Category: Featured

Sixteen days after the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company disconnected University College Hospital in Ibadan, Oyo State, for owing N495m, power has been restored to the health facility.

Weren’t they recieving subventions? Or the students not paying school fees? How were those funds utilised?

Previous provost’s that accumulated that should be arraigned. Over.

The Nigeria Police Force wishes to address the recent circulation of a document purportedly containing conclusions of an investigation into allegations against the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. The document alleges fraudulent misrepresentation, certificate forgery, examination malpractice, and perjury against the governor.

We wish to clarify that the said document did not originate from the Nigeria Police Force. The alleged signatory, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, does not have the authority to release such a report on behalf of the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) or any other such Departments within the Nigeria Police Force.

The Nigeria Police Force is currently investigating the origin of the said document and the circumstances surrounding its circulation. We urge the public to exercise caution and refrain from spreading unverified information that could potentially tarnish the reputation of individuals or public officials.

Furthermore, we assure the public that any official communication or report regarding investigations conducted by the Nigeria Police Force will be released through appropriate channels.

The 35 Artillery Brigade intercepted a significant amount of drugs and transferred the exhibits to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

Troops intercepted a Mazda vehicle suspected of carrying a large quantity of Cannabis Sativa in Odeda LGA, Ogun State on March 29, 2024. Brigadier General Mohammed Tajudeen Aminu commended the troops and emphasized the importance of vigilance.

On April 3, 2024, 441 wrapped pieces of Cannabis Sativa, weighing 223kg, along with the Mazda vehicle, were handed over to the NDLEA Ogun State Command.

The Brigade reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with other security agencies to combat crime in the state. The NDLEA Ogun State Command expressed gratitude for the military’s support, highlighting the successful cooperation in previous operations.

This collaboration has enabled the NDLEA to achieve significant results in countering drug-related activities, breaking syndicates and enhancing overall drug enforcement efforts.

The Oyo State Government has begun the third phase of the distribution of agricultural inputs to farmers in the state with the distribution of two bags of 50kg feeds and two bottles of disinfectant to 1,000 pig farmers.

The phase will also witness the free vaccination of at least 120,000 cattle with anthrax vaccine and CBPP vaccine, while another 250,000 cattle, goat and sheep will also be vaccinated by the state government.

Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, said this in Ajaawa, Ogo Oluwa Local Government, on Wednesday, during the flag-off of the third phase of the farm inputs distribution to farmers in the state.

He added that 1,000 sheep and goat farmers across the state will equally receive two bags of 50kg wheat offal each.

The effort, he noted, is in continuation of measures introduced by Governor ‘Seyi Makinde under the Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SAfER) initiative to cushion the effect of economic hardship on residents of the state.

At the event held at the Ogo-Oluwa Local Government Secretariat, Ajaawa, Olaleye, who also doubles as the chairman, SAfER Food Security Sub-Committee, recalled that thousands of poultry and fishery farmers in the state had benefited in the first and second phases of the inputs distribution exercise.

He lauded the state governor for sustaining agricultural activities in the state through the SAfER initiative, adding that the initiative, which targets crop, poultry, fishery and livestock farmers, is aimed at supporting small and medium scale so as to relieve them of the current economic hardship.

Olaleye said: “We are flagging off the third phase of SAfER interventions for the food security sub-sector with the distribution of feeds and disinfectants to pig farmers across Oyo State.

“Here, 1,000 pig farmers will benefit from the distribution we are doing at the moment. They will get two bags of 50kg of PKC each with two bottles of disinfectant.

“120,000 cattle will also be vaccinated with anthrax vaccine and CBPP Vaccine, 250,000 cattle across the state will also benefit from free vaccination of anthrax vaccine. We are going to give out two bags of 50kg wheat offal feeds each to 1,000 sheep and goat farmers as well.

“This is just the beginning of the exercise and it will go across all the local government areas we have in the state.

“It is part of the SAfER initiative introduced by Governor Makinde. In the next few days, we will proceed to the stage of giving seed, cassava cottons, herbicides and knapsack sprayers to crop farmers across the state.

“The programme is aimed at reducing the cost of food in Oyo State and I want to assure you that by the next harvest season, you will see that prices of goods and food would have gone down.”

The commissioner added that the initiative, apart from relieving farmers of the present economic hardship occasioned by fuel subsidy removal, will also improve feed quality and quantity for livestock production so as to grow the economy.

The commissioner added that as part of efforts to support farmers in the state, the governor recently pronounced a N600 million subsidy on land clearing, which will see farmers pay only N15,000 per hectare instead of N30,000 being charged earlier.

He noted that the governor had equally waived tax payment on farm produce transport within the state, urging farmers to show fidelity to the government by reflecting the support they received from the government in the pricing of food stuff in the coming months.

“I would like to urge the farmers to be faithful with the government and to also support our people. If they are getting free things from the government, they should also ensure they reduce the prices of goods in a corresponding manner as well.

“Don’t forget that the government has given out 400kg of maize to 2,600 poultry farmers and we have given out to 1,000 fish farmers as well.

“The governor has said that for the next six months, no farmer should pay tax on farm produce in the state. And he has promised to support farmers with 50 per cent payment on the tractor used on their farmlands.

“We have also given out a N1bn loan to farmers and the government is ready to do more for the farmers in the state.”

In their separate goodwill messages, the Member representing Ogo Oluwa State Constituency, Honourable Abideen Adeoye and the chairman, Ogo Oluwa Local Government, Mr. Oluwaseun Ojo, expressed gratitude to Governor Makinde for taking the SAfER initiative to the grassroots.

Earlier in her opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Mrs Christianah Abioye, commended the state government for the continuous exercise and support to the farmers to improve their businesses.

She urged the beneficiaries to complement the effort of the state government by making good use of the interventions.

Also in his remarks, the chairman, Piggery Farmers Association, Mr Tope Oye-Alamu, expressed gratitude to the state government for the inclusion of pig farmers as beneficiaries of the state government initiative, noting that his sector had never benefited from such effort before.

Also speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Mary Adebayo, a pig farmer in Ogo Oluwa Local Government, appreciated the gesture of the state government.

The naira, on Wednesday, appreciated to N1,240 per dollar at the parallel section of the foreign exchange (FX) market.

The current FX rate signifies an increase of 0.80 percent from the N1,250/$ reported on April 1.

Currency traders, also known as street traders, in Lagos, quoted the buying rate of the local currency at N1,220 and the selling rate at N1,240.

At the official window, the local currency appreciated by 1.25 percent against the dollar from N1,278.58 on April 2 to close at N1,262.85 on Wednesday, according to FMDQ Exchange, a platform that oversees the Nigerian Autonomous Foreign Exchange Market (NAFEM).

During trading hours in the official window, a dollar was sold as high as N1,296 and at a low rate of N1,210.

The daily foreign exchange market turnover was $166.18 million.

With the current figures at both FX markets, the official market rate surpasses the parallel market rate by N22.85.

Meanwhile, on March 10, Goldman Sachs said the naira will appreciate to N1,200 against the dollars in the next twelve months.

“We thus see reason for the Naira to be undervalued, and we see it appreciating to 1200 within the next 12 months,” Goldman Sachs said.

Goldman Sachs said Nigeria is “turning the corner” following its recent currency crisis.

A man identified to be a soldier on Saturday stabbed a 27-year-old trader to death over the price of a carpet in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The incident, which happened around Arakale area of Akure metropolis, led to the blockage of major roads in the area by some aggrieved traders and colleagues of the deceased.

An eyewitness, who identified himself as Chibuka, told newsmen that trouble started when the deceased tried to stop the man from beating and harassing a co-trader, who was a nursing mother, over the price of a carpet.

According to him, the interference led to an argument between the deceased and the “customer”.

“The ‘customer’ suddenly came down from the bike, brought out a dagger and stabbed the deceased in the stomach.

“The stabbed trader fell to the ground while the ‘customer’ took to his heels upon realising that his victim had lost consciousness,” he said.

SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, Public Relations Officer(PPRO) of the Police Command in Ondo, confirmed the incident to newsmen and added that remains of the deceased had been taken to the morgue.

“Yes, the police can confirm the stabbing of a young man by a man believed to be a soldier; the command is in touch with the military authority so that the culprit(s) can be identified and arrested,” the PPRO said.

Wasiu Ayinde, often known as Kwam 1 or K1, a Fuji music icon, has voiced his wish to return to school despite dropping out years ago.

In a recent interview with journalists at his Mayegun Resort in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, the 67-year-old musician revealed his plans to enrol as an undergraduate at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) in Ago-Iwoye, citing his love of learning as the driving force behind his decision.

Kwam 1 acknowledged that he had left school prematurely but said that he had already discussed his goals with the dean of the university’s music department.

Reflecting on his lifelong pursuit of knowledge, Kwam 1 remarked, “All my life I do research. Every opportunity that I have. Presently I am in school. As a matter of fact, I will soon be a fresher at Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU). I am just trying to do things in my own way to suit myself. You learn till you die.”

The music icon described a recent encounter at OOU, where he was extremely moved by a performance by the university’s music class in his honour.

Furthermore, Kwam 1 expressed his desire to use his influence and network in the music industry to bring together diverse talents and contribute to the progress of arts education.

“Very recently I had the opportunity to go and attend a function at the OOU. We had a mass set of graduands. The bands on the stand tried their hands on some of my works to recognise my presence. I was so overjoyous that time. So, in the form of wanting to appreciate them more, I sought to speak to the leader of the band and there I was told it was a band from the music class of OOU and they just started that class. I showed so much interest. I called for further discussion and in the cause of doing that I told them I want to enroll. I want to be part of them to see how we can develop a lot out of that.

“part of what I also discussed with the dean of the school of music at OOU was that we can do better. To bring a whole lot of artistes. The state is blessed with many names like Haruna Ishola, Ayuba, Shina Peters, Wizkid, Olamide, and D’banj. I told the dean that people like me can be used to bring everybody together and develop. That is what prompted me to want to go back to school.
“I am a school dropout… I know the value of education… will I say I have self-education? Any sane person will never criticise the beauty of education,” he said.