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Tag: Ondo state

  • Ondo, Rivers, Bayelsa paid highest motorcycles fair in January – NBS

    Ondo, Rivers, Bayelsa paid highest motorcycles fair in January – NBS

    The National Bureau of Statistics ( NBS ) says residents of Ondo State, Rivers and Bayelsa paid the highest per drop fares to commercial motorcycles, popularly known as ‘Okada’, in January.

    The NBS made the disclosure in its “Transport Fare Watch” report for January 2018 posted on its website.

    According to the report, residents of Ondo State paid N200.76 per drop, Rivers paid N200.12, while Bayelsa residents paid N193.75 per drop fares in the period.

    The report stated that states with the lowest journey fares by commercial motorcycle per drop were Bauchi, N65.00, Jigawa, N68.82 and Katsina N70.00.

    It said that the average fare paid by commuters for journey by commercial motorcycle per drop increased by 6.97 per cent month-on-month.

    It also said that the average fare paid by commuters for journeys in the month increased by 27.37 per cent year-on-year to N120.01 in January 2018 from N112.19 in December 2017.

    The report covers the following categories – bus journey within the city per drop, constant route and bus journey intercity.

    It also covered air fare charge for specified routes single journey, journey by motorcycle (Okada) per drop and water way passenger transport.

    The bureau said that average fare paid by commuters for bus journey within the city increased by 7.31 per cent month-on-month and 49.69 per cent year-on-year.

    It indicated that the fares increased to N183.86 in January 2018 from N171.34 in December 2017.

    It stated that states with the highest bus journey fares within city were Abuja FCT, (N380), Cross River (N303.57) and Abia (N250.00).

    It also reported that states with the lowest bus journey fares within city were Bauchi (N96.67), Anambra (N112.67) and Borno (N120.00).

    According to the report, average fare paid by commuters for intercity bus journey increased by 10.11 per cent month-on-month and 32.09 per cent year-on-year.

    This, it said increased to N1, 889.69 in January 2018 from N1,716.26 in December 2017.

    The report said that states with highest intercity bus journey fares were Abuja FCT (N5,625.00), Adamawa (N3,358.57) and Borno (N3,000.00), while the lowest were Yobe (N1,150.00), Bayelsa (N1,122.73) and Katsina (N1,114.29).

    The average fare paid by air passengers for specified routes single journey decreased by 0.99 per cent month-on- month and increased to 7.34 per cent year-on-year to N33,055.01 in January 2018 from N33,386.09 in December 2017.

    States with the highest air fares were Abuja FCT (N49,000.00), Edo (N41,000.00) and Lagos (N40,500.00), while states with the lowest air fares were Osun (N25,714.89), Taraba (N26,000.00) and Nasarawa (N26,000.00).

    The report indicated that average fare paid by passengers for water way passenger transport increased by 1.03 per cent month-on-month and 7.65 per cent year-on-year to N638.04 in January 2018 from N631.55 in December 2017.

    It stated that states with highest fare by water way passenger transport were Bayelsa (N1,962.50), Rivers (N2,100.00) and Cross Rivers (N1,877.78).

    The report indicated that states with lowest fare by water way passenger transport were Abuja FCT (N250.00), Gombe (N180.00) and Borno with passengers paying N152.00.

    NAN

  • Chieftaincy tussle: Court adjourns hearing to March 27

    The High Court of Justice sitting in Okitipupa, Ondo State has adjourned till March 27, the suit filed against the appointment of Alapaka of Kiribo in Ese-Odo Local Government Area by the state government.

    At the resumed hearing penultimate Tuesday, the defendants were absent, even as their counsel T. T. Adeyeye and O.C Akintan were present in the court.

    One of the claimants’ counsel, Biodun Fasakin told the court that all the defendants were duly served with the court processes, but did not appear in court or respond to the notice.

    He prayed the court to grant them another opportunity to serve them the court notice to ensure that due process was followed.

    In his submission, Adeyeye also supported that all the defendants should be duly served the hearing notice.

    Justice P.O. Ikujuni thereafter adjourned the case to March 27.

    At the court session was the embattled monarch, Oluyi Ajayi who was allegedly imposed on the community as Alapaka of Kiribo by the state government and his chiefs.

    Also present were members of the aggrieved royal families, led by Chief O. Ogundowo.

    During the previous session, one of the defendants in the case and Supervisor for Community and Chieftaincy Affairs in the local government, Chief Omolaja Festus emphasised that Niyon is the recognised title of the monarch and not Alapaka.

    According to him, three families were initially major beneficiaries of the stool until the state government re-gazzetted two additional ruling houses.

    The three original families are Poporowe, Takunbe and Ogun, while the new families are Obilola and Kikikoro.

    The alleged imposition of Olu Ajayi as the Alapaka of Kiribo Town has generated ripples among some elders who insist that Alapaka is not a registered title of any monarch in Kiribo and should not be claimed by any Oba.

    They maintained that Alapaka is the title for the monarch of Apoi land and not for Kiribo community whose monarch bears Niyon.

    A community leader, Chief Olu Omosaiye, who was represented at the hearing by Chief Ogundowo, maintained that the community’s stool cannot be duplicated, stressing that the Alapaka title cannot be used for Kiribo as it is meant for the entire Apoi land.

     

  • 371,444 PVCs uncollected in Ondo State – INEC

    371,444 PVCs uncollected in Ondo State – INEC

    The Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) in Ondo State has said that 371,444 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) are yet to be collected in the state.

    The Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Dr Rufus Akeju, said this in a telephone interview with our reporter in Akure on Friday.

    Akeju, however, said that 44,410 voters were captured during the April, 2017 Continuous Voter Registration in the state.

    He said that 199 people reported that their cards were stolen during the first phase of 2018 revision exercise while 561 people were cases of de-faced PVCs.

    The REC reiterated his readiness to work with relevant stakeholders to ensure free, fair and credible elections in the state in 2019.

    Read Also: INEC, EFCC partnership will strengthen Nigeria’s democracy

    He urged the residents to pick their PVCs at INEC offices in the 18 local government areas.

    Akeju said the CVR was ongoing and advised residents who just attained the age of 18 to register to enable them to vote in the coming elections.

    “We will do everything possible to ensure that 80 per cent of the uncollected PVCs were collected by their owners.

    Akeju was the immediate past Oyo State Resident Electoral Commissioner and resumed as Ondo REC on Jan. 25.

     

  • Patient who died of Lassa fever not from Osun – Govt.

    Patient who died of Lassa fever not from Osun – Govt.

     

    The Osun Government on Saturday dispelled speculations of outbreak of lassa fever in the state.

    Mr Sola Fasure, media aide to Gov. Rauf Aregbesola, said in a statement issued in Osogbo that a patient who died at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife,as a result of the fever, was not from the state.

    “A patient from Ore, in Ondo State, with symptoms of lassa fever, went to Seventh Day Adventist Hospital in Ile-Ife, for treatment, and was immediately transferred to OAUTH, where he regrettably died due to the advanced nature of the sickness.

    ” We must note however that the victim was not a native of Osun, and did not contact lassa fever in the state”, he said.

    Fasure said the clarification became necessary to put a stop to speculations in the social media that ‘Lassa Fever had claimed two lives in the state’.

    He urged people of the state, not to panic, assuring that the state government had put in place,
    surveillance teams in all the local government areas to monitor and check the outbreak of the disease.

    He also urged resident of the state to be watchful of visitors who might be exhibiting symptom of the vital disease, advising that such persons should be reported to the nearest health centre in the state.

    “Residents are required to be vigilant, maintain the highest hygiene standard possible, avoid contact with those infected and report illnesses and deaths emanating from the disease to hospitals and government health centres.

    Lassa fever is an acute viral infection which is transmitted from the faeces and urine of rats when in contact with food and the food is eaten.

    This disease is associated with bleeding and can affect any age group.

     

    NAN

  • Appointments: Akure indigenes decry alleged neglect

    Appointments: Akure indigenes decry alleged neglect

    Indigenes of Akure, Ondo State capital, yesterday protested their alleged neglect in federal board appointments.

    A group, Akure Study Team (AST), said the sharing of appointments to Ondo State was skewed against Akure South Local Government Area.

    In a statement by its Coordinator, Taiwo Kayode, and Secretary, Fisayo Falarungbon, AST regretted that President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) were not fair to them, despite their support for the party’s candidates in 2015.

    The statement reads: “Of scores of appointments given to the state, only one was allocated to Akure, the state capital, while there are local government areas that were given positions ranging from five to nine.

    “Investigations even revealed to us that the only person who was appointed from Akure South, Prince Ademola Adegoroye, was able to secure the position through the influence of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from a neighbouring state.

    “So, we find it regrettable that despite the overwhelming support given to President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC in the 2015 general elections by the people of Akure, what the city deserves from federal board appointments distribution is only one position, which is membership of a Federal Medical Centre.

    “We, therefore, call on the Federal Government to consider that Akure South Local Government Area deserves more than one inconsequential position in federal boards while reviewing the appointment list, as directed by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “We beseech Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, Chief Pius Akinyelure, the APC national vice chairman (Southwest) and Ade Adetimehin, the APC acting state chairman, to use their good offices to impress it on the President to do necessary amendment.”

    The group urged Senator Tayo Alasoadura and Afe Olowookere, representing Akure in the National Assembly, ‘’to address the alleged marginalisation”.

  • Navy hands over 3 suspects, 759 bags of smuggled rice to Customs

    Navy hands over 3 suspects, 759 bags of smuggled rice to Customs

    At least 759 bags of rice smuggled into the country from Cameroon have been seized by tbe Nigerian Navy, Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, Mbo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

    The illegally imported bags of rice including the suspects, Yahaya Balaribe, 32, from Borno State; Godwin Owoyemi, 23 and Michael Aderemi, both from Igbokoda area of Ondo State have also been handed over to the  Nigerian Customs Service.

    Briefing reporters yesterday, the Commanding Officer, FOB, Navy Captain Yusuf Idris said the suspected smugglers were apprehended at high sea on Tuesday around 3am following a tip-off within the nation’s territorial waters.

    His words, “On January 30, the men of the Forward Operating Base, Ibaka, acting on a tip-off, intercepted and seized a large wooden boat loaded with 759 bags of rice. We also arrested three suspected smugglers along with the items.

    “In line with the harmonised standard operating procedures, the Nigerian Navy, today handover the suspects and the items to NCS for investigation and further necessary actions.

    “The Nigerian Navy, FOB, warn the would-be smugglers and other maritime offenders like sea pirates, illegal oil bunkerers and their likes to keep away from Nigeria maritime environment as the current leadership of navy will hunt for them wherever they may be”.

    The commanding officer, assured good and legitimate users of the sea of navy protection and assistance to carry out their legitimate businesses with a view to enhancing the economic prosperity of Nigeria

    He advised the intended smugglers to stay out of Nigeria maritime environment, noting that the present leadership of the Nigeria Navy will hunt them wherever they may be.

    Speaking also, the Comptroller, Eastern Marine Command, Nigeria Customs Service, Port Harcourt, Ajiya Masaya, said the fight against smuggling is a collective responsibility of every Nigerian to protect the country’s industries and also to safeguard the health of Nigerians from consuming toxic foreign goods.

    According to him, smuggling is a sabotage to Nigeria’s economy, adding that any nation that allows smuggling cannot grow its economy. He thanked the navy for collaborating with customs to curtail the continued and spread of smuggling within the Nigeria maritime environment.  

    He said, “Fighting smuggling cannot be left only for Nigeria Customs Service. Everybody has a duty to stop or reduce the menace. Smuggling is a sabotage. It is a fact that any nation that allows smuggling cannot grow.

    “As I said, fighting smugglers is not only for customs; everybody has a role to play. Please, as a member of the community, rice is still a contraband item; 2018 fiscal policy that recognises imported rice as a contraband good, is still in force.

    “I am seriously giving you a note of warning about maritime business. There are so many ways of doing legitimate maritime business, not smuggling. Don’t say we are handicapped, other security agencies, especially the navy, are with us. Any time we ask them for assistance, they respond immediately. Smuggling is dangerous to a country’s survival and prosperity.”

    One of the suspects, Balaribe, said he had been working on the boat since November 2017. He explained that as a worker in the boat, his duty was to upload and deliver the imported goods to their customers wherever they might be.

    “I work on the boat. I have been working in the boat since November 2017. The bags of rice are from Cameroon. I don’t know that imported rice from other countries to Nigeria is a contraband item.

    “We are never told; our work is to convey the goods to their destinations. Our duty is to bring the rice here, the owner of the consignment, that is one Mr. Ade, is supposed to come here and take his delivery for onward distribution to his customers. We have not heard from him since we arrived here,” he said.

  • Brothers docked for stealing Christmas chickens

    Brothers docked for stealing Christmas chickens

    Two brothers, Sunday Ikuedowo, 35, and Olumide Ikuedowo, 25, were on Friday arraigned in an Okitipupa Magistrates’ Court in Ondo State  for allegedly stealing Christmas chickens valued at N25,000.

    The first defendant, a barber,  and the second, a bricklayer, all of no fixed address, were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy, felony and stealing.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Ayodeji Omoyeigha, told the court that the defendants on Dec. 23, 2017 at about  4.00 a.m. at No. 21, Lareda St., Okitipupa, conspired to commit felony and stealing.

    He said that the first defendant stole three chickens valued at N15,000 in a cage belonging to Olabisi Mathew.

    Omoyeigha said that the second defendant also stole two chickens in another cage valued at N10,000 belonging to one Mayowa Taiwo.

    READ ALSO:Judge orders trial-within-trial in illegal arms importation case

    The prosecutor said that the defendants committed offences contrary to and punishable under Sections 516, 412 and 390 (9), Criminal Code, Cap.37, Vol.1, Laws of Ondo State,  2006.

    The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges  levelled against them.

    The Magistrate, Mr Chris Ojuola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N30,000  and a surety each  in like sum.

    He said that the suretie, s who must be resident  within the court’s jurisdiction,  must also present evidence of a year tax clearance as part of  the bail condition.

    The magistrate adjourned the case till  Feb. 2 for further hearing.

    NAN

  • Akeredolu: strategic leadership key to development

    Akeredolu: strategic leadership key to development

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu has urged the nation’s leaders to redirect discourse on the socio-economic challenges facing the country to issues of strategies and tactics.

    The governor said the call was necessary to enable the country to achieve nationhood.

    He stated that the regression into ethno-religious politics portends serious danger for the country.

    Akeredolu spoke on Wednesday during a lecture he delivered at the National Defense College, Abuja.

    In the lecture titled:  “Strategic leadership: my political experience,” the governor defined strategic leadership as the ability by a leader to influence others without coercion.

    He said: “A strategic leader must be firm but fair in all situations and ready to exhibit courage when confronted with the inescapable possibility of making difficult choices.

    “Political leadership in any clime has a sacred mandate to guide the people alright.

    “Political leaders must possess deep understanding on politics and economics.”

    He added that a strategic leader should be resolute once convinced that the decision made is in the best interest of the generality of the people.

    The lecture was attended by the Commandant, National Defence College, Rear Admiral Adejimi Osinowo,  Secretary to the State Government  Ifedayo Abegunde, Chief of Staff to the Governor Chief Olugbenga Ale, Head of Service Toyin Akinkuotu, Commissioner for Finance Wale Akinterinwa and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Special Duties and Strategy Dr Doyin Odebowale, among others.

  • ‘How we lost our crops to suspected herdsmen in Ondo’

    ‘How we lost our crops to suspected herdsmen in Ondo’

    A couple, who retired from the Ondo State Civil Service and went into agriculture, Mr and Mrs Igbekele Olukolade, are counting their losses after an attack on their farm at Ilado-Aladiye by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

    The five-hectare farm is located near Chief Olu Falae’s farm, which was razed last Sunday by suspected herdsmen.

    Grown in the farm are palm trees, cassava, coco yams, maize and other crops.

    Cows reportedly destroyed the plantation, their dungs littering the place.

    Recounting his ordeal, Olukolade, who retired in 1993, said: “The incident was shocking; it happened last Sunday around the same time Chief Falae’s farm was set on fire in the same vicinity.

    “Because of Federal Government’s clamour for economic diversification, my wife and I put our meagre resources together and ventured into peasant farming, to imitate my mentor, Chief Afe Babalola (SAN).

    “We permanently employed five labourers and a driver on the farm, thereby reducing unemployment. We suddenly got a message that herdsmen were having a field day on our farm with their cows.

    “They ripped off cocoa yam farms, uprooted cassava tubers and entered the plantation farm the same way and ravaged everything on sight. We are still counting our losses.”

    Olukolade, who studied in the United Kingdom (UK), wondered why herdsmen were operating on another man’s land freely in Nigeria with impunity.

    He said: “We did not expect this sudden damage. We are all farmers in the vicinity. Nobody hates animals, but the herdsmen just came with their cows because they believe they have the right to any portion of land anywhere in the country.

    “In overseas countries, even putting cow dungs on another person’s land is an offence, much less grazing on another person’s farm. The herdsmen are fond of destroying the property of farmers. Yet, none of them has been prosecuted

  • Atiku condemns burning of Falae’s farm

    Atiku condemns burning of Falae’s farm

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has condemned the burning the farm belonging to a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae.

    Falae’s oil palm farm, located on the outskirts of Akure, Ondo State, was burnt down on Sunday by suspected Fulani herdsmen

    In a statement released by his media office in Abuja on Tuesday, Atiku said that arson is a punishable offence under the law and that when the crime is aimed at destroying a private investment, it adds the additional penalty of economic sabotage.

    “It is a reprehensible act of economic sabotage to wilfully set ablaze any person’s property and investments.

    “As a statesman who has worked tirelessly for this country, Chief Falae deserves a quiet and peaceful retirement and not this lot that has been characterised by kidnapping and other vices including this arson”, the statement added.

    Atiku called on the police and other relevant security agencies in the country to launch an investigation into the crime and ensure that the culprits are brought to book to serve as deterrent.