Category: Featured

More petitioners showed up at the resumed sitting of the Lagos State Judicial Panel on Restitution for victims of SARS and other related matters.

One of those who testified was Mrs. Ebere Okpara who narrated how she was lured out of her house to receive a DHL parcel.

She is the second petitioner to tell the panel how police officers apprehend victims under the guise of delivering DHL parcels. In

The petitioner, who said she spent 11 days in detention, claimed she was lured, beaten, and locked up as a means to arrest her husband.

The police had claimed that he was a suspect in the investigation of the alleged kidnapper, Chuwkudeme Onwuamadike popularly known as Evans, a claim the petitioner denies.

Prominent Yoruba leaders have said they are not planning to go to war with any region but they would not open their eyes while Yorubaland is being terrorized.

At the event attended by Chief Ayo Adebanjo and Pa Reuben Fasoranti, the leaders said a stakeholders’ meeting scheduled for March 17 will proffer the next line of action for Yoruba in terms of security and economy.

They disclosed that the the zone will meet in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, for a non-partisan South-West Security Stakeholders’ Group meeting on the said date.

According to Adams, there are different layers by which insecurity can be addressed. This, according to him, necessitated the need for state and non-state actors to work together.

According to him, there is a relationship between good security and buoyant economy.

He said, “We are here to represent our leaders and proclaim this campaign. Yes, we have asked people to return to farm, and the next question is how safe are the farms from the onslaught of herdsmen. We are trying to create different layers to address the insecurity– the government layer and the non-governmental layer.

“The government has started mapping out its strategies by creating an Amotekun corps. But we feel that if the strength of the Amotekun cannot complement the effort of the regular security agencies, we should also support them too.

“This meeting is to address the germane issues besetting the Yoruba nation at the moment. We are bringing together all the relevant security groups to back the government and its agencies up through the South-West Security Stakeholders’ Group.

“This will bring the vigilantes, hunters, Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Agbekoya and other groups together. We will showcase all the leaders of these groups when we have the Pan-Yoruba Conference on the 17th of March at Mapo Hall, Ibadan.”

On his part, Odumakin said the South-West will not be subservient to any other group or people, adding that the stakeholders’ meeting will provide a practical roadmap for the region.

“They thought we are going to be begging them but nobody is going to do that. Food security has always been with us, they are the ones threatening our land that made food security a challenge for us. We are not out to fight anybody but let nobody think they can intimidate us in our land, or that they can make us submit to fear,” he said.

Also speaking, Lawal said it was only under this kind of umbrella stakeholders’ group can the challenge of insecurity affecting the region be effectively streamlined and addressed, adding that interested individuals and groups cannot be left to do things on their own without coordination.

“The Yoruba nation is not ready to go to war with anyone or any group, but the Yoruba nation is ever ready to defend itself and its property. What we have on the ground is a development that came about as a necessity compelled by the moment,” he said.

Pan- Yoruba socio- political or­ganisation, Afenifere has said the Northerners cannot threaten the South with with­drawal of cattle and other food produce as there are other al­ternatives where the items can be purchased.

There have been fears that acute shortage of beef, vege­tables, tomatoes and onions, among other essential edibles from the North may soon hit Southern Nigeria as foodstuff and cattle breeders, under the aegis of Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Deal­ers of Nigeria (AUFCDN) had four days ago threatened to withdraw their services.

However, Yinka Odumakin, the organisation’s National Publicity Secretary, who spoke in a chat with channels tv news listed countries such as Togo and Benin Repub­lics as friendly countries where the South can purchase cattle and other items withdrawn by the North.

He also said the withdraw­al of foodstuffs by the North will benefit the South as it will make the people do more in the area of agriculture.

Odumakin, who said there are other sources of protein that the South can consume aside cows however said the Northerners shouldn’t also forget that the oil from the country flows from the South to the North.

“If they withdraw their cows from the South, no prob­lem about that. Before cows, we had what we were eating. Cow is not the only source of protein, there are several other sources. It will encourage our people to do more in the area of agriculture.

“We have neighbours who are peaceful in Benin Repub­lic, Togo and other places that we can buy things from. They can’t threaten us with any­thing such as withdrawal of items.

“They should also not forget that petroleum goes from south to the north. So, they should be careful. When you are throw­ing stones at your neighbours, you should be careful what he throws back at you” he said

The long-sought relief from choking vehicular gridlocks has finally come the way of residents in the Agege-Abule Egba axis of Lagos State. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, commissioned the Pen Cinema Bridge and five arterial road networks in the area, formally opening the infrastructure for public use.

The commissioning marked fulfilment of another campaign promise made by Sanwo-Olu to residents, who daily endured pain in commuting within the axis in the last four years.

All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, had the honour to inaugurate the projects, which he described as “needed catalyst” for the resuscitation of economic activities on the axis.

The construction of the 1.4-kilometre long flyover was part of the recommendation at the Lagos Economic Summit (Ehingbeti) under ex-Governor Babatunde Fashola’s administration, as a strategic intervention to achieving significant traffic improvement in the densely populated area. The last administration created the right-of-way and set up the structural beams; Governor Sanwo-Olu substantially completed civil works on the bridge.

The imposing overpass ascends from Oba Ogunji Road and drops at Oke Koto area of Agege. The bridge also opens to the old Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway through Abule Egba.

Tumultuous crowd of joyous residents joined Gov. Sanwo-Olu and members of the State’s cabinet in handing over the bridge for public use.

The Governor described the delivery of the project as a “landmark progress” in the State Government’s drive towards eliminating bottlenecks causing suffocating gridlocks and relieving residents of stress associated with commuting on roads.

Sanwo-Olu said the two-pronged approach, which his administration deployed to deliver critical infrastructure, gave priority to continuation and completion of strategic projects, regular maintenance and construction of new ones in line with the State’s Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP).

He said his Government decided to continue the project, because it was in tune with the first pillar of his administration’s T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda, which targets the provision of roads for expedited economic growth and seamless mobility.

He said: “I am delighted to stand before Lagosians today to celebrate the delivery of this landmark project, which again, reflects our administration’s belief in the principle of continuity in governance and demonstrates our commitment to the urgency of infrastructure development and the welfare of our people. The completion of this flyover and five network of roads sends a strong message about our determination to accelerate our futuristic vision for a world class transportation system complemented by a good network of roads for social and economic transformation.

“In order to address the challenge of huge traffic burden, the immediate past administration initiated and commenced the construction of a precast and pre-stressed reinforced concrete of 1.4km dual-carriage flyover and ramp, with road works across the Agege-Pen Cinema Intersection. As of May 2019 when this administration was inaugurated, this project was at about 20 per cent progress. With the delivery of this bridge, which is complemented with traffic signalisation and drainage channels, we have resolved the perennial traffic arising from huge human and vehicular movement from Agege-Pen Cinema Intersection towards Abule Egba, Fagba, Oke Koto and Iyana Ipaja.”

To achieve a quick turnaround in commuting on the bridge, Sanwo-Olu disclosed that his Government identified and reconstructed five strategic arterial roads with good connectivity to adjoining roads that could serve as alternative bypasses to other routes in periods of heavy traffic.

The Governor said since road transportation remained crucial to economic growth and physical development, he believed the project would inject more life into socio-economic activities of people living and doing business in the area.

He said: “A key outcome from the strategic execution of this magnificent Pen Cinema Flyover project is that our administration has again demonstrated the priority it accords to the wellbeing of our people. It is a true test of our commitment to the Greater Lagos vision and a reflection of the achievability of our audacious socio-economic goals. In the course of implementing this project, we created jobs for about 380 people including engineers, supervisors, artisans and others- a clear indicator of the nexus between infrastructure development and employment generation.”

Sanwo-Olu pledged that his administration would not relent in provision of infrastructure for coordinated and sustainable development that would help to improve the State’s performance on the Ease of Doing Business index.

Tinubu expressed confidence in Sanwo-Olu’s leadership, noting that the Governor had stabilised and brought Lagos back on a focused journey, despite economic turbulence occasioned by Coronavirus (COVID-19) and coordinated destruction of the State’s assets.

The APC National Leader, who described Sanwo-Olu as “a brilliant captain”, praised the collaboration between the executive and the legislative arms in the State.

He said: “This is a commendable achievement by Sanwo-Olu, who has further brought Lagos on the path of progress, given the economic resuscitation this infrastructure will bring on this axis and entire Lagos. May you continue to think and perform to demonstrate excellent results as you have done today.”

Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Aramide Adeyoye, said the axis on which the flyover is sited is one of the busiest in vehicular activities in Lagos, saying the bridge would bring back convenience to millions of residents commuting in the area.

She said: “The entire project consists of a dual carriageway, with a bridge component of two lanes with 3.65 cm width in either direction. The road component consists of service lanes on either side of the bridge with median, kerbs and walkways that are complete with signalised traffic system. There are junction improvements with LED streetlight features.”

Speaker, Lagos House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who represents Agege in the Assembly, described Governor Sanwo-Olu as “a proactive, wonderful performer”, who always accomplishes any projects he promises.

The adjoining roads commissioned with the flyover are Iju Road, Oba Ogunji Road, Agunbiade Road, Oke Koto Intersection and Iyana Ipaja link road.

ODUDUWA NEWS has just gathered that some aggrieved members of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP in Oyo State are currently embarking on protest at the state secretariat over alleged imposition of candidates for the forthcoming local government election.

It will be recalled that the local council election slated to hold yesterday was postponed by 72 hours.

The aggrieved members trooped out in hundreds to express their grievances on alleged imposition of candidates by some leaders of the party.

Details later.

Oyo state government has assured crop and livestock farmers in the state of the government readiness to protect the lives and properties of its citizens and also arrest criminal elements who pose a threat to the peace of Oyo residents
.
This assurance was made by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development while addressing farmers from Ijaiye Farm Settlement after engaging in a peaceful demonstration at the state secretariat complex in Ibadan the state capital.

The farmers who complained about the destruction of their farms by some criminal cattle herders which have led to the loss of lives and investments running into millions in the farms within the Ijaye Farm Settlement had stormed the Governor’s office to protest the security situation.

The Commissioner while speaking at the ministry’s conference room reiterated that the Engr. Seyi Makinde-led administration is a citizenry-based government which holds farmers in high esteem, urging farmers to bear in mind that economic expansion through agriculture and its value chain is one of the four basal service agenda of the administration.

Hon Ojekunle said the government understood the plights of the farmers and would burn the candles at both ends to ensure that farmers enjoy their harvests and secure their lives as well.

Earlier, the Chairman, Ijaye Farm Settlement Farmers’ Association, Dr. Tunde Tairu while making sense of their complaints, said that herdsmen and their cattle have invaded their farmland and have turned farmers into slaves on government land for which they paid rent yearly.

Tairu said further that the herdsmen could not be challenged because they were armed with sophisticated weapons and farmers were being threatened with guns anytime they challenge the herders.

“In fact two days ago, one of our farmers that challenged them on his own farm got his left arm amputated right in our presence,” Tairu added
Tairu made it known that though the Crop farmer and herder clashes have been persistent and age long in the area, the recent surge in the crimes perpetrated by these marauding cattle herders has now become a clog in the wheel of development and peace in Ijaiye as their members are now been kidnapped for ransom, killed and or maimed hile their wives and young daughters are raped.

The farmers thereby requested for the massive presence of security personnel on their farmland and also appealed to the government to create an office for Amotekun officials in the community, with the belief that it would scare criminals among the herders away.

Members of Ijaye Farm Settlement Farmers Association thereafter expressed gratitude to the State government for the privilege given them to express their grievances without prejudice, while also commending the Commissioner for the native intelligence he employed in handling the situation, noting that no government has ever given them such listening ears and opportunity for dialogue.

The Association pleaded that the promised action by the government should be fulfilled in earnest.

Oduduwa News has gathered that Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu has instructed all school principal officer in both the primary, secondary and the State tertiary institutions to mandate the recitation of Odua Anthem for their pupils and students.

The order reportedly affects all the private and public institutions from primary to tertiary level in the state.

This was contained in a circular sent to all stakeholders from the state Ministry of Education,  Science and Technology. The circular was signed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Akin Asaniyan.

The circular was titled ‘Recitation of Oodua Anthem in all schools’.

It read in part, “Please note that at the just concluded inter-schools debate and award ceremony organised by Ondo State Ministry of Education Science and Technology, held on Thursday, February 25,  2021, at the International Culture and Event Center ( The Dome), Governor Rotimi Akeredolu,  announced that the state had adopted the Oodua Anthem and it is to be recited by the residents of the state.

“In the light of this development,  Mr Governor has directed that the anthem is now compulsory in all public and private schools ( primary and secondary),  as well as tertiary institutions in the state,  to be recited by all students and teachers henceforth.”

The Amalgamated Union of Foodstuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria (AUFCDN) on Wednesday agreed to lift its ban on the supply of food to the southern part of the country.

The leadership of the unions took the decision following an extensive dialogue and deliberation with the Kogi State governor, Yahaya Bello, at the state Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, on Wednesday.

The groups were led by the AUFCDN president, Mohammed Tahir, with former minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode who was also in attendance at the meeting.

The AUFCDN President, Muhammad Tahir, said the strike was called off following the Federal Government’s promise to pay  N4.75billion compensation, ensure the protection of its members and stop all forms of multiple taxation and intimidation from security officials on the highways.