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Tag: Ogun state

  • My administration attracted 423 mega industries, grew IGR from N700m to N7bn – Amosun

    Out -going Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Thursday disclosed his administration attracted 423 mega industries and over 1,000 medium and small scale industries  in the last eight years.

    Amosun revealed further that on assumption of office in 2011, he met Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of N700 million monthly and nurtured it to the tune of N7b monthly.

    The Governor, who made this known  at the official launch of Ogun State Investment Promotion and Facilitation Agency (OgunInvest) at the MITROS Hotel and Residences, Abeokuta, the state capital, said that feat catapulted Ogun state out of the economic abyss to number two in terms of revenue generation and number five in the ease of doing business index in Nigeria.

    Amosun, who was represented at the launch by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Taiwo Adeoluwa, said his government also tackled all the issues that hitherto, turned Ogun into a “pariah state” in terms of economic development and growth.

    Read Also: Amosun’s booby trap for Dapo Abiodun

    He said OgunInvest would serve as a one-stop shop for would-be investors in the state and also serves as an interface between the government and the investors.

    According to him, the agency  would also ensure sustainability of his administration’s economic policies and programmes in order to place the state on irreversible path of rapid and steady socioeconomic growth.

    He noted  that though the Agency was established by Executive Order to facilitate both net worth  investment and  small businesses, his administration had forwarded an executive bill to the House of Assembly for the Agency to be backed by extant law to ensure continuity and sustainability.

    “The Agency was established by Executive Order, but an executive bill has been forwarded to the House of Assembly to pass the bill into law, so that it can be sustained and continued by the next administration. The Agency christened OgunInvest is meant to facilitate inter-governmental relationship and equally to streamline investment activities in the state.

    Amosun said: “OgunInvest will also serve as a friend of business within government; and this has been broadened to ensure that successes recorded by our government in the area of investment are sustained. As at now, our GDP and economy are growing faster that the national average. We have also attracted over 75% of the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Nigeria to our state.

    “In terms of IGR, we are only second to Lagos State and we even plan to overtake the state. So in order to put Ogun on the path of irreversible economic growth and development, we have established this agency, to ensure we move the state further on high economic pedestal and improve our rating in the ease of doing business index.”

    Also, the Consultant to the state government on OgunInvest, Fehintola Odulaja, expressed the confidence that  the economic project would ensure wholesome development of Ogun through series of incentives directed at wooing more investors to the state.

  • Fake herbalist arrested for trying to defraud Ogun Police Commissioner

    Fake herbalist, Tayo Ogunmola, has been arrested by the Ogun State Police Command for attempting to defraud the newly posted Police Commissioner (CP) to the state, Bashir Makama.

    Ogunmola, 52, who is cooling his heels at the Police’s cell, attempted to swindle Makama through phone calls, after he had sent recharge card to the Police Commissioner.

    In a statement on Sunday by the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, the suspect was arrested when he called the Police Commissioner, and was passing himself off as an old herbalist who mistakenly sent a recharge card pin to the telephone number of the (CP), and pleaded for the pin to be sent back to him.

    Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), stated that the Police Commissioner who was familiar with the antics of the fraudsters, decided to play along with the suspect while he sent men of the  Intelligence Response Team to technically track and apprehend him.

    Read Also: Hoodlums raid Ogun APC Secretariat

    He added that the suspect who was unaware of his being  trailed, later began to present himself to the CP as a Deputy Inspector General of Police, that is ready to assist him only if he could  part with certain amount of money unknown that the person he had been discussing with, is a serving Commissioner of Police.

    According to the Police Spokesperson in the state, the suspect was traced to his hideout at Araromi phase 2 in Ilogbo area of Ota, Ogun State, and was promptly arrested.

    “On interrogation, he confessed been a fraudster who had defrauded many unsuspecting members of the public of money running into millions of naira out of which he built the house he is living in presently.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Bashir Makama, has ordered the monitoring team to properly investigate the suspect with the view of arresting his other accomplices and arraign them before the court of competent jurisdiction,” Oyeyemi concluded.

  •  Regent tasks Ogun govt on kingship tussle

    The Regent of the Emuren town in Sagamu council area, Ogun State, Chief Nasiru Taiwo  has appealed to the state and the local government to allow the will of the people of the town and that of the kingmakers  to prevail in the selection of the monarch of the town.

    Taiwo said this in an interview with news men recently at the nomination of candidates for the kingship position in the town which was held at the Open field in Emuren town. The nomination process was at the instance of the Secretary  to  the Sagamu council area,  Otunba  Wale Fakoya who  had in a letter dated May 9,  2019, directed the Olori Ebi of the Owuyo ruling house to convey a meeting of the leaders of the family to agree on a date for nomination of candidates.

    Panic and anxiety gripped residents of  Emuren town over alleged plan by a serving lawmaker in the Ogun State House of Assembly to foist his preferred candidates on the people of the town as the next monarch.

    It took the intervention  of anti riot policemen from the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad  (SRAS ),  military personnel , Agbekoya  and other security  operatives to dislodge  miscreants.

    Read Also: Day-old baby dumped in Ogun river

    Taiwo, who is also the Lisa of the town also expressed his surprise at the sudden rush by the Sagamu council area  to ‘ hurriedly ‘ install a king in the town , after delaying the process for more than a year .

    Top business man, Otunba Segun Alonwole was among the seven candidates nominated by the members of the Owuyo Ruling  House , whose turn is to provide the next monarch of the town .

    Otunba Alowonlo was nominated as the candidate of the Onadi family, a branch of the Owuyo Ruling house , while another family , the Oduedo refused to nominate any candidate for the race .

  • Hoodlums raid Ogun APC Secretariat

    •Vital documents carted away

    Hoodlums on Wednesday night broke into the Ogun State Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress(APC) on Abiola Way, Abeokuta. They carted away vital documents.

    The state Chairman of APC loyal to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Chief Derin Adebiyi , who takes custody of the secretariat, told reporters that all offices and floors in the two-storey building were  raided by the suspected  hoodlums.

    Adebiyi explained that the hoodlums also destroyed properties such as air conditioners, television sets and chairs in the offices.

    He stressed that the air conditioners and televisions were mere  decoys  to mask motives, as none of them were taken away from the complex, except documents.

    Adebiyi, who took reporters round the facility, added that  the hoodlums gained entry through the rooftop of each of the offices ransacked.

    Adebiyi said the intention of the vandals remained unknown but suspicious.

    He said it might not be unconnected with an attempt to destabilise the party as Governor Ibikunle Amosun winds down his administration.

    He said: “The attack was massive and destructive. All offices were broken into, including those of the chairman, the state secretary, the organising secretary, among others.

    “The Ogun State APC chapter condemns the incident in the strongest terms as barbaric and uncalled for. This trend is worrisome as it is believed that the incident targeted at destabilising activities of the party as the governor winds down.

    “We wish to state that the Ogun State chapter of APC is a peaceful and law-abiding political party. Our party believes in the rule of law and due process.  In this regards, the party has reported the matter to the security agencies for investigation

     

  • Oba Hamzat laid to rest

    The late Olu of Afowowa Sogade, Ewekoro Local Government, Ogun State Oba Muftau Olatunji Hamzat was buried on Monday in line with Islamic junctions.

    The Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sheikh Hadi Orunsolu, led the congregation in prayer before the corpse was committed to mother earth.

    The burial took place in the palace in the presence of family members and well-wishers.

    Thereafter, Muslim clerics, children of the deceased and sympathisers moved to Community Primary School field directly opposite the palace for fidau prayer.

    The national missioner of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdulrahaman Ahmad advised the audience to always prepare for death.

    Ahmad said death is the ultimate thing in human life but regretted that we devote our time to worldly demands.

    He said: “If you think life is the beginning and the end, you will know the truth when death comes.

    “Nobody can escape death. We should prepare for death, fear God and do good to our fellow human beings for our Creator to make the next world easy for us. “

    Another Islamic scholar, Sheikh Mojeed Ayinla, said the deceased was an epitome of wisdom and urged the audience to emulate him.

    Read Also: Oba Hamzat is dead

    Ayinla,  who is the Deputy national missioner of Nawar Ud Deen Society of Nigeria, said the good children left behind by the late monarch bore testimony to his integrity and wisdom.

    Other Islamic clerics present include Chief Imam of Ewekoro Local government Sheikh Muhideen Aranse -Oluwa and representatives of Chief Imams of Lagos, Epe,  Badagry and Ikorodu .

    Political elites were also present. They include Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Lagos State chapter, Alhaji Tunde Balogun; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode represented by his Special Adviser on Civic Duties, Benjamin Olabinjo; wife of Lagos Governor-elect, Dr Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu; APC stalwart,  Elder James Odunbaku; Director General, Sanwo-Olu/ Hamzat Campaign Organisation,  Mr Tayo Ayinde, Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly, Mr Sowunmi and Local government chairmen from Lagos and Councillors States.

    The Oba of Lagos,  Oba Rilwan Akiolu was represented by white cap chiefs.

    Members of Oloja of Epe and Olu Epe traditional councils were also there.

    Speaking to reporters after the programme, son of the deceased who is also Lagos Deputy Governor-elect, Dr Obafemi Hamzat described his father as a principled man.

    According to him: “My father thought us not to promise what we cannot fulfill. We shall continue to abide by it.

    “If you are honest and transparent in your dealings with fellow human beings you will have nothing to fear,” he said.

  • Community group celebrates leader

    It was a historic day in Iloye community in Ado/Odo Local Government Area of Ogun State, penultimate weekend as hundreds of the residents sang and danced.

    They were happy with the Chairman of the Community Development Association (CDA), Elder Sanyaolu Oguntoyinbo, over his achievements as the chairman of the CDA. In the circumstances, they unanimously agreed that his tenure be elongated for another four years.

    Elder Oguntoyinbo, it was learnt, had served as the community chairman for years when he was an official of the Nigeria Customs Service before he retired and was re-elected as the community’s chairman four years ago.

    It was gathered that the retired officer had served on different capacities that had brought developments into the community.

    One of the landlords, Elder Olufemi Jegede, decribed him as humble, disciplined; transparent and peace loving man. He said he had improved on the road, security and electricity in the community.

    According to him, Oguntoyinbo, on quarterly basis, raises fund to grade the community road, maintain electricity transformers; change faulty ones, prompt payment of security guards, even as he partnered with health practitioners and private school owners to give scholarships to pupils and provide free health services for the residents.

    At the swearing-in ceremony, the representative of Ogun State Ministry of Community Development and Co-operatives Mr. Tunde Abdulsalam-Muritala, urged the chairman and members of his executive to work with love, unity, co-operation, transparency and accountability in the service to the people.

    He appealed to them not to encroach into each other’s areas of operation, saying this always bring conflicts and hinders infrastructure developments in the community.

    He said the agency was established to oversee the affairs and enhance the living condition of people at the grassroots and socio-economic transformation of the state through the framework of Community Development Associations (CDAs), Co-operative Societies and Trade Associations.

    He said the agency would continue to provide enabling environment for Community Development Associations (CDAs), Co-operative Societies and Trade Associations for effective service delivery between the government and the people at the grassroots.

    He appealed to all CDAs not to relent in their efforts to engender more development in their areas, saying it will one day turn to the era that government would be able to provide all the needs of the citizens.

  • Drive cautiously in accident-prone areas in Ogun, FRSC advises motorists

    The Ogun State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has advised motorists to drive cautiously in accident-prone areas on Abeokuta-Sagamu Expressway, to avoid unnecessary loss of lives.

    The FRSC Sector Commander in Ogun, Mr Clement Oladele, gave the advice in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota on Tuesday.

    Oladele noted that the highway accounted for 12 deaths in 16 road accidents recorded in the first quarter of the year.

    He said that the corps’ rescue teams in the state had rescued 41 persons injured in the accidents on the highway.

    The sector commander identified such accident-prone areas to include Muhammadu Buhari Estate, Adedero, Siun, Kobape and Day Waterman Junction.

    Read Also: FRSC warns tricyclists, motorcyclists, others

    “Motorists are enjoined to drive cautiously at the bend adjacent to Buhari Estate, as three crashes that claimed three lives were recorded around this area.

    “They should drive carefully at these dangerous locations and should not exceed 80 km per hour,’’ he said.

    Oladele noted that the FRSC, as part of its efforts to reduce road accidents, would mark the United Nations Road Safety Week between May 6 and May 12, by sensitising the public on the importance of safety.

    According to him, the UN Road Safety Week, which also coincides with the West Africa Road Safety Organisation (WARSO) Day, is scheduled for May 8.

    The sector commander said that the theme for the WARSO Day is entitled “Evaluating Road Safety Performances in West Africa’’.

    Oladele said the command, as directed by these international road safety events and in furtherance of its efforts to reduce carnage on the roads, had decided to evaluate and re-jig its public enlightenment.

    According to him, the FRSC is working hard to better manage the vehicular traffic on Lagos-Abeokuta; Sango-Ota and Ifo axis.

    “FRSC in Ogun will continue to ensure that traffic gridlock is prevented at the stretch of the road around Iyana-Ilogbo, where Julius Berger Nigeria Plc is undertaking re-construction work,’’ he said.

    The sector commander, however, noted that the command would continue to sustain its prompt response to traffic gridlock and accidents.

    NAN

     

  • FRSC apprehends over 7,000 traffic offenders in Ogun

    The Ogun State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) on Thursday said 7,698 traffic offenders were arrested across the state in the first quarter of 2019.

    Mr Clement Oladele, the Sector Commander of FRSC, made this known in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ota, Ogun State.

    Oladele explained that the number of erring drivers arrested reduced by two per cent with 7, 698 from 7, 868, during the same period in 2018.

    “A total of 7, 698 offenders were booked for various offences in first quarter of 2019,” he said.

    The sector commander listed the prevalent offences among the erring drivers to include speed limit violation, tyre violation, non-use of seat belt and speed limiter device violation.

    Read Also: Five die in Ogun as vehicle rams into Truck

    He reiterated the Corps’ commitment to ensuring that highways were safe for the public through intensive public enlightenment campaign.

    Oladele also warned motorists to desist from driving against traffic and adhere strictly to average speed limit, especially when approaching construction sites.

    NAN

     

  • Amosun clears deductions, April salary with N20.2bn payment

    Amid low turnout of workers that almost marred the 2019 edition of May Day celebration in Ogun State, out – going Governor Ibikunle Amosun cleared all outstanding deductions owed the workers and also paid their April salary.

    Amosun also announced that new set of staff (about 1000 of them) have been recruited into the state workforce, just less than 30 days to leave office.

    The May Day celebration was without the usual enthusiasm in Ogun, and MKO stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta,  was scanty and looked pathetic unlike what obtained in the past as more of the workers  shunned the May Day celebration while the few that turned – up, wore forlorn and mournful look.

    It was not until  the Governor mounted the dais and assured them that by tomorrow (Thursday), he would pay N10.1bn outstanding deductions and also settle all salaries totaling N10.1bn to the workers, that a modicum of enthusiasm could be elicited from some them.

    Others remained largely unmoved and skeptical. One of the workers, who pleaded anonymity, told The Nation that the low turnout of workers should be expected, given the serial ill – treatment of them and the organised labour unions in the state.

    But notwithstanding, the Governor  declared that from tomorrow (Thursday), they would all receiving alerts for all deductions and full gross April salary, totaling N20.2bn, disclosing further that he has instructed the Finance Commissioner to ensure that all  leave allowances must come in from next week.

    According to him, all promotion letters would be rolled out up to 2017 but the in – coming Governor, (Dapo Abiodun) would handle that of the 2018.

    Read Also: I’ll hands off by 12 midnight on May 28, says Amosun

    Amosun also regaled himself with the assurance that his administration would leave behind, a workforce that is more informed, better equipped and can even work anywhere compared to what he met on ground in 2011.

    He said: “We are not where we should be, but clearly we are on the right path. Yes, we may have our issues, but to the glory of God, we are leaving Ogun State better than we met it. We are leaving behind a workforce that is more informed, better equipped and can even work anywhere.

    “All we need to do is to follow the path we created and still creating to follow it through. Tomorrow, you will receive N20.2b for all outstanding deductions and April salary.

    “From next week, we will begin to pay our leave bonuses. As for the gratuity, I am not going gratuity to 2019. Gratuities are monies we use for development when we leave the service. We must wait at least two years before we bring in our papers and use one year to process the papers.

    “So when you count back from when we will be leaving, whatever it is that we are owing, we will run round to pay that part of gratuity. I am not owing anybody for the checkup dues, deductions and salaries since 2011 to 2019 that I will be leaving.

    “The newly recruited staff is not kangaroo recruitment. These are people that sat for the exam almost a year back and the procedures were followed; not that Amosun just woke up one day and said because I am leaving, I will bring in more people.

    “These are the people that wrote ASCON exam since early last year. We just took one thousand from them. If we are to pick all that wrote the exam, we may probably day we want to pick five thousand.

    “We picked one thousand from those that sat for the ASCON exam. We have given them their letters. As we employ more and create new offices in the public service, there is also the need to create necessary ambience, to bring out the creativity and professionalism of our public servants.”

  • Five die in Ogun as vehicle rams into Truck

    Five persons – three males and two females, have died on Sunday afternoon in Ogun State when a Primera car conveying them careened on a truck parked by the roadside, after it had somersaulted several times.

    The accident which occurred around 1:37pm at the Olorunsogo –  Kobape  – Siun corridor of the Abeokuta – Sagamu expressway, involved a Nissan Primera car marked KTU 875 DP and VOLVO Truck with registration number LAR 119 YD).

    A witness said the driver of the Primera car was sighted over – speeding recklessly, lost control of the wheel and the vehicle first somersaulted before ramming into a stationary Volvo truck parked off the road.

    Read Also: EFCC arrests 32 suspected Yahoo-boys in Ogun

    The Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps(TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, who confirmed the accident said the remains of the victims were deposited at the morgue of the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, while the vehicles have been towed to the Obafemi Owode Divisional Police Headquarters.

    “We learnt the Primera Saloon car is a commercial vehicle, used in running shuttle from Sagamu to Abeokuta.

    “All the five casualties involved in the fatal accident were inside the Primera car when the accident happened.

    “TRACE Corps is again using this avoidable and unfortunate incident to call on motorists to desist from over speeding and reckless driving because of its attendant consequences,” Akinbiyi stated.