Governors from the South West geo-political zone will converge in Ibadan, Oyo State to address the security challenges confronting the region.

This came as the Arewa Youth Consultative Forum, AYCF, said it is collaborating with stakeholders from the South West to flush out criminals suspected to be herdsmen terrorizing the zone.

Governors Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Gboyega Oyetola (Osun), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) are expected to hold an enlarged stakeholders’ security summit in collaboration with the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria, DAWN.

News reliably gathered that the convener of the summit, Governor Akeredolu, who is chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum, has assured that the proposed security summit would put an end to the activities of marauding herdsmen and address the insecurity challenges in the region.

It was also gathered that the DAWN Commission will coordinate the summit which objective is to further promote the developmental agenda of the South West.

Speaking on what to expect after the summit, the Chief Press Secretary to Akeredolu, Segun Ajiboye said: “You know we have held a security summit here in Ondo State and our governor is tnow aking the initiative to other states in the region.

“Governors of the six states at the meeting will find solutions to the menace. “I want to assure the people of the region that an end is in sight to the spate of insecurity in the South West.”

“There will be a solution to these problems after the summit.”

Give urgent attention to insecurity, S’West APC tasks govs

Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress, APC South West Caucus, weekend, tasked the governors in the region to find lasting solution to the problem of insecurity in their states.

Rising from a meeting held in Lagos and presided over by its National Vice Chairman, South West Zone, Pastor Bankole Oluwajana, the party said the matter should be given urgent attention by the governors in the region.

In a communiqué issued and signed by its Zonal Publicity Secretary, Asiwaju Karounnwi Oladapo, the party said: “The South West caucus is solidly behind the governors in the strategies they have outlined to tackle the security challenges and restoration of peace in the south west region.”

We’re collaborating to flush out marauding herdsmen — Arewa Youth President

In a similar development, National President of Arewa Youths, Alhaji Yerima Shettima said efforts are in top gear to ensure the activities of marauding herdsmen are nipped in the bud in the South West and the country at large.

Shettima said: “We are collaborating and have been reaching out to leaders, groups and elders from the South West to ensure that the issue of criminal herdsmen both in the South West and the country is resolved. “

I want to state that the activities of marauding herdsmen is not limited to the South West, those of us in the north have also been at the receiving end. The northerners suffer more at the hands of these herdsmen who have turned to banditry and kidnapping.

”Let us not forget that these marauding herdsmen started their activities from the North and have gradually moved to the South. In some areas in the north, they kill hundreds of innocent people without it being mentioned in the news. I want us to know that this is a national issue and all hands must be on deck to address this issue.”

SOURCE: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/06/south-west-govs-discuss-security-challenges-in-ibadan-tomorrow/

Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Friday received the first set of refurbished Government Vehicles which were were put in good shape by Logistical ideas Limited.

Governor Akeredolu decided to renew numerous broken down and unserviceable vehicles at significantly low costs compared to the acquisition of brand new vehicles.

Following biddings from severally organisations, the Akeredolu’s administration brought in Logistical ideas Limited who has now delivered the first set of the renew vehicles with two years warranty.

Presenting the Vehicles to the Governor at the Governor's Office, Alagbaka, Akure, the Chairman, Logistical ideas Limited, Mr.Oluwole Okunnuga said the innitiave of the Governor to repair numerous broken down and unserviceable vehicles has helped saved the state's resources and put a stop at wastage.

He said in the next two weeks, his firm will deliver another 30 vehicles and also move at the same pace to be able to cover the time frame with the stipulated number of vehicles.

Mr. Ogunnuga disclosed that the project has also created jobs for artisans in the state as most workers were hired within the state.

Governor Akeredolu who said it's a new dawn in Governance in the state, stressed that he decided to put an end to the practice of abandoning serviceable vehicles to buy new ones.

The Governor noted that his administration became creative as a way of finding solution around the hard economy reality of the state.

Akeredolu who said the vehicles were risen from the dead, attested to the fact that most of the workers at the repair workshop are from within the state.

The Executive Secretary of the Ondo State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Francis Akanbiemu has described the just concluded outbreak response (second round) campaign on polio eradication as an improvement on previous ones in the state.

Represented by the Director, Disease Control and Immunisation, Dr. Victor Adefesoye, he explained that the exercise was aimed at protecting children between the ages of 0 month – 5 years against subsequent attack of the infection.

According to him, the necessary training exercise for the immunization programme was given to key officials who later stepped it down in their various local government areas for effective implementation of the exercise in the state.

While commending the health workers for their optimal performance during the exercise, he noted that Ondo State has performed well according to the response from the national body saying ” the state is leading in terms of polio eradication campaign next to Lagos State. “

Dr. Akanbiemu who also commended the efforts of supporting partners at ensuring a successful exercise, appealed to health workers to be more dedicated to their duties in future activities.

Commending the state government for its huge investment in the health sector, he reiterated government’s resolve to continue to sustain a polio free status in the state.

SOURCE: https://citadelng.com/ondo-second-best-in-polio-eradication-campaign/

The Ondo State High Court sitting in Akure yesterday, struck out the suit filed by the former Deputy Governor of Ondo State, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo on the non-payment of his pension and other entitlements as a former deputy governor, saying that it lacked jurisdiction to entertain such case.

Justice Olabode Adegbehingbe in his ruling held that the court has no jurisdiction to hear the case because the suit ought to have been filed at National Industrial Court of Nigeria.

The claimant had sued the Ondo State Government over the non-payment of his outstanding emoluments and monthly pension arrears as former deputy governor of the state.

Oluboyo, was a deputy to ex-Governor Olusegun Mimiko from April 27, 2015 to April 24, 2017. He replaced Alhaji Ali Olanusi following the latter’s impeachment.

In his prayers, Counsel to the claimant, Mr. Olu Ogidan prayed the court to recognise Oluboyo as the authentic former deputy governor in the state and to compel the state government to pay all his entitlements including gratuity and life pension running to several millions of naira.

The counsel declared that the claimant having assumed office of the deputy governor of the state and having served meritoriously in the capacity is entitled to the payment of arrears of his pension, allowances, benefits and all other entitlements due and payable to him as a former deputy governor.

He prayed that the sum of N10,000,000 as exemplary and aggravated damage should be paid to compensate and or assuage the claimants of the untold hardship, emotional distress , scorn and ridicule to which the action of the defendants exposed the claimant to in the circumstances of the case.

The suit, No. AK/75/2019 filed in the High Court of Ondo State, has the governor, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice as well as the Ondo State Pensions Board as co-defendants.

Speaking with journalists, Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Ministry of Justice, Mr. Cyril Akinrinsola said the case was dismissed for lack of merit.

He said such cases should be heard by the National Industrial Court of Nigeria and not State High Court.

His words ” the claimant (Oluboyo) ought to have approached the National Industrial Court of Nigeria as the only court prescribed by constitution to hear matters relating to payment of entitlements of the office of the governor and the deputy governor.

SOURCE: https://citadelng.com/court-dismisses-oluboyos-case-against-odsg/

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday inaugurated the new National Economic Council (NEC) with a call on governors of the 36 states of the federation to, like him, play politics of inclusiveness by carrying everybody along irrespective of political differences.

Speaking at the ceremony at the presidential villa, Abuja, he pointed out that he had run the federal administration in the last four years treating all the states the same way without discrimination along party lines.

He said the state governors must, therefore, emulate his model and shun divisive polices to uplift the people.

“Your Excellencies, the Federal Government in the last four years has demonstrated unwavering inclusiveness in dealing with every State, notwithstanding the political leaning of the Governor or the predominant party in power at the State level. I want this to be your model at the State level. No matter which party we belong to, let us shun divisive policies and join hands together for the upliftment of our people,” he said.

The president also urged the governors to pay special attention to the four major issues of security, education, health and agriculture in the coming years of their tenure, noting that the successes in the last four areas will go a long way in lifting the people out of poverty and secure our future for sustainable growth and development.

He said his government will continue to rate security of lives and properties as top priority on its agenda, assuring of commitment to securing the territorial integrity of the nation, while confronting the remnants of terrorists, bandits and other criminals across the country.

“There must be collective and deliberate efforts by all to improve the security of lives and properties across the country. Security is a bottom to top operation. Everybody must be involved for total success,” the president added’

On education, President Buhari stressed the need to take “very seriously and enforce very rigorously the statutory provisions on free and compulsory basic education, especially the Section 18(3) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, “which places on all of us here an obligation to eradicate illiteracy and provide free and compulsory education.”

While pointing out that Section 2 of the Compulsory, Free Universal Basic Education Act provides that every Government in Nigeria shall provide free, compulsory and universal basic education for every child of primary and junior secondary school age, he added: “It is indeed a crime for any parent to keep his child out of school for this period. In my view, when a government fails to provide the schools, teachers and teaching materials necessary for basic education, it is actually aiding and abetting that crime.”

He further stated: “This is, therefore, a call to action. I would like to see every Governor rise from this meeting and rally his local Government Chairmen towards ensuring that our schools offer the right opportunities and provide the needed materials and teachers for basic education, at the minimum. If we are able to do this, the benefits will surely manifest themselves.

“Ensuring proper education during the first nine years of schooling means that our children start off their lives with some discipline and education. They will be safeguarded from roaming the streets, and protected from all the evil influences that assail idle hands and idle minds.

“Whatever they choose to do thereafter, children with basic education will be better prepared to learn and to appreciate their own role in society. This will also go a long way in solving our security and other anti-social problems, which are often the manifestations of early delinquency.

“I, therefore, think every Governor here should make a firm commitment to be personally involved in ensuring that every child of school age actually goes to school throughout the crucial nine years of basic education.”

On enhancing the revenue available to states, President Buhari advised that they must, in the next four years, find ways to increase internally generated revenues, improve VAT collection and increase agricultural output without disrupting business activities

He added: “I also want you to work with the Federal Agencies and the service providers in ensuring that broadband infrastructure is made available all over the country. Information and Communication Technology is the future of work and we must not allow ourselves to be left behind.

The president restated the high expectations on NEC as “a veritable source of articulating policies and programmes that are expected to drive growth and development, secure our environment and take the country to the next level,” noting that the challenges that confront the country in the next few years, especially in the areas of security, human capital development and employment for the nation’s youths are “monumental and historic. But we are more than equal to the task.”

President Muhammadu Buhari, Thursday, appointed Mr. Mele Kyari, the new Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, with effect from July 8, 2019.

In a statement in Abuja, Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of the NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, further stated that President Buhari also appointed seven new Chief Operating Officers to replace the existing ones.

According to him, the seven new chief operating officers are Mr. Roland Onoriode Ewubare (South-South) – Chief Operating Officer, Upstream; Engr. Mustapha Yinusa Yakubu (North Central) – Chief Operating Officer Refining and Petrochemicals; Engr. Yusuf Usman (North East) – Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power; Ms. Lawrencia Nwadiabuwa Ndupu (South East), Chief Operating Officer Ventures; Mr. Umar Isa Ajiya (North West) – Chief Financial Officer; Engr. Adeyemi Adetunji (South West) – Chief Operating Officer, Downstream and Mr. Farouk Garba Said (North West) – Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Services.

Ughamadu noted that until his new appointment, Kyari, a geologist, was Group General Manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division of NNPC and also doubled, since 13th May, 2018, as Nigeria’s National Representative to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC.

He disclosed that President Buhari has directed that the New NNPC boss and the newly appointed Chief Operating Officers work with the current occupiers of the various offices till 7th July, 2019 towards a smooth transition on 8th July 2019 when their appointments would take effect to ensure a smooth transition.

He, however, said the appointment of Mr. Farouk Garba Said (North West), who is replacing a retiring Chief Operating Officer, is effective from 28th June, 2019.

Ughamadu said, “Mallam Kyari is a quintessential crude oil marketer with prerequisite certification and outfield pedigree in Petroleum Economics and crude oil and gas trading.

In the last 27 years he had traversed the entire value chain of the Petroleum Industry, with exceptional records of performance. “Under his watch, the Crude Oil Marketing Division has recorded noticeable transformation in the management and sales of the various Nigeria’s crude oil grades via an infusion of transparency and automation of the processes.

“Kyari would be the 19th Group Managing Director of the National Oil Company.” Ughamadu stated that the outgoing Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Dr. Maikanti Baru, had congratulated the new appointees.


SOURCE: https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/06/breaking-fg-appoints-kyari-new-chief-executive-of-nnpc/

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State said his administration had performed well in the education sector, saying many schools had been rehabilitated while the administration was planning to recruit more teachers.

Akeredolu, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Segun Ajiboye, added that some equipment had been procured for the schools.

He said, “Part of our efforts at improving the condition of the schools is that we have released N50m intervention fund for 50 secondary schools damaged by rainstorm in the state. We also procured science equipment for 20 secondary schools worth N90m.

“We have also procured textbooks and instructional materials worth N110m for the schools. So, we are not relenting. We inherited some challenges from the past administration, but gradually we will overcome them.”

Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has called for support for mechanised agriculture as one of the major ways to ensure self-sufficiency in food production.

He said his administration would always promote policies that would guarantee increased production of major agricultural products.

Akeredolu, who spoke during the flag-off of the agricultural season at Mariwo Farm Settlement in Ifedore Local Government Area, said the current food situation called for more dedication and commitment to agricultural development.

The governor, while insisting that more people, especially youths, have shown interest and commitment to agriculture and its value chain, added that his government had rolled out a few interventionist programmes to boost the agricultural sector.

He listed the interventions to include the establishment of modern agricultural village at Jugbere in Owo Local Government Area where 500 farmers would be engaged in four hectares of cocoa plantation each and raising and distribution of 500,000 cocoa and 250,000 cashew seedlings to farmers to further boost cocoa and cashew production.

He said government has concluded arrangement to distribute additional 100,000 cocoa seedlings for the 2019 planting season and the registration of all farmers in the state forest reserves to protect the forest and ensure adequate food production without hindrance.

Governor Akeredolu recalled that his administration had trained over 2,500 youths on cassava value addition, besides partnering foreign and private investors.

SOURCE: https://www.sunnewsonline.com/akeredolu-makes-case-for-mechanised-agriculture/

• The 1,000-year royal castle sits upon 180 acres, has 1,000 inner rooms, museum, market, others

Historians have adjudged the palace of the Olowo of Owo in Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State as the “biggest palace in Africa” going by historical facts and research. The palace built almost 1,000 years ago is a place to behold for those who value tradition and culture. It houses artifacts and ancient facilities many of which are now monuments contained in the museum located within the palace.

No fewer than 13 traditional rulers from the first Olowo of Owo, Oba Ojugbelu Arere, have occupied the palace. They included Rerengejen, Elewuokun, Ajaka, Ajagbusi Ekun, Olagbegi Atanneye I, Olagbegi Atanneye II, Ajike Ogunoye, Olateru Olagbegi I, Olateru Olagbegi II, Adekola Ogunoye II and Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III, who joined his ancestors in April.

Located in the heart of the town and surrounded by trees and some other artifacts, the palace contains 1000 inner courts, 20 antes and many others with the central market.

An historian, Olusola Olutayo, disclosed: “Owo has the largest palace in Africa, which was declared a national monument by the Federal Government in 2000. Each courtyard has a specific function and was dedicated to a particular deity. The largest, said to have been twice the size of an American football field, was used for public assemblies and festivals.

Some courtyards are paved with quartz pebbles or broken pottery. Pillars supporting the veranda roofs were carved with statues of the king mounted on a horse or shown with his senior wife.”

Today, the palace stands as both a cultural and historical testament of a rich and diverse part of the people of Owo. The town has produced giants in politics, industry, commerce and education including Governor Rotimi Akeredolu. It came to being at about the closing of the 10th century and its 1,000 years of existence would be celebrated later in the year.

The palace built in 1340 during the reign of Olowo Irengenje. He moved the palace from the Ojuti Asegbo to its present site. Its 1,000 rooms and courtyards are known as Ugha while some of the courtrooms served as shrines and places of worship of ancestors. This could be the reason the National Museum Centre is situated within the palace.

The Olubola of Owo, Chief Olusola Ogunleye, said the palace, which sits on a 180-acre of land, plays a significant role despite the existence of a new one: “Olowo is the principal occupant of the palace called Aghofen.”



A palace chief who is also the Owamodu of Owo, Chief Tola Owatowose, said the palace symbolises the integrity of Owo Kingdom: “Some people voluntarily carry out the maintenance of the palace to show their allegiance and respect to the king and the kingdom. Most of the courtyards had collapsed or caved in but 17 of them are still in existence. Some of the courtyards include the Ugha slowpoke, where past Olowos were buried.

“The courtyard is set aside for the worship of our ancestors and kings. Olowo visits the courtyard once in a year during the celebration of new kolanuts. Women are not allowed in the yard except the queen.

“One of the largest courtyards is known as Ugha Okonren. This courtyard is specially designed for men and it is used for the gathering of male folks. Next to the men’s courtyard is the Ugha Ehin Ode where every chief has his allotted seat according to their hierarchy, in descending order of importance. The Olowo occupies the central seat.

“Some of the courtyards are exclusively reserved for the king’s use including Ugha Akomaduse. Here, the king is expected to relax and hold interactive sessions with his chiefs. It was a place where the chiefs are expected to pay homage to the king in the morning. The place where the king lived was known as Ugha Gwakun. Inside this yard existed Odo Uli courtyard where the king has his meal, while he has his bath at Ugha Agwe courtyard. The Ifa oracle is consulted on behalf of the king at this courtyard too.

“The Olowo uses some of these places till date. For instance, the Olowo visits the courtyard to dress and UnCloth for the annual Ighogho festival. Not all chiefs are, however, allowed to enter some of these courtyards. The wives of the king also have special courtyards within the palace and these places are out of bound for men except the Olowo. Ugha Oluwabunmile and Ugha Yeyeluwa are particularly reserved for the head queen.

“Other courtyards of the queens include Ugha Tere, Ugha Gbedu and Ugha Okelade. Food and gift items are shared in these courtyards. The palace also has a special courtyard for preserving food items for the use of the palace. It is known as Ugha Ogba. Foodstuffs presented by the people to the king are preserved in this barn.

“At the palace, there are different sizes of drinking cups known as Agho. The type of cup depends on the grade or the hierarchy of the chiefs and this is only done during festivals. The Olowo also has a chariot he uses to move round the town during special festivals.



“Relatives of the king and his wives live in the palace. Princes and princesses are not allowed to live in the palace during their youthful days. When married, they could be moved out of the palace. Male servants who live within the palace are castrated. The head servant if not castrated lives outside the palace wall but must be at the palace before cock crows and the last to leave the palace.

“The palace experienced some decay after the deposition of Oba Olateru Olagbegi II, who was removed by government and banished to Okitipupa.” He listed some features noticeable at the old palace before he was deposed to include lawn tennis court, fishpond with golden fishes.

He, however, said some parts of the 180-acre land have been given out for development: “Government Primary School besides the palace and the new mega school are parts of the palace.”

One of the senior Omo Olowos, Chief Jamiu Ekungba: “Let a new Olowo of Owo emerge so that we can take you round the palace. As it is now, we cannot take you round the palace since there is no Olowo in place. By the time we get a new traditional ruler, we will take you round the palace and you will see things by your self. Our palace is the largest in the whole of Africa.”

An indigene, Richard Olabode, stressed the need to preserve the old palace: “Monuments are vital parts of any country; preserving them is the duty of government. This can be achieved by establishing a synergy with the people these are places, which remind us of our ancestors.

“Owo Palace is one of the historical places in Africa as it remains the largest in the whole of Africa. Government needs to shift attention to this place as it stands to bring more money to the coffers of government as one of the tourist centres.”

SOURCE: https://www.sunnewsonline.com/olowo-africas-biggest-palace/

Former Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu has been nominated for the position of the Deputy Senate President.

Ekweremadu’s nomination, however, came as a surprise to many.

Senator-elect Chukwuka Utazi nominated the immediate past deputy President of the Senate to retain his seat at the 9th Senate.

The nomination was seconded by Senator-elect Rose Oko (Cross River North).

Both Utazi and Oko are of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The lawmaker representing Enugu West, however, excepted the nomination as he vowed to work with Ahmed Lawan who had earlier been elected Senate President.
This was even as the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) had nominated the Senator-elect for Delta Central, Ovie Omo-Agege.

Senator-elect for Katsina North, Ahmed Baba Kaita nominated Omo-Agege while Senator-elect for Niger North, Abdullahi Aliyu Sabi seconded it.

In nominating Ekweremadu, Senator-elect Utazi said, his emergence as the deputy president would “restore the sanctity of the Senate chamber which was bastardized eight months ago”.

Details shortly…

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2019/06/11/breaking-ekweremadu-shock-nomination-deputy-senate-president/

Gov Alhaji Yahaya Bello is the fourth Executive Governor of Kogi State. An amazingly simple man guided by sound ethical principles. He has deep respect for people, processes, and rules.

With unblemished leadership qualities, clear vision on the right direction for the society and extraordinary courage to go against the status quo and make positive change possible.

The people of Kogi State have witneseds unprecedented developmental strides since he took over the mantle of leadership of the state. Kogi before now was run based on family business without any legal framework to be called a state, until he came on board and restored the lost values of the state. This youthful and resourceful Governor within just three (3) years in office has recorded achievements in various sectors including security, health, agriculture, education, infrastructure development like roads and schools, amongst others across the 3 senatorial district of the state.

In Kogi East my own senatorial district, Governor Yahaya Bello has positively touched almost all the Local Government in terms of Social Amenities. They include;

1 Ongoing construction of the age-long abandoned Ejule-Umomi-Ajaka-Idah road.

2 Payment of counterpart fund for the construction of Idah/Agenebode bridge on private public partnership.

3 Through his Chief of Staff, the people of Kogi East are set to commission the Igala Unity House, built by the GYB led administration, in the next one month.

4 The people of Ankpa LGA and Olamaboro LGA, after been denied of basic infrastructure like roads, lack of portable water, electricity and health care services for several decades, are happy that Ankpa is now wearing a new look with well constructed asphalt nylon tar road network.

5 Payment of 100 Million naira counterpart fund to NEWMAP for control of erosion site at Olubojo and Afor gamgam, both in Ankpa LGA.

6 Refurbishing and renovation of Ankpa and Olamboro central mosques with modest architectural design.

7 Renovations of five (5) public schools each from the 9 local government areas that made up Kogi East.

8 Construction of Ibana Okpo/Ogugu-Ete road.

9 Electrification of Abejukolo, Omala LGA where the former Governor of Kogi State who served for nine (9) years hailed from.

10 Provision of motorized boreholes across the 9 local government areas of Kogi East.

This is not the right time for tribal agenda, developmental agenda we know.
Even in the holy book, God says we should reward good with good, GYB has done well, tribal sentiment aside, he did not made himself an Ebira by tribe, destiny choose him as one. Let’s shun tribal sentiments and reelect GYB to consolidate on his first term achievement.

The Ohinoyi Of Ebiraland, His Royal Majesty, Dr Ado Ibrahim has thanked the people of Kogi State for supporting “his son”, Governor Yahaya Bello.

The Royal Father who is also the Vice Chairman, Kogi State Council Of Chiefs gave the commendation at the Eid Fitri prayer at the Eid ground in Okene, saying the Governor has made him and the entire people of Ebiraland proud.

According to the Paramount Ruler Of Ebiraland, Governor Bello is doing his best to move the State forward.

“Recently, my views were taken out of context and I have spoken to the Governor about those things.

“As my son, I want him to continue to make us proud. I know he will do more and that will be our next level. I want the President to continue to be proud of him.

“Nobody can solve all the problems of the State but the Governor has done very well. I call on the people of Ebiraland and indeed Kogi State to continue to support him,” he said.

Governor Yahaya Bello thanked the Royal Father for his fatherly advice and guidance since his assumption of Office over three years ago.

“The Ohinoyi is my father and the father of the Ebira nation. I thank him for his contributions to my success.

“No good son will not tap from the wealth of experience of the Royal Father. I urge all Ebira people to continue to live with one another with the fear of Allah. I pray for continued peace and harmony in Ebiraland,” the Governor stated.

The Acting Chief Imam of Ebiraland who led the prayers, Saliu Abere charged the Muslim faithful to continue to live according to the dictates of the Almighty Allah.

The prayer was attended by renowned Islamic Clerics as well as top Government Officials including the Special Adviser to the Governor on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Engr Sadiku Abubakar Ohere, Special Adviser on SDG, Mumini Okara, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Isah Omade and the Accountant General of the State, Alhaji Jibril Momoh.

Source: https://citadelng.com/traditional-ruler-thanks-citizens-for-supporting-son/

The Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has reacted to the alleged involvement of scamming by the Caretaker Chairmen across the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

Concise News gathered that Governor Akeredolu, in a statement signed by the state Commissioner for Information, Yemi Owolabi, on Saturday, dissociated himself from what he described as a fraudulent act by some of the chairmen alleged to have been using his name to defraud the supervisory councillors in return for tenure extension.

The statement read: “The attention of Ondo State Government has been drawn to a malicious falsehood allegedly being peddled by some Caretaker Chairmen in the state that Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN had mandated all serving Supervisors in the 18 Local Government Areas to contribute twenty thousand each, to facilitate the extension of their tenure in office.

“The Governor hereby dissociates himself from this blatant fraud and warns all the 203 Supervisors in our 18 Local Government Areas not to fall prey to the antics of any chairman asking them to contribute twenty thousand naira tenure extension fees.”

According to the statement, for the avoidance of doubts, the tenure extension of any supervisor is not in the hands of the Caretaker Chairmen who themselves were appointed by the Governor as interim council bosses.

“Finally, the Governor has also warned all Caretaker Chairmen not to embark on the collection of fraudulent, frivolous and vexatious fees from the supervisors or members of the public as anyone who contravenes this order will be prosecuted,” he said.

Farmers in Ondo State will soon benefit from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s N200 billion loan facility approved for them at a single digit, for improved production of five major crops.

The cash crops are cocoa, cashew, oil palm, shea butter and sesame seeds.

The approval was one of the major discussions of the Bankers’ Committee meeting last week.

According to the Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Otunba Adegboyega Adefarati, who addressed journalists yesterday on behalf of the State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, the development was an opportunity cash crops farmers in the state had been yearning for to take their trade to the world stage.

Adefarati recounted efforts put in place by the state governor, whom he said took the matter to the highest level, especially the National Economic Council (NEC). He said the resolved of Ondo State, a leading producer of cocoa and oil palm in the country, was to convince the CBN to advance the facility to the cocoa and oil palm sub-sectors as it did to rice farmers, which blossomed.

Adefarati was of the view that with a single digit interest rate facility, cocoa, oil palm and cashew farmers in the state would be able to take the industry to a new height.

Commending the National Economic Council and the Bankers’ Committee for approving the facility for the farmers, the Commissioner enjoined cocoa, oil palm and cashew farmers to take advantage of the long-awaited opportunity by approaching their banks to access the loan.

He also called on the Federal Government to set up a Presidential Committee on cocoa production, like it did for some sectors in the past, to ensure what he called a cocoa rebirth revolution.

He argued that the move would be the surest way to maximize the country’s comparative advantage in cocoa production.

A high point of the facility, Adefarati pointed out, was its extension to companies processing any of the cash crops at a single digit interest rate for up to 10 years.

“The whole essence of this facility is to reduce poverty,” he said.

source: https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/ondo-farmers-to-smile-over-n200bn-facility.html

Experts in various professions on Thursday in Ilorin held a training programme for students of the University of Ilorin on financial literacy, investment, entrepreneurship and career growth.

The programme tagged,: “NEXTU”, was sponsored by PAL Pensions, a Pensions Fund Administrator (PFA).

The panelists provided the students with knowledge and guidance for unleashing their potentials in finance, entrepreneurship, technology, new media, entertainment and life choices.

Speaking on the rationale behind the project, Ms Sunmisola Mark-Okoma, the Head, Brand Management and Corporate Communications of PAL Pensions, said the initiative was in line with the Corporate Social Responsibility of PAL.

According to her, it is aimed at teaching Nigerian youths financial literacy and employability, having observed the gap amongst the youth.

“We noticed that there is a gap amongst the youths because most people have talent to make money and get rich.

“However, to become wealthy requires another set of skills to enable the money work for you and that is what we are trying to teach the students here,” she said.

Mark-Okoma, who disclosed that the outfit had been to 10 federal universities under the second edition of the programme, said it was to avoid mistakes of the past.

She also explained that another initiative, “NEXTU Academy”, targeted at final year students of universities would soon be introduced.

Under this initiative, she said that graduates on national service would have opportunity to work and earn money.

Among the panelists were Tobi Bakare, a banker and a housemate in the Big Brothers Naija Reality Show and Oluyomi Ojo, a young entrepreneur.

Joel Ogunshola, the Special Assistant on Innovations and Partnership to Gov. Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State; Oluwatosin Olaseinde, a financial analyst, and Abolore Akande popularly known as 9ice, an award winning Nigerian musician, were among the panelists.

The panelists spoke on how to be successful in their careers and business, management of funds and how to invest wisely with small funds.

A VISTA of hope swept across the land yesterday as President Muhammadu Buhari and 29 governors took the oath for a term of four years.

There were promises from the 12 governors who received batons from their predecessors and the 17 returning governors.

The new governors are: Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos); Dapo Abiodun (Ogun); Emeka Ihedioha (Imo); Bello Matawalle (Zamfara); Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (Kwara); Prof Babagana Zullum (Borno); Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe); Mai Mala Buni (Yobe); Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa) and Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa)

As announced by former Information Minister Lai Mohammed, the inauguration of President Buhari at the Eagle Square, Abuja, was low-key.



Muslim and Christian clerics prayed for the President and the nation.

The oaths were administered on Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo by the Acting Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Mohammed Tanko.

At the brief ceremony, there was lowering and hoisting of the National and Defence flags, signifying the end of a dispensation and the beginning of another.

Apart from the traditional 21-gun salute, the military also displayed advance movements in review order and President Buhari inspected the guard of honour, acknowledging cheers from guests before departing the venue.

There were no speeches as it had earlier been announced that yesterday would only be for signing of oaths and inauguration for a new term.

It is believed that the President would unfold his agenda for the new term on June 12, which has been designated as the National Democracy Day.

A Presidency source explained why the President did not deliver a speech at his inauguration.

The source said: “The President has said it. Today (yesterday) is for oath taking. It (inauguration) has to take place today (yesterday) because it is constitutional.

“Every other thing, including the inauguration speech, is moved to June 12.”



The various military formations – Army, Navy, Air Force and the Police – put up spectacular performances during the Guard of Honour Parade to entertain guests.

Dignitaries at the ceremony included Senate President Bukola Saraki, House Speaker Yakubu Dogara, All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart and Co-Chairman of the 2019 Presidential Campaign Council Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; former Interim National Chairman of the party Chief Bisi Akande; former Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) Chairman Nuhu Ribadu.

Also at the ceremony were: former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon; President Buahri’s wife Aisha; Prof Osinbajo’s wife Dolapo; APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole and some members of the immediate past Federal Executive Council (FEC).

Governors Godwin Obaseki (Edo); Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Gboyega Oyetola (Osun); Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), former governors Ibikunle Amosun (Ogun); Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara); Rauf Aragbesola (Osun); Senator Goodwill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom) and members of the Diplomatic Corps also graced the occasion.

Security was tight around the Eagle Square venue of the inauguration.

SOURCE: https://thenationonlineng.net/buhari-governors-take-oath-amid-hope-for-better-days/

President Muhammadu Buhari and 29 governors who emerged victorious in last elections will, today, take oath of office for a fresh four-year term.

This was even as Nigerians gave kudos and knocks to president Buhari; during an assessment of his first term.

Acting Chief Justice of the Nigeria (CJN), Tanko Mohammed, will administer the oath of office and oath of allegiance on Buhari and Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, at the Eagle Square in Abuja, in a colorful ceremony, which the Federal Government has promised would be low-key.

Eagle Square is wearing a new look, as all is set for the swearing in ceremony, which will begin Buhari’s second term.

In 29 states, governors would also take the oath of office. Some of them will be starting their second term in office, while some others are in their first terms.

Governors who are taking oath of office today are: Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia),

Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Adedapo Abiodun (Ogun), Darius Ishaku (Taraba) and Samuel Ortom (Benue).

Others are Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Abdullai Gandu- je (Kano), Aminu Tambuwa (Sokoto), Mohammed Mattawale (Zamfara), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Mohammed Bala (Bauchi), Emeka Ihedioha (Imo), Solomon Lalong (Plateau), Ahmadu Finitri (Adamawa), Babagana Zulum (Borno) and Mai Mala Buni (Yobe).

Governors who will also take oath of office are Aminu Masari (Katsina), Muhammad Yahaya (Gombe), Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (Kwara), Muhammad Badaru (Jigawa), Abubakar Bello (Niger) and Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa).

Governors Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Willie Obiano (Anambra) and Gboyega Oyetola (Osun) are still in office.

Meanwhile, vice presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP), Mr. Peter Obi, has thanked God for sustaining democracy for 20 years in Nigeria.

Obi said this, yesterday, in Owerri, during an inaugural lecture in honour of Governor of Imo State, Emeka Ihedioha, at the Ahajioku Convention Centre, Owerri.

He advised Ihedioha on the need to cut the cost of governance and concentrate on education and other infrastructure, and added that the fact that democracy has stayed uninterrupted,in spite of many lapses, was proof that it had come to stay.

He thanked all those who were part of the growth of democracy in the country and reminded Nigerian leaders that democracy is more than just a name.

“The beauty of democracy is not in the name, but, in what our people now commonly call ‘democracy dividend,’ which we are yet to experience fully in Nigeria.”

He pointed out the inability to achieve free and fair election and enthronement of the rule of law as our greatest failing.

In its reaction to the president’s Monday interview, the PDP said resort to blame game and alleged false performance claims, further confirmed that his administration failed in effectively managing the affairs of the country, in the last four years.

The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, yesterday, noted that it is accepted globally that all critical sectors of the country performed abysmally in the last four years, because of the alleged incompetence of All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government.

Besides, the PDP said “president Buhari’s diatribe against the National Assembly and its elected leadership further confirms his disdain for constitutional democracy, rule of law and the Principle of Separation of powers; as entrenched in our Constitution.

“Mr President’s personal attacks on the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, were totally uncalled for and spoke volumes on his disposition about democracy.”

The Ondo State Government has said it will empower no fewer than 150,000 unemployed youths in the state through a newly established agency, the Ondo State Office of Innovation and Partnerships in collaboration with a German firm, the German Development Corporation.

According to the state government, the empowerment programme will be implemented for over a period of 18 months and will include employability engagements, involving the unemployed in Small and Medium Enterprises for paid interships as well as other full time job opportunities.

The state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, stated this at the opening of a two-day training programme for 200 unemployed youths in Akure, the state capital on Tuesday. The training was organised by the government agency in collaboration with the German firm.

Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Innovation and Partnerships, Mr Joel Ogunsola, the governor explained that the innovation office would promote entrepreneurship, enterprise development and economic growth through innovations, urging the youths to follow up on other partnerships programmes of the office for more opportunities.


He said, “Our newly established Office of Innovation and Partnerships is directly responsible for empowering young people, we are working to engage up to 150,000 people within 18 months. The objective is basically to take them through different career advisory options, help them understand what the opportunities are within the Nigerian ecosystem, and specifically train them on basic digital and technological skills.

“Beyond training, the partnership is to particularly fix them with jobs. We have gotten commitments from some agencies of government and SMEs that had already keyed into the project. We are indeed grateful to GIZ for the commitment to pay the cost of the internships.”

Addressing the participants, the National Coordinator for the Nigerian-German Centre for Jobs, Migration and Reintegration, Mrs Elizabeth Olayinka-Adekunle, said the partnership was to empower Nigerians with skills that could make them self-reliant, by introducing them to entrepreneurial thinking, emerging opportunities within the Nigerian economic space, and job placement training to mention a few.

Source: https://punchng.com/ondo-german-firm-to-empower-150000-youths/

Oshiomhole should resign abeg. He should retire.

ONDO state governor, Mr Rotimi Akeredolu, on Monday, decried the high rate of drug and alcohol abuse among underage children and school age pupils across the country, urging all stakeholders and authorities to intervene to regulate the tides.

Akeredolu who stated this while speaking during the celebration of this year Children’s Day in Akure, Ondo state capital, noted that the issue of drug abuse is becoming more frustrating among school children saying they must be orientated on the destructive tendency of drug abuse.

He identified drug abuse as the major public health and security concern in the country saying that said that some children at all levels of educational attainment are known to engage in this unwholesome practice which is considered a medical disease.

The governor noted that some of the school children now experience mental health challenges, temporary or permanent absence, and eventually become school dropouts due to the havoc wreck on then by the drug.

He listed other consequences of drug abuse to include increased violence and crimes, HIV/AIDS, rape, secret cult activities amongst others, while he noted that drug had impacted negatively on healthcare delivery system, socioeconomic indices and general wellbeing of our citizens.

He warned the children against drug abuse, asking them to abstain from alcoholic beverages that may lead them to drug abuse, saying “as Government and parents, we are desirous of building a better future for our children because children of today are the leaders of tomorrow and if we allow drugs or other ills to destroy our children today, we are destroying our future.

“As one of the interventions to ensure a protective and guaranteed future for our children, I constituted a two-tier intervention structure comprising high-level Ministerial Committee on the elimination of Drug Abuse for a coordinated response in addressing the challenges posed by Drug and substance abuse among the teeming populace.

“It is worthy of mention that the Presidential Advisory Committee is currently interfacing with core stakeholders, drug experts, rehabilitated drug users at all levels so as to make appropriate recommendations to government on interventions required to reverse this ugly trend.”

Akeredolu said his administration is also in the process of reviewing the National Drug Control Master Plan 2015-2019 with a focus on drug control and consumption.

Aside from the implementation of the plan and addressing the national drug problem, Akeredolu said the Federal Government has placed a restriction on the use, importation, and the sale of codeine as a cough syrup without prescription.

The governor said as part of efforts to curb drug abuse in the country, the Federal Government has established a synergy with the National Drug and Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and National Agency for Drug and Food Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and developed Information, Education and Communication materials for awareness creation nationwide.

The Governor advised all Ministries, Departments, Agencies, Civil Society Organisations, International partners, Religious leaders, Traditional rulers, the teachers and the parents to work together in commitment to addressing the challenges of drug abuse so as to avert the consequences of this social menace and secure a better future for our children and the Nation.

Source: https://tribuneonlineng.com/214765/

Ondo State Internal Revenue Service (ODIRS) will soon embark on census to capture over one million tax payers. Already, the service has captured about 400,000 tax payers out of over a million taxable adults in the state.

The Chairman of the Internal Revenue Service, Mr Tolu Adegbie disclosed this in an interview with The Hope yesterday in Akure, the state capital.

Adegbie explained that the state with about 3.9 million population among which 50 percentage are youths below 18 years has close to a million taxable adults.

According to him, the state will soon conduct a census of taxable adults to get the exact figure of her taxable adults.

He said that there are different categories of taxable adults, saying that it is not all taxable adults that could pay tax.

He noted that some are exempted by law like the Pastors, Imams and the Pensioners whom he said do not earn salaries.

His words:”The figures we focus on is how many people are paying taxes. The population of the state is about 3.9million and 50 percent are youths who are below 18years

.”We are looking at 3.9million people divided by two, that is about 1.9million people, so, if you say from1.9 million, a million is removed for some people who are exempted and the unemployed graduates, the number of people expected to pay taxes should be close to a million”, he observed.

According to Adegbie, the law permits the state to generate its tax identification numbers for people, saying that it is then it could be said they have been captured.

He declared that the state had been operating the Joint Task Board (JTB) where only 50,000 people were captured while they were not the only people paying taxes.

” We have a payment platform that records the payment each person made which gave the number given based on our tax clearance certificate”, he added.

The Chairman, who reacted on the position of the state as the ninth position in IGR said the state will be among the top five before the end of next year.

According to him, performing well is not a magic but must be carefully planned stressing that the impact of the newly recruited revenue officers would fully be felt next year.

Ondo State Government has restated its resolve to continue to provide enabling environment for private businesses to thrive, especially in the agribusiness.

Commissioner for Agriculture, Asiwaju Adegboyega Adefarati made the promise during a working visit to Igbajo Agro Allied Farm Limited, a large scale agribusiness farm in Ondo West Local Government Area of the state.

Adefarati who was accompanied on the visit by the Ag. Permanent Secretary, Segun Odusanya and some management staff expressed satisfaction with the facilities on ground.

He said the promoter of the farm deserved every assistance from the state government and other institutional agencies, especially Ondo State Ministry of Agriculture and the Bank of Agriculture in order to reach its full potential.

The facilities on the farm include a blossoming Oil Palm Plantation, Six Pens of birds, housing 20,000 birds a Ranch with at least 60 cows, goatry, piggery, dams, Feed mills and staff hostel

Other facilities at the Farm include a Nine Holes Golf Court, Night Club and a hill with over 545 steps to get to the top.

The poultry section with capacity of 45,000 birds, but currently housing 30,000 birds is producing a minimum of 500 crates of eggs per day making it the biggest farm of its kind in the state.

The farm which currently has a minimum of 100 persons in its employment is a partner in progress. as it has contributed immensely to the State Government jobs creation and poverty reduction efforts.

Speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Segun Odusanya who commended the management of the farm for a job well done said this is the kind of business they will love to assist and partner, promising that the Ministry will do all in its power to assist the venture with the needed expertise to realise its full potential.

On why a medical doctor embarked on a full scale commercial farming worth millions of naira, the promoter of the agribusiness, Dr Jibayo Adeyeye attributed it to his passion and desire to create job and value chain addition to the landscape.

Adeyeye, the Special Adviser to Ondo State Governor on Health said he singlehandedly financed the farm he started almost eight years ago following his inability to secure an Agriculture loan from the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Bank of Agriculture.

He disclosed that the farm consummes between 40 to 50 tons of maize per week especially in the production of feeds.

However, he lamented the inability of farmers to maximize the opportunity by going into large scale farming of maize.

He expressed his commitment to partner the state government in order to grow and develop the agriculture sector and help his farm to achieve its full potentials.

The Federal Government yesterday said it approved additional N25 billion payment as Earned Academic Allowances for the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

It was learnt that the money is part-payment contained in the Memorandum of Action (MoA) the union signed with the government.

The Muhammadu Buhari administration said the N25 billion was aside the N20 billion it released last year to public universities across the country.

The Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, broke the news yesterday at his valedictory media briefing in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Adamu was accompanied by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Anthony Anwukah, and Information and Culture Minister, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

The minister said all universities in the country had benefitted from the N20 billion released last year by the Buhari-led Federal Government.

He said the Buhari administration inherited an un-implementable agreement of N1.3 trillion when it assumed office in 2015.

Adamu said: “Let me inform you that the Federal Government has just approved an additional N25 billion to be shared to beneficiary institutions directly. Last year, the Federal Government released N20 billion directly to universities. As I speak, all universities have got their share of the N20 billion.

“The sad news is that the N200 billion that was released to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) since 2013 for the universities has not been fully accessed. In specific terms, all the 73 public varsities have accessed the first tranche of 50 per cent of the N200 billion.

“For the second tranche of 40 per cent, only 56 institutions have been able to access their funds. The last 10 per cent, representing the third tranche of the N200 billion, has not been accessed at all.”

In his address, titled: Education for Change: Our Stewardship in the Last Four Years, the minister said the government invested N1.338 trillion on the sector in the last four years.

Adamu said: “In spite of the economic downturn, we have done well in terms of investment in capital expenditure. The Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) interventions in states have recorded a total of N350 billion, while Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) and NEED Assessment interventions have recorded N857 billion with the main ministry and other agencies recording N86 billion, totalling N1.338 trillion in the last four years.

“This is aside the N25 billion just approved for public universities. These figures have nothing to do with personnel and overhead cost in the Education sector, which are also well over N1 trillion.

“Private sector investment in the Education sector – from the basic, secondary and tertiary levels – far outweighs government investment. Our aggregate expenditure in the Education sector (public and private), therefore, exceeds the much touted 20 per cent of our national budget. We are poised to do more.”

Adamu said the Buhari administration had laid a good foundation for dealing with the challenges posed by the out-of-school children and the huge number of adult illiterates.

“If we continue on this path, in the next 10 years, Nigeria’s challenges in this twin direction will be confined to the dustbin of history.

“On basic, secondary and tertiary education, we shall continue on the path of infrastructural and manpower development, increasing capacity and creating unfettered access to all levels of our education for our young people,” he added.

ASUU President Biodun Ogunyemi said the N25 billion was supposed to be released by government to its members in March as part of the MoA it signed with the union.

The union leader said he could not confirm if members of the union had received the funds or not.

The ASUU president said the N20 billion that had been fully accessed by its members was for revitalisation of universities across the country.

Ogunyemi added: “I can’t confirm if the money has been released to our members. We still have issues with the money.

“The N25 billion is part of the Earned Academic Allowances for our members. It is a part-payment. We have been chasing that money to be released to us. The money was supposed to be released on March 28 but the government released only N20 billion, leaving a balance of N5 billion.

“The balance is supposed to be mainstreamed into 2019 budget.”

SOURCE: https://thenationonlineng.net/fed-govt-approves-n25b-earned-academic-allowances-for-ASUU/

Ondo State governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, has recruited 400 fresh hands into the state Civil service through the Board of Internal Revenue to further boost the revenue drive of the state and provide opportunities for the youths.

The Governor, at an induction programme for 234 of the 400 newly employed workers held at the State Information Center (SITA), described revenue generation as the most important aspect of governance.

Akeredolu said that growing the state economy by increasing the revenue generation, while at same time creating job opportunities for the youths remain a priority of his administration.

He said growing the state economy through increased revenue generation became important so as to reduce over - dependency on the dwindling monthly Federal allocation.

Governor Akeredolu said the repositioning of the Board has made it possible for the state to emerge as the highest in the IGR growth.

He commended the chairman of the agency for his performance which has led to increasing revenue growth in the state.

Akeredolu charged the new intakes to shun all corruptible act that can affect their productivity, stressing that they must work hard as the state depends on them.

He said " Revenue generation is the most important aspect of governance because without money, you can not do nothing. The government will be paralysed without money

" Revenue generation is the most important. Your projection and budget depend on revenue. You are important because the state will now depend on your shoulder

" We have had appreciable increase in our revenue growth and FG came back and said we are number one in the country for appreciable growth.On Quantum in Revenue generation, before we came it was number 20 and today we are number nine. "

Chairman, Ondo State Internal Revenue Service, Mr Tolu Adegbie expressed gratitude to the Governor for the recruitment exercise, which he said, had boosted the strength of the personnel for effective coverage of the State.

The process for the selection of a new Olowo will be transparent and fair, as all qualified contestants will be given equal treatment whenever the Olowo stool is declared vacant.

The Ojomoluda of Ijebu – Owo, Oba Kofoworola Oladoyinbo Ojomo stated this in an interview with The Hope in his palace.

“There is going to be fairness. That position is not a marketable commodity. If you have all the monies in this world you can’t purchase it. We are also not ignoring traditional way of getting our Oba”.

Oba Oladoyinbo who said the responsibility of selecting a new Olowo rests solely on the Senior Omolowos however said until the stool is declared vacant, no one can show his intention to go for it.

According to the monarch, there is no vacancy concerning the Olowo stool for now and until the relevant authority has declared otherwise, those interested should exercise patience.

On the criteria for selecting a new Olowo, the Ojomoluda declared that what the Omolowos are looking for is somebody who has the love and desire for the progress of Owo.

“What we expect of the new monarch or any traditional ruler is the love and desire for the progress of the town and the society, but this is not taught in any school”.

“Leadership nowadays is not based on high sounding educational qualification. It is based on your willingness to serve the people right. What the Senior Omolowos are looking for is a person who will move Owo forward, someone who will improve the lots of the ordinary man. It is not about whether you are a professor, Army General or Medical Doctor”.

Oba Ojomo also made it clear that there is only one ruling house in Owo and that the Olowo stool is not known for rotation.

“We have just one Dynasty, the Elewokun dynasty or ruling house. Anybody that comes from the male line of the royal family, provided he is sane and qualified too, is always considered “.

The monarch however refered anybody that is in doubt over this, to look at the government position on this as it has been documented.

Allaying the fear of a possible crisis over the final decision of the selection, Oba Ojomo said the crisis that greeted the selection of Oba Folagbade some twenty years ago was because politicians interfered in the process.

He therefore warned politicians to steer clear of the process as it is the prerogative of the Senior Omolowos to select a new Olowo and hand same to the Kingmakers for installation.

The Provost of Adeyemi College of Education, Dr Samuel Akintunde has described the oath taken by students as a legal bond between them and their institution.

He stated this recently at the matriculation of new intakes into the college.

According to him, it is important that the students should imprint it in their minds that they are liable to receive appropriate sanctions for any act found to be antithetical to the oath they have taken.

Akintunde encouraged the students to complete their registration early, so that they will not miss any papers as examinations would start soon.

The provost therefore warned the students against indiscipline in form of rape, drug abuse, cultism, fighting/assault, indecent dressing among others saying the college management has zero tolerance for all these.

He enjoined them to work hard for excellent results so that they can favourably and confidently enter into the highly competitive labour market as students are representatives of not just their various households but ambassadors and representatives of the College.

In another development, the provost enjoined the students of NCE in the college to comport themselves wherever they are either, collectively or individually, so that they do not bring the worthy name of the college into disrepute.

He charged them to give adequate attention to their studies, saying the College will not tolerate any form of indiscipline.

He posited that offenders will face sanctions . While advising them to abide by the rules and regulations of the college.

Speaking earlier, the Vice-Chancellor, Obafemi Awolowo University, Prof Eyitope Ogunbodede, who was represented by the Dean Faculty of Education of OAU, Prof Ademola Adeleke said that the main objective of the matriculation exercise is to acquaint the students with the fundamental principles, norms and culture of the institution.

He added that these core values have projected the image of the institution as a center for learning and character moulding of the students.

Ogunbodede further added that the core values also depict the vision of the institution which is to nurture a high international standard.

According to him, the motive of the students in the College is to be groomed in learning and character to make them intellectually sound, emotionally stable, morally upright and properly fit to take up positions of responsibilities wherever they find themselves.

Responding, a matriculant from tha Geography Department, Miss Fatima Musa expressed joy and promised to abide by the College rules and regulations so as to achieve all goals.

Also speaking, from Economics Department, Mr Ajibu Ahudu promised to shun all bad groups and promote the good name of the college.

A valedictory court session has been held in honour of the late Olowo of Owo, Oba (Dr) David Folagbade Olateru-Olagbegi, CFR who was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, a Life Bencher and a teacher of Law to many legal luminaries in both the Bar and the Bench.

In his tribute at the occasion, the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu SAN, described the late Royal Father as a true patriot, revered monarch and an illustrious son of the state who would be missed by all.

The governor, in his speech entitled, "Celebrating a great Scholar and Patriot", at the special court session held at the State High Court, Akure, said the occasion was not to mourn but to celebrate the life and times of a true patriot, statement, revered monarch and an illustrious son of the state and therefore congratulated the people of Owo Kingdom for the gift of the rare gem to humanity.

He, however, noted that it was regrettable and painful that the traditional ruler quietly joined his ancestors at a time when the task of nation building calls for men of deep intellect, broad knowledge and experience like the late monarch.

The governor stressed that he personally felt the sudden death of the late monarch as an Owo son, just as he appreciated the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Olutoyin O. Akeredolu for and his brother Judges for holding the well-deserved and befitting special Court Session in honour of the First Class Royal Father whom he called a colossus, a teacher of lawyers and legal practitioner of note.

Arakunrin Akeredolu said the late Olowo of Owo devoted his life to the service of humanity and served in several capacities before and during his reign as the Olowo of Owo.

He equally added that, as the Chairman of Council of Obas, the late monarch promoted peace throughout the state and stood for truth and justice throughout his tenure, while successive governments in the state including the present administration benefited alot from his wealth of experience and knowledge.

"The highly cerebral king devoted his life to the service of humanity. He served in several capacities before and during his reign as the Olowo of Owo. Apart from being the former Secretary Council of Legal Education, he was former General Secretary Nigerian Association of Law Teachers, Deputy Director General for Africa International Biographical Centre, England, former Chancellor, University of Benin, and former Chairman Ondo State Council of Obas", the governor added.

Several other bodies which included, the Body of Benchers, Association of Senior Advocates of Nigeria and Members of Nigerian Bar Association, Owo Branch took turn to pay glowing tributes to the late Paramount Ruler of the Ancient Kingdom of Owo.

President Muhammadu Buhari has restated his administration’s commitment to boost business and investment opportunities by reviving train and railway services, building roads and improve on the Power sector.

The President spoke yesterday at the 59th annual general meeting (AGM)/Conference of National Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) in Kaduna, with the theme: Regional Integration in Africa: Potentials for Growth and Expansion of Nigerian Businesses.

President Buhari, who was represented by Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru, said his administration was re-strategising more effective ways to tackle security challenges in the country.

The President assured the nation that the Federal Government would do everything possible to ease doing business in Nigeria and further make the country the investment destination for investors from all over the world.



He added: “When this administration came on board in 2015, there were challenges of railway maintenance, power and other issues. Between 24 and 26 states could not pay their workers’ salary. That was the picture as at May 29, 2015.

“But through God’s intervention, we continued work on over 300 roads that we met, while we awarded other 100 plus roads. Some are completed; some are ongoing. This is to ease transportation and movement of goods and services. Railway work is ongoing to move cargoes from one place to another; power is also improving.

“We are improving the ease of doing business to attract investment, in which Kaduna State ranks number one, and Jigawa ranks number two. As a government, we don’t want a repeat of what happened in Angola and Venezuela. So, we are doing everything possible to diversify our economy.”

The outgoing NACCIMA President Iyalode Alaba Lawson said the AGM/conference provided the leadership, members and other stakeholders of NACCIMA the opportunity to discuss in-depth issues about the chambers.

She said: “The AGM/conference is an opportunity for us to share experiences as we work together to move the nation’s economy forward.

“NACCIMA understands the importance of synergy between our associations and stakeholders in the local and international business environment; hence the conference is an avenue to foster better collaborations and viable networking opportunities for our entities.”

SOURCE: https://thenationonlineng.net/buhari-restates-commitment-to-boosting-investments-through-railway-power/

The Ondo State Governor, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, has shed more light on his trip to Thailand for Medicinal Cannabis Extract Development in Ondo State.

Akeredolu who spoke with Government House Reporters at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, shortly after his arrival from Thailand, explained that the focus of his administration is on medical Cannabis cultivation in controlled areas under the full supervision of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

He refuted the rumour making the rounds that government was encouraging cannabis cultivation, noting that government was only looking at the possibility of having legally cultivated cannabis for Medicinal usage.

He frowned at illegal cultivation of cannabis in the state.

The governor observed that since many countries in the world are earning alot from regulated cultivation of cannabis, the same thing can be replicated in the state by ensuring that only licensed people are allowed to grow and cultivate it in a regulated areas for the purpose of extracting the hemp oil for exportation.

He said the development would improve the foreign earnings and the economy of the country and the state in particular.

Akeredolu, however, said the cultivation may not be immediate as the state would have to be first of all be licensed by the federal government before going into it.

He disclosed that government would not go against the United Nations (UN) Single Convention which goes against accumulation of cannabis, adding that government would only license some people who would be given bloc in confined areas under the supervision of the regulatory agencies.

He said individuals and institutions would be licensed to patent drugs from it that will be beneficial to the state and the country at large.

According to the governor, there is one year shortage of hemp oil need in Canada and Europe which must be filled in no time, adding that if the state cannot fill it another state will take the position.

Towards achieving the Minimum Service Package which is one of the nine pillars of Primary Healthcare Under One Roof and a prerequisite for assessing the Federal Government’s Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, Ondo health stakeholders have met to plan and look for sources of generating the sum of 23.9 billion Naira to fund the Minimum Service Package in four years.

At the investment planning meeting which held in Akure, the Commissioner for Health under Governor Rotimi Akeredolu led-administration, Dr Wahab Adegbenro who welcomed Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and Heads of line Ministries and Parastatals said the meeting is to further strengthen inter sectoral collaboration which is necessary to achieve the Minimum Service Package.

Dr Adegbenro opined that Primary Healthcare caters for between 70-80% of the disease burden of any population thus its a very important aspect of the Health Sector that has to be adequately funded and developed.

He added that the draft document on the MSP which had been put together and costed by experts is a four year funding plan that is brought before top level policy makers, government and non government actors to comprehensively and realistically plan the funding and look for investment windows for it.

The Health Commissioner urged stakeholders to contribute actively to the discussion on investment opportunities for Primary Healthcare as there is a global emphasis on fortifying the Primary Healthcare so as to reach the majority in rural communities.

He harped on the need to look outside government funding as it is over burdened and resources are dwindling.

In his welcome remark, the Executive Secretary of the Ondo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Francis Akanbiemu said the planning and costing of the MSP started two months ago and it was really a tough and tedious exercise.

Dr Akanbiemu said the last lap is the investment planning meeting and for all that was done to make meaning, there has to be resource mobilisation to drive the programme.

In his words, Nigeria has good policies which meets its Waterloo at the level of implementation thus, he appealed to stakeholders to make the MSP a reality.

The Executive Secretary added that the Ondo document on MSP will be a benchmark for Primary Healthcare in the state, so its success or otherwise will determine how far the State will go in terms of fortifying Primary Healthcare which is a major trend globally.

Mr Sina Adelakun of the Technical Support Unit of the National Primary Healthcare Agency who revealed that the National Primary Healthcare Act 2013 actually prescribed the Minimum Service Package, congratulated the state for being the first in the country to start from sensitisation to the reality of achieving the MSP.

Mr Adelakun said the State will be used as a Guinea Pig from which other states will learn, while suggesting Public Private Partnership as the way to get funds for its actualisation.

The Commissioner for Finance, Mr Wale Akinterinwa who was represented by his Permanent Secretary, Mr Emmanuel Adelayi said investment in health is virile as it is targeted at wealth creation.

While still stressing the importance of investing in healthcare, Mr Adelayi said success in productivity is hinged on it.

In his contribution, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Pastor Emmanuel Igbasan who was represented by his Permanent Secretary, Mr Bunmi Alade suggested looking outside government to adequately fund healthcare.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Deaconess Lola Fagbemi who was represented by her Special Assistant, Mr Wole Akinkuotu said her Ministry has always supported the Primary Healthcare Development Agency in terms of finance and would not relent in priotising its issues.

In his remark, the Ondo State Head of Service, Barr. Toyin Akinkuotu said Health financing is a global issue as the whole of the state budget cannot adequately fund healthcare so the most realistic source of funding is Contributory Health Scheme which is about to start in the state.

Mr Akinkuotu urged stakeholders to do everything possible to ensure the scheme succeeds as no government can successfully do it alone.

The Permanent Secretary Ministry of Health, Dr Dipo Durojaye opined that the Health sector has suffered from inadequate funding as doing the needful has been an heculian task.

Dr Durojaye advised that advocacy to source for funds should be for the whole of the Health sector and not just for primary healthcare alone and promised to give all necessary support to achieving the MSP.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mr Alaba Adeyemi commended the Primary Healthcare Agency for the great feat achieved and advised that stakeholders should do everything within their power to ensure an effective healthcare system is availed residents of the state.

To achieve this great feat in his opinion, there is need for adequate funding which is beyond the government, so he joined others to solicit funding outside the government.

The WHO State Coordinator, Dr Akinola Fatiregun congratulated the state for taking a bold step which he described as one in the right direction.

Dr Fatiregun who was represented by Mr Samuel Agboola promised that in line with their global role, WHO will always support the State in all programmes.

The Chairman OSOPADEC, Barr. Olugbenga Edema said OSOPADEC is always ready to partner and support any organisation interested in bringing development to the riverine area.

The Chairman who was represented by the Director Community Welfare , Mr Wale Mafolabomi thanked the Primary Healthcare Development Agency for its effort at availing the people of the riverine area quality healthcare and promised to support whenever called upon.

Dr Tolu Ademujimi suggested Health Endowment, which is to be raised from every Contact in the state, Internally Generated Revenue and partnering of Service Providers as the way out.

Earlier in a presentation of a four year Investment Plan of the MSP, the DPR&S of the Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Yetunde Olagbuji stressed the importance of the MSP to the achievement of Universal Health Coverage.

In the plan, suggested sources of funding included State Allocation, IGR, intervention from Development Partners amongst others.

As part of his engagement in Thailand on Medicinal Cannabis Extraction development, the Ondo State delegation led by Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN visited the Mae Fah Luang Foundation (MFLF) in Chang Rai (Northern region in Thailand) which was established in 1988.

The MFLF plays a leading role in advocating sustainable development policies at both domestic and international levels, as well as promoting community enterprises with the foundation launching the Doi Tung Development Project DTDP and other projects to solve problems of survival, illicit drugs and social disparity, as well as to build a new generation of youths to become self-reliant and earn sustainable livelihoods.

The Doi Tung Development Project has been internationally recognized as a model project for alternative development for a sustainable livelihood. The centre which was initially set up by Thailand Royal Patronage is now self reliant and turns over $17m annually

Governor Akeredolu with the delegation toured the Doi Tung Development Project’s vocational training centre for sewing and weaving, coffee bean roasting facility and macadamia processing facility, pottery and ceramic facility as well as the “The Hall of Opium” which was built to reduce the demand for narcotics by providing knowledge and information through a presentation of the genesis and history of opium war, its benefits and scourges, its economic, social and environmental effects, through a multi-media format.

The visit to the Hall of Opium offered hope and the lessons learnt, if closely followed by states in Nigeria presently ravaged by effects of various drug abuses will help reduce the evident threat to national security.

According to the governor, the Ondo state sericulture unit will be upgraded using the Doi Tung Foundation Model with the foundation's array of superior looms and diverse products being marketed across the globe.

Governor Akeredolu said he's convinced that it has become imperative, to push the drive to create self sustaining jobs for the rising army of able bodied but unemployed youths in the state and Nigeria at large, adding that the drive is geared towards banishing poverty at all levels and reducing capital flight from the state.

Top of the Governor's move included the Capacity building of Ondo State Sericulture staff and trainees, through an exchange program which is been worked out with the foundation.

It is a known fact that Ondo State has always been a hotbed for illegal plantations of cannabis in the country, with the plethora of problems associated with the abuse of the plant, especially among the youths in the country.

The Governor is finding alternative ways for farmers so that the produce is fed into the industries seeking licenses if granted, to set up hemp oil extraction industries for the export market.

MONEY has a peculiar smell, especially when it is mint fresh. The smell is soothing to the nose. It does not emit the smell that can make you puke when the currency is torn and dirty. New notes are a joy to behold. They do not fill your pocket nor make you feel as if you are carrying a load. But not so old notes which make your pocket heavy.

Money comes from different sources. We earn money from the work we do; we also make money from trading. We equally make money from the disposal of human waste and from the export of commodities in which nations have comparative advantage. The sources are endless. Money making does not come cheap. It comes with a lot of thinking and planning. What some see as sources of money making may not hold an attraction for others.

There was a time we were exporting cocoa, palm kernel, groundnut and other crops from which we derived huge foreign earnings. Sadly, these days, we export crude and import it back as refined product to sell at N145 per litre to consumers. What we make from this venture is only known to the sharks in the oil sector who parlay the gain into their own use, while the nation is bleeding. The country needs foreign earnings badly in these hard times in order to provide schools, hospitals, roads and other amenities to make life better for the people.

Money rules the world and those who have it are lords over others. The developed economies look down on countries like ours because we do not have their kind of resources. These countries have no qualms when it comes to making money. There is nothing they cannot dabble into for the sake of money. Whether legal or illegal, to them, the venture is good as long as it yields money. With their technological know-how, they can turn virtually anything into money. Some of them have turned what was once considered illegal into a source of making money.



I am talking about weed, or if you like, marijuana or cannabis sativa, which is popularly known as Indian hemp. For ages, Indian hemp has been used in the making of hair pomade and as an ingredient in some foods and drugs. But Indian hemp smoking was frowned at in many countries. Those caught were made to face the law. The situation has changed as these countries have legalised the smoking of weed. The latest country to do so was Canada, which last November, approved Indian hemp for ‘’recreational use’’. Whatever that means!

But because they rule the world, they can get away with anything. The developing economies like to toe their line because we think whatever they do is right. Indian hemp is a banned substance in Nigeria. It is an offence to grow or traffic it. The late maverick musician Fela Anikulapo-Kuti called it vegetable, describing it as a stimulant which energises the system. He was once arrested for being in possession of the substance. The police claimed that he chewed it when they came for him in order to evade arrest. To prove their case against the Abami Eda, they induced him to defecate.

Fela defecated and defecated, yet the police could not trace the weed in his faeces. This led Fela to sing Expensive Shit. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since then. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) hangs around every nook and cranny of the country, including the sea and airports and borders looking for those carrying Indian hemp and other hard drugs. Soon, very soon, it may no longer be an offence to be in possession of Indian hemp, courtesy of NDLEA and the Ondo State government, which are collaborating to make the weed a foreign earner. The love of money can lead man to do anything indeed. Apparently taking a cue from what is happening in some parts of the world, Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and NDLEA boss Muhammad Abdullah are pushing for converting Indian hemp into a foreign earner to boost the economy. In these days of diversifying the economy, their proposal sounds like music in the ear. At a meeting in Thailand to learn how to turn Indian hemp into a money-spinner, they made a case for Nigeria’s adoption of the substance to its benefit.



“We all know that Ondo State is the hot bed of cannabis cultivation in Nigeria. We know how to grow it and it thrives well in the Sunshine State. With an estimated value of $145 billion in 2025, we will be shortchanging ourselves if we failed to tap into the Legal Marijuana Market. Our focus now is medical marijuana cultivation in controlled plantations under the full supervision of the NDLEA. I strongly implore the Federal Government to take this seriously as it is a thriving industry that will create thousands of jobs for our youths and spur economic diversification’’, said Akeredolu.

Abdullah noted : ‘’We are here to study how cannabis can be of more advantage to Ondo State and Nigeria at large just the way the Thailand government has done. The current trend in the world is to look into the advantages of cannabis in the making of foods and drugs’’. If the developed economies had not taken the lead, would we be thinking along this line? I do not think so. We would have thought twice before going this way because we do not know how they will feel about our move.

Do we have what it takes to check the abuse of the system when Ondo starts the production of legal marijuana for the food and drug industry? I am sorry to say this : we are good at copying the developed economies, but we lack the capacity in addressing the problems that may arise therefrom. This may be a good move because it is going to bring in money. And money made from human waste disposal, according to a Yoruba adage, does not smell. So, the money made from the planned Indian hemp export will not reek of the weed. Lobatan. But we need to think the proposal through so that it does not become an albatross at the end of the day.

SOURCE: https://thenationonlineng.net/the-weed-of-money/