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Tag: Ogun

  • Ogun to boost power supply with alternative energy

    Ogun to boost power supply with alternative energy

    The Ogun State Government has stated its commitment to boost power supply in the state through the exploitation of the abundant resources through which alternative energy could be produced.

    It made this committment at the opening ceremony of a three-day alternative energy expo with the theme Alternative energy for increase capacity and sustainability.

    The confab, which was organised by the Ogun State Government in collaboration with Mathesis Consulting Company (UK), held at the June 12 Cultural Centre in Abeokuta. The Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, identified efficient power supply as fundamental to the growth and development of the economy of any society.

    He said Nigeria has a huge deficit in its power supply framework, which cannot sustain the demand for electricity in the country hence the need for an alternative means of energy supply

    Amosun identified other means of energy supply to include solar, biomass, wind, waste to energy and other renewable sources of energy, which if embraced, could help in reducing Nigeria’s dependence on power generated through fossil fuels.

    He said that Ogun State’s hosting of this year’s Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo is part of his administration’s commitment towards providing the enabling environment for economic development and improving the living standard of the people.

    As part of efforts of his administration to contribute to the socio-economic development of the state, Amosun said the distribution of 500 transformers of different rating has commenced across the state while a solar energy project is being executed at Asore Village aimed at increasing access to electricity in the rural areas.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Energy, Mr Taiwo Fagbemi, also said the expo among other things, is aimed at creating a platform for business people, government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), to brainstorms on policies on alternative energy solutions, climate change initiatives and technologies and also to examine the challenges and barriers hindering the achievement of renewable energy efficiency and conservation and proffer way forward.

    He stressed the efforts of the state government in renewable energy including the energy workshop held early this year to train professionals in the energy sector and also the energy survey, which will commence in December to determine the energy requirement of each household, and local government.

    Explaining reason for the state government, commitment to exploitation of alternative energy sources, Fagbemi said that energy is central to practically all aspects of sustainable development including access to water, agriculture and industrialisation productivity, healthcare, educational attainment, job creation and climate change, among others.

    He said out of the 350-400 megawatts (MW) of power required to run Ogun State, only about 40-50MW is supplied from the national grid, which is seven times less than what it requires to operate efficiently and to serve its purpose of providing the essential needs of the people in the small, medium and large scale industries.

    Some of the foreign exhibitors at the expo that declared their readiness to partner with the state in renewable energy include Anji Dasol Solar Energy (China), Agama Energy (South Africa) Black Lite Energy (South Africa), and Bam Equipment & Technology (France).

  • 500 get free eye surgery in Ogun

    500 get free eye surgery in Ogun

    Over 500 people benefitted from the ongoing eye surgical operation in Ogun State.

    It was tagged ‘Save Our Sight Project 2012’, organised by the state Hospitals Management Board in collaboration with Indo-Eye Care Foundation and the Rotary Club Palm Groove, Lagos.

    The state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun who disclosed this at the State Hospital, Abeokuta, venue of the surgery, said his administration was working very hard to make healthcare delivery a standard policy.

    While appreciating the Indian community, Senator Amosun urged them to “transfer their expertise and technology so that ideas can be shared and in turn improve the skills of the state health workers”.

    Governor Amosun enjoined the foundation to construct a domiciled institute in the state so that more people can be trained and skills enhanced to give adequate medical attention to eyes, saying that the government was working hard to move the health sector forward.

    Speaking in an interview, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka submitted that the state is partnering with the non-governmental organisations by providing the enabling environment for them to work in terms of medical, infrastructural and personnel.

    Dr. Soyinka stated that aside from the free eye surgeries, government had embarked on other free medical emoluments for the people in the past such as the artificial limbs, saying that “there is still more to come”.

    The secretary, Rotary Eye Institute, India, Mr. Viral Purohit, commended the government for its support and providing a conducive environment for them to work.  He submitted that Indo-Eye Care Foundation was ready to partner with the state government to build an institute in the state.

    Two of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Olasumbo Komolafe and Mr. Adekunle Michael said they were pleased with the government for putting up such an elaborate programme, adding that they could now see clearly after going through the surgery.

    The governor presented glasses to the beneficiaries.

  • Politically-motivated armed robbery in Ogun?

    Politically-motivated armed robbery in Ogun?

    SIR: Permit me a space in your widely-read newspaper to comment on the killing of police officers in Ogun State allegedly by armed robbers, as reported in the media on Tuesday, October 23. It has never been heard of for armed robbers to put a distress call through to the heavily armed officers of the Quick Response Squad or the Joint Police/Military Patrol Team in order to lay ambush for them and kill them.

    I smell a rat here. The whole operation smacks of conspiracy when armed robbers are no longer interested in robbery but killing of security agents. Can we still call that robbery? The timing of this tragic incident and other reports in the social media (on alleged breakdown of a new APC at Ijebu-Ode) since last week when it became public knowledge that Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State would be honoured in Ghana as the Best Security Conscious Governor in West-Africa, lend credence to the theory of politically-motivated armed robbery, orchestrated to fault the well-deserved award to Senator Amosun.

    I therefore call on the Commissioner of Police, Director of State Security Services and other relevant agencies to look beyond a mere robbery incident and establish if some politicians in Ogun still engage in keeping a “Killer Squad” to perpetrate heinous crimes in the state.

    From my little experience, you may trail or monitor a person or group for up to 3 or 5 years before making them to face the full wrath of the law. You just have to cast your net wide.

    The police should also investigate their men to ensure they are not being used by the opposition, beside the need for professionalism in crime control.

     

    • Chief Ayodele Adesanya

    Sagamu, Ogun State

     

  • Ogun crash: 12 bodies recovered, search continues 

    The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) yesterday recovered 12 bodies of passengers of a coastal bus which veered off a dual carriage bridge before plunging into a river last Friday at J4 in Ogbere – Ijebu stretch of Lagos – Ore expressway.

    The FRSC was assisted in the operation by the National Emergency Agency (NEMA), Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Nigeria Police Force and Red Cross Society.

    The victims were 11 women and the driver.

    They were travelling in the Federal Urban Mass Scheme coastal bus marked BWR 428 XA to Edo State for a burial at Uronigbe in Oriohwon local government.

    21 persons were said to be in the bus at the time of the accident.

    The Ijebu-Ode Unit Commander of FRSC, Mr. Issa Seidu, who confirmed recovery of the 12 bodies, said three persons were earlier rescued alive on Friday night and taken to a private hospital in Ore, Ondo State.

    On the cause of the accident, Seidu said: “It is a clear case of over speeding on the part of the driver of the bus. If you look at the distance from which the bus ran into the river, which is about a kilometre away, you realise the driver was on a terrible speed.

    “It clearly shows that the driver was on a suicide mission. Although we don’t know the actual number of people in the bus but one of the survivors said they were 21.”

    An official of NEMA South-West Zone 2, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said the agency is yet to ascertain the number of passengers in the bus.

    He added: “This is the first phase of the operation; the second phase which is going to start soon will be search and rescue operation for the rest bodies.”

  • 33 drown in expressway accident in Ogun

    No fewer than 33 persons drowned  by noon on Friday when a coaster bus loaded with passengers ran- off a dual carriage bridge and plunged into a river at J4, Ogbere -Ijebu stretch of the Sagamu – Ore express way.

    The long medium range luxury bus still remained drowned and swept away from the point of entry to the river but there were three lucky survivors, including a pregnant woman who hung between a tree branch according to  the Unit Commander, Ijebu – Ode Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps(FRSC), Mr Seidu Isah Osilama.

    Osilama said FRSC operatives arrived at the scene of the accident few minutes after the accident occurred and they were able to rescue the three survivors because they fell off the bus and landed on tree.

    He said rescue effort would require crane and divers to ascertain the location of the bus and the passengers inside the water.

    According to him, the exact numbers of passengers in the bus or the casualty figure is not known as the victims are still in the river.

  • Ogun awards contract for 12 roads

    Ogun awards contract for 12 roads

    The Ogun State government has announced the award of contracts for the construction of 12 roads, including the popular Ilo-Awela Road in Ota.

    Also awarded is the Sango-Ijoko- Oke Aro–Ojodu-Abiodun Road which would link motorists directly from Sango Ota in the state with Ojodu Berger in Lagos State.

    Ogun State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Olamilekan Adegbite, said that the project was intended to improve the existing infrastructure and enhance the urban development policy of Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration.

    The commissioner, who was featuring on a television programme, disclosed that N100b would be spent on the roads, even as he added that they would be completed within 18 and 24 months.

    Adegbite noted that the roads to be reconstructed are Sagamu-Benin Express, Junction-Oba Erinwole Junction Road, Ejirin Road, and Oluwalogbon Junction both in Ijebu-Ode; Ilishan-Ago Iwoye Road and Ikangba-Ilese Road all located in Ogun East Senatorial District.

    The government, the commissioner added, has also awarded contract for the construction of Ilara-Ijohun Road, Lafenwa-Ayetoro Road, Ilo-Awela Road in Ota and the 32 kilometer Sango-Ijoko,Oke Aro-Ojodu Abiodun  Road in Ogun West Senatorial District.

    According to Adegbite, the Ojere-Adatan Roundabout, OGTV-Brewery Junction and Moshood Abiola Way are some of the roads to be reconstructed in Ogun Central Senatorial District, while Muda Lawal-Moshood Abiola Way Link Road in Abeokuta was being constructed to ease traffic jam often experienced by motorists on the Asero-Obantoko Road.

    While reiterating government’s resolve towards providing high quality infrastructure, the commissioner added that a flyover bridge would be built at Sapon Roundabout in Abeokuta, Ejirin Junction in Ijebu-Ode, Sagamu-Benin express junction at Sagamu to ensure free flow of traffic.

    Adegbite said government would also construct the Arepo Underpass, Arepo-Journalists’ Estate and the major road that links Magboro Estate located along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

    The commissioner, who assured that there would be no problem concerning payment of compensation for those whose houses would be affected by the construction, said that government used the Ibara-Ita Eko-Totoro Road as a model while lessons learnt had prepared government for the next phase of roads to be constructed across the state.

  • Ogun PDP: INEC recognises Kashamu’s faction

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has recognised the Mr. Adedayo Bayo-led Executive Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State.

    The Bayo-led Exco emerged from the congresses conducted by the Bashorun Dayo Soremi Harmonised State Executive Committee.

    It is loyal to businessman Prince Buruji Kashamu.

    INEC refused to recognise the Senator Dipo Odujirin-led Exco.

    The Odujirin-led exco was elected in a congress conducted recently by the PDP faction loyal to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, although the tenure of the Bayo-led exco had not elapsed.

    In a letter from the INEC Headquarters, Abuja, dated September 18, 2012 and signed by the Commission’s Secretary, Mr. Abdullahi Kaugama, INEC said the Bayo-led Exco is the authentic one.

    It reads: “You will recall that the Federal High Court, in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/347/2012 and FHC/CS/535/2012, held that the congresses conducted by the Soremi Harmonised State Executive Committee and the Executive Committee that emerged therefrom are valid.

    “INEC, as a law abiding institution, has resolved to accept and relate with the said executive committee in obedience to the orders of the Federal High Court.”

     

  • How we rescued Osun Speaker’s wife, by Ogun CP

    How we rescued Osun Speaker’s wife, by Ogun CP

    Ogun State Commissioner of Police Ikemefuna Okoye yesterday narrated how Mrs. Muibat Salaam, wife of Osun State House of Assembly Speaker Najeem Salaam, was rescued from her abductors.

    Mrs. Salaam was abducted last Tuesday in Ejigbo, Osun State, by gunmen.

    She was rescued on Saturday in Ogunmakin, Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    Speaking with reporters while parading the suspected kidnappers in Eleweran, the Command Headquarters, Okoye said members of the Vigilance Services of Ogun (VSO) noticed the suspicious movement of the kidnappers and their victim and alerted the police.

    He said the Fidiwo Police Division deployed men of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and plain-clothed policemen in the area, where the suspects were hiding in the bush.

    Okoye said: “My men moved into the bush and engaged the suspects in a gun duel, killing one of them. Four were apprehended and the others ran away with bullet wounds.

    “It was after we rescued the victim that she told us who she was. Let the record be set straight that the police carried out the rescue operation.”

    The suspects are Chukwuma Usifo (28), Chukwudi Okereke (25), Ogbole Elijah and Okonkwo Lucky (27).

    Items recovered from the suspects include two AK 47 rifles and four magazines with 87 rounds of ammunition.

    Okoye praised members of the VSO for providing information that led to the arrest of the suspects and the rescue of Mrs. Salaam, who has been reunited with her family.

    He urged the public to be security-conscious and always alert security agencies when they notice suspicious movements.

     

  • Kidnapped wife of Osun Speaker rescued in Ogun

    Kidnapped wife of Osun Speaker rescued in Ogun

    The wife of the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Alhaja Muibat Salaam, who was kidnapped last Tuesday in Ejigbo, Osun State, was yesterday rescued from her captors in Ilaro, Ogun State.

    She was set free by a vigilance group while her kidnappers were making effort apparently to take her across the border to the neighbouring Benin Republic.

    It was gathered that the vigilance group became suspicious of the presence of the lone woman in the midst of nine tough men.

    They soon engaged the kidnappers in an argument and then a gun duel ensued.

    One of the suspects was killed, three were apprehended while the rest escaped.

    The woman was said to have given the vigilance men her husband’s cell phone number to speak with him.

    It was gathered that after the discussion between the Speaker and his wife, he called the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Kalafite Adeyemi, who in turn alerted her counterparts in Oyo and Ogun States.

    The Osun State police boss was said to have gone to Ogun State with some of her men to bring back the Speaker’s wife to reunite with her family in the state.

    Meanwhile, on receiving the information, the immediate family of the Speaker as well as the people across the state went into jubilation.

    Alhaja Salaam was abducted after closing from her shop in Ejigbo, Osun State where she sells foodstuff.

  • Ogun Assembly passes AIDS Control Agency bill

    The Ogun State House of Assembly has passed into law the bill for the state Action Committee on AIDS (OGSACA) to become an agency.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that this followed the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Health.

    The Chairman of the committee, Mr. Aina Akinpelu, said in Abeokuta on Thursday that the passage of the bill would enable the agency to mobilise resources and coordinate equitable application of HIV and AIDS activities.

    He said the transformation of the Ogun State Action Committee on HIV and AIDS into an agency would ensure effectiveness and attract both local and international development partners to assist the state in its fight against HIV and AIDS.

    Akinpelu said that members of the board of the agency would include two members of the Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS, an NGO, and a member of the Nigerian Union of Journalists.

    The Speaker, Mr. Suraj Adekunbi, directed that a clean copy of the bill be sent to the state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun for his assent.