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Tag: ONDO

  • Ondo sacks illegal structure owners from market vicinity

    Ondo sacks illegal structure owners from market vicinity

    The Ondo State Government has warned and directed owners of illegal structures in market vicinity to vacate the areas, to pave the way for modern and unhindered trading activities in the state.

    Chief Timehin Adelegbe, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industries and Cooperative Societies, gave the directive on Wednesday while inspecting Igbokoda International market in Ilaje Local Government Area of the state.

    Adelegbe said that the state government would soon clamp down on illegal structures impeding sanity of economic transactions.

    “What prompted our visit is the complaints we received from market women, the traditional rulers that the market is not properly managed; dirty and people are not properly occupying the stalls.

    “We have discovered that illegal shops are causing gridlock and other problems and we have agreed that they must be demolished after proper approval from the state governor.

    “The market is our pride and I tell you that we will destroy all attachments causing gridlock and all debris will be evacuated.

    “Anyone’s shop demolished will not receive any palliatives because there are many stalls in the market meant to be occupied with anyone who has paid his dues,’’ he said.

    The commissioner added that collection of rate would only be done by officials of the ministry and that marketers would be encouraged to move in.

    According to him, the tripartite agreement by the ministry, the Local Government and the traditional rulers will definitely prompt the market to achieve its targeted goals.

    “I urge traders to hearken to this agreement reached because it is for their benefits as the state is considering it a big market that could make a lot of investment for the government.

    Also, Mr Fayowole Aworetan, the Caretaker Chairman of the council, said that the market was surrounded with a lot of issues, saying the commissioner’s visit had been able to resolve them.

    Aworetan noted that the Local Government was ready to partner with the state government and the market women, hoping that the market would soon be in its good glory.

    The commissioner reported that Oba Afolabi Oladimeji, the traditional ruler of Igbokoda, decried the unwholesome activities taking place in the market but promised that the community would cooperate with the government to restore sanity.

    Oba Oladimeji said that he wanted functional market and called for proper allocation of the stalls in the market.

    He commended the government, saying that the visit would give the government proper information for good ideas to be implemented.

    “It will help the government to come up with good policy making mechanisms because of cross fertilisation of ideas.’’

    NAN

  • Kano, Ondo, others for Lafarge literacy finale

    Twelve primary school pupils from Plateau, Kano, Ondo, Edo, Gombe and Anambra states will battle for the grand prize of the 4th Lafarge Africa National Literacy Competition holding in Lagos next week.

    Each of the six states will be represented by two pupils who won at the six regional finals held last month.

    Public school students from the 109 senatorial districts in the country took part in the competition which evaluates their reading, essay/summary writing and spelling skills.

    Mrs Folashade   Ambrose-Medebem,  Director   of   Communications,   Public   Affairs   and Sustainable Development at Lafarge, said through the competition, the firm had improved the reading skills of many pupils.

    “The competition seeks to touch lives of our diverse people in a sustainable way and Lafarge Africa Plc is pleased with the positive impact we have made in thepast four years,” she said

    Over 2,700 public primary school pupils took part in this year’s competition, which has impacted over200,000 pupils across 244 local government areas (LGAs) since its inception in 2014.

    Faith Toun-Agbai and Hassan Yesufu, who will be representing Edo State after winning the South-South regional final, said they had improved academically.

    “The competition has improved our spelling, reading and writing.  This makes us feel we can still achieve our goals. We will like to thank Lafarge Africa Plc for sponsoring this competition,” Faith said.

    Mrs. Ambrose-Medebem  said the literacy competition   was   one   of   the   initiatives   of   Lafarge   Africa   Plc   to   support government’s efforts to improve literacy skills in public primary schools.

    “Education is a priority under the People and Communities pillar.  The National Literacy Competition is one way we intend to make a difference in the lives of Nigerians.”

    Primary school students between ages nine and 13 years are the primary target of the competition,   which is organised with support from the respective State Universal Basic Education Boards (SUBEB) and the Ovie Brume Foundation, Lafarge Africa’s implementation partner.

  • ‘Why we dumped SDP for APC in Ondo’

    Scores of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) supporters who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday hinged their action on the enviable record of achievements of the APC’s administration led by Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. The defectors spoke through their leader, Bosun Ogunleye, at the APC secretariat, Akure, the state capital.

    The former SDP members particularly lauded the prompt payment of workers’ salaries and various laudable projects mapped out for execution by the APC administration. Ogunleye noted that APC is a party that would remain relevant in the country’s political firmament because of its ideology. He stressed that they would assiduously work for the success of the ruling party in its future elections,and abide by the rules and regulations guiding it.

    The APC state chairman, Ade Adetimehin while receiving the new party members, described the present  Akeredolu’s administration as God-sent. According to him,the achievements of the present administration are visible and commendable, saying since its inception on February 24, 2016, no civil servant in the state is owed any salary.

    He said “the public servants no longer fear ‘no salary’ syndrome at the end of the month. This was made possible through the efforts of Akeredolu and his executives. Adetimehin also hailed various ongoing road construction projects in various parts of the state in spite of the meagre resources available after payment of salaries and other government runnings.

  • Ondo Govt. tasks NPA on modern facilities

    Ondo Govt. tasks NPA on modern facilities

    The Ondo State Government, has tasked the Nigeria Ports Authority ( NPA ) to provide modern facilities for its operations so that the 48-hour clearance target at the ports could come to a reality.

    Mr Timehin Adelegbe, the Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperative Services, made this appeal on Friday in Akure at a one-day seminar, organised by the Nigerian Shippers Council.

    The theme of the seminar was: “Economic Regulation: Facilitation of a New Port Order in Export and Import Trade.’’

    Adelegbe said that the reduction of trade barriers must be accompanied by other policies and institutional reforms that would enhance investments in the local environment as well as growth in productivity.

    The commissioner said that such a sustainable programme required a mutually-reinforcing policies geared towards the promotion of sustainable growth.

    He enjoined the Federal Government to support the yearning of the State Government and its citizenry on the establishment of a seaport in the coastal area of the state.

    According to him, the state is an agrarian society that supplies a reliable percentage of the Nigeria’s agricultural produce.

    Adelegbe assured potential investors that the present Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu administration would continue to create the necessary enabling economic environment for investment.

    He, therefore, urged the participants to examine all issues discussed with objectivity and come up with relevant recommendations that would assist the government and others interested in maritime trade.

    “Ondo State will always play its roles effectively in rendering adequate support for all programmes that would assist in improving international trade to the state.

    “For instance, in view of the importance of export and import trade to the development of our nation, Ondo State has put in place some structures to facilitate the ease of doing business,” he said.

    He listed the measures to include: the ease of obtaining Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for land acquisition and the establishment of the Ondo State Development and Investment Agency.

    According to him, these measures are expected to guide investors and accelerate the pace of industrial development in the state.

    NAN

  • Soldiers arrest NYSC members in Ondo

    Soldiers arrest NYSC members in Ondo

    Soldiers at a checkpoint at Ikare-Akoko have arrested some members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) at Ikaram-Akoko in Akoko North West Local Government Area of Ondo State.

    The suspects were said to have invited some women to hotels, took their photographs and threatened to relay them on social media, if they failed to “cooperate”.

    Sources said the corps members allegedly demanded details of their victims’ Automated Teller Machine (ATM) to have access to their bank accounts.

    It was learnt that their action was reported to security operatives who trailed and arrested them.

    The Akala of Ikaram-Akoko, Oba Andrew Momodu, confirmed the development.

    The monarch said some soldiers, led by a Captain, arrested the corps members at Ikaram-Akoko.

    Oba Momodu said the suspects were fond of committing atrocities in the area.

    He listed their crimes as collecting money under false pretence, threatening to record and play videos of women on social media, among other vices.

    Another community leader, Alhaji Basiru Aminu, described the happenings at Ikaram-Akoko as the highest level of moral decadence in the society.

    He said the public must condemn such acts.

    Aminu, who chairs the Nigeria Council for Islamic Affairs (NCIA) in Akoko Northwest, said the suspects had been indulging in various criminal acts in the community.

     

  • Militants accuse politicians of hijacking Amnesty programme in Ondo

    Militants accuse politicians of hijacking Amnesty programme in Ondo

    A militant group in Ondo State, United Sea Wolf Avenger, said politicians in the state had hijacked the Federal Government’s Amnesty programme in the state by allocating the slots to their children, friends and political allies.

    The group made the allegation in a statement in Lagos on Thursday signed by its leader, Gen. Deji Ehinmowo, Secretary, Gen. Akinfemi Raymond, and Adviser, Gen. Ogbaro Ariyo.

    The Ondo State Government, had on Oct. 23, announced that the Federal Government would on Nov. 9 incorporate ex-militants in the riverine area of the state who are willing to submit their arms for the programme.

    The militant group expressed regret that its members of over 400 from five camps in the state were neglected and not incorporated into the programme.

    “We humbly want to alert Nigerians and the Federal Government that politicians in Ondo State are about to compromise the standard and integrity that the Nigerian security personnel has built over the years by hijacking the second phase of the amnesty programme.

    “This is evidence in the outcome of the series of their meetings where Amnesty slots were given to their children, traditional rulers, friends in their political wards and units.

    “The 2009 Amnesty programme was not for political patronage. The then government didn’t consider Amnesty slot to any political, religious and traditional leader.

    “It is our strong belief that the purpose of the Amnesty programme is to mop up arms and achieve the desired peace in the oil rich region of Ondo State to attract investors to exploit the numerous natural resources that bound in the riverine community for the benefit of our people in the state and Nigeria at large.

    “We want to put it on record that fake people had been recruited as militants into the second phase of the Amnesty programme in Ondo State by politicians in the state for political patronage.

    “It is with strong belief that the present government in Ondo State is playing politics with the Amnesty programme without involving us in the process.

    “We are using this opportunity to inform President Muhammadu Buhari, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and the security personnel that over 400 militants in our camp are ready to surrender arms in their possession if the government is ready to dialogue with us,’’ the group said.

    The group also condemned the location of the flag off of the programme to Akure, instead of Igbokoda, the headquarters of Ilaje Local Government, which is the mandate area.

    “This negates the practice in the past and how it was done in other states of the Niger Delta region where flag off took place in the mandate areas,’’ it said.

    Read Also:  Amnesty: 400 militants to surrender arms in Ondo

  • FEC approves N5.57 billion for soil erosion control 

    FEC approves N5.57 billion for soil erosion control 

    The Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday approved N5.567 billion for third quarter payment of soil erosion control accelerated intervention to different geopolitical zones of the country.

    The Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, disclosed this to State House reporters at the end of FEC meeting presided by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The states, he said, included Kano, Sokoto, Ondo, Osun, Enugu, and Bayelsa

    Details Later…

    Read Also: FEC approves N236m for completion of Katsina dam

  • Septuagenarian commits suicide in Ondo

    A 72-year-old man, Titus Agunbiade, has reportedly hanged himself in his late father’s house at Kajola on Barracks Road in Ondo town, Ondo State.

    The deceased was said to have climbed the two-storey building with a ladder and hanged himself with a rope.

    Agunbiade’s decomposed body was reportedly discovered on the sixth day he was declared missing by a ‘’relation’’.

    The late septuagenarian was popularly called “Chief”.

    It was learnt that his family searched for his whereabouts until his body was discovered.

    The immediate cause of the incident could not be established last night.

    Residents described the deceased as a prominent community leader and public affairs analyst.

    On the scene of the incident was a pair of sandals and a towel belonging to the late septuagenarian.

    Residents were discussing the development in hushed tones, while his relatives wailed uncontrollably.

    Police officers from Yaba Division were accompanied by his family to release the body to traditionalists for burial.

    A family source said the man might have taken his life due to protracted illness.

    The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Mrs. Regina Mogbojuri was said to be on leave.

    Another senior police officer, who spoke in confidence, said no suicide note was found in the room.

    He said the report on the development had been forwarded to the appropriate unit in Akure, the state capital, for further investigation.

  • Ondo community raises alarm over invasion by criminals

    Ondo community raises alarm over invasion by criminals

    Disturbed by alleged invasion of Igbotako community in Okitipupa local government area of Ondo state by suspected criminals, its residents have urged the Police and other security agencies in the state to bail them out of the menace.
    Already, the community has organized a security summit with  the State Commissioner of Police, Olugbenga Adeyanju in attendance with  other stakeholders.
    Adeyanju used the occasion to warn criminals in the state particularly Igbotako community to relocate.
    The law enforcement officer canvassed the support of residents in tackling the security challenge facing the community.
    The summit was organised by  Igbotako  Community Development Council(ICDC)to tackle security threats in the community.
    There had been reported cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism in the area in the past few years causing anxiety to the people.
    The CP described criminal activities in the area as disturbing, saying his command was battle-ready to fortify the community and the whole state.
     Adeyanju,however armed the youth criminal tendencies to re-think, stressing that the command had mapped out strategies to deal qitë the culprits.
    The police boss said he was touched when the community leaders led by Chief Paddy Arikawe visited his office in Akure to lodge complaints on the incessant activities of the hoodlums in the community.
    He warned the youths in the area and other neighbouring towns that his command was battle ready to deal with anyone found culpable.
    The convener of the Summit, Arikawe hailed the CP for personally present, stressing that the cases of kidnapping, armed robbery and cultism in the community was disturbing.
    He advised parents to caption their wards, as police are ready for action to secure the community.
    A youth leader, Omotoye Olusola noted that the summit was a success, stressing that the youths would cooperate with the police for peace in the society.
    He however pleaded with leaders in the community to find a means of empowering the youths in order to be gainfully engaged.
  • Mob beat three armed robbers to death in Ondo

    Mob beat three armed robbers to death in Ondo

    Three suspected armed robbers were yesterday reportedly beaten to death aggrieved resident in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

    The deceased were accused of snatching two motorcycles from their owners along the popular Hospital Road.

    They were said to have been arrested and beaten by passers-by following an alarm raised by one of the victims.

    Sources said they were later rescued from the scene by the police but died before getting to the hospital.

    A locally made pistol and the stolen motorcycles were among the items reportedly recovered from them.

    Spokesman of the State Police Command,Femi Joseph confirmed the incident,  describing the mob action as illegal.

    Joseph, admonished the people  against jungle justice, insisting that those involved in the mob action would be arrested and prosecuted to serve as a deterrent to others.

    According to him,  “At about 8am on Tuesday along Hospital Road, we were told that a three-man gang was caught while trying to steal an Okada.

    “In the process, the owner raised an alarm which attracted some members of the public. In no time, a mob descended on the suspects and beat them to a pulp.”

    He said they sustained they sustained third degree injuries and in the process of rushing them to hospital they died midway.

    Joseph affirmed that the deceased were actually robbers,but condemned the jungle justice meted out to them,which he said was against the law.

    He vowed that the police would apprehend all those who participated in the jungle justice because ,saying”this act is condemnable and reprehensible.”