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Tag: Ogun

  • Gunmen kill Ogun Governor’s Office Finance Director, cart away money

    Gunmen kill Ogun Governor’s Office Finance Director, cart away money

    Suspected gunmen have killed Director of Finance and Accounts attached to the Ogun State Governor’s office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Mr. Taiwo Oyekanmi.

    The Nation learnt that the gunmen trailed Oyekanmi to the top of NNPC bridge along Oke-Mosan road overlooking Noun University, Abeokuta Centre while returning from bank within the Abeokuta Central Business District (ACBD) Okelewo where he had gone to make withdrawals ahead of the November 30 budget presentation by Governor Dapo Abiodun.

    The Nation further gathered he was rushed to the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, where doctors pronounced him dead.

    Two top civil servants at the Governor’s Office in Abeokuta, who spoke with newsmen under the condition of anonymity, said the incident has thrown the Secretariat into mourning mood.

    Confirming the incident, Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abiodun Alamutu, said police were on the trail of the hoodlums.

    Read Also; Kano CTC: Judicial officers involved will be punished – NJC

    Alamutu said: “This afternoon, the accountant, the Director of Finance with driver and one other person left for Fidelity Bank to make some withdrawal. They went with an homemade bullion van. They were supposed to have a police escort but for certain reasons, the person was permitted to travel to attend to some issues, so consequently he was not part of the movement. 

    “According to the story, after making the withdrawal, and on their way back to the office, they were accosted. A vehicle blocked them on top of the NNPC bridge, five occupants of the vehicle came down, shot at the Director and from their vehicle, brought out a sledge hammer to force the receptacle where the money was kept open and they left with the money”.

    “As at that time, there was no information, the police escort was not with the team and they sped off”.

    “The driver claimed to have trailed them to a point along Conference Hotel where he lost contact with them. 

    “The director that was shot was thereafter taken to the State Hospital, Ijaye, Abeokuta, where he eventually gave up the ghost”.

    “For our investigation, I have directed the Area Commander to get in touch with the bank and request for the CCTV footage which will give us insight into the vehicle in question and possibility identifying the culprits if they ever ventured to step out of the vehicle or maybe they just maintained their position in the vehicle”.

    “I have reached out to Lagos and everywhere in the command to block all the exits out of the State while we are trying to identify them because they said they were five and they used hood.”

    Governor Dapo Abiodun commiserated with the family of Oyekanmi,  in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary Lekan Adeniran.

    Abiodun described the incident as a rude shock, as he called for prayers for the immediate family of the late director for them to have the necessary fortitude to bear the great loss.

    “I was devastated  and extremely shocked upon receiving the cold-blooded murder of Oyekanmi, in the hands of criminal elements and enemies of our State.

    “It is indeed a collosal loss for our administration to have lost such dedicated, truthful, and diligent official; his assailants have murdered sleep and will be flushed out immediately from wherever they might be hiding.

    “I have directed all security agencies in the State to smoke the criminals  out instantly and make them to face the full wrath of the law. I therefore  want to assure the entire workforce and residents in the state that never will such calamity befall our dear state again. 

    “I pray for the repose of his soul and for God’s protection over the family he left behind. Obviously,  he is going to be sorely missed by his colleagues and the government he meritoriously served till death,” the statement reads. 

    The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr. Tokunbo Talabi, on Wednesday evening, led a government delegation to the deceased house to commiserate with his family.

  • Ogun to distribute 5,000 C of O Friday

    Ogun to distribute 5,000 C of O Friday

    Ogun State Government will, on Friday, distribute 5,000 Certificates of Occupancy (C of O) to beneficiaries.

    A statement yesterday by the office of the Director General, Bureau of Lands and Survey, said Governor Dapo Abiodun would present the certificates to beneficiaries, thus enhancing the value of their properties, as they can be used as collaterals, while house and landowners can also take advantage of the state’s proximity to Lagos to maximise value.

    The beneficiaries are drawn from the Ogun State Land Administration and Revenue Management System (OLARMS) and former administration’s Home Owners Charter (HOC).

    The event will be held at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.

    Read Also: Abiodun’s investment drive in Ogun

    The statement said beneficiaries would be mandated to present valid means of identification.

    They will also be accredited by the Bureau of Lands & Survey before the commencement of the distribution.

    “The current administration embarked on the exercise aimed at authenticating land documents of house owners in the state with a view to adding value to the properties and getting the owners to formalise and benefit maximally from them.

    “Additional 10,000 certificates of occupancy are in the pipeline for distribution within the next one year. People are urged to take advantage of the opportunity,” the statement said.

  • Three held, arms recovered in Ogun

    Three held, arms recovered in Ogun

    The police have arrested a three-man gang suspected for terrorising the Gateway Polytechnic, Saapade. The men has allegedly robbed the students and raped of some of the ladies.

    The suspects – Taiwo Oredoyin (27), Taiwo Kuti (35) and Folorunsho Saheed (36) were arrested on Monday during a stop and search operation at Ipara and Ode-Remo. They were intercepted on a motorcycle.

    Police Spokesperson Omolola Odutola, who confirmed their arrest in a statement yesterday, said a locally-fabricated pistol with two live cartridges, and two Samsung phones were found on them.

    Read Also: Ogun, Aviation ministry, other stakeholders meet today on concessioning Gateway Agro-Cargo Airport

    The statement reads: “Ogun State Police Command has made significant progress in apprehending suspected robbers and recovering firearm and ammunition from three armed men who invaded Ode-Remo and Ipara, raped female students, and continued terrorising the institution.

    “The suspects denied at first, but a victim of their last robbery operation identified one of them. They are currently undergoing interrogation ahead of their transfer to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for further investigations.

  • Ogun partners UK govt on public transportation

    Ogun partners UK govt on public transportation

    Ogun State Government and the United Kingdom government  have partnered to  develop public transportation  infrastructure in the state.

    Representing the Ogun is the Ministry of Transportation while the United Kingdom Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (UKFCDO) and the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF) are counterpart partners.

    They met at the Ministry of Transportation head office in Abeokuta, with representatives present virtually and physically.

    Ogun Commissioner for Transportation Gbenga Dairo, an engineer, said:  “Our state is under pressure from rapid urbanization, particularly in the South, where unplanned urban development is being experienced due to the spill-over of the Lagos Mega City. The greater part of our urban population is now concentrated in this region, leading to a decrease in service provision, and infrastructure, and a lack of efficient transportation systems for the sprawling and scattered population. These issues are particularly evident along the Lagos-Ibadan corridor, resulting in inefficient, low-quality strip development alongside main arterial routes, including the A5 Lagos – Abeokuta Expressway, E1 Lagos – Ibadan Expressway, and A1 Ikorodu – Sagamu Road. contributing to increased congestion along these routes, ever-increasing journey times, and environmental degradation. From the onset of the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun, public transportation has received the necessary critical evaluation to seek sustainable solutions and with this partnership, we are set to correct the errors of the past”.

    Read Also: 2024 budget: Katsina govt allocates 20% to water, education sectors – Commissioner

    The partnership will see the FCDO and UKNIAF providing necessary advisory to the MoT especially in the conceptualization, design, and execution of environment-friendly, sustainable modern transportation infrastructure to meet the rapidly growing needs of the population. This will involve introducing Bus Mass Transit equipment, operations, and infrastructure along the identified routes and corridors. These discussions, ongoing since 2020 were partly responsible for Ogun State being the first state in Nigeria to acquire and deploy converted CNG mass transit buses that were launched on Monday 30th October by Governor Dapo Abiodun.

    The state government had adopted alternative energy means of public transport as a critical component of the transport strategy well before the crises created by the removal of petrol subsidy by the federal government in May this year.

    Lead consultant to UKFCDO/UKNIAF, Mr. Kayode Khalidson revealed that as part of the working agreement, four highly skilled, locally sourced consultants will be embedded in the MoT to work with the ministry’s technocrats in a collaboration that is expected to ensure the achievement of set goals and objectives.

    This collaboration will eventually also lead to the establishment of a full-fledged Transport Authority that will oversee the implementation of the government’s transportation imperatives for Ogun State.

  • Ogun set to begin building of CNG busstations in Mowe, Ibafo, says commissioner 

    Ogun set to begin building of CNG busstations in Mowe, Ibafo, says commissioner 

    Construction of bus stations for the take-off of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Mass Transit along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway axis will begin soon.

    The stations are to be sited in Mowe, Ibafo Arepo and Berger axis of the expressway.

    This was disclosed yesterday by the Commissioner for Transportation,  Dairo Olugbenga, while speaking on a radio programme in Abeokuta,  Ogun State capital.

    He said construction would commence in earnest, as necessary implementation frameworks are being put in place, even as he urged the people to support the state government by enabling construction activity in those areas.

    “I want to use this medium to plead to our people for their support, as this is another integral development geared towards easing the movement of people and goods in Ogun State, which will serve as respite to environmental pollution by reducing emissions and promoting a cleaner and safer environment in the state,” he said.

    The commissioner noted that the CNG powered mass transit buses would be deployed in the corridor for cheaper and safe movement in advance of the construction of the bus stations.

    Read Also: Ogun residents benefit from foundation’s medical outreach

    Speaking on the process of operating urban transport system in the state, Dairo highlighted infrastructure, law compliance, operation and price control as the four key elements applied by Governor Dapo Abiodun.

    He said: “We need to let our people know that there are four applicables and adopted ways to transportation, and that is infrastructure, which if you observe during our first tenure,  the governor has worked on bad roads in all the local government areas of the state and work is still ongoing. 

    “The second is law enforcement which will ensure all road users comply with rules and regulations guiding the usage of the roads, fostering security and safety for passengers and drivers while the third is operation.

    “We are going to formalise  transport operation, in that, whoever is going into it must have between 10 to 30 buses under him. 

    “Current operators will be encouraged to coalesce into cooperatives. This will aid proper management and monitoring of the movement of goods and people in the state.”

    “Besides this, there is price control. This administration is further working on providing affordable transportation for the good people of Ogun State.”

  • Ogun residents benefit from foundation’s medical outreach

    Ogun residents benefit from foundation’s medical outreach

    Not less than 300 residents of Isara in Remo North Local government, Ogun State have benefited from a free medical outreach embarked upon by Daramola Dynasty Foundation.

    The Outreach which was done in collaboration with Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta and Eye Foundation Hospital, witnessed medical services, consultations, basic vital checks, including eye screening, health talk and distribution of drugs.

    According to the organisers, the medical outreach was part of activities marking the 54th Afotamodi day of the town.

    The Facilitator, Engr. Ola Daramola said the medical outreach sought to bridge the gap in health care access by the residents of the town as well as improve their wellbeing.

    Read Also: FAAC shares N906.955 Billion revenue to FG, States, LGAs

    He said Comprehensive health screenings were provided to detect common health issues such as hypertension, diabetes, malaria, and eye issues, insisting that early detection allowed for timely intervention and management.

    Daramola reiterated the importance of healthy living and how it was a priority to the foundation.

    He reiterated the foundation’s comm​itment to providing Individuals requiring medical attention with follow-up procedures and ensuring the continuity of care beyond the outreach event.

    He said: “This medical outreach is designed to bridge the gap in health accessibility of the people of Isara and improve their wellbeing”.

  • How PDP lost election in Ogun for not bribing INEC, police – Obasanjo

    How PDP lost election in Ogun for not bribing INEC, police – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) lost the 1998 local government election in Ogun state because he turned down plans by the party to bribe the police and officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Obasanjo was a member of the PDP from its inception in 1998, he rose to become president of Nigeria on the ticket of the party between 1999 and 2007, Board of Trustees member, and remained till the build-up to the 2015 general elections when he publicly tore his membership card on 16th February 2015 in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital.

    Recalling the 1998 electoral defeat of the PDP in his home state, the elder statesman said party leaders of the party had notified him that a certain amount of money had been arranged to be given to the police and INEC in connection with the election, but he rejected the proposal on the supposition that that INEC personnel and policemen are government workers who earn steady monthly salaries.

    The former president revealed this at the high-level consultation on ‘Rethinking Western Liberal Democracy in Africa’ which began on Monday, November 20, at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta.

    Read Also: Terrorism: Why Nigeria must reduce over-reliance on foreign military hardware – Badaru

    Obasanjo said he is not always comfortable with the phrase, ‘Nigerian factor’, when discussing democracy and other issues affecting development, noting that he came across the ‘Nigerian factor’ slang when the nation held the first local government election and his party (PDP) lost because politicians blamed him for the loss due to his unwillingness or refusal to take cognizance of the Nigerian factor while planning for the election.

    He insisted that the Western liberal democracy being practised in Africa has not given a thought to human nature and the African situation when foisting it on Africans, asserting that a hungry man will sell his vote for just N1000.

    He recalled: “When things go wrong, you said the Nigerian factor. The first thing I learnt in politics was this thing I called the Nigerian factor. In 1998, we had the first local government election. We had parties, and here in Abeokuta, we met in my office and they came up and said, ‘look, this is money for INEC, money for police.’ At a stage I said, ‘what nonsense! Is police not being paid, and INEC too?’

    “They said ‘that’s how we do it. I said ‘you cannot do that.’ So, they didn’t do that. And of course, we lost all the local governments. We lost all. And then they came to me and said, ‘Baba, you see? If you had allowed us to do it the way we used to do it, we would have won.’ m. And I felt guilty.

    “During the next election which was State Assembly, I just stayed in my house. I said ‘well, do whatever you want to do, I will not be part of it’. So, I didn’t even go. But, the result was the same. One of the people who got money didn’t even distribute it to where he was supposed to distribute it.

    “When you are hungry, whatever anybody tells you cannot go in. Poverty is a great enemy of democracy. Ignorance or lack of education is a great enemy of democracy. And we seem to be deliberately fomenting poverty and lack of education.”

  • Ogun begins disbursement of N1b grant to micro, small enterprises 

    Ogun begins disbursement of N1b grant to micro, small enterprises 

    Ogun State Government has begun the second phase of the disbursement of the N1 billion grant to micro and small enterprises (MSEs).

    The initiative aims to alleviate poverty and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on businesses in the state.

     Commissioner for Industry, Trade, and Investment and a member of the Ogun State COVID-19 Action Recovery and Economic Stimulus (OGUN CARES) Steering Committee, 

    Mr. Adebola Sofela, in a statement yesterday,

    announced that Governor Dapo Abiodun has directed the immediate commencement of the disbursement process for the second phase of the grants. 

    “This phase will benefit entrepreneurs across the state.”  He said that a stakeholder engagement session would  be held for legitimate business owners in the Ogun Central Senatorial District at the Obas Complex Hall, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, today, to kick-start the second phase.

    The objective of the sessions, according to the commissioner, is to provide participants with information about the application process and criteria for eligibility.

      Sofela added that the date and time for the stakeholder engagement sessions in Ogun West and East Senatorial Districts will be communicated at a later date.

    Read Also: Support Tinubu’s administration – Ekpo urges politicians

     In the first batch, over N120 million was disbursed by the state government to more than 1,000 micro and small entrepreneurs across the twenty (20) local government areas of the state, with the beneficiaries expressing their gratitude in an appreciation letter addressed to the governor.

     Trade associations, representing the beneficiaries, including the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists (NASSI), Association of Small Business Owners of Nigeria (ASBON), Joint National Association of Persons Living With Disabilities (JONAPWD), Artisans Groups, and Market Men and Women, all commended the Governor for his support during the challenging time.

     They highlighted the significant increase in operational expenses and the struggle to pay workers’ salaries, as well as the costs of operational gadgets, utilities, and renting shops.

    “We believe that this grant will provide much-needed relief to businesses in our state. We appreciate your continued support and encourage you to stay informed about future updates regarding the disbursement process,” Sofela added.

  • Ogun woos foreign investors

    Ogun woos foreign investors

    Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has called on foreign businesses to make the state, especially the Special Economic Processing Zone, the destination of choice while considering investing in Nigeria.

    Abiodun, while speaking as guest on CNBC Africa at the weekend on the sidelines of the Intra-African Trade Fair, put together by Afreximbank, in Cairo, Egypt, said Ogun State has put everything in place to host any business venture.

    He said Ogun State has the required infrastructure, including accessibility, access to power, and a youthful and educated population to make it investor-friendly.

    “We like to refer to ourselves as the Gateway State. We are the gateway to Nigeria’s prosperity. We are the industrial capital of Nigeria. By all accounts, we have well over 5,000 industries. We are the number one in non-oil revenue in Nigeria because we have large mineral deposits, particularly limestone.

    “That explains why we have Lafarge, Dangote, and many other cement factories. The biggest cement factory in Nigeria is in Ogun State.

    “Now, why are we here (Cairo)? We are here to attract more investors to our state, particularly as we pride ourselves as having the required infrastructure, be it road, rail, or air. We have a new airport, unarguably one of the best airports in Nigeria.

    “Our airport is situated in our Special Economic Processing Zone. The zone is being supported by Afreximbank and being operated and constructed by a private sector player called Arise LLP.

    “Today, we want people to know about the zone, to come and establish processing  concerns and factories in that zone, referencing the 5,000 other industrial activities that exist in Ogun State,” Abiodun said.

    He noted that companies coming to invest in the state would take advantage of its vast agro produce like rubber, cassava, which Ogun is the number one producer in the world, palm oil, cashew, cocoa, cotton, eggs and poultry.

    Read Also: Ogun, three other states to benefit from N500bn Afreximbank Support Fund

    “We are trying to attract investors to this processing zone, more so because we have gas, which allows them to access power. So, you are sure that your major cost of production, which could be power in most instances, is already mitigated.

    “And I believe that we’ve managed to convince a lot of our listeners that Ogun State, the industrial capital of Nigeria, the education capital of Nigeria with reserve of youthful population is ready to receive you and as a government, we’ve provided a lot of reforms and policy initiatives to further increase our rating on the ease of doing business index,” Abiodun said.

    He also spoke on the significance of the African Quality Assurance Centre (AQAC), which has been established at the Special Economic Processing Zone, a development that he said, is bound to make Nigeria get value for her agro-produce.

    He noted that Nigeria, before now, was sending her agro-produce meant for export to neighbouring countries like Ghana to be certified as fit-for-purpose.

    But with AQAC in Ogun State, and within the agro-processing zone, Abiodun said agro-produce from Nigeria can now be certified fit-for-purpose in line with world best practices.

    “And now, what they do in AQAC is, they don’t wait until you have grown or you have harvested. They intervene from the point of your inputs, from the point of how you have planted,  from what type of fertilisers you have used, from what type of fertilisers you were meant to use to ensure thar by the time they are stamping your agro-produce, it is certified fit-for-purpose.

    “Hitherto, when goods will have to go to Ghana or any other country to be exported, it means that those agro-produce would probably have been undervalued. So, from now on, Nigeria can now export its agro-produce at the right value because it is stamped fit-for-purpose from Nigeria,” Abiodun said.

  • As Ogun prepares for 22nd National Sports Festival

    As Ogun prepares for 22nd National Sports Festival

    • By Kunle Somorin

    Much like the National Youth Service Corps and other programmes introduced after the Nigerian Civil War, the National Sports Festival was created in 1973 to advance the post-Civil War principle of “no victor, no vanquished” embedded in the 3Rs – Reintegration, Reconstruction and Reconciliation.

    Also known as the Unity Games, the National Sports Festival is a biennial multi-sport event organised by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Sports for athletes from the 36 states of the federation. Its first edition was staged in 1973 at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. Apart from being conceived as a unifying tool with the main purpose of promoting peace and cross-cultural affiliation in Nigeria after the war, the festival also serves as a development and training event to aid athletes in preparing for continental and international tournaments.

    The NSF has several objectives, including building a robust talent pool of athletes; enhancing and elevating sports at the grassroots level; establishing a standard programme for athletes’ succession; curbing age cheating in sports; encouraging early participation in sports; engaging young athletes in the Olympic Movement, skill development and social responsibility; enhancing cultural and educational development; and promoting national unity.

    For many years, the NSF has presented host states with an opportunity to showcase their rich sporting and cultural prowess, as well as serve as a talent pool for the country at large. However, the festival has not been without its challenges since it started in 1973. Let’s spare ourselves the post-1999 setbacks that confronted the NSF and briefly talk about the status of the festival since democracy was restored on May 29, 1999.

    Since then, 10 NSFs have been staged. Bauchi hosted the 2000 edition, followed by Edo in 2002 and Abuja in 2004. Ogun State hosted the Gateway Games 17 years ago in 2006, while the next edition in Kaduna was delayed by a year and hosted in 2009. Rivers hosted the nest NSF in 2011 and in 2012, Lagos hosted the festival to return it to its original calendar.  Cross River, which was supposed to host the centenary edition of the festival, failed to do so. The game suffered postponement for six years before in 2018 the then Minister of Sports, Solomon Dalung, fought for its return by hosting it in Abuja in 2018. After COVID-related disruption saw another postponement, Edo hosted the NSF in 2021. In 2022, Delta State hosted the most recent edition.

    It was at the 2022 edition that Ogun was granted the hosting rights for the 22nd edition of the games in 2024.  Sunday Dare, the then Minister of Youth and Sports Development, announced Ogun as the next host in Asaba during the closing ceremony of the 21st NSF on December 10, 2022. The minister said five states put in the bid to host the 2024 edition of the sporting festival.

    As soon as news broke out that the Gateway State was going to host the next edition of the NSF, sports enthusiasts were engulfed in nostalgia, excitement and anticipation, following the state’s showing when it first hosted the games in 2006. The Gateway Games 17 years ago was considered the best in the history of the NSF staged during the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel.

    Bukola Olopade, who was Sports Commissioner when the festival was hosted, has been poached by Governor Dapo Abiodun as the chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC). While inaugurating the 16-man LOC for the 22nd National Sports Festival, the governor noted that the state was more than prepared to surpass previous editions and the achievements recorded during the last festival held by the state in 2006. He also promised to continue to put in place world-class sporting infrastructure across the state.

    “We are determined to put in place world-class sporting infrastructures across the length and breadth of the state, thus underscoring our determination to ensure that we host a very befitting sports festival to the admiration of all stakeholders in the sector and around the world. For us in Ogun State, this festival isn’t just about the competition and performances, even though we would love to host and win every medal. We want to host a National Sports Festival that will showcase the talent, our culture and potential of our great state as well as a very unique sense of hospitality of our people,” Prince Abiodun said.

    Read Also: 40% IGR deduction: Burden will be passed to parents, colleges of education union warns FG

    Olopade made a cogent observation at the inauguration which should thrill all who are expecting what Ogun has to display in 2024. He commended Abiodun for being the first governor in the country to ensure that all athletes at the last National Sports Festival in Delta State went home with cash rewards irrespective of winning or losing.

    “You have achieved two seconds to none already when our athletes came back from Delta State and you announced the reward to the athletes. I know I speak authoritatively when I say that has not happened before in this country where every participating athlete got something to take home even though they didn’t come back home with medals. It has never happened before. The second thing you’ve achieved is to put together… the aficionados of sports today in Nigeria, the gentlemen and women that are assembled here before you today are the best brains and minds in sports today in Nigeria,” Olopade said.

    At the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, the governor assured of the state’s readiness to host a world-class National Sports Festival. “I want to assure you that we will live up to expectations as reflected in the MoU. I can assure you that we will not disappoint you. I want to assure you that, like you have said to me the one in Edo was a very good showing, the one in Delta was better than the one in Edo, and the one in Ogun will be the best,” the governor promised.

    At a recent event, Prince Abiodun reiterated that commitment, saying Ogun is poised to host the most spectacular national sports festival in history and that massive investment in critical infrastructure is underway to ensure that the 2006 edition, which already has the reputation of being a reference point, is surpassed in 2024.

    That commitment was echoed by Olopade recently, when he said, “In 2006, we hosted a festival that was celebrated as one of the best in the country. Next year, we are bringing to Nigerians an entirely different National Sports Festival. We are very grateful to our governor for me and other members of the LOC the free hand to go about our duties. Governor Abiodun is a sports lover, and it matters a lot in staging an event of this magnitude. I assure him and the people of Ogun State that the LOC won’t disappoint.”

    Come 2024, sports enthusiasts and participants at the NSF in Ogun are guaranteed to be awed by the developmental strides recorded by Prince Abiodun within the past four years. Those who experienced the Gateway Games in 2006 – believed to be the best – should be prepared to witness an upgrade to that, and the reason why Ogun is regarded as the Gateway State.

    •Somorin, immediate past chief press secretary, Ogun State, writes from Abeokuta