The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogun state

  • Ogun’s infrastructural development and its pains

    In 2017, a colleague at one of the state broadcasting stations in Ogun State lost her father to the cold hands of the death. It was gathered that the old man did not survive the shock from the announcement that his house will be demolished to pave way for road construction in the state capital.

    I cannot in any way fault the decision of the Ogun State Government to embark on massive infrastructural development in the state. Fortunately, I was actively involved in the reportage of the massive campaign of Senator Ibikunle Amosun in all the 20 Local Government Areas (if not the 234 wards) in Ogun State during the 2011 general elections. The then candidate of the Action Congress of Nigerian (ACN) did not mince words on his resolve to turn Ogun State to “mini Dubai”.

    I was privileged to be in attendance at one of the first official engagements of the governor in 2011 during the official opening of a world-class pharmaceutical company in Ogun State attended by former governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola. Fashola was the cynosure of all eyes at that event due to his remarkable achievements in infrastructural development in Lagos State. In fact, Governor Amosun acknowledged the encomium rained on Fashola asking Nigerians to reserve some of the adjectives of praises for him as he embarked on his “Rebuilding Mission”. Senator Amosun explained that his plan for the infrastructural development of the state will be unparalleled in the history of the state, if not Nigeria.

    No doubt, the governor is working round the clock to fulfil his electioneering promises especially in the area of infrastructural development. My observation and analysis of the discussions in the public sphere (physical and virtual) indicated that there are no opponents to the “Rebuilding Mission” in terms of massive road construction in Ogun State. This was what some observers described as the “Construction Site of Nigeria”. The theme of the opposition messages was mainly the methodology or approach adopted by Senator Ibikunle Amosun administration to the infrastructural development.

    This is the area the governor and his team needed to make adjustment and amendment if this government intends to get the “reserved” adjectives of praises rained on former Governor Fashola.

    The gains of the massive infrastructural development in Ogun State are evident just as its pains. Ogun State now prides itself as housing the largest manufacturing companies in Nigeria. When companies are folding up in different parts of Nigeria due to the unfriendly business environment, more are springing up in the Gateway State. This has reduced the unemployment rate in the state and improved its security climate.

    How do you also describe a scenario where property where demolished after few days of quit notice only for the government not to commence work on the site for years? Why are you in a haste to demolish people’s property without giving them enough time to relocate? Why not pay compensation before commencing demolishing exercises to serve as a temporary succour?

    It must also be stated that government is not wholly responsible for some of the agonies of the victims of demolished structures across the State. Some of them are self-imposed.

    As responsible citizens, we must begin to change our attitude and orientation on doing the right thing at the right time. It is not ideal to acquire landed property without confirming its status from the Bureau of Lands and Survey. What do you expect when you build on land that had been acquired by the government? We must support the “Building Right” programme of the government. This is the preventive measure for us, at least to have the moral justification to question any unpopular decisions and draconian policies of the government.

    For instance, the government amnesty termed “Home Owners Charter” offered by the Amosun-led administration to those who built without approval of the appropriate government agencies was not extended to those who encroached on land under the acquisition of the government. I was under intense pressure by these set of people to report that the Home Owner Charter was a sham.

    Just as we are appealing to the state government to inject human feelings in the implementation of its projects, programmes and policies; we must also learn to act responsibly in our dealings with the government.

    The government must do everything within its power to ensure that no life will further be lost to its road construction. Prompt payment of compensation, provision of temporary relocation, adequate grace period for quit notices, special preferences to the poor and referral of victims to trauma centres and IDP camps are the least the government can do to stop further death and explosion in the numbers of “living corpses” in Ogun State due to its massive infrastructural development termed “Rebuilding Mission”.

     

    • By Jamiu Folarin

    Crescent University,

     Abeokuta, Ogun State.

     

     

  • Truck rams into parked car, kills five, injure two in Ogun

    An auto accident along the Sagamu – Ogijo road, Ogun State, has left five persons dead and two others injured when a truck crushed a Toyota car.

    The accident which involved a Toyota Camry Car marked AAA 889 ER and a  Truck with registration number  KNA 346 XA, occurred at Igbara town stretch of the road on Thursday evening.

    The Nation gathered that the driver of the truck had trouble controlling the wheel when his brake malfunctioned and rammed into the Camry car that was parked by the road side.

    The Camry car had pulled – up at Igbara town, to wait for somebody when the truck with malfunctioned brake ran into them.

    Five occupants of the car were crushed to death on the spot while truck’s driver and passenger sustained injuries.
    The Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, who confirmed the accident, attributed the cause to malfunctioned break and excess speed.

    Akinbiyi said the truck rammed into improperly parked camry car, crushed it with five persons inside.

    He added that the Operatives of the TRACE have taken the remains of the dead to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.

    “The truck had a break failure due to over speeding and rammed into the Camry car poorly parked by the roadside.

    “All the five passengers in the Camry car, including the driver died on the spot and  their bodies have been deposited at the morgue of  Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital(OOUTH).

    The injured were the driver and a passenger in the truck, who are now at the Ogijo Divisional Police Headquarters and  the  accident vehicles,” Akinbiyi said.

  • Police arrest killer of two Ogun school pupils

    The Ogun State Police Command on Wednesday said it has arrested the suspected mentally deranged man, Lekan Adebisi, who hacked to death, two pupils of St. John’s Anglican Primary School, Agodo, in Ogun Waterside Local Government of the state.

    The pupils –  Mubarak Kalesanwo  and Sunday Obituyi, were hacked to death in a gruesome manner by Adebisi  when he  attacked the school Monday this week during break hour, prompting the police to start trailing him.

    It was learnt that the suspect who was still wielding the machete used to slaughter the school pupils, attempted to attack Policemen and hunters who trailed him  to a bush but was immobilised and apprehended  when he was shot on the foot.

    In a statement by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, he said the suspect was arrested in the early hour of Wednesday, 48 hours after committing the crime.

    Read Also: Tears as two Ogun pupils are burried

    Abimbola added that the combine efforts of the policemen attached to the Ogbere Area Command led by Makinde Kayode and the local hunters led the suspect’s arrest.

    “The suspect who was identified has Lekan Adebisi broke into the compound of ST. John Anglican school Agodo with cutlass and hacked two pupils of the school to death after which he ran away.

    “The commissioner of police CP Ahmed Iliyasu who was so furious about the incident gave a matching order to the Area commander Ogbere and DPO Abigi Division to fish out the murdered within the shortest possible time.

    “In compliance with the CP order, the area commander mobilized policemen and local hunters for the manhunt of the suspect.

    “Their efforts paid off in the early hour of today when the suspect was seen in a bush around the community. While they wanted to arrest him, the suspect who was brandishing a sharp cutlass attached them consequence upon which he was shot and injured on the leg. He has been taken to hospital for medical treatment,” he stated.

    According to the Police Image maker in the state, the commissioner of police  Ahmed Iliyasu has directed that the case be transferred to the Homicide section of state criminal investigation and intelligence department for proper investigation.

  • Fed Govt uncovers 130,000 high net worth persons, companies underpaying tax

    Fed Govt uncovers 130,000 high net worth persons, companies underpaying tax

     

    The Federal Government’s data mining efforts has identified a new batch of over 130,000 high net worth individuals and companies that have potential tax underpayments.

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, made this revelation on Tuesday while appearing on the Good Morning Nigeria programme of the Nigerian Television Authority.

    The Minister disclosed that the data was currently being compiled by Project Lighthouse in preparation for the closure of the ongoing Voluntary Assets and Income Declaration Scheme (VAIDS), which ends on 31st March, 2018.

    Project Lighthouse is a unique project of the Federal Ministry of Finance that combines data from Federal and State agencies and overseas countries.

    According to Adeosun, “data have been received from a number of sources including land registries of the Governments of Lagos, Kaduna, Kano and Ogun States as well as the Federal Capital Territory.”

    “In addition, Nigeria has been able to request data from a number of nations including traditional tax havens. The data have been received from a number of foreign jurisdictions under the exchange of information protocols.

    “Under the exchange of information protocols, this information relates to bank records and financial filings for tax purposes and is obtained from tax havens who are signatories to the information sharing agreements such as British Virgin Islands and Mauritius.”

    She explained that the data received from overseas countries would only be used for taxation purposes in line with the protocols governing the exchange of information

    “The sole interest of the Federal and State Governments in the use of the data is in raising tax revenues. There is absolutely no hidden agenda on the use of the data,” she added.

    Adeosun was however happy at what she called “the unprecedented level of cooperation between the Federal and State Governments”, which she said was a marked change from the past when the various arms of Government did not align their efforts.

    The Minister identified the common violations by non-compliant tax payers to include:

    • Under-declaration of and non-declaration of income earned including income from Government contracts and overseas trading;
    • Collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) which is not duly remitted to FIRS;
    • Charging of non-allowable personal expenses to company accounts particularly with reference to overseas school fees;
    • Inconsistency between income declared for tax purposes and the value of assets owned.

    She advised non-compliant tax payers to seek professional advice and to also consult relevant literature available from the tax authorities on tax rules.

    She underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to raising tax revenues which are considered essential to grow the economy and create jobs for Nigerians.

    She cited the fact that just N1 million could feed over 14,200 primary school children under the Homegrown School Feeding programme as well as creating many jobs in the agricultural sector.

    Read Also: Adeosun to multinationals: evading tax is foreign corrupt practices

    Once again, the finance minister ruled out any possibility of extending the VAIDS programme arguing that sufficient grace period had been given to tax payers to voluntarily and truthfully declare their assets and income which had not been declared previously.

    On the economy, she assured that the country was on the path of growth, noting that Nigeria had exited recession in the second quarter of 2017, recording a growth of 0.72 per cent, further consolidating its recovery in the third and fourth quarters of last year, with growths of 1.40 per cent and 1.92 per cent, respectively.

    Adeosun said, “The Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has laid the foundation for the repositioning of the economy by a series of reforms which are being sequenced to ensure maximum impact and benefits to Nigeria and the citizens.

    “These include huge investments in infrastructure and social welfare across the country, improved revenue mobilisation, rebuilding of foreign reserves and stabilization of exchange rate.”

    She further noted that revenue mobilisation was potentially the master key to unlocking Nigeria’s huge growth potentials and funding the infrastructure programmes.

    In addition, the Minister said the Federal Government would continue to create more fiscal space for reforms to enhance productivity and opportunity in the non-oil sector.

     

  • Truck rams into building, kills security man

    Truck rams into building, kills security man

    A truck bearing granite on Saturday morning veered off its lane at the Obantoko stretch of the Abeokuta – Ibadan road and rammed into a building, killing a security man in the process.

    The truck marked LSD 308 XG was said to have ran into the security chalet, damaged it and also killed the security man inside.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, who confirmed the accident, said the truck had a break failure and rammed into the security post of the  building, killing the security man.

    “There was a brake failure on the part of the Iveco truck loaded with granite having white head and blue bucket with registration number LSD 308 XG. It rammed into the security chalet of a building.

    “A security man of the said building died and his remains have been  taken to the morgue of the Federal Medical Centre(FMC), Abeokuta.”

  • Ogun calls for cooperation among fish farmers

    Ogun calls for cooperation among fish farmers

    The Ogun State Government on Friday advised fish farmers to join in cluster farming and cooperate with the government in order to achieve its set objectives.

    It also advised them to embark on  programmes aimed at reducing importation of fish and fish products.

    Mr Adekunle Ajayi, Director of Fisheries Services, Ogun State Ministry of Agriculture, gave the advice in Abeokuta.

    It was  at a lecture organised by the Catfish and Allied Fish Farmers Association of Nigeria ( CAFFAN ), Ogun State Chapter.

    The lecture is titled : “Actualising the Calculative Factors in Profitable Fish Farming”.

    Ajayi, while delivery his paper, said the cluster  farming among fish farmers would help to produce sufficient fish to feed the nation.

    He added that it would encourage  export in order to generate foreign exchange and generate employment.

    “Fish farmers coming together as one body will help move the fish production from the present level to an higher level.

    “It will also assist in identifying factors for  improvement and incukcate among them  the factors which will harnesss them for more profitable fish farming.

    “Stakeholders in fish farming should join groups like CAFFAN for them to utilise any opportunity being offered at both national and state levels, ” he said.

    Mr Rotimi Oloye, the National President (CAFFAN) , said the initiative behind the programme was to bring together all fish farmers in Ogun under a formal group called (CAFFANOGUN)

    “We are now one and united as a formal group, we have all gathered to recognise ourselves an indivisible groups of fish farmers.

    “The main reason for having CAFFAN  is to do better than what we have done, it is also a natural platform through which all fish farmers and government set goals will be achieved, ” he said.

    Oloye, however, implored all members to see the coming of the platform as the next stage for success and accomplishment.

    NAN reports that  the new executive members were inaugurated for the newly established CAFFANOGUN.

    Mr Sunday Izomo was elected the chaurman, Mr Omitogun Ganiu, (Vice-Chairman) , Mr Adewale Balogun, (General Secretary) , and Mr Laja Olowojeunjeje as Treasurer.

    Also, Mr Asafa Fisayo was elected the Financial Secretary, while Mr Michael Musowo is  the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of  CAFFANOGUN

    In a separate interview, the Chairman of  CAFFAN, Ogun Chapter, Mr Sunday Izomo, identified  high cost of feeds, fish pricing, and funding  as the major challenges facing most fish farmers.

    Izomo lamented that the consistent hike in the cost of fish feeds was affecting fish farmers and consumers.

    NAN

  • Unending legal battle in Ogun PDP, pushed me to APC – Isola

    Unending legal battle in Ogun PDP, pushed me to APC – Isola

     

    Former Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Sarafa Tunji Isola, on Friday disclosed that the unending legal battle in the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was the reason he left the party to join the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Isola who is the Baba Adinni of Yorubaland, said he could no longer cope with the PDP in Ogun State  which kept doing the same thing same way, believing that a different outcome would emerge.

    The  Secretary to the Ogun State Government from 2003 – 2007, who made this known in a statement in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, recalled that it was the protracted legal battle and factionalisation of PDP that led to its defeat in 2011 general elections in the state.

    He noted that he arrived at the decision to leave PDP after wide consultations with his followers and associates.

    Read Also: Ogun engages firm to manage waste

    “I am leaving PDP because of the unending legal battle in Ogun state; this leading to protracted crisis in the party.

    “You will recall that the same legal battle was responsible for the failure of the PDP in Ogun State in Year  2011 general elections and the  electoral defeat of the party in Year  2015.

    “It is very clear that If you continue to do the same  thing, same way, you can’t get a different result. Moreover, an intractable crisis less than one year to general elections will spell doom for the party.

    “Having decided to leave PDP, I embarked on wide consultations across the country, particularly in Ogun Central Senatorial District on the next line of action.

    “Across the nation, the general opinion of my associates is that a former minister should play politics in a party with national spread. In addition, all politics is local and the opinion of leaders and various  political stakeholders in Ogun Central is to  join APC.

    “The reason they adduced is the face – lift of Abeokuta, the state capital and the infrastructural development of Ogun State by the APC government led by the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration,” Isola stated.

     

  • Waste management: Ogun engages service of private firm

    Waste management: Ogun engages service of private firm

    Ogun State Government has engaged the service of a private firm – Solous MRF 1 Limited, to manage municipal waste across the state, as part of measures to promote clean, safe and healthy environment.

    The Commissioner for Environment, Mr Bolaji Oyeleye, made this known in statement on Thursday in Abeokuta.

    He said that the firm was hired on Feb. 12, following a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two parties, which was followed by a joint technical meeting on Feb. 20.

    “The Ministry of Environment will provide all necessary technical support to ensure that the service provider achieve its mandates as stated in the MoU,” Oyeleye added.

    According to him, the firm, which specialises in waste management, recycling and conversion of waste to revisable energy, is expected to manage all levels of municipal solid waste cycle, including waste collection, processing and disposal in the state.

    The commissioner also noted that the partnership would enhance effectiveness, efficiency and optimal performance in solid waste management in the state, with the goal of creating an outstanding waste management sector.

    He explained that the partnership reiterated government’s commitment to actualising its plan for an enviable environmental and infrastructural development of the state.

    NAN

  • Female banker, 27, bolts with employer’s N690,000

    Female banker, 27, bolts with employer’s N690,000

    For allegedly pilfering depositors’ money, a 27-year-old female banker, Ogunumoye Oluwaseun, was on Monday brought before an Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court.

    To date, the accused had allegedly stolen N691,050, belonging to Astra Polaris Micro Finance Bank ( APMFB ), Abeokuta.

    The accused, whose address is unknown, is facing a charge of stealing.

    She denied the charge, but the Police Prosecutor Sunday Eigbejiale insisted that the accused committed the offence from May 2016 to August 2017 at Astra Polaris Micro Finance Bank, Onikolobo Branch, Abeokuta, Ogun capital.

    Eigbejiale said the accused,as a marketer, she collected money from customers and failed to remit same to the bank.

    READ ALSO: Forex: CBN intervenes in retail SMIS with $325.64m

    “The accused collected N691,050 from some customers at different times and failed to remit the money into the coffers of her employer.

    “When the theft was discovered by the bank, the accused absconded from work from Oct. 4, 2017 and all efforts to recover the money from her proved abortive,’’ the inspector said.

    The offence contravened Section 390 ( 9 ) of the Criminal Code, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

    In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Adeola Adelaja granted her bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    She adjourned the case until March 21 for hearing.

    NAN

  • Court orders PDP to obey judgment on Ogun leadership 

    Court orders PDP to obey judgment on Ogun leadership 

    The Federal High Court in Lagos Friday ordered the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to recognise the Adebayo Dayo-led executive in Ogun State.

    Justice Mohammed Idris held the executive’s tenure will not expire until May 2020.

    The PDP in Ogun has been embroiled in leadership tussle, leading to factions and crisis.

    The suit was filed by a member of the PDP National Working Committee, Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju, Ogun State Youth Leader Femi Alao, “national delegates” for Sagamu and Ijebu North Local Government Areas Idris Muniru and Chief Tuke Omotara, chairman of Ijebu East LGA Badejo Abiodun and chairman of Sagamu LGA Kola Akinyemi.

    They sued for themselves and on behalf of “PDP Ogun State Delegates to the National Convention”.

    The defendants include the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), PDP, Tunde Odanye, and others.

    The plaintiffs urged the court to hold that there was a subsisting and binding judgment and orders of the Federal High Court in Lagos and Abuja delivered and issued on June 24, 2016 and on August 10 last year.

    The plaintiffs said by virtue of the court verdicts, only they were entitled to attend and participate in PDP conventions.

    They urged the court to restrain the PDP Caretaker Committee in Ogun State from usurping the plaintiffs’ functions as “authentic officers of the Ogun PDP Executive Committee” led by Chief Adebayo Dayo.

    Justice Idris, in his verdict, dismissed the defendants’ objection on the ground that the plaintiffs are beneficiaries of the judgement delivered by Justice Ibrahim Buba in a suit no FHC/L/CS/636/2016.

    Justice Buba had held that the tenure of the Adebayo Dayo led executive subsists until May 2020.

    Affirming the judgment, Justice Idris directed INEC and the PDP (first and second defendants) to obey Justice Buba’s orders.

    The court also nullified the congresses which were held in defiance to Justice Buba’s judgement and orders.

    “The decision of a court of competent jurisdiction is binding on all parties concerned until set aside by either Court of Appeal or the same court that made the order if found that it was made in error.

    “I am not in agreement that the decision of my learned brother Justice Buba is in conflict with the decision of the learnt law lords of the Supreme Court.

    “All objections are overruled. Parties are bound by the judgement of this court delivered by Buba J. and everybody should obey a judgement of court until set aside,” Justice Idris held.

    The court nullified the appointment of Odanye and others as Ogun State PDP Caretaker Committee, saying their appointment was contrary to Justice Buba’s judgment which affirmed Adeboyo Dayo led exco.