₦airaland Forum

Penguin2:
I’m very sure Amosun’s guy would have been 100 times better than this Dagboru that Tinubu and Osoba foisted on Ogun.

Una pele o!

No fewer than 60 landlords and some tenants on Prime View City Estate, Arigbede, in the Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, and its immediate environs have been sacked by flood.

It was gathered that the flood, which had continued to surge for over a week, was as a result of the steady release of water from the Oyan Dam in Ogun State.

In Arigbede, it was gathered that while some tenants moved to their churches and other areas, their landlords relocated immediately to guest houses where they hoped to stay for at least two months when the flood would have receded.

PUNCH Metro during a visit to the area observed that the entrance to the PVC Estate was flooded, even as 70 per cent of the houses inside the estate were abandoned by their owners.

Shola, a tenant in Arigbede, told one of our correspondents that some of the houses inside the estate were occupied by only the landlords and their families, adding that only few of them took in tenants.

He explained that while some of the landlords left on Saturday when they noticed the flood surging towards their buildings, others joined the exodus on Sunday and Monday.

He said, “Most of the people, including tenants staying on the estate have packed out; more are still leaving because of the flood. The PVC, Phase 3 Estate, is the worst hit. Over 60 houses have been abandoned by their owners.”

A landlord, who identified himself only as Ikechukwu, who was seen leaving the estate with his family, said nobody informed him that the place was always flooded at a point every two years.

“I am packing my belongings because the flood is much. Over 50 houses are affected by the flood. Nobody told me that the place was flood-prone before I bought the land and erected a building there. I have been here for the past five years.

“The flood also affected me two years ago; I left and came back. I am leaving with my wife and children. I am going to look for accommodation where my family can be safe,” Ikechukwu said.

A mother of three, who simply identified herself as Victoria, told PUNCH Metro she left her house in Arigbede, where she was a tenant, to take refuge in a church.

She said, “When I came in January, I never knew there was a problem of flood. But a woman later told me that the place was flood-prone. She then showed me marks of the last flood on the wall. I was scared.

“But I met a security man who told me there was nothing like flood in the area. I later asked the caretaker, who explained that it was before and that nothing like that would happen because necessary measures had been put in place.

“However, we saw the flood around 3pm. Before 9pm, the flood had reached half of the house in length. So, I decided to leave with my children to our church because we did not know what would happen before daybreak.”

Also, a landlady close to PVC estate, Mama Folake, said the last time they experienced flood was in 2019 when the Oyan Dam was opened, disclosing that at a point, canoes were used to convey people from the flooded area to higher grounds for N200 per head.

“But pupils paid N100 for a trip from Banku and Prime View City, Phase 3, to higher grounds in Arigbede or beyond. It used to be free, but when the flood increased and the water level became higher, people were compelled to pay. The flood has already taken over Greatness Garden in Banku. We can’t get to Banku from where we are now because of the flood,” she added.

She disclosed that the flood would soon get to a level where the Airtel mast would be put off, while the electricity distribution company would also stop supplying electricity to the area to avoid electrocution of any person.

Mrs Ogechukwu, a landlady living close to PVC Estate in Arigbede told PUNCH Metro that the flooding of the area was always happening every two years.

“This year, most of those affected began to leave immediately they saw the signs. There was no flood last year and this encouraged many people to continue to erect buildings almost everywhere on the estate.

“But why will the government open two phases of the Oyan Dam? We learnt there are four phases of the dam. It is not fair. We don’t have a government; we only have God,” she added.

The Ogun-Osun River Basin Development Authority said it notified stakeholders, including the state government and the people, before it began releasing water from the Oyan Dam.

The Head of Information, OORBDA, Saliu Adeniyi, said, “We have started releasing water since May and we issued a notice over that. We have been releasing water gradually because of the September and October rains so as to create a vacuum for the rains in September and October.”

The Special Adviser to the Ogun State Governor on the Environment, Ola Oresanya, said the state had advised residents in lowlands to vacate.

He said, “We started preparation early; we advised our people, the vulnerable ones, to move out of the place.

“Those that will be impacted negatively are those that are farming by the river and doing some other things there and we have asked them to move away from the river bank.”

Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government on Tuesday alerted residents, especially those in areas contiguous to the Ogun River, about the continuous steady release of water from the Oyan Dam, urging everyone to be on standby.

In a statement by Kunle Adeshina, Director of Public Affairs, the state Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Tunji Bello, said officials of the state had been monitoring the release which was earlier announced through an advisory.

He listed areas where the release of water was felt as Isheri North, Kara, Itowolo, Ajegunle, Majidun and Ogolonto.

Specifically, he said residents who live in the downstream of Isheri Olofin up to part of Agboyi would experience flooding as earlier alerted.

Bello stressed that similarly, Onikoyi/Agelete community at Iba New Town at Iba LCDA were also experiencing flooding due to their closeness to the Yewa River.

The Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) has confirmed the arrest of no fewer than 50 suspected internet fraudsters at the Mitros Residences Annex, Daktad and Celias suites in Abeokuta areas of Ogun state.

PLATFORM TIMES had reported that the EFCC operatives reportedly broke into a government owned hotel around 4am on Monday and arrested some lodgers suspected to be internet fraudsters.

PLATFORM TIMES further reported that the EFCC operatives during the raid went away with some exotics cars and gadgets reportedly belonging to the suspected fraudsters .

When the Head of Public Affairs in Ibadan Zonal office, Tokunbo Odeniyi was contacted, he confirmed the arrest.

Odeniyi revealed that items such as laptops, mobile phones and cars were confiscated from the suspects during the raid.

He said, “yes, it true, the EFFC made arrest of some fraudsters in Abeokuta, the state capital.

“They were arrested in three different places so I can’t tell you how many was arrested at Mitros.

“Fifty six suspected internet fraudsters were arrested in three different hotels in Abeokuta.

“Items such as laptops, mobile phones and cars were confiscated from the suspects.”

When asked the sins of the arrested people, Odeniyi said investigations are ongoing to confirm the exact crime they were involved in.

He added, “I can’t give you all these details now, investigation is ongoing and you know the spokesperson is at Abuja.”

eldoradoxx:
But Amosun warned Ogun people that Dapo Abiodun does not know anything about governance.

Anxiety is mounting in Magboro Community of Ogun State over the death of 10 people arising a from suspected Cholera outbreak.

Suspected Cholera outbreak was first reported on Friday, when a resident of the community living in an uncompleted building died.

Two people living with her were said to have died on Saturday.

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced a total 65,145 suspected cases of cholera, including 2,141 deaths, representing a Case Fatality Rate (CFR) of 3.3 percent reported from 23 states and the FCT, as of Sept. 2, 2021.

Meanwhile, Magboro community leaders have begun a house-to-house search for victims to help them get care.

They also sealed some places to curtail further spread of the disease that can kill within hours. Some of the places were, however, reopened after disinfection.

“The first person that died is a woman; two others living with her in an uncompleted building later died on Saturday,” a resident, who simply identified himself as Solomon, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The Secretary of Magboro Community Development Council, Mr David Ajayi, said that the deaths could have been averted if those affected reported in time.

“We received the report of suspected cholera outbreak when the deed had already been done.

“I can confirm death of two people. One other person is hospitalised. Another reported case was about a young girl taking care of her sick mother in a hospital in Asese, she was also confirmed dead. Health officials from Abeokuta came on Saturday and Sunday to have an on-the -spot assessment and take samples from affected persons,” he said.

Ajayi said that the community leaders had been going round the affected areas to put some measures in place to forestall further spread.

Chairman of Community Development Association, Cele Zone, Mr Collins Anifowose, said the affected places had been sealed.

Dr Hakeem Yusuf, Director, Epidemiology Unit, Ogun State Public Health Board, said officials of Ogun Ministry of Health had visited the affected area while Disease Surveillance Officer in the state, Mrs Temitope Oluwalere said the ministry was working to tackle the situation.

Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Ogun Command Area 1 has intercepted contraband worth N72.5 million in August, the Area Controller of the command, Comptroller Peter Kolo has said.

Giving a breakdown during a press briefing held at Idiroko Area Command, Kolo said the contraband include ‘’95 seizures comprising 4,138 bags of foreign parboiled rice of 50kg each, 830 cartons of frozen poultry products, 15 units of both foreign used vehicles and means of conveyance, 6 sacks of cannabis sativa and other illicit drugs, 6 bales and 15 sacks of used /secondhand clothings, 6 sacks and 90 pieces of used handbags, 16 sack and 34 pairs of used shoes, 592 kegs of petroleum products of 25 litres each made for smuggling outside the country, and many other items.

Comptroller Kolo reiterated that Ogun State borders remained closed.

He commended his men for their courage and gallantry at curbing smuggling despite constant intimidation and unprovoked attacks by dare devil smugglers. He added: “The only available source of revenue to the Command is the auction of seized petroleum products and scrap metals.

“Through this, the Command is able to generate a total of One Million, nine hundred and ninety-seven thousand five hundred Naira (N 1,997,500) in the month of August, 2021 and the cumulative Duty Paid Value of all our seizures during the month amounted to Seventy Two Million, Five Hundred and Eighty-Nine Thousand, Four Hundred and Seventy-three Naira (N 72,589,473),” Kolo said.

The multi-million naira Ogun State Model School, Ago-Iwoye, established by Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led government, has been abandoned.

The model school, named after the late Professor Sanya Onabamiro, an indigene of Ago-Iwoye, was established alongside 25 others across the 26 state constituencies.

The cost of each model school was put at N750 million by former Governor Amosun, while his Commissioner for Education, late John Odubela put the cost of each school when completed and fully equipped at N1.3 billion naira.

However, since the completion of the school in Ago-Iwoye, it had been neglected and abandoned without being put to any use.

The school has been taken over by reptiles and birds, while some residents of the area now use it as a spot for open defecation.

When the incumbent governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, came into office, he said he was not interested in continuing the model school project of his predecessor, adding that he would demolish some while others would be converted for different purposes.

The governor said some of the model schools were structurally defective and promised to demolish and replace them with vocational training centres and put others to better use.

For instance, the model school at Ikenne had been converted to isolation centre to treat patients of COVID-19.

The one in Abeokuta had equally been converted and used as Bureau of Information and Communication Technology, which is called TECH HUB.

It is in the same vein that indigenes and residents of Ago-Iwoye are calling on Governor Dapo Abiodun to convert the model school in the town to Vocational Centre or other profitable venture, in order to save it from further dilapidation, as some of the ceilings and other fittings are presently collapsing.

Speaking with Journalists, the former Chairman of Ago-Iwoye Central Development Council (ACDC), Otunba Abayomi Bada, said: “Ogun State government should consider the possibility of converting the completed but unutilised or abandoned Prof. Dojo Onabamiro Model Secondary School, Ago-lwoye, to a modern day Institute of Technology, basically to train students on metal fabrication, metal crafting, soldering and many more.

“This would broaden the scope of knowledge to be imparted in addition to the usual stream. I think this is long overdue in this Senatorial District.

“Alternatively, Ago-Iwoye can be the epicenter for the production of Solar Panels to feed the needs of Ogun State and Nigeria.

“Therefore, the school can be converted to Silicone Village,” he concluded.

Also, a foremost educationist and prominent indigene of Ago-Iwoye, Otunba Ayobade Obajimi, who retired as a Permanent Secretary in the Lagos State Ministry of Education, told Journalist that he appreciated the siting of the Model School in Ago-Iwoye.

However, Obajimi said: “In view of its long abandonment, I want to appeal to the government to convert the Model School to a Technical and Vocational College.

“This suggestion is borne out of the immediate, future and overall good of our people, as the Technical and Vocational College will be a panacea to youth unemployment, underemployment and restiveness in Ago-Iwoye and other neighbouring towns.”

Otunba Obajimi further disclosed that the town already has adequate schools with rooms for expansion for secondary education.

Residents of Ogun State have lamented the deplorable state of roads in their areas, calling on Governor Dapo Abiodun to do the needful.

DAILY POST reports that the majority of the complaints on Ogun roads are coming from Sango, Ota, Ifo, Ijoko, Akute, Agbado, Oke Aro, Alagbole, Lambe, Atan, Owode-Ilaro and others.

Residents of the areas said both the state and federal governments had forgotten them as though they were not existing.

Yewa-Awori people, under whom the majority of the bad roads are located, alleged being marginalised by the state government, saying their area would develop only if they could unite and produce a governor in subsequent elections.

Despite being the industrial hub of the state, the people of Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, opined that those in the helms of affairs use the funds generated in the area to develop other regions.

The people groaned that they could no longer go out with their cars, expressing worry that industries in the local government have started to relocate.

Toyin Alani, a resident of Ado-Odo/Ota said, “We will soon post the names of those that are representing us from this local government to the public, from federal down to local government. So people can see their wicked faces. Before we post their names to the public, with crystal clear message of their failure, they should go to the media and explain the reason our roads and other infrastructure can’t be fixed in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, but Ijebu and Abeokuta can be fixed and maintained, year in year out. We pay tax and generate the highest revenue for the state, including the Federal Government.”

One Dada Sunday held the view that the problems of Yewa/Awori “cannot be solved until both Yewa and Awori people agree and come together so as to win in the governorship election by bringing one person as candidate. If not, 20 years to come, nobody will come to our rescue.”

Corroborating Sunday’s position, Bankole Lukmon added that, “Let’s bring one person from Yewa/Awori as governorship candidate and let us all support him. If he now fails to fix our problems, then we are the problem of ourselves. Most of our representatives from Federal down to ward level are voiceless. May God help the Ogun West region.”

While describing the Sango-Idiroko international road as an eyesore and absolutely condemnable, Adewale Adebanjo stated that the road deserves urgent attention, pleading that “Mr Governor, help us fix our bad road, safety first.”

Sulaimon Atinsola was of the view that the Ogun West situation “is so pathetic economically, infrastructurally and wellness wise.

“Unfortunately our representatives in government are caged by what makes them look elsewhere rather than see the rots. I believe it was a calculated attempt to remove Ogun West from being the economic hub of Ogun State. The main reason why industries are now relocating from both Agbara and Sango-Ota to Siun and Sagamu is because of the bad road network and increase in the cost of production, as a result of untoward loss due to logistics and transportation challenges. God will fight our case,” Atinsola maintained.

“Our case in Ogun West is so pathetic, despite the fact that Ogun West is the largest industrial area in the state, where the state is generating the highest revenue from. Now, look at the state of the roads in the area, mostly Ado- Odo/Ota Local Government. The roads that lead to a neighbouring country in a sorry state. The roads are so dilapidated, leading to loss of lives and property damage. Automatically, political leaders and representatives of this area must be questioned,” Idowu Waliy said.

On his own part, one Engr Onaolapo narrated his ordeal when he visited the Sango axis of Ogun State: “I went to Sango recently. It was hell! The road is bad, one side was a lake. I was the only one swimming inside because I was driving a truck. The other side had heavy traffic. Ogun State does not have a government o.”

Mr Evans said: “I went to see someone at Matogun, Oke Aro, I took pain relief after I got back home because the body pain was too much. The roads are really bad. I don’t know how they cope when it rains. I really hope Ogun State improves infrastructure wise because it’s in a sad state.”

Kola Ogunyemi added: “Ogun State is not taking advantage of its proximity to Lagos. All the border town roads are eyesore. Akute, Ajuwon, Alagbole, Agbado crossing, Ijoko, Ota down to Agbara. There’s no government presence in all these aforementioned areas. It is a big shame!”

DAILY POST reports that Gov Abiodun has on Wednesday reacted to the barrage of criticisms hitting him from residents of his State over the poor condition of their roads.

Reacting on Wednesday, Gov Abiodun assured that rehabilitation would begin on the Lagos-Sango-Abeokuta road soon.

According to him, a team of Engineers from would be in the area on Thursday to assess the road.

Abiodun confirmed that this became possible after he held a teleconference with the Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and his team on Tuesday.

“Rehabilitation will begin on the Lagos-Sango-Abeokuta Federal Highway, following Thursday’s assessment of the road.



“We received assurance of this during the teleconference I held with the Honorable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola and his team.

“The Ogun State Government remains committed to giving the best in infrastructure, as in other sectors, to the good people of the Gateway State,” he said.

Adeola Soetan was a staff of the Nigeria Television Authority, NTA, Abeokuta when some young student leaders from the Obafemi Awolowo University, OAU, Ile-Ife visited the station. Cladded in black, they came in connection with the annual commemoration of the June 7, 1981 massacre of six students in Ife by the police.

The students looked so young, yet articulate and confident while being interviewed, that he decided in furthering his studies, to attend the OAU. So in 1986, he was admitted into the institution for a five -year course in Agriculture. He was aged 25.But when he got to the campus, the student union that attracted him, had been banned over protests against the student massacre at the Ahmadu Bello University, ABU.

On campus, he started writing and pasting articles why student unionism should be restored. His articles carried his name and room number. One day, two young students, Yinka Odumakin, later a national figure in Nigerian politics, and Kola Odetola visited and invited him to join a student journal,‘Ripples’. A month later, they invited him to a student seminar where he met young students discussing how to revive the student union and intelligently analysing national and international politics. That was how he joined the radical students movement.


About three months later, during the university convocation, the representative of the Visitor, Admiral Patrick Koshoni, was stoned by students protesting the trial for treason of eleven electricity senior staff who had gone on strike in protest against the neglect of their sector. Soetan was not present when this happened. He had attended an all-night social party the day before, and slept most of the day. So when Koshoni was stoned, he was sound asleep in his room. About 9.30pm, Odumakin and Odetola came to his room and asked whether he listened to the NTA Network News. No he hadn’t. So they informed him he was one of the students the university claimed to have identified stoning Koshoni and has therefore been rusticated indefinitely. He was just four months on campus!

Soetan an orphan since 19, was sponsoring himself in school with help from his sister, Rosalyn Soetan. She seemed so devastated and exclaimed: “How could you go and stone the Minister?” He replied: “ I did not stone the Minister, I was not even there.” She responded: “Ah! Iro ni”(Ah! It is a lie).

Soetan went to court to prove he was not physically present at the convocation and was not given any hearing. Also, to point out that three of the eight rusticated students were pen names, so how could the university claim people whose identity they do not know, were seen stoning the Minister? Additionally, that one of the remaining names, Seni Ajayi was served his rustication letter in Ondo whereas the person served had graduated and left the university! So, it was clearly a case of mistaken identity. Soetan lost the case but the reinvigorated student union asked the rusticated students to resume classes, and the university turned a blind eye.

In April 1990, Soetan was elected the student union President. Shortly afterwards, there were national student protests and the OAU students union was banned and the school closed down for one month.

Then there was an attempted coup in the country on April 22, 1990 and state security agents invaded the campus and abducted two lecturers, Professors Omotoye Olorode and Idowu Awopetu. In the process of spiriting the lecturers away, one of the agents in his car lagged behind, was apprehended by the students and beaten. The university authorities wanted to save the life of the security agent from the thousands of angry students, but could not persuade them, so they appealed to Soetan.

He asked in what capacity he was to intervene since the union had been banned. But the university denied the union was banned. So he spoke to the students and assured them that the union was capable of handling the situation. Later, the university wrote the students inviting them to meet government representatives who were threatening to storm the campus unless the agent was released. The students rejected the letter, insisting it should be properly addressed. Two hours later, the university unbanned the students union and returned with a letter addressed to the President of the students union. So the students agreed to the meeting. The security agent was released after spending 12 days in the students custody.

In 1991, the National association of Nigerian Students, NANS, ordered a nationwide students boycott of classes in furtherance of its demand for a N2,000 bursary for students and the right to education. When a student congress was called in OAU to mobilise for this protest, a cult group, the posted notices decreeing: “No Rally. No protest on campus. Be warned.” When Soetan led the student congress that held in Awolowo Hall, there were disturbances.

His supporters guided him to safety in his Room 273, Awolowo Hall. Then the armed cultists smashed his door, dragged him out, broke a flower vase on his head and brought him to the ground floor. It was at that point students realised what was going on and came to his rescue. The cultists broke into a run, fleeing into the hills. But one of them ran to the bar of the Student Union Building, SUB, from where he flung bottles at the students injuring a number. The students retaliated likewise and he was severely injured. He died while being taken to the teaching hospital.

The university was closed down for two weeks. On resumption, Soetan was invited with some students to write a statement on the incident at the More Police Station, Ife. Eighteen of them were detained and later taken to police cells in Ibadan. After about one month, Soetan and three others were brought back to Ife, and amidst police-student street battles, were charged with conspiracy and murder before a magistrate court. They were remanded at the Ilesha prisons where they spent seven months (June 12, 1991-January, 1992) before the police discontinued the case.

On return to campus, Soetan was again expelled, this time for failing to register for two semesters which was impossible as he was in police cell and prison for eight months. The struggle to get him recalled went on for over two years.

Soetan, even without failing his examinations, spent 13 years in OAU for a five-year programme. He passed through four Vice Chancellors: Professor Wande Abimbola who first expelled him; Professor Adeniyi Osuntogun, the next to expel him; Professor Wale Omole, the third to expel him; and Professor Makanjuola Roger who signed his certificate. On Sunday August 29, 2021, this indomitable fighter, turned 60.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/08/adeola-soetan-student-leader-who-spent-13-years-for-a-five-year-course/

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has given an ultimatum to the mechanics operating illicitly under Berger/Kara Bridge, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway to leave.

He stated this during his inspection of the ongoing work on the bridge and its axis, recently.

He warned the technicians who initially defied the evacuation notice, that the government would be left with no other option than to enforce the law if they fail to leave the axis this time around.

In a meeting with the mechanics, he told them that according to world best practices, no mechanic operations take place under the bridge, rather it is in a workshop or yard. He explained that the then government of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states gave the land as right of way of 47.5m, both to the left and right to the Federal government during the construction of the bridge.

Fashola gave the new ultimatum of leave as November 30, 2021, so as to enable them to cater to ember months plan for travellers. He stated that, going with what the law says, they should have been given just seven days to relocate, but on compassionate grounds, he is given them an extension.

Fashola stated that the ongoing rehabilitation of the highway would soon extend under the bridge, in addition to the coming ember months repairs by the Ministry of Works.

He stated that their activities like burning, spilling, cooking and so on, cause a lot of damage to roads and bridges, which in turn is costing the government a great fortune.

The representative of the mechanics appealed that the Federal government assist in providing an alternate location for the workers who are over three hundred, in order for them to be able to provide for their families.

Responding to appeals for alternative space, Mr Fashola advised the association to officially engage the Ogun state government to make their request, promising to help them fast-track the process.

The Minister advised the occupants to write to Ogun State Government and put in copy, the Controller of Works in Lagos and Ogun states to request for assistance on their relocation. He said once the letter is sent, he will be able to also appeal on their behalf.

He assured them that a suitable and more befitting place will be provided for them, and they will be able to run their trade with more ease.

The Minister also visited the Wey bridge, which is being refurbished along Berger way. He stated that” no matter how beautiful the highways are built, they are built with specifications. Once you don’t comply with those specifications, you are misusing or abusing the assets,” he said.

“Nigeria is a signatory to the ECOWAS hassle load regulations, signed by all ECOWAS countries and imbibed also by President Buhari through the regulations laid down, even as seen published on the walls of this place, showing approved hassles per truck, type of trucks and what each truck can carry”, he said.

“There are fines for those who exceed the specified tonnage per hassle load ranging from N1million to N10million. The reason for this enlightenment is because, we want to make it cheaper to comply and very expensive to break the law. That way, people will choose to comply that paying excessive penalties”, he said.

“At the end of the day, we are slowly hoping to return governance, law and order on enforcement and compliance to not just our highways but our general way of life, as all of us would be better for it”, he said.

“On the economy side, having seen this Wey bridge, which has been here since 1978 thereabouts, when the Lagos-Ibadan expressway was actually built, the scale here is also the old model, which was given to a consultant for repairs. The President is using infrastructure to build the economy, contrary to what some said. This is employment opportunity given, there are meters in the computer room to show what each vehicles weigh, there is a Police post, a warehouse where excess cargoes will be offloaded and stored, all these will be manned by some people”, he said.

“There is also the benefit of transhipment, so in case of an overload, the truck will be offloaded, and members of the Transport Union can take the excess cargo at approved rate. This will create a ripple effect down the line, and this is the beginning of many more Wey bridges to come”, he said.

“These activities are beyond tolling but more of highway management to create not less than 50,000 direct jobs and 200, 000 indirect jobs, so with these, you will see more Wey bridges, modern warehouses that can store not only dry cargo but also wet cargo. So, we have made the regulations, which is profitable for people. Our coming here is just to symbolize what we see ahead and how we expect the private sector to begin to key into the process”, he said.

Comedian2019:
After arrest, let me know when he's being prosecuted or released.
Lawless people.

Gradually, the metropolitan city of Sango-Ota in Ado-Odo Ota Local Council, Ogun State is wearing the toga of the old Oshodi, adjudged Lagos second largest market after Idumota.

Until January 2009, when the administration of Babajide Raji Fashola took the sledgehammer approach, Oshodi was a poster city for both environmental and traffic disorderliness. Pedestrians and motorists found it impossible to move freely in the market due to the invasion of the sprawling area shops and shop-less purveyors of goods.

Old Oshodi reflected the complexity of the city, showcasing the ingenuity of the people of Lagos in their use of the informal market in eking a living.

It was a centre for the good, the bad and the worse as pickpocketing, robbery and other acts of criminalities held sway ceaselessly. It wasn’t only a den for criminals, it was considered as the home of delinquents and criminals where large caches of arms were kept.

However, when the nightmare, rowdiness, lawlessness and disorderliness that had reigned for decades were abruptly brought to an end, the message was loud and clear that it wasn’t going to be business as usual any longer. Besides, it showed that the task of giving Lagos a new lease of life was on course.

Now, it seems the demons in the Old Oshodi have relocated to Sango-Ota. According to reports, the displaced traders who could not afford the high cost of shops and bear the offensiveness of the Fashola’s administration, relocated to Sango, majorly due to its proximity to Lagos.

From the old tollgate through the Sango market to Joju junction, Sango under bridge to Oju-Ore, Ijoko road and beyond, the residents, traders and commuter buses have thrown caution to the wind.

Undoubtedly, one of the more endearing attributes of Sango is the market and its strategic location, as it shares boundary with the commercial city of Lagos. It also serves as a central transit point for commuters within the country and neighbouring West African countries.

The chaotic nature of the old tollgate, despite the siting of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) unit office, has defied all possible solutions with the ever-present traffic jam mostly caused by uncouth commercial buses drivers.

While the buses struggle with the commercial motorcycle riders, popularly called Okada and hawkers for available space on one hand, pedestrians and other purveyors of goods battle traders who have encroached the right of way and touts to escape from the rowdy area.

The officers of the FRSC, Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corps (TRACE) and the police, stationed at the spot are always helpless to restore sanity. Several accidents have been recorded at the scene, which have claimed many innocent lives, especially the recalcitrant traders and passersby. On weekly basis, at least one fatal accident is always recorded at the scene with records of fatalities.

The Sango main market which extends to under bridge is the worst hit. Both sides of the road have been taken over by traders, displaying different types of wares from clothing, household utensils, meat, fruits and accessories to foodstuffs.

While the right side of the road inward Sango from Lagos has been heavily encroached, right from the front of the market through the gate of the Polaris bank, traders, beggars and commuter bus drivers always scramble for space on the road that leads to the under bridge.

All the available spaces under the bridge and some parts of the road without blemish have been taken over by traders and Okada riders, while motorists making a detour struggle to manage through.

It is the same experience on the Ijoko road, obviously abandoned by government. The chaotic nature of the road right from under the bridge is worrisome. Despite the presence of traffic officers and the police stationed at the junction, orderliness has perpetually taken a flight from the junction.

The Guardian observed that beggars, Okada riders, traders and commuter bus drivers always have a field day, especially during the peak hours, thereby obstructing free flow of traffic.

The situation is the same on the Owode-Idiroko road. Compared to the routes mentioned earlier, this axis linking Nigeria to other West Africa countries is always chaotic.

Aside the fact that a makeshift bus stop has evolved along the ever-busy road, activities of the garage touts and impatient motorists contributed immensely to the chaos. Motorists can be at the same spot for 15 minutes without moving, while traffic officers sometimes look the other way, while extorting motorists. This extends from the section to Oju-Ore, Iyana Iyesi through to the Canaan land section.

One ‘special’ attribute that distinguishes the town from other cities of its status both within and outside Ogun State, is the state of the roads. The dilemma of the bad roads has added to the complexity of the city.

The residents are not only pissed off, they are currently worried and angry that the horrible roads are turning from bad to worst on daily basis, despite the status of the city as host to large fraction of industries in the state, coupled with its proximity to Lagos.

One horrible sight that is common to the entire metropolis is indiscriminate dumping of refuse at strategic places. The practice is not only an eyesore in a city of Sango’s status as it oozes offensive odours; it also signals invitation to diseases, especially now that cases of cholera are becoming a common place.

At a forum about 15 years ago, an America-based Nigerian described Ota as the dirtiest place of residence she had ever seen. Alas! Nothing could be said to have changed since then.

In terms of security, crime rate in the area has also escalated in the last two years, based on reports from the state police command. Cases of robbery, ritual killings, rape, cultism, civil disturbances and unrest have become part of the metropolis.

A resident of Temidire area of the town, Ayo Abraham, said Sango Ota Township is now in the shadows of its old glory. “It is a pity that all we have today is a story of dilapidation due to neglect. Life has become so difficult for dwellers in this sprawling community as almost all the township roads are filled with large portions of potholes and totally failed sections.

“Riding on the roads as commuters or car owners is now a nightmare. Dwellers in the inner parts of the town have to leave home as early as 4.00am now to get to work in Lagos to avoid lateness. The town cannot boast of good street roads. Whenever it rains, the dwellers are subjected to apprehension because of traffic jams due to flooding on the bad roads. Ogun State government needs to map out a redevelopment plan for this city.

“Someone has jokingly said that Lagos State should be allowed to take over this neighbouring town as that will assure of rapid infrastructural development and the harnessing of the huge industrial establishments in this ancient town. That is a sad commentary on the performance of Ogun State government.”

Another resident, Abiodun Osho, who linked the problem to influx of people from the ‘squeezed Lagos, said any attempt to pay less attention to Ota or not to give it the prominence it deserves because of political reasons will certainly amount to punishing innocent Nigerians of all tribes, young and old.

“You can fool some people sometimes but can’t fool all people all the times. In view of the aforementioned, something has to be done fast and urgently too. Any attempt to defer kangaroo palliative till when election is approaching will certainly be catastrophic and in fact constitute a bitter pill to swallow for Ota community.

When contacted, the council officials said plan is on to enforce the encroachment of road in Oju Ore area.

Aleshinloye, who spoke on behalf of the council’s Information Officer, said a multi-task stakeholders committee, comprising public and private sector, royal fathers and civil servants, headed by one of the dignitaries in the council is in place to tackle the challenges.

“Revenue collectors are allowed to join hands with the committee. From time to time, the council in conjunction with the police usually goes to the market and the parks to stop encroachment by the traders. We also bring them here for sensitisation. I must tell you that we are tackling the problem, we are proactive on it.”

He added that a task force has been put in place to ensure regular refuse disposal to ensure that the entire metropolis in clean.

Despite its strategic location and proximity to Lagos, the commercial centre of Nigeria, the Gateway Hotel, Ota, one of the three hotels established by the late former governor of Ogun State, Chief Olabisi Onabanjo, has been abandoned and is currently in ruins.

The Gateway Hotel, Ota, is located less than 100 metres away from the old Sango tollgate, a location that serves as the boundary between Lagos and Ogun states. The once magnificent edifice sits on the right when coming into Sango from Lagos.

The administration of Onabanjo, who was the first democratically-elected governor of the state between October 1979 and December 1983, built three hotels in the 1980s while holding sway on the platform of the defunct Unity Party of Nigeria to demonstrate equal distribution of wealth in Ogun State.

The administration had situated the hotels in the three senatorial districts in the state – Egba, Yewa/Awori and Ijebu.

The one for Ijebu was situated in Ijebu-Ode and has now become Equity Resort Hotel; the one for Egba is situated in the Kuto area of Abeokuta, the state capital, and has become the Park Inn by Radisson, while the one for Yewa/Awori remains the Gateway Hotel, Ota, which is located along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

Findings show that the Gateway Hotel, Ota, is the biggest of the three with 350 rooms and suites.

The three were built as five-star rated hotel complexes with world-class facilities. They had beautiful landscapes, Olympic-size swimming pools, conference rooms, event halls, tennis courts and shopping plazas.

After some years, the administration of Otunba Gbenga Daniel between 2003 and 2011 gave out the three hotels to private investors as concession for a period of 25 years.

Daniel claimed that it gave out the facilities as concession because they were being run at a loss. He lamented that since they were established, only N27m had been realised from the three hotels.

Eight years later, the Ibikunle Amosun administration, which was in the saddle between 2011 and 2019, set up a judicial commission of inquiry to look into the state properties sold or given out as concessions by his predecessor.

The report of the commission was published by the state government in February 2012. It was established that Gateway Hotel, Ota, was given to MIDC Limited as a concession and sub-leased to ARTEE Industries Limited.


The report added that the concessionaire took over in 2009 with a promise to complete the refurbishment of the facility within 18 months, but allegedly failed to do anything after two and a half years.

While implementing the recommendations of the commission, Amosun terminated the concession.

Unfortunately, the current situation of the hotel shows that apart from the fact that the massive building is standing in a jungle of overgrown weeds and trees, the whole building has become dilapidated.

Some of the luxury items, including the decorative lights in the halls and conference rooms, have been looted.

A former worker in the hotel, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there was nothing left in the building that could remind anyone of what it used to look like.

He said all appliances, windows and doors, including their frames, as well as air conditioners and fans had disappeared.

The cinema section of the hotel has become a dusty dark room with no relic of its original state.

It was also gathered that since the building was left to rot and became an open space for anyone to access, miscreants had made away with every valuable item they could lay their hands on.

Giving the historical facts of the hotel, an indigene of Ota, Kayode Taiwo, told our correspondent that the hotel was established in 1982 by the late Onabanjo and had 350 rooms and an Olympic-sized swimming pool.

According to him, the hotel had a main banquet hall, three conference halls, cinema halls, shopping mall, a penthouse, car park for over 1,000 vehicles and two sets of power generators.

“Gateway Hotel, Ota, is strategically located on the hilly side of the Ota-Lagos boundary close to the popular Ilo-Awela River,” he explained.

Taiwo said the moribund facility had a general manager, food and beverages manager, admin manager, finance/account manager, as well as engineering and corporate affairs departments.

“Historically, the hotel was strategically located to douse the agitation of the Ota people over their request to merge with Lagos State,” Taiwo added.

On what the Ota people had lost to the mismanagement of the edifice, Taiwo said, “The hotel, at its peak, provided huge economic platforms for small businesses, theatre performance and film making, including musicals.

“It also provided employment for young people in and around Ota.

“Gateway Hotel, as an edifice, provided beautiful aesthetic value to the environment and was a huge place for tourism.

“Services provided during festivals include relaxation, swimming, keep fit and performances by artistes were regular getaway opportunities for corporate and individual guests.

Defending the Daniel administration, a former Managing Director, Gateway Holdings Limited, Gboyega Isiaka, said the concessionaire, MIDC, which acquired the hotel in Ota, was not fully prepared.

He said, “The situation with the Gateway Hotel, Ota, is that the concessionaire that got the place was not as fully prepared as those that got the other two locations.

“We discovered this even before we left office and we gave him a letter to the effect that he should do certain things or we would cancel the concession, and we agreed on what would be done in the place; we also issued a warning.”


Isiaka disclosed that due to MIDC’s inability to procure funds for the project, the concessionaire entered into an agreement with Gateway Holdings and ARTEE Industries Limited, the owners and operators of the famous Park ‘n’ Shop brand.

He said ARTEE Industries Limited was granted a development lease for a term of 23 years less three days, which meant the unexpired residue of the term granted to the MIDC in respect of an area measuring approximately 2.153 hectares to be used for a shopping mall.

Isiaka explained, “What happened to Gateway Hotel, Ota, is exactly the same thing that happened to Gateway Hotel, Abeokuta, and Gateway Hotel, Ijebu-Ode. It’s a concession process that I remain proud of even up till this time despite what is happening in that location (Gateway Hotel Ota).

“Even the day I appeared before the judicial panel, I told them that I remain proud of what we did there. Yes, there might be one or two things that probably should have been delayed or done better; there will always be things like that.

“I am proud of the concession process and I can say that anywhere, even when the former governor’s (Ibikunle Amosun) false allegation against me was about this hotel; I was at the EFCC; I went there alone and spent almost a whole day with them; I can stand in front of anybody to say that I am proud of the concession process.

“Unfortunately, when we left office, another government got there. It is left for that government to manage the process. So, all these stories that we were the ones that sold the hotel at a cheap price are rubbish.”

Speaking on the plans of the current government on the moribund hotel, the Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Dr Oluwatoyin Taiwo, said the Dapo Abiodun administration had begun the search for genuine investors.

He confirmed that the place had been messed up due to neglect by the previous administration.

The commissioner stated, “When we came on board at the ministry that is responsible for supervising most of the hospitality industries in the state, we were saddled with the responsibility by the governor to visit most of the tourist sites and most of the properties that we have under our purview and jurisdiction as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

Residents of Olu-Odunaiye Ikija town, Agbado, IjaIye, Ijoko, and Ogba Ayo have implored the Ogun State and Federal governments to come to their aid and finish the construction of the Agbado/Ijoko/Akute road. The road starts from Sango and leads to the Berger area of Lagos.
Aside from the sufferings and inconveniences, residents are experiencing due to the road’s deplorable condition, the economy in the axis is reported to be at the lowest ebb, making life almost unbearable. Residents and stakeholders believe that after completion of the strategic road, which was started by the immediate past administration in Ogun, an appreciable development will be attracted to the corridor, while the perennial traffic between Sango and Oshodi will also be reduced.

When the residents realised that the state government was not about to respond to their petitions and visits, they decided to take their fate into their hands. They embarked on the private funding of a road, which they have clearing and grading of a road from Ogba Ayo to Oke Aro. Already, the project has gulped as much as N4m, which was donated by individuals.

Recently, there was a stand-off between the residents and workers of the CCECC construction company, which is undertaking the building of railway stations along the corridor. The residents were irked by the company’s seeming nonchalance and refusal to contribute its quota to their efforts at clearing and grading a passable road to alleviate the sufferings of commuters and motorists plying the route. This is especially so, considering the fact that the construction company’s heavy-duty vehicles and articulated trucks contribute in no small measure to the worsening condition of the road.

The Baale of Olu-Odunaiye Ikija town, High Chief Olufemi Olusunmade Odunaiye, told The Guardian that the neglected road has been brought untold hardship and made life unbearable to his people.

He said: “They promised to construct the road, which they actually started and later abandoned. The construction started during the tenure of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun but was abandoned when his tenure ended. We had hoped that the new governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun would continue from where Amosun stopped, but we have been proved wrong. And though they made several promises, they never fulfilled any of them.

“We have written series of letters and have also paid visits to relevant government officials, with no response. They promised to come and do some sort of palliative work for us so that at least the road would be a little motorable, but we are yet to see that promise fulfilled.

“When we did not see them, we had to call on the Baales and community leaders to decide what we should do to our plight. Many people also donated money with which we started the palliative work. We bought sand and hardcore to fill one of the swampy sides of the road to enable us a link with other communities and allow transport and other vehicles to come in.

As we are tasking ourselves for the work, it is nauseating that CCECC, the Chinese construction company in charge of the railway from whom we even buy sands, and hardcore who are to support us in the spirit of corporate social responsibility refused to support us. We even wrote letters to their Kajola, Papalanto among others. Our letters dated 3rd and 19th July 2021 were acknowledged by them, but up till today, there has been no response.

We are being frustrated as the little effort we are making is being rubbished by their vehicles that have no other access road to their site than this road. This is the reason we are carrying out this peaceful protest. They bluntly refused to render assistance and they treat our plight with impunity as if there is nothing we can do. We are showing our grievances for the entire world to know what is going on so that appropriate authorities too would also come to our aid.

Though the road was not contracted to them, we believe it behooves them to come to our aid and assist us in the palliative work we are carrying out since it is the only road to access their site. In fact, the effect of their heavy truck passing the road has not enabled transport vehicles to make use of the road, therefore rendering our effort useless. We are not fighting anybody as we are a peace-loving community, but since they have refused to respond to the letters written to them, we are compelled to make them comply by force.

This is Agbado Ijoko, Akute road which starts from Sango and leads to Berger. Ripple effect of the bad and unmotorable road is numerous. Businesses have been paralysed. Those that are buying and selling have been rendered inactive as there is no road for them to go and buy what they are selling. Trucks that are bringing goods have no road to ply. A lot of goods being brought had been wasted and perished inside water. A lot of perishable goods were lost to the water log created by the bad road. Vehicles bringing in goods have always been at the mercy of miscreants who took advantage of the bad roads and vandalise their vehicles.

Landlords too have their own share of the sufferings as their tenants have vacated their buildings due to lack of road to access their places of work from this axis. Some landlords have also sold their houses and relocated. If not for the few of us that are still remaining, this environment would have been a ghost town because there is no trade. Commercial and private vehicles that are supposed to come here look for alternative roads.

This is what we are going through. If our government is sensitive enough, appreciate our plight and know their responsibility, completion of this road is also for their good as new bussnesses would spring up, banks would be able to operate and wholesale businesses with depots would be established. This will also lead to the improvement of the State government’s IGR. It is unfortunate that they refuse to see things in this perspective. Frustration of the people in this axis have made them to succumb to any idea that would even bring in private partnership and would not mind to be paying toll gate at the end of the day since the government cannot care for the people who are paying them taxes.

Though it is a federal road, it has been ceded to the Lagos government to construct. We do not know the arrangement between the Federal and the State government. All we knew was that the State government started the construction and abandoned it.

Chinese response to our course would be welcomed if they are ready to complement our effort.

We have alerted a lot of government functionaries including Commissioner for Works and Infrastructures, Information, Physical Planning and Special Adviser to the State on Works” the Baale said.

Another resident, Iyalode of Olu-Odunaiye, Ikija town, Chief Mrs. Esther Adebimpe said many people have vacated the area because of the condition of the road that has cut them off from other towns in the axis.
“Since about six months, the road has been terribly bad and we pay motorcycle riders between N200 or N300 from here to Agbado who move on the media with port-holes.

“We always hold our breadth on the motorcycles who occasionally fall into mucky water that had taken over one side of the road. There is no trade. We are hungry.

“There was a day a child had fire accident and his body peeled. There was no road for any vehicle to carry the child to the hospital. He eventually died. Many like that had passed away. Whenever any pregnant woman is in labour which would occasion carrying her to the hospital, there would be no way.

“We are pleading with the government and the Chinese people whose vehicles alone make use of the road we are contributing money to make passable to all come to our aid,” she said.

Another woman who also spoke to the Guardian, an entrepreneur, Alalade Olutayo said she built her house in the area about five years ago.

“When the construction started during the tenure of Senator Ibikunle Amosun, we were glad. However, he demolished some houses here and refused to compensate the owners which eventually led to the death of many landlords.

“When I relocated here after completing my building, I came with three cars, but today, I cannot boast of one. There was a time I relocated but on second thought, I came back for the fear of what would become of the building in the long run.

“Houses are empty, businesses have died and no shop owners could boast of generating N2,000 or N3,000 per day because of the situation of the road.

We are having this peaceful demonstration for Chinese whose vehicles pass the road we are trying to make passable for transport vehicles to come in, to come and assist us” she said.

A hotelier, Akinlade Ejiwunmi said the hotel business that was supposed to be booming had paralysed.

“In fact, the entire businesses are down. Landlords are selling their houses to move away from this environment.

“We are calling on the government and Chinese people to come to our aid. Politicians should know that they would soon need us and if they refuse to help us now, there will be a kind of reprisal by the time they also need us” he said.

According to the Public Relations Officer, Agbado/Ijoko Areas Communities Consultative Forum registered under Ifo Local Government, Comrade Akorede Idowu, when the Spokesperson for CCECC in the axis, Lanre, was contacted, he said he did not have the power to give out any sand to the community to assist in the palliative work.

In the same vein, when the Guardian called on Lanre two lines, the lines were switched off.

The Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN) Ogun branch, on Wednesday, began an indefinite strike over short payment of salaries by the state government.

The Ogun state JUSUN Chairman, Mr Edun Tajudeen, who spoke with journalists in Abeokuta, said that the strike was in compliance with the National secretariat directive to begin the strike on August 11.

Tajudeen noted that before the decision to embark on the strike, series of meetings had been held with representatives of the state government but ended in a deadlock.

”We noticed the short payments in our salaries since October 2020.

“This strike we are embarking is indefinite strike, because, on February 24, we gave the state government an ultimatum to pay us our full salaries before the nation-wide strike on autonomy began.

“After the strike, the meeting continued with the government but it did not yield any result,” he said.

The JUSUN chairman, however, appealed to the state government to look into the requests of the workers and do the needful.

The courts were under lock and key and nobody is allowed to gain entrance into the court premises.

TheNigeriaLawyer recalls the national body of JUSUN on April 6 directed its members to shut down all courts across the country, demanding the implementation of law granting financial autonomy to the Judiciary.

Gwg reports that a verdict of the Federal High Court in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, had in January 2014 held that financial autonomy for the judiciary is a constitutional provision that must be complied with by the executive branch of government.

The body had suspended the strike after 64 days, the longest industrial action in the Nigerian judiciary, following a meeting between officials of the union and the National Judicial Council (NJC) led by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Ibrahim Muhammad.

Commercial and vehicular activities were yesterday grounded, in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Council Area, Ogun State, as commercial motorcyclists popularly called Okada, blocked major roads in the area over alleged imposition of riders permit by council officials.

The Guardian learnt Okada riders converged on the old NITEL Warehouse, where they claimed officials of the council kept motorcycles seized from their members for failure to receive riders permits.

They displayed placards with different inscriptions, barricaded the Awolowo way linking the ILO-Awela road, close to the Secretariat, thereby hindering free flow of traffic in the area.

It was observed that protesters forced other riders to join in the protest, as they barricaded roads and restricted road users to the middle of the roads.

Shop owners, on seeing the protesters hurriedly locked their shops as the protesters burst into protest songs, moving from roads to roads.

Majority of commuters heading towards the council Secretariat, Oju-Ore, Canaan land, Lafenwa, Itele and beyond, were stranded as the entire stretch was deserted.

One of the riders, Akeem Ogun, said since the newly elected council officials came on board weeks ago, they have made life unbearable for them in the name of generating revenue for the council.

“Our motorcycles are seized on a daily basis and all our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Things are hard in the country and we are still in August, they should bear with us. We voted them into office but they shouldn’t make life unbearable for us. We are doing this to register our grievances for them to stop adding to our hardship.”

When the council was contacted, they confirmed the protest. Mr. Aleshinloye Ademoye, who spoke to The Guardian on phone on behalf of the information officer, said the protesters did not come to the council to make any official complaint.
The council can only issue a statement after the protesters file a complaint.

“We have not seized any motorcycles. You know tax collection has been ceded to the state government, so the state is in control of the riders permit; probably that’s why they have not approached us. But if they do, I will get back to you.

“We are aware that they are nuisance on the roads but the law enforcement agents have been informed to douse the tension, that is what we can do from our own end. Until they come to the council officially, we cannot assume what their grievances are,” he said.

Recall that a fortnight ago, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Afolabi Afuape, warned the newly elected council officials to desist from unnecessary taxation in the name of revenue generation.

Afuape, who stated this at the July 2021 edition of the Statutory Joint Account Allocation Committee meeting with new chairmen, said the practice of unnecessary taxation could cause disharmony between citizens and government.

He enjoined them to complement efforts of the state government, aimed at improving the welfare of the people and translate policies and programmes of Dapo Abiodun-led administration to reality.

SheikhMuniru:
You never see nothing..

2023 AMOSUN FOR PRESIDENT

Workers in Ogun State have cried out to Governor Dapo Abiodun to pay their salary deductions, saying “we are dying.”

The Ogun State Salary Earners’ Co-operative Thrift and Credit Union Limited alleged that Gov Abiodun had refused to pay their 17 months outstanding co-operative deductions.

Monthly, workers who are members of the Ogun State Salary Earners’ Co-operative Thrift and Credit Union Limited, save a percentage of their salaries with the union.

DAILY POST learnt that the money is to be deducted by the state government and paid to the union on behalf of the workers.

However, the union said 17 months of the deductions were not remitted by the State, making it difficult for workers to access their voluntary savings and to obtain loans.

The cooperative union, in a statement jointly signed by its President, Bodude Tanimola and the General Manager, Sunday Ajayi, begged Abiodun to stop the unwarranted deaths caused by the non-payment of their entitlements.

The union lamented that children of many of its members have dropped out of school over their parents’ inability to fund their education.

According to the union, the unremitted co-operative deductions had run into billions of Naira.

The union leaders expressed dissatisfaction that many letters written to Gov Abiodun, the Head of Service and others were ignored.

The statement read in part: “There is the inability of our members to take care of their immediate and extended family’s welfare.

“There is also the inability to give out loans to our co-operative members.

“We appeal to the Executive Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun to look into the 17 months Co-operative deductions outstanding owed our members, to reduce the number of deaths recorded among our members.”

DAILY POST reports that Gov Abiodun has on many occasions promised to make workers’ welfare a priority.

During the 2021 Workers Day celebration at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta, the Governor promised to clear the deductions, but the workers said nothing has been done since then.

According to them, Abiodun inherited zero unremitted cooperative deductions, but has since championed owing 17 months since he assumed office in 2019.

The Governor was accused of paying lip service to the full payment of workers’ salaries.