The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oyo state

  • Ajimobi wants Ibadan butchers relocated to multi-billion naira abattoir

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State has directed butchers in the 11 Local Government Areas of Ibadanland to relocate to the multi-billion naira central abattoir by the end of April.

    The governor gave the directive during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the House of Chiefs, at the Secretariat in Ibadan.

    Our reporter says that the multi-billion naira central abattoir is located in Amosun Village in the Akinyele Local Government Area in Ibadan.

    The butchers were led to the meeting by the South-West Coordinator of the Butchers Association, Alhaji Biliaminu Elesinmeta, and the association’s state Chairman, Alhaji Azeez Alagunfon.

    Ajimobi said that the meeting was called to find a lasting solution to issues surrounding the relocation of butchers in Ibadan to the central abattoir and to dispel their misgivings about the project.

    “Apart from its state-of-the-art facilities that would promote the hygiene of meat consumers, it is also capable of ending the incessant clashes between herders and farmers,’’ he said.

    The governor explained that the abattoir was a joint venture among a private establishment, C & E Consulting Ltd, the state government, the butchers association, and the 11 LGs and 14 Local Council Development Areas in Ibadanland.

    He stressed that the private partners would have 50 per cent share, the LGs and the LCDAs 36 per cent, the state government 10 per cent, while the butchers have 4 per cent in the ownership structure.

    According to him, “We plan to develop your business through the central abattoir. I told those in charge of the arrangement that the butchers, the state government, the LGs and the LCDAs and our private partners should co-own the facility.

    “We are sure that the lingering crisis between the farmers and herdsmen will not arise again, because cows will now be transported here directly, instead of our towns and villages where grazing on farmlands have been generating tension.

    “I’m also happy that this arrangement will bring about a change in the way butchers handle meat and it will improve the hygiene of the business.

    “The facility is going to have health and sanitary officers that will ensure strict compliance with the basic hygiene of meat handling.”

    Ajimobi said that effective from May, the project must be actualised, saying that a committee comprising all stakeholders would start meeting immediately and arrive at a conclusion before the end of April.

    The governor told the butchers that each cow butchered at the central abattoir would attract a fee of N3, 500.00, adding that the fee would cover the use of the facility.

    He said that the state had entered into an agreement with the private investors to use the facility for 30 years, after which its total ownership would be transferred to the butchers.

    Ajimobi appealed for the support and understanding of the butchers to comply with the relocation order, saying that the facility had suffered neglect for too long due to unresolved issues among stakeholders.

    The butchers expressed gratitude to the governor for allaying their fears about the project, commending his support to them through financial empowerment and donation of a new bus.

    They said that the earlier misunderstanding between the association and the government was due to lack of adequate information from the immediate-past administration in the state.

    The butchers stated that they were not briefed on the benefits accruable to them from the central abattoir.

    Elesinmeta, however, appealed to the state government to reduce the N3,500 costs attached to each butchered cow in the facility.

    He also solicited logistics support for members of the association located in different parts of Ibadan metropolis.

     

    NAN

  • NDLEA seizes 3,892kg of hard drugs in Oyo

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency ( NDLEA ) in Oyo State says it has  seized 3,891.875 kg of suspected hard drugs and secured 15 convictions in the first quarter of 2018.

    The State Commander, Mrs Omolade Faboyede,  said  this in a statement made available to the News men on Wednesday in Ibadan.

    She said that the seized drugs included Indian hemp  and other psychotropic substances.

    Read Also: 25 held as NDLEA seizes 122kg of drugs

    According to the NDLEA boss,  six drug addicts are currently undergoing rehabilitation in the state.

    Faboyede also said the command would not relent in its efforts in the fight against drug trafficking, abuse and production in the state.

    She called for collaborative support from all stakeholders to continually sensitise the public on the danger associated with drug abuse and trafficking.

    NAN

  • Oyo lawmaker charges surveyors on ethical practice

    The Chairman, Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Lands, Housing and Survey, Mr. Peter Oyetunji, representing Surulere/Ogo Oluwa state constituency, has cautioned surveyors in the country against unethical practice, warning that unprofessional conduct is inimical to national development.

    He gave the charge at the swearing-in ceremony of new executive members of Association of Private Practising Surveyors of Nigeria (APPS), Oyo State chapter, a sub-unit of the Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS), held at NIS Plaza, Ikolaba, Ibadan on Friday.

    Oyetunji, who is the immediate past chairman of APPS in the state, stated: “As practitioners in the survey profession, I plead with all of us to always follow the ethics of our profession. Let us contribute our own quota to the physical development of our environment.”

    He encouraged the new executive members under the chairmanship of Chief Ademola Oguntade to maintain open door system, be focused, initiate fresh ideas and make honesty, transparency and accountability their guiding principles.

    The new chairman, Oguntade, in his acceptance speech, said the first agenda of his administration “is to create an online banking payment system, of which the project has been handed over to an expert with a promise that it would be in use in the next one month.

    He said, “Secondly, this administration will establish a Surveyors’ Estate in which I have contacted some experts on it and a committee will be set up immediately for actualisation of this Surveyors’ Estate.

    “This administration plans to visit the Director of Bureau of Physical Planning for enforcement of record copy survey for the approval of building plan and with the effort of our outgoing APPSN chairman at the Oyo State House of Assembly for enforcement of the law.”

    The NIS chairman in the state, Prince Aderemi Kobiowu, commended Oyetunji and his team for using their tenure to revert for surveyors the record copy bill, which has elevated the survey profession in the state.

    Alhaji B.B. Ajibade, the immediate past secretary of AAPPS, emphasised the importance of unity in the association, saying: “Our coming together will take us far in moving the profession to the next level in terms of practice and welfare of members by identifying the factors that weaken our practice and fashioning adequate solutions, thereby developing strategies that will strengthen our future. This should include honest service to the public.”

  • ‘Embrace demand-driven researches’, Ajimobi challenges Poly Ibadan

    *as wife donates ICT centre to mark birthday

    Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state Thursday challenged the management and staff of The Polytechnic, Ibadan to embark on researches that were driven by the current demand of the people of Nigeria, especially, Oyo State.

    Ajimobi gave the charge in an address while commissioning a multi-million naira Information Communication Technology (ICT) Building donated to the institution by his wife, Dr Florence Ajimobi to mark her 59th birthday anniversary.
    The governor charged the management to see technology as the only saviour of the modern Nigeria in reviving the economy and provision of job opportunities for the youths.

    He said, “The richest people of the world today are those in the area of technology. So, our new education policy, apart from building character is also about technology.

    “While calling on the students to imbibe good character, I challenge the Polytechnic Ibadan to embark on researches that are demand-driven. That is the essence of the donation of this structure and the equipments therein. I’m pleased today to stand before you and say my wife has contributed to technology.”

    According to the governor who described his wife as an icon in philanthropy, his wife taught him the art of giving pointing out that, people can assist the society by giving back to their alma mater.

    He called on people of means to always assist the less privileged and contribute to the growth of public institutions.

    “I have known my wife for over 38 years and of these years, she has taught me to always give back to the society. I have realized that it is not what we say but what we do. You that God has assisted with what it takes to assist humanity should do so. Do not say unless you are rich, from whatever you have, give a little.

    “You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give. Let me challenge you all to give more”, Governor Ajimobi appealed.

    The governors wife, an alumnae of The Polytechnic, Ibadan in her address said having discovered the wonders of Information technology and its contribution to the modern world, she had vowed to do her bit to spread its gospel to the world, which led to the donation of the ICT building and its equipments.

    She enjoined the authority of the institution to give optimal maintenance to the structure so that its effect on the society would endure.

    “Today, to the glory of God and in commemoration of my 59th birthday, I am donating the 4th ICT center to my alma mater, the Polytechnic Ibadan because I realize there is a great need for this intervention in the institution. It is my hope that this center will open new vistas of opportunities to all who are privileged to use it.

    “While we are today gathered to commission this ICT center, I want us to cast our minds forward to about five years from now and ask ourselves ‘in what state will this center be’? Will the status quo be maintained or even improved upon or will we be greeted by a building that will stand as a shadow of its former self? I urge you to please give maintenance of both building and equipment utmost priority so that it can continue to serve you optimally.”

    The Chairman of the  institutions Governing Council, Prof. Isaac Adeyemi thanked the donor and her husband for not losing touch with their alma mater especially in the area of infrastructural development.

    Adeyemi reiterated the belief of the institution in the ideals of ‘town and gown’ as they strive to improve on the relationship between the institution and the private sector adding that the new facility “will no doubt provide an excellent working environment for staff and students which would enhance the quality of training especially in the department of Office Technology and Management”

    Earlier, a birthday thanksgiving held at the Agodi Government House Chapel where Pastor Taiwo Adelakun called on all the people to be conversant with how they would end their living in the world.

    The priest called on the governor to pray and work relentlessly over his successor as according to him, the success of any leader hinged on his succession.

    “We should be concerned about our end. There is hope in working for the end. The life that counts is the life that is focused on the end. To our governor, I urge you to please make the development you introduced to governance enduring be working on a good successor.

    “The true worth of a leader is not in the leading but in the succession. Success without succession is a failure in disguise. I pray that our governor will end well,” Adelakun prayed.

    Mrs Florence Ajimobi had in the last three years, in commemoration of her birthday donated ICT centers to Our Lady’s of Apostle Girls Grammar School, Fatimo, Odo-Ona, Ibadan and Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo among others.

     

  • Why money bags won’t succeed Ajimobi – APC governorship aspirant

    A governorship aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Oyo State, Engr. Remi Olaniyan, has said that the 2019 governorship election in the state will not be determined by the amount of money spent by aspirants, but that only those without the goodwill of the people will rely on money to win election.

    He said such aspirants will fail because the electorate knows who they want to be their governor.

    Olaniyan, who spoke to journalists in Ibadan during a press briefing, said he was in the race to succeed the state Governor Abiola Ajimobi in 2019 because of the conviction he had that he was qualified, saying that the era of moneybags dominance of Oyo politics had gone.

    He reminded that majority of those who became governor in the state were not money bags.

    The governorship aspirant who hailed from the Oke-Ogun zone of the sate said, “The electorate in the state have developed their interest in politics of the state in the last few years and it will be difficult for anyone to confuse them by offering them money. The period of moneybags, when peoples’ conscience was bought cheaply, had gone and we will not return to it.

    “You have to look around and see the profile of the aspirants that are showing their interest in occupying political positions in the state. I don’t need to share money before I can succeed Ajimobi and I implore our people to reject such Greek gift. I served the state for 26 years as civil servant before retiring into private business that has flourished because of proper management.

    “I have connected myself with the people in the state and even established partnership with a Catholic hospital in Rome through my foundation so that our people can enjoy some privileges. That is a better profile than using money to buy people. Only those who have no goodwill among the people will rely on money.”

    While commenting on the feud between national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, and the party national chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, the aspirant said that the two were elders of the party with interest in its success.

    “We should not blow this beyond what it is. Both have common interest which is the good of the party so whatever their differences cannot be said to be personal. Both leaders will resolve their differences ahead of 2019.”

    “In Oyo State, many people are reading negative meaning to a few what is going on within the party but to those who are inside there is no rift ” , he said.

     

  • Give us a female deputy governor in 2019, Ajimobi’s wife begs

    Wife of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi on Wednesday made case for a woman becoming the deputy governor of the state in the 2019 general election.

    Mrs Ajimobi who recounted that virtually all the states in the Southwest have at one time or the other had a female deputy governor, noted that Oyo state is matured enough and blessed with capable women who can perform at the level more than the men.

    She made the appeal while addressing journalist at her Agodi office after distributing gift items to ten orphanage homes in Ibadan as parts of event line up to commemorate her 59thbirthday.

    Some of the item distributed include bags of rice, toiletries, cartons of biscuits, fruit juice, cash gifts among others.

    Asked on her views about on the call for more women in politics, the governors wife noted that women may not be able to achieve much without the support of their husbands and as such appealed to men across the state to support and encourage their women to take up political offices, particularly at the forthcoming local government elections, expressing confidence in the ability of the women in the state to deliver.

    She said, “This is something that has been bothering me for a while. And I think in my own little way I have encouraged women particularly the women in APC to come out and join politics but I want to use this opportunity to appeal to our husbands to give us the opportunity to prove ourselves. We are women and as the bible says, we should be submissive to our husbands after Christ. They are our head and the head of our different homes but because we believed in them, we need their approval to do anything. I just want them to encourage us because if we do not get their support, there is nothing any woman out there can do.

    “So, our men, particularly in Oyo state, please encourage your women, let them prove themselves, I know they can do it. And they can do it very well. Give us the opportunity, even at the local government level, let us prove ourselves that we can manage the local governments, let us have more women in the Oyo state House of Assembly. Let us at least have a woman in the House of Representative in Abuja, I know we have a female Senator, let us have two or more.

    “I also want to use this opportunity to appeal to my husband, the Executive Governor of Oyo state to give us a woman as a deputy governor in Oyo state. Other states have done it. Lagos state has done it continuously, Ekiti has done it, Osun has done it, Ogun has done it, Oyo state too can do it. Your Excellency sir, let us prove ourselves, we can do it better than the men.”

     

  • Youth groups woo CBN deputy governor for Oyo Guber office

    As the preparations for the 2019 polls gather stems, the Deputy Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (Operations), Bayo Adelabu, has been challenged and endorsed by a pro-democracy youth group across Oyo state, the New Era Ambassadors (NEA), to succeed the incumbent governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi.

    The CBN boss, a grandson of a pre-independent firebrand Ibadan politician, Adegoke Adelabu, fondly called ‘Penkelemesi’, according to the group has done well at the national level and as such is well equipped and qualified to replicate same in the state.

    The endorsement given during an ‘Ibadan Town Hall Standing Ovation for Bayo Adelabu’ held at Mapo Hall, Ibadan, was attended by thousands of people from across the state.

    Coordinator of the New Era Ambassadors, Femi Awogboro, in his address, noted that Governor Ajimobi has raised the bar of governance in the state and his successor should be a tested and trusted competent successful administrator, saying: “The incumbent governor of the state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has set standard, and as such, a successor, who is worthy in character, political sagacity and purposeful acumen is required to steer the ship further.”

    Awogboro was worried that vast majority of these breeds have an aversion for murky water of Nigerian brand of politics, adding that “are often dissuaded by raging acrimony,  wanton Shenanigans, a plethora of Machiavellian freaks and bickerings that characterised politics across the nation and cultures.”

    Corroborating Awogboro stance, other speakers including Chairman, Quarry Haulers and Marketers Association of Nigeria,  Oyo State chapter, Otunba Adeola Opayinka; zonal chairman of New Era Ambassadors for Ibadan Outer City Coordination, Babatunde Raji, all said that Adelabu has track records, historical clouts, professional accomplishments and rare genre of discipline, to take over the mantle of leadership from Ajimobi.

    “We are passionately appealing to him to bring his expertise, vision, tact, intelligence and vibrancy to bear, by contesting for the post of Governor of Oyo state, come 2019, to keep on the good work started by the incumbent.

    “Our gladness will know no bounds if he says an affirmative yes to our clarion call to serve the good people of Oyo State. We also want to affirm that our organisation is committed to this project, and we want to say unequivocally that we will foot the bill for the purchase of his form, once he hearkens to our call. This is to show him that we really want him to vie,” Awogboro stated.

    He, however, warned that Adelabu rejection of the endorsement and call will be a great disservice to the people of the state particularly the youths who look up to him as a new generation leader and would not be acceptable to the group.

     

  • 730 Niger Delta youths to be trained in 2018, says minister

    No fewer than 730 youths from the Niger Delta region would be trained in various skill acquisition programme of the Federal Government in 2018.

    The effort is said to be in the government bid to increase the human capital development in the country as well as check agitations and unrest in the country.

    The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Usani Uguru Usani made the disclosure in Ibadan at the weekend during the graduation of 25 youths from Niger Delta under the empowerment training of the ministry by Siegener Sabithos Nigeria Limited, held at the Chief M.A Adesiyan conference hall, Alumni Centre, University of Ibadan.

    The 25 youths were trained on fish production, information communication technology, business development and entrepreneurial skill within few weeks in Ibadan.

    Represented by the Director of Economic Empowerment, Ministry of Niger Delta, Alhaji Ibrahim Akanya, the minister said the empowerment is not only a means to fast track development but also to actualise the Presidents human capital development programmes.

    His words, “This empowerment programme is not only means of fast tracking development of the entire region, but one of the ways to actualise Mr President’s human capital development programme.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari believes that in addition to infrastructure, human capital development is quite vital and essential for a nation. Most of the crises we have in Nigeria today is as a result of neglect of human capital development.

    “This, President Buhari said cannot continue. So, he has directed all the ministries as a matter of urgency to put in their annual capital budget the issue of human capital development and that is why we came up with this programme of economic empowerment at the Ministry of Niger Delta programme.

    “We have it before the present administration but it was energised when President Buhari came in. He put a lot of impetus-fund into it, actually organise it. As I am telling you this year alone, the Ministry of Niger Delta alone will be training about 730 youths under the 2017 budget, not to talk of 2018 budget that is yet to be passed.

    “About 180 are graduating today in Calabar; by next Wednesday another 90 youths will be graduating from Calabar axis again, then by Monday about 205 women and youths will be commencing another training here in Ibadan, Oyo state, specifically at The Polytechnic, Ibadan. In Imo, about 105 graduated from the same programme last week. That is to tell you how the present administration is committed to human capital development.

    “The essence of the programme is that the restiveness we have in the Niger Delta and recently, in the North East is nothing other than neglect of human capital. If we have to arrest this situation, we have to develop human being along that line,” Uguru stated.

    In his short remarks, the state Commissioner for Information, Culture, Mr Toye Arulogun urged the participants to make judicious use of the knowledge and opportunity availed them by the programme.

    Arulogun commended the Federal Government for the initiative, noting that it shows that the government is concerned about the future of the youths of the state, the country.

    Earlier, the Chief Consultant, Siegener Sabithos Nigeria Limited, Dr Tunde Kelani, who lauded the initiative of the Federal Government charged the graduating youths to replicate whatever they might have benefited in their communities and promote the scheme.

  • Unclaimed PVCs: INEC seeks Alaafin’s intervention

    Mr Mutiu Agboke, the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Independent National Electoral Commission ( INEC ) Oyo State, has urged the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, to assist the commission over unclaimed Permanent Voter Cards ( PVCs ).

    Agboke made the call on Wednesday when he paid courtesy visit to the traditional ruler in his palace at Oyo, Oyo State.

    He appealed to the traditional ruler to prevail on his subjects whose PVCs were still in INEC custody to collect them.

    According to him, 648,840 unclaimed PVCs are still in the custody of the commission.

    He urged the Oba to use his position as father of all to reach out to other traditional rulers in the kingdom to sensitise their people on the need to collect their voter cards.

    Agboke reiterated the commitment of the commission in conducting free, fair and credible elections in 2019.

    The REC assured the Alaafin and the people of Oyo State that the commission would continue to be unbiased and impartial umpire.

    He said “it now behooves on eligible voters to collect their PVCs, which is their voting power to elect those that will govern them.”
    He urged eligible voters who had yet to register to visit INEC offices in their respective local government areas to register, saying the second phase of the exercise would begin on April 3.

    Adeyemi assured INEC of effective support to ensure that people participated fully in the electoral processes.

    The Oba promised to mandate other traditional rulers in his kingdom to create awareness for the collection of voter cards.

    He urged the REC and his management team to fullfil its pledge in conducting free, fair and credible elections.

    He also urged Nigerians to cooperate with INEC for credible elections come 2019.

    “We must support the commission to give us credible polls, your vote is power and you must not sell it.

    “My appeal also goes to women to participate actively in the elections because of the future of your children.

    “Your participation will give way to credible leaders that will provide good governance.

    “Youths should abstain from hooliganism or anything that can cause disturbance to the electoral processes.

    “Observers from different parts of the world would be sent to monitor the elections: we must demonstrate that we are civilised people and justify the confidence reposed in us as Nigerians.”

    NAN

  • SGBs have improved infrastructure in schools – Oyo Govt

    The Oyo State Government on Tuesday said that the School Governing Boards (SGBs) have arrested the infrastructural decay in various secondary schools across state, saying that over N2bn have been expended by SGBs, philanthropists and old students associations on new buildings, renovation of the old ones, laboratories, ICT centres, chairs, desks and boreholes.

    It said that the participatory schools’ management model, the first of its kind in the country introduced by Governor Abiola Ajimobi a year ago, is executing one infrastructural programme or the other in various schools, explaining that out of the N2bn, the SGBs have spent N1.269 billion realized from the N3,000 session fee paid by each student while projects already commissioned put in place by Old Students, philanthropists and corporate organisations stood at about N0.8billion.

    The State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Professor Adeniyi Olowofela during a three day expanded stakeholders meeting on Implementation of 2018 State Engagement Plan (SEP) organized by Ministry of Education in collaboration with United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) held at Emmanuel Alayande Resource Centre, Samonda, Ibadan disclosed that the total number of people engaged by Government for this participatory service (SGBs) is 5,652 members for the 628 secondary schools in the state.

    Read Also: Oyo offers free TB treatment

    Professor Olowofela explained that SGB is made up of nine members who are on voluntary services except the statutory members that are civil servants which include the Principals, who are the secretaries of the Boards, nominees of Council Chairmen and Local Inspector Education (L.I.Es) where the schools are domiciled.

    The Commissioner said that the introduction of the SGB was a masterstroke to change the fortune of education in the state, saying, “the SGB has led to renewed rivalry among various old students associations as they are all trying to outdo one another in providing infrastructure for their schools.  During the launch of Education Trust Fund (ETF) in November 2017, the SGB of Government College, Ibadan was honoured as the best SGB and this has in no doubt propelled other SGBs to act.

    “Recently, the SGB of Lagelu Grammar School also injected about N250m into the renovation of schools. There are so many SGBs working on renovations of their schools and this is evident in the present state on improved infrastructures as the government also observed that some of the buildings earlier earmarked for rehabilitation have already been renovated by SGBs or Old students.

    “Our SGB intervention for schools is a success story and we need to commend various old students association for being part of this laudable achievement to renovate existing buildings, construct new ones, laboratories, ICT centres as well as provision of laboratories equipment, chairs, desks and boreholes,” Professor Olowofela said.

    Prof. Olowofela appreciated the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration for his transformational initiative in the States’ education sector and commended the collaborators, stressing that the benefits of UNICEF and State Planning Commission’s conduct of Annual School Census and others cannot be over emphasised.

    While delivering his speech, the UNICEF Education Specialist, Mr. Muritala Muhammed stated that the essence of the training is to develop a better understanding of the use of SEP as a tool for education planning for basic and Secondary schools, update knowledge on the developed SEP and proffer best practices/way forward for maximum outcome in education service delivery in the State among others.

    Mr. Muhammed stated further that UNICEF is set to collaborate and give technical support to partner states for the next 5 years in the area of Governance, Community and teacher development.