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Tag: Ogun

  • Ogun to give Ayinla Omowura’s house a facelift

    THE Itoko, Abeokuta residence of the late Apala music maestro, Ayinla Waidi Omowura, is to be renovated by the Ogun State government as part of measures at recognising and immortalising some notable music icons from the state.

    The gesture is also aimed at preserving the late music legend’s achievements by turning the house into a tourist site. This effort is coming barely two weeks after the state government unveiled the late Fela Anikulapo Kuti’s family house in Abeokuta as Kuti Heritage Museum, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    Senior Consultant on Tourism and Culture to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Mrs. Yewande Amusan, disclosed this on Monday, during a memorial visit to the Abeokuta residence of the Apala music legend on the 39th anniversary of his death.

    Amusan, who was accompanied on the visit by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information and Strategy, Mr. Rotimi Durojaiye, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Alhaja Selimot Ottun, and other senior government officials, described the late musician as someone who condemned social ills through his music, describing him an ombudsman to the oppressed.

    As a commentator on issues affecting the contemporary society, Amusan said that the late Omowura was noted for reeling out musical works either commending government policies or warning the society about certain governmental and individual acts.

    She said although the Amosun government had less than four weeks to end its eight-year tenure, the renovation of the dilapidating structure would be completed on record time.

    Speaking on behalf of the family, the eldest daughter of the late Apala musician, Alhaja Alimot Ayinla Omowura expressed gratitude to the Ogun State government for recognising and immortalising her father.

    She said the renovation of the building would boost the tourism potential of the state, create employment opportunities and preserve the remarkable achievements of her late father.

    She said the kind gesture would go down as the first of its kind in the relationship between the government and the family of the music icon. The late Omowura was born in Itoko, Abeokuta in 1933. He was stabbed on May 6, 1980 following a barroom brawl at Itoko, Abeokuta. He died before getting to the Ijaiye General Hospital, Abeokuta. His musical career took root when he started with a brand of music called “Olalomi” in the early 50’s. This brand of music was so popular that he became the darling of the young people both in Nigeria and the West coast of Africa. This brand faded with time.

    His career took a new dimension when he joined EMI Nigeria in 1970 and recorded a single titled Aja  to foju dejo  in June of that year. The tremendous success attained by the single was quickly followed by three other extended play records. One was recorded in September 1970- Ema fowo s’oya si wamo and the other two, Danfo o si ere”/”Ema tori owo pa’nia and Anjonu elere were recorded on the 20th of July 1971. His first album which was recorded in the same year was a chartbuster, with a release of over 50,000 copies. His success was so overwhelming that he became an idol to the masses – particularly among the public transport drivers, and the traders to mention a few.

    He left for Mecca and Medinat to perform the Muslim holy pilgrimage in 1975 and became Alhaji Ayinla Omowura.

    In the 10 years that he was on EMI NIGERIA label, all his 20 albums sold a minimum of 50,000 copies on the first day of release. Acutely popular, Omowura’s day of release was always a carnival at garages, beer parlours and even at parties.

    He recorded two albums at the same time in 1980, unfortunately only Awa kise olode won was released before his tragic death that year. The second one, 25+40 was released posthumously in 1981. He was married with many wives and children.

  • Ogun to distribute Cs of O on Wed

    Ogun State Government will be distributing Certificates of Occupancy and other land title documents to another batch of beneficiaries under the Homeowners’ Charter Programme.

    The Special Adviser and Director-General, Bureau of Lands and Survey, Olajumoke Akinwunmi, said that the beneficiaries would collect their documents as from Wednesday by 9am  at the Arcade Ground, Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

    She urged all contacted beneficiaries to come with valid means of identification and photocopies of same. They are expected to be at the venue by 8am for accreditation.

  • Rumbles in Imo, Ogun over out-going governor’s last-minute transactions

    Perhaps more than in any other states, last-minute activities of the out-going governors in Imo and Ogun states, have elicited controversy, reports Associate Editor, Sam Egburonu

    ALTHOUGH they would be concluding their eight year’s tenures by May 28, 2019, barely a month and some days from today, governors Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State are in the news for initiating new projects, awarding new contracts or making major appointments.

    As would be expected, though the direct beneficiaries of such employments, appointments or contracts and their relations and well-wishers are understandably celebrating and heaping encomiums on the out-going governors for remembering them at last, others, especially those who consider the last-minute contracts, establishments or appointments as mere traps for the incoming administrations, are kicking and warning that the out- going governors should stop creating problems for the new governments and the states deliberately.

    In Imo, the grumbles started soon after it was learnt that Okorocha, who had only few weeks to leave the seat of government, has inaugurated a six-man committee, led by Prof. Chima Iwuchukwu, to see to the implementation of six new universities, colleges of education and polytechnics in the state. The proposed new schools include: Aboh Ngor University of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences; University of Agriculture and Developmental Science, Umuagwo; University of Science and Technology, Onuimo; University of Creative Technology, Isiaku-Nkwerre; University of Medical Science, Ogboko, Ideato South; Marine University, Oguta; College of Health Technology; Mbonu Ojike Polytechnic, Arondizuogu; and Bishop Shanahan Polytechnic, Ahiara Mbaise.

    One of the people that have kicked against the move is Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, the Governor-Elect in Imo. Ihedioha reportedly wrote to the National Universities Commission (NUC) not to honour the approval of more universities in the state.

    Reacting, Okorocha said the Imo State House of Assembly backed the committee’s inauguration with a law.

    He explained that his action can be compared to a similar move in Ogun State that led to the establishment of about 15 universities. According to him, the establishment of these universities in Ogun has enhanced admission opportunities and job placements in the Southwest state. He therefore reasoned that the establishment of the new universities in the state will enhance university admission in Imo and offer greater opportunities to the youths.

    “With these institutions put in place, the dreams of our people would have been achieved. Education will remain the industry of Imo State. What we plan was to lure investors into Imo State. They will come and invest in our institutions, under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement to assist us in the full take-off of the universities.

    “For those of you who are conversant with the history of Imo State, education is one of the viable industries in the state.

    “When I came into office in 2011, I told Imo people that my top priority is education and I want to tell you that we have done a lot in this area.

    “We have created six new universities, four polytechnics and two colleges of education. By the time they take off, this will accommodate thousands of our children who go outside the state in search of admission and in most cases, they do not get it. Now, the opportunity is here for them to take advantage of,” he said.

    Reacting to allegation that the idea of setting up six new universities few days before leaving office is a trap to put the in-coming administration into problem, Okorocha said, “Let me say that I am not setting any trap for the incoming administration either do I want the incoming government to fail with the setting up of these universities, polytechnics and colleges of education.

    “The dream behind it is that our children who are the highest in seeking of university education in the whole of the federation will have more opportunities of having access to university education.

    “Education and health sectors have received the highest attention in Imo state within the last eight years of my administration. The free education programme in the state has reduced crimes in the state. Children are no longer hawking; they are now in schools because there is free education in the state.

    “Nobody has any reason not to continue with the free education, which I introduced. Education is our culture and it is the main stay of our lives in Imo State. It has drastically increased literacy level in the state. Children of the poor now have unlimited access to quality education up to university level.”

    He also denied claims that its funding will put a strain on the finances of the state when he said “the schools will be managed under Public Private Partnership arrangement.”

    Similar controversy erupted in Ogun State when Governor Ibikunle Amosun, less than two months to the end of his tenure, approved the appointment of 18 new permanent secretaries from the state civil service.

    Lanre Bisiriyu, the state’s Head of Service, who made the announcement in a press statement dated April 9, said the new appointees are Mosuro Olatunbosun, Bajela Abayomi, Abosede Ogunleye, Olufunke Ogunremi, Odulana Dolapo, Olanrewaju Saka, Olaleye Alao and Adebiyi Ayinla.

    The others, he said are Idowu Olubunmi, Awere Abiodun, Olukoga Olumuyiwa, Adewunmi Olufemi, Oladeinde Olufunmilayo, Ogunlana Fatai, Lanre -Iyanda Olusegun, Olabimtan Akande, Aboaba Ishola and Oresanya Yetunde.

    At the same time, the governor also approved the appointments of Oludiji Akinhanmi and Festus Kehinde as the General Managers of Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation (OGBC) and Ogun State Television (OGTV) respectively.

    As would be expected, Amosun has been under fire since then as observers and critical stakeholders wonder why he had to wait until now to make such important appointments and how expects the in-coming administration to relate with the new appointees.

    One of the popular lawyers that have spoken to newsmen on the futility of such appointments and contracts is Chief Mike Ahamba (SAN). He was quoted recently as saying “the outgoing governors should bear in mind that the incoming governors reserve the right not to confirm the appointments being made and contracts awarded. According to him, those who are being employed now will be under probation by the time the new government will come in and they stand to lose their employment depending on the findings of the new government concerning their engagement. He said: “They should know that the new government has the right not to confirm the appointment of those under probations. When governor Rocha’s Okorocha came into power, he sacked about 10,000 workers. It is clear now that the appointments being made and the contracts being awarded are out of malice. ”They should also know that a searchlight is being beamed on them by anti-graft agencies. The whole thing is about malice and intended to create problems for the new administration,” he stated.

    Not all lawyers and politicians see it the same way. Sunday Mbaku, a lawyer in Imo State, told The Nation that there is nothing wrong for Okorocha, Amosu or any other out-going governor to do their statutory duty until the last day of their four year tenure, adding, “A good project is a good project no matter how late it is awarded. My advice to the in-coming governors is to look at the appointments, contracts and recruitments objectively and act accordingly.”

    He also said: “An elected governor has four-year tenure. He is expected to work as a governor all through the tenure and not to stop working after a new governor-elect emerges. So, in the eyes of the law, until May 29, every executive function performed by these governors are legitimate. But if after their tenure the new administration finds genuine reason not to continue with any of the decisions, it is free to follow the laid down legal processes to quash such actions.”

    The concern over the last minutes actions of the out-going governors is not limited to Ogun and Imo states.

    Other states where such concerns have been raised recently include Adamawa, Bauchi and Oyo. While blaming the out-going governors for delaying some of the controversial actions until the tail end of their tenure, observers said the in-coming governments must first assess the genuineness of the action before cancelling them in the interest of the state.

     

  • Training for 150 miners in Osun

    No fewer than 150 participants drawn from Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Ekiti and Ondo states attended a five-day training programme tagged “Extension Services to Artisanal and Small-scale Miners” in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

    The training programme was sponsored by the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development. The workshop provided technical knowledge and competence on mining for the participants to improve their skills and boost the economy of the state and the country.

    In his address, the team leader of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development to the workshop, Engr. Olabisi Mojoyinola, said the Federal Government has recognised the importance of mining to national economy.

    Mojoyinola, who represented the ministry’s Director of Artisanal and Small-scale Mining, Mr. Patrick Ojeka, said the Federal Government has adopted a strategy termed formalisation through “Co-operation” to address the artisanal mining issues and to use it as an instrument to address poverty in the host mining communities in the rural areas.

    He further said in spite of inherent problems associated with informal mining, the artisanal and small-scale mining is a livelihood strategy adopted primarily to alleviate poverty in rural areas in most countries and “when properly organized, it can contribute to the socio-economic development at the grassroots.”

    Speaking further, he said: “Section 91 of the Mineral and Mining Act 2007 provides for extension services for registered and performing mining co-operatives, quarrying association and small-scale mining companies. Government, therefore, is expected to provide extension service programmes for the miners.

    “Prospecting and exploration services should be provided for to determine the geological setting, structure and nature of occurrences, quantity and quality of minerals being mined. Government should provide mineral testing standard and determination of mineral grades and provide proven mineral reserves evaluation, including feasibility reports. Government should also assist small-scale miners on mine design and planning suitable for the deposit.”

    In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Osun Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Chief Babatunde Falohun, urged the Federal Government to recognise the place of mining in boosting national economy.

    Falohun, a geologist, maintained that mining could provide an opportunity for the government to diversify the economy.

    Also, a mining consultant, Engr. Garuba Bida, advised the government to sanitise the mining sector in order to maximise its benefits for the individuals, communities, states and the country. The representative of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel in Osun State, Engr. Umar Kabir, who acknowledged the role of technology in mining exploration, said the workshop was designed to expose participants to trending methods and skills in the mining sector.

    Speaking at the opening session before declaring the workshop open, the Osun State Governor, Mr. Gboyega Oyetola, promised to make mining of mineral resources found in the state work for the development of the people and the host communities. The governor said rejuvenation of the mining sector of the state economy is a major cardinal programme of his administration.

    Represented by the Executive Secretary, Office of the Forestry and Natural Resources, Mr. Simeon Lanlehin, the governor said his interest in the mining sector is based on its potential for its prosperity multiplier effect and huge labour employer.

    Stressing that the training programme will ginger the participants to be more active on the field, Oyetola said mining could create employment opportunities for teeming young population in the state.

    The governor, who said the objective of the workshop is to provide technical competence for stakeholders in the mining sector of the state economy, lamented that illegal activities of some miners have become inimical to the environment and exposes the people in “our communities to serious health hazards.”

    Oyetola revealed that gold is the most mined natural resource by artisanal and small-scale miners in the state whose activities are majorly unprofessional, unregulated, unsafe and unprofitable to government.

    He, therefore, pledged support for the Federal Government to make mining take the country to the next level, saying Osun and many other states are blessed with abundant mineral resources, including gold.

  • Easter: FRSC deploys 1,500 personnel in Ogun

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, on Tuesday, said it would deploy 1,500 personnel comprised of Regular and Special marshals for the 2019 Easter operations in the state.

    Mr. Clement Oladele, the State Sector Commander, disclosed this during the first quarter 2019 sectoral retreat of the command held at its headquarters in Abeokuta.

    The programme had as its theme “FRSC Intervention and Agreements: Implication and Preparedness”.

    Oladele explained that the command would be patrolling all the corridors in the state, especially Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

    According to him, the frequent traffic gridlock on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is due to the construction ongoing on the corridor.

    He said that the command had also deployed 25 patrol vehicles and five life support ambulances for the Easter patrol operation.

    To cushion the discomfort of motorists travelling during the Easter festivities, he said the command had reached an agreement with the construction company, Julius Berger Plc, to open up barricaded sections of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway during the season.

    Oladele said that the command recorded a total of 177 crashes in the state from January to March that led to the death of 102 people, including 10 children, while 473 others were injured.

    “Road construction zones accounted for most crashes recorded in the state with grave statistics as this, the avoidable loss of lives and properties is a huge cost to government and our society, ” he said.

    The FRSC Sector Commander said that the retreat was organised to further identify missing links and collectively find workable ways of improving traffic management in Ogun State despite the obvious challenges.

    In his remarks, the Zonal Commanding Officer, FRSC Zone 2, Mr Samuel Obayemi, urged FRSC personnel to justify the Federal Government’s support and commitment to road safety.

    Obayemi urged the personnel to ensure that road crashes were reduced to the barest minimum, and highways within the zone free of gridlock.

  • Two die as driver rams vehicle into truck in Ogun

    Two persons died yesterday evening when a private vehicle conveying them rammed into a stationary truck at Danco Filling Station (Ogun State) corridor of the Lagos – Ibadan expressway.

    The private vehicle – Volvo jeep marked SGM 858 AA was said to have rammed into a Mack truck with registration number MUS 762 XD, which was parked by the roadside.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, who confirmed the accident, stated that the driver of the Volvo car was over-speeding and crashed the vehicle into a stationary truck.

    Akinbiyi added that the accident vehicles have been towed to the Sagamu Divisional Police Headquarters, Sagamu, while the dead were evacuated to the morgue of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.

  • Ogun, Lagos to set up joint development commission, says Abiodun

    A Lagos/Ogun joint development commission is in the offing , according to Ogun State Governor-elect, Prince Dapo Abiodun.

    Abiodun, speaking at a strategic session with the state chapter of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) and other members of the organised private sector at Agbara, Ado-Odo-Otta council area of the state, he said he and his Lagos State counter-part, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu were on the same page on the proposal.

    Read also: Amosun’s govt owes N170m deductions, Ogun Poly workers allege

    The planned agency, he said, would help drive the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of both states and enhance rapid development and transformation of their border communities.

    Abiodun also said that improved security and upgrading of infrastructure would be aggressively pursued by his administration.

    The governor-elect was with his running mate, Mrs. Noimot Oyedele – Salako at the meeting.

  • UTME: Police warn students against malpractice

    The Ogun Police Command on Tuesday warned students sitting for the forthcoming Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) to desist from any form of malpractice and avoid getting into trouble.

    DSP Bimbola Oyeyemi, the Ogun Police Public Relation Officer (PPRO), gave the warning in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Ota, Ogun.

    NAN reports that no fewer than 1.8 million Candidates will be sitting for the UTME Examinations organised by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), starting across the country on April 11.

    Oyeyemi reminded the students that examination malpractice is an offence and that anyone caught violating the law would be arrested.

    Read Also: Police nab man with ‘human parts‘

    “The police has the power under the laws to prosecute anybody caught in any form of malpractice during the JAMB examination,” he said.

    The PPRO said that the police would be in various centres in the state to monitor and ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order.

  • Three die as trucks collide in Ogun

    Three persons died on Monday in Ogun state when a tipper bearing granite rammed into the rear of a Sino truck marked NSR 89 YQ, killing three occupants of the tipper.

    The Iveco tipper truck bearing granite had just left a quarry site in Isara area of Remoland and was hurrying to Lagos to offload when the driver lost control of the wheel and crashed into the Sino truck marked with emblem of Dangote, a source told The Nation.

    Read Also: Woman dies, daughter injured as vehicle plunges into Ogun river

    The driver of the Dangote truck was unaffected, the source added.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Ogun state Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, told The Nation the vehicles were taken to the Police Motor Traffic Division at Ogere while the remains of the dead were evacuated to a private morgue – FOS Mortuary, Ipara, Ogun state.

  • EFCC arraigns internet fraudster in Ogun

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has arraigned a suspected internet fraudster, Odeneye Eniola, before Justice Mohammed Abubakar of the Federal High Court, Abeokuta.

    Odeneye was arraigned by the Ibadan Zonal Office of EFCC and charged with obtaining money by false pretense, contrary to Section 1 (1) (a) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act, 2006.

    The suspect was said to have defrauded one Chris, an American Citizen, of the sum of Three Thousand, Three Hundred United States of American Dollars, by posing as a woman on online platform.

    The count reads:” That you Odeneye Eniola, sometimes in 2019, at Awa Ijebu within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court with intent to defraud, obtain the sum of $ 3300 USD (Three Thousand, Three Hundred United States of American Dollars) from Chris, an American Citizen when you falsely represented to him that you are a woman, which facilitated your collecting money from him through iTunes and play Gift Cards, which representation you knew to be false and thereby committed an offense contrary to section 1(1)(a) and punishable under Section 1 (3) of the Advance Fee Fraud and other Fraud Related Offenses Act 2006.”

    He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge while the prosecution counsel, Shamsudden Bahir, prayed the court for a trial date and an order to remand him in prison custody pending the determination of his case.

    The defense counsel, A. A. Falujo, made an oral application asking the court to grant the accused bail on liberal terms.

    Read Also: EFCC convicts two for Internet fraud in Ibadan

    Though, EFCC’s counsel was not opposed to bail application but urged the court to grant the bail on terms that would make the accused attend his trial.

    The judge, after listening to arguments of both sides, granted Odeneye bail in the sum of Three Million Naira and two sureties in like sum.

    He also ordered that one of the sureties must be a civil servant, resident and working in Ogun State.

    The matter has been adjourned to 15 May 2019 for trail, while the defendant was to be remanded in prison custody pending the perfection of his bail conditions.