The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogun state

  • Industrialising Ogun State

    As Ogun State prepares to host its second Investors Forum between 21st and 22nd May, 2014, I believe so strongly that there is need to give the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration a pat on the back for the manner it is going about fulfilling its avowed electoral promise of industrialisation and employment generation for residents.

    The watchword of the state government is a picture of the fact that, ‘if you keep doing things the same way, you will keep getting the same result.’

    Hence, its approach to governance in the last three years has brought about several laurels and awards both locally and internationally, including the fastest growing economy in Nigeria, the architect of the new Ogun as well as consecutively adjudged the most secured state in the country.

    The provision of security of lives and properties, which is a duty of government, is paramount in changing the economic face of a state or nation.

    Even President Goodluck Jonathan last year referred to Governor Ibikunle Amosun as ‘a hardworing governor’ at the inauguration of a mega company. He also once said Ogun is the only place he had visited most, not for fun fare, but for inauguration of multi-national companies.

    Speaking at the opening of the United States’ largest investment in Nigeria, Procter and Gamble, located at Agbara, Ogun State, which is expected to provide 2,000 direct and indirect jobs, President Jonathan affirmed that ‘Ogun is the most industrialised state in Nigeria.’

    It is pleasant to note that this was the 43rd mega company to arrive the Gateway State in less than three years. So, I’m not surprised that the up and doing Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Otunba Abimbola Ashiru, also pointed out that nineteen more companies had concluded arrangements to start business in the state this year.

    It is no news that the current administration at inception held an investors’ forum to attract investors as well as breakfast meeting with investors with the governor in attendance and captains of industry while a routine visit to various companies across the state as a way of sustaining the good rapports is on-going.

    This year’s edition, as stated by the government, would be an avenue to showcase the comparative advantage the Gateway State has over others in Agriculture.

    It is no news that Ogun is the highest producer of cassava in the country aside the fact that its soil is one of the best for cocoa, cotton, rubber and several other cash crops.

    Investors from several parts of the country and beyond would converge on Abeokuta, the state capital, see the opportunities that abound in doing agricultural business in the Gateway State.

    As a way of encouraging corporate organisations and individuals to keep up the tempo, a few days ago, the state government honoured faithful tax payers at both corporate and individual levels and assured that it will not relent in using taxes judiciously on laudable projects.

    Apart from creating a secure, enabling environment for business to thrive, “the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration has aggressively transformed the ancient Gateway State from the 19th Century to 21st Century.’’ These were the words of Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo during the opening of the state’s first flyover on 24th January, 2014.

    Today, flyover is no longer strange to us in Ogun. It has now berthed in Sagamu, Ijebu Ode Expressway, Ijebu-Ode town, Sapon and Itoku areas of Abeokuta while three are also being constructed on the 32km Sango-Akute-Ojodu road under construction. Road construction projects are also on-going in Ayetoro town, 107km Ilara-Ijoun-Oja/Odan-Tombolo, as well as Ilisan/Ago-Iwoye Road, Mowe-Ofada road, Magboro Road, Channels Television Road, among others.

    These, no doubt, are strange feats to the state which used to be at the centre of uproar and crisis. However, unemployment is one of the major problems bedevilling the Nigerian nation. And one lasting dividend of democracy that could be given to the man on the street is job opportunity.

    Unfortunately, our practice in Nigeria is more of giving the masses fish to eat rather than teach them fishing. An idle man, they say, is the devil’s workshop.

    The Minister of Finance and Co-ordinating Minister of the Economy, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in The Report Nigeria 2013, Page 43, a publication of Oxford Business Group, pointed out that, ‘unemployment is at 23.9% with youth unemployment at around 37%. In the north-east of the country, where Boko Haram thrives, unemployment is worse, reaching 35% in Yobe and Adamawa.’

    If concerted efforts are in place at all levels of government to engage people in productive service, our country would in no distant time become a ‘Mecca’ for all to visit.

     

    Femi Onasanya

    Abeokuta, Ogun State

  • Provide transformer for Iyana-Ilogbo

    Provide transformer for Iyana-Ilogbo

    IYANA Ilogbo is a community in Ogun State. The people of this place have been suffering for the past two years without complaining, thinking that our problem will one day be solved.

    Our problem is that we have been living in darkness, and this situation has created many hardships for us. We do not feel as living in a modern society.

    The only solution to our problem is the provision of a transformer that will give us regular electricity in the area. The community cannot put this in place on its own because of financial stringency.

    The only person that can bail us out of this mess is my energetic and hardworking governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

    He has given transformers to money communities in Ogun State. He will give us one at Iyana Ilogbo. He will surely do it because he does not want suffering for his people.

    Major Ajayi Ayomide,

    CDA , Iyana  Ilogbo,

    Ilogbo, Ogun State.

  • Fire destroys sections of Ogun Governor’s office

    Fire destroys sections of Ogun Governor’s office

    Mystery fire broke out at the Oke Mosan Governor’s office, and destroyed a section of the
    protocols office and parts of that of the Head of Service.

    The fire incident which began about 11 am Monday, was said to have been triggered by a power surge.

    Civil servants who were in their offices scampered to safety even as some of them made frantic efforts to stop the fire but it was eventually put off some minutes later by the State Fire Service and  some operative of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps(NSCDC).

    Items affected by the fire included some Computer sets, files, furnitures and window panes.

    Governor Ibikunle Amosun who inspected the places torched by the fire expressed joy that no life was lost.

    Amosun: “as you can see, there was no major loss, no life was lost and we had no human causality, you too can go and see for yourself to confirm what happened there.”

    Also speaking, the Head of Service, Mrs Modupe Adekunle said that the cause of fire is traceable to faulty electrical appliances.

    She said: “It was a power surge from the air conditioner. It came suddenly. There were some Officers in that Office, so when they saw it, they tried all means to put off the fire.

    “The only thing affected there was just some sets of computer. The cause of the fire might be from the Independent Power Supply or Public Power Supply since we do not have generator there, but we thanked God that the damage was very minimal.”

  • From waste to wealth

    Considered a waste, metal scraps are a source of employment and revenue, even as more entrepreneurs are discovering the market potential  in the scrap metal collection and recycling . DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    The started as a part-time industrial waste collector as a student in the College of Education, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, in 1986.

    Today, Mrs. Titilola Cynthia Saka, is the chief executive officer, T. Cynthia Nigeria Limited, a company she registered in 1987 dealing on plastic waste, in Lagos.

    Mrs Saka said she drew inspiration from her mother, also a business woman, when she imbued her to be an entrepreneur rather than an employee. And with a vision to transform ‘waste into wealth’, her company has been able to create more than 20 jobs.

    Mrs Saka said one waste material had potential is polyester fibre because of its several uses in many industries and also for its use as packaging material for beverages, food products, pharmaceuticals, consumer and industrial products.

    Scraps, such as aluminum, steel, copper, brass, and glass, are also some items she deals in, as these have a reliable market. Her clientele cuts across large specialist metal firms, while she also brokers deals on scrap materials. From these transactions, especially the sale of scrap materials, extracted metals and glass, huge revenue returns to the company’s coffers.

    As the business expanded, Saka has come to realise the volume of industrial waste firms discard and the need to process them into other products. Buried among the junk are valuable metals and cotton wastes with high market value, which she hires young men and women as waste collectors to dug up and bring to her factory.

    For some time, there has been a surge in metal scrap business, especially following the “waste to wealth” orientation catching up like wild fire among the people. This is more prevalent in the iron and steel sector, where investors as well as merchants encourage idle young men to comb waste dumps sites, mechanic workshops, streets and highways for the remains of vehicles parts, industrial metal wastes and anything in the form of iron and steel. It is a common sight to see tonnes of scrap metal assembled for onward transportation to privately owned steel mills across the country which are eventually processed and converted to iron rods and metal sheets.

    Metal scrap can be classified into two categories, namely HMS (Heavy Melting Scrap) and Used Rails. The business is said to worth over N50 billion a year. Condemned metal articles and motor parts are in high demand and come from as far as Lafia, Keffi in Nasarawa State and Abaji, Gwagwalada and other small towns in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

    Mrs Saka said the business does not require much capital investment. With as little as N40, 000, a chunk of which came from the bursary the Ogun State government gave her as a student, she was able to start her own business, and a combination of cheap labour, low entry costs and limited regulatory controls, makes the business a money spinner. But the turn around came for her when she got a contract from a big firm to supply plastic and metal waste, needed for the firm’s production.

    Abdullahi Abubakar is another person that has found a fortune dealing in metal scrap. Trained as a carpenter, he eventually abandoned the carpentry trade and relocated to Lagos in search of greener pasture.

    On arrival, his friend, whom he simply identified as Salisu, introduced him to metal scrap collection as a means of earning an income. Today, Abubakar looks back with satisfaction at the turn of his earning capacity; he rakes in between N50, 000, from a scrap metal he buys for N10, 000. But it does not come easy for this Kano indigene who has to work many hours a day, six days a week, scouring alleyways and knocking on factory doors for scraps. The intense physical labour involved sometimes can produce dark bruises and aching muscles. He is now used to the scrap yard littered with barrels overflowing with fragments of aluminum, copper and stainless steel. This is why whenever he has the funds, he would buy up scraps behind office buildings to ease his stress of scavenging in the open fields.

    While Abubakar once relied on scrap for survival, today the business is his greatest achievement and accomplishment. He now encourages others to get involved, especialy since he now understands clearly importance and huge hidden wealth of recycling and reusing scrap metal. And because there are low seasons in the trade, when scraps become extremely difficult to come by, Abubakar Adamu, another scrap collector, now has a place where he stores scrap materials such as steel from building and tower demolition, household appliances, outdated agricultural equipment, sheet metal, cable and wire, even tin cans, which he sells at a higher price in times of scarcity.

    In spite of these benefits, these “businessmen” have a challenge- the police, who visit the dump site to collect money from them. Another challenge is that a lot of prospective scrap dealers find it hard to find money to start their own businesses, elongating their period of apprenticeship as it were. Yet, the business is tasking as the weight of the scrap is a challenge while transportation cost to the mills are so high. Also, there is no standard gauge for measurement to get actual value for the product, meaning that most times they are under valued. “Is very challenging taking the scraps to the local steel mills because they are usually heavy hence, truck drivers charge a lot,” Adamu explained.

    Findings by The Nation revealed that the business is a multibillion naira business, where dealers involved rake in a fortune. It is estimated that an average middleman can make up to N1million a week from supplying metal scraps to steel mills. The inability of the federal government to complete the Ajaokuta and Delta steel mills and the comatose state of the several rolling mills in the country gives an added advantage to the thriving metal scrap business.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Ogun charges health workers

    Ogun charges health workers

    The lofty ideas of the Ogun State government on the provision of efficient health care services to the people would at best be a mirage, if personnel and care givers fail to live up to expectation.

    The Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Health, Dr. Daisi Odeniyi, who spoke in Abeokuta, advised the staff of the State Primary Healthcare Development Board (OGPHECADEB), to be more dedicated. Besides, they should uphold the ethics of their profession to make qualitative health care available to the people.

    Odeniyi said primary health care centres remained the first point of call for accessing heath services, adding that health care providers should always be friendly and display good conduct while attending to patients.

    “As health care providers of government, you are expected to be proactive and uphold the principles guiding the profession to deliver the best for the present administration to achieve its rebuilding mission on efficient health care delivery,” Odeniyi said.

    The permanent secretary implored them to be alive to their responsibilities in enhancing the health status of residents, emphasising that the state government remained committed to continually improve the health sector.

    Replying, the Director of the boad’s Primary Healthcare Services Unit Dr. Kafayat Lawal assured that all hands would be on deck to carry out policies and programmes of government on efficient healthcare services, particularly at the grassroots.

  • 2015: 15 for governor in Ogun

    2015: 15 for governor in Ogun

    Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN examines the issues and personalities that will shape the 2015 governorship election in Ogun State.

    Ogun State is delineated into three senatorial districts. These are Ogun Central, Ogun East and Ogun West. Of the three districts, only Ogun West has not produce the governor, since the creation of the state 38 years ago.

    Ogun East produced the first civilian governor, the late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, who ruled between 1979 and1983, and Otunba Gbenga Daniel (2003-2011). From Ogun Central came Chief Olusegun Osoba (1992-1993; 1999-2003) and Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who assumed office in 2011.

    The main bloc in Ogun West , the Yewa, nearly succeeded in breaking the jinx in 2011 when two political parties picked their candidates from the area. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) fielded General Adetunji Idowu Olurin and Mr Nasir Gboyega Isiaka was the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN) flag bearer. The Yewas blamed the defeat of their sons on split votes and the political rivalry between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and Otunba Daniel. They alleged that the two gladiators wrecked havoc on the district by fielding two candidates at a time, instead of cooperating together to secure bloc votes for a consensus candidate.

    A Yewa leader, Chief Ishola Olagunju, observed that the rift between Obasanjo and Daniel has not ended. He warned thatm, as long as the feud persists, it will be impossible for the Ogun West to actualise its push for power shift.

    Unlike in 2011 when the governorship candidates emerged on the platforms of six political parties, the platforms would be narrowed to three in 2015. They are the All Progressive Congress (APC), the PDP and the Labour Party (LP).

    The APC governor, Senator Amosun, is warming up for a second term. Other spirants eyeing his job include Isiaka, former Information Commissioner Sina Kawonise, Abiodun Akinlade, former House of Representatives member Kayode Amusan, renowned estate manager Jide Taiwo, former Steel Minister Sarafa Isola, and Anthony Ojesina.

    Amosun:

    The governor is expected be endorsed for a second term by the APC before the end of this quarter. Even, the PDP leader, former President Obasanjo, is proud of the achievement of the accountant-turned politician. The governor has fought the infrastructure battle across the three districts. He has turned the state into a huge construction site. Amosun has also honed his political skills. Recently, he intiated reconciliation with his leader, Aremo Olusegun Osoba. Peace returned to the party immediately after the truce. The governor is expected to declare for a second term, following the endorsement by the party stakeholders.

     

    Isiaka

     

    He hails from Yewaland. Isiaka contested on the platform of the PPN in 2011. But, he lost to Amosun. He came third in the keenly contested poll. This time, he is likely to run on the platform of the LP because his god father, Daniel, has defected from the PPN, which he single-handedly formed in 2011, for LP. What is working for Isiaka as Daniel’s favourite is his loyalty. Recently, the former governor described him as cool-headed, intelligent and hardworking person.

    In spite of Daniel’s support, analysts are of the opinion that Isiaka may not get the ticket on the platter of gold . There are other candidates in the party. One of them is also a close associate of Daniel. Besides, there are other challenges that would make it difficult for the party to market Isiaka as the flag bearer, if he wins the ticket. His link with Daniel may also be his albatross. Daniel has friends in Ogun State. But, his enemies are also many and they do not want him to bounce back to relevance.

    To analysts, a vote for Isiaka is a vote for Daniel and, by extension, a call for the continuation of Daniel’s style of governance.

    The people of the Ogun State have not forgotten the role Isiaka played as the Managing Director of the Gateway Holdings Limited. It was alleged that public assets were not properly managed. However, the present government had reversed the decision of the Daniel Administration on some of the assets.

     

    Akinlade

     

    Akinlade, a member of the House of Representatives from Yewa (Ogun West), has declared his ambition for the governorship. The former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain became a legislator in 2011on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN). Akinlade unfolded his plan to rule the Gateway State at a time Governor Amosun is seeking re-election.

    However, Akinlade has defected to the LP to realise his ambition. Apart from foot soldiers working for him, he is banking on the goodwill garnered over the years as a federal legislator.

    Analysts have identified impatience, immaturity and inordinate ambition as his major weaknesses. A chieftain of the APC, Chief Adekanmbi Aborode, said that Akinlade is joining the race without sparing a thought for the political developments in the state. He said it will be difficult for him to defeat Amosun, even if he emerges as the LP candidate.

    Also, a youth leader from Yewaland, Yomi Olojeloju, noted that the youths are not unmindful of the fact that Ogun West is yet to produce a governor since the creation. But, he pointed out that the youths have endorsed the governor for a second term. He said, based on his performance, the governor deserves another chance.

    But, Akinlade has objected to this. He said he will perform better than the governor, if elected He explained that he is in the race because the people of the old Egbado Division are agitating for power shift.

    According to observers, Akinlade stands a better chance of becoming the governor, if only he can wait till 2015. Also, he has a better chance if he returns to the APC.

     

    Sina Kawonise

     

    The former Commissioner for Information and Orientation in Daniel’s administration has been using every opportunity to express his governorship ambition in 2015. His loyalty to Daniel is not in doubt. After Daniel left office, Kawonise is still at the service of his political boss. He is the Managing Director of Western Publishing, publisher of the Nigeria Compass owned by the former governor..

    Apart from Isiaka standing on his way from clinching the LP’s governorship ticket, the zoning arrangement may not favour him. The reason why Daniel picked Isiaka in 2011 was that of all the three senatorial districts, Ogun West is yet to produce a governor and that it is their turn of Ogun West. The situation has not changed. Analysts say the odds against Kawonise are many. He is an Ijebu man from Ogun East like Daniel who left office in 2011. Observers are of the opinion that no political party in Ogun State would tinker with an idea of fielding an Ijebu man as its governorship candidate because such candidate would be difficult to sell to the electorate in other senatorial districts.

     

    Sarafa Isola

     

    He served under Daniel’s administration as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and was later appointed Minister of Solid Minerals by late President Umaru Yar’Adua. The circumstance surrounding his removal from the federal cabinet developed into a strain relationship between him and Daniel. However, Isola had dumped the Obasanjo group and reconciled with Daniel. The Egba -born politician is eyeing the Oke Mosan Government House . He is likely to contest on the platform of the LP.

     

    Kayode Amusan

     

    Amusan is a member of the PDP. He has openly declared his ambition for governorship in 2015. The challenges that are likely to confront him in realizing his ambition are many. PDP in Ogun State is polarized. Amusan belongs to Buruji Kashamu that is locked in battle of supremacy over the control of party structure with the group loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo. It was at a gathering in Kashamu’s house in Ijebu-Igbo that Amusan declared his ambition. Kashamu sounded like endorsing Amusan governorship ambition when he said that if Amusan, younger than Olurin, was fielded as PDP governorship candidate in 2011, the fortune of the party would have perhaps, been better at the poll.

    Observers are of the opinion that Amusan who hails from Ogun Central, is being groomed to penetrate the Egbas where the incumbent governor Amosunn also came from. The ultimate goal, according to observers, is to split the votes from Egbaland and weaken the Amosun’s home support.

     

    Jide Taiwo

     

    Taiwo is a household name in estate management. He is being drafted by his Awori kinsmen to give governorship election a shot. The Aworis are the second largest group in Ogun West. He is likely to contest for the PDP governorship ticket.. His foot soldiers are already on the field marketing him. Analysts say the guru in estate management is a green horn in politics but the goodwill he has garnered over the years through estate business across the country may work in his favour.

     

    Anthony Ojesina

     

    He is a former Commisioner for Environment. Ojesina has declared his ambition to occupy the Government House in 2015. The platform on which he intends to realise his ambition is unknown. His mission, if elected governor, he said is to harness the resources to create job opportunities, to enhance the state’s Internally Generate Revenue and improve the healthcare delivery..

     

    Senator Amosun

     

    Although Governor Amosun has not formally declared to run for second term, but the gale of endorsement by party associates, professional bodies, market women, students, religious leaders and traditional rulers point to that direction.

    Amosun is the candidate to beat in 2015, if he seeks re-election. Given his achievement in less than three years in office, the chances of winning the next year’s governorship election is very bright for the Owu-born governor. The roads project cutting across all the senatorial districts, model schools springing up in every nook and cranny of the state, financial re-engineering, clean environment, and provision of healthcare facilities are unparallel in the history of the Gateway state.

    In fact, his endorsement came from unexpected quarters. Former President Obasanjo and a pillar of the opposition party (PDP) who was overwhelmed by the Amosun’s achievements showered praises on him and encouraged him to remain in office beyond 2015.

    The Ogun Youth Professional Forum (OYPF) has also endorsed him for second term based on his administration’s massive infrastructural development drive, and provision of qualitative and affordable education.

    In Ogun West, leaders of thought and traditional rulers in the zone, including the renowned historian, Prof Anthony Asiwaju and the Olola of Ilara Kingdom, Oba Samuel Alade Adeluyi lauded Amosun for opening the area with the 110 km road construction as well as provision of model schools for pupils. They noted that their communities which was almost marooned from each other and from the rest of the state will henceforth be able to inter connect with the road project that stretched over four local government councils in the zone.

    Analysts say the only challenge facing the second term bid of Governor Amosun is the simmering crisis that erupted in he state chapter of the APC recently. The crisis, according to observers, has pitched the supporters of former Governor Osoba against Amosun group. They advised early resolution of the crisis to ensure party cohesion ahead of 2015.

  • Ogun aged people pray for their first family

    Ogun aged people pray for their first family

    It was an impressive weekend at the June 12 Cultural Centre, Kuto, in Abeokuta, Ogun State. On January, 25th 2014, over 2,000 aged people from the 20 local government areas of the state took turns to offer prayers for the first family. It was part of the activities to commemorate the 56th birthday anniversary of the state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

    One by one, the senior citizens expressed themselves as they interacted with the first family. They prayed for the leaders in the state as well as continued reign of peace in Ogun State.

    Elder Tayo Obadina, 82, from Isara-Remo, Remo North LG, prayed for God’s continuous guidance and protection upon the Amosuns, wisdom to govern the state aright, long life and prosperity to be their portion as well as for good health and prosperity so they would eat the fruits of their labour. He thanked the governor and his wife for prioritising their welfare and for always having them in mind, expressing satisfaction over the monumental achievements of the governor in Ogun state.

    Another elderly woman, Mrs. Wosilat Malogun, 95, from Abeokuta prayed for God’s blessings for the Amosun family, adding that aged people have not had it so good since the creation of the state or received any gift or care of such magnitude from any government.

    “Governor Amosun and his wife have been very kind to us. May God continue to bless and prosper your family. As you are putting smiles on our faces, you and your wife and children will always have cause to smile,” she said.

    Alhaji A. Akilapo, 82, from Odeda LG, expressed gratitude to the wife of the governor for recognising the aged and for keeping her promise to sustain the ‘UPLIFTing the Aged’ programme, saying the initiative has brought relief and strength to them as well as improved their standard of living.

    “We are grateful to Mrs. Amosun for extending a hand of love to us on monthly bases. In fact, she has been faithful to her words since she started the programme. This edition mkes it the third one. I pray that the Almighty God will continue to grant you the grace to do more for us and bless all your children,” he said.

    Also Mr. Emmanuel Obasan, 82, from Yewa, also prayed for the governor and his wife, saying: “You will not die young. Your wife and children shall not be cut short in their prime age. As you have uplifted our lives, God will always uplift you and your family. Sorrow and pain shall be far from your home.”

    He commended the governor for his wonderful works in the state, particularly the infrastructural work on-going in all the three senatorial districts, praying that God will continue to be the governor’s shield and refuge and enable him to complete all the projects he has embarked upon.

    Pa G. O .Ogundipe, 90, also prayed for the first family, asking that the grace of God will never depart from the Amosun family. “You have done well for us and we appreciate you and your wife. You will not beg for bread in your life. May God continue to increase you,” he prayed.

    Wife of the Governor, Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, under the initiative, UPLIFTing the Aged, has uplifted and cared for over 5,000 senior citizens from the state’s 20 LG areas in the last three years with the aim of reducing poverty and hunger among the frail, elderly and vulnerable citizens of the state.

    The project was inaugurated January, 25th 2012, to mark the 54th birthday of Governor Ibikunle Amosun, with over 1,000 elderly people in attendance. At the event, the aged people were given health tips, free medical screening, bags of essential commodities and small cash gifts. On January, 25th 2013, about 2,000 senior citizens benefitted from the programme when they received free medical checks, food items and small cash gifts.

    The third edition of the programme took place on the January, 25th 2014 cultural centre with over 2,000 elderly people felicitating with the governor on his 56th birthday. This brings the total number of senior citizens that had benefitted to over 5,000 from 20 LG areas of the state. More than 500 of these aged people are also on monthly plan by the governor’s wife, receiving stipends through their UPLIFTing the Aged ATM Cards for their respective welfare.

    The wife of the Governor noted that the ATM cards would hasten and reduce the rigour and other challenges often encountered in the course of distributing food and commodities to the aged across the state.

    She also explained that the Welfare Card, donated by Ecobank Plc, was a continuation of the welfare package, saying the enlisted aged people could now access their monthly stipends to purchase their food and other commodities without having to travel hundreds of kilometres to Abeokuta or workers of Uplift Development Foundation to get those items.

    She said the Welfare Cards is in line with the proposed cashless policy of the state government to reduce handling of cash in the society. “This would go a long way in uplifting the lives of our revered citizens and contribute positively to the development of our economy.”

    Mrs Amosun also said she has compassion and love for the cause of vulnerable senior citizens in the state, noting that they had contributed their quota to the development of our society and they should be supported and cared for by the younger ones to enable them age with dignity.

    She expressed appreciation to the people of the state, most especially the women, for their continued support for the present administration, pledging her humanitarian services for the upliftment of the citizenry, particularly the aged whom she described as valuable assets who do not have a source of income or anyone to cater for them.

    The wife of the governor added that more programmes would be organised for senior citizens in order for her to regularly extend a hand of love and care to them as part of her service to humanity.

  • Titi Oseni re-strategises

    Titi Oseni re-strategises

    THE former Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Olotu Titi Oseni, has proved over time that she is still as vibrant in politics. Unperturbed by her inglorious exit from the political scene, she did not withdraw into her shell, but continued to grace social functions to launch herself back into people’s reckoning. Well, the gist in town is that the businesswoman turned politician is strategising to hold political office in 2015. Already, sources said she is oiling her political machinery and pitching her tents with those that matter.

  • Community leader passes on

    A community leader, Pa David Adeyemi Eweje, is dead. He was 98. Pa Eweje died on October 28.

    The late Eweje was one of the pioneers of the Famous Grace Bread. A statement by the family said the funeral service will hold Saturday 11am at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witness, Isensi in Ijebu-Ife, Ogun State.

    He will be buried in his home at Oba Adesesan Oguntayo Street, opposite Fowobi Petrol Station, Iwaye Ijebu-Ife. Guests will be entertained immediately.

  • Road to 21st Century cities

    Road to 21st Century cities

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Thirty Seven years old Ogun State has had the rare luck of producing great sons and daughters – dead and living.

    Such great names as Madam Efunroye Tinubu, the Ransome-Kutis, Dr Tai Solarin, late politician and business tycoon, Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, Senator Abraham Adesanya,

    Professor Wole Soyinka, and General Oladipo Diya(rtd) as well as past leaders in Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, Chief Ernest Shonekan and Chief Obafemi Awolowo among others, have come out of the Gateway state

    Ogun is equally home to many historical and tourists sites such as the Olumo rock, in Abeokuta, Yemoja river in Magbon – Ijebu, Birikisu Sungbo shrine in Oke – Erin in Ijebu – Ode, aside natural resources endowment even as it is strategically located within the Southwest of Nigeria – sharing boundaries with the states of Lagos, Ondo, Oyo and even with the neighbouring Republic of Benin.

    But analysts have since agreed that these vantage positions have not reflected much in her in terms accelerated development.

    Intra and inter – state movements remained a huge challenge for residents, visitors and prospective investors particularly during rainy season and in some cases at weekends because of the deplorable poor roads networks.

    And infrastructure wise, the state remains stunted in its growth. Its convoluted and rocky terrain in parts of the state, do not help matters even as poor physical planning, cultural practices and traditions that proved impervious to change, lack of political will on the part of successive  administrations to enforce building regulations conspired to rob its cities of their beauty and much business appeal.

    But today Abeokuta, the state capital, is wearing a new look. And same goes for other parts of the state – Sagamu, Ijebu – Ode, Ago – Iwoye, Sango, Ijoko and Ilara – Ijoun.

    Things are looking up. In the last two years, the Gateway state has become a huge construction site – all cutting across the three Senatorial districts, and all equally geared towards opening the state for accessibility and development.

    This is redefining the shape of things as more investors – local and foreign, have begun to find the state attractive. In recent times, no fewer than 100 industrialists have expressed readiness to berth in Ogun with about 32 of them already on ground to begin business.

    They were spurred by standard road networks, bridges and ultra – modern shopping complexes in advance stages of construction which  are springing up in places hitherto occupied by narrow and windy roads, unhygienic markets, clusters of dingy shops that not only defaced the state capital but also provided hideouts for criminals and peddlers of illicit drugs.

    From Onikolobo, Lalubu, Totoro, Sokori, Sapon, Abiola way, Saje to OGBC all in Abeokuta to Ijebu – Ode, Sagamu, to the 110km Ilara – Ijoun road, and Sango – Ojodu, the trappings of emerging Mega towns and cities beckon with the on – going multi – billion naira roads projects and modern shopping complexes being built to take care of traders whose shops were brought down to give way to the roads expansion scheme.

    One of such is the  lbara / Lalubu / Ita-Eko Overhead Bridge. The 2.4km dual carriage Premier Fly – Over which was built at the cost of N1.5billion begins at Lalubu – Ibara  and opens into the new Totoro – Oke -Sokori six lanes road  also constructed at the  cost of N1.3billion.

    The Totoro – Oke – Sokori road is studded with features such as drains, median, greenbelt, walkway, street lights, modern bus-stop and pedestrian bridge with an air-conditioner.

    The Pedestrian Bridge alone which runs across it costs N260m.

    The massive investment in road infrastructure, according Governor Ibikunle Amosun, was in fulfillment of his electoral promises to the people but they have proved to serve purposes more than just fulfilling campaign pledges.

    The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, captured this essence of the changing face of Abeokuta months back when he appreciated the first state – built Lalubu – Totoro bridge.

    Gbadebo who likened it to the time pipe borne water and Railway station arrived Abeokuta during the colonial era, said the development has predictably transformed the state capital from the 19th century status to that of the 21st century.

    He said:”The flyover can only be compared with the day electric power came to Abeokuta or the pipe borne water was installed in Abeokuta or 1906 when the train entered Abeokuta.

    “The flyover is as major as any of these and I thank the Governor for bringing Ogun State and Abeokuta in particular from 19th century to the 21st century.

    “When visitors come to Abeokuta and they pay courtesy call at the palace, they are always whispering, and asking is this the state we have talked so much about, where are the roads we expect Abeokuta to have, the first class medical facilities, the first class schools as the fountain of education in Nigeria?

    “They expect the very best in Ogun State. We thank God now that we have the governor who has started very well.

    “Our people do say, morning shows the day, if under two years, this government have been able to put in place the flyover in Ibara  and several others like it, we know that in a matter of another year or two, we will be where the best state capital of this nation are.

    “We have been lagging behind all of them for so long; by the grace of God, we are going to overtake all of them that did not move in the same pace they started with.

    “For this, I want to thank the Governor (Senator Ibikunle Amosun) and his team for a job well done, somebody asked me what do we have for the people.

    “ I want to congratulate them for their support and tell them please pay your tax, without paying your tax, good things like this cannot happen. I beg you, anybody who want to enjoy the goodies of life should pay the tax as and when due.”

    Also, a transport consultant, who declined name mentioning, told The Nation that the roads and bridges would facilitate easy, pleasurable movement of goods and services, easy flow of traffic, reduce manpower-time wasted on the road, thereby improving the productive time of persons  plying the road.

    The transport expert added that the roads would also help monitor traffic flow, determine bottlenecks points for solutions as well as assist the police, medical team and other people responding to emergency situations to arrive at the scene or their destination quickly aside the aesthetic values  they add to the environment.

    According to the initiator, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, “the goal is to put Ogun State in the league of advanced economies and make it an investors’ destination of choice, not only in Nigeria, but the sub-Saharan Africa.”

    The governor noted last January that  to achieve that feat, the importance of modern day and world class infrastructure cannot be overemphasised.

    He said: “For this reason, we will continue to rehabilitate existing infrastructure and put them in a position where they will not only stand the test of the time, but stand-out as a reference point for others anywhere in the world. Where the need arises, we will construct not just modern but high-tech infrastructure that will enhance the magnificence of our environment and act as a catalyst for our socio-economic development.

    “I urge all our people to exercise more patience, and continue to support us in prayer and in deeds. As we do this, we will have more dividends of democracy across the nooks and crannies of our state for the overall benefit of our people. Also, I want to use this opportunity to call on the private sector to partner with our administration in the actualisation of the socio-economic development of our State.

    “ Our policy is to create the necessary atmosphere for the private sector to thrive. We need the private sector to make use of these infrastructure while establishing industries that will help to provide jobs for our people. As you do this, we shall be creating wealth for our people and bringing smiles to their faces.”

    But a serving House of Representatives member and Governorship aspirants on the platform of Labour Party(LP) in the state, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade, while admitting that Amosun’s infrastrutural development and roads expansion are “desirable,” last Friday, cautioned the government against  going about its road projects in a manner that puts Ogun people in pains.

    Akinlade said: “As we note the efforts of the state government to handle these road expansion projects in a way that protects the economic interest of the people, preserve their heritage and improve their welfare, the current approach is creating hardship, homelessness and joblessness for Ogun State people.

    “We believe that it is completely anti – people to first demolish their homes, uproot their businesses before inviting them for compensation which the people are even complaining of being arbitrary and non – commensurate to their properties demolished. We should not expect people who are hungry and homeless to appreciate roads, even if the roads are gold plated.”