The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogun

  • Confusion trails ownership of sacked 300 street sweepers’ supervisors in Lagos

    There is confusion regarding the actual employers of the 300 street sweepers’ supervisors that were recently sacked in Lagos State, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Environmental Utility firm, Visionscape Sanitation Solutions Ltd (VSS) told NAN on Sunday in Lagos that the supervisors were employed for the Lagos State Government, under the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI).

    Mr Adebola Shabi, the Special Adviser to the Governor on CLI said the government had nothing to do with the news making the rounds that it had sacked the 300 supervisors.

    Shabi said that the CLI contracted Standard Street Manpower Ltd. (SSML) on the employment of street sweepers.

    According to him, Cleaner Lagos is a government initiative, not a contractor, while Visionscape is the contractor, hence, government can decide it does not want Visionscape but Cleaner Lagos will remain.

    “Maybe it is Visionscape that sacked them, Cleaner Lagos has not sacked anybody.

    “SSML is a consultant to the state government on engagement of sweepers but we have told them that at the end of June, all sweepers should be handed over to the Ministry of Environment.

    “We don’t know any issue about the sack; I have been trying to get the information from Visionscape and they are directing me to their head office.

    “The sack has nothing to do with Cleaner Lagos because we did not employ and we did not sack. Lagos State does not believe in sacking people,’’ he said.

    The Head, Corporate Communications, VisionScape, Mrs Motunrayo Elias, told NAN that the company was not the only contractor under the CLI.

    Elias said that when the structure for waste management was put in place, government said it wanted street sweepers to clean the inner streets, among other arrangements.

    She said that the structure for street sweepers’ supervisors was also put in place, that was the arrangement between CLI, VSS and SSML, which was the company managing the street sweepers.

    Elias said that the supervisors were hired by SSML but were trained by VSS and worked with VSS Area Managers, to ensure the synergy of sweeping and packing the refuse.

    “Now, with the controversy about PSP operators wanting to go back to work, government said that the street sweepers should revert to them.

    “So if you have taken the street sweepers, what are you going to do with their supervisors?

    “When we had a meeting, the issue was brought up and government asked how much was the salary, that was where the problem started.

    “Government said it cannot afford the salary, which was between N80,000 to N120,000 but can only pay N25,000 per month.

    “So the company paid the supervisors their disengagement bonuses, with Visionscape paying them two months’ salaries, while government was trying to decide.

    “For fact, the supervisors were supposed to be transferred to the Ministry of Environment. It was a labour contract from the CLI,’’ she said.

    Elias said that the structure that was put in place for waste management in the state injected income to the economy, as people were better off.

    She said that it was essential to take the good with the bad, as nobody talked about the good that the whole system was doing when it was creating employment.

    NAN reports that the disengagement letters to the supervisors was signed by the Head, Human Resources and Administration, SSML, Oluwatoyin Ayoola.

    The letter reads; ‘“In light of the recent review of the implementation of the Cleaner Lagos Initiative and the impact of these changes on our operational requirements as discussed at our meeting held on the 2nd of June 2018, we regrettably write to inform you that it affects your employment with Standard Street Manpower Ltd.

    “As discussed, the transfer of Ward Level Sanitation Programme (Community sanitation workers) to the Lagos State Government has rendered your position as Sanitation Supervisor redundant and your services will no longer be required with effect from 14th of June, 2018.’’ (NAN)

  • Four dead, 10 injured in Ogun road accidents

    Four persons, including two women and a little girl, have died in a separate road accidents on Ogun State corridor of the Lagos – Ibadan expressway and Lagos – Ore expressway respectively.
    The first accident occurred when a speeding Toyota corolla saloon car skidded off its track atop the Ososa dual carriage bridge along Lagos – Ore expressway and plunged into the river around midnight on Friday.
    Two persons – adult male and a minor(girl) were said to have died in the process, while 10 others, including seven children sustained various degrees of injury.
    It was learnt that the  saloon car driven by a police sergeant and carrying 12 people, including his seven children, lost control of the wheel while speeding and fell into the river.
    The second accident which occurred on Saturday at the Fidiwo – Oniworo stretch of the Lagos – Ibadan expressway left two women dead and three others injured when two Sienna cars collided with each other.
    The Public Relations Officer of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps(TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi, who confirmed the separate accidents to The Nation, said the one that occurred at Fidiwo involved two Sienna cars marked  LSD 266 CK and  AGL 554 EA.
    Akinbiyi said one of the Sienna cars had break failure and both were coming from opposite direction on Lagos – Ibadan expressway when they collided.
    While one of the women died at the accident scene, the other died on the way to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu.

  • Eight Edo indigenes coming from Spain die in accident

    Eight persons, five males and three females, have lost their lives in an accident on Tuesday morning when a Hummer bus conveying them rammed into a Mack truck.

    The accident occurred around 8:30am at the Wictech stretch of the Lagos – Ibadan expressway about two km away from Danco filling station.

    The victims – all believed to be Edo State indigenes, who just flew into the country from Spain this morning, had chartered the bus marked BEN 313 YX on the fleet of Iyare Motors and were going to Benin City for an engagement, when the accident happened.

    Operatives of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps(TRACE) were sighted evacuating victims, clearing obstructions and directing traffic.

    Read Also: Four die in Edo road accident

    The Public Relations Officer of TRACE, Babatunde Akinbiyi, who confirmed the accident to The Nation, said the driver of the speeding hummer bus ram into the rear of a truck marked MUS 730 XN in bids to overtake it.

    Akinbiyi said seven of the victims died at the accident scene while one other died later. Their remains have been deposited at the morgue of the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu where two others rescued alive, were also receiving treatment.

  • Two die in Ogun pipeline explosion

    Two people suspected to be filling station owners in Ogun have died and another severally burnt in a pipeline explosion from a vandalised pipeline of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

    It was not clear what the victims were doing at the location when the fire erupted.

    The Nation gathered the one that suffered burns is receiving treatment at a specialist hospital in Sagamu while the vandalised NNPC pipeline is situated at the Ogere Express way area of the state beside the water corporation.

    The Commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSDC) Ogun State Command, Ayodele Philip, disclosed that the explosion occurred in early morning of last Friday.

    Read Also:Pipeline explosions: Army arrest 7, recover explosives

    Ayodele said some personnel of a private security firm contracted to secure the Ogere stretch of the NNPC pipeline spotted the incident and called the attention of the Operatives of the NSCDC to it.

    “A private security company detailed to secure the spot called the attention of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC Officer in charge of the area who quickly reported the incident and we swung into action.

    “We were informed by a reliable source that the two men that are dead are owners of four fuel stations, another one who was injured in the fire breakout named Animashaun Abiodun is at the intensive care unit of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu,” he said.

    The NSCDC Commandant noted that he has deployed his men to the black spot to provide arms security, explaining that they have also been  advised to work in synergy with the Private security company and the NNPC officials.

    He also appealed to the public and the residence of the area to provide vital information that could assist the Operatives secure critical infrastructure in Ogun State.

  • Family of five, friend die mysteriously in Ogun

    A family of five died in mysterious circumstances on Wednesday night at Old Aiyepe road in Sagamu area of Ogun State.

    The family included father, mother, three children and a family friend.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the family newly moved from their rented apartment into their own property but died the first night in the house.

    The house was suspected to have been fumigated with “killer chemical”.

    One of the sympathisers, who accompanied the bodies to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH) in Sagamu, said the owner of the house, a borehole driller, just spent a night in the new house.

    The sympathiser, who identified himself simply as Tony, said the neighbours perceived a foul odour yesterday, which attracted them to the house.

    According to him, neighbours raised the alarm, which attracted the attention of the police.

    The remains of the deceased have been taken to the mortuary at OOUTH.

    Hundreds of sympathisers besieged the Accident and Emergency Unit of the hospital, wailing uncontrollably over the incident.

    Police spokesman Abimbola Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said the command would get to the root of the matter.

    Oyeyemi said investigation into the matter had begun to unravel the mystery behind the deaths.

  • Fleeing robber shot dead in Ogun, snatched SUVs recovered

    A fleeing robbery suspect has been shot dead in Ogun State by the operatives of  of the Federal Special Anti – Robbery Squad (FSARS) attached to Magbon,  Abeokuta.
    The suspect was escaping with a Lexus RX 350 Jeep after he and  his gang had snatched the car at gun point at Oke – Ilewo area of Abeokuta, the state capital.
    Following a distress call to the Police immediately after the incident, the FSARS Commander, Uba Adam, was detailed to initiate measures to locate the suspects and arrest them.
    It was learnt that all FSARS Operatives manning various exit points in the state were alerted to be on look out for the snatched vehicle and the suspects.
    However, the search for the suspects paid off last Thursday when the gang ran into the FSARS team stationed along Sango Ota area, who sighted the said jeep.
    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who made this known in a release, stated that the robbers in a bid to escape the F- SARS’ chase, opened fire on the operatives.
    Oyeyemi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, added that the officers engaged the gang, explaining that at the end of the encounter, one of the robbers was fatally injured, arrested  and taken to the State hospital, Ijaye, but died later while receiving treatment.
    He listed one AK49 assault rifle loaded with 13 rounds of live ammunition and the snatched Lexus RX 350 Jeep marked LSD 456 E X as items  recovered .
    The Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, who lauded F – SARS team for their bravery, charged them not to rest until fleeing members of the gang were arrested and brought to book.

  • Ogun: Amosun’s supporters debunk endorsement claims

    The Amosun Solidarity Forum (ASF), a support group for Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state, has debunked media reports that the Governor had endorsed his Chief of Staff, Tolu Odebiyi and Hon Adekunle Akinlade, a member of the House of Representatives, as the governorship candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for the forthcoming 2019 gubernatorial election in the state. The group said Senator Amosun, as a fair political father of all the aspirants, has constantly insisted that he is yet to anoint any one of them.

    Speaking to reporters in Abeokuta on Saturday, Gafar Ibitoye Somoye and Dotun Abimbolu, chairman and secretary of the forum respectively, said it is not in the interest of the party for any aspirant or supporters, to be dropping the name of the Governor at a time like this.

    “Governor Amosun is not an author of confusion. He is a very smart and strategic politician who knows when and how to deal political strokes. He has every right to support any aspirant of his choice and play significant role in how his successor will emerge, but we want to tell you that he is yet to endorse any of the aspirant as we speak today. As loyal APC members and die-hard supporters of the Governor, we warn that nobody should drop his name at this crucial time.

    “The Governor will not do anything that is capable of truncating the peace currently being enjoyed in Ogun APC. Dropping his name that he has endorsed two aspirants for the same position is not good for the party. So, we urge all loyal party members, be you aspirant or supporter of an aspirant, to avoid political games that can boomerang later. We are ready to wait patiently for Senator Amosun to make up his mind and inform the party of his preference. Wherever he goes, we will go,” he said.

     

  • ‘Quit too much thinking to avoid untimely death’

    The Chairman of the Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Mrs. Olabosipo Ogunsan, has advised teachers in Ogun State public schools to steer away from too much thinking and pay adequate attention to their health to avert untimely death.

    Mrs Ogunsan also urged the teachers to eat healthy food, sleep well and go for regular medical check – up in order to avert health danger that could threaten their lives.

    The TESCOM boss gave the advice during a joint prayer session, organised by education stakeholders in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, for teachers in the state’s public schools who died in active service.

    The Prayers were offered by Pastor Tunde Amosun of the Rock Foundation Church, Abeokuta and Chief Imam Sa’adutul Abadiyya Organisation, Ismail Abdullateef.
    This is coming on the heels of an alarm raised by the Ogun State chapter of the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS) of the increasing number of deaths among members in the last four months.

    The State Chairman of ASUSS, Comrade Lasisi Akeem, had a week ago told The Nation that over 24 teachers have died since 2018 began, and appealed to people to pray for teachers to overcome their challenges.

    Akeem said the health of a good number of teachers in the state has deteriorated resulting in avoidable deaths, because many lacked resources to seek prompt and regular medical care.

    But speaking during the special prayer session, Ogunsan said recent medical screening exercise carried out by TESCOM, revealed that, killer ailments, like high blood pressure, sugar in the blood, high cholesterol level amongst others were prevalent among public secondary school teachers across the State.

    She advised teachers to take their health seriously by going for regular medical check up to ascertain their health status, get updates on healthy living and to always eat balanced diet that nourishes the body.

    ‘’I must tell you that the screening exercise has helped us save many of our teachers from death. I want you to take your health very important, because health is wealth.

    “Eat well, sleep well and go for medical check-up regularly and avoid thinking too much, rather, let us learn to cast our cares upon God, he cares for us and above all, let us be prayerful,” Ogunsan advised.

    And responding, Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Comrade Akeem Lasisi, said the fasting and prayer session became necessary to seek the face of God to avert occurrence of untimely death in the future among teachers.

    Also, President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Ogun State chapter, Chief Olatunji Ogundele, hailed the initiative.

  • Adebiyi emerges Ogun APC chair as Amosun, Osoba harmonize new exco

    The Senior Special Adviser on Political Affairs to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, Chief Derin Adebiyi, on Saturday emerged  the new chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State.
    Derin Adebiyi who hails from Ifo Local Government Council in Ogun Central, emerged  the state party Chairman following a consensus  made possible with the harmonization of camps loyal to both Amosun and former governor Aremo Segun Osoba.
    The 1,749 accredited delegates from the 20 Local Government Areas of the state elected the new party executives who emerged unopposed.
    Adebiyi polled 1,712 votes to emerge as chairman according to the chairman, APC State Congress Committee, Revd Peter Obadan, who announced the results at the end of the congress.
    Obadan, who was accompanied by four other members of the congress committee, stated that 18 void votes were recorded during the election.
    He also announced Hon. Patrick Ogunde as the new state Secretary of the party while saying Chief Wole Elegbede was unanimously elected as the Publicity Secretary.
    He lauded the party members for their peaceful conduct throughout the exercise.
     Although Osoba was absent at the state congresses, his loyalists, such as  Senator Adegbenga Kaka,  Hon. Adekunle Adeyemi and the son of the former governor, Olumide Osoba, were present.
    In his acceptance speech, the new chairman, who was a former Deputy Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and one-time chairman of All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), pledged to lead  APC to win the 2019 general elections in the state.
     “From reports all over the country, this state witnessed the most peaceful congress. Your Excellency, this is a reflection of your leadership quality. What we witnessed during the congress was not an accident; it was an outcome of a very sensible and meticulous leadership.
    “I want to assure you that this administration will be an all encompassing one. We are going to play politics of inclusion, not exclusion. We are going to obey the leaders and we are going to be firm. The era of indiscipline is gone in this party.
    “We are going to win the next election in a landslide manner. I want to assure you sir, we are not going to betray the confidence reposed in us,” Adebiyi said.
    Also speaking, Amosun hailed the APC members in the state for doing the state proud with the peaceful manner  conduct the congresses went.
    The governor declared that the ruling party will win 2019, urging members to remain resolute in standing by the party.
    He said, “We will work till May 29, 2019. I commend all our party faithful for their commitment to the success of the party. Without the members, there can’t be the party.
    “Election is coming; we are Ogun State. It’s not about fighting. We have what to sell. The governor that is coming after me will do better than me.”

  • 270,000 pupils on Fed Govt’s free meals in Ogun

    •NGO to monitor scheme to prevent malpractices

    The Ogun State government has said over 270,000 pupils in 1,510 schools across the state have been placed on the school free meals project of the Federal Government.

    The state government also said 2,948 food vendors were employed to serve the free meals to the pupils during school hours.

    The free meals scheme is being implemented in 40 schools across four local government areas of Abeokuta North, Ikenne, Imeko-Afon and Odeda.

    The Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Mr. Adeleke Adewolu, addressed reporters in Abeokuta, the state capital, on the implementation of the programme.

    Adewolu, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information Communication Technology (ICT), Mr. Bummi Adebayo, said the state remained committed to the implementation to ensure its success.

    Also, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Special Projects and Programme Manager, Mrs.  Tinuola Shopeju said the programme had created 3,000 direct jobs and 30,000 indirect jobs in the state.

    Mrs Shopeju said the programme had been meeting its objectives of enhancing pupils’ nutritional status, empowering women and increasing agricultural productivity.

    According to her, the programme has been successful due to effective monitoring and supervision by different agencies and groups, including the Women’s Consortium of Nigeria (WOCON).

    Also, WOCON, a non-governmental organisation (NGO), said it will introduce tracking a device to checkmate and discover any fraudulent practices towards the school feeding programme in Ogun and other states.

    The NGO’s Project Coordinator, Mr. Olukunle Adeogun, urged the Federal Government to remove some bottlenecks hindering proper monitoring of the free meal projects for schools.

    He identified logistics challenges and bureaucracy in funds disbursement and food distribution as factors hindering the monitoring of the scheme.

    The coordinator said parents were withdrawing their wards from private schools and sending them to public schools because of the free meals.

    Adeogun assured the residents that pupils enrolled for the programme would be wholly and properly fed with quality meal everyday.

    The coordinator said WOCON would monitor it to ensure that the budget for the programme is judiciously utilised.

    He said: “No doubt, there are challenges encountered on the monitoring field and there are hiccups and bottlenecks here and there due to logistics and bureaucracy in government in the day-to-day disbursement of both funds and food.

    “This monitoring will take place from the tracking stage to the disbursement of funds while we are also to ensure that funds assigned for this project are properly disbursed and used for the purposes for which they are meant.

    “Principally, this is to strengthen local accountability practices in the school feeding programme, thereby reducing corruption and ensuring that the children-beneficiaries of the programme are adequately fed with quality food during the programme.

    “We want to promise the ministry and the good people of Ogun State that we in WOCON will do all in our power to ensure that the objective and principal goal and the aim of the Federal Government on this programme is fully achieved and children beneficiaries fed.”