The Oyo state government has restated its commitment to economic development of the state through development of markets and business environments.
The State Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Chief Bayo Lawal stated this on Friday, while commissioning the Ogbomoso Ultra Modern Business Complex slaughter slab and ancillary facilities which has been abandoned since 1999 by past administrations but revamped by the Governor Seyi Makinde-led administration.
Chief Lawal who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Dr ‘Bunmi Babalola described the project as a dream come true after 23 years of its conception.
Speaking to newsmen after the commissioning of the project, he said, ” I am glad that you noticed that this project has been on since 1999, that is about 23 years now and several Governors have come and gone, they tried but could not achieve what we are doing here today and that is to display the seriousness and commitment of the administration of Engineer Seyi Makinde to the development of markets and business environments, hence the importance of this laudable project goes beyond ordinary trade.”
He noted that bringing marketers and traders under a business complex not only guarantee safety from dangers and road accidents, but also gives the sense of belonging and responsibilities.
He added that the Slaughter slab was significant as it would ensure that animals are slaughtered and processed under a supervised and hygienic condition which will reduce to the bearest minimum the incidence of meat contamination and consequently reduce diseases in the state.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Executive Chairman, Ogbomoso North Local Government, Honourable Kabir Ayoade expressed optimism that the slaughter slab and ancillary facilities will attract more commercial and economic activities to the business complex, thereby opening doors for greater development in Ogbomoso zone and Oyo state in general.
Honourable Ayoade solicited for maximum support and cooperation of all the traders in Ogbomoso land for enhanced economic development.
He equally appealed to the traders hawking by the roadsides to move into the market complex as officers and market leaders would soon embark on thorough enforcement and compliance.
In their separate goodwill messages, the headship of Ogbomoso Butchers Association Alhaji Abdulrasheed Ajani and Chief Olusegun Ajao assured the Local Government of the cooperation of the members of the association in ensuring smooth running of the slaughter slab and ancillary facilities.
Also, the traditional ruler, Aale of Okeelerin’s Palace, Ogbomoso, His Royal Highness, Oba Samuel Babatunde Amao II, (JP), said, laudable projects like the slaughter slab engender developmental strides to communities, thereby appreciating the State government for its effort.
The event included the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Ministry of Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives and Ogbomoso North Local Government to ensure profitability and sustainability of the projectm
Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) has sealed off three business premises for non payment of Land Use Charge. The businesses sealed are: Domfav Hotel & Janet’s Lounge, Moth Hotel both in Okitipupa and Anambra Kitchen in Ore, all in Ondo South Senatorial District of the State.
The enforcement exercise took place following the judgment of the High Court Order, ruled by Hon. Justice Wlliams Akintoroye.
The Domfav hotel is said to be in default of 3 Million, Four Hundred and Ninety Two Thousand, Eight Hundred and Forty Nine Naira (#3,492,849), Moth Hotel in default of One Million, Five Hundred and Ninety Seven Thousand, Three Hundred and Seventy Two Naira (#1,597,372) and Anambra Kitchen in default of One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Naira (#120,000.00) and have refused to comply despite receiving several warnings which led to their closure by the Revenue Officials.
According to Barrister Gregory Afuwape, a Senior Revenue Manager in ODIRS who led the team said the owner of Domfav Hotel has been accessed between 2013 and 2016 but he didn’t show up for payment and despite being served every statutory notice.
He added that the officials had every documents that backed the enforcement up that the judgment was made under the statutory authority which is the judiciary.
He further stressed that law allows settlement after judgment. Even after enforcement, the tax payer can approach the tax authority for settlement.
He noted that it would be out of law for anyone to break the padlock or the seal on the premises as it is called obstruction in law, which will be contempt of court and would result to more than twenty one years imprisonment.
It was a shocking moment yesterday when the people of Awotan area of Ibadan could not hold back their tears as a result of an accident involving a waste bin vehicle that lost its control and crushed an Okada rider, two passengers to death.
The incident occurred very closed to Awotan Central Mosque, Ibadan at exactly 2:30pm on Thursday, 27th of October, 2022.
According to ODUDUWA NEWS Correspondent who visited the scene, it was gathered that the vehicle laden with refuse was coming from road leading to Asunle before it finally lost its control and crushed motorcycle rider, two passengers to death.
According to an eyewitness who spoke under the condition of annonymity, “the waste truck was over-sped and it lost its control as a result of break failure and suddenly left its route to other lane and crushed the Okada rider and two other passengers to death.
One Micra vehicle was also affected as it was seen pushed into the drainage.
The bodies of the victims learnt to had been taken to Awotan-Apete Police Station before they could be moved to nearest mortuary.
A former political appointee in Ondo West local government area simply identified as Honourable Olanrewaju has died in an hotel after s3x romp with his lover.
The incident happened at Step Down Hotel.
Witnesses said they suspected the lady was spiritually laced with ‘magun’ and resulted to thunderbolt.
Olanrewaju, 49, was said to have contested for a councillorship position.
The incident occurred at 9pm on Wednesday.
Sources said his lover raised the alarm after realising that the man collapsed after taking his bath.
It was the manager of the hotel that reportedly called in officers from Enu-Owa police station.
The corpse was deposited at the morgue of the University Of Medical Sciences Teaching Hospital.
Ondo Police spokesman, SP Fumilayo Odunlami, confirmed the incident and said it was a suspected case of sudden and unnatural death.
Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola and his Oyo State counterpart, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, flagged off the total reconstruction of the 91km Osogbo-Iwo-Ibadan road that has been in deplorable condition for years.
The governments of Osun and Oyo had recently, jointly awarded the reconstruction of the road to put a permanent end to the untold hardship faced by motorists and other road users.
This is even as Governor Oyetola declared that by the special Grace of God he would be the one to commission the project when completed. The road project is expected to be completed within 18 months.
The road which is said to be of economic importance to both states, links Ibadan, the Oyo State capital and Osogbo, the Osun State capital via different towns and villages, including the ancient town of Iwo.
The road which commences at the rotary intersections connecting it with the Lagos-Ibadan on Ibadan-Iwo-Osogbo and Ibadan-Oyo Highways, was inherited by the two states at the creation of Osun from old Oyo State in the year 1991.
The Osogbo-Iwo section had hitherto been in a bad state, wasting man-hours and constituting huge socio-economic malaise to the two states, especially given its status as the shortest route to Ibadan.
Many observers have lauded the decision of Governors Oyetola and Makinde to work together to fix the road, notwithstanding their political affiliations, describing it as an encouraging development and a clear resolve to separate politics from governance.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Osogbo, Governor Oyetola, said his administration considered the road project as of utmost importance, noting that the award of the reconstruction of the road further demonstrates his government’s commitment to the infrastructural development of the State and wellbeing of the citizenry.
He added that the flag-off of the road project represents another fulfilment of his electioneering promise to the citizens of Osun particularly Iwo people.
Oyetola disclosed that the road contract was awarded through the e-procurement process as contractors who had shown capacity to deliver within specifications were allowed to bid for the contract.
According to him, the award of the Osun section of the road contract, measuring about 55km was done through a transparent bidding process which saw Messrs Peculiar Ultimate Concerns Limited, having polled the highest number of points, awarded the contract at the sum of N11,309,932,939.00.
He stated further that the reconstruction of the Osun section of the road will be completed within 18 months as it is equally expected to be executed under two main segments.
“The first segment, the dualisation of Osogbo (Dele Yes Sir Roundabout) to Sawmill, (Ido Osun) has a total length of about 2.8km, 7.3m width carriageway on either side of the road separated by 2.0m width median, 1.0m width hard shoulders on either side of the carriageways, and 1.5m width walkway on either side of the road, furnished with solar powered street lighting.
“The Dele Yes Sir Roundabout and the islands shall be adorned with a spectacular landscape that will bring out the beauty of Osogbo as the capital city of Osun and the home of culture.
“The second segment which shall begin from the Sawmill (Ido Osun) and end at the Oyo State Boundary, with a total length of 52.6km, shall be of Single Carriageway with a width of 7.3m and 1.5m width hard shoulder. This leg of the road shall also make provision for adequate hydraulic structures with thorough treatment of the problematic sections by the provision of filter bed, removal of unsuitable materials, and improvement of the vertical alignment of the road.
“In general, the road, which has the best alignment in the entire South-West shall be completely overlaid after all the necessary problematic sections had been treated.
“This road project will no doubt further boost the socioeconomic activities of our dear State, especially because it is an addition to the massive road networks our administration had unleashed on the State. It is our hope that the immediate benefitting towns and other parts of the State will take advantage of the road for personal economic gains”, Oyetola added.
In his remarks, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo described the project as a revolution aimed at strengthening the bond of unity and cohesion between Oyo and Osun states.
Makinde disclosed that N12.5billion will be expended to reconstruct the section of the road belonging to the State, saying that with what Osun will spend, the two states would spend a total of N24billion on the project.
He lauded the collaborative effort of Governor Oyetola in advancing the cause of the state since his assumption of office.
“Today, I am here to say a single world. This is a revolution that is happening in Southwest Nigeria as it is yet another time history is made. I believe strongly that what we are witnessing today is actually a revolution. This is because the road in question was constructed by the Western region government of late Obafemi Awolowo. We thank God that another history is made by Governor Adegboyega Oyetola and myself.
“This revolution has led us to changing the formal way of doing things. In the past, states did their things separately but now we are pursuing collaboration with our sister states.
“We started with one of the biggest collaboration that led to the establishment of Western security network codenamed Amotekun, this happened because we put our people first. Also, just recently, we celebrated another one that put us together and Oyetola was part of the history on the joint ownership of LAUTECH.
“So, I am joining Oyetola, and together today, we are making history. We will be linking our dear states with road projects. I need to acknowledge the fact that we both demonstrated the fact that politics should be put behind while governance and people’s interest must be given priority.
“The revolution we are leading is a revolution of thought, ideas and we are saying governance must top history by putting the interest of our people first.
“This is the revolution we are talking about. This latest collaboration will come with dividends of democracy that will enhance trade and commerce. With its completion, we are saving lives and times of people traveling through Osun to Oyo and indeed we are putting money into the pocket of our people,” Makinde said.
Speaking on the specifications and socioeconomic benefits of the road to the people of Osun, the State Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr. Remi Omowaye said residents of Osun most importantly, motorists stand to gain a lot from the project.
Omowaye who commended the two state governments for their swift response and collaboration resorting in the successful flag off of the road construction, assured that Osun would do everything to meet up with the specifications by deploying necessary mechanism to achieve the set objective.
Also, Oyo State Commissioner for Public Works and Transport, Prof. Daud Sangodoyin, said the state decided to embark on the reconstruction of the road, having been convinced on the socio-economic benefits the people of the state stand to gain.
According to him, the 35.6km section of the road belonging to Oyo State when completed would go a long way to stimulate economy of the two states, enhance regional integration, strengthen security collaboration and as well boost socioeconomic activities and agribusiness.
The Contractor handling the project and Managing Director, Peculiar Ultimate Concerns, Engr. Olanrewaju Adeleke, promised to deliver quality job and in record time.
There was palpable tension on Wednesday evening in Ikirun, headquarters of Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State as some youths protested alleged move by the state government to announce a new Akinrun of Ikirun. It was gathered that Prince Olalekan Akadiri has allegedly been penned down by the state government to be announced as the Akinrun.
The youths, it was reported, had set up bonfires at the popular Oja-Oba/Palace Market road as a means of venting their anger against the alleged government move.
They alleged that the Osun state government was set to announce Akadiri as the Akinrun any day from now especially before the end of the month. When the alleged news broke in the town, local security operatives, Osun Amotekun and members of the hunters were seen stationed at the Akinrun Palace.
The Akinrun stool became vacant when the Akinrun of Ikirun, Oba AbdulRauf Adewale Adedeji II passed on in February, 2021.
However, the Osun State Government has not come out to debunk the information.
Filmmaker Olajide Kareem popularly known as Seun Egbegbe has said that he was sent to jail six years ago for a crime he ‘did not commit.’
The movie producer was jailed on February 10, 2017, after fraudulently obtaining N39 million, $90,000, and £12,550 from over forty Bureau De Change Operators in Lagos between 2015 to March 2017. Egbegbe, who was the boss of Ebony Production, swindled the BDC operators out of money by claiming that he had naira to change into foreign currencies and vice versa. A Federal High Court, Ikoyi, found him guilty of just one of the 44 Counts charges against him.
After 42 months in jail, Egbegbe was set free on October 11, 2022.
In an interview with BBC, Egbegbe described his incarceration as a blessing in disguise as his prison experience helped him identify his enemies disguised as friends around him.
“Those I thought were my friends before I had that issue, I found out were my enemies after I returned from prison. None of my explanations will be acceptable to some people, and they will keep saying it’s a lie because there are too many enemies around me, but I thank God for life.
I believe God made me go to where I went for a purpose because my eyes were open to a few things while I was there. The crime I was incarcerated for six years over, I didn’t commit, but I am happy I went there to know what living on earth means. 95% of the people surrounding me were enemies, not my friends. If this had not happened, I would have lived a worthless life because I believe those around me are my friends.” he said.
Moved by the poor condition of federal roads in Ekiti State, the State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, has called on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to, as a matter of urgency, classify the roads as emergency situation and make concerted efforts to fix them without further delay.
Oyebanji made the plea when he paid a working visit to the Managing Director/ CEO of FERMA, Engr Nurudeen Rafindadi, at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said Ekiti people are eager to see the federal roads become motorable just as the Yuletide season approaches.
The Governor stated that Ekiti roads were among the best in the country until early this year when an unprecedented huge number of heavy trucks started plying the roads as alternative routes to Abuja, South East and parts of the North.
He said the huge number of articulated vehicles caused untold damage to Ekiti roads, making it difficult to access the state.
