The Oyo State Rule of Law Enforcement Authority has been established by the state government to ensure that citizens and residents of the state are guided to be law abiding.
This is contained in a release by the office of the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade on Wednesday in Ibadan.
According to him, the establishment of the Authority was approved at the 8th Executive Council Meeting held last week.
The agency will ensure that those who flout environmental and social laws are apprehended and brought to book within a short period of time.
According to the release, the state government will henceforth be firm and decisive on those who engage in indiscriminate dumping of refuse on road medians, roadsides or waterways, obstruction of free flow of traffic, driving against traffic, disregard for traffic signs, indiscriminate occupation of public roads with trading activities, noise pollution, among other related offenses as specified by the law.
In view of this development, Prince Oyelade said the State Governor, Engr. ‘Seyi Makinde, has mandated the Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation to erect billboards across the state, forewarning citizens and residents about the zero tolerance posture of government.
The state government urges members of the public to show maximum cooperation towards actualizing the purpose of establishing the Rule of Law Authority.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State will commence his medical leave on Wednesday, December 13, 2023, as a follow-up to his medical treatment.
The Chief Press Secretary to Akeredolu, who disclosed this in a statement signed by him, said the vacation would give the governor the opportunity to prioritize his health and ensure a full recovery before resuming his official duties.
He mentioned that a formal letter regarding the medical leave and a notice formally transferring power in line with the Nigerian Constitution would be transmitted to the House of Assembly.
In the absence of Governor Akeredolu, the Deputy Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, will assume the responsibilities of the Governor in an acting capacity.
He stated, “Governor Akeredolu expresses his gratitude for the unwavering support and affection of the people of Ondo State. He assures them that his administration remains committed to the path of progress and prosperity for the people.
“As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a widely respected Nigerian, Governor Akeredolu has consistently delegated power to his deputy during his annual vacations.
“This practice was observed on April 1, 2021, April 1, 2022, April 3, 2023, and July 10, 2023, when he embarked on previous vacations.
Following the presentation of the 2023 Budget Proposal of #434, 221, 765, 938.79 by the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde to the State legislature, the lawmakers in the State has commenced the Budget defence exercise for the various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of the Government.
Speaking during the exercise, the Standing Committee Chairman on Finance, Appropriation and State Economy Planning, Hon. Sunkanmi Babalola reiterated that the Oyo State House of Assembly is determined to work with the Executive Arm of Government, through Ministries, Departments and Agencies, as well as other stakeholders in the State for the successful implementation of the proposed 2024 Budget as presented by Governor Makinde.
Hon. Babalola stated that the Committee, through a collective efforts of all members to ensure that the next fiscal year is better than the outgoing year has painstakingly scrutinised over thirty Ministries, Departments and Agencies since the commencement of the exercise on Thursday, 7th November, 2023.
He stated further that the House is not only ensuring holistic approach in the on – going Budget Defence exercise but critically working to realise the economy recovery as tagged on the Budget by the Governor.
The Chairman assured that the House , through various Committees will maintain, necessary checks and adequate monitoring on all the MDAs for outstanding performances inorder to achieve the desired goals of the Present Administration in the State.
Hon. Babalola however commended the State Governor for his vision and pragmatic leadership towards initiating an achievable and realistic Budgeting system in the Pace Setter State.
In his remarks, the Vice Chairman of the Committee on Finance, Appropriation and State Economy Planning, Hon. Gbenga Oyekola representing Atiba State Contituency, urged the MDAs to work with the House of Assembly, through their relevant Committees inorder to have easy access to the funds allocated to each of them.
Honourable Oyekola noted that most MDAs believe that when the Committees are on oversight functions, it means that they’ve come to request from them.
“You can’t separate Committees from the MDAs, most of the MDAs believe that when the Committees are on their neck during the oversight, they are looking for money, forgetting that relevant committees of the House can help them out in their day to day activities”.
“The Committees can raise a lot of motions on their behalf and the Resolutions will be passed to the Executive, which will make the Executive to gear up to the task.” He added
Contrary to the insinuation in a section of the media about the 2024 Budget Proposal, the lawmaker declared that the Budget is achievable and realistic with good performances.
He however called on the MDAs to reciprocate the good gesture of the present Administration in the State by being alive to their responsibilities.
The Ogun State government has unveiled a Regeneration Programme aimed at the transformation of some dilapidated structures within the state’s Government Reservation Areas (GRA).
Tagged “Ogun State GRA Regeneration Programme”, the project is meant to create “Smart Cities” with the construction of modern housing units on over 100 hectares of land, valued at billions of Naira in Abeokuta, Ijebu-Ode, Ota, amongst other areas.
The Regeneration Programme, according to the Commissioner for Housing, Jagunmolu Jamiu Akande Omoniyi, was the idea of the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun to rebuild the GRAs, starting with Ibara GRA.
Speaking to reporters after an inspection tour of the Ibara housing project, Omoniyi said the main objective of the regeneration plan was to restructure the affected areas to make them environmentally friendly through the Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) scheme.
He noted that the scheme is parts of the present administration’s efforts to alter the rapidly degenerating environment by a deliberate adjustment of the existing city areas to meet the current and future needs of urban life.
It is also intended to replace the obsolete and dilapidated buildings that share the characteristics of slum areas with the general framework of an overall plan for modern city development, he added.
Apart from Ibara, the scheme will also be extended to Idi Aba (annex of the Government Technical College, which sits on about 7 hectares of land), also in the Abeokuta metropolis.
Omoniyi said: “We are here on the directive of the governor to kick-start the regeneration programme of Ibara GRA and the government housing units at Idi Aba, Abeokuta. We have gone around, and we saw that the occupants of these houses have heeded the vacation notice. Now, we are ready to commence the demolition of the old and dilapidated structures and begin planning to build smart cities within the Abeokuta metropolis. For clarification purposes, GRA Ibara does not belong to the civil and public servants in the state.
“At the inception of the creation of Ogun State in 1976, this location provided shelter for the civil servants of Ogun extraction who were coming back from the defunct Western Region. But, we realized that this prime location was being under utilized. That is why the incumbent administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun in the state summoned the political will to reinvent and redevelop this place to harness its potential for the benefit of the Ogun people, and to create values for the decaying assets of the state government.
“Numerically, the Idi Aba housing scheme is sitting on 7.5 hectares of land, while GRA Ibara is sitting on nothing less than 30 hectares of land. And we believe that as we move on with this project, we will discover some hidden or encroached portions of the land.
“Within Abeokuta alone, we are talking about 40 hectares of land to play with. There are similar schemes in Igbeba in Ijebu Ode, Ota, and Ilaro. For now, we are starting with Abeokuta. Then, we will move to other locations where we have the state government’s assets being wasted away.
“Meanwhile, Mr. Governor, out of his magnanimity and empathy, has directed me to prioritize the requests of the civil servants in the allocation of houses in this regeneration programme. Don’t forget that some of them have benefitted from other housing schemes such as Kobape, Kemta, Ilaro, and so on, that this present government has done.
“For those who missed out on those ones, I have the directive of the governor to absorb them immediately in this new scheme. We have a wide range of opportunities such as rent-to-own; outright purchase, and mortgage through Gateway Mortgage Bank.
“The practice before now was for civil servants to live here and get evacuated after retirement. But, this new scheme will allow for mortgages, and the houses can be paid for while still in service. What we are going to do here, which is a common patrimony of the Ogun State people, will cut across all the cadres of income level.
“We will accommodate everyone – commercial, residential, and institutional. We are creating smart cities where people will live, work, and play. We are creating a total ecosystem to ensure that everything you need to make a decent living is found inside of our GRA.”
According to the Commissioner, the urban regeneration scheme is expected to have between 4 and 5 bedrooms of different sizes, which are to be complemented with world-class infrastructural facilities.
The Ibara scheme, he said, is to be redeveloped into 500 housing units, while Idi-Aba is to have 100 units.
Omoniyi, accompanied on the visit by the Head of Service (HoS), Mr Peter Kolawole Fagbohun, and the General Manager, Ogun State Housing Corporation, Mr Wale Ojo, noted that on the directive of the governor, civil servants at different income levels are to be considered in the new scheme.
He noted that a wide range of opportunities such as rent-to-own, outright purchase, and mortgage have been put in place to make public servants benefit from the new scheme.
He noted that the programme would focus on local content by engaging artisans, suppliers and developers within the state, just as it did with Kobape Housing Scheme, Kemta Housing Scheme, Prince Court Estate and other similar housing projects, with about 20,000 direct and indirect jobs expected to be created.
Before the accident that claimed Nwankwo’s life happened, a motorcyclist and another student of the university, Deborah Okunola, had been injured in another accident.
While they were being attended to, a motorcyclist conveying Nwankwo, upon arriving at the scene, got carried away and lost control, after a bus coming behind hit it.
OAU spokesperson, Abiodun Olanrewaju, while commenting on the development said “Around 11 am, along Road 1, an accident involving two Okadas and two vehicles occurred.
“One particular Okada rider was trying to overtake a red-coloured Toyota Corolla car. Unfortunately, the side mirror of the car hit the motorcycle and the rider fell with the passenger.
“The passenger is a Part 2 student of Psychology in our school by the name, of Deborah Okunola. As those were trying to attend to themselves, one Chika Nwakore carrying a Part Five female student of the Department of Agric Economics by the name of Chisom Nwankwo arrived at the scene.
“The motorcyclist carrying Nwankwo was distracted by the first accident and he lost concentration. A bus that was coming behind hit the bike. The rider and the passenger fell.
“What we were told was that Nwankwo and the okada man were injured and taken to our health centre where they were referred to the OAU Teaching Hospital Complex but unfortunately, Nwankwo was later declared dead.
“The body is in the Anatomy Section on the campus. The university authority has informed the police and is taking necessary action. The Vice-Chancellor is not happy with the situation and management has frowned at all this carelessness on our roads.
“We sympathise with the parents of the deceased and we pray that God Almighty will give them the fortitude to bear the terrible loss. We are not happy to lose any of our students
President Bola Tinubu has directed the Ondo State House of Assembly, to transfer power to deputy governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa Tinubu reportedly made this known at a meeting he summoned to resolve the leadership crisis in Ondo on Monday
The President emphasized that this transfer should be conducted without any conditions, as it aligns with the “Doctrine of Necessity.”
The Nation learnt the transfer of power will be done by electronic signature (e-signature) as the ailing governor is too weak to sign any document.
This decision allows Governor Akeredolu to take a medical leave, ensuring his well-being.
Former deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Bode George, has said the party cannot field a northerner as its presidential candidate in 2027.
Politics Nigeria recently reported that presidential candidate of the PDP in the last election, Atiku Abubakar, had commen moves to relaunch his ambition ahead of 2027.
But addressing journalists in Lagos on Monday, the PDP chieftain alleged that Atiku’s ambition was responsible for the party’s poor outing in 2023.
“I don’t really understand the rhetorics in some quarters these days that a member of the party from the north is strategising or plotting to return as the presidential candidate of our party in 2027,” George began.
“A northerner cannot be the presidential candidate of our party in 2027, pure and simple. The earlier some members pushing this agenda know this truth, the better for our collective sanity.
“To think of a Northerner as our saviour in 2027 is a joke taken too far.
“I cried loudly before the last general election that we cannot shut out the South from our strategy and hope to win. Two Northerners emerged as our presidential candidate and national chairman. We all saw the outcome.
“I can boldly say that those who supported that idea gave the opportunity for Tinubu to become the president today and a repeat of that fiasco will lead to the end of PDP in 2027.
“I want to alert Nigerians that the primitive agenda that led to the PDP losing the February 25, 2023 presidential election is rearing its ugly head again.
“I want Nigerians and PDP members to know that Chief Olabode Ibiyinka George, one of the founding fathers and a former Deputy National Chairman of our party, is not anti-party and will never do or say anything against the interest of this party but I abhor and hate injustice at any level.
“I have no iota of tribalism in my blood. I stand to fight for inclusiveness for all Nigerians in the political process of this country and especially in this party where some of us have suffered great injustice for the fight of equity and justice for all.
“As leaders of the party, we must not pander towards ethnic affiliation because PDP is the only true national party. The APC is just a mere collection of strange bed fellows.”
George noted that some governors are against the plot to return a northerner as PDP presidential candidate in 2027.
“How can we go into the 2027 election season with this type of division and expect to win the presidential election? Unless we are united, unless we have fairness, equity and justice in our system, the party and the country are heading nowhere.
“In the build up to the 2023 presidential elections, I was shocked about the quality of response from some of our members, so divisive and arrogant.
“All the party elders saying then that the National Chairman should not resign, where are they today,” George queried.
Mustapha Sherif, a recently employed teacher in Oyo State, spearheaded a significant initiative valued at ₦4.6 million through the non-governmental organization (NGO) Prime Career. Focused on uplifting the Kishi Community, this transformative project unfolded at Ariwajoye High School in Sooro, Kishi, presenting a substantial boost to educational resources and opportunities.
At the core of the initiative was the provision of essential “Back-to-School Kits” for students, fostering a conducive learning environment. With support from Prime Career Group (UK), led by Mr. Segun Moses Bayere, the project successfully delivered chairs, uniforms, school bags, sandals, and other necessities to every student at Ariwajoye High School, located in Sooro Village area of Kishi in Oyo State. The ₦4.6 million project, executed on December 5th, 2023, emerged as a beacon of hope for the community.
Mustapha Sherif expressed gratitude for the opportunity to lead this impactful initiative. He extended acknowledgments to Prime Career Group (UK), community leaders, parents, and well-wishers who played crucial roles in the project’s success. Sherif recognized the visionary leadership of Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, and Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, for creating an enabling environment for positive change in the state’s education sector.
The success story of the ₦4.6 million project underscored the importance of collective efforts. Mustapha Sherif highlighted collaboration among the entire staff of Ariwajoye High School, local leaders, and representatives from Kishi Progressive Union and other associations as instrumental in achieving the project’s goals. The occasion served as a testament to the impact achievable through unity and shared purpose.
Mustapha Sherif emphasized that government financing alone cannot meet all educational needs, urging communities and NGOs to contribute actively. As his transformative project leaves a lasting imprint on the Kishi Community, the future holds promising prospects for continued development.
Billionaire businessman, Femi Otedola, has described the Dangote Refinery as the “8th wonder of the world”, saying it will champion Nigeria’s energy security.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, Otedola said the refinery promises economic transformation for Nigerians and generations to come.
“By meeting our requirements for all refined petroleum products, it will champion energy security and independence for our nation and act as a catalyst for a new era of prosperity for the subcontinent. It promises economic transformation for Nigerians today and for generations to come,” he wrote.
The refinery sited in Lagos and owned by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, is said to have commenced operations with 350,000 barrels a day.
The refinery recently received its first one million barrels of Agbami crude grade, which represents the first phase of the six million barrels to be supplied to the refinery by several suppliers.
Congratulating his “bestie”, Otedola described Dangote as a visionary patriot.
He said the refinery is “much more than just an industrial milestone; it’s a testament to the visionary leadership and relentless pursuit of excellence of one of Africa’s finest and most dogged patriots”.
“I had a front-row seat as this vision was conceptualized and took shape. And I am familiar with the sleepless nights you’ve had to work through over the last decade to bring this dream to fruition.
This refinery is a beacon of hope for millions of Nigerians and Africans. It is also at the vanguard of championing environmental sustainability,” Otedola said.
