The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ogun

  • Ogun warns motorists, others over indiscriminate parking 

    Ogun warns motorists, others over indiscriminate parking 

    The  Ogun State government has urged motorists in the state to avoid the indiscriminate parking of vehicles on roads across the state. The Chairman, Parks and Garages Development Board (PAGADEB), Alhaji Ayo Ogunsolu, made the appeal while also cautioning transport unions in the State to desist from citing motor parks indiscriminately on the roads, as the act disrupts free flow of traffic and endangers human lives.

    Ogunsolu urged the unions to make use of the designated parking spaces provided along the roads to ensure sanity. He noted that the present administration would leave no stone unturned at ensuring that road transport remains the best in terms of safety and compliance to traffic regulations, explaining that government has adopted an efficient transport management for safe motoring.

    The PAGADEB boss identified AMORAN, TORAN, TWORA, NURTW, RETEAN, UTQUEN as some of the unions recognised by the state government, cautioning people to be wary of some illegal groups parading themselves as officers of the approved unions.

    “It’s imperative to caution the general public against boarding motors on obstructions and on the road sides as it pose more dangers to their lives, they need to patronise garages being approved by the state government so as to ensure safety of their lives and properties”, he opined.

    Ogunsolu urged members of the unions to always abide with all traffic laws and regulations as this would portray them as efficient transport managers, as government would continue to ensure unity amongst the various unions. He said that government would not fold it’s arms ýand allow unscrupulous elements in the name of some unions to breach the state’s traffic rules and regulations.

  • Ogun inaugurates committee on task sharing policy

    The Ogun State Government has assured that the newly-inaugurated nine-member committee to work on the adoption and implementation of the National Task-shifting and Sharing Policy will be be a success.

    The policy was formulated by the Federal Government to address the challenges of lack of skilled health personnel and inequitable distribution of qualified health care workers to health facilities where they are needed.

    The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Nafiu Aigoro said the  Task-Shifting Policy Dissemination was organised by the Federal Ministry of Health and Ogun State Primary Health Care Development Board (OGPHECADEB) with the support of Pathfinder International, Nigeria.

    The event held in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. He noted that the development would create room for health care professionals to deliver essential services and improve access to efficient health care service delivery to the people.

    Ipaye also stated that there was the need to ensure proper supervision, monitoring and evaluation when the policy is fully implemented to guard against exceeding limitations by the categories of health workers involved. He called on other stakeholders to also ensure its success.

    “For this policy to work out appropriately there should be proper supervision, monitoring and evaluation process so that categories of health workers to be involved will not go beyond their limitations,” Ipaye said.

    Also speaking, the Project Officer, Pathfinder International, Nigeria, Dr.  Adenike Jagun praised the state government for the giant strides, saying the step would bring about high quality health care delivery to the people, particularly in terms of enhancing access to family planning services in a manner that will improve maternal and child mortality rate in the country.

    “Ogun State has the chance to reduce the maternal and child deaths to the barest and to meet up with target of 54.2 per cent of contraceptive prevalence rate (CPR) by 2018. The implementation of the policy must be carried out consciously alongside separation of budget line for family planning,” Jagun said.

    Members of the committee include, Dr. Oluranti Oladeinde as Chairman while Dr. Daniel Adesanya, Dr. Atinuke Duze; Mrs. Kemi Balogun, among others are members.

     

  • Clamour for power shift resonates in Ogun

    Clamour for power shift resonates in Ogun

    The people Yewa/Awori, Ogun State, are increasingly becoming frustrated by their failure to produce a governor since the Gateway State was created 40 years ago. Traditional rulers from the area no longer want to leave things to chance. Ahead of the 2019 general elections, Yewa monarchs and politicians are already strategising to end the marginalisation. Correspondent ERNEST NWOKOLO reports. 

    Altough Ogun State is made up of three dominant groups, the Ijebu/Remo in Ogun East, the Egba in Ogun Central and the Yewa/Awori in Ogun West, the first two groups have been taking turns to produce governors for the state. Attempts in the past to end the apparent marginalisation of Yewa/Awori axis have always failed.

    Ahead of the 2019 general elections, traditional rulers and politicians from Yewaland have started strategising ahead for the governorship contest. The primary objective is to actualise their agitation for power shift to Ogun West Senatorial District. They want one of their sons or daughters to become the governor.

    The area comprises five of the old local governments — Yewa South, Yewa North, Ipokia, Ado/Odo/Ota and Imeko-Afon. Those not conversant with their plight may question the propriety of their scheming for the position, although the election that is more than two years away. However, it is understandable for others who have witnessed how the number one seat has been eluding them over the years, on the altar of internal crisis and lack of cohesion.

    Ogun is the home state of many notable Nigerians, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the late philanthropist and politician, Chief Moshood Abiola and the Afenifere leader, the late Abraham Adesanya. The state clocked 40 in February.

    Some of the past governors of the state are: the late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo (Ijebu), Otunba Gbenga Daniel (Ijebu/Remo) and Chief Olusegun Osoba (Egba). The incumbent Governor Ibikunle Amosun is also of Egba extraction.

    Before the return to civil rule in 1999, prominent politicians from the area such as the late Prof. Afolabi Olabimtan and the late Dr. Tunji Otegbeye tried to reverse the trend, but the attempts were feeble, in the face of the more organised, united and robust political onslaught by opponents from Egba and Ijebu/Remo axis.

    The highest elective position ever occupied by Yewa is the office of the deputy governor for eight years; Alhaja Salmot Badru, played that role during the Gbenga Daniel’s era. Someone from the area, Prince Suraj Adekunbi, is currently the state House of Assembly.

    In 2011, the zone came close to clinching the governorship position. The clamour for power shift almost propelled events in their favour, but they missed it, because of disunity and internal strife. Rather than forge a united front during the governorship election of that year, two of its prominent sons — former Military Administrator of the old Oyo State and later Sole Administrator in Ekiti State, Gen. Tunji Olurin, and former Group Managing Director, Gateway Holdings, Prince Gboyega Isiaka, contested against each other on the one hand and against Senator Ibikunle Amosun from Egba on the other hand.

    The chief promoter of Olurin on the ticket of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who saw Olurin as the best man for the job. Former Governor Daniel was the arrowhead in the push for Isiaka’s governorship agenda on the platform of the Peoples Party of Nigeria (PPN).

    The army general was said to be trusted, experienced and credible, with global exposure. But, the Yewa/Awori people were acrimoniously divided over who should go for the job, between him and the more cerebral and also younger Isiaka.

    The division was fuelled by the feud between Obasanjo and Daniel. The region could not speak with one voice and deliver bloc votes for one of their sons. As a result, Amosun, who enjoyed the support of his Egba brothers, and sisters eventually won the election.

    The mistakes of 2011 were repeated in 2015, as Akin Odunsi, who contested on the platform of the resuscitated Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Isiaka split the votes of the Yewa/Awori region. Odunsi was elected as Senator for Ogun West (Yewa) in 2011 on the ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC), but owing to a disagreement within the fold, he contested the April 11, 2015 governorship race on the platform of the SDP. The two Yewa politicians could not dislodge the incumbent Governor Amosun of the APC.

    Indications are that the Yewa/Awori axis would continue to play second fiddle in Ogun politics. For instance, the PDP has just zoned its governorship ticket for 2019 general elections to the Ijebu/Remo axis.

    Its Chairman, Sikirulai Ogundele, told The Nation that the party was determined to return to power in 2019, hence, it has zoned the ticket to the Ijebu/Remo axis early enough to enhance adequate preparation. He added that the Ogun PDP “can’t afford to gamble with Yewa agenda” in 2019.

    The former Chairman of Ifo Local Government Area said the decision was arrived at after many strategic meetings. The decision paves the way for an unnamed governorship aspirant from Ijebu who is perceived to possess the potentials to bring the PDP back to power in the next dispensation.

    But The Nation gathered that the particular aspirant is a House of Representatives member, Ladi Adebutu, who is representing Remo North and Sagamu Federal Constituency.

    A chieftain of PDP, who does not want his name in print, gave an insight into why the party elected to settle for Adebutu, the son of a billionaire philantropist and business magnate, Sir Kessington Adebutu.

    He said: “When we lost the election in 2011 and 2015, we went to the drawing board to examine why we lost in the two instances and then got some answers. And on the basis of that we set criteria for a would-be governorship candidate in 2019.

    “We considered the popularity of the person, his financial buoyancy, his credibility and how all these would impact on the party’s chances of returning to Government House in 2019. If you watch closely, the cap fits Ladi Adubutu.”

    He also explained the rationale behind the zoning of the ticket to the Ijebu/Remo axis, rather than continuing to stick to the earlier decision to give it to the Yewa/Awori people. He said: “I have said it that we want to return to power in Ogun State. The year 2011 was an opportunity for the party to produce a governor from the Yewa/Awori axis, but two candidates emerged from there and the party lost.

    “Again, 2015 offered another opportunity, but the chance was also lost due to similar circumstances. So, after watching the political signals from that area, it is obvious that they are neither ready to be united nor prepared for that office.

    “We can’t afford not to be in government come 2019, because of the insensitivity of the present administration to the plights of the people. The good people of Ogun State can’t endure this ‘penny wise, pound foolish’ style of governance in Ogun.

    “The Yewa/Awori agenda can’t take us there in 2019. In 2011 and 2015, a good number of the voters in Ogun West Senatorial District did not vote for the PDP candidates from that area. We are moving away from Yewa/Awori this time.“

    But the Ogun West appeared more determined and willing to make sacrifices that may ensure the success of their long held dream.

    Former Special Adviser on Youth and Sports during Gbenga Daniel’s administration, Mr. Raheem Ajayi, said it is sad that an area that has been the cash cow of the state has not gotten the chance to produce a governor, despite repeated attempts. He said the Yewa/Awori region is home to many industries in the state.

    Ajayi, who hails from Imasayi, Yewa North Local Government Area, added that the region had repeatedly supported people from Ijebu, Remo and Egba to produce governors in turns, but wondered why same support could not be extended to a Yewa/Awori son or daughter in 2019. He appealed to the Egbas, Ijebus and Remos to back a candidate from Yewa/Awori region to become governor in 2019, in the spirit of fairness, equity, justice and democracy.

    Ajayi said: “The good people of Yewa/Awori are now more determined to get it right this time around. We are poised to getting one of us elected as the governor in 2019. We supported the late Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, an Ijebu man in 1979; he was elected and got re-elected in 1983.

    “We also supported Chief Olusegun Osoba, an Egba man; he was elected governor in 1992 and got elected again in 1999. With our support, the Remo people also got the opportunity of having one of their own elected as governor in the person of Otunba Gbenga Daniel. He was elected in 2003 and re-elected in 2007.

    “Yet, another Egba man, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, also got our support to become governor in 2011 and he was also re-elected last year. The appeal is to all genuine lovers of democracy, fairness and equity in the state to support us to get ‘the elusive’ seat.”

    Adebayo Sheriff, Chairman of Ogun West Liberation Movement (OWELIM), a socio-political group working for the actualisation of the Yewa/Awori agenda in 2019, said the group is already having sensitisation meetings with market women, artisans, community leaders and other stakeholders to drum up support for their cause.

    According to Sheriff, OWELIM’s efforts have started yielding dividends, as the President, Awori Native Coalition (ANC), Chief Prince Oye Taiwo, has not only thrown his weight behind the project, but has also pledged to reach out to his Awori people in Ota Aworiland. He said: “This is a sign of good omen for the governorship aspiration of the area. Before now, it was difficult, if not impossible, for Yewa people and the Aworis, two of the major ethnic groups that constitute Ogun West Senatorial District to speak with one voice regarding the district’s governorship agenda.”

    The renewed quest for the Yewa/Awori agenda might not be unconnected with earlier calls by the paramount ruler of Yewaland and the Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, on his people to work selflessly for the unity and progress of Yewaland.

    Olugbenle urged the people to take a critical appraisal of their current situation and position in the scheme of things in Ogun State since its creation. He advised them jettison acrimony to enable them move forward politically. The monarch said until they come together and the focus fixed on the task ahead, they may not be able to break the jinx in 2019.

    The Olubara of Ibaraland, Oba Jacob Omolade, also re-echoed the same sentiment. He said the time has come for the Yewa people to occupy the governorship seat at Oke-Mosan Governor’s Office come 2019, warning that the opportunity should not be allowed to slip off again this time around.

    According to him, other zones that had produced governors in turns are watching to see whether the Yewa people will repeat the mistakes of the past in 2019.

    With the PDP’s mind already made up, regarding where its candidate would come from, would the ruling APC zone its ticket to the Yewa/Awori axis? Only time will tell.

  • Labour leaders suspend strike in Ogun

    Labour leaders suspend strike in Ogun

    Organised Labour leaders have resolved to suspend the state workers strike that totally shut down government business in the last 12 days in Ogun State.

    The decision followed the outcome of the 10 hours meeting between the state government, national and state labour leaders.

    More details later.

  • Strike: Ogun mums lament lack of access to immunisation

    Strike: Ogun mums lament lack of access to immunisation

    •There’re alternative facilities, says govt

    Thousands of mothers in Ogun State, particularly in the rural areas, are lamenting their lack of access to local governments and state health care centres for immunisation of their babies.

    This followed the strike by Organised Labour, which crippled activities in the state.

    Immunisation is handled at the council health facilities, but all had been locked since the October 20 strike.

    It was observed that nurses were absent, and the health centres locked.

    At the Family Health Clinic, Oke-Ilewo, in Abeokuta South Local Government, mothers returned home in frustration.

    Mrs. Adeyinka Ronke told The Nation that she brought her six-month baby to collect Vitamin A drops and take the measles vaccine, but no one was around to attend to her.

    Many said they had no knowledge nurses were part of the strike, lamenting they will pay triple to obtain immunisation from private clinics.

    But Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health Dr. Nafiu Aigoro said people can approach state hospitals, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, and Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta, to immunise their babies.

    Aigoro advised mothers to also visit Babcock University Hospital, Ilisan, and others since private health centres collect vaccines from the state’s cold store.

  • Troops to bomb militants in Ogun, Lagos creeks

    •Recovers over 53,000 jerrycans from Ishawo creek

    Plans are underway by the Nigerian military to launch a major offensive against militants at Ijedodo, Warewa and other new enclaves.

    It was gathered that the miscreants who were in July dislodged from Ishawo, Elepete and Arepo creeks relocated to those new enclaves from where they kidnap and rob residents of Lagos and Ogun states.

    As the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would soon resume pumping of petroleum product from Atlas Cove to Mosimi, Chairman, Operation AWATSE, Rear Admiral Fergusson Bobai, said nothing would be left to chance.

    During an on-the-spot assessment of the jerrycans evacuation exercise being coordinated by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) at Ishawo creek, Bobai said the military would also embark on  aggressive patrols of the waterways.

    Aside the planned operation, Bobai said the swam buggies were also opening up the waters around Festac for easy access of the small boats newly acquired by the Chief of the Naval Staff  (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas.

    He said: “As of Friday evening, we had on record 53,000 of 50 litres jerrycan from creeks around Ishawo. That was made possible by the grace of the governor, who provided swam buggies to clear the creeks

    to enable LASEMA pull out these jerrycans.

    “As you saw when we got here, there were about three or four waves of jerrycans coming in under the protection of army, navy and other security forces. There are a lot of jerrycans all over the place.”

    On new militants’ hideout in the state, Bobai said the military was aware and ready to take them on.

    “We are aware that the militants are returning and we are ready to take them on. Very soon, petroleum products would be pumped from Atlas

    Cove to Mosimi. That would pose new challenge for us because when we

    embarked on this operation at that time, petroleum products were not

    being pumped and some of them who were out of business started kidnapping.

    “We are going to come in massively to ensure these miscreants are kept at bay. We are making progress to dislodge the miscreants from Ijedodo. We have sought permission from the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) to deploy the might we used to clear Ishawo and Elepete at Ijedodo and we are awaiting his response.

    “Once he gives the go ahead, an offensive would be launched in that area to keep the miscreants away.

    “We are aware some of the gas stations patronise these vandals and we have recommended to the government that the appropriate agency should deal with those filling stations. You can see the lineup of jerrycans here. If you begin to talk about 53,000 50 litre kegs by 50 by 145 by 20 years they have been thriving in the business, that’s a lot of money. So, we have done our own and would continue to do our best.

    “As a military officer, I was instructed by the CDS, Gen. Gabriel Olonisakin, to remove the shanties and dislodge the miscreants, which we have done and handed over to LASEMA.

    “Honestly, LASEMA has not seen sleep in the last two months. With the swam buggies provided by the governor, they have been working here day and night to mop up the jerrycans and other items left here by the vandals. We are just supporting LASEMA to ensure that they clean up the area.”

    On what the government would do with the jerrycans, LASEMA’s General Manager, Adeniyi Tiamiyu, said they would be sold to recycling companies.

    He supported the residents’ call for a link bridge and active maritime environment, noting that it would be impossible for criminals to hide in the swarms if the waterways were accessible.

    He said: “We would dispose the jerrycans for recycling. It would be dangerous and unethical to burn them around here. So, we have been given the mandate to take them out of here, which is what we would do.

    We would sell them to recycling companies.

    “Our concern is to bring out all remnant of their equipment inside thecreeks. I have gone into the creeks for three hours and I have observed that there are quite a lot of jerrycans still inside the place, all stringed together. Our job is to ensure the job we have been given is done.

    “We do not have the capacity of the terrain to do it, so we engaged the locals. Quite a lot of them are inside the creeks and everyday they bring out kegs and we puncture them.

    “As a government, we would ensure the vandals don’t return. I am sure the military won’t leave here until they are sure the vandals won’t return. We must commend the Nigerian military for doing a great job here.

    “We spoke to some of the community members and they attested that they were under siege before. That they saw young boys carrying guns but couldn’t do anything. Some of the residents were killed, others maimed. So, to them, it’s a big relief the military came in.

    “Another important thing I must tell you is that the whole place is ruined. There are a lot of security check points here too. The bombardment was done without a single member of the community dying.

    It was done with military precision.

    “The community has requested for a link bridge between here and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, they have also requested that the state should open up the waterways for marine activities. I am sure if it is opened up, it would be difficult for anyone to stay here and carryout nefarious activity. So, our plan is that at the end of the exercise, we would do a report to government, state our observation and make recommendations.”

  • Artisan drowns in Ogun river following Police raid

    An artisan identified as Gafar Ajibola, has drown  in Ogun River when he plunged the water in panic reaction to a police raid on Oniyanrin community in Abeokuta South Local Government Area of the state.

    The unfortunate incident which happened in the early hours of Saturday, when the 31 years old Ajibola was at the river bank to wash his clothes.

    The Nation gathered that a detachment of policemen had stormed the area in search of hoodlums around near Ogun river and were shooting sporadically.

    In ensuing confusion, deceased was said to have jumped into the river in a fit  of fear and got drowned but his remains were retrieved about 17 hours later by local divers.

    Ajibola’s uncle who who did not want his  name being mentioned in print, called for thorough investigation into incident even as he demanded justice for the deceased.

    The Uncle added  the late Ajibola was at the river bank to wash clothes and met his death because Police’s sporadic shooting.

    He said: “this is an unfortunate situation. My brother was not a criminal. He was at the river bank to wash his clothes. He jumped into the river out of fear following serious shooting by the police. We launched a search after his body until we found it on Saturday night.

    “We are demanding for justice in this case. We are going to take legal step against the police on this matter,” he said.

    But  the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed the incident, absolved the police of any wrong doing, saying that the policemen were in the vicinity to perform legitimate duty.

    Oyeyemi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, said the Police were  at the area to burst the hideout of criminal ring there.

    According to him,  some people were arrested and released after investigation,  wondering why the deceased jumped into the river when no one was chasing him.

    “The CP has directed that a powerful investigation be launched to unravel the culpability or otherwise of its men. The men were just on routine operational duty of providing residents adequate security.

    “The case is under investigation, the police are in the place to ensure safety of life and property,” Abimbola said.

  • Two crushed to death in Ogun

    Two crushed to death in Ogun

    Two persons were crushed to death in an early morning auto crash opposite the abandoned Gateway Hotel, Ota in Ado Odo/Ota along Lagos – Abeokuta expressway yesterday.

    The accident also left seven persons injured.

    An eyewitness said the accident involved two trucks going in the direction Lagos from Ogun.

    Public Relations Officer, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Tunde Akinbiyi, said one of the trucks crashed into the other following a malfunctioned brake.

    He explained a truck marked KJA 113 XR descending a slope also suffered brake failure and rammed into another marked EKY 653 XB where it parked.

    It was learnt that some area boys had massed – up around the broken truck ostensibly to extort money from the driver when a commercial bus ran into them.

    The commercial bus killed two of them and left seven others injured.

    “When this happened, the area boys moved from the first truck and went to the second one and wanted to extort money from the driver, who had been injured due to the impact of the accident.

    “But in the process, an oncoming commercial bus painted in Lagos colour allegedly crushed two of the area boys to death instantly and injured seven others with one of them in critical condition.

    “The commercial bus driver sped off the scene immediately and our operatives could not apprehend him or capture its number plate,” Akinbiyi said.

    Akinbiyi said the remains of dead were kept at the General Hospital, Ifo while the injured have been taken to Ojugbele Hospital, a private health centre in Ota.

  • Assassination attempt: Police arrest female banker, two others

    Assassination attempt: Police arrest female banker, two others

    Suspected fleeing assassins – Chigozie Nworie and Kingsley Ofotele, have been arrested in Ogun State by the Police while escaping to Anambra State with their victim’s Range Rover Jeep – a Sport Utility Vehicle(SUV).

    The two suspects and another yet to be apprehended, attacked their victim, Mr Tochukwu Onyebuchi, in his Compound at Ajah area of Lagos State using cutlass and rods before pouring acid on him, but Tochukwu survived the assassination attempt.

    The Nation gathered that the suspects were hired by the victim’s banker – wife, Oluchi Onyebuchi, to eliminate her husband even as she also supplied the weapons used in the botched assassination bid to the suspects.

    The Police Commissioner in Ogun State, Ahmed Iliyasu, who paraded the suspects before reporters at the Eleweran Headquarters of the Police Command, said the suspects were taken the SUV to Oluchi’s brother in Anambra as instructed by her when the Police in Ogun arrested the at Ijebu – Ode stretch of Sagamu – Benin expressway last Wednesday.

    Iliyasu added that further investigation led to the arrest of Oluchi on Tuesday, this week, at Ayobo area of Lagos State, where she was found hidding in her maiden home.
    “One Oluchi who is married to her husband(Tochukwu Onyebuchi) years ago, but the marriage recently has some problems which prompted the couples to separate from each other.
    “The custody of their only child is being contested in court, but Oluchi has another plan. She arranged with the trio of Chigozie Smart Nworie, Kingsley Ikechukwu Ofotele and one other who is now at large to eliminate her husband.

    “She arranged for the weapons – cutlass, Iron rod and acid to be used and kept somewhere in the husband’s compound in Lagos and described where the weapons were kept to the assailants.

    “The suspects went there as planned, matcheted the man severally on his head and poured acid on him. It was the offensive odour that came out from the suit worn by the victim when the acid touched it that made the suspects to quickly abandon him and took away his Range Rover Jeep which the wife instructed them to take and deliver to her brother in Anambra State.

    “Luck ran against them when the Policemen of Ogun State Command sighted the vehicle along Ijebu – Ode – Benin expressway and stopped it for a search.

    “While searching the vehicle, blood stain was seen and the two occupants – the suspects, were unable to give satisfactory account of themselves, hence they were arrested,” Iliyasu said.

    However, the 32 years old Mrs Oluchi Onyebuchi who is a staff of one of the new generation banks in Lagos, acknowledged that her three years old marriage with her husband is really passing through a stormy weather but said she had “no intention to kill him.”

    Oluchi also denied renting the trio of Chigozie Smart Nworie, Kingsley Ikechukwu Ofotele and one other who is now at large to eliminate her husband.

  • Free medicare for Ogun community

    Free medicare for Ogun community

    As part of its commitments towards improving the living condition of members of Odonoko community in Ijebu-Ode Local Government Area of Ogun State, the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has provided free medical services to the people.

    The annual free medical outreach tagged “Health Initiative for Rural Development” is a community-based programme designed to ensure that rural dwellers benefit from the NYSC programme.

    The package, which includes distribution of wheelchairs, mosquito nets, drugs and intensive medical tests for the less-privileged people, was supported by the Ogun State government.

    Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Afolabi Afuape, said the programme was a deal between the state government and NYSC to reduce infant mortality rate and deadly diseases in rural areas.

    He said: “I believe that the collaboration between the state’s ministry of health and the NYSC will go a long way in tackling and reducing infant mortality rate, maternal mortality rate and generally improve on the health care of our people.

    “Let me restate our commitment to continue our support to the NYSC scheme so as to sustain its relevance and strengthen it to render more beneficial services to Ogun State in particular and the country in general.”

    The NYSC Director-General, Brigadier-General Sule Kazaure, represented by the Director of Special Service, Mrs. Rhoda Kwaki, said the primary objective of the programme is to ensure that rural dwellers benefit from the scheme.

    He said: “The goal of the Health Initiative for Rural Dwellers programme is to mobilise Corps medical volunteers in the provision of health interventions through diagnosis, treatment, referrals and proper preventive mechanism, thereby enhancing the well-being of rural dwellers across the nook and cranny of Nigeria.”

    The programme, according to the Ogun State Coordinator of NYSC, Mr. James Afolayan, was organised to support the state government in its drive to provide health care for all and promote the quality of life of rural dwellers.

    He said: “We are here with experienced medical personnel and other highly experienced medical officers and experts in all areas of medicare for the purpose of rendering high standard medical services directly to the rural dwellers.

    “Apart from Odonoko community, the week-long activity will also be held at Ijebu-Imushin in Ijebu-East Local Government Area, Itori in Ewekoro Local Government Area and Ibeshe in Yewa North Local Government Area.”