The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogun state

  • USA, Haiti, others to grace African drums festival in Ogun

    USA, Haiti, others to grace African drums festival in Ogun

     

    … Festival will promote unity, rich culture – Amosun

     

     

    Performance troupes and drummers from the United States of America, Haiti, and nine other countries have expressed interest to participate at the second edition of the African Drums Festival this April in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital in Southwest Nigeria.

    Apart from Cuba which would grace the festival as an observer, over 12 Nigerian States have also confirmed readiness to participate.

    These were made known to journalists on Tuesday by the Secretary to the Government of Ogun State, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa, during a World press briefing about the festival at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    Adeoluwa said the State would be spending an amount less than N50 million on the Festival.

    The Logo of this year’s African Drums Festival with the theme, “Reviving our Culture in Drums,” was unveiled by Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who was represented by his Deputy, Princess Yetunde Onanuga.

    The Festival is been organised by the State government.

    Adeoluwa cited Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, Congo Brazzaville and Zimbabwe as some of the African countries that would attend the event.

    He explained that the Festival would be both participatory and competitive, saying those who want to compete would opportunity to do so while those who don’t, would enjoy themselves.

    “It will cost the State so little, what we are spending is under N50 million and it is not about the size of the budget. We are using direct labour and we are sourcing for everything locally, we are also leveraging on our friends and supporters who are partnering with us,” he said.

    According to him, the 2017 edition has been expanded to take care of troupes from private and Non – Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

    Before unveiling the festival’s logo, the State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, said the festival would promote unity and showcase the rich cultural heritage of the African continent as well as put the State on the world map.

    Amosun said: “the unique aspect of the festival was the unveiling of the world tallest drum last year. It (festival) received greater acceptance, and it has opened doors for our brothers and sisters from other African countries. It is one way of promoting unity in the continent.”

    The maiden edition of it kicked off in Abeokuta on April 19, 2016 amid glamour as drummers from every part of the country graced the festival.

    While it lasted, the tallest drum in the country, standing at about 16ft was unveiled by the host Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun and witnessed by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and his wife, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adetona Gbadebo, Senator Momora, representative of the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed and the Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, Mrs. Sally Mbanefo.

     

  • Woman docked over alleged theft of N5m

    A 41-year-old woman who allegedly stole N5 million worth of building materials from her employer was on Friday charged before an Ota Magistrates’ Court in Ogun.

    The accused, Funmilayo Alabi, who lives at No. 29 Adetoun Street, Iyana -Ilogbo, is facing a charge of stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Sgt. Chudu Gbesi, told the court that the accused sold building materials worth N5 million to customers on credit without the consent of her employer, one Raul Sallau.

    The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The offence contravened Section 390 (6) of the Criminal Code, Law of Ogun State, 2006.

    The Magistrate, Mr S. O. Banwo, granted N1.5 million bail to the accused with two sureties in like sum.

    He adjourned the case until April 3 for hearing.

     

  • Osinbajo a true man of God – Daniel

    Osinbajo a true man of God – Daniel

    Former Governor of Ogun State, Otunba (Engr.) Gbenga Daniel has described the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo as a true man of God and thoroughbred professional, imbued with exemplary leadership qualities. 
    In his goodwill message on the occasion of the 60th birthday anniversary of the Acting President, Otunba Daniel stated that the landmark achievements of Professor Osinbajo both in private and public life are pure testimonies of a selfless statesman, dedicated democrat and nationalist whose service are much needed especially at this crucial period of our nation’s history. 

    Gbenga Daniel
    Daniel
    This is contained in a statement issued on Wednesday by Ayo’ Giwa, Media Assistant to the former Governor, observing that the relation with the Acting President started a long time ago.
    “My relationship with Professor Osinbajo dates back to our university days during the time which he has been exhibiting qualities of a born leader which earned him much respect and admiration. Definitely, his best is yet to come.
    “As he celebrates this milestone, my family and I wish him many more years of robust health and divine wisdom in the service of our dear Fatherland.”
  • Senate probes Customs ’invasion of Ogun market

    Senate probes Customs ’invasion of Ogun market

    The Senate, Thursday, asked its Committee on Customs and Excise to investigate the alleged unlawful breaking into shops of traders at Kayero market, Sango Otta, Ogun State.

    The invasion of the market was said to have taken place on February 22, 2017 at the dead of the night.

    The resolution followed a motion by Senator Gbolahan Dada (Ogun West), entitled, “the unlawful and outrageous action of officers of Nigeria Customs Service for breaking into shops of traders at Kayero Market, Sango Otta, Ogun State at 1 am on Wednesday, 22nd February 2017 without the presence of shop owners and carting away thousands of bags of rice and several cartons of vegetable oil worth billions of naira”.

    Senator Dada in his lead debate noted that by the provisions of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA), which set up the agency, Customs officers lacked the constitutional and statutory powers to break into shops or premises of any Nigerian without a valid court order or search warrant.

    He said that even when such order or warrant was obtained, it must be executed in the presence of witnesses or concerned shop owner or premises owner.

    The lawmaker explained that the essence of the provision was to preserve the rule of law, avoid breakdown of law and order and prevent self-help remedies by aggrieved persons.

    He regretted that “at about 1 am on Wednesday, February 22, Customs officers went out of their way and negated the above constitutional provisions by breaking into many shops in Kayero market, where they allegedly carted away bags of rice and other items worth billions of naira.”

    Senator Dada noted that the recent Sango Otta saga was not the first time the officers of the Nigeria Customs would engage in such perceived lawless action against Nigerian traders, leading to inflicting untold hardship on them (traders) under the guise of looking for smuggled goods.

    He said, “It is highly unconscionable for officers of Nigeria Customs Service to claim that the confiscated bags of rice and cartons of vegetable oil are smuggled products considering the fact that such goods never dropped from the skies to find their ways into the affected shops but rather passed through Nigeria borders under the watchful eyes of Customs officers being paid by tax payers money to protect our borders.

    “The unlawful action of officers of Nigeria Customs Service for raiding shops indiscriminately and confiscating goods already in the country is becoming worrisome, disturbing and capable of breaching fragile peace we are enjoying in this country.

    “If nothing is done by this hallowed chamber to stop unlawful raids of shops and confiscation of goods already in Nigeria by officers of Nigeria Customs Service without obtaining valid court order or search warrant, a time is coming when affected Nigerians will resist such untoward action with imaginable devastating consequences”.

    Senator Adamu Aliero,(Kebbi Central) opposed the motion.

    He said that the Customs officers simply carried out their legitimate constitutional assignment, and should not be queried by the Parliament.

    Senator Abdulaziz Murtala Nyako (Adamawa Central), countered and insisted that the matter must be investigated to ascertain the true position of the allegation, whether or not the Customs officers acted within the law.

    He posited that it was improper for the officers to break into the shops of traders as alleged without authorization as specified by the law.

    The lawmaker said that that constituted authorities must respect the law of the land and the rights of the citizens.

    When Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the plenary session put the matter to voice vote, the motion was overwhelmingly supported and the prayer adopted.

  • Gov. Amosun wades into Customs/Rice Sellers’ rift

    Gov. Amosun wades into Customs/Rice Sellers’ rift

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has promised to intervene in the rift between men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) and rice sellers in Sango/otta area of the state.

    Amosun made the promise on Thursday when scores of the traders stormed the governor’s office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, to protest raiding of their markets by customs officials on Wednesday.

    A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who monitored the protest, reports that the traders chanted solidarity songs and carried placards bearing inscriptions which disparage the NCS.

    The governor, who spoke through Mr Bimbo Ashiru, his Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, called for restraint and suspension of all forms of protests while he mediates between the traders and the NCS.

    Speaking after a closed-door meeting with the representatives of the traders, the commissioner promised that government would intervene.

    He said that he had commenced the process of intervention since he heard of the incident on Wednesday.

    Ashiru said: “I heard of what happened at Sango-Ota market.

    “The government will intervene, in fact, we have started doing something about it.

    “As part of our efforts, we have contacted the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service.

    “As we speak now, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Taiwo Adeoluwa is in Abuja concerning the matter.

    “When adire sellers had this kind of problem, the government intervened and the problem was resolved.

    “We will intervene in this one too, but I want to appeal to you to remain calm and suspend all manner of protest.”

    NAN reports that on Wednesday, the rice sellers staged protest against raiding of their markets by customs officials.

    They blocked both lanes of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway at Sango end.

    The protest paralysed traffic and business activities in that axis for hours.

    However, the NCS denied raiding their shops; they claimed that their operatives only raided a warehouse in the market where contraband goods were kept.

  • Re: LASTMA officials in Ogun State

    Re: LASTMA officials in Ogun State

    SIR: The attention of the management of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has been drawn to a letter published with the above captioned in The Nation of Tuesday, February 7, witten by Abiodun Taiwo Rauph, from Sango Ota, Ogun State.

    The writer submitted that agencies created by each state in the federation are exclusively responsible to the state and their services begin and end within geographical boundary of such state, with exception of federal agencies that may function under different s scenario and circumstance.

    Abiodun claimed that he saw some officers of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) arresting commuter drivers and extorting money from them at the former toll-gate in Sango Ota, Ogun State. According to him, he approached them to inquire where the cross border order for Lagos State traffic officials came from and why they did not stop their activities at the Lagos State side of the border like the Police. “The men replied that their boss was aware of their presence at the point and nobody can stop them”.

    He stated further that series of twitters sent to the LASTMA office for clarifications on this issue are without response till now, and this illegal act still continues unabated.

    The agency wishes to thank Rauph for his letter, even when we would have preferred all other communication avenues were fully exhausted before going to the media. Furthermore, the agency is not in possession of the supposed twitter sent to it. Otherwise we would have swung into action and arrest the alleged LASTMA officers. More so, if they are LASTMA officials, they acted on their own and the agency’s searchlight will be beamed in that direction and others.

    However, it is not out of place to have LASTMA officials lending helping hand to their counterparts in Ogun State to help ease traffic in and outside Lagos in the spirit of oneness.

    But suffice to point out that when dealing with LASTMA officials, watch out for names. Abiodun’s inability to mention any name in the letter has made the investigation into the matter awkward and allegation spurious. The agency has zero tolerance for corruption and indiscipline. Therefore, our fervent belief is without discipline, the agency will fail in its core responsibilities which are to achieving seamless traffic on Lagos roads and functioning in line with the global best practices.

    It may interest the writer that many officers have been dismissed; many are currently facing Personal Management Board (PMB) discipline for various acts of indiscipline contrary to the extant rules. Officers on duty are enjoined to always demonstrate high level of decorum and discipline. It is to curb such nefarious act and interface with the public that we operate an open door policy for report to be lodged or phone call to the following: 08025876702, 0802340337 or Twitter: @followlastma, FB: Lagos State Traffic Managament Authority and Instagram:eko_lastma.

     

    • Mamud Hassan,

    LASTMA Headquarter,

    Oshodi, Lagos.

  • Bill upgrading MAPOLY to university scales second reading

    The Bill to upgrade Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) to a state University of Technology, on Wednesday, scaled second reading at the Ogun House of Assembly.

    The bill is titled: A bill for a law to provide for the establishment of Moshood Abiola University of Technology and for matters of administration and discipline of students connected therewith.

    The Majority Leader, Mr Adeyinka Mafe, who moved the motion for the second reading of the bill, described it as historic, adding that it would encourage more students to study science and technology courses.

    “We have come to a stage whereby the nation is trying to diversify; it is very important to encourage our people in terms of research.

    “We need to encourage our people to go into science and technology so that we have entrepreneurs like they do in other advanced countries.

    “In Ogun State, we have so many secondary schools, if we have this University of Technology, it will give an opportunity for indigenes of the state that wants to study courses that are not available in our state universities,” he said.

    The majority leader urged the lawmakers to give the bill accelerated passage, saying that the people of the state would appreciate it.

    In his submission, Mr Victor Fasanya, (Abeokuta South 1), who seconded the motion, said education was the bedrock of socio-economic development of any country.

    Fasanya, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Education, explained that the bill would have a great impact on academic research which would lead to a technological breakthrough.

    According to him, the bill is timely, as Nigeria requires more people who would extend the frontiers of science and technological development.

    Also, the Deputy Speaker, Mr Olakunle Oluomo said that if established, the university would offer opportunities for more students from the state seeking admission into tertiary institutions in the country.

    “It is futuristic and timely to have a university of technology that will accommodate our ICT graduates, it is good for all of us to make history.

    “MAPOLY started 37 years ago and it has the infrastructure and every other thing,” he said.

    During plenary, the bill for a law to provide for the establishment, incorporation, constitution and function of the Ogun State Polytechnic, Ipokia scaled second reading.

    Mr Suraj Adekunbi, the Speaker, commended the lawmakers for their contributions and thereafter ordered that the bills be committed to Committee on Education, Science and Technology for further legislative action.

  • Four arrested for murder in Ogun

    Four arrested for murder in Ogun

    The Ogun State Police Command has arrested four persons for an alleged killing of 52 years old woman, Sidikat Onasanya,  at Imoro village near Ogijo area of Sagamu.

    The suspects –  Adewale Abimbola, Monday Benzon, Mukaila Azeez, and Shodeinde Oluwafemi, who are said to be land grabbers,  were arrested last Wednesday following information provided by Wasiu Onasanya, the deceased’s son.

    Onasanya  complained that he was in the village a day earlier around 9pm when the suspects stormed their area and attacked him with dangerous weapon.

    According to him, while the suspects  were making  effort to abduct him to unknown destination, his mother, the late Sidikatu Onasanya, attempted to prevent them but fell when they shoved down violently.

    The Nation gathered that the woman became unconscious and was quickly rushed to the Mount Zion Hospital, Ikorodu but was confirmed dead by the Doctor.

    The Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said upon the complaint of Onasanya,  the Divisional Police Officer,  Ogijo Police Division, Mr Tijani Muhammed, led a team of Policemen to the scene and arrested the suspects after exchange of fire between them and the Police.

    Abimbola added that other members of the gang  escaped into the nearby bush while 23 expended ammunitions and two live cartridges were recovered from the scene.

    The Police Spokesman also said the remains of the deceased have been deposited at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital(OOUTH), Sagamu for autopsy.

  • Gateway Hotel to be resuscitated -Amosun

    Gateway Hotel to be resuscitated -Amosun

    Gov. Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun on Monday reiterated his commitment to resuscitating the Gateway Hotel in Ota, Ogun.Amosun disclosed this during the Opening Ceremony of the First Shoprite Plaza situated at the Toll-Gate in Ota.

    According to Amosun, the resuscitation of the Gateway Hotel would complement the new Shoprite Plaza in bringing development to Sango-Ota, as well as the entire Ogun State, because of its proximity to Lagos State.

    He added that this would boost commerce and industrial activities in the area and also generate employment opportunities for youths in the state.

    “l am delighted that Ogun State has finally joined the states that have Shopping Malls, just like any other, in the world.

    “This development goes further to confirm our status as a mega-city, with things like this. Congratulations to Shoprite, congratulations to the Palms, the Chairman of the mall and so many others that will come to do business here,’’ Amosun said.

    He, however, appealed to the chairman of the mall, to build more Shoprite plazas at Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Ilaro, Sagamu and all other major cities in the state.

    The governor also noted that there were over 110 companies that had invested between 200million dollars and over 2 billion dollars in the state.

    In his remarks, Mr Tayo Amusan, Chairman, Palms Shopping Mall, said that the new Shoprite Plaza would cater to the immediate needs of the people at a cheaper rate and would also reduce unemployment in the state, in particular, and the country as a whole.

  • Danger Signal? Not Ogun State!

    SIR: The attention of the Ogun State government has been drawn to The Nation editorial published on Monday, November, 21.

    The editorial titled “Danger signal”, which relies on the report of BudgIT, suggests that Ogun is one of the 33 states unable to pay workers’ salaries. Nothing can be further from the truth.

    It must be stated with all emphasis that Ogun State is not among the 33 states in Nigeria that cannot pay workers’ salaries. The state under the leadership of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, pays its workforce as and when due. The government does not owe workers any salaries, despite the current financial crisis in the country.

    The financial meltdown, which actually began in 2013, drastically affected the monthly income from the Federation Account. However, due to prudent and sound financial management introduced by the Amosun-led administration upon mounting the saddle of leadership in 2011, Ogun State recorded an unprecedented rise in monthly Internally Generated Revenue from N750 million to a peak of N6.4 billion in early 2015. Although, this has now reduced to between N4.75 billion and N5.5 billion due to the current recession, we are affected but not overwhelmed by it.

    The Amosun-led government gives monthly grant to the local councils in order for that third tier of government to meet its recurrent expenditures. Otherwise the local councils won’t be able to pay salaries as income from the Federation Account is barely enough to pay the primary school teachers let alone the entire local council workforce.

    Despite the fall in Federal Allocation Account, we still ensure we meet our monthly recurrent expenditure.

    On the state governments’ loans bought over by the Federal Government (structured loans), it is public knowledge that it was only Ogun State that opted for a 10-year repayment period as against 20 years, thereby saving Ogun a whopping N84 billion! And we are meeting our obligations without default.

    Our diversification efforts remain enviable. Currently, we are fourth among the 36 states in terms of the growth in IGR.

    The fact that Ogun State, due to the enabling environment provided by the current administration, consistently takes over 70% of total investments in non oil sector in Nigeria, as revealed in the report of the Manufacturing Association of Nigeria released towards the end of 2015, speaks volumes.

    Of course, even our ardent critics and the opposition acknowledges the massive infrastructural development of the current administration. Investments in free education, free health and other social services, including regular payment of salaries, have increased the bond and trust between the government and the good people of Ogun State.

     

    • Adewale Oshinowo,

    Commissioner for Finance, Ogun State.