The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogun state

  • Unpaid arrears: ASUU-TASUED appeal to  Amosun

    Unpaid arrears: ASUU-TASUED appeal to  Amosun

    …Says subvention has reached N2 billion

    Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun State has served Governor Ibikunle Amosun notice to pay over 2billion subvention owed the institution over the last 15 months. The union warned that government’s continued default could disrupt the peace being experienced on in the first university of education in the nation’s history.

    In a briefing at ASUU TASUED secretariat on Tuesday, the chairman of the union Dr. Bayo Adesanya announced that Ogun State government has defaulted TASUED 15 months subventions, adding that the development has affected the smooth running of the institution.

    Adesanya lamented that series of meeting with governor Amosun, and other officials of government and the state Ministry of Education has not yielded any results.

    Adesanya put the current wage bill of TASUED at N175million, noting that by government’s subvention policy of paying 70 per cent, Amosun administration owes TASUED about N2billion for 15 months.

    He said: “The efforts made to government to release subventions to TASUED in the past 15 months have not been positive.

    “It is clear that the system will be grounded if this continues as the administration cannot be allowed to face the real assignment of teaching, research and community service, but struggling on how to raise cash to address its needs. The situation has made the administration to seek for funds from every available source.

    He continued: ‘’the payment of salary to staff in the university has taken a worrisome dimension. The administration of the university has become incapacitated in meeting her obligations of salary payment to university staff. Since January, 2016 the university administration could not promptly pay salaries to the staff.’’

    According to him, staff are owed two months salaries comprising June and July this year, saying deduction made on behalf of staff cooperatives and others have been delayed since April. Adesanya added that additional 10 months deductions are owed cooperative bodies since 2012.

    Adesanya explained that workers are owed several arrears of entitlements such as CONUASS, and hazard allowance. The Earned Academic Allowance which was embedded in ASUU-FG agreement since 2009 is yet to be implemented too, Adesanya added.

    ‘’In Ogun State, it can be clearly stated that what is budgeted is not even released; yet government takes pride in these institutions not funded by it. Staff morale is dampened, commitment is reducing as their rights are denied having worked for the system, Adesanya lamented.

    Adesanya’s vice Dr Rotimi Ettu and Secretary Dr Damilola Adejoye described the briefing as a notice to Governor Amosun to do the needful. The duo appealed to stakeholders particularly in Ogun State to prevail Ogun State government to give TASUED workers their dues, hoping that such prompt intervention would not truncate the atmosphere of peace the university has enjoyed for years.

  • Police uncovers fresh plot to attack Ogun community

    Police uncovers fresh plot to attack Ogun community

    Armed policemen have taken over the whole of Sagamu, Ogun State, blocking both remote and strategic entrances to the boisterous town, following plans by suspected cultists to wreck further violence on residents.

    Rampaging cultists are said to have perfected plans to visit Sagamu and neigbouring villages with sustained violence in a cult – war – driven reprisal attack, the Police hinted, but assured that they would be tackled.

    It was learnt that the cultists had planned to storm Sagamu from Ago – Iwoye between Friday or Saturday.

    The spokesman of Ogun Police Command, Mr.Muyiwa Adejobi, who made this known to reporters, hinted that the Command have also got information that some prominent chiefs in Emuren in Sagamu Local Government Area  of the state were harbouring and promoting the cult groups.

    Adejobi, a Superintendent of Police blamed the incident on a cult group which went to Emuren and killed the goat a rival group had planned to slaughter in celebration of its anniversary leading to a reprisal attack.

    According to him, 17 suspected cultists have been arrested in Ago – Iwoye while 23 others were arrested in connection with violence in Emuren and two other communities.

    It should be recalled that on Thursday, the cultists unleashed mayhem in Igbosoro, an Ogun community, allegedly killing at least eight persons, including a pregnant woman.

    The pregnant woman was said to be married to a cultist who disappeared when the hoodlums came looking for him his Igbosoro residence.

    Earlier, some suspected hoodlums had also struck at Fakale, Emuren and Igbosoro communities, leaving no fewer than seven persons dead in the aftermath of the raids.

    It was gathered that among the victims of the latest attack was the son of the Baale (community leader) of Fakale.

    The cultists, suspected to be members of the Black Axe confraternity, who were said to be celebrating their annual orientation known as 7/7 (July 7) shot and injured residents.

    Adejobi said:”On Wednesday, the cult group went to Emuren and killed the goat of other rival group for celebration and they went angrily to attack them back but they have their target. The command did not have the record of those killed, they are hurting themselves and they have their targets and at least to an extent we thank God they have not been killing.

    “But today (Friday) we have information that some of them are from that community, they are been invited into Emuren community. We have allegation that some traditional chiefs are harbouring and promoting them.We are going to spread the scope of our investigation to unravel this and if it is true, any community leader that is involved in promoting cultism will be dealt with accordingly or face the wrath of the law.

    He added: “We have 12 suspects from that angle. In Emuren alone we have arrested  three suspects, they said one of them is a son to a Chief, we are still investigating, we have another one arrested in other community, we went on all round operation, we have additional 12 just for today(Friday), making 17 suspects. In Emuren specifically which is the conflict theatre, we have three persons. We are working on them and we are going to subdue them, is not only in this place, all together in the State now we have 40.

    “In Ago-Iwoye we have 17 persons arrested and as I speak with you we have information that they are coming again with their new boss to attack Sagamu, the Divisional Police Officer of Sagamu is on the express now.They (the Police) have block all the entrances into Sagamu. They want to cause problem and unrest for us in Ogun State and we are going to tackle them and we are going to puncture their tyres.”

  • 19 die in Lagos-Ibadan expressway crash

    19 die in Lagos-Ibadan expressway crash

    Fifteen people yesterday died in a multiple auto  accidents on Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

    It involved a truck, a fuel tanker and a commercial bus.

    The accident, which occurred  at the Fidiwo-Ajebo, Ogun State stretch of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, left 19 passengers and driver of the commercial bus dead on the spot.

    The truck was marked AJG 40 XA and fuel tanker has a registration number RAN 571 XA. The passenger bus was marked (LAGOS) AGL 373 XR.

    It was learnt that the accident occurred, when the driver of the fuel-laden truck moving in the direction of Ibadan, Oyo State, attempted to overtake another truck at a road diversion point.

    But the driver lost control of the truck and veered off, crashing into the commercial bus, which was coming in the opposite direction.

    As at 2:30pm, operatives of Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), the police and the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC) were seen trying to pull victims out of the mangled passengers’ bus.

    The Sector Commander, Ogun State Command of the FRSC, Adetunji Adegoke, in a text message to The Nation, stated that 15 persons  – six females and nine males – died in the accident. One person sustained injuries.

    Adegoke, who blamed the cause of the accident on “wrongful overtaking”, added that the injured was taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.

    He said the dead were taken to FOS Mortuary, Ipara, near Sagamu.

    The FRSC Sector Commander advised “drivers to obey road traffic rules and regulations, avoid wrong overtaking, observe speed limit as well as shun the use of expired/tokunbo tyres to avoid accidents on the roads”.

     

  • Three docked over alleged assault in Ogun

    Three docked over alleged assault in Ogun

    Three men were on Thursday arraigned in a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Ota, Ogun, for allegedly assaulting one Bankole Semiu.

    They are Saheed Ajimokokan, 39; Abiodun Oyede, 38; and Sunday Adebayo, 31; all of no fixed address.

    The prosecutor, Cpl. Abdulkareem Mustapha, told the court that the accused persons and others still at large were arraigned on a two-count charge of assault and conspiracy.

    Mustapha said the accused persons committed the offences on April 22 at about 5:00 p.m. at Oruke Area, Ijegemo, Ota.

    The prosecutor said the accused persons and their accomplices conspired among themselves to assault Semiu by inflicting a deep cut on his head with a cutlass.

    He said that the offences contravened Sections 80, 355 and 516 of the Criminal Code Vol.1, Laws of Ogun, 2006.

    The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs A.I. Adelaja , granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties in like sum.
    Adelaja said that the sureties must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and should be gainfully employed.

    She also ordered that the sureties swear to an affidavit of means and produce evidence of one year tax payment to the Ogun Government.

    In addition, the magistrate said that the sureties should submit four recent passport photographs to the court while their addresses should be verified by the police.

    Adelaja adjourned the case till June 16 for hearing.

  • I take responsibility for collapsed market complex – Amosun

    I take responsibility for collapsed market complex – Amosun

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun on Friday said he has taken responsibility for the collapse of an Ultra – Modern Market complex being constructed at the Old Oyo road by the popular Itoku market, Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

    A wing of the dual four – storey market complex caved – in around 9am, killing one person – Mrs Noimat Sikiru (a nursing mother), and injuring seven others out of about 18 workers who resumed work there in the morning.

    Amosun who was sighted coordinating the rescue efforts at the scene of the collapsed structure, said he would not leave the location until the excavators and rescue team had gotten to ground zero to ascertain that nobody is still trapped in the rubbles.

    Speaking with reporters on ground, he said the state government would investigate the incident to establish what caused the structure to crumble down.

    Amosun said: “I take full responsibility of what happened here, not even the Commissioner for works can take the responsibility because when the glory comes we share it together but if anything goes wrong, I take the blame so I take full responsibility but we are going to get to the root of the matter”.

    “As early as 9 o’clock in the morning, the workers were here as always, 16 all together as we have told and a little minute after 9am we have this partial collapse of this building.

    “Out of those 16, eight came out immediately the building collapsed and the remaining 8 they were hurriedly taken to the hospital, one unfortunately died on the way to the hospital, two were discharged immediately because they sustained minor injuries. The remaining five are still at the hospital, they also sustained minor injuries”.

    “We can’t leave this place the way it is, because it is better for us to act under caution we are not that comfortable with the way this place is and that is why we have to get to what we called ground zero and we will get there before we leave here today because we want to be sure that nobody is still trapped under the collapse.

    “The most important thing to us is to ensure that no further lives are lost. We will leave here until we are sure that nobody is still trapped in there.

    “We are going to find out the cause of the collapse. When you look at this building particularly you will discover that the topography of this side of the building is lower and that is why we have the basement here and sure the engineers and everybody else will get to the root of the matter”.

    “We didn’t pray for this but we are going to double check other buildings of the State projects to determine their structural viability. We are very saddened about the fact that we lost a live, we have gotten across to the members of his family.”

  • Ogun state will be the best in five years- Amosun

    Ogun State governor, Ibikuble Amosun has said that Ogun state will become the best state in five years.

    He stated this in an interview with Channels television.

    According to him, this will happen as a result of the state’s numerous successes in attracting million-dollar investments recently.

    Speaking ahead of the recent State Economic Summit, Amosun revealed that the internal generated revenue of the state has increased despite the debt profile of State put at N65 bn.

    He also stated the importance of the economic summit which focused on opportunities in the environment, transportation and agriculture sectors of the state’s economy.

    “There are currently new ways in doing things. That is why we must forge partnerships with those that have done it. Infrastructure has increased in the state, same goes for transportation.

    “Our roads are as good as it gets now. Ogun state is secure. Ogun state will be the best in five years. We have the largest number of industries in Nigeria. We have plans to develop our transport options and we look forward to building three airports in the state,” Amosun said.

    The building of the three airports, the governor said is not for luxurious purposes, but what the country needs to develop our transport system.

  • First pictures of KSA after death rumour

    First pictures of KSA after death rumour

    Contrary to rumours floating on the internet that music legend King Sunny Ade is dead, The Nation can authoritatively confirm that the famed juju maestro is alive and well.

    On Wednesday, KSA as he is fondly called by his fans was in Ijebu Ode, Ogun State, to pay a visit to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, at his palace. The musician’s manager, Clement Ige, who had earlier dismissed the rumour made a picture of KSA’s visit to the traditional leader available to our correspondent.

    SunnyOn Monday, news of the juju musician’s death went viral on the internet.

    KSA, who was nominated for a Grammy award in 1987, turns 70 on September 22.

    On Sunday, April 24, he was honoured with a Silverbird Lifetime Entertainment Award alongside Victor Uwaifo and film maker Eddie Ugboma.

  • Policemen, others arrested for ‘armed robbery’

    The Police in Lagos have arrested some of its personnel including one Sergeant Victor Omorokai, who allegedly hijacked a 20 feet container at the weekend in Ogun State.

    Also arrested were three civilians, including a supposed buyer of the container laden with auto spare-parts.

    It was gathered that the policemen numbering four, all attached to the State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti-Yaba, on Saturday night blocked the container with their Sienna car.

    The Nation gathered that they pretended to be officers on duty and flanked the heavy duty vehicle down.

    As soon as the driver stopped, they were said to have pointed a gun at him and his conductor, ordering them out of the trailer.

    The suspects were said to have detoured the container to Abbatoir, where they contacted a prospective buyer who came and inspected the goods but did not buy.

    Unknown to the suspects, the trailer conveying the container had a car tracking device and was being monitored by its owners.

    It was learnt that a distress call was made to the police informing the agency about the incident and notifying it that the trailer had a tracking device.

    “The police then started monitoring their location as they were moving and tracked them to Agege. Three police units made of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), Safer Highways and the Okokomaiko Police Division were deployed.

    “The teams blocked the various entry and exit points. The suspects contacted another buyer and was moving towards Okokomaiko when the police stopped the container.

    “At first, they pretended they were policemen who arrested the truck but when they saw that they were in trouble they started shooting. While three of them managed to escape, Sergeant Victor Omorokai was arrested. Three civilians have also been arrested in connection with the crime,” said a  police source.

    The Nation gathered that an Inspector was among the fleeing suspects and that the case was transferred to SARS for discreet investigation.

    Confirming the arrest, the state command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos said: “They (suspects) were trailed to Okokomaiko where they were arrested. The case is still under discreet investigation.”

  • Unilever reaffirm commitment to sustainable business in Nigeria

    Unilever reaffirm commitment to sustainable business in Nigeria

    The Managing Director, Unilever Nigeria Plc, Mr. Yaw Nsarkoh, has said that the company will continue to step up its capital investment in the country by enhancing its local manufacturing capacity.

    Nwarkoh made this known on Wednesday when he led the Management team of the multinational company on a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Ogun state, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, at the governor’s office, Oke Mosan in Abeokuta.

    According to him, the company which has been operating in the state since the 80s, has concluded plans to expand its business base in the country, albeit the prevailing economic challenges.

    He noted that the company is a proudly Nigerian business which has been in the country for over 90 years, and intends to stay for even longer.

    His words: “Ogun State is strategic to our business operations. We have been here for a long time and we hope to continue to do business here, add value to the community, to the people and the state at large. We believe in the survival of the community, because the community would drive the survival of any business.

    “As a company, we are committed to the growth and development of Nigeria and we will continue to do our best to support the various initiatives of government, while stepping up our capital investment in Nigeria.”

    In his response, Governor Amosun, commended the company for their interest in the state, and promised that government would provide all the necessary assistance to the company in their expansion plan, adding that his administration is committed to creating the required conducive environment for businesses to thrive.

    He said, “The state has classified Unilever Nigeria as one of our stakeholders, one of the companies we will continue to encourage.

    “We will continue to partner with companies that adhere to best practices. We thank you for creating employment opportunities for our people; we look forward to having you as one of our partners during the forthcoming economic summit.”

  • Over 1. 6 million Nigeria lives with diabetes

    The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye has disclosed that over 1.6 million Nigerians are living with type 2 form of Diabetes across the Country.

    The Commissioner made this disclosure in a chat with Journalists in Abeokuta, the State Capital, while campaigning and sensitizing members of the public on the prevalent rate of diabetes in the Country to mark the World Health Day celebration with the Global theme tagged “KILL DIABETES”.

    He said 2.2 Million Nigerians are careers of the diseases without knowing, adding that about 30% kidney failures in the Country are as a result of diabetes.

    “It has been discovered according to research that the rates at which people die come as a result of self inflicted None-Communicable diseases, like cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. I will like to put it on record that 30% kidney failure recorded cases came as a result of diabetes” Ipaye said.

    While calling on stakeholders to adopt multisectorial approach to challenges in the health sector in Ogun State, Ipaye said people should live a moderate lifestyle by eating, drinking and going for regular medical checkup.

    Speaking on the symptoms and prevention, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health Dr. Nafiu Aigoro, said frequent urinating, excessive intake of water, growing lean and frequent eating without control are regular symptoms of diabetes, saying that smoking and obesity are also a major risk factor of diabetes.

    Urging members of the public to always feed on vegetables and fruits than junks food, Dr. Aigoro said regular exercised of the body can greatly reduced the risk of having diabetes and all other None-Communicable diseases