BINATECH Begins Construction of Multimillion Naira Ultra Modern Shopping Complex In Iseyin

An Ibadan-based property development and engineering firm, Binatech Engineering Services Limited, yesterday turned the sod to flag off the construction of a state-of-the art storey shopping complex in Iseyin Local Government.

The 32-unit shopping complex is located inside the council directly facing Iseyin-Ibadan main express way.

In his opening remark, the Council Chairman, Mr. Rasaq Fadiran expressed his joy, saying “the initiative of Private-Public Partnership designed for the project and the foundation which was laid today would be the first of its kind in this Local Government”. The Council boss used the ocassion to commend State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde for providing an enabling environment for development to thrive in Iseyin.

Managing Director of the company, Engr. Abiodun Adeola while speaking gave a brief background of the company as a firm whose scope of operation cuts across all areas of mechanical, civil and electrical engineering services.

He highlighted the importance of the shopping complex as a project that would contribute to the development of Iseyin in terms of job creation for the teeming youths, increasing trading activities of the town, returns on investment to investors as well as revenue generation to the local government.

He was quoted as saying, “I thank the immediate past chairman of the council, Hon. Mufutau Abilawon who initiated the project and also commend the incumbent chairman, Hon. Fadiran who through his resilience got approval for the commencement of the project”.

The project is Public Private Partnership arrangement between the council and the contractor. The firm is also constructing 150 unit shopping complex at Oyo State Library Board Dugbe, Ibadan and almost completed.

The 33 unit shopping complex would be managed on build and transfer process to interested lessee for 50 years.

The firm will provide hundred percent funding while the council only provided the land for the construction based on PPP arrangement which will last for 50 years before the council finally takes over.

Among those who graced the occasion were the PDP Chairman in the Council area, Hon Adele Musedik, Alh Muraina Siaba, Mr Micheal Doyin Babalola, the representative of Aseyin of Iseyin land, oloye Cornelius Odusola, the Ogboye of Isalu.

Religious leaders of the Muslim Community, Christian Association of Nigeria and Isese Traditionalists had their representatives at the occasion.

Oil Tankers Begin Offloading Of Petrol At Dangote Refinery

The loading of the first batch of petrol on Sunday commenced at the Dangote Refinery.

A fleet of trucks were seen lifting Premium Motor Spirit, known as petrol, at the refinery located in the Ibeju-Lekki area of Lagos State.

The trucks, belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, were seen in videos posted on the X handle of the Dangote Group.

“First set of trucks set for loading of PMS at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery,” the post read.

HAPPENING NOW: First set of trucks set for loading of PMS at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.

Ogun Joins Rice-Producing States as Abiodun Flags Off Harvest of 200-Hectare Plantation

Ogun State has joined the league of rice-producing states in the country with the flagging off of the harvest of 200 hectares of farmland at Magboro Rice Farm in Obafemi-Owode Local Government Area of the state.

The farm is the brainchild of the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project, supported by the World Bank and aimed at driving economic growth and development in the state.

Speaking on the occasion, Governor Abiodun said that with the flag-off, Ogun State is not only joining states like Lagos, Kebbi, and Bayelsa in producing locally grown rice for the consumption of the people, but also fostering economic development, creating jobs, and improving livelihoods within the communities.

He said: “This is a 200-hectare rice farm. The farmers are mainly women and youths from all parts of the country and not just from Ogun State alone.

“Each farmer was allocated one hectare of farmland; this means that we have 200 farmers in this cluster. This project started in April this year. They began planting in May, and today we are already harvesting, making it a three-month cycle. It means that we can do this three times a year.’

Abiodun noted that the farm, with a seven metric ton yield per hectare, could translate to 1,400 metric tons for 200 hectares of milled rice with an efficiency yield of about 70 percent, which would also translate to about 20,000 bags of milled rice per cycle.

“20,000 bags of milled rice per cycle should be estimated to cost about N1 billion. So, these 200 farmers, made up of women and youths across the country who farm here in just three months, have a revenue of N1 billion. If they do this three times this year, they will earn N3 billion. We have no business being hungry in Nigeria.

“In this place, I have 12,500 hectares of land, and all we have farmed is 200 hectares that yielded N1 billion for 200 farmers. From here, I can feed the rest of the country. We will scale up this project immediately from 200 to 2,000 hectares.

“We can generate N30 billion in revenue. We can take significant steps towards realizing that vision of making Ogun State the food basket of this country,” he added.

The governor stated that the project is in line with President Bola Tinubu administration’s resolve to eradicate poverty and hunger by providing affordable food to Nigerians, adding that the project, apart from increasing rice production, would also address animal husbandry.

Governor Abiodun emphasized that the state is blessed with adequate manpower and natural resources, stating that agriculture remains an important agenda of his administration as it provides employment and raw materials for the numerous industries that abound in the state.

He said the OGSTEP Agricultural Sector Intervention will provide critical support, including advanced agricultural techniques, access to quality seeds, modern irrigation systems, and technical training for farmers, adding that the approach is offered to beneficiaries at a 65 per cent discount on the cost for each mechanization operation.

While lauding the people, especially members of the communities, for supporting the project, the governor promised that the farm would be provided with solar pumps to power the boreholes, as well as modern drones for effective pest control.

Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, said the project is in tandem with the agricultural policy of the Abiodun-led administration: ensuring food sufficiency for the people.

The Economic Adviser, who is also the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, while commending the farmers for their determination, noted that the project is part of the agenda of producing food locally to feed the populace.

The Project Coordinator, Mrs. Mosun Owo-Odunsi, said the project, which aims to produce high-quality rice, would positively impact the lives of citizens in all sectors, appreciating the governor for providing the necessary support.

In his goodwill message, the Olu of Magboro, Oba Modiu Alalade, acknowledged the great impact the project has on the communities in the area, stating that the town has enough farmland to accommodate more farmers to produce sufficient food for the country.

Ondo Amotekun prosecutes 600 suspected criminals – Commander

The Ondo State Security Network Agency also known as Amotekun Corps on Wednesday said it had prosecuted about 600 suspected criminals in court between January and June this year.

The commander of the Amotekun in the state, Akogun Adeleye, disclosed this during the parade of another 48 suspected criminals at the state headquarters of the corps in Akure, the state capital.

Adeleye said, “About 600 suspects have been prosecuted between January and June 2024. Kidnapping in Ondo State has gone down by 90 per cent and the remaining 10 per cent, we only have them in the borders, the extreme. But in all of these few occasions, we ensured that we rescued the victims and the suspects were made to face the music.

“The signal we are sending to criminals is that Ondo State isn’t a place where they can stay. We want them to know that even as kidnappers, once you kidnap, you can’t get away with it. If you steal a car, you can’t get away with it. If you break houses, we’ll pick you. So, what’s the point of doing what you know you won’t get away with?”

On the 48 suspects paraded, the commander explained that they were arrested across the state during the ongoing ‘Operation Safe-Ground’ in the state.

According to him, the suspects allegedly committed crimes which included kidnapping, stealing of cows, attempted murder, fraud and illegal counterfeiting of money, cultism, burglary, arson, anti-grazing activities and vandalisation of critical government assets among others.

The Ondo Amotekun boss declared that all suspects would soon be charged in court.

“Like I said, we have 48 suspects today (Wednesday) and all of these suspects have been profiled and will be taken to the next level which is the appropriate court of law to try their cases. Those found wanting will be sent to the correctional home.

“We are telling criminals in the state to get out of Ondo State and to the good people of Ondo State, we want to reassure you that the government of Lucky Aiyedatiwa is resolute in making the state conducive for businesses, social activities and all that makes it a good place to stay,” he stated.

Tinubu signs student loan bill into law

President Bola Tinubu, on Wednesday, signed the Student Loans (Access to Higher Education) Act (Repeal and Re-Enactment) Bill, 2024, into law.

This development follows individual reviews by both the Senate and the House of Representatives of the report from the Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFund…

Propagandists At Work, Lagos Govt Reacts To Leaked Memo Of Mass Burial For EndSARS Victims

The Lagos State Government has urged the public to disregard rumours that mass funerals will be held for #EndSARS victims in 2020, claiming that those responsible for the memo are troublemakers.

The Lagos State government made this known in a statement signed by its Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Olusegun Ogboye on its Twitter page on Sunday, stating that the victims to be buried are not from the Lekki Tollgate shooting.

The statement, which was titled RE: MASS BURIAL OF ENDSARS VICTIMS (MISCHIEF MAKERS AT WORK) said, “The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to some social media publications about a purported mass burial plan for casualties of the 2020 #EndSARS incident. Peddlers of the news are deliberately misinterpreting and sensationalising a letter from the Lagos State Government Public Procurement Agency titled: Letter of No Objection — Mass Burial for the 103, the Year 2020 ENDSARS victims, to misinform the public, stir public sentiment and cause public disaffection against the Lagos State Government.

“While the Lagos State Government would not have dignified the mischievous elements peddling such news with a response, we consider it appropriate to set the records straight and draw the attention of well-meaning citizens to the antics of some unscrupulous elements who are hell-bent on disrupting the peace and tranquillity of Lagos with distorted news and half-truths about the PPA letter.

“It is public knowledge that the year 2020 #EndSARS crisis that snowballed into violence in many parts of Lagos recorded casualties in different areas of the State and NOT from the Lekki Toll Gate as being inferred in the mischievous publications.

“For the records, the Lagos State Environmental Health Unit (SEHMU) picked up bodies in the aftermath of #EndSARS violence and community clashes at Fagba, Ketu, Ikorodu, Orile, Ajegunle, Abule-Egba, Ikeja, Ojota, Ekoro, Ogba, Isolo and Ajah areas of Lagos State, including a jailbreak at Ikoyi Prison. The 103 casualties mentioned in the document were from these incidents and NOT from Lekki Toll-gate as alleged. For the avoidance of doubt, nobody was retrieved from the Lekki Toll Gate incident.

“In the aftermath of the #EndSARS violence, the office of the Chief Coroner invited members of the public Throughout public adverts and announcement who had lost loved ones or whose relatives had been declared missing between 19th and 27th October 2020 from various clashes as mentioned above, to contact the department of Pathology and Forensic Medicine of the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) to help with identification of these casualties deposited in State-owned mortuaries. Relatives were to undergo DNA tests for identification purposes. It is important to state categorically that nobody responded to claim any of the bodies.

“However, after almost three years, the bodies remain unclaimed, adding to the congestion of the mortuaries. This spurred the need to decongest the mortuaries, a procedure that follows very careful medical and legal guidelines in the event that a relative may still turn up to claim a lost relative years after the incident.

“Decongestion of our public morgues is a periodic and regular exercise approved by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to free up space in mortuaries that have a large number of unclaimed bodies.”

Aisha Buhari: We’ll Hunt Down Purveyors Of Fake News On Recirculation Of Old Notes – CBN

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has debunked the fake news posted on the verified Instagram and Facebook handles of the First Lady of Nigeria, Mrs Aisha Buhari.

The fake news posted on the two social media handles of the First Lady on Tuesday morning purportedly indicated that the old N200, N500 and N1000 banknotes have been allowed to be recirculated as legal tender till May 1, 2023 contrary to the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari that only the old N200 banknote is allowed as legal tender till April 10, 2023.

ODUDUWA NEWS reports that not a few Nigerians are currently agitated over the new Naira scarcity, a development that has led to violent protests in Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and Edo States.

But, minutes later the CBN posted a real press statement it issued days ago and a counterfeited or distorted version of it posted by Mrs Buhari, which conveyed the fake news.

Tweeps and Instagram users received the news with mixed feelings. While some of them praised the First Lady for the new development, others quickly pointed out the inherent bad grammar in the fake statement suggesting that it was a fake news.

Meanwhile, the CBN Governor has reiterated in the recent press release that he would not rescind his decision on the directive of President Muhammadu Buhari and also vowed that he would launch his machineries to go after the people behind the fake news.

Noise Pollution: Lagos Govt Shuts Quilox Club As Shina Peller Ignores Invitation

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) on Saturday shut the popular Quilox Club on Ozumba Mbadwe Street, Victoria Island for its failure to comply with directives on organising events and not obtaining a sound control permit from the Agency. The enforcement exercise, which was jointly carried out by the officials of the agency and the Lagos State Task Force, was also a result of several complaints made by residents in the area.

Reacting to the exercise, General Manager, LASEPA, Dr. Dolapo Fasawe disclosed that the agency received several distress calls with video evidence from concerned neighbours to support their claims on alleged environmental nuisances being perpetrated by the club without consideration to the rights of other residents to a peaceful environment.

“To avert a situation like this, we recently held a stakeholders’ parley with the Owners/Chief Executive Officers of night clubs in the State to address the issue of noise pollution, particularly during the festive period. Lagos had earlier increased the decibels to accommodate leisure/hospitality business interests. We, however, urged them to apply for sound control permits before hosting events to enable us to reach out to the host community of the intended programme and further deploy our officials to the venue for proper monitoring and prevention of excessive noise pollution”, she explained.

According to her, an invitation was extended to Quilox Club, like every other stakeholder, but it was ignored by the management for reasons best known to them. She noted that no individual or group is bigger than society, adding that the Agency is still making efforts to ensure that all interests are protected under the law.

“Entertainment and Lagos are like a conjoined twin, thus our prolific intervention to preserve the sanctity of the State and at the same time sustained its economic relevance through aggressive environmental sustainability drive. To support the entrepreneurship interest of the operators. We came up with a communique which serves as a bond guiding all parties on the mode of operations during the yuletide period and the attendant consequences for non-compliance to the agreement”, Fasawe added.

Scarcity: Marketers Hoarding Petrol Behind Hike In Price, Says FG

Amid the biting fuel scarcity experienced across the nation, the Federal Government has cautioned petrol marketers to stop hoarding Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol.

The government, in a statement through the Nigerian Midstream And Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), also said there is no plan to increase the price of the indispensable commodity.

“The Authority wishes to inform the public that the Federal Government has no intention of increasing the price of PMS during this period,” the statement read.

“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has continued to import PMS with current stock levels sufficient for 34 days.

“Consequently, marketers are strongly advised to avoid hoarding of petroleum products, while the general public is advised to avoid panic buying. Marketers found hoarding petroleum products will be sanctioned appropriately.”

The authority assures the public that it would continue to monitor the supply and distribution of all petroleum products nationwide especially during the Yuletide season.

For weeks, vehicle owners especially in Lagos and Abuja have had a tough time getting petrol from filling stations. Whilst many outlets are closed, the few ones that are open sell the indispensable commodity for as high as N250 per litre from the uniform price of N169/litre.
The shortage of supply has led to long, grueling snake-like queues at the few open filling stations as motorists and business owners jostle to buy fuel while others resort to black market. The situation has also worsen traffic on major roads as vehicle owners block at least one lane to join queues to filling stations.

Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said its members get the essential product for as high as over N200 per litre from private depot owners.

Osun: Adeleke Vows To Sack Permanent Secretaries Appointed By Oyetola

Any Coordinating Director who accepts a permanent Secretary appointment from outgoing Governor Gboyega Oyetola will exit the service from November 28th, Osun State Governor-elect, Senator Ademola Adeleke has warned.

In a statement by his Spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, the Governor-elect affirmed that taking such appointments at this last minute indicated the readiness of those directors to exit the state service.

“We want to put on record that those who accept the appointments should be ready to leave the service whether or not their service tenure has reached statutory age. The occupants will be treated as political appointees who will automatically follow the outgoing Governor out of public service from November 28.

“At the same time, those who still want to remain in service of the Osun state government should decline the Greek gift from the outgoing Governor. We affirm that no waiver will be entertained in sacking from office any kangaroo permanent secretary”, the statement concluded.

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