The Nation Newspaper

Tag: ONDO

  • ‘Why we started farmers’ registration in Ondo’

    The Ondo State government at the weekend said the current registration of farmers in its forest reserves is to ensure their proper documentation.

    The registration, he said, is meant to establish the level of depletion to preserve and regenerate the forest reserves.

    The Commissioner for Agriculture, Otunba Gboyega Adefarati, spoke in Akure, the state capital, while addressing community leaders and farmers in government forest reserves across the state.

    Adefarati said the Oluwarotimi Akeredolu administration is poised to encourage farmers as well as protect the flora and fauna of its forest reserves.

    The commissioner said only those farming in the forest reserves would be registered and issued identity cards while encroachers would not be allowed into the forest reserves.

    he said economic trees would be given to the farmers to enable them regenerate the areas that have been depleted.

    The Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Agriculture, Akin Olotu, said the registration and documentation would give the farmers the peace to do their businesses without harassment from any individual or group.

    The governor’s aide said the decision would enable the government to coordinate the activities of encroachers in the forest reserves, generate income and provide security for the farmers and their crops.

    Community leaders and farmers expressed happiness about the initiative and pledged to cooperate with the government for the success of the registration.

  • Ondo promotes 6,941 public servants

    Ondo promotes 6,941 public servants

    The Ondo State government has approved the promotion of 6,941 public servants in the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDS).

    The Chairman of the state’s Civil Service Commission, Dr Afolabi Adewakun, announced this yesterday in Akure, the state capital.

    He said the promotion takes effect from last December.

    Adewakun said 1,349 core civil servants and 5,592 workers from various government corporations benefitted from the promotion.

    The chairman added that 106 officers were converted to superior cadres/levels in 2017, after they had completed different courses.

    Also, Dr Adewakun said the letters of promotion would be distributed through appropriate channels to the affected workers.

    The chairman expressed gratitude to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for approving the promotion, despite the economic downturn in the country.

  • Ex-militants warns against removal of Mowarin

    Ex-militants warns against removal of Mowarin

    Ex-militants from Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Ondo and Delta states, have kicked against alleged plot by unknown persons to remove Head of Onshore Education Unit, office of the Amnesty Programme, Major Hassan Kesiena Mowarin (rtd).

    The ex-militants said there have been improvement in the scheme since Morawin assumed office and his appointment showed that the ruling party meant well for the people of the Niger Delta region.

    Spokesman for the ex-militants, Mr. Atangbala One, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City said some few individuals want Morawin removed because true beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme are now selected for the scheme.

    Atangbala alleged that the few cabal in the system placed fake beneficiaries in schools and subsequently force them to remit the sum of N30, 000 to N40,000 monthly to them

    According to him, “Major Mowarin has been fighting feverishly against the commercialization of admission process for amnesty sponsorship which was supposed to be free for the genuine delegates for the program.

    “But a cabal hijacked it and sell the beneficiary codes of the poor children of the Niger Delta to their cronies.

    “The few cabals who do not mean well for the people of the region have gone as far as paying for on-line media, smear publications and also  paying some uninformed persons to stage protest against him all in attempt to remove him and continue with their blood money business.”

  • Ex-militants warns against removal of Mowarin from Amnesty office

    Ex-militants warns against removal of Mowarin from Amnesty office

    Ex-militants from Edo, Rivers, Bayelsa, Ondo and Delta states, have kicked against alleged plot by unknown persons to remove Head of Onshore Education Unit, office of the Amnesty Programme, Major Hassan Kesiena Mowarin (rtd).

    The ex-militants said there have been improvement in the scheme since Morawin assumed office and his appointment showed that the ruling party meant well for the people of the Niger Delta region.

    Spokesman for the ex-militants, Mr. Atangbala One, who spoke to newsmen in Benin City said some few individuals want Morawin removed because true beneficiaries of the Amnesty Programme are now selected for the scheme.

    Atangbala alleged that the few cabal in the system placed fake beneficiaries in schools and subsequently force them to remit the sum of N30, 000 to N40, 000 monthly to them

    According to him, “Major Mowarin has been fighting feverishly against the commercialization of admission process for amnesty sponsorship which was supposed to be free for the genuine delegates for the program.

    “But a cabal hijacked it and sell the beneficiary codes of the poor children of the Niger Delta to their cronies.

    “The few cabals who do not mean well for the people of the region have gone as far as paying for on-line media, smear publications and also paying some uninformed persons to stage protest against him all in attempt to remove him and continue with their blood money business.”

  • Akeredolu signs N181.42bn 2018 appropriation bill into law

    Akeredolu signs N181.42bn 2018 appropriation bill into law

    Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Tuesday signed the N181. 42 billion 2018 appropriation bill into law.

    In his speech while signing the bill in Akure, Akeredolu that his administration would concentrate more on capital projects to bridge the huge infrastructure deficit in the state.

    He lamented the huge concentration of previous budgets on recurrent expenditure, adding that it was worrisome considering the low level of development in the state.

    Akeredolu assured that the budget would advance the course of development in the state and ensure that governance was spread to majority of the people not employed by government.

    Read also: Ajimobi, Akeredolu, Fayemi, others celebrate Ayo Afolabi at 70

    Reports say that N80.92 billion of the budget, representing 46 per cent, was for capital expenditure while N78.588 billion, representing 43.3 per cent was set aside for recurrent expenditure.

    The budget was increased from N171.23 billion to N181.42 billion by the state House of Assembly.

    According to the governor, debt service will take N13.6 billion which is 7.5 per cent while statutory transfers to Ondo State Oil Producing Area Development Commission and Local Governments is N8.30 billion, representing 4.6 per cent.

    “The sum of N78.58 billion which represents 43.3 per cent is set aside for recurrent expenditure.

    “Put simply, this amount will be expended on salaries, allowances and grants. This is still very much on the high side considering the state of our development,” he said.

    Akeredolu, who also signed the Contributory Health Insurance Scheme Bill into law, said the bill would allow every resident access to good health care services.

    He said the law would ensure that all residents of Ondo State have financial protectionand physical access to quality and affordable health care services

    “It will also protect families from the financial hardship posed by huge medical bills, regulate the rise in the cost of health care services.

    “It will ensure that the poor and vulnerable shall be guaranteed the basic minimum package as defined under the National Health Act,” the governor said.

    Akeredolu said the law ensured equitable distribution of health care costs across different income groups and maintain high standard of health care delivery services within the health sector.

    According to him, the law had made provisions for efficiency in health care service delivery and would encourage private sector participation in the provision of health care services among others.

    Similarly, the governor has also signed the Ondo State Social Protection bill into law, to promote the well-being of the people.

    Earlier, the Speaker of the assembly, Mr Bamidele Oleyelogun, advised citizens of the state to see government property as theirs, and praised the assembly Committee on Appropriation for working as a team which ensured speedy passage of the bill.

    NAN

  • Lassa fever kills nine in Ondo

    Lassa fever kills nine in Ondo

    An outbreak of Lassa fever has claimed nine persons in Ondo State.

    Besides, a total of 102 suspected cases of Lassa fever have been reported in eight local government areas of the state.

    Of these, 36 of the 79 cases with laboratory results have been confirmed.

    Governor Rotimi Akeredolu disclosed these yesterday in a broadcast on Lassa fever outbreak in the state.

    He said 127 hospital contacts and 308 community contacts have been line-listed in all the affected councils while 30 have completed their follow-up.

    The governor revealed patients were being managed at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Owo while confirmatory tests took place at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Edo State.

    To contain the outbreak, Akeredolu said an Emergency Preparedness and Response Team has been reactivated at the state and local government levels in addition to Active Surveillance and contact tracing in the affected council areas.

    He added sensitisation and community mobilisation are going on in all the councils for traditional rulers, religious leaders, political leaders, market women and other stakeholders.

    According to the governor: “Publicity is also ongoing through radio jingles, radio and television discussions in our media houses.

    “Information, Education and Communication materials such as handbills, flyers and posters have been produced and these are being distributed.”

    He added vehicles have been dedicated for transportation of samples and referred patients to Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospitals just as the Infectious Disease Isolation Unit at the Federal Medical Centre, Owo has been expanded through the support of his administration.

    Akeredolu said some Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) drugs and hospital beds were donated to FMC, Owo to support management of the patients.

     

  • Senate alarmed over spread of Lassa fever to 14 states

    Senate alarmed over spread of Lassa fever to 14 states

    The Senate Thursday expressed concern over the spread of Lassa fever to fourteen states of the federation.

    It listed the affected states to include Edo, Ondo, Ebonyi, Nasarawa, Imo, Kogi, Bauchi, Anambra, Benue, Federal capital Territory, Abia, Ekiti and Delta.

    It also said that the outbreak of the disease which was first recorded on the 5th of January, 2018, has risen to 363 as against the lesser number of cases recorded in previous years.

    It said that out of the 363 cases, 81 persons have tested positive, while 44 persons have been admitted at the Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Teaching Hospital, Edo State.

    About 11 deaths have been recorded, of which 3 are health workers, it said.

    Senator representing Edo Central, Clifford Ordia, drew attention of his colleague to ravaging spread of disease in a motion entitled “Urgent need to support the Centre for Research, Control and Treatment of Lassa Fever disease in Nigeria.”

    The upper chamber mandated its joint committee on Health and Primary Health Care and Communicable Diseases, to investigate steps taken by the Ministry of Health to curb the spread of the disease.

    It asked the Federal Government through the Ministry of Health to urgently provide the Center all necessary equipment to enable it meet its responsibilities to Nigerians seeking medical care at the center.

    It also resolved to urge the Ministry of Information and National Orientation to engage in sensitisation and education of the public on the prevention, control and treatment of Lassa fever.

    The upper chamber urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to quickly visit the center in Irrua Specialist Hospital for on the spot assessment, with a view to providing relief material to the victims.

    Ordia who quoting the World Health Organization said that fever is an acute viral heamorrhagic illness of two to 21 days duration that occurs in West Africa and is transmitted to human through contact with or exposure to food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces.

     He said person to person infection and laboratory transmission can also occur particularly in hospitals lacking adequate infection prevention and control equipment.

    Ordia said: “The institute is the only centre in Nigeria known for excellence in the management, control and treatment of Lassa fever in Nigeria. The centre received samples from all states referred above for the purpose of examination and treatment.

    “The centre also engages in the training of Health care workers, i.e. Doctors, Nurses and Laboratory Technologists on the management of Lassa fever in Nigeria. Last year alone, the centre trained 67 health workers from 15 states with reported cases of the outbreak.

    “The centre is presently overwhelmed by the number of samples received, including patients on admission which has stretched the bed space, beddings, Dialysis Machine,  X-Ray equipment, Ultra Sound Scan, ECG Machine, Ventilators monitors, human and financial resources beyond limit.”

    “The centre is confronted with the challenges of Inadequate protective instruments for the health workers engaged in the management of  victims; inadequate drugs, i.e Ribarvirin for patient treatment; inadequate disinfectants and other infection prevention and control consumables; and lack of operational vehicles, public address system and health education materials for contact tracing and community sensitization.”

    The Edo Central lawmaker said that the Senate should resolve to make more funds available for the centre in the 2018 budget.

    It also urged the Federal Government to set up centres in different parts of the country.

    Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who presided, said health care should be one of the major responsibilities of government.

    Ekweremadu noted that “If this matter is not addressed, we will be fail in our responsibilities. And to know that this issue has been going on for years is worrisome.

    “We need to give this issue the attention it needs. We have enough medical doctors. We need to provide the needed equipment they need to work with. I believe that the committee will help us address the issue. We cannot allow this to continue to spread.”

  • ‘No parallel Mega Party in Ondo’

    ‘No parallel Mega Party in Ondo’

    The Mega Progressive Peoples Party (MPPP) in Ondo State is unhappy with a parallel group under the leadership of a former factional chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Prince Biyi Poroye.

    The faction, which calls itself authentic, is led by Prince Adesanya Olamuyiwa.

    It addressed reporters yesterday at the party’s secretariat on Hospital Road in Akure, the state capital.

    MPPP decried alleged attempt by some people to destabilise the party, like it allegedly did in the PDP, saying such action cost the former ruling party the opportunity to retain the governorship seat in November 2016.

    Poroye is a former PDP factional chairman in the state under Ali Modu Sheriff’s umbrella.

    He is at loggerheads with Clement Faboyede, the incumbent PDP chairman and loyalist of the faction of the party’s former National Caretaker Committee Chairman, Ahmed Makarfi.

    Speaking after inaugurating the party’s executives in the 18 local government areas and wards in the state, Olamuyiwa described some politicians parading themselves as leaders and executive of MPPP in the state as those causing disaffection and heating up the polity.

    The state executive members urged the public to disregard the parallel group and shun any transaction with those behind it.

    Olamuyiwa recalled that on August 18, last year, the current state executive of MPPN was inaugurated by the national body, led by its National Chairman, Hamisu Santuraki, and other national officers in the presence of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) officials and security agencies.

    The factional chairman described members of Poroye’s group as mischievous, adding that the group was creating apathy in the party.

    He added: “We urge the public to disregard any activity of this parallel group. Those behind it are not recognised by the INEC and the national body of the party.”

    According to him, MPPP is determined to eradicate poverty through agriculture and massive industrialisation as well as massive qualitative education.

    Olamuyiwa said many notable politicians from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Action for Democracy (AD) and others recently joined the party because of its good manifesto.

    He urged party members to mobilise more people, register them and ensure they obtain their voters’ cards to elect credible candidates in the next year’s elections.

  • Akeredolu mourns Ondo road accident victims

    Akeredolu mourns Ondo road accident victims

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) yesterday commiserated with residents of Akungba in Akoko Southwest Local Government Area on the death of four road accident in the community.

    The governor, who expressed his sympathy during a condolence visit to the families of the deceased, also visited the scene of the accident to assess its impacts on lives and property of the residents.

    Akeredolu was represented by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Otunba Adegboyega Adefarati, an indigene of the community.

    He described the accident as shocking and painful.

    The governor prayed to God to give the families of the deceased the fortitude to bear the loss.

    The commissioner was accompanied by the State Liaison Officer for Military Affairs, Olugbenga Aliba.

    Akeredolu promised that necessary precautions would be put in place to guide against such fatal occurrence in the future.

    The accident occurred when a long vehicle descending the hill from Ikare Akoko lost control due to break failure and rammed into the market near the road.

    The vehicle killed four persons and destroyed valuables.

     

  • MFM FC bus accident: We are safe and sound – Media Officer

    MFM FC bus accident: We are safe and sound – Media Officer

    The Media Officer of MFM FC, Olawale Quadri said on Sunday that the team was safe and sound after they were involved in an accident at Akungba, Ondo State.

    Reports say that the Lagos bound MFM FC players and official were returning from Jos after the Match Day 5 fixtures of the Nigeria Professional Football League ( NPFL ).

    The Olukoya Boys, however, lost to the incumbent league winners Plateau United by a lone goal courtesy of a second-minute strike by Tosin Omolyele.

    Quadri said though the bus conveying the team was badly damaged,  most of the players escaped unscathed.

    Read also: MFM FC do the double over Sunshine Stars

    “The accident was unfortunate, but we thank God that no one sustained serious injury. I have read some reports that our coach was injured, nothing of such happened.

    “We are safe and sound; we are presently in a hotel in Akure so that we can take off from there after some time so that the players can also have some rest.

    “Some of the players that sustained minor injuries are being taken care of and they will join the rest of the team; we thank God for his protection.

    “We hope to resume the journey as soon as possible and we also thank our fans too for their support and prayers, he said.

    NAN