Oduduwa News

TheOyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde has concluded plan to commission a 663.6 kwp solar plant in Ibadan.

ODUDUWA NEWS gathered that the project which will be commissioned sited at Nigerian Brewery along New Ife-Ibadan Expressway will be commissioned this Thursday.

Top government functionaries are expected to accompany the governor to the venue.

Details later

Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has expressed serious concerns over the spate of insecurity in Nigeria, describing the situation as alarming.

This is as there are reports of kidnapping for ransom on the streets of Lagos including Ikeja, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ikorodu, among others.

In a post on his social media handle, Obasa commended Southern Governors for the communiqué issued at the end of their meeting in Asaba, Delta State to address insecurity and other pressing issues in the national polity.

The Governors, in the said communiqué, affirmed that the people of Southern Nigeria remain committed to the unity of Nigeria on the basis of justice, fairness, equity and oneness, and peaceful co-existence between and among its peoples with a focus on the attainment of shared goals for economic development and prosperity.

They expressed very grave concern on the security challenges currently plaguing the nation and strongly called on President Muhammadu Buhari to address Nigerians on the challenges of insecurity and restore the confidence of the people.

They observed that the incursion of armed herders, criminals, and bandits into the Southern part of the country has presented a severe security challenge such that citizens are not able to live their normal lives including pursuing various productive activities leading to a threat to food supply and general security.

Consequently, the meeting resolved that open grazing of cattle be banned across Southern Nigeria.

They also agreed that the progress of the nation requires that urgent and bold steps be taken to restructure the Nigerian Federation leading to the evolution of state police, review of revenue allocation formula in favour of the sub-national governments and creation of other institutions which legitimately advance the country’s commitment to and practice of true federalism.

In view of widespread agitations among various peoples for greater inclusiveness in existing governance arrangements, the Governors asked the Federal Government to convoke a national dialogue as a matter of urgency.

They also expressed concern on the continued gridlock on the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway and therefore recommended the activation and establishment of ports in other states of the federation to create new jobs and promote socio-economic activities in the country.

Besides, the Southern Governors also expressed concern on the economic implications of another lockdown on the country and therefore suggested greater coordination and cooperation between Federal and State Governments in evolving strategies for dealing with the pandemic.

Reacting, Obasa commended the Governors for acting in the interest of the people.

“On Southern Governors Communique, I strongly commend our governors for their boldness and courage in coming together to make demands for the people of Southwest.

“This shows good representation and leadership.

“The insecurity in the nation is alarming,” Obasa said.

The Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) has lauded the Administration of Governor Adegboyega Oyetola for its commitment to the advancement of the State’s economy.

NIPC also commended the Administration for being resilient and relentless to socioeconomic, business and investment promotion since the inception.

This is even as the government reaffirmed its vision to rescuing and stimulating the economy, and changing the narrative of Osun from a civil service State to an investment, commerce and industry-driven economy.

The head of the NIPC Southwest Zonal Office, Ibadan, Mr. Hassan Lawal, stated these on Wednesday at the Stakeholders’ Forum organised by the Osun Investment Promotion Agency (OSIPA) in collaboration with the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC) tagged “Year 2021 Investment Recertification Exercise and Stakeholders Engagement Forum”, held at Osun Civil Service Development Centre, Abere, Osogbo.

The Stakeholders’ Forum is aimed at drawing a workable investment roadmap and business strategy to further attract potential investors to invest massively in Osun.

Addressing journalists shortly after the Stakeholders’ Forum, Lawal said Osun government had proved its readiness to turn a new leaf in turning the State to an investment destination.

The NIPC Zonal boss who described the Forum as a necessity to further assess the State’s readiness for business and investment promotion, said the Commission was highly impressed by the level of commitment geared towards sustaining the State’s economy and enhancing its productivity and economic profile.

He lauded the State government for the prompt and timely creation of Osun Investment Promotion Agency (OSIPA), which he said had really helped in boosting the capacity of the State to foster a better investment and business partnership with local and foreign investors.

“What we are doing here today has been done in many of the States of the Federation and our attention is focused on Osun State as part of efforts to take the State out of its seeming ‘Civil Service Status’ and make it a business and investor driven economy, and this is the process to get there.

“We have been here since yesterday and we have been able to commence this project which we call NICPS i.e Nigeria Investment Certification Programme for States that was developed with the help of the World Bank.

“Our target is to make State to better project their opportunities. We have gotten to a stage to profile Osun economy. Osun is very wealthy, Osun is a very rich State as we have many mineral resources, arable land, and her people are very resourceful. Osun has all it takes to be a leading investment State in Nigeria that is why we have commenced the assessment; and our target is to strengthen the capacity of the State in this regard.

“So, what we are here today for, is part of those supports that we give to the States, and it is the turn of Osun. Aside from helping the States to create Investment Promotion Agency, we also assist States with part of those tools in getting a compact understanding of those tools that we use to drive investment and one of those tools is this NICPS.

“I want to thank Governor Oyetola. He has done excellently well, particularly for being the major promoter of the State’s investment and business opportunities. I use this opportunity to appreciate him and for having a formidable team in the Osun Investment Promotion Agency (OSIPA). Osun has done fantastically well.

“Though we are not done yet because after this programme, we still have trainings for the team of OSIPA on how to have the rudiments of investment promotion and how to attract investors. What I presented is part of those tools that we need to drive investment in the State.

“We developed the concept and the purpose is to help States to document, which will lead to better project their opportunities. Don’t forget that Osun has several investment opportunities such as human-capital resources, natural resources and arable lands. So, the purpose of this is to help them to better project these to potential investors.

“It is on record that the last that was done, the state was on 4th star. So, for it to rise, the State must increase on the funding for investment promotion. There is need for the State as well to increase attention and funding, and I must commend the government for what it has done so far,” he added.

Speaking, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Osun Investment Promotion Agency (OSIPA), Mr. Femi Adeniran, said the State was resolute to turn Osun to an investment and business destination.

Adeniran who doubles as the Chief Executive Officer of the agency noted that efforts had reached top gear to take the State from its present status of four stars to five stars of the maximum investment rating.

He said the focus of the agency was to strengthen the ‘ease of doing business’ in the State, and pursue vigorously and rigorously things capable of attracting local and foreign investors to invest massively in the State.

Adeniran said: “Basically, there is this process that is called the Investment Certification for States, and this Investment Certification has criteria which Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission will use in assessing our readiness for investment and investors, and they are graded from one star to five stars.

“The last exercise that was conducted was done in 2016 and Osun was rated four stars certification and what that means was that we have not got there. But with what we have put in, we have taken a lesson from the last exercise, we have worked on them, we have developed on them and we have presented them back to NIPC and I am optimistic that we will get maximum point of five stars.

“We have taken the learning from that of the last one and we have jerked up the efforts to show that we are fully ready to work towards the five stars. And once we have the five stars, it is like having an emblem to show to investors that we have been rated by the Nigeria Investment Promotion Commission.

“The advantage of this is to further show that our State is an investment destination. So, basically, the review of the last rating is what we have done today. That is why we have the zonal team of the NIPC in our State.

“We have done all of the updates, we have done the property standard, marketing standard and information standard. All we need to update, we have updated them. We have already done the Website, and once we finish, we can easily upload whatever we want and the investors can easily access it for whatever partnership, and once they click it, they can easily access anything and see what we are capable of offering them.

“We have met with the NIPC managenent and they have checked our documents and we have equally engaged heads of MDAs, parastatals, critical stakeholders who support investment and business management in the State. We have the federal agencies such as NAFDAC, SMEADAN, etc to drive the State economy.

“After the whole exercise, we would be invited after their thorough assessment on index performance. And from what we have seen and shown to us, we are about 80 to 90 percent there. We are confident that nothing will prevent our five stars.

“After we have attained this feat, we shall be presented to the World Bank that will do the global assessment to further prove our five stars for verification to higher ladder.

“As it is, we have not been impressively ranked the best on the ease of doing business, but our target is to be at the top by the grace of God. Though, so many factors contributed to our low ranking before. One of them was that there was no OSIPA in place, but with our emergence, our target is to rank among the first 10 in Nigeria and one of the steps we have taken is to have our ‘One Stop Shop’.

“We have already constructed that and it is ready for commissioning. This is a place where critical agencies that will manage end-to-end of new business opening. With this in place, one can go from one desk to another and within possible shortest time, one business is opened.

“Our partnership with NIPC so far so good is being seamless. We have a good number of engaging opportunities for meeting and understanding of what actually the requirements for us to stand tall on our own about our responsibilities at State level.

“One of the programmes that we had since August last year when OSIPA was inaugurated is this programme. We have had several meetings and we have a very good relationship with the leadership of the Commission.

“As for us in OSIPA, we are totally focused, totally committed to encouraging investors and also ensuring the growth of businesses in the State.”

The Stakeholders’ Forum has in attendance the Executive Chairman, Osun Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Adegbite Ademikanra; Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Investment, Mr. Yinka Omiyale; some of the Heads of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies; Government Parastatals, among other stakeholders.

The Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) has reiterated the commitment of the State Government to prosecute any form of assault on government officials to the full extent of the law.

He said this, in view of recent cases of attack on LASTMA and Taskforce officials in the State, where he stated Ten persons have so far been arraigned before the Courts for assaulting LASTMA officials on lawful duty

He also mentioned that the Mobile Courts in the state within a year, arrested, arraigned and convicted 62,477 traffic offenders.

Onigbanjo made this revelation on Wednesday while giving an account of his stewardship from April 2020 to April 2021 at the 2021 Ministerial Press Briefing of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

He noted that during the period under review, 62,477 persons had faced the law over various traffic offences such as the use of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane, street trading, driving against traffic, willful obstruction as well as violation of the COVID-19 Regulations.

“The Mobile Courts sits on Saturdays at different locations across the state and deals largely with violators of COVID-19 Regulations,” he said.

According to Onigbanjo, the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had also issued 954 Legal Advice during the time frame.

“The DPP is currently prosecuting 1,860 cases at the High Courts and Magistrate Courts including 10 offenders who have been so far charged over attacks on officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA).

“The Community Service Unit of the DPP during the review period (April 2020 – April 2021), also supervised 557 community service sentences.

“The community service sentences were for street trading, loitering, fighting and environmental offences,” he said.

The Attorney-General noted that the Directorate of Civil Litigation had obtained 18 rulings and 34 judgments in favour of the Lagos State Government.

He said that the Directorate had helped the state government reduce contingent liabilities with suits worth N95 billion being dismissed by the courts.

Citing an example of such cases, Onigbanjo said the Federal High Court on February 3, 2021 in Olukoya Ogungbeje v Lagos State Government and 7 Others, affirmed the position of the state government restricting the the use of motorcycles and tricycles as a means of transportation on specific routes within the six Local Government Areas and 9 Local Development Areas in the state.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state has alleged that Governor Seyi Makinde and the leadership of the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission (OYSIEC) were out to waste the state’s scarce resources and also make a mockery of democracy and the rule of law with their plans to go ahead with the conduct of the local government election slated for Saturday, May 22, without the APC and other registered political parties.

The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC in Oyo state, Chief Akin Oke, stated this at a press briefing held on Wednesday, at the party’s new state secretariat, Oke-Ado, Ibadan.

Oke said it became compulsory for him to once again address the press on the deliberate and unconstitutional acts of OYSIEC which has excluded the APC from the local government election.

The Caretaker Chairman recalled that the court action of the members of ALGON in Oyo State challenging the unconstitutional dissolution of the duly elected executives of the 33 local governments and 35 local councils development areas in the state was finally laid to rest by the Supreme Court judgement of May 7, 2021.

He said:”One of the reliefs granted at the High Court among others was a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants in that case among which is OYSIEC or anybody whatsoever from conducting elections into the 33 LGs and 35 LCDAs and their councillors during the three years constitutionally guaranteed tenure of the chairmen.

“It would also be recalled that the All Progressives Congress was the political party through which platform the chairmen and councillors contested and won the elections in 2018 and it therefore stands logic on its head for the chairman of OYSIEC who is a senior lawyer and a Senior Advocate of Nigeria for that matter to assert that APC cannot seek to benefit from a pronouncement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and we have to wonder why cases are being cited in court or what do lawyers mean by the doctrine of judicial precedent.

“It will be a situation of approbating and reprobating for the APC to field candidates during the pendency of a litigation instituted by its members and what the lawyers call subjudice which should tell the OYSIEC chairman who is a lawyer that parties are supposed to know that nothing should be done with respect to a matter already submitted for the adjudication of the court.

“It must also be noted that OYSIEC had in its guidelines imposed a nomination form fees of N250,000 and N100,000 to be paid by the chairmanship and councillorship aspirants respectively. These fees are illegal because election processes cannot be monetised. OYSIEC having realised this illegal imposition of fees have now decided to refund the candidates but not after OYSIEC had closed every avenues for participation in the electoral processes thereby shutting out so many citizens of Oyo State who would have participated in the election by seeking for political office but for the illegal imposition of the nomination fees.

“The question is, is it fair on the people for OYSIEC to refuse to extend the election period and allow those already shut out from participating to also have the opportunity to exercise their constitutional rights to seek elective offices? We hope that Oyo State Government and OYSIEC will have a rethink and allow reason to prevail.”

Oke revealed that APC has prepared its originating processes and same forwarded to the Chief Judge of Oyo State through party’s lawyers.

“We are hoping that same will be attended to timeously by accepting same for filing and assigning it to a judge for hearing. The courts are imbued with extensive power under the High Court Laws of Oyo State, the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria and under the High Court Civil Procedure Rules of Oyo State coupled with the fact that the Supreme Court even sat during the pendency of JUSUN strike to deliver its judgment on 7th May, 2021,” he said.

“We are equally aware that some Magistrate Courts in Oyo State are sitting over criminal matters considered urgent during this ongoing JUSUN strike. If the Oyo State Judiciary can permit criminal matters to be heard in a strike, we trust his Lordship, the Chief Judge to mandate the necessary units and personnel to effect filing and assignment timeously before election day,” the Caretaker Chairman added.

The Governor of the State of Osun, Adegboyega Oyetola, said on Tuesday that his Administration remained a critical partner of the Anchor Borrower Programme initiative of the Federal Government as part of efforts to revamp the agriculture sector.

The Governor made this comment at the unveiling of Ekiti State Government Rice Pyramid Project, the signing of MoU between the State and the Rice Farmers Association of Nigeria and the flag-off of 2021 wet season rice cultivation.

He disclosed that the rice component of the Osun Food Support Scheme was sourced from local rice sellers in order to encourage and empower local farmers in the State and beyond.

Oyetola said the Scheme, which enables the State to feed 30, 000 poor and vulnerable persons, will ultimately support food sufficiency programme, as farmers will be encouraged to double their efforts while Government serves as the off-taker.

He further disclosed the Administration’s readiness to unveil a new cocoa initiative that would empower 2, 000 young farmers in the State.

Oyetola added, “In two days’ time, we will be unveiling a new Cocoa initiative, aimed at empowering 2, 000 youths. We are doing this in collaboration with Afex Commodity and the Central Bank of Nigeria. The aim of the programme is to bring rapid development to Cocoa value chain and promote agro produce in the Cocoa producing States.”

He noted that the aim of the programme is to bring rapid development to cocoa value chain and promote agro produce in the cocoa producing States, adding that the government has also been working hard to support the Maize farmers, Cotton farmers and Cocoa farmers to make sure that the Anchor Borrower Scheme’s goals are realised even in the face of dwindling resources.

Governor Oyetola, who described agriculture as the most critical sector and bedrock of socioeconomic development, said, “By the nation’s potential and history, agriculture remains a critical but missing mainstay that we must all as a nation and the constituent States join hands together to find and sustain.”

Governor Oyetola commended President Muhammadu Buhari for graciously initiating the Anchor Borrower Programme to achieve food sufficiency in rice and other food crops, saying, “If, today, Nigeria has moved significantly to food sufficiency from where it was in 2015, rice production plays a significant role.”

According to him, President Buhari has not only initiated the Anchor Borrower Programme, he has also demonstrated leadership by giving it tremendous support that has made it possible to display gigantic rice pyramids in Niger, Kebbi and Gombe States, and to gather in Ekiti to launch the Ekiti State Rice Pyramid Project.

He said, “The novel success we have recorded in rice production as a nation in the past five years is evidence that we have the capacity as a nation to feed ourselves and turn our economy around. It is also proof that the President Buhari Administration means well for the people and the nation.

Oyetola congratulated Governor Kayode Fayemi on the unveiling of Ekiti State Government Rice Pyramid Project, saying “If agriculture worked for us as the mainstay of the nation’s economy in the First Republic, it will I work for us better now in the knowledge- and technology-driven 21st Century. We must all at the Federal, State and Local levels muster the political will to give agriculture its pride of place as a staunch source of food sufficiency and security as well as an employment generation and revenue earner.

“I commend the Ekiti State Government, RIFAN and all our rice farmers for rising up to the challenges of 2020, including the Covid-19 pandemic, and for putting all the requisite measures in place for a bountiful yield during the 2020 Wet Season Harvested Paddy.

“I urge all stakeholders to continue to engage meaningfully in research and training and re-training of personnel to build capacity for optimum results. We will also do well to provide all the necessary implements and support for our farmers to perform to their optimum”.

In his remarks, the host Governor and Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, said the initiative was in line with the vision of the Administration to ensure massive food production which was also in tandem with the President Muhammadu Buhari’s agricultural transformational agenda.

He said his Administration has successfully demonstrated the need for the people to look inward towards improving and revamping agriculture sector with focus on improved rice production to ensure food security and economic prosperity.

“As a responsible and responsive government, we are encouraging our farmers to take full advantage of the programme to enhance their agriculture produce capacity.

“In the olden days, Ekiti used to be the leading rice producer for the entire Western Region, and beyond. We are working to regain our pride of place, and building a successor generation of players in the rice value chain that would ensure security and economic prosperity.

“I am sure we would put Ekiti rice on the world map as we have institutionalised commercial agriculture,” he added.

In their separate goodwill messages, the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu; Kebbi State Governor, Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu; Jigawa State Governor, Badaru Abubakar; and Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele, lauded Governor Fayemi on the initiative, describing the move as timely, apt and prompt, particularly at a time the nation needs workable diversification with emphasis on agriculture to improve on its national economic plan.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Ekiti State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Olabode Adetoyi, said the initiative was conceptualised to tell the whole world that Nigeria could feed itself.

He noted that the initiative was also aimed at sending a strong encouragement signal to the people, particularly the young famers that the time has come for all to return to the farm as the scheme is embedded with high value chain capable of providing employment opportunities for the young ones.

The killing of five men by Customs officers has become national issue as Senate on Tuesday concluded to begin investigation into what led to the issue. It was resolved also that appropriate compensation should be given to the families of deceased.

The decision of the Senate was sequel to a motion by Buhari Abdulfatai who said the customs manifested long-held abuse of processes in her handling of the crossfire at Iseyin.

Those noted to have lost their lives to the crossfire owing to unprofessionalism are Ibrahim Mojeed, Timothy Gbadegesin, Tobiloba Opeyemi, Abdullah Abdulazeez and a yet to be identified man.

The resolution reads: “Urge the Senate to mandate the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff and the Senate Committee on Police Affairs to jointly interface with the hierarchy of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Customs Service towards ensuring that the incident is thoroughly investigated and any wrongdoers brought to book and organizing proper compensation to the families of the deceased and the injured.”

The motion sought an urgent investigation of the recent killing of civilians by men of the Nigeria Customs Service in Iseyin and breaking of shops in Ogbomosho and Ibadan and the need for professionalism in the Customs.

The Senate also urged ”the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariff to interface with the top hierarchy of the Nigeria Customs Service towards the reorientation of members of the Service to restrain the use of firearms in the course of their official engagements in line with international best practices and also return all the money taken away.”

According to Abdulfatai, the right to life of the five killed was deprived of them by the Customs operation.

He pointed out that the right to life is a qualified constitutional right in Nigeria and provides that persons living in Nigeria shall have a right to life and no one shall be deprived intentionally of his life unless in the execution of the sentence of a court of a criminal offence of which he has been found guilty.

He disclosed that ”the Senate regret that custom officials have abused these privileges and turn themselves into something else by terrorising and harassing innocent citizens, breaking their shops in absentia and carting away money and rice in their shops.”

Senator Abdulfatai said that the sum of N1,200,000.00 million naira (Nl.2m) with 600 bags of rice were carted away in Ogbomoso as well as N4,000,000.00 million naira (N4m) with lorry loads of rice from shops in Ibadan on the 1st, 2nd and 6th of May.

Earlier today, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde and entourage stormed Iseyin to present PDP flags to candidates contesting for local government chairmanship positions in Iseyin, Itesiwaju, Iwajowa and Kajola Local Councils.

Meanwhile, before the commencement of the campaign, the honourable member, representing Iseyin/Itesiwaju, Hon. Dele Adeola made a case for the governor to visit the families of the deceased who were killed by men of Customs on Sallah day.

Makinde and his entourage visited the deceased families and donated one million Naira each while assuring them that he would ensure that justice prevails in the whole matter.

Makinde while speaking, appreciated the good people of Iseyin for the support given to him during the last general election.

“I want to urge my good people of Iseyin and its environs that they should continue to maintain peaceful coexistence and virtue of integrity they have been known for even if they are confronted with provocative event that requires them to break down the laws and orders”, said Makinde.

“I have promised that satellite campus of Iseyin will be commenced for full operation this year and I want to reiterate here that an approval has been given to LAUTECH Governing Council to ensure the campus is established for operation this year.

“I will like to assure you also that Iseyin/Ogbomosho road will be completed before the end of my tenure.

“I want to urge our people to please come out massively and vote for our preferred candidates under the banner of Peoples’ Democratic Party PDP in order to allow dividends of democracy trickled down to the people at the grassroot.

Some of the members on the entourage of Gov. Makinde included, the Chairman Advisory Council to Oyo state Government, Sen. Hosea Agboola, The State PDP Chairman, Alhaji kunmi mustapha, Hon Dele Adeola, Member OYHA, representing Iseyin/ Itesiwaju State Constituency, the PDP flagbearer in the forthcoming council election in Iseyin LG, Hon. Mufutau Abilawon and a host of others.

Earlier today, Oduduwa News has gathered that some suspected internet fraudsters had staged a protest in Osun State calling for an end to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC raides on them.

The protesters seen carrying placards with various inscriptions trooped out in their number to stage the protest in Osogbo, the State Capital of Osun State.

Details later.