Category: News

The Arole Oduduwa & Ooni of Ife, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has charged the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government to end the ongoing industrial action embarked upon by the National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD), without further delay.

Ooni Ogunwusi made the call on Thursday at his Ile Oodua palace, Ile-Ife, during the inauguration of the SouthWest Traditional Leaders’ Committee on Public Health Delivery, by the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire.

Describing the strike action as highly unfortunate, the Ooni who is the Co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, noted that health workers are essential service providers who should not abandon their duty posts no matter what what.

“I am aware of your relentless efforts towards ending the strike as quick as possible but Nigerians cannot wait any further. The strike action has brought a lot of hardships to Nigerians especially the poor and other vulnerable persons who cannot afford privately owned health facilities which obviously is now the alternative.” Ooni admonished.

Speaking further on roles of traditional rulers in efficient Public Health delivery, Ooni Ogunwusi noted that the relevance of Kings and chiefs across the country particularly can be attested to by their roles in the fight against Ebola virus disease, polio and others.

“We are the closest to our people, palaces have no door and that is why it is easy for information to reach all of our subjects immediately we send them. They believe us so much too by the virtue of our tradition and we are upholding these good traits.

“The newly inaugurated Southwest Traditional Leaders’ Commitee on PHC Delivery is indeed going to formalize the enormous works of traditional rulers across Yoruba land and I can assure you that Nigerians are going to benefit immensely from this initiative.” The Ooni added.

In his response, The Minister of Health promised that efforts would be doubled to ensure that the current industrial action being embarked upon by health workers would be brought to an end.

“This is a time when we face different challenges in the health sector due to the adverse effect of Covid-19, it is not the best time for doctors to be going on strike. We are working to ensure that they resume soonest and I want to assure Nigerians that this would be achieved very soon.” The Minister said.

While inaugurating the committee, Dr. Ehanire explained that in providing quality health services to Nigerians as priority of the President Buhari-led administration, the government recognizes the indispensable roles of traditional rulers.

“As a takeoff plan, I wish to promise that a standard Primary Health Centre will be built and made functional each in all states across the SouthWest as a model and the location would be decided by this commitee.

“The facility will be equiped with standard Staff Quarters, Solar-Powered Borehole, a Keke Ambulance and other basic facilities. We are proud to be working with you and we hope to achieve a lot together.” The Minister added.

In his speech, Executive Director/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Faisal Shuaib, called for more support from Nigerians, particularly the traditional institution.

“We are aware of your might as leaders and we want you to support you with this in order for us to serve Nigerians better. You did it in creation of awareness against Polio virus till we swept it off the shores of Nigeria and even now with Covid-19, it is evident that you can do it again.” Dr. Faisal said.

In the same vein, the country Director of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Peter Hawkins pledged the organization’s commitment quality public health delivery in Nigeria especially in the areas of routine immunization for the children and other vital areas.

The event which was attended by health experts and political leaders across the country including representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Rotary among others, equally played host to traditional rulers across Yoruba land including the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Soliu Adetunji, Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe and the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi among others.

The Ooni rounded it off with the presentation of symbolic artworks to the Minister and representatives of UNICEF, WHO and others.

A video circulating on social media has revealed that some police officers arresting two young boys driving an expensive sport car in Lagos State.

The officers who were about six in numbers had double-crossed the sports car In traffic and stoped them. After asking the two men to get down out of the car, they were bundled into the Police vehicle used to block the young boys sport car.

Details later.

The Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency, LASEPA, has issued a “stop-work” order to two Steel and Iron manufacturing companies in Ikorodu, Sun Flag and Top Steel, for contravening safety rules and permissible environmental standards.

The General Manager, Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, who led the enforcement team to the two companies, decried the squalid and unsafe working conditions, as workers were observed conducting their duties with minimal risk control to staff and surrounding communities.

She described the situation at the facilities as “grave”, citing the negative effects to the immediate and long-term wellbeing of those working and living in the area, especially the children, elderly and infirm, who are most affected by the gross misuse of the shared environment.

While decrying inherent risk of explosions, fires and other public safety concerns owing to the poor situation of the environment, the General Manager revealed that the visit to the factories was in response to complaints received from residents, environmental monitoring data and the outcome of surveillance conducted by LASEPA three days prior to the official visit.

Her words: “The visit revealed that most of the activities going on in the Ikorodu industrial area do not comply with Lagos State environmental standards, as well as international best practices vis-à-vis industrial waste management and circularity. As a government, we will continue to do everything within our power to ensure that the quality of air is permissible and that the land, soil, flora and fauna are not negatively impacted by industrial activities”.

“Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led administration in Lagos State encourages recycling but not at the expense of the people’s lives and the environment. A lot of the machines being used here at the two companies for recycling are archaic, poorly maintained, not fit for purpose under current and future environmental standards. This is because they release large quantities of noxious gases, fumes and other hazardous substances which are a direct result of prioritising profit over the planet and people”, the LASEPA boss noted.

Speaking further, the General Manager revealed that the State Government, in partnership with the World Bank, has sited six pilot Air Quality Monitoring Stations located in Akoka, Jakara-Island, Ipaja, Ikeja, Lekki and Ikorodu, to track all vital air quality indices as well as provide data on distribution and flow of pollution events from source to receptors.

Fasawe said all the sealed up plants must provide an environmental action and clean-up plan, a detailed environmental management policy document, and normalise all necessary regulatory documents and taxes before being considered for reopening.

Mr. Pankaj Mutreja the General Manager, Sunflag Steel Nigeria Ltd and Mr. Adilya Pathalk of Top Steel Company both agreed to comply with all environmental laws of the State and curb environmentally damaging activities.

Ikorodu residents commended the Agency’s visit, calling for quick intervention and remediation directed towards restoring the natural state of the currently affected areas including Odo-Nla and Odo-Kekere areas.

The Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi has said that he is not elected to complain but to ensure he embark on life changing projects in his State.

Fayemi said this today in a statement personally released via his official Facebook account as read in part:

“I am not elected to complain, I am elected to find solutions. This is why over the past year, we have been working on creative ways to mitigate the impact of the #COVID19 pandemic on revenue generation in Ekiti state.

“During the weekend, I took time to assess the performance of all our Revenue Generating Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) in the second quarter of 2021 alongside the Committee on Joint State Revenue Review. I was encouraged by the positive outcomes of our efforts to improve our internally-generated revenue, and the cooperation of our people in achieving prompt and comprehensive collection of revenues.

“I also spent time inspecting the project status of Ado-Iyin Dual carriageway, the Civic and Convention Centre, the Elderly Peoples’ Resort and Wellness Centre, as well as the ongoing construction of another block at the state Secretariat Complex in Ado Ekiti.

“All these suggest that Ekiti is quite capable of attracting its fair share of investment and has enough talent within its borders to drive urban development and enterprises.

“We may not be a buoyant state, but we have giant ambition to make a fundamental difference in the lives of our people, to unleash our creative potentials, and to leverage the God-given gifts of the land of honour”.

No fewer than four hoodlums were killed by men of Osun State Police Command for attacking a police vehicle, conveying murder suspects to Ilesa Correctional Centre.

The attack came after three male suspects were on Wednesday , arraigned before an Osogbo Magistrate’s Court for alleged murder and armed robbery.
Magistrate A. Adeyeba had ordered their remand in Ilesa Correctional Centre because he lacked jurisdiction to take their plea nor grant them bail.

While the Police tactical team were transporting them to the prison custody, their vehicle was said to have developed fault along Ilesa road at Osunjela River. While a mechanic was fixing the fault, some armed men were said to have driven motorcycle to the scene, and opened fire at the Policemen in a bid to free the suspects.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the spokesperson for the police command, SP Yemisi Opalola, the tactical team engaged the armed men in a gun duel and killed four of them, while others fled into the bush with gunshot injuries.

He said: “On 26/08/2021 at about 3:30p.m., an Osun Police tactical team while taking some murder suspects to Ilesa correctional centre, after Osunjela river along Osogbo/Ilesa Road, the vehicle conveying the suspects developed mechanical fault. As the nearby mechanics were working on the vehicle, four armed men emerged from Osunjela Road on a Bajaj motorcycle and attacked the Police team by firing sporadically in a bid to hijack suspects.

“However, with the superior fire-power of the Police team, the hoodlums abandoned their motorcycle, three locally made guns; one pump action, two cut to size barrel guns with fourteen live cartridges. In the process, three murder suspects sustained injuries and later died at Asubiaro hospital in Osogbo and deposited in the same hospital morgue. The hoodlums fled into the bush with bullet wounds.

“Meanwhile, the police in collaboration with the local security outfits and the youths of the community combed the bush for possible arrest of the fleeing suspects. They later recovered the dead body of one of the attackers in the bush with bullet wounds on his body,

“While searching his body, two live cartridges and a paper with incantation written in Yoruba Language with the names of the perpetrators were found in his pocket. His corpse has been evacuated and deposited in the morgue.

“The commissioner of Police, Olawale Olokode, enjoined members of the public, especially people of Osunjela area to avail the Command with information about any person(s) with suspected bullet wound,” Opalola stated.

Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Unit (Taskforce) has arrested a traffic robbery suspect in Brewery/Ijora, just as it served owners of structures and kiosks in Owode road set – back a three-day removal notice.

The robbery suspect, Ibrahim Ganiyu, 28, alias Temitomi, was arrested around 5: 00 a.m. in Brewery/Ijora area of Lagos State.

Ibrahim, who along with an accomplice, named Akpan was trying to dispossess a lady of her hand bag and mobile phone when the operatives of Lagos State Taskforce heading to Apapa sighted them.

The shout for help by the lady drew the attention of the police team. Their arrival at the scene foiled the robbery thus making the two robbers to flee the scene on motor bike.

After a chase, the operatives arrested Ibrahim while Akpan abandoned a TVS motor cycle with the registration number AAA 535 QK before escaping.

Ibrahim in his confession disclosed that they were trying to collect the lady’s phone and bag before she shouted for help. He noted that they rob early in the morning and at night.

He stated that they rob in traffic and in bus stops around Costain, Mushin, Ijora and Eko Bridge, adding that, apart from his gang, some other teams come from Safejo and Alaba to rob in the area.

The Chairman, Lagos State Taskforce, CSP Shola Jejeloye has said that the suspect would be transfered to the State Command for further investigation.

Recovered from the suspect were a motor bike and a long dagger.

Meanwhile Lagos State Taskforce has served owners of structures and kiosks on road set back in Idera Bus Stop, Owode to remove them in three days.

The removal order is coming after several days of inspection of the area and education of the owners by the agency and officials of Federal Ministry of Works.

The owners of the structures and kiosks were last served in February, 2021.