see, visit and appreciate,  it is something that is worthy of note, it has added to the tourism potentials that we have in Ogun State, ” he said.

    Oladipo however noted that the opening of the park would increase the influx of people and tourist into the state capital,  adding that job opportunities would  be made available, as well as have a positive impact on the economy of the state.

    ” No doubt about it, it is an added value to the state and the complex itself,  because people will come,  pay a token to go into the zoo,  go round,  come out,  see things to buy,  so it is going to have spiral effect,  of cause,  people will be employed,  cleaners, curators  and the likes, ” he said.

    The managing director,  OOPL Ventures,  Mr Vitalis Ortese, on his own part noted that he hoped that the Wildlife Park at OOPL would make a huge contribution not only to Ogun State,  but everyone that comes to the Library, noting that the Wildlife Park  would be better than others,  especially as it was located in a resort, with an Archeological site

    An associate professor from the department of zoology, University of Ibadan and the President, Nigerian Association of Zoological Gardens and Wild Life Parks(NAZAP), Dr Olajumoke Morenikeji described the promoter of the library,  Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as a great man who does not only take good care of people,  but animals and the environment as well.

    ” Today is a very beautiful day,  it is a day we are very excited and happy about because OOPL has included a very important thing into the foundation, and that is the Wildlife Park, president Obasanjo has shown that he is a very great man,  because anybody that cares for people and remembers to care for animals and the environment is a great man,” she said.

  • Badoo: Ogun govt, security chiefs meet

    Badoo: Ogun govt, security chiefs meet

    ….warn cult group to steer clear of Ogun

     

    Ogun State government and security chiefs from the Army, Police, Department of State Security (DSS) and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) among others, met on Wednesday to fashion out ways to prevent the deadly cult group – Badoo, from entering the state from Ikorodu – Lagos.

    The meeting which was chaired by Governor Ibikunle Amosun followed intelligence reports that the badoo group which had been visiting residence of with bloodshed, were planning to infiltrate the Gateway State.

    The Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Adeoluwa, who issued the warning while speaking with journalists on behalf of the government in Abeokuta, the state capital, after the meeting, said   the administration has taken proactive measures to secure the lives and property of its people against badoo cult group or other criminal elements.

    “We just rose from a meeting with the Governor and all the Security Chiefs where we evaluated the current challenges, especially as it relates to the Badoo cult group. We want to sound a note of warning to them not to come to Ogun State as we are determined to make our State uncomfortable for them to operate.

    “We have mapped out our plans to deal with them and we are leaving no stone unturned in this regard,” Adeoluwa said.

    He reiterated the Government’s commitment to investing heavily in security, and urged residents to remain calm and go about their lawful activities peacefully without any apprehension.

    He explained that security agencies in the state were working hand in hand to ensure their safety at all times, as the state government would not fold its arms and watch criminal elements, under whatever guise unleash terror on people.

    And Speaking on behalf of the Service Chiefs in the state, the Commissioner for Police, Ahmed Illiyasu said “the security agencies in the state are united and committed,” adding that they “are ready to dislodge any criminal and bring them down.”

     

  • Ogun govt to residents: Vacate areas near Ogun River, others

    Ogun govt to residents: Vacate areas near Ogun River, others

    Ogun State government on Wednesday warned residents living near Ogun River and other flood planes to vacate immediately to safe locations to avoid loss of lives following imminent flooding in the state.

    The state government said the warning became necessary as a result of the prediction of the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), of likely occurrence of flood in Ogun State and 34 other states of the Federation.

    The Commissioner for Environment, Bolaji Oyeleye, who issued the warning in a statement, advised residents along the banks of River Ogun and other flood-prone areas to be prepared to move to safer areas.

    Commissioner for Environment explained that there would be flooding in eight major rivers across the country, including Ogun River.

    He noted that that the state is expected to witness above normal rainfall, which could lead to severe flooding.

    “It is in the best interest of residents living in flood prone areas, particularly along the Ogun River, to be ready to move to safer grounds to forestall loss of lives and property,’’ he said.

    According to him, cushion the effect of the predicted flooding, residents should imbibe good environmental practices, such as desisting from erecting buildings on flood plains, de-silting drainage channels and stop dumping refuse in waterways.

    Oyeleye reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring that residents have an environment that is safe and conducive for living and for business to thrive.

     

  • Traditional rulers are partners in democracy – OGSG

     

     

    The Ogun State Government has disclosed that it would continue to ensure that Traditional institutions in the state are placed in their rightful positions as they are an integral framework of history and the bedrock of democracy.

    The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Chief Jide Ojuko made this disclosure while speaking with newsmen in his office in Abeokuta.

    Ojuko said government would always ensure continuous harmonious relationship with traditional rulers noting that they remained the closest organ to the people and an enduring part of cultures and traditions.

    He said traditional rulers have demonstrated high level of partnership with the State Government by mobilizing their people in the areas of prompt payment of taxes and other  levies  and had  ensured that peace and tranquility were maintained across communities and villages.

    Chief Ojuko maintained that government having realized these enormous support of the traditional rulers in the development of the State, made appropriate steps by mediating and resolving lingering disputes on chieftaincy stools.

    “All these chieftaincy installations are a demonstration of the resolve of our administration to ensure that no chieftaincy stool is left vacant, because our Administration regards the traditional institution as partners in progress in seeing that all our efforts at developing Ogun State percolate down to the grassroots,” Ojuko said

    Chief Ojuko added  that the success recorded by the present administration in installing traditional rulers to fill  vacant stools were as a result various intervention meetings by the Ministry as well as the cooperation and support of all parties contending for the stools.

    He however said government alone could not meet all the needs of the communities, hence the spirit of communal efforts by the traditional rulers in order to complement government efforts in bringing speedy development to all sectors of the social and economic life was highly appreciated by the current administration as government would leave no stone unturned to bring development to the State.

     

  • Ogun to address two institutions named after Tai Solarin

    The Ogun State Government is to amend the law establishing Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE), Omu- Ijebu.

    Mr Victor Fasanya, Chairman, Ogun State House Committee on Education, said this during oversight visit to the institution on Tuesday.

    He explained that the aim was to address the issue of two state institutions named after the late social crusader, Tai Solarin.

    He added that the amendment was to effect adjustment in the institution’s name in fulfilment of the recommendations of the National Council of Colleges of Education accreditation team.

    According to him, this is to ensure full accreditation of all programmes run by the institution.

    The lawmaker commended the management of the institution for upgrading its facilities which had aided teaching and learning as well as adding beauty to the college.

    Provost of the college, Dr Adeola Kiadese, said the institution, within the last six months, had witnessed tremendous development.

    Kiadese said this included purchase and installation of more infrastructure, provision of teaching and learning facilities and prompt payment of salaries.

    He said there were new equipments in the biology department, integrated science, chemistry and physics laboratories as well as the school of vocational and technical education.

    He said the institution would commence degree programmes by September, adding that the degree accreditation team from Olabisi Onabanjo University had visited the school.

    The House Committee Chairman and his team also visited Abraham Adesanya ICT Polytechnic, Ijebu Igbo, where they inspected the Mass Communications studio.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the state, aside from having TASCE, also funds the Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijebu Ode.

     

  • Ogun establishes three new forest ranges

    Ogun establishes three new forest ranges

    Ogun State Government has established three new Forest ranges in addition to existing ones, as part of its effort to curb illegal logging activities in its forest reserves across the State.

    Commissioner for Forestry Chief Kolawole Lawal made this known while speaking with newsmen during an inspection tour to one of the newly established ranges located at Molafara, in Ijebu North Local Government Area.

    Chief Lawal noted that creating a new range in areas such as Ijebu Igbo, Ago Iwoye and Molafara in particular became imperative to forestall illegal felling of trees and to ensure proper policing of the forest reserves so as to nip into bud the illegal exploitation of the state’s forest resources.

    “It became imperative to create or establish some new forest ranges as majority of our trees are being illegally exploited and taken to neighbouring States. On our way here we caught a truck fully loaded with our trees being carted away to a neighbouring State unhammered”, Lawal said.

    He declared that the State Government would not condone any act that would hamper on the commonwealth of the State particularly one that could affect revenue accruable to the Government.

    He however commended the Forest Officers for their commitment and dedication to duty, charging them to ensure the State Forest Reserves were rid of illegalities.

  • Ogun inaugurates group on family planning advocacy

    N order to improve the reproductive health  and services, the Ogun State Government has inaugurated Family Planning Advocacy Working Group (FPAWG).

    The advocacy will equally provide leadership, technical direction and support for sustained family planning activities, better accessibility and information on effective use of family planning commodities.

    While inaugurating the group at the Primary Health Care Development Board Conference Room, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka said the state, in collaboration with Marie Stopes International Organisation, Nigeria have to step up activities to improve the reproductive health, services  particularly on Maternal and Child  Health to meet the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

    Dr. Soyinka who regarded family planning as an essential aspect of maternal and child health, emphasised the need for improved communication and coordination of reproductive health services to develop and drive the implementation of state advocacy strategy to make a high contraceptive prevalence in the state.

    The commissioner said: “This is a practical approach to health education on family planning as it helps to make the state achieve more in the contraceptive prevalence with massive impact on maternal, child and general health”

    He, therefore, and charged the group to partner with relevant organisations and communities and maximise the assistance of the partnering agencies to reach out to the public on significance of family planning and dissemination of relevant information for effective utilisation of family planning commodities.

    In their contributions, representative of  African Health Market for Equity, (AHME), Dr. Olumide Okulaja described the step as an avenue to identify ways to provide quality service delivery on family planning while his counterpart from World Health Organisation (WHO), Dr. Akin Akiniyi said that the development would help to educate the grassroots more on issues relating to family planning.               He pledged the organisation’s technical support.

    Also speaking, the Health system strenghtening Advisor, Future Group, Dr. Emeka Nwachukwu posited that the setting up of the Advocacy working Group would get people more enlightened to ensure that access to family planning communities is achieved.

  • Ogun advises industrialists on physical development

    The Ogun State Government has called on industrialists and other business owners in the state to support government policies and programmes, especially in physical development to ensure a healthy and conducive development.

    The state’s Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, Mr. Gbenga Otenuga spoke during a visit to the ministry’s Ilaro zonal planning office in Yewa.

    He also visited the Dangote Cement factory in the Ibese to assess their compliance with specifications in their construction in the company.

    He said the monitoring was also to ensure that the well-being and security of the people were taken into consideration during construction, enjoining them to comply with the urban and physical laws of the state.

    “Operators of the industries should see the government as a working partner to make life better for the people of state as the contribution of these industries to the economic status  of the people are enormous and both partners should give them a better and friendly environment,” he said.

    He advised industrialists to  consult the appropriate government’s agency before embarking on development, adding that this would afford the government the opportunity to  update their data bank for development of a workable master plan for the state.

  • Ogun releases N1.5b for pension arrears

    The Ogun State government released yesterday N1.5 billion for the payment of gratuities to pensioners and severance package of former political office holders.

    Over 561 ex-civil servants and former political office holders will benefit from it.

    In a statement, Commissioner for Information and Strategy Yusuph Olaniyonu said: “The gratuities will cover civil servants who retired between May, 2011 and November, 2012, who have filed their papers with the State Bureau of Pensions.

    “Also, ex-political office holders who served between 2007 and 2011 but were not paid their severance package by the last administration will benefit from the fund. The fresh release of N1.5 billion will further clear the arrears of pensions dating back to 2008, which were inherited by the Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration. The arrears would be cleared up to November, 2012, with the new release of fund.

    “The payment of gratuity and severance package is a further fulfillment of Amosun’s promise to ensure that everybody who served the state in various capacities and contributed to its development is paid their dues. With the release of this fund, the Amosun administration has paid N5.6 billion as gratuity in the last 34 months.”