₦airaland Forum

- Five new gates installed
- Gear hoists installed
- Gear hoists control panel in place
- Cofferdam demolished
- Water flow restored

Other civil and electro-mechanical works still ongoing.

The contractor and Ogun State Water Corporation's team of engineers are working hard to ensure an on-schedule delivery of the rehabilitation project.

The Management of the Ogun State Water Corporation is appealing for patience from esteemed customers and other relevant stakeholders as works are accelerated towards a smooth and timely completion.

The Corporation is reiterating its commitment to a sustainable provision of quality, potable water for all residents of Ogun State.

ceejay10:
i don't agree on yaradua. he had a brilliant team all round. If not for death, he would ve been the best president we ever had. He is educated and not a bigot, unlike the dullard we have now.

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has said that the state targets far above N100bn as internally generated revenue (IGR) this year.

Tribune Online recalled that the state had a decline in its projected IGR in 2020, due to the effect of COVID-19 pandemic.

Abiodun disclosed this on Friday at a special Iftar (breaking of fast) with members of the House of Representatives, the State House of Assembly, the State Executive Council and the Body of Permanent Secretaries, in Abeokuta.

The governor explained that his administration was fully committed to putting the state on strong financial and economic footing through its creative approach

Abiodun, while pointing out that the dip in the IGR of the state in 2020 was a result of the inability of the state to earn from the Pay As You Earn (PAYE), the tax incentives given to industries in the state, and the lack of revenue from the education sector, disclosed that his administration had raked in N21b in the first quarter of the year.

He hinted that state planned to rake in over a N30b in the second quarter.

“Our Internally Generated Revenue dipped in 2020 and there are some reasons for that – there was no Pay As You Earn (PAYE) for us during the COVID-19 period, we gave incentives to industries because they couldn’t work during that period and because we are the education capital of the country, a lot of our IGR was coming from the tertiary institutions and because there were no students in schools, the revenue did not come in.

“Let me tell you what the good news is, the good news is that first quarter of 2021, we already got N21b. Last year, we did N58b, so we’ve already got half of what we got last year in one quarter. This present quarter, we will do at least N30b and by the end of this year, by the grace of God, we will do over a N100b in Ogun State”, the governor stated.

Abiodun added that his administration discovered that Land Use Charge was not being paid in the state and inherited a database of 14,000 people from the previous administration.

He disclosed further that the discovery led his administration to put in place different mechanisms, which according to him, has helped the state to realise a database of Land Use Charge for over 1.5million people, noting “this will translate into a lot for our administration.”

“We are being creative, our Land Use Charge, nobody is paying. When I resumed office,we inherited a database of land use charge of 14,000 people in the database, we’ve put different things in place and today, we have a database of land use charge of over 1.5million people. 1.5million from 14,000 in two years, you can imagine what that will translate into,” he said.

The governor further disclosed that his administration would soon be launching Ogun State Land Administration and Management System {OLAS), saying the system would help residents of the state who had built on government properties to come and regularise their papers.

“We now have a system that we call OLAS, Ogun State Land Administration and Management System. We are still going to launch that and what is that system? That system using ICT, we are going to ensure that all those that have built, we are starting with government-owned properties alone, all those that have built on government properties will have to come and regularise their papers.

In line with its synergy with the private sector, the Dapo Abiodun-led administration has taken delivery of three ambulances from the Abudu Samad Rabiu Foundation(ASR) and the BUA Group.

Receiving the ambulances at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, on Friday, Governor Abiodun commended the foundation and the BUA Group for being a responsible business concern which gives back to the society.

“I want to thank the BUA Group for being a responsible business concern, that wants to give back to the community where they are doing businesses”, Abiodun noted.

He added that his administration had prioritised the implementation of the state economic agenda by ensuring that it provides the needed infrastructure in the five pillars of ‘ISEYA’, particularly in the area health infrastructure

The governor noted further that his government had also embarked on aggressive approach of rehabilitating its primary and secondary health care centers.

Abiodun, who also said that his administration had launched a 24-hour ambulance service across the state, disclosed that the three newly donated ambulance would increase the number of functional ambulances in the state to twenty and vowed to raise the number to thirty before the end of May.

“We have since launched a 24-hour ambulance service in Ogun State, and these three new ambulances will make them twenty. We met five and we added 12 making seventeen before today. And we are very confident that between now and the end of the month, the number will probably proceed to about thirty ambulances,” the governor stated.

Speaking earlier, the Managing Director, ASF Africa Foundation, Ubom Udoh, who commended the governor for the successes he has been to record under two years in office, said the Foundation would continue to support the state government in espousing good governance for the benefit of the people.

Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun has commiserated with General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God(RCCG), Pastor Enoch Adeboye, over the death of his son, Dare Adeboye.

Dare, 42, the third child of Adeboye, was reported to have died in his sleep on Wednesday in Eket, Akwa Ibom State, where he was based with his family.

The deceased, who was Assistant Pastor in charge of Region (Youth) 35, was said to have ministered the previous day and had returned home to sleep from which he passed on.

The Governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Kunle Somorin, on Thursday, expressed shock over the death of the young, vibrant and spirit-filled pastor, who according to him, was a role model not only to the youth in the RCCG, but in the country.

Abiodun, who paid a condolence visit on the respected cleric, described Dare’s death as heart- wrenching and shocking, saying he was one of the people who had followed the spiritual trajectory of the young pastor in the vineyard of God.

While expressing his condolences to Adeboye, Abiodun equally commiserated with the entire RCCG family.

He urged Pastor Adeboye to take solace in the fact that Dare served and died in the service of God, noting his footprints in the church will forever remain indelible.

Abiodun also prayed that God gives the Adeboye Family the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss and strengthen the church, in this time of God’s trial.

The Ogun State Government has been nominated to benefit from three Federal Government’s agricultural pilot programmes aimed at further positioning the state as the food basket of the country.

The Executive Secretary, National Agricultural Land Development Authority (NALDA), Paul Ikonne, made this known when he led the management of the Authority to the office of the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, at Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, on Wednesday.

He noted that the state would benefit from the Integrated Farm Estate, Garri Packaging Plant, a training programme on soil testing and extension services for 200 young graduates with science and agriculture related degrees.

The Executive Secretary added that the Integrated Farm Estate would be sited in the three senatorial districts of the state, stressing estate would involve everything from production to processing, packaging and marketing.

Ikonne explained that the Garri Processing Plant would give farmers the opportunity of farming with the belief that their efforts will not go to waste.

“We are running programmes and projects which Ogun State has been slated to be one of the pilot states. NALDA’s Integrated Farm Estate is going to be cited in Ogun State in the three senatorial districts of the state. The Integrated Farm Estate is a concept that takes in everything from production to processing, packaging and marketing, we also have residential areas for farmers inside the integrated Farm Estate.

“Knowing that Ogun has the highest capacity in cassava production, our Garri Packaging Plant will be located in the state, thereby NALDA will be the off-taker from the farmers, we process it, package it accordingly and move it into the market.

“We are training young Nigerians based on the President’s directives on soil testing and extension services, so Ogun State is expected to nominate 200 people in the first phase. Again, Ogun is one of the states in the pilot stage of this programme, it will nominate young graduates that have agric or science related degrees that will undertake this intensive two week training.

“They will be empowered by NALDA with soil test kits and implements to collect soil samples after the training and they will begin to generate money for themselves, thereby making a living from the programme,” he said.

He disclosed that NALDA would not sit back and watch the state improve the worth of agriculture alone, “the Authority would also be re-activating the 700 hectares of land at Joga-Orile immediately, with the hope that the reactivation will increase the status of the state in food production”.

Responding, Governor Abiodun attributed the success of his administration’s agriculture project to the support of the President Muhammad Buhari-led government, adding that his administration holds agriculture as a “triple barrel pillar” that allows the state to feed its people, create employment, as well as generate revenue for the state.

Abiodun who also noted that his administration recently started the construction of its International Cargo Airport to boost the agric sector, said that the state also won a bid to become a special agric processing zone, with the state using the advantage of the cargo airport that seats on a 5,000 hectares of land to its advantage.

He assured NALDA of administration’s support, especially with provision of land for the purpose of the Integrated Farm Estate.

The governor submitted that his administration would also set up a team to look at ways of starting the Garri Packaging Plant in quick time and ensure that the youths and graduates benefit from the training programme on soil testing and extension services.

• Waives payment for women candidates

The Chairman of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), Mr Babatunde Osibodu, has promised that the Commission would conduct local government election that would remain a benchmark in the country.

Osibodu stated this in his address delivered during a stakeholders’ meeting on the 2021 local government elections, held at the Cinema Hall, June 12 Cultural Centre, Abeokuta, on Tuesday.

The chairman maintained that the Commission would conduct free, fair and credible elections.


He said: “We are guided by several enabling laws, paramount among which are Section 197,sub-section 1(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, which authorises the establishment of the State Independent Electoral Commissions across the country; and Section 14 of the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2001, which empowers the Commission to organise, undertake and supervise all elections to Local Government Councils in the State in accordance with the provisions of the Law or any enactment, guidelines, rules or manuals issued or made by the Commission.

“We are also fully guided by the Ogun State Electoral Law 2007 (as amended), which provides guidance on the processes and procedures to follow in the electoral process.”

Osibodu submitted that the commission would provide a level playing ground for all political parties intending to field candidates in the coming elections to register their interest with the commission.

“As a gender-sensitive institution, we wish to encourage candidatures by women. Accordingly, the Commission has determined that this deposit will be waived for female candidates. For the avoidance of doubt, this means that female candidates will not be required to make any deposit,” he added.

spinna:
Just casually mention it in conversation..tell her you just came from seeing the landlord.Dont confront her

[Last Thursday, the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, kicked off the reconstruction of Atan-­Lusada-­Agbara road abandoned by previous administrations and inaugurated the 10.25km Lusada-Igbesa road, reports OKWY IROEGBU-­CHIKEZIE.
There is a link between infrastructure development and economic prosperity because it attracts businesses and lifts the public out of poverty.

Commuting from Ota to Agbara is an ordeal as a result of the dilapidated condition of the road. It becomes tortuous from Atan to Lusada. Don’t forget that the stretch is home to three private universities – Bells University of Technology, Covenant University and Crawford University – that should attract development but it didn’t happen until recently with the administration of Prince Dapo Abiodun.

A tour of the axis showed manufacturing firms that closed their operations with gates and warehouses padlocked, filling stations that are out of use as a result of low traffic on the route.

It is a common sight to see tankers and trailers upturn at will, few commercial vehicles that ply the road carry excess passengers and charge exorbitant fees to make up for delays and longer travel time, wear and tear on their vehicles and the resultant high mortality of their vehicles. The road is lonely and the commonest means of transportation are the motor bikes popularly known as Okada. Before this reporter undertook the journey, she was advised by a colleague that to avoid delays as a result of the bad state of the road, she should board a bike but with a proviso that she must have a spare dress and a scarf because of the dusty nature of the road.

Now, thankfully in 15 months that would be history. Noteworthy, and regrettably, so that several estates that were at various levels of completion were abandoned and several of those real estate companies folded.

Little wonder the flag­off and inauguration were like a carnival as people trooped out and greatful that the administration in Ogun State has given reasons to have a new lease of life. A guide and a resident in Lusada said land speculators had returned. He confided in this reporter that he bought his plot of land for N120,000 several years ago, but was surprised that the same plot is sold now for N600,000 because people saw construction ongoing. He lamented the deprivation they had suffered for years and pleaded with the governor to ensure the completion of the all important road.

Prince Abiodun said the dual event was a symbolic demonstration of his administration’s commitment to the infrastructural development of all parts of the state.

Commending the establishment of the Free Trade Zones (FTZs) in Ogun State by former governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, he said the establishment of FTZs was a veritable platform to help boost development, adding that its benefits are not limited to only reducing the fiscal intervention and leveling borders between nations. But also in his words, increases commercial flow; deferral, reduction or duty exemption; improved compliance; development of commerce and industrialisation; inventory tracking; quality control and indefinite storage.

He stated that his administration is not unaware of the resultant effect of the Free Trade Zones in terms of employment generation; poverty alleviation, job creation, local patronage, capacity building and perhaps, product varieties, which in the long run, put the state on the global map of trade and investment.

He said: “It is noteworthy to mention that this facility has grown beyond a Free Trade Zone to a community in its own class. And as such, a comprehensive development of commerce, processing of goods and manufacturing of varieties of products with the use of local raw materials and inputs have really boosted the economy of our dear State at large.”

He, however, lamented the misfortune of the state which though has a Free Trade Zone with great potential, but could not be accessed because of the dearth of infrastructure.

According to him, the inauguration of this road is another milestone in the administration’s march towards industrialisation and economic development of the state.

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun at the weekend allayed the fears of the state civil servants over the rumour making the rounds that the government was planning to stop the minimum wage.

Governor Abiodun, who said this, while hosting labour leaders and members of League of Imam and Alfas in the state to Ramadan Iftar, at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta, the state capital, assured the labour leaders that government would continue to improve on the welfare of workers being the engine room of government

He said his administration had intensified its revenue drive and uncovered other areas to generate enough revenue to sustain the steady growth in the state.

The governor urged the labour leaders and the clerics to assist the government in encouraging people to take the COVID-19 vaccination.

He harped on the need for people to take the vaccine to mitigate the spread of the pandemic, stressing that the vaccine stimulates the body system as it neutralizes the effects of the COVID 19 in the body if one gets infected.

While disclosing that the state government had taken delivery of another batch of the vaccine, he declared that the Ogun State recorded the highest number of people vaccinated in the country.

He admonished the labour leaders to join hands with his government in persuading their members to be part of the ongoing vaccination exercise, noting “it has no side effects”.

Describing the month of Ramadan as a period of purification and sober reflection to strengthen one’s relationship with Allah, Abiodun urged the Muslims to use the period to pray for the country, stressing that the insecurity and other challenges militating against the nation would soon fizzle out through the help of prayer.

He posited that war is not an alternative, stating that the security architecture of the state is fundamental to the current administration and would do everything possible to reduce criminality across the state.

Earlier in their respective remarks, the Ogun State Chairmen of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Emmanuel Bankole, his counterpart from the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Olubunmi Fajobi, and that of Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), Olarenwaju Folorunso, commended


Abiodun for the immense achievement recorded in every sector in the state including the willingness to pay the outstanding workers’ salary deductions.

They promised to continue supporting the incumbent administration in its determination to transform the state.

Addressing the Islamic clerics led by the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Alhaji Sa’adalah Bamgbola, Governor Abiodun reassured that the current administration in the state would continue to partner the religious leaders for the growth of the state.

The governor commended the body for promoting peaceful coexistence among the people of the state.

Describing the clerics as important to the enthronement of good governance, Abiodun said the Iftar was organized in appreciation of the contributions of the Muslim Community for being supportive during and after the 2019 general elections.

The governor explained that the current administration since its inception has been working round the clock in improving the condition of the state through the provision of necessary infrastructural amenities for the benefit of the people.

This, according to him, is in fulfillment of his promises during the electioneering, describing the current administration as “a silent achiever who doesn’t make noise on the pages of newspapers about its achievements”.

While urging the clerics to continue supporting his administration with prayers, the governor promised that his government would ensure that the existing mutual relationship between the government and the religious body is sustained by doing things that please and unite the people of the state.

Speaking on behalf of the League, the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Alhaji Sa’adalah Bamgbola, thanked the governor for the respect accorded the Muslim Community and for demonstrating a trait of ‘Omoluabi’ by keeping to his promise to the people of the state.

He assured that the religious body would continue to support the governor with prayers to ensure that he excels in the ongoing restructuring and repositioning of the state.

Ogun Governor, Dapo Abiodun, at the weekend, hosted labour leaders and members of League of Imam and Alfas in the state to Ramadan Iftar, at the Presidential Lodge, Abeokuta, the state capital.

Describing the month of Ramadan as a period of purification and sober reflection to strengthen one’s relationship with Allah, Abiodun urged Muslims to use the period to pray for the country, stressing that insecurity and other challenges militating against the nation would soon fizzle out through the help of prayer.

Addressing the Islamic clerics led by the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Alhaji Sa’adalah Bamgbola, Abiodun reassured that the current administration in the state would continue to partner religious leaders for the growth of the state.

Describing the clerics as important to the enthronement of good governance, Abiodun said the Iftar was organised in appreciation of the contributions of the Muslim community for being supportive during and after the 2019 general elections.

Abiodun urged labour leaders and clerics to encourage people to take COVID-19 vaccination.

No fewer than 2000 Ogun State Public School Teachers have benefitted from one day training on Python Programming and Artificial Intelligence across the three Senatorial Districts of the State.

The programming is an aspect of Information Communication Technology (ICT), that is demonstrated by the machines in contrast to those by human beings.

The event, which was co-organised by the Bureau of Information Technology, in collaboration with Data Science Nigeria (DSN), Lead Resources, Computer Teachers Association of Nigeria (CTAN) and Nigeria Computer Society (NCS), at Hubert Ogunde Hall, Kuto, Abeokuta, would broaden knowledge of participants on Information Communication Technology (ICT).

While addressing journalists at the venue, the Director of Information Technology in the Bureau, Mrs. Olatundun Adekunte stated that the training was part of the conscious efforts of State government at transforming the secondary school teaching into a Digitally-Smart workforce.

Adekunte, in a statement signed by the Bureau’s Information Officer, Mrs. Tokunbo Jaiyeola, said, “Since it is generally accepted that no educational system can rise above the standard of its teachers, the State is totally committed to addressing the digital inadequacies of public school teachers, who are critical to the realisation of the present administration’s ‘Building Our Future Together’ agenda.

She noted that it was imperative to train and retrain the teachers, especially in the area of Information Technology, adding that the present administration is passionate in imbibing ICT on students, in order to prepare them for global competition.

“Indeed, we are in 21 century, where people are dealing with ICT, there will be no need for our teeming youths to be searching for jobs anymore, once they have trained digitally. That is why we need to prepare them for the future, because of its demand in the global economy”, Adekunte said

One of the instructors and the Business Manager, DSN, Mr. Amzat Olawasheun said it was a foundation for the primary and secondary school teachers in the State, to make them compete favourably in the area of Python programme and Artificial Intelligence.

Oluwasheun pointed out that teachers need to be adequately equipped and educated on Information Technology, to prepare the upcoming generations for the future challenges, noting that those programmings would be introduced into the primary and secondary school curriculum.

“This is basic foundation for our teachers in the State to develop their intelligence and broaden their knowledge in the area of programmings, to inculcate what they are taught here to their pupils and the world as well”, she said.

In his contribution, the Third Executive President, Computer Teachers Association of Nigeria (CTAN), Mr. Emosu Temitopeoluwa, stated that it is important to “catch them young” and implant such critical programmes into their minds, so as to become employers of labour in the nearest future.

“Indeed, Python Programmings is very essential, as at now, we cannot do anything special on IT without having knowledge of it. It is a new innovation we all need to vast at, so, our students need to be taught now, as they are still young to assimilate “, Temitopeoluwa said.

Some of the participants, Mr. Elemide Florence of Idiko Gateway Senior Secondary School, Idiroko, Ipokia Local Government and Mrs. Sofowote Rasheedat of Wesley Primary School, Iperu-Remo, opined that the programme was for beginners/starters, to develop their skills in the area of programmings on ICT, commending the State government for facilitating such training workshop for both primary and secondary school teachers.