Author: oduduwanews

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated his Imo State counterpart and the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Governor Hope Uzodinma, on his victory at Saturday’s governorship election in the state, saying his re-election is well deserved.

Governor Sanwo-Olu in a congratulatory message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Gboyega Akosile, on Sunday in London, said Governor Uzodinma’s success in the election is a validation of people’s acceptance of his administration, having impacted positively in the lives of the citizens during his first term in office.

He said the people of Imo State deserve commendation for coming out en-masse to perform their civic responsibility and for defying all odds to vote for Governor Uzodinma-led APC administration in the state.

Sanwo-Olu said Governor Uzodinma’s victory is a clear manifestation that the APC remains the party of choice for Nigerians, stressing that the party will continue to work in the best interest of Nigerians in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu.

He said: “I congratulate my brother and the Chairman of the Progressives Governors Forum (PGF), Governor Hope Uzodinma, for emerging victorious in Saturday’s gubernatorial election. I am glad that Governor Hope Uzodinma was returned by the good people of Imo State after a convincing victory over his opponents as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the poll.

“Governor Hope Uzodinma’s re-election affirms his administration’s good performance in the last four years. I believe strongly that he was re-elected because he delivered beyond the expectations of the Imo people during his first term.

“The APC candidate’s victory across the 27 local government areas in Imo State with over 400,000 vote margin against his main opponent, is a confirmation of the trust and belief of the people in the APC-led administration in Imo State, having benefitted immensely from the various people-oriented programmes of his administration.

“The real winners at the end of the day are citizens of Imo State because they have re-elected a “talk and do” governor. The victory is deserving. It is an assurance to us that the APC government at the state and national levels is doing something right. We know there are areas of improvement and we are determined to ensure that we give Nigerians the best they deserve.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu also commended President Bola Tinubu for creating a level playing ground for the gubernatorial elections in Imo, Kogi and Bayelsa states.

He said the President deserves commendation for deepening democracy and the electoral process in Nigeria, considering some successes recorded in the Imo governorship election and gubernatorial polls in Kogi and Bayelsa states. How

A new Commissioner of Police, CP Isyaku Mohammed has been posted to Osun State Command and has assumed office today 10th November, 2023. This is sequel to the recent retirement of former Commissioner of Police, AIG Patrick Kehinde Longe, (psc).

He was born some decades ago in Jos, Jos North L.G.A of Plateau State. He has grown to become an achiever.

The Commissioner of Police, a holder of M.Sc in Business Administration, M.Sc in Strategic Studies & Security Administration and B.Sc in Accounting. He is also a Fellow of Certified National Accountant of Nigeria (FCNA). He was appointed into the Nigeria Police Force in August, 1996 as Cadet Assistant Superintendent of Police (Cadet ASP).

CP Isyaku Mohammed has served in various capacities at different States of the country including FCT, Abuja. A pure-bred professional who has, since joining the Force, made waves in the departments that hold the Nigeria Police namely: Administration, Operations and Investigations like a colossus.

CP Isyaku served last as CP Police Account and Budget, Force Headquarters Abuja before his transfer to this Police Command.

He is a good communicator, Competent, embodiment of transparency, justice and worthy of emulation.

He is happily married with wonderful children.

The Oyo State Mineral Development Agency has sealed some mining sites, operating without consent letters and community development agreement in the state.

The Director General (DG) of the Agency, Mr Abiodun Oni, disclosed this while addressing shortly after the exercise in Ibadan.

Mr Abiodun Oni stated that the decision was to restore order by stopping all illegal activities in the mining sector for the good of the State.

He said prior to this time, the Agency requested for the consent letters, community development agreement and other relevant documents that legalize the operation of every mining industry in the state.

Oni stated further that the state government under the leadership of His Excellency Engr Seyi Makinde is ready to partner with all stakeholders to sanitize Oyo State mining sector as contained in the Mining Act and all relevant Laws.

He said this was the reason for the verification of the relevant documents, by the Oyo State government.

The DG maintained that the Agency will not condone any act of illegality, adding that the Governor has signed an Executive order, which gives the agency the power to seal any mining industries that fails to comply with the rules and regulations guiding the sector.

The coordinating Director of the Agency, Mrs Jolade Omidiran urged miners and all relevant stakeholders to submit their documents before the enforcement team gets to their site.

The Osun State Government, on Thursday, budgeted the sum of N273,908,997,410.00 for the 2024 fiscal year. The state governor stated this while presenting the budget christened ‘Budget of Reconstruction and Recovery’ to the State House of Assembly.

He said N165,654,976,700.00 was for recurrent expenditure while the sum of N108,254,020,710.00 was for capital expenditure. This, Adeleke said was a reflection of the focus of his administration to rebuild the battered state that he inherited.

The governor also said the budget was a sign that his administration was targetting recovery after successful revamping of all sectors of the state. He assured the lawmakers of his administration’s will and determination to ensure the achievement of budgetary goals once the proposal was passed into the Appropriation Act.

He said, “I am highly delighted to present to you and honourable members of the Assembly, the 2024 draft Budget tagged “BUDGET OF RECONSTRUCTION AND RECOVERY” in the sum of Two Hundred and Seventy- Three Billion, Nine Hundred and Eight Million, Nine Hundred and Ninety -Seven Thousand, Four Hundred and Ten Naira (N273,908,997,410.00).

“This figure is made up of recurrent expenditure of One Hundred and Sixty – Five Billion, Six Hundred and Fifty – Four Million, Nine Hundred and Seventy – Six Thousand, Seven Hundred Naira (N165,654,976,700.00) and capital expenditure of One Hundred and Eight Billion, Two Hundred and Fifty – Four Million, Twenty Thousand, Seven Hundred and Ten Naira (N108,254,020,710.00). “The tag for this budget reflects our current focus of rebuilding the battered state we inherited.”

In his remarks, the Speaker, state House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun, commended Adeleke for constant engagement with the people through impactful policies and programmes. Egbedun assured that the lawmakers would work diligently to ensure timely passage of the bill, while also carrying out oversight functions to ensure that public funds were utilized efficiently for maximum benefit of the people.

Prof. Tajudeen Olumoko of Dean of Student Affairs, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, has been sacked over allegations of certificate racketeering.

The sacking of Olumoko was sequel to hias alleged involvement in certificate racketeering syndicate issued genuine Lagos State University certificates to interested individuals at fees ranging from N2m to N3m, depending on the course.

A news report published on Monday, revealed the allegations against him which led to his removal.

Meanwhile, a senior lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Dr Abiodun Fatai-Abatan, is said to have been appointed to act as the new Dean of Student Affairs.

Details later…

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed the 2023 Supplementary Budget N2.17trn into law at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Last Thursday, the Senate and the House of Representatives passed the N2.17trn 2023 supplementary appropriation bill after a third reading.

Before the passage of the bill, the Senate adopted the report of the harmonised sittings of both red and green chambers on the 2023 Supplementary Appropriation Bill as submitted by the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola (APC, Ogun West).

The bill expeditiously scaled readings in both upper and lower chambers as lawmakers said it was for the benefit of the country. Tinubu had written the National Assembly seeking the approval of the sum of N2,176,791,286,033 as the 2023 supplementary budget to address labour wage adjustments, security, and more.

The President had also sent the 2024-2026 Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) & Fiscal Strategy Paper to both chambers of the National Assembly, Recently, the Senate passed N819bn making provision for a N500bn palliative package.

Tinubu had said the supplementary bill was necessary for additional palliative measures including wage awards. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) chaired by the President on Monday approved the 2023 supplementary budget of N2.1 trillion

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday, assured that Tongeji Island belongs to Nigeria as the Republic of Benin is not contesting the ownership of the oil-rich enclave.

Governor Abiodun disclosed this when he received the Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy, Rear Admiral Mustapha Bala Hassan, who paid him a courtesy call in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

According to the governor, the island and its people have been part and parcel of Ogun State and have no connection with any other country.

“Tongeji Island is an area that has been under our radar. Sadly, I have not been able to visit. I have slated to visit several times. The former Chief of Naval Staff at a point in time wanted us to go with the former Flag Officer Commanding, but something happened that day, and we could not go.

“I raised the matter with the President of Benin Republic the two times I met him to let him know that Tongeji Island is a no-go area for them and he accepted that, contrary to what people are speculating. They are not contesting the island with us.

“I agree that we mark that area with our presence by providing services for the people. The Jetty that you mentioned, I will tell our Ministry of Works team to go there and take a look so that we can put a cost implication to that. You mentioned the issues of power, water supply, and Primary Healthcare Centre. Those ones, we can immediately swing into action when we go there.

“If we are claiming that it is our territory, they must see us providing some services for our people and this has been brought to the fore a few times that our people there are complaining that we are not looking after them. We will immediately begin to provide them those services,” the governor assured.

Abiodun said Ogun Waterside due to its proximity to the Delta, had security issues in the past when people from the Niger Delta made incursions into the area and carried out criminal activities, noting that it was imperative to have Naval presence as the area is where the State’s seaport would be sited.

He said his administration’s efforts at providing security to the people living in that axis led to the procurement of gun boats for the police, maintaining that the presence of men of the NIgeria Navy would be highly welcome as towns in the area could only be accessible by water.

“We have Ogun State Port on the drawing board in the Olokola area, and that is basically a Navy responsibility. We will be making the announcement very soon because it has been in the pipeline for so many years. For one reason or the other, it didn’t happen then, but it is going to happen.

“A lot is going to happen along that corridor that requires heavy Navy presence. The federal government is reactivating a multi-billion dollar initiative which is going to be big responsibility on the part of the Navy because it is going to sit on the territorial waters around Ogun Waterside,” the governor added.

He said his administration is working assiduously towards making the State an oil-producing State, just as he assured the Nigerian Navy that a committee would be set up to work with the force in identifying a location where an administrative facility would be made available for their use.

Speaking earlier, Rear Admiral Mustapha Hassan, who is the 44th Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, lauded the State for its conducive business environment which has made it the industrial hub of the nation and emphasized the need for the state to work towards becoming an oil producing State through the Tongeji Island.

He said the force had spread its operations to Tongeji to safeguard not only the lives of Nigerians living in the Island, but to protect the territorial integrity of Nigeria and all its assets, appealing to the governor to provide jetties for seamless operations there.

Admiral Hassan also pleaded with the state government to provide the inhabitants of the Island with health facility, water supply and electricity to make them have a sense of belonging, suggesting also that government could turn the Island to tourism centre because of its potentials.

The Commissioner for Education, Science and technology in Oyo state, Prof. Soliu Abdulwaheed Adelabu has said that the state government was aware that teachers are retiring, and the staff strength in primary schools are reducing.

Prof Abdulwaheed however assured that “by God’s grace, we will recruit more teachers in the basic education sector by February 2024,”

Speaking on the lingering issue of recruitment of primary school teachers, the Education commissioner said, “We are aware that teachers are retiring, and the staff strength in our primary schools are reducing. I assure you that, by God’s grace, we will recruit more teachers in the basic education sector by February 2024,” he said.

The Commissioner stressed that standard in education must not dwindle, and appealed to education Secretaries and private schools’ owners to take the issue of standard in schools seriously.

The commissioner who gave the assurance in a meeting with basic education stakeholders on Wednesday said also hinted that “mushroom” schools would not be allowed to operate in Oyo State.

He said the executive would work with Education Secretaries, and Heads of Sections in all local governments towards shutting down substandard primary schools in the state.

He charged the Education Secretaries, Heads of Sections in the 33 Local Government areas of the state to get set, as the meeting was part of steps and institutional preparations towards the crackdown.

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun said the owner states of the Oodua Investment Company Ltd have decided against interfering in the running of the conglomerate.

Abiodun, speaking while receiving in audience the board and management of the conglomerate, led by its Group Chairman, Otunba Bimbo Ashiru,
expressed delight at the successes recorded by the company in recent years.

Commending the sense of creativity, direction and purpose of the new management team, Prince Abiodun noted that he and the other South-West governors adopted a non-interference approach in order to reposition the conglomerate to reflect the true worth of the people of the zone.

He said: “I want to recall that in 2019 when I assumed office, my colleagues and I sat and we decided that it was high time we began the process of repositioning Odu’a and that the present Odu’a at that time did not reflect the quality of us as a people of the South-West.

“We decided that no longer would we want an Odu’a where the members that represent the various states are just politicians; that we would ensure that we have members that are fit for purpose, and also that we should ensure that even the management itself and the directors are professionally recruited so that they can complement the board.

“Today’s Odu’a is a complete departure, night and day from what Odu’a used to be.

“I want to commend your sense of creativity, direction, purpose, sincerity, and commitment to all that you signed up to do, and we are very happy with the results we have seen.

“Because of that, all the governors have adopted a non-interference approach; we have decided not to interfere with you. We are happy with what we are seeing.”

Governor Abiodun also noted that his administration has come up with an inter-ministerial business environment council saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that investors don’t find it difficult to set up businesses in the state, adding that the state is number three in internally generated revenue in the country.

Abiodun noted that reforms and the level of efficiency and effectiveness in governance as well as the ability to block leakages and loopholes without putting so much burden through increased taxes on the citizens are some of the reasons why the state would continue to soar in its determination to improve it’s internally generated revenue.

He added that his administration had created business clusters across the state, such as Remo, Ijebu, Egba, Magboro, and Yewa.

He disclosed that his administration has acquired an Electronic Certificate of Occupancy equipment that could sign 2,000 Certificates of Occupancy per day.

He said that his administration had to sanitize the entire land bureau of the state with the appointment of a tested hand to ensure the smooth running of the office, adding that his administration is fast tracking the processes so as to also ensure that the reforms reflect who the state is.

“People are buying land; they are speculating. We have issues of land speculators. We had to practically shut down our lands department for a while and appointed somebody new to oversee the land administration in the state.

“We have a backlog of Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) and today, I think, we are the first state to implement our ‘Electronic Certificate of Occupancy’ equipment that has a machine that can sign 2,000 certificates of occupancy in a day because it is important for you to have your CofO.

“These are the kind of things that have been a clog in the wheel in the past and we are ensuring that we fast-track these processes so as to also ensure that the reforms reflect who we are,” he said.

The governor also said that his administration recently launched the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) enabled Mass Transit, adding that Ogun is working collaboratively with other states to do the same.

Abiodun, who disclosed that the buses would now be able to charge pre-subsidy removal prices across the state, added that the state has led the park in terms of green revolution and climate change sensitivity.

“We are also converting buses for some of our neighbouring states and even one or two states in the North as well because we are prepared for this. We knew this was coming; that sooner than later, a government would wake up and realize that paying subsidy was no longer sustainable,” he added.

Speaking on infrastructure in the South Western zone, Governor Abiodun said that he and his governor colleagues from Lagos and Oyo states are looking to light up the entire Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, ensure their is internet facility on the road, just as he also noted that they are looking to deploy drones to complement the ones already bought by his administration to ensure security of the people.

Earlier in his remarks, Otunba Ashiru commended the governors of member states for appointing capable hands into various boards of the company, noting that the issue of diversification is very key to the company.

Ashiru also disclosed that the company has been given a license for the marginal field, noting that Odu’a Investment Company is on the verge of becoming an oil-producing organization in the country.

“Hopefully, we should be able to move into field by the first or second quarter of next year.

“So, Odu’a will be one of the oil producing organizations in Nigeria,” he said.

On the hospitality business of the company, Ashiru also noted that the company currently has a joint venture with international hoteliers, saying that an agreement has been signed for the increase of rooms in Premier Hotel from 87 to 150.

The group chairman, who noted that the company is looking at having an industrial park along the interchange, added that a Chinese company is on the verge of investing in the power sector of the South West with an interest in 1000 megawatts per state of the zone.