The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ondo state

  • Five-year after, BEDC to reconnect Ode-Aye community

    After months of rigorous engagement and rapprochement between the government of Ondo State and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), all is now set for the re-energizing of the ancient town of Ode-Aye, one of the major communities that have suffered electricity deprivation in Southern senatorial district of Ondo State.

    It should be recalled that governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, had earlier issued a stern directive through his Technical Committee on Power that everything must be done to end the unacceptable darkness that have enveloped the region in the past twelve years .

    That charge has now paid off as the Managing Director of the Disco, Mrs. Funke Osibodu, who spoke through the Regional Head of BEDC in Ondo and Ekiti States, Mrs. Kunbi Labiyi, has charged the company’s field staff to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Ode-Aye people can enjoy electricity starting from the 2018 Christmas celebration.

    Officials of the Office of Public Utilities (OPU) in the Governor’s Office who visited the town on inspection, as representatives of the state government, confirmed that rehabilitation works on the distribution infrastructure in Ode-Aye has now been completed including the reconstruction of 5 sub-stations that were earlier vandalized.

    Once Ode-Aye is re-energized, it would bring to four the numbers of communities in the South that now have electricity in 2018.

    Read Also: BEDC, TCN settle rift

    Between August and October, Akeredolu energized all the houses in Ebute-Ipare and Aboto towns in Ilaje local government area of the state as well as majority of the houses in Igbobini town in Ese-odo local government area using solar power under the state’s SHoPU scheme.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Public Utilities, Engr. Tunji Ariyomo, explained to reporters that over the past 15 months, the governor has worked behind the scene with agencies of the federal government such as the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).

    He said “We are now gradually seeing the result of such behind the scene intervention. This year, Mr. Governor has commissioned an additional 60MWA transformer in Akure to strengthen transmission in both Ondo and Ekiti states.

    “The NDPHC, where one of our sons, Engr. Ife Oyedele, is an Executive Director is now providing unprecedented rehabilitation services in parts of Ondo South while some of our PPP partners are now attaining financial closures in multi-billion Naira mini-grid and on-grid power intervention projects in Ondo State”.

    “By fixing Ode-Aye this Christmas, it takes us a step closer to permanently resolving power supply to Okitipupa which is the largest load centre in Ondo South”.

     

  • NSCDC arrest two over illegal petrol station

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Ondo has arrested one, Mrs. Semore. T. suspected to be the owner and manager of Wumi Filing Station, Ore, Odigbo local government area of Ondo state.

    Mrs. Semore and one Mr. Omolala T,(filing station attendant) were arrested in Ore town on Monday through intelligence information received from Weights and Measures department, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Akure, Ondo state.

    Wumi Filing Station was sealed by the department for not paying federal government statutory fees, and other sharp practices that contravene government regulations on filing stations operations in Nigeria.

    The filing station was said to have disregarded the sealed order to continue with sales of petroleum products.

    The state commandant, Commandant Pedro Awili Ideba, while parading the suspects before  in Akure, the state capital said, Wumi Filing Station contravene Section 16(8) of Weights and Measures act, cap W3 LFN 2004, by breaking government Sealed order.

    Read Also: NSCDC beefs up security in Ondo

    He said the manager and attendants of Wumi filing station also obstructed officials of the ministry from carrying out their statutory functions, offence which contravene Section 17 of the act.

    The state coordinator, Weights and Measures department, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Emmanuel Ebukanson confirmed that Wumi Filing Station have broken government Seal on several occasions.

    He said Wumi Filing Station contravene Section 30(a) and (b) by shortchanging unsuspecting customers to the error ranging from 2.0 to 4.0 litres on every 20 litres delivery meaning that for every 20 litres of fuel sold, the filing station is actually giving out 16 litres instead of the said 20 litres.

    Ebukanso said the manager refused the payment for statutory fees on several requests, claiming to be above the law.

    He said” All these offences are serious and must not be allowed to continue”.

    The state commandant warned those filing stations that are still involve in sharp practices to desist from it, as surveillance is mounted on filing stations across the state.

    He said the suspects would be charge to court upon completion of investigation of the case.

     

  • Buhari’s govt capable of tackling corruption

    A group, Buhari/Osinbajo Re-election Group (BOREG) from the 18 local government of Ondo state said it had concluded arrangements on mobilization of voters across the state to facilitate the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and his deputy,Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in the 2019 polls.

    They urged Nigerians not to underrate the forces of corruption that were fighting forcefully to regain power in the country.

    Rather, the group said it should summon courage as they approach 2019 general elections and permanently neutralize these negative political forces in  the land.

    At the group’s secretariat on Oyemekun road,Akure, its coordinator, Basorun Wale Oyewole said efforts should be geared towards mobilizing eligible voters in the state to join the crusade for continuity of Buhari and Osinbajo in office because of their laudable achievements.

    The meeting was attended by party leaders and groups across the 18 local government areas of the state.

    Read Also: Group commends Buhari over 2019 budget

    At the meeting were Dr Jide Owoka, Captain S.O Oyepata (rtd) Hon Wale Akintimehin Alhaji S.A Idris, Alhaji I.A Oloruntoba, Hon Omoogun, Hon Rahman Rotimi (former APC State Secretary) and Deacon Samson Ojetayo.

    Others are Bola Awodola, Mrs Kehinde Adeniran, Hon Lekan Obolo,Barr Bisi Ayeni,Chief A.Garuba and Hon.O.Olakunle among others.

    The group appreciated the kindness of Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Togo,Sola Iji for fulfilling his promise of donating campaign vehicles including 12 cars and  three buses with fourteen giant billboards to support the election campaign group.

    The meeting resolved that the group would work for all candidates of the party,stressing that members would not involve in any anti-party activities.

    It acknowledged the long-suffering of many party members that have not benefitted from the system and promised that they would be rewarded eventually.

  • Kidnapping: Ondo monarch seeks involvement of vigilantes

    The Akala of Ikaram-Akoko in Ondo state, Oba Andrew Momodu has called for incentives to local vigilante groups to complement the efforts of security agents to curtail criminality in the state.

    The monarch expressed concern over incessant kidnapping,robbery and ritual killings especially in Akoko area.

    Oba Momodu noted that local vigilante members were familiar with all nooks and crannies of communities where criminals hide.

    The royal father, a retired Navy Commodore advocated for motorised patrol of highways by security personnel.

    He commended Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for his concern on security matter in the state.

    Also, the chairman,Nigerian Bar Association,(NBA) Owo branch, Alhaji Tajudeen Ahmed has declared that it is now an offence for lawyers in the area to defend clients suspected to involve in  kidnapping case.

    He disclosed  this during a protest over incessant kidnappings in the area

    Read Also: Senate probes siege to Ondo Assembly

    Ahmed led members of the association on a protest march on major streets and some locations in the town.

    He pointed out that all routes were no longer safe for commuters in the area

    During the protest,they visited the Olowo Palace, Mobil Roundabout, the Owo Area Command of the Nigeria Police and Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, whose member of staff was killed by gunmen.

    Ahmed noted that government had failed in its responsibility of providing security to citizens.

    He urged both  Ondo state and the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on kidnapping especially on Owo roads and the entire country.

  • ‘Nigerian teachers deserve better treatment’

    Scores of Primary and Secondary School teachers in Ondo State on Tuesday staged a sensitization walk on major streets of Akure, the state capital to demonstrate the unique role of teachers, describing them as builders of the nation.

    Under Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) Teachers Without Blemish Foundation (TWBF),the teachers walked in a procession from Ilesa garage to Post Office junction along the popular Oyemekun road rendering solidarity songs.

    Speaking to reporters after the rally, chairperson of the group, Mrs Titilayo Fayoriju said it was  high time to change negative narration around teachers and education sector.

    According to her, teachers are heroes who played a timeless role in inspiring students to pursue their missions in life.

    She said” teachers shape our next generations,as the future is literally in the hands of teachers however, we are undervalued, in spite of our important role in the society.

    “We are being underpaid compared with our contemporaries like Doctors,Lawyers,Judges,Engineers and others.

    Mrs Fayoriju described teachers as unsung heroes of the world stressing that teaching is actively about 20 professions rolled into one,urging appropriate authorities to give the profession its proper place in the scheme of things.

    She emphasized that for a nation to develop,there should be proper attention to its education standard.

    Read Also: Nigeria has two million registered teachers, says TRCN

    The head teacher said” our organisation embarked on this symbolic walk to inspire and engage the teaching workforce to transform the quality of primary and secondary schools for all children regardless of their geographical location, religion and economic status to realize their full potential.

    “We are sending a clear message to the society that notwithstanding the challenges before us,Nigerian teachers are moving towards the goal of transforming the quality of primary and secondary education for all children .

    She lamented that education in Nigeria had experienced a serious setback,which according to her was caused by failure of government and educational stakeholders to address teaching profession with right policies and tools for total empowerment.

    Mrs Fayoriju urged the relevant agencies to equip teachers with modern methodologies of teaching and digital tools rather than the archaic and analogue methods they learnt while in schools.

    The TWBF chairperson noted that teachers should not be left in the classrooms for 35 years with the same old methodologies.

  • Kidnapping: Ondo Police comb Owo forests

    Men of the Ondo State Police Command on Saturday embarked on a massive raid of suspected criminal hideouts especially kidnappers within the state.

    The development was in an attempt to take the battle of crime detention and prevention to doorsteps of hoodlums.

    The operation was led by the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adeyanju also involved the Deputy Commissioner of Police(DCP) Operations,  Abdullahi Mudashiru ,  Mobile men,Anti-cultism squad, and men of Federal Anti Robbery Squad among others.

    According to the Police Spokesman in the state, Femi Joseph, the thick forest of Amorin and Uso communities  near Owo and adjoining bushes were massively raided .

    He said some of the miscreants on sighting the police fled while their hideout were dismantled.

    Joseph said the villagers commended the police and pledged their co-operation with them in their efforts to completely rid the state of crimes and criminality.

    Read Also: Petrol tanker driver kills commercial cyclist in Ondo

    He said” the statement is loud and clear that the days of criminals are numbered in the state as the CP promised the sustainability of this exercise throughout the state.

    Joseph added that men of the anti-kidnapping section have prevented a kidnap attempt in Ore,headquarters of Odigbo local government.

    Similarly,he said when acting on a tip off , the police engaged a gang of kidnappers who on sighting the police opened fire at them.

    In the process, he said one of the hoodlums was hacked down by the police while others fled into the bush with bullet wounds.

  • Petrol tanker driver kills commercial cyclist in Ondo

    There was confusion in Akure, the Ondo State capital on Friday following the death of a commercial motorcyclist by a petrol tanker driver.

    The development led to the chasing out of all traffic wardens around by commercial motorcycle riders in protest against the avoidable death of their colleague.

    A fully loaded petroleum tanker belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)reportedly crushed the cyclist, Kayode Esan to death around 8:00am.

    Sources said the NNPC truck had break failure and ran into the victim at the popular Iye-Oma Plaze Junction, Alagbaka, leading to a lot of traffic gridlock.

    The tanker driver noticed the mechanical fault when getting closer to El-Shaddai Junction and started shouting at the top of his voice to warn other road users to clear off.

    It was learnt that the deceased, Esan, who hailed from Ita Ogbolu in Akure North Local Government of the state and newly married, was so unlucky as he got crushed on his way from First Bank area and moving towards Oba-Ile.

    Read Also: Ondo APC to sanction erring elders

    He  died on the spot and the development triggered protest by his colleagues who wanted to  set the tanker on fire but for the prompt intervention of security agencies, especially personnel of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).

    The commercial motorcyclists, popularly called “Okada” caused heavy traffic gridlock and assaulting all traffic wardens along Alagbaka to Ilesha Garage route.

    They blamed the traffic warden for the ghastly accident and untimely death of their colleague, saying it was as a result of the carelessness of the police officer posted to direct traffic on that spot.

    The state Deputy Corp Commander and Head of Operation, Olusegun Ogungbemide, said the FRSC swung into action promptly, while the corpse had been deposited at a mortuary.

    Ogungbemide, who urged all road users, especially motorcyclists and other motorists to be careful during the yuletide season, noted that the police had begun investigation on the matter.

  • Pay Buhari back on vision for Npower project, says Akeredolu

    Ondo state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has urged Npower beneficiaries nationwide to reciprocate the gesture of their engagement by the present administration by re-electing president Muhammadu Buhari and his vice in the forthcoming general election.

    The governor who gave the charge  at an interface with Ondo state beneficiaries in Akure, the state capital noted that  this move would enable other people benefit from the scheme to improve their socio economic well being.

    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA)to the president on job creation, Afolabi Imoukuede led the volunteers to Gani Fawehinmi Arcade, Akure after a road show in solidarity with Buhari /Osinbajo administration .

    Akeredolu who noted that the scheme has given many Nigerian youths  opportunity to explore their God given talents called for continuity in the scheme.

    He said the President and his Vice have kept to their promises to Nigerian youths also thanked them for the initiative.

    The Governor emphasized that his administration would continue to play all required roles for the success of the numerous social investment programmes of the federal government in the state.

    The SSA to the President on job creation, Imoukuede said about N15b is being expended on the 500,000 participants across the country.

    Read Also: I’ll sign PIB into law, Buhari assures oil workers

    Imokuede emphasized that the Npower programme was being repackaged to connect beneficiaries to numerous economic opportunities beyond the monthly stipends.

    According to him,  all structures and processes are being put in place to create more windows of opportunities that would take them to the next level with the hope of making them more useful to the society and their immediate families.

    Some of the beneficiaries including Bayisemore Orioye,  Afolabi Akinjide and Oluwatoyin Adebayo  hailed the President for the scheme.

    They enumerated the impact the programme has made in the lives of over 16,000 beneficiaries in the state as many have gone further in their education while many have also become employers of labour.

    The SA to the governor on public and intergovernmental relations, Mrs Bunmi Ademosu, appealed to the beneficiaries to get their permanent voter cards to ensure the re-election of President Mohammad Buhari come 2019.

  • ‘Reciprocate Buhari’s vision on Npower project’

    Ondo state Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has urged Npower beneficiaries nationwide to reciprocate the gesture of their engagement by the present administration by re-electing president Muhammadu Buhari and his vice in the forthcoming general election.

    The governor who gave the charge  at an interface with Ondo state beneficiaries in Akure, the state capital noted that  this move would enable other people benefit from the scheme to improve their socio economic well being.

    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA)to the president on job creation, Afolabi Imoukuede led the volunteers to Gani Fawehinmi Arcade, Akure after a road show in solidarity with Buhari /Osinbajo adminustration .

    Akeredolu who noted that the scheme has given many Nigerian youths  opportunity to explore their God given talents called for continuity in the scheme.

    He said the President and his Vice have kept to their promises to Nigerian youths also thanked them for the initiative.

    Read Also: Buhari returns home from Poland

    The Governor emphasized that his administration would continue to play all required roles for the success of the numerous social investment programmes of the federal government in the state.

    The SSA to the President on job creation, Imoukuede said about N15b is being expended on the 500,000 participants across the country.

    Imokuede emphasized that the Npower programme was being repackaged to connect beneficiaries to numerous economic opportunities beyond the monthly stipends.

    According to him,  all structures and processes are being put in place to create more windows of opportunities that would take them to the next level with the hope of making them more useful to the society and their immediate families.

    Some of the beneficiaries including Bayisemore Orioye,  Afolabi Akinjide and Oluwatoyin Adebayo  hailed the President for the scheme.

    They enumerated the impact the programme has made in the lives of over 16,000 beneficiaries in the state as many have gone further in their education while many have also become employers of labour.

    The SA to the governor on public and intergovernmental relations, Mrs Bunmi Ademosu, appealed to the beneficiaries to get their permanent voter cards to ensure the re-election of President Mohammad Buhari come 2019.

    She highlighted various social investment programmes being run across the country to restore the confidence in the people in a democratic system.

    Ademosu noted that the best way to sustain the tempo of progress in the country was to support the President in the next year general elections.

  • Akeredolu to Npower beneficiaries: Vote for Buhari

    Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has urged Npower beneficiaries nationwide to reciprocate the gesture of their engagement by the present administration by re-electing president Muhammadu Buhari and his vice in the forthcoming general election.

    The governor who gave the charge  at an interface with ondo state beneficiaries in Akure noted that  doing will enable other people will benefit from the scheme that will go a long way to improve their socio economic well being.

    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the president on job creation, Afolabi Imoukuede led the volunteers to the first of its kind biggest single gathering across the nation.

    The Gani Fawehinmi freedom arcade was the  destination for Ondo state beneficiaries of npower program after a road show across the state capital in solidarity of the Buhari/Osinbajo led government .

    Addressing the crowd at the interface, Akeredolu who noted that the scheme has given many Nigerian youths  opportunity to explore their God given talents called for continuity in the scheme.

    He said the president and his vice have kept to their promises to Nigerian youths also thanked them for the initiative.

    The Governor emphasized that his administration would continue to play all required roles for the success of the numerous social investment programmes of the federal government in the state.

    Also speaking, the SSA to the president on job creation, Afolabi Imoukuede said about N15b is being expended on the 500,000 participants across the country.

    Imokuede emphasized that the Npower programme is being repackaged to connect beneficiaries to numerous economic opportunities beyond the monthly stipends.

    According to him,  all structures and processes are being put in place to create more windows of opportunities that would take them to the next level with the hope of making them more useful to the society and their immediate families.

    Read Also: Akeredolu’s aide resigns appointment

    Some of the beneficiaries including Bayisemore Orioye, Afolabi Akinjide and Oluwatoyin Adebayo  commended the president for the scheme.

    They analysed the impact the programme has made in the lives of over 16,000 beneficiaries in the state as many have gone further in their education while many have also become employers of labour.

    The SA to the governor on public and intergovernmental relations, Mrs Bunmi Ademosu, appealed to the beneficiaries to get their permanent voter cards to ensure the re-election of President Mohammad Buhari come 2019.

    She highlighted the various social investment programmes being run across the country to restore the confidence is the people in a democratic system, noting that the best way to sustain the tempo of progress in the country is to support the president in the general election.