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Tag: Ogun

  • Ogun exco okays Abule Egba-Abeokuta expressway, other projects 

    Ogun exco okays Abule Egba-Abeokuta expressway, other projects 

    Ogun State Executive Council, presided over by Governor Dapo Abiodun, has approved seven major projects for execution.

    The projects, according to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Kayode Akinmade, are the re-construction of six roads, including Abule Egba-Ota/Sango-Abeokuta Expressway and purchase of some equipment at Gateway Agro-Cargo International Airport.

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    The council approved the reconstruction of 5.5km Ode Remo Junction to Sapade (phase 3), rehabilitation of Ayepe Junction to Mayflower in Ikenne Local Government and reconstruction of Adesan Street, off Mowe-Ofada Road in Obafemi Owode Local Government.

  • Ogun okays Abule Egba-Abeokuta Expressway, Ogijo Road, five others for execution

    Ogun okays Abule Egba-Abeokuta Expressway, Ogijo Road, five others for execution

    • To carry out palliative work at Iyana Ilogbo bus stop

    The Ogun State Executive Council presided over by Governor Dapo Abiodun, has approved seven major priority projects for execution.

    The projects, according to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, Hon, Kayode Akinmade, are the re-construction of six roads, including the Abule Egba-Ota/Sango-Abeokuta Expressway and the purchase of some equipment at the Gateway Agro-Cargo International Airport.

    The Council approved the reconstruction of the 5.5km Ode Remo Junction to Sapade (Phase 3), the rehabilitation of Ayepe Junction to Mayflower in Ikenne Local Government and the reconstruction of Adesan Street, off Mowe-Ofada Road in Obafemi Owode Local Government.

    Read Also: Police arrest father, son for beating housewife to death in Ogun

    Other approvals include the structural adjustment for the 19.2km Atan-Lusada-Agbara Road in Ado Odo/Ota Local Government and the construction of Hospital Road, Ogijo, in Sagamu Local Government.

    These, according to  Akinmade would ensure the provision of additional infrastructure in the course of constructing the road.

    The purchase of some machinery and equipment at Gateway International Agro-Cargo Airport at Ilishan Remo, he said, would allow 24-hour flight operations and facilitate quick take-off of the internationally acclaimed Airport.

  • Lifeline to Ogun MSMEs

    Lifeline to Ogun MSMEs

    • A worthy initiative that others should emulate

    As prospects of improvement in the economic outlook of Nigeria continue to rise, it is essential to continue to commend initiatives at the subnational level which cohere with the efforts of the Federal Government to boost entrepreneurial development. One of such initiatives is the 2nd Edition of the Expanded National MSME Clinics organised in Abeokuta by the Ogun State Government. Components of the clinic included the handing over of “200 newly refurbished stores to 400 entrepreneurs at the Asero Adire [Fabric Design] International Market.” They also included the establishment of the Small and Medium Enterprises Industrial Land Acquisition Scheme (SILAS) which consists of a 1,000-hectare industrial hub provided with good roads and power, among other amenities.

    According to Governor Dapo Abiodun, the SME Park aims to provide a range of incentives such as subsidised land ownership rates, and rebates on taxes and levies, and the park will cover agro-allied and agro-processing, home and personal care, building materials, and chemical facilities. This would be in addition to the prompt processing of Certificates of Occupancy to make it easy for the allotted pieces of land to be available for use as collateral for loan sourcing purposes.

    To complement these facilities, the state government intends to provide a range of conditional grants to entrepreneurs and market women in the state.

    As was to be expected, the Federal Government, represented by Vice-President Kashim Shettima, appreciated the efforts of the state government and commissioned the project and clinics. In doing so, the vice-president acknowledged the status of Ogun State as an industrial powerhouse of the nation and a committed supporter of the Federal Government’s efforts to assist enterprises and empower Nigerians. He therefore considered the national Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises clinics of the state to be a desirable bridge between the people and the government. 

    The vice-president then pledged: “Each exhibitor present at the clinic today stands to gain from our MSME instant grant of N150,000 each, courtesy of our esteemed private sector and His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” Continuing, he said: “I hereby announce that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that almost 200 new applications within this market be granted free of charge to small business traders for one year and each of them should enjoy a grant of N100,000.” 

    Read Also: High cost of living: Ogun announces 50% discount sale of rice to residents

    Considering the general belief that money is the lifeline of business, this pledge of financial support to the investors and traders is a welcome development. It is hoped that the beneficiaries of the funds would utilise them fruitfully and enhance their capacity to employ other Nigerians. It is also significant that the complementary efforts of the Ogun State government and the Federal Government, in this regard, mark the development of positive collaboration between these two levels of government. This has the value of mitigating the unwholesome widespread criticism of most of the state governments in the country for not showing enough concern for the citizens of their states in the face of hardships occasioned by the radical economic decisions that President Tinubu took to address the economic quagmire which the nation had been driven into by the reluctance of previous administrations to take tough economic decisions.

    The Ogun State government should explore other citizen-benefitting areas in which it can collaborate with the Federal Government, and other states should follow the noble example. The ongoing massive agricultural programme of the Mallam Umaru Bago-led government of Niger State is noteworthy in this regard.     

  • High cost of living: Ogun announces 50% discount sale of rice to residents

    High cost of living: Ogun announces 50% discount sale of rice to residents

    Ogun state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, announced that his administration has opted to sell rice to the general public at a discounted rate at half of the original price, as a measure to ease the prevalent high cost of living across the nation.

    The governor also stated that all public employees will be the first to purchase the goods, saying that his government hopes to restore public employees’ purchasing power.

    Speaking on Tuesday night at the Presidential Lodge in Abeokuta, he addressed the attendees at the special Iftar (Breaking of Fast) event organized for the state’s League of Imams and Alfas.

    He said: “We have decided to commence the sale of rice. We will be selling it at the rate of 50% of the actual price.”

    “We are going to commence with our civil servants. All our public servants across the board will buy rice at half the price.

    “What is the reason behind selling to them? What we are trying to do is put them in the position they were before the inflation. The purchasing power that they seem to have lost because of inflation, we are putting them back in that position.”

    The governor said that a commission had been established to supervise the commodity’s sale to state citizens, and he added that by offering a 50% discount, his government would be able to purchase additional goods to sell to the public.

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    He added: “We have set up a committee. That committee has come up with the modalities on how we will sell the grain so there won’t be issues.

    “We want to sustain this. If we say we want to be giving it to people as a gift, very soon, we won’t be able to sustain it. But, if we sell at the price it was sold before it became expensive, it will allow us to use the money to buy more and continue to sell.

    “For those we know can’t afford to buy, those we call the poor, the elderly, and the vulnerable, we will be giving them the rice free of charge.”

  • Ogun assures clerics on Agbado-Oke Aro- Akute Road, says 16km already done

    Ogun assures clerics on Agbado-Oke Aro- Akute Road, says 16km already done

    The Ogun State government, on Friday, said it is already working on the rehabilitation of Agbado-Oke Aro-Akute road.

    The government was reacting to a video that captured 500 pastors urging Governor Dapo Abiodun to rehabilitate the road in fulfilment of his re-election pledge.

    In a statement issued by the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Ade Akinsanya, the state government, affirmed that it had never shirked its responsibilities in the area of road construction, having constructed over 600 kilometres of roads since coming on board in 2019.

    It added that it had already completed half of the Alagbole-Sango- Ota road and that the remaining axis was captured in this year’s budget.

    It, however, added that the slight delay experienced in executing the project is due to budgetary issues and the spike in the cost of construction materials, saying that the constraints were being addressed.

    The government also urged residents of the area to fulfil their tax obligations to the state and assist the government in delivering on democratic dividends.

    Akinsanya said: “Concerning completing the project to relieve the pains of our people and infuse a new lease of life into the area, we are on the same page with the clerics captured in the video demanding action on the road.

    “It is the constitutional responsibility of the government to provide good roads for the people of Ogun State, and it is a fact that the Ogun State government under Prince Dapo Abiodun has invested heavily in roads.

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    “This particular road, Alagbole to Sango Ota, is about 32 km, and the government has already done 16 km out of it. More importantly, it is also captured in the 2024 budget.

    “However, the budgetary provision based on the reality on the ground, particularly about forex, is inadequate. The cost of asphalt, granite, and other materials has spiked, and so the government is looking at a way of bridging the cost gap. As we all know, a project initially billed to cost N1bn may cost more than double nowadays. Therefore, it requires a lot of reengineering.

    “Rather than engage in subtle blackmail and character assassination, what we need are concerted efforts to put the economy back on track.

    “The citizenry must also support the government to get out of the economic quagmire by paying their taxes.

    “Statistics show that most residents of the area are not captured in the tax net. They should support the government by paying their taxes when due to help them better.”

  • Ogun begins distribution of food palliatives

    Ogun begins distribution of food palliatives

    To cushion the effect of the current economic hardship in the country, the Ogun State Government on Friday began the distribution of rice palliatives to the residents of the state.

    The distribution started with Muslim faithful who are currently observing this year’s Ramadan fast with thousands of bags of rice allocated to mosques, including Kobiti Central Mosque, Secretariat Central Mosque and Sa’adatul Abadiyya Mosque, Leme, all in Abeokuta.

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    The distribution at the secretariat mosque, became an atmosphere of joy and excitement for Muslims who came to observe the Jumat prayer.

    Addressing the congregation on behalf of Governor Abiodun, after the Jumat, the Deputy Governor, Engr. (Mrs.) Noimot Salako-Oyedele, thanked Muslims for their support in prayers since 2019 till date, urging them not to relent but continue to support the Abiodun-led government for a successful 2nd term tenure.

    “The state governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun do not take your prayers and support for granted. Your prayers were what have been keeping this administration going. So I want to appeal to you to accept this gift wholeheartedly,” she said.

  • Nine injured, buildings destroyed in Ogun gas blast

    Nine injured, buildings destroyed in Ogun gas blast

    Nine people were injured and residential buildings damaged in the Ogijo – Sagamu industrial area of Ogun State following a  gas explosion at a  metal factory.

    The incident which occurred on Saturday, March 9 caused  ground vibrations, forcing many residents to rush out of their homes in fear as walls and window panes cracked.

    The blast emanated from Phoenix Metal Company, in Ogijo at about 21.38am while the factory hands were working.

    The Nation gathered that  a mob attempted to storm the factory but soldiers from Odogunyan barrack, Ikorodu and policemen from Ogun State Police Command who were quickly mobilised to the site  to prevent  lawlessness.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Superintendent of Police (SP) Omolola Odutola who confirmed the incident on Sunday night in a statement, said the victims of the blast were factory workers.

    SP Odutola added that the victims were taken to Rolayo Private Hospital in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

    “There was a case of an industrial accident that occurred at Phoenix Metal Company in Ogijo on the 9th of March 2024, at about 2138hrs.

    Read Also: Many injured in Rivers gas plant blast  

    “According to eye witness account, the blast explosion was attributed to a cylinder explosion which happened at the melting point area, affecting nine staff members who sustained non life threatening injuries.

    “The injured were taken to Rolayo Private Hospital in Ikorodu, Lagos State. The explosion impacted nearby houses causing damage from the blast. Houses , windows frames were reportedly cracked due to the vibrations from the blast .

    “Enraged community youths tried to attack the company but efforts by policemen and army detachment of 174 battalion in Odogunyan Ikorodu were visibly on guard to intervene.

    “More security reinforcements have been deployed to prevent further uproar or disturbances, from angry mobs who may want to take advantage of the distress .

    “The situation is under control and close monitoring, there is no indication for panic, whereas further updates will be communicated to members of the public,” she said.

  • DisCo explains blackout in Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, others

    DisCo explains blackout in Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, others

    • Distribution company promises solution, improved power supply

    The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has given reason for the blackout in some states it serves.

    The distribution company said it suffered about 1,450 energy theft cases in the first two months of this year.

    It said the cases led to the current outages in Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, and parts of Kogi, Niger, and Ekiti states.

    In a statement yesterday in Ota, Ogun State, IBEDC’s Corporate Affairs Manager, Mrs. Busolami Tunwase, said incessant blackout in the affected areas resulted in disruptions and inconveniences for residents and businesses.

    The distribution company’s spokesperson said many residents complained about the adverse effects of heat waves on their health due to outages.

    She noted that “one of the primary factors is the low supply of gas to generating companies (GenCos) which has led to a gradual decrease in available generation into the grid”. 

    Tunwase added: “This has significantly reduced the power available on the transmission grid for onward supply to IBEDC and, in turn, greatly hindered our ability to provide power to customers within our franchise, namely Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Kwara, and partly in Kogi, Niger, and Ekiti states.

    “Secondly, scheduled maintenance activities conducted by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in January and March 2024 necessitated planned outages in specific areas of our network.

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    “While these measures are essential for ensuring the long-term reliability of electricity infrastructure, we recognise the inconvenience they may cause and sincerely apologise for any disruptions experienced by our customers.”

    The IBEDC spokesperson regretted that “vandalism and theft of electricity infrastructure and payment apathy from customers remain major issues negatively impacting power supply”.

    She added: “Despite these challenges, we remain optimistic that poor supply will soon become a thing of the past as Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has taken urgent steps to address the gas supply issue.

    “On energy theft and vandalism, we are currently partnering the security agencies to reduce this vice. However, we urge our customers to remain vigilant, protect electrical infrastructure within their communities and report any suspicious activities promptly.

    “We are implementing comprehensive measures to improve and strengthen our infrastructure in order to efficiently distribute the power we receive from the grid.

    “We are also urgently exploring alternate sources of power to enable us meet the power supply needed within our franchise.”

  • Fed Govt’s N3m lifeline for 200 exhibitors at Ogun SMSE clinics

    Fed Govt’s N3m lifeline for 200 exhibitors at Ogun SMSE clinics

    The Federal Government yesterday gave N3 million lifeline to 200 exhibitors at the Ogun State Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMSE) Clinics in Abeokuta, the state capital.

    Vice President Kashim Shettima also announced N2 million package for Adire fabric sellers

     at the second edition of the Expanded National MSME Clinics, where he handed over 200 newly refurbished stores to 400 entrepreneurs at the Asero Adire International Market.

    Shettima announced a N150,000 cash reward for every exhibitor and a grant of N100,000 to over 200 owners of new stores.

    The Vice President also interacted with the SMEs operators, artisans and traders, assuring them of consistent support.

     Shettima who described Ogun State as the “industrial powerhouse of Nigeria,” said the national Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) clinic would serve as a bridge between the people and the government, adding that the clinics would serve as lifelines for enterprises in the state and the country.

    The national MSME clinic serves as a bridge between the people and the government, it is our desire to bring the government in close proximity with the people by placing all regulatory agencies under one group.

    Shettima said: “Each exhibitor present at the clinic today stands to gain from our MSME instant grant of N150,000 each, courtesy of our esteemed private sector and His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    “I hereby announce that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has directed that almost 200 new applications within this market be granted free of charge to small business traders for one year and each of them should enjoy a grant of N100,000.”

    Shettima noted that Ogun State is not only the industrial powerhouse of the nation, but a committed supporter of the Federal Government’s efforts to support enterprises and empowerment.

    He described the 2nd phase of the Expanded SMSME Clinics as a strategic intervention to fortify the foundation of small businesses, which commenced in Benue State this year.

    Shettima said: “The clinics serve as a link between the people and government. Small Businesses are now afforded platforms to present their business challenges, and seek timely intervention of monetary agencies in an attempt to eliminate the task of navigating from one agency to another in their efforts to build the next unicorn out of Africa,” Shettima said.

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    The Vice President said the clinics would serve as a lifeline for enterprises as it would offer immediate financial support to the exhibitors and provide small businesses the opportunity to register with the Corporate Affairs Commission and get their Certificates within a day.

    Shettima thanked Ogun State governor for his support to the Federal Government’s efforts at bringing the nation’s economy back on track.

    Governor Dapo Abiodun said his administration has launched the Small and Medium Enterprises Industrial Land Acquisition Scheme (SILAS), adding that the scheme is a 1,000 Hectares Industrial hub provided with amenities like good roads, power, among others.

    He said: “The SME park is aimed at providing incentives to SMEs way below the market rate. There will be many incentives through industrial ownership and accelerated processing of their CoO which can be used as collateral for further financing.

    “Other benefits of the park will include rebates on taxes and levies such as Land Use charges, building permits, land processing fees, etc. This park will cover agro-allied, agro-processing, home and personal care building materials and chemicals, food processing,” the governor said.

    To support the Federal Government in repositioning the nation’s economy,  Abiodun said the state would offer conditional grants ranging from N100,000,  10,000 MSMSE, and N500,000  to 2,000 SMEs, and N50,000 to 5,000 market women in the state.

    Special Adviser to the Vice President on Small and Medium Enterprises, Mr. Tola Adekunle Johnson, acknowledged the working relationship between the federal and the state governments.

    He said the clinics would create jobs for the people, especially the youth, adding that Ogun and Benue have benefited from the programme.

    The Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment, Mr. Adebola Sofela, said the clinics would address the challenges facing small and medium enterprises, urging participants to leverage on the various issues that would be treated to grow their businesses.

    The Vice President commissioned the Modern Adire Shared Facility at Adire International Market Asero and the National MSME Clinics, Ultra-Modern Fashion Hub, Ajebo Road in Abeokuta.

    The Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Mr Wale Edun, reiterated President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to improving the welfare of Nigerians especially supporting small businesses to thrive and grow.

    At the event were members of the National Assembly from Ogun State,  including Sen. Solomon Adeola; Sen. Shuaibu Salisu, and Hon. Kafilat Ogbara; Minister of State for Environment, Dr Izaq Salako; the paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adetotun Gbadebo and other traditional rulers in Ogun State, and heads of government agencies.

  • Ogun and Oyekanmi’s murder

    Ogun and Oyekanmi’s murder

    It’s been three months since the tragic murder of Taiwo Oyekanmi, 51, who was an accountant and Director of Finance and Accounts in the office of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun. He was fatally shot by unidentified armed robbers in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    The Commissioner of Police in the state, Abiodun Alamutu, had said Oyekanmi was in “a homemade bullion van” with a driver and one other person, and they were returning to their office from a Fidelity Bank branch where they had gone to withdraw money when the armed robbery happened on November 29, 2023.

     The police chief’s description of the vehicle as “a homemade bullion van” suggested that it was not a standard purpose-built bullion van. Indeed, the victim’s elder brother had observed in an interview: “Will you call what my brother was in a bullion van or contraption? There was no risk assessment whatsoever.”

    Also, the mobile police officer, Inspector Rasheed Adegbite, who was supposed to be with the bullion van, was unavailable. The police said he had been arrested for investigation.

    The police boss said the armed robbers’ vehicle had blocked the bullion van, and “five occupants of the vehicle came down, shot at the director and from their vehicle, they brought out a sledgehammer to force the receptacle where the money was kept open and they left with the money.”

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    Oyekanmi, the only fatality, was said to have withdrawn N97.335m from Fidelity Bank and N15m from Sterling Bank. The bullion van was said to be carrying N112.335m at the time of the attack.

    The police suspected that the robbery was “an in-house thing” because the robbers knew they would need a sledgehammer to break the receptacle where the money was kept. “They must have had information that he was going to take a large amount of money from the bank,” Alamutu said.

    The armed robbery exposed poor security arrangements. Governor Abiodun, in a statement issued by his aide, had described Oyekanmi as “a dedicated, truthful, and diligent official,” adding, “It is indeed a colossal loss for our administration.” It can be said that the administration did not do enough to protect him, and possibly prevent the tragedy.

     In December 2023, the Ogun State government announced a reward of N50m for any information that could lead to the arrest of the killers. There hasn’t been any official update on the case since then. None from the state government; none from the police. Are the armed robbers who killed Oyekanmi going to get away with armed robbery and murder?