James Sowole in Abeokuta

No fewer than 100 inmates from the four correctional centres in Ogun State, regained their freedom in Jail Delivery Exercise, carried out by the state judiciary.
The inmates were released from Sagamu Correctional Centre; New Abeokuta Correctional Centre in Oba; Old Abeokuta Correctional Centre, in Ibara; Ilaro Correctional; and Ijebu Ode Correctional Centre.

The lucky inmates were set free following a review of their cases by the Chief Judge of Ogun State, Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu.

The review process commenced on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, with 36 inmates regaining their freedom in Sagamu while 20 inmates were released at the new Abeokuta Centre, Oba last Thursday, along with 12 at Ibara.

The final day, Friday, saw the liberation of 16 inmates in Ilaro and an additional 16 in Ijebu-Ode Correctional centres.

The state’s Chief Judge, who was at the various facilities accompanied by some judges and magistrates, said that the jail delivery exercises were in line with the state government’s efforts to decongest correctional centres in the state.          

         
She explained that some were released due to old age while others were based on health issues and for being in detention for long years without any ongoing proceedings.

Dipeolu said: “It’s part of the duty of the honourable Chief Judge to go on jail delivery exercises once in a while and decongest the prisons.

 “Only one was released here in Oba due to old age and of course, DPP says he has no case to answer, while the others have been in custody for many years.
“It’s either their case files cannot be located or witnesses are not forthcoming, for as far back as 2017, 2019, 2020 they’ve been in custody and their cases are not going on. So, there’s no point keeping them here and feeding them on taxpayers’ money.”

She advised the freed inmates to reintegrate into society and become good citizens, warning that if they returned to their old ways, they would not be lucky again.

“They should go back into the society and be good citizens, we have their records, and we always tell them, ‘If you come back, you would not be lucky the second time’ so we implore them to be of good behaviour.

“Let them go back into the society and find something tangible to do with their lives.”

Meanwhile, the State Controller of Correctional Services, Abioye Adesina expressed satisfaction over the decongestion and appealed to the state government for more operational vehicles for the movement of inmates.

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu would perform the groundbreaking for the establishment of the biggest cotton and polyester processing factory in the world at the Special Agro Processing Zone located at the Gateway International Airport, Iperu/Ilisan area of the State.

Speaking while receiving the former Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Madein, and members of the Iperu Development Association in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, Abiodun said the factory, which is under the “Renewed Hope Cotton Resurgent Initiative,” would sit on 400 hectares of land and would employ about 250,000 people daily.

He said: “In the next 30-45 days, we will be doing the groundbreaking of the Renewed Hope Cotton Resurgent Initiative that will be done by Mr. President himself. It is going to be a bigger factory, and it will be the biggest cotton and polyester processing factory in the world.

“It will employ 250,000 people per day. The promoters of this factory went around the whole state, and they decided that this is the place they want to site this factory because of the existing infrastructure like the airport, proximity to consumers, and the ability of raw materials to come in centrally.

“We are clearing the site, and this factory is going to sit on 400 hectares of land. It is like a whole new town. The requirements to support this industry can best be imagined. The economic impact on Iperu and its environs, the entire Remoland, Ijebu land, and the whole of Ogun State is beyond imagination,” Abiodun said.

He said that apart from the cotton industry, the Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has also indicated interest in siting a base in the town to secure not only the airport but also to provide adequate security to Iperu and the adjoining towns.

Explaining the rationale behind the siting of the airport at Iperu, Abiodun noted that the town is at the central point of the state, which could be easily accessible from any part of the state, adding that the 100 housing units built by his administration at the Airport Housing Estate would soon be commissioned.

The present administration, the governor informed, embarked on the reconstruction of the old Ibadan and other township roads while public schools and primary healthcare centers were renovated, and a mother-and-child hospital was brought to the town.

He commended the former Accountant General of the Federation for her meritorious service to her state and fatherland, describing her as a true daughter of the state who served without blemish.

“Thank you for all you have done. You have attracted laudable projects like a women’s empowerment center, a mini stadium, and the erosion control project to the town as a form of giving back to society.

“You started from a humble background. You began your primary and secondary education here in Iperu and later went to Ogun State Polytechnic, Abeokuta, before proceeding to Ogun State University and working with the Ogun State Property and Investment Corporation (OPIC) before moving to the federal level.

“You are hardworking, diligent, focused, intentional, and a disciplined person. Thank you for making us proud; you are a pride to womanhood. It shows that gender must not be a limitation to what one can attain,” he added.

Speaking, Madein appreciated the governor for creating a conducive business environment that has attracted a lot of investments to the state.

She said her reason for the visit was to give a report of her stewardship and to inform the governor of her various contributions to state and national development.

“The purpose of this visit is to come and give the report of my stewardship as the Accountant General of the Federation and to let you know that I have represented Ogun State well and contributed to national development.

“It is also to appreciate Your Excellency for the support you gave to me that enabled my success during my tenure,” she said.

Chairman of the Iperu Development Association, Otunba Taiwo Oyebanjo, noted that the combination of the governor and the Accountant General has greatly impacted the socio-economic development of Iperu, as the town now boasts modern facilities that have improved the standard of living.

The Ebi of Idena, Oba Lukman Salami, in his contribution, lauded the governor for the transformation witnessed in the last couple of years, noting that the town has moved from a village to a town with modern facilities.

James Sowole in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima has said that President Bola Tinubu is working diligently to reposition the nation’s health sector through enhanced financing, workforce training, and digital integration.

Shettima made these remarks yesterday during the inauguration of the Sulaiman Adegunwa Trauma Centre at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital.
The ceremony, held in Sagamu, Ogun State, was the celebration of the 80th birthday of Asiwaju of Ijebuland, Adegunwa.

Shettima disclosed that President Tinubu had approved a comprehensive Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which included the establishment of over 8,800 new primary health care centres across the country.

He mentioned the upgrade of existing tertiary institutions to handle trauma, oncology, and infectious disease control.

Shettima noted that Tinubu’s administration was investing in a National Health Insurance Scheme aimed at ensuring that no Nigerian was left behind.
“This is alongside the implementation of a digital health information management system that ensures data drives diagnostics and delivery.”
He emphasised that the Sulaiman Adegunwa Trauma Centre was a testament to the federal government’s commitment to building a health sector that works for all.

“Especially during critical moments when accidents occur, and timely emergency intervention can mean the difference between life and death.
“We must not forget that in a nation facing rising urbanisation, motorisation, and industrial risks, trauma centres are no longer optional; they are essential,” Shettima said.

“This is why this centre is not just a bridge and mortal institution; it is a lifeline, a symbol of preparedness in a nation that cares.
“It is a sanctuary where the wounded can find healing and where families in despair can find hope,” he said.
The vice president underscored the importance of a collective effort in addressing the nation’s healthcare challenges through collaboration between the public and private sectors.

He also called on more private sector players, philanthropists, foundations, and professionals to take inspiration from what Adegunwa’s family had done.
“This facility will serve generations yet unborn, and through it, Asiwaju Adegunwa has inscribed his name in the golden annals of those who choose to light the candle rather than curse the darkness,” Shettima remarked.

Earlier, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun described Adegunwa as a philanthropist, entrepreneur, and astute businessman.
He noted that even at 80 years old, Adegunwa had consistently achieved greatness.

He stressed that the gathering was not only to honour Adegunwa but also to celebrate a legacy and a milestone, acknowledging him as a father of modern philanthropy.

The governor further stated that the trauma centre was a monumental facility designed for the betterment of humanity.

In his remarks, Adegunwa expressed gratitude to the governor and everyone who contributed to making the project a reality.

According to him, he was inspired by a verse from the Quran, which encourages individuals to give from what they have been blessed with, as no wealth will last forever.

“The verse is a clear command from the creator, and with that in mind, I have come to realise that true prosperity is not measured by the wealth we accumulate but by how we use it to uplift others and alleviate suffering.”

Adegunwa explained that since his 56th birthday, he had made a promise to give back to his community and impact as many lives as possible.
Dr Kunle Hassan, Chairman of the Board of Management at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, emphasised that the trauma centre was designed to provide emergency medical care for the community.

He assured that the hospital’s management would ensure effective utilisation and maintenance of the facility, ensuring it continued to serve the community for generations.

Hassan shared that about 15 months ago, Adegunwa had expressed his wish to give back to the community as he approached his 80th birthday, choosing to invest in the trauma centre rather than hosting a celebration.

Originally budgeted at ₦800 million, the project ultimately cost over ₦2 billion to build and equip.

Oba Babatunde Ajayi, the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, commended Adegunwa for his selfless service and advocated for more federal presence in Remoland.

“Mr Vice President, please convey to President Tinubu our best wishes, and let me note that while we have ways of communicating privately.
“Sometimes we say certain things publicly so that our people know we are trying,” he said.

“We need more federal presence in Remoland. As of today, there is no federal university or federal polytechnic in Remoland.”

James Sowole in Abeokuta

As part of efforts to make the Sagamu Interchange and its environs a no-go area for criminals, the Ogun State Government has provided illumination at the under-bridge area along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and subsequently at the four intersections of the interchange.

The state government, which took this step after clearing the illegal shanties, shops, and stalls in the area in order to deprive criminals of cover, undertook adequate illumination of the area through solar street lights.

Recently, the state government, in a statement issued by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, stated that it was fully apprised of the situation in the area and would never allow criminals to continue to launch attacks on innocent citizens.

Previously, as part of its response to the reported activities of criminals in the area, the government had deployed police and Amotekun operatives to make it safe for residents and travellers.

Apart from mandating personnel from the Bureau of Electrical Engineering Services to deploy solar street lights under the bridge, the Ogun State Government has extended the solar street lights to the roundabouts and along the inward and outward routes of the four intersections.

This intervention is part of the Light-Up Project of the Dapo Abiodun Administration in lighting up key infrastructural projects in the state.

While the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway is a federal highway, the intervention is meant to stem the security concerns widely circulated on social media by residents of the state.

This Light-Up Project is meant to further enhance the security apparatus of the area and assist law enforcement agents in adequately securing the area. 

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, is set to partner Ambar Energia of Brazil to establish power plants in the state as part of his administration’s commitment to guarantee adequate supply of power and food security to residents.

The governor noted that Ogun state, being the industrial capital of Nigeria, must optimally utilise the amendment of the 1999 constitution, which decentralises power generation and allows federating units to generate their electricity independently and sufficiently according to need.

Abiodun stated this while receiving a delegation from Ambar Energia, led by its President, Marcelo Zanatta, who paid a courtesy call on him in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He said the state was in dire need of energy to meet the demands of the numerous factories operating in the state, as the current energy allocated to the state was not adequate.

He mentioned that Ogun and Lagos states currently consume about 40 per cent of the 6,000 megawatts of energy generated in the country, adding that with the nation’s demand projection of 45,000 megawatts in 2030, Nigeria holds a lot of potential that the company could explore.

“The power plant we are building now had four megawatts before, but we are increasing that with the one we are currently building. The first phase is meant to be 30 megawatts to serve the state government offices and residential areas, and this is just a drop in the ocean.

“What we plan to do is to build similar plants in the three zones of the state, and they will be like captive plants. We desire to partner with Ambar to generate the required electricity for the state and also assist in the distribution,” the governor noted.

The governor emphasised that Ogun State is blessed with natural resources like gold, lithium, bitumen, silica, and limestone, among others, just as it is the largest producer of cement, cassava, poultry, and eggs, stating that electricity is needed to unlock these potential.

Abiodun noted that the state is divided into different industrial clusters like Ijebu-Ode, Abeokuta, Atan-Agbara, Remo, Imeko-Afon, and Aworo for easy location of industries by investors.

The governor disclosed that the construction of the largest garment producing company in Africa is set to start at the Special Agro Processing Zone located at the Gateway International Airport and would need 300 megawatts of electricity for its operations.

He said that with the rich background of Ambar Energia, being among the first five energy companies with 27 plants and the capacity to produce about 4.3 gigawatts of electricity, the state could collaborate with it to unleash its potential as the investment destination of choice in the country.

“Our policy as a government is to work with the private sector. Our vision is to be a good administration that creates an enabling environment, believing that by doing so, it will translate into economic prosperity and individual upliftment for our people.

“Government must work with the private sector because it cannot do business. The government is an enabler of businesses, and we believe that by enabling businesses, they will employ citizens, leading to individual prosperity,” he said.

A representative of the company, Marcelo Zanatta, who spoke on behalf of Ambar Energia, said they were ready to share their experiences with Ogun State and explore areas where they would like to invest in the state.

The Ambar Energia team, made up of Zanatta, Fabio Bindemann, and Marcus Preitas, had earlier visited the Gateway International Airport, Olorunsogo Power Plant, and the Onijanganjangan Power Plant.

Meanwhile, Abiodun has said that his administration is ready to collaborate with genuine investors who are willing to invest in the state.

Abiodun stated this when he received a delegation from the JBJ, JBS, and SEARRA Group of Brazil, led by Jose Batista, who paid him a courtesy call in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He said that with over 16,000 square kilometers of land mass, of which more than 12,000 is arable, the state presents a perfect opportunity for investors involved in large-scale farming.

Ogun State, according to Abiodun, has over 200,000 registered farmers who are engaged in the production of different types of farm produce and are ready to work with any large-scale farmers or agriculture-based organizations.

“We are trying to set up the largest farmers’ market here in Abeokuta where farmers will bring in their produce, process them, and sell at affordable prices.

“We have about 200,000 farmers who are registered with us, and they produce different types of food. We support them with farm inputs such as tractors and even clear their farmland for them and link them up with off-takers. So far, N5.4 billion has been spent on supporting and training our farmers,” he said.

He mentioned that Ogun State has the largest road network and a well-integrated transportation system that can be accessed through land, sea, and air to any part of the country, coupled with gas reticulation due to the two major gas pipelines crisscrossing the state, making it a preferred destination for investors.

•Says Abiodun’s vision, policies brought him back to the state  

•Alleges his factory was pulled down twice by Amosun’s govt  

•You can’t bully, blackmail or compromise me, Amosun tells Dangote

James Sowole in Abeokuta and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, said by the time he was done with his cement plants across Ogun State, the total capacity would be 18 million metric tons per annum, making the state the highest cement-producing state or region in Africa.

Dangote, who said the vision and policies of Governor Dapo Abiodun brought him back to the state, also said he would work with the state government to return to Olokola, with plans to construct the largest port in the country.

Dangote spoke during a courtesy visit to the governor at his office in Abeokuta.

He said Ogun was one of the most attractive investment destinations in Nigeria, but alleged that the former administration of Senator Ibikunle Amosun demolished his factory twice before he decided to leave the state.

But in response to the allegation, yesterday, Amosun told Dangote that he was not among the class of people he could compromise, bully, or blackmail.

Speaking during the visit, Dangote said, “I would especially like to commend, in a special way, my good friend and brother, Your Excellency, the governor of Ogun State, for your vision and deliberate policies that focus on attracting enterprises through immense support for the private sector, which is now attracting investors.

“Our factory at Itori was pulled down twice. When we started the second time, they not only demolished the factory, but also the fence, so we left. But right now, because of His Excellency, our governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, we are back. When you visit the factory, you will be surprised at what we have done.

“We had earlier abandoned our vision of investing in the Olokola Free Trade Zone (OKFTZ), but because of your policies and investor-friendly environment, I want to say we are back and will work with the state government to return to Olokola, and plans are underway to construct the largest port in the country.”

Giving an update on the company’s ongoing projects in the state, Dangote said two new lines with a capacity of six million metric tons of cement per annum had been constructed at Itori, while the 12 million metric tons per annum cement plant was at Ibeshe.

Upon completion, Dangoted assured that the total capacity of the company’s cement plants in the state would be in the neighbourhood of 18 million metric tons per annum, making it the highest cement-producing state or region in Africa.

“With the contributions of other cement producers in the state, Ogun remains far ahead of other countries across Africa in terms of cement production,” he said.

Dangote Cement, according to him, was the leading cement producer in Africa with a capacity of 52 million metric tons per annum across the African continent.

He added that 70 per cent of the production was carried out in Nigeria, with the Obajana plant in Kogi State accounting for 16.25 million metric tons per annum, the largest in Africa.

He said investment in the manufacturing of the product had made Nigeria self-sufficient in cement, just as the country was now self-sufficient in fertiliser, with the surplus going to the export market, and earning foreign exchange.

Dangote stated that the company’s target was to make Nigeria self-sufficient in whatever it consumed.

He said his company was currently meeting domestic demand for petrol, aviation fuel, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) from its 650,000 barrels per day refinery at Ibeju-Lekki.

Dangote said Nigeria was a growing economy, hence the need for private companies to complement government efforts. He assured that his company would continue to demonstrate its belief in the country and its people by making investments targeted at transforming the economy.

He appreciated traditional rulers and the people of Itori for their support and partnership, which enabled the smooth and speedy take-off of the cement plant.

Dangote added that the encouragement from the people of Yewaland had fostered smooth operations, assuring of continued adherence to its Corporate Social Responsibilities to the host communities.

ĚÇĐÄĘÓĆľ learnt yesterday that polypropylene products from the 900,000 metric tonnes per annum Dangote Petrochemical Plant would officially be unveiled in early April 2025.

Polypropylene would be the latest from a variety of petroleum products being produced and sold in Nigeria and many parts of the world by the Dangote-owned facility as the company continued to assert its leadership position in the global petroleum refining and supply business.

Abiodun described the day Dangote refinery’s ground-breaking was performed in Lagos as “the day of heartbreak for the sons and daughters of Ogun State as they watched helplessly on television”. He said it was an indication that the project had left Olokola.

Abiodun stated, “I want to thank you for coming back to Ogun State and also for your belief and trust in your country, Nigeria. I want to thank you for all that you have done, the number of people you have employed, and the impact you continue to make, not just in this state, but in Nigeria as a whole.

“The way you selflessly continue to promote this country all over the world, we can’t thank you enough. Your life and story continue to be an inspiring narrative for all young men. You have excelled in everywhere you touch; you have the Midas touch.

“These are, indeed, giant strides. For us in Ogun State, we welcome your return to the state. Today is a historic day, March 17, 2025, the same March when you did the ground-breaking in Lagos for the refinery, and you are now coming back in March to Ogun State.

“Not only have you chosen to complete Itori, but you have also chosen to come back and develop the biggest port in Nigeria. For this, I thank you.”

Amosun: Dangote Can’t Bully, Blackmail Compromise Me

Meanwhile, Amosun, yesterday, told the chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, that he was not and would never be among the class of people he could compromise, bully or blackmail.

In a statement from the Senator Ibikunle Amosun Media Office, signed by Lanre Akinwale, Amosun said the assumption that everyone had a price was the basis of Dangote’s attack on him.

Dangote had, in a viral footage, accused the Amosun administration of demolishing his Itori Cement Plant on two different occasions, while commending his successor, Dapo Abiodun, for facilitating his return to site.

But Amosun, in his response, titled, “Re: Government Demolished My Cement Factory Twice,” said, “While we will not give vent to this obvious mischief, as it is deliberate, we will advise Alhaji Dangote to furnish the public with details of the land acquisition with relevant planning approvals, and let us engage in a constructive conversation therefrom.

“However, while we will wait to hear from him, we will like to state that not all Nigerians can be compromised, bullied or blackmailed. The notion that everyone has a price is an expression applicable only to people with weak foundations and questionable upbringing. This is why some of us will continue to uphold high standards in all our undertakings, irrespective of whose ox is gored.”

According to him, “We have just seen a footage in which the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, alleged that his cement factory in Itori, Ogun State, was demolished twice while Senator Ibikunle Amosun served as governor.

“We assume that an average person understands how government functions through Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, with each exercising mandates on specific responsibilities, including approvals for physical development.

“It is on this basis that we want to appeal to Alhaji Dangote to avail the public of the requisite approvals for the construction of the structures he alleged were demolished. This will, at least, help the public to put the issue in proper context and for us to know what exactly his grouse is.

“For us, as a government, we believed that there could not be two governments in a state, and Dangote, therefore, could not operate above the law or under a different set of laws.”

Amosun also said, “It is important to note that at the commissioning of his Ibese Cement factory, Dangote praised the Amosun administration to high heavens for its promotion of investments in Ogun State and for facilitating the commencement of the cement factory after eight years of frustration as he then alleged by other administrations.

“Dangote is just one of the many going concerns in Ogun State, and the Amosun administration is on record to have attracted over 500 companies to the state and was acknowledged by the World Bank as one of the top three states ensuring Ease-of-Doing-ĚÇĐÄĘÓĆľ in Nigeria.

“Highlighted as one of the top reforming states in 2014, which marked a significant improvement from its previous rankings, the World Bank report attributed this progress to substantial reforms across multiple indicators like construction permits and property registration.

“It is also on record that during Senator Amosun’s administration, Ogun State became the ‘Industrial Capital’ of Nigeria. Our state at the time accounted for about 75 per cent of the Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs), in relation to industry in the country. This is a fact subject to verification.

“This recognition was further given fillip to by former president, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, when he visited Ogun State to commission multinational projects on five different occasions.”

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The Ogun State Government has said that the 2025 budget of N1.05trn, is aimed at executing projects that would set the state in the path of development and prosperity.

The Chief Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, stated this during the highlights and breakdown of the 2025 budget tagged “Budget of Hope And Prosperity”, held at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He said the increase in the 2025 budget was to continue on the implementation of qualitative and affordable education, healthcare delivery, housing, provision of critical road infrastructure, youth empowerment and other essential services for the good of the people.

He said the state’s budgets have increased from N335bn in 2020 to N1.1trn in 2024 as a result of the reforms put in place and the blockage of leakages and loopholes.

He said: “We have significantly increased our Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) through lots of reforms in lands, payments, industry, trade and investment where you can do business online. We have also done a lot of internal reforms to drive efficiency as well as digitized the entire internal revenue service.”

Okubadejo stated that Ogun State is expected to generate N194bn from Ministries, Departments and Agencies, N121bn from internal revenue service and N228m from federal allocation from N199bn in 2024.

Also speaking, Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan, said the N1.05trn budget is broken down into N600bn for Capital and N400bn for Recurrent Expenditures, which is a 50 percent increase over the 2024 budget which stood at N703bn.

“For us, what is significant which is why we keep coming first whenever we are ranked in the IGR and its sustainability is that the percentage of our funding from the federation account keeps going down and that is a deliberate attempt on the part of this government to ensure sustainability.

“We will spend more on capital expenditure than we spend on recurrent. Personnel cost is expected to be N125bn which is 12 percent, Overhead Cost of N216bn or 20 percent of the budget and Consolidated Charge of four percent giving us a total Recurrent Expenditure of N455 bn which is 43 percent,” Olabimtan said.

Speaking on the education sector, the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, said N178bn or 17 percent of the budget was allocated to the education sector and this would be used for the building 12 mega smart schools, each containing 900 classrooms.

Other projects to be carried out by the ministry included fencing of schools to provide security for learners and their teachers, providing basic amenities like boreholes, renovation of dilapidated classrooms, among others.

In the agricultural sector, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Bolu Owotomo, said the state is ready to revive all the farm settlements, increase productivity through effective agricultural value chain, bring more youth and women into agriculture, as well as promote dry season farming through the distribution of 1000 water pumps to farmers.

Commissioner for Housing, Jagunmolu Akande Omoniyi, said emphasis would be placed on the construction of legacy housing projects across the state as N7.5bn is budgeted for housing projects, another N4.5bn for the ministry and N4.9bn for the Housing Corporation.

He said houses built at the Kobape Housing Estate have been allocated to those who fully paid the required amount, while 32 of those who did not get allocation would get their refund.

On her part, Commissioner for Health, Dr. Tomi Coker, said a total of 80 Primary Health Care Centres have been renovated this year, while plans are underway to procure MRI machines to meet the needs of patients in the State’s health institutions.

Commissioner for Transportation, Engr. Gbenga Dairo, hinted that government plans to extend the Lagos Red, Blue, and Purple rail lines into the State, emphasizing that the development of new rail stations would not only facilitate easier movement for commuters but also enhance the transportation of goods in and out of the State.

The commissioner also revealed that the ministry is focusing on water transport with a view to improving connectivity across the State and encourage cargo transportation.

Engr. Dairo also affirmed that the Gateway International Airport, which is designed for both cargo and passenger services, has received full certification for operational takeoff, noting that this development positions Ogun State as a strategic hub for air transportation in the region.

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has expressed profound sorrow over the passing on of notable businesswoman and socialite, Chief (Mrs.) Adebisi Edionseri, describing her death a significant loss to both the state and Nigeria as a whole.

Popularly called ‘Cash Madam,’ Edionseri passed away on Sunday at the age of 89.

Her legacy as a successful entrepreneur and social figure, according to the governor has left an indelible mark, resonating across generations since the 1970s.

Abiodun, in a statement on Monday, praised Edionser’s contributions to Ogun State, highlighting her as a beacon of inspiration and a role model for countless individuals.

He noted that she achieved remarkable success at a young age, demonstrating resilience and ambition that have inspired many in Ogun State and beyond.

His words: “I, on behalf of myself and the people of Ogun State, expressed heartfelt condolences to the family of Alhaja (Chief) Adebisi Edionseri.

“Alhaja Adebisi’s contributions to the business community and her vibrant social presence will be reference points for generations yet unbirn. Her influence extended far and wide, making her a cherished figure in the hearts of many.

“As the state mourns the loss of such a formidable personality, the legacy of Chief (Mrs.) Adebisi Edionseri will undoubtedly continue to inspire future generations of entrepreneurs and social leaders.”

•Pays end of the year bonus to pensioners

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has promised that his administration would continue to foster an economy that promotes growth, equity, and resilience through sustainable development plans.

The governor also admonished the people of the state to set aside their differences and continue to coexist with one another for the peace and development of the state and the country at large.

In another celebrated development, the governor approved immediate payment of N20,000 across all strata as end of year bonus to pensioners in the state, sequel to requests by pensioners that the payment be extended to them.

Confirming the kind gesture, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, in a letter addressed to the governor and jointly signed by its chairman, Alhaji Waheed Oloyede and Secretary, Comrade Bola Lawal respectively, said the development is first of its kind in the history of the state.

Governor Abiodun elaborating on his administration’s in his New Year address, stressed the need for the people to come together in the new year with renewed vigor and work for the good of society.

He said: “As we journey together in 2025, let us continue to come together as one, with a renewed sense of purpose, regardless of our differences, and work towards the betterment of our beloved state.

“This New Year is an opportunity for us to reflect and remind ourselves of our responsibilities to each other as we are determined to start anew in the New Year.

“I wish to enjoin you that as we step into this New Year, let us do so with renewed hope, determination, and more focus. Let us strive to make Ogun State a beacon of progress, development, and prosperity.”

He said his administration has made a positive, inclusive, and lasting impact on the lives of the people through the construction of roads, provision of affordable housing, human capital development, youth and women empowerment, qualitative healthcare, and food security.

Other sectors in which the administration has made significant progress, according to Abiodun, include transportation, security, education, and energy.

“In the energy sector, with the recent constitutional amendments removing the provision of electricity from the exclusive to the concurrent list, we have passed the Ogun State Electricity Law.

“Consequently, the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) has approved the transfer of regulatory oversight to the Ogun State Electricity Commission (OGERC), thus allowing Ogun State to regulate the generation, transmission, and distribution of power,” he added.

The governor pointed out that the administration leveraged the state’s comparative and competitive advantages, as well as diverse economic potentials, to create an adaptable, evolving and capable system that absorbs shocks.

He maintained that the ISEYA mantra, acting as a compass for his administration’s developmental drive, has helped to enhance speedy growth in all sectors.

He acknowledged that there is still more to be done, adding that the government would continue to address issues that affect the people, such as economic realities, unemployment, and inadequate social amenities.

While pledging to remain focused, deliberate, committed, and inclusive by keeping his promises and sustaining the implementation of the ISEYA mantra, the state helmsman emphasized that his government, in the new year, would continue to work tirelessly to ensure that every citizen has the opportunity to succeed, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Abiodun further said: “Despite numerous challenges, both as a government and as individuals, God’s mercies have seen us all through. It is my sincere prayer that this new year brings improved living conditions for all of us and ushers in further development for our dear state.

“This past year has been a testament to our collective resolve to build the Ogun State of our dreams. Our state has weathered both literal and metaphorical storms but has emerged stronger.

“Through acts of kindness, community initiatives, and the tireless work of our public servants, we have proven that when we stand united, no challenge is too great to overcome.

“As we welcome the new year, we reaffirm our commitment to fostering progress and prosperity for every resident of our state.

“Let us embrace this year with renewed hope, striving to achieve even greater milestones in terms of infrastructural development and individual prosperity.

“As a responsive and responsible government, our vision for prosperity is rooted in a robust and diversified economy capable of navigating current challenges.”

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, described the Governor Abiodun’s love to them as “unquantifiable and of sincere goodwill”, urging him to approve the consequential adjustments of pensions in the new year.

The letter read: “The Executive Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, led by Comrade (Chief) W.O. Oloyede and the entire membership of the Nigeria Union Of Pensioners, Ogun State Council, hereby applauds and express our heartfelt gratitude to our loving and compassionate Executive Governor, Prince Dr. Dapo Abiodun, CON.

“This is for your kindness and benevolence and for counting us, the aged Senior Citizens, worthy for the end of year, N20,000 (Twenty thousand naira) bonus across all strata. The is the first of its kind towards Pensioners in the history of Ogun State.

“Your Excellency, a peep into the platforms of the pensioners, show different accolades: praises, appreciations and prayerful supplications towards you and your team for God’s protection and multiple blessings over you all.

“You are indeed wonderful.  You are Godly and also a humanist. Your love towards us, the Elderly is unquantifiable and of sincere goodwill.

“The executive and the entire body of Ogun State Pensioners, immensely appreciate your sincerity of purpose, your love, friendliness and Godliness towards us the elderly at all times.

“Your Excellency, we are now hopefully assured by your love to us, that the actualisation of our much-awaited consequential adjustment of pensions would in this new year 2025 be approved by you in no distant time to encourage the long-standing aged retirees to at the long last “breathe an air of relief” before the final bell comes tolling.

“May you continue to receive the favor and mercies of the Almighty God towards your household and your undertakings. May you be granted the favor to successfully and faithfully place the Good People of Ogun State on the remarkable map of fame and to a much enviable greater height.

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Pensioners in Ogun State have appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to extend the Christmas and end of the year bonus to them.

The state government last week, gave the state civil servants and workforce bonus for the Christmas.

The state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in a letter to the governor signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Waheed Oloyede and Secretary, Comrade Bola Lawal, and made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, said the extension of the bonus would further enable them enjoy the bliss of seasonal celebration.

They however, appreciated the governor for the prompt payment of December pensions to them.

The NUP described the Christmas bonus to the state workforce as a proactive motivational gesture, saying that the act showed that the governor is a superhuman, loving and compassionate personality.

The statement read: “Your Excellency, this is to sincerely acknowledge and appreciate you for your kind gesture at ensuring the payment of December 2024 Pensions early enough for us to celebrate Christmas in our own little way.

“The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ogun State Council, also join the Ogun State Labour Centers (NLC, TUC and the JNC) at appreciating Your Excellency’s goodwill gesture with the provision of Christmas Bonus to the entire Ogun State Workforce, for them to enjoy the bliss of the Yuletide. A proactive motivational gesture. That shows the Super Humane, loving and compassionate personality in Your Excellency.

“Our dear benevolent governor, we, your aged brothers and sisters, vulnerable Senior Citizens, hereby make passionate appeal to Your Excellency in the spirit of the Yuletide and that of the approaching New Year, for such bonus consideration to be extended to all Ogun State Pensioners, to enable us to enjoy the bliss of the Seasonal celebration.

“Thanking Your Excellency in anticipation of your kind approval of our request and wishing you a very Glorious and Happy New Year 2025 in advance, with the assurances of our highest regards.”

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako, has assured Nigerians that the various reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will bring succour to Nigerians in no distant future.

He, therefore, enjoined them to exercise patience with the administration in addressing challenges confronting the nation.

He gave the assurance during the distribution of subsidy removal palliatives and free medical services, held in Yewa North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

Salako, explained that the rice and fertilizers distribution were steps taken to address food crisis by the Tinubu’s government, assuring that the time of economic hardship in the country would soon come to pass.

He added that the medical outreach was his own way to provide basic check ups and drugs for his people back home.

The minister explained that the 1,300 bags of rice were distributed to the five local government areas in Ogun West Senatorial District to party members and leaders, market women, religious organidations, traditional rulers, community leaders and farmers in the areas.

He said, “On the ground, we have 1,300 bags of rice and 600 bags of fertilizer.  Our party members are benefiting 30 percent of the palliatives, then the market women, whose coordinator is the Iyaloja will also benefit. The Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) and the Muslim Communities will not be left out.

“We will also reach out to individual leaders in the five LGs. Our Baales and traditional rulers are also beneficiaries.  Basically, what we have done is to at least ensure that representatives of the identified groups are on ground to receive on behalf of their members. We have adopted this method to avoid stampedes which have greeted similar distributions of food and other items in some locations in the country.

“We have arranged it in a manner that items going to each section have been loaded into different vehicles and labeled accordingly, and the persons who will receive the items have been introduced to the drivers of those vehicles. All these are to ensure orderliness.”

On the yuletide message of President Tinubu, Salako said: “Basically, the message of Mr President is for everyone to have Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance.

“Mr President also wants everyone to be joyous and to be careful to take caution in everything we do by not compromising security. He also wants us to be praying for Nigeria.

“Mr President said he is beating his chest to all Nigerians that things are getting better and things will get far better than the current situation. He is confident that all the reforms he has done, things will get better and Nigerians will begin to live a better life soon.”

James Sowole in Abeokuta

A Professor of Nutrition and Community Paediatrics at the Ogun State owned Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Tamramat Runsewe-Abiodun, has advocated community-oriented training for medical students.

With this practice, the professor said medical students, would be more exposed to problems during training in the communities.

The university lecturer made the recommendation, while delivering the 121st Inaugural Lecture of the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, held at OGD Lecture Theatre of the university.

The Inaugural Lecture was titled – “Nurturing the African Child In The Community: The Paediatrician’s Endless Oddysy?”.

She said that Nigeria has the second highest under-five mortality rate of 107 per 1000 live births following closely behind Niger Republic with 117 per 1000 births.

The professor said that achieving child health Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 in Nigeria remains a mirage unless something urgent is done to address causes.

According to the don, mass exodus of Nigeria’s health workers to Europe in search of greener pasture has continued to worsen the crisis in the health sector leaving four doctors to attend to 10,000 Nigerians as against World Health Organisation standard of one doctor to 600 people.

The professor said that the child-related SDGs aimed to end preventable death of newborn and under-five by 2030 with specific targets of reducing newborn mortality to as low as 12 per 1000 live births and under-five death to 25 per 1000 live births in every country of the world.

She revealed that in 2022 alone, the world lost about 5m under-five and 57% of these deaths occurred in Africa.

Runsewe-Abiodun listed challenges to survival of children of less than five years in Africa to include poverty, late prevention of cases for medical care, lack of political will, teenage pregnancy, conflict among others.

She added that another major obstacle to stemming the ugly tide of growing under-five mortality is the grossly inadequate medical personnel currently plaguing the country due to mass exodus of its health workers in search of greener pasture.

Runsewe-Abiodun explained that “In 2023 alone, a report from the Federal Ministry of Health revealed that 3,122 doctors exited the system with 2,134 of them relocating to Europe

“A recent study by the World Health Organisation revealed that for every 10,000 Nigerians, there are four doctors to treat them whereas the WHO recommendation is one doctor to 600 people”, she said

The Professor of Nutrition and Community Paediatrics emphasized: “Globally, unless urgent action is taken to end preventable newborn and child deaths, Nigeria, like many low-income and lower-middle-income will not meet the SDGs targets.

“About 35million children under age five will die before 2030. The majority of them coming from families in Sub-Sharan Africa and Southern Asia among other low-income countries”.

Runsewe-Abiodun has therefore urged government at all levels to prioritise efforts to ensure that every newborn and child rights to survive.

She said that government must take decisive action to arrest the mass exodus of health workers to ensure availability of adequate manpower to provide for the medical of its citizens.

The professor also urged government at all levels to improve on its funding for the health sector and ensure universal health coverage for its citizens to cut down on the growing under-five mortality rate.

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The rivalry between the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun and his major opponent in the 2023 governorship election, Hon Ladipupo Adebutu of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  resurfaced yesterday, as the duo engaged each other, over what transpired during Saturday’s local government election in the state.
The two accused each other of thuggery during the election.
At the end of the election, candidates of the  ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), were declared winners in all the 20 local governments as chairmen and in 236 wards as councillors.
Not satisfied with the conduct of the election and the outcome, the PDP and its leader, Adebutu, addressed a news conference, during which, they condemned the process of the election and the outcome.
Adebutu and the state government, however, trade blame on reported violence that greeted the exercise in some places.
The state government, had Sunday, alleged that illegal mobile policemen allegedly sponsored by Adebutu, attempted to assassinate the vice chairmanship candidate of APC in Ikene Local Government,  Hon Mohammed Efuwape, while a man with him, was shot.
But while reviewing the poll and the conduct, Adebutu at a news conference, said it was the security aides in the convoy of the Abiodun and suspected thugs that attacked people on the election day and later laid siege on his residence in the same Iperu town.
While condemning the conduct of the election, Adebutu, said suspected thugs, soldiers and policemen, mobilised by Abiodun, were going from one polling units to the other and harassing voters particularly, those suspected to be on the side of the PDP.
He said election, did not hold in more than 4000 out of 4, 044 polling units in the state while results, were declared for all the wards.
Adebutu described the local government poll as a charade, chams and manipulation of people’s will.

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta, Ogun State, has begun conduct of post-mortem on what actually led to the death of a student of Obada Grammar School, Idi Emin, Master Monday Arijo.

Arijo died last Friday after allegedly being subjected to corporal punishment by a teacher of his school.

In response to the incident, the state government, has shut the school while the principal of the school, Mrs. Tamrat Onaolapo and the teacher, that allegedly beat the student, were suspended.

Meanwhile, the Ogun State Government, has sent a second delegation to commiserate with the family of Arijo.

The delegation, led by the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu, was the second government team to pay a condolence visit to the family.

Prof. Abayomi, after visiting the family of the deceased, sounded a note of warning to teachers in state-owned primary and secondary schools to desist from administering corporal punishment on pupils and students under their care.

He said: “The state government has set up a committee to look into the root cause and all other circumstances surrounding what has happened because when anything occurs, the most important thing is for us to learn from a particular situation, not only about Obada Grammar School.

“I have said this in the past; we usually have what we call stakeholders’ meetings before the beginning of every session, where I always reiterate the need to say no to corporal punishment.

“What I am saying is that this is not even about Ogun State; we are saying that this is a world standard. There are regulations against corporal punishment. That does not mean children will not behave well; we can actually discipline children. We can raise them to become whatever they want to be in life without resorting to corporal punishment.”

Arigbabu, while assuring parents that the state government would continue to monitor and hand out sanctions to teachers who are found culpable of administering corporal punishment to students under their care, noted that teachers should always endeavor to follow the rules of the game.

He said: “When you do something and you are not caught, there is nothing we can do about it. But this time, we know about it. We are saying that teachers, as much as we don’t want to discourage them from doing their work, should do it in accordance with the rules of the game. That is what we are saying.

“The most important thing is for us to continue to monitor and also hand out sanctions whenever we find anybody culpable. That is why we are not taking this lightly; we have taken all necessary steps to unravel whatever surrounds this particular situation so that we will all be able to learn: the teachers, parents, head teachers, principals, even the government; everybody learns from it.”

The commissioner also urged teachers to continue to display a high level of maturity and professionalism, adding that there are other ways of disciplining students rather than using corporal punishment, which will eventually lead to chaos.

“As trained teachers, there are a number of ways to instill discipline. We are not saying there should be indiscipline in schools; what we are saying is that there are other ways through which you can discipline a child.

“Like the incident that happened, that is what occurs when you use corporal punishment or a cane indiscriminately; you have this type of situation on your hands. We have always spoken against it,” he said.

Prof. Arigbabu assured parents that their children would be given the best training and education in schools under a very conducive atmosphere, adding that the state government has handed out suspensions to the teacher and principal involved.

“I want to assure parents that we are on top of this. The teachers who were responsible have had action taken against them; we have handed out suspensions to the teacher as well as the principal of the school. We are also taking measures to support the family with whatever is necessary to ensure that this pain is something we assist them in bearing,” he added.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr. Abdullateef Oduntan noted that the family is not interested in a legal battle with the state government but is expectant that the government will do all in its power to ensure that such an incident does not happen again anywhere in the state.

In her remarks, the Special Adviser on Education to the Ogun State Governor, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, noted that the state government will continue to support the family during and after the mourning period, as well as ensure that such incidents do not repeat themselves anywhere in the state.

*Court refuses to postpone council election

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The Ogun State Government has shut down Obada Grammar School, Obada, Idi-emi over the death of Master Monday Arijo, an SS2 student of the school.

This followed the arrest and suspension of the teacher allegedly responsible for the death of the student on Friday last week as a result of corporal punishment.

The Principal of the school, Mrs. Tamrat Onaolapo, who was earlier issued a query for allowing corporal punishment to be used on the pupil against the established rules and regulations in the state, has also been suspended.

The closure of the school was based on the directive of Governor Dapo Abiodun, who directed that a panel should be set up to investigate the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident.

The governor has promised that those liable by the outcome of the investigation would be made to face the full wrath of the law.

Representatives of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology have also visited the family of the late student to offer condolences to the family.

The team comprised the Director, Secondary and Higher Education Department in the Ministry, the Principals General,  Egba and Yewa Divisions, Zonal Education Officer, Imeko Afon, representatives of ANCOPPS, Ogun State President, Trade Union Congress and the Ogun State Chairman of ASSUS.

The Principals General, Egba and Yewa Divisions as well as the Director of Education, Secondary and Higher Education, who spoke during the visit, expressed their heartfelt condolences even as they pledged the support of the state government to the family during this challenging time.

In another development, the Ogun State High Court, sitting in Abeokuta, the state capital, has struck out prayers made by 16 political parties in the state, seeking the postponement of  the November 16 local  government election indefinitely.

Delivering judgment in AB/577/2024 Action Alliance & 15 Ors v. OGSIEC & Anor, the presiding judge,  Justice T. A. Okunsokan, rejected the claims of the political parties that the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC) had acted unilaterally and dictatorially by fixing the date of the local government elections without first consulting the political parties.

Justice Okunsokan unequivocally held that there was no provision in the constitution or the relevant electoral laws that required OGSIEC to consult political parties before fixing the dates of elections.

The court also found that the claim of the parties that Ondo State gubernatorial elections would hold on the same day as Ogun local government elections was not a legitimate reason for asking the court to compel OGSIEC to postpone elections in the state.

The court, thereby, maintained the status quo ante on the earlier announced date for the Ogun State local government elections slated for 16th November 2024. 

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Ogun State Government in collaboration with Global Fund Malaria (GFM) and Society for Family Health (SFH), will distribute no fewer than 3.1 million Insecticide Treated Nets (ITN) to households in the state.
The Project Director, Global Fund Malaria, SFH, Mr. John Ocholi, who disclosed this at a media engagement in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital, decried the low level of insecticide treated nets usage in the state, saying that Ogun currently records 30 percent usage in Nigeria.
The campaign which mainly captured pregnant women and children under 5 years, is being executed in collaboration with the Society for Family Health (SFH), National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), as well as the Catholic Relief Services (CRS) among other malaria partners as part of the continued efforts towards eliminating the scourge and make Nigeria the third malaria free country in Africa.
He said the essence of the free distribution of the insecticide treated net is to combat the scourge of malaria and make the country achieve zero pandemic like Egypt and Cape Verde in Africa.
Ocholi explained that the campaign would be executed in a double phase approach beginning with the households’ mobilization across the 20 local government areas, with the fixed-point net distribution centre.
While explaining the efficacy of the ITN, Ocholi said that “since the beginning of the use of insecticide treated nets, the malaria prevalence has reduced from 45% in 2010 to 27% in 2015, meaning three people having malaria parasite in every 10 people, but this has scaled down to between 21 or 22% in 2021, 2022 with two people testing positive to malaria from 10 people”.
He added that the use of ITN will help in reducing financial burden committed to medical care of malaria and therefore makes more resources available for the household to take care of other basic needs like feeding, accommodation, schooling, among others.
Ocholi said: “It is against this background that in partnership with the Ogun State Government, 3.1m insecticide treated nets will be distributed to household across the state.
“We have 14,000 personnel that will help with this exercise and 1,400 distribution points for collection of the nets and so we urge the media to help us spread this information to create awareness”.
The Project Director however, disclosed further that the ITN distribution would be targeted and therefore household or settlements in areas where the prevalence of malaria is deemed lower according to the available data would not get these nets.
Ocholi stated that the pregnant women and children under five years in these depriortised local governments or areas would be asked to go to the government health facilities around them for their nets.
He said that that the distribution of the net would focus more on the rural areas and communities where the risk of the disease is higher.
Ocholi said: “The message here is that families, households should register for the ITN when the registration begins and go for the collection.
“They should collect it, follow all the instructions and should sleep in it to protect them from mosquito bite and together we can win the war against malaria”.
Speaking earlier, the State Health Educator, Dr. Olubukola Omotosho, said the household registration and mobilisation would run from October 31 to November 6, 2024 while the net distribution starts on November 19.

She noted that during registration, the mobilizer will generate a token or net card which each household will use to collect the nets when the distribution begins.

Daniel Gbue, Media Communication Manager of the group in his presentation said that malaria kills nine persons every hour in the world and that for every five deaths caused by malaria, one is from Nigeria.

Gbue also said that malaria has been found to be common cause of absenteeism in schools and offices, saying that this is why people must join hands with the government and other partnering organisations to embrace the use of the ITN, while also embracing a clean and healthy environment to battle scourge of malaria to a standstill.

James Sowole in Abeokuta 

The Ogun State Government has donated N200 million to the Borno State Government following the devastating flood that recently ravaged the state and which destroyed property and displacing thousands of residents.

Abiodun had earlier sent messages of condolence to the people and government of Borno State, commending the state government for its prompt response alongside interventions from the federal government.

Announcing the donation yesterday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Strategy, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, stated that the gesture was aimed at assisting the victims of the flood and providing immediate relief.

He noted that the flood had caused an unimaginable humanitarian crisis in the state, necessitating immediate support from all Nigerians to provide succour for the affected people.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), reported that the flood began after the Alau Dam overflowed due to heavy rainfall, leading to the worst flooding the town had experienced in 30 years.

According to reports, at least 414,000 people have been displaced, and 30 lives lost in the devastating flood in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Ogun State Government commenced reconstruction of the failed portion of the Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressway, near Sagamu, to address the current traffic logjam being experienced by motorists on the road.

Governor Dapo Abiodun paid an unscheduled visit to the bad portion of the road on Sunday, stating that as a major road linking Lagos through Ogun State to the South-east and South-south regions of the country, the deplorable condition of the road had caused untold hardship to those who use it on a daily basis.

Abiodun stated that although the reconstruction of the road was awarded by previous administrations, the contractors executed the project from the Benin end to the outskirts of Ijebu-Ode but could not complete it at the interchange before abandoning it due to a lack of funds.

He said, “This is a federal road, and it is probably the most important road to southern Nigeria because it evacuates traffic carrying goods and people from Lagos to Ogun State and to the South-east and South-south parts of the country; it is a major arterial road.

“The reconstruction of this road was awarded several years ago by previous administrations. However, sadly, that reconstruction was started from the Benin end of this road.

“Sadly, and curiously, from what we have been told, the budget was not sufficient to allow for the completion of this road to the Sagamu Interchange. It stopped short of reaching Ijebu-Ode, somewhere around the outskirts of Ijebu-Ode.

“What we are seeing today is what our masses are suffering from. In the last three to four days, this road was totally impassable because, for some reason, there is a drainage that goes underneath this road that is meant to drain water coming from a canal. That drainage is completely blocked, and that is the cause of this problem.”

Abiodun stated that officials from the state Ministries of Works and Environment were currently working to create another drainage that would channel water away from the road, while the bad portion had been filled with hardcore to make the road motorable.

He disclosed that he had brought the condition of the road to the attention of the Minister of Works, who promised to look into how to award a contract for its rehabilitation or at least provide palliative measures or some sort of intervention to salvage the situation.

Abiodun also mentioned that he informed President Bola Tinubu about the need for the federal government to address the state of the road.

He added, “Let me confirm to you that last week Thursday, I also brought the issue of this road to the attention of Mr. President. For the avoidance of doubt, let nobody think that Ogun State has not been responsive.

“Knowing fully well that the federal government has many critical roads to deal with, and as a responsive state government, we deployed our Ministries of Works and Environment to this site. What they have done is identify the immediate cause; they found out there is a construction that has blocked the drain.

“I have requested from Mr. President that the Ministry of Works can immediately award this road to a reputable contractor, and I know they are working on it.

“However, Mr. President has also instructed me that if we do not get the attention as quickly as we want, the Ogun State government should go ahead and take ownership of this section and repair it.”

Abiodun promised that if within the next two days there was no clear evidence from the federal government that it was about to commence serious reconstruction work, his administration would step in to take ownership of the section of the road and carry out a total reconstruction.

James Sowole and Funmi Ogundare

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), yesterday, disclosed that 2.3 million children in Nigeria have yet to receive any vaccines.

Celine Lafoucriere, Chief of UNICEF’s Southwest Nigeria Field Office, made this known at a two-day media dialogue, in Lagos, aimed at improving routine immunization and reducing the number of unvaccinated, or ‘zero-dose’, children.

The event was themed ‘Achieving the Health Sector SDGs for Over Two Million Children at Risk of Death in Nigeria’.

Lafoucriere highlighted that immunization is a fundamental right of every Nigerian child, critical in preventing life-threatening diseases and infections.

She noted that UNICEF aims to increase the number of vaccinated children by 50 percent cent each year and register 30 per cent more vaccinated children by 2025.

She expressed concern over the pressing issue of zero-dose children in Nigeria, stating, “we still have a significant challenge, with 2.3 million children yet to receive any vaccines. These children are mostly in marginalised and hard-to-reach areas, and vaccines are essential to their health.”

She stressed that vaccines are not only a fundamental right, but also key to improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities.

To address the issue, UNICEF, in collaboration with the government and other partners, has identified 100 local government areas across 18 states with the highest concentration of zero-dose children as a priority for immunization efforts.

She appealed to the media to play a crucial role in accelerating immunization efforts in Nigeria, saying, “We need the media to join hands to increase the vaccination rate by 50% each year. Your influence is vital in catalyzing action and building a resilient health system that ensures no child suffers from preventable diseases.”

Lafoucriere also urged the media to help combat misinformation about vaccines, adding, “by working together, we can build a resilient health system capable of reaching every child, leaving no one behind.”

Dr. Abimbola Bowale, Permanent Secretary of the Primary Health Care Board, Lagos State Ministry of Health, announced that a supplementary immunization exercise would begin on October 19, across all 20 local government areas in Lagos State.

This two-week exercise will target over 21 million residents, about 85 per cent of Lagos population; and will include the administration of four vaccines for both children and adults.

Represented by Dr. Adeniji Adebayo, Assistant Immunization Program Coordinator, Bowale explained that the immunization campaign would focus on tackling yellow fever, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and other Routine Immunization (RI) antigens.

He assured those strategies and arrangements had been made to reach the targeted population, including deploying mobile immunization teams to visit outreach sites and administer vaccines.

He emphasized the importance of fully immunizing every child, noting that the government had selected experts and support teams to ensure the success of the exercise.

He added that the Ministry of Health is working closely with interest groups to reach the target population.

In his presentation, ‘Childhood Immunization in Southwest Nigeria: MICS 2022 Results,” the permanent secretary emphasized that vaccines are the foundation of economic development.

He however expressed concern over the large number of unvaccinated children in rural areas due to barriers such as lack of access, social factors, supply chain issues, among others.

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Timber dealers in Ogun State, have alerted government on alleged illegal activities of farmers, who had encroached on the sprawling government forest reserve at J4 to plant cocoa.

The dealers, under the aegis of Ijebu Sawmillers and Timber Contractors Association, said the state government was losing about N500 million annually, to activities of those they described as illegal farmers as they destroy economic trees, to plant cocoa.

The timber dealers expressed their concerns during an interaction with journalists in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, stating that the chemicals being used to kill the trees, also destroy eco-system.

They alleged that the illegal cocoa farmers, go about with all kinds of weapons within the forest reserve located in Ijebu East Local Government area of the state.

Speaking with journalists, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees Ijebu Sawmillers and Timber Contractors Association, said that about 90 per cent of the farmers are from states like Benue, Edo, Kwara, Osun, Nasarawa, Ondo among others.

He explained that, though the government of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, ejected most of these farmers but they had sinc returned after his administration and had continued to explode in numbers.

The 75-year-old Pa Ibrahim said:  â€œThe state was formerly having nine forest reserves but due to the illegal activities of these cocoa farmers, the state is now left with this Omo Forest Reserve in J4 and it is almost being taken over by these cocoa farmers.

“They are so ruthless to the extent that they are using chemicals to kill most of these economic trees planted with World Bank funding after which they will plant their cocoa and banana.

“Gov Dapo Abiodun must come to our aid; he should order these illegal farmers out of the government forest reserves, Ondo State did same and they have been able to sanitise their forest reserves.

“These people are not more powerful than the government. Our means of livelihood are under serious threat, the governor should please rise up to these challenges.

“I need to also add that these illegal cocoa farmers have no stakes in our local politics in the state, they are foreigners and during election period you see them going back to their states to vote. So, they are contributing nothing to our politics, they are nothing but parasites.”

The Secretary, Board of Trustees of the association, Mr Opeoluwa Idowu, who also spoke at the event, said that the state government like that of Ondo State, should demonstrate decisive and firm leadership to end the nefarious activities of these illegal cocoa farmers by flushing them out of the Omo Forest Reserve.

Idowu, who is also the President of Sawmillers Association of Ogun State, said that one cannot but get sad and be annoyed at the level of the ongoing criminal activities and wanton destruction of the natural habitat of the forest reserves as well as the destruction of the economic trees.

He said: “As an association we have equally planted these economic trees in about 15 hectares and these farmers have also been destroying them, they sometimes mobilise people to attack us. They are always armed with all kind of dangerous weapons. All of these criminal acts can’t continue as if we don’t have a government.

“Across Ogun State, it is only in Ogun East Senatorial District, that is Ijebu and Remo land that we still have bit of thriving timber business and it is because of this Omo Forest Reserve that is still serving us, other forest reserves have been taken over by these illegal cocoa farmers. We really don’t want this to happen to this our collective heritage in Omo Forest.

“And let me tell you that the state government is losing over N500m annually to the activities of these illegal cocoa farmers who are predominantly foreigners.

“We know that Gov Dapo Abiodun is trying but we want him to do so much more. Out of the initial nine enclaves,that the government approved for people to be living inside these forest reserves, we now have over 200 illegal enclaves or communities. This is not acceptable. Now is the time for the government to send these people packing.

“The chemicals these farmers are using to kill these economic trees is causing significant harm to the eco system. The endangered animals like the elephants have been chased away, we are all aware of the problem of climate change which is aggravated by deforestation, so, the government just have to rise up to this challenge.”

The Secretary of the group, Pastor Funmileye Akinukawe lauded Gov Abiodun and the Commissioner for Forestry, Taiwo Oludotun for the effort made in the past to check the activities of these illegal cocoa farmers.

Akinukawe, however, said that the problem is now assuming a dangerous dimension with these set of farmers taking over 90 percent of the Omo Forest Reserve.

He revealed that the licensed timber contractors generated over N900 million to the coffers of the state government last year whereas these illegal cocoa farmers usually ferry their produce to neighbouring states like Osun and Ondo to sell, causing great revenue loss to the government.

Akinukawe added: “It is worrisome that these illegal cocoa farmers are doing everything to turn this forest to Sambisa Forest, the home of the Boko Haram insurgents in the northern part of the country because these farmers are always bringing in weapons.

“It is even surprising that the governor ordered the farmers to leave in the past but they refused. We have equally written to the governor on these dangerous trends. We sincerely plead with Gov Abiodun to rise and help us and protect this our collective heritage from being destroyed by these illegal farmers”.

The Treasurer of the association, Mr. Thomas Dehinbo, urged Gov Abiodun to send these illegal farmers to various farm settlements across the state which were established years back for planting of both food and cash crops.

He said: “there are lots of farm settlements all over the state for the farmers to plant cocoa, forest reserves are not meant to be cocoa plantation and so the governor should please take decisive action to flush them out. These farmers are nothing but economic saboteurs and should be treated as such”.

When contacted, the Commissioner for Forestry,  Taiwo Oludotun, said that the government is aware of the situation and already taking steps to address the challenge.

Oludotun said: “the government is aware of this challenge and we are already working on it.”

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, on Tuesday promised that the construction of the Laderin Train Station road in Abeokuta would soon be completed.

He said Federal Government ought to have incorporated the road network into the design of the train station.

Nevertheless, he assured that Ogun State Government has taken up the responsibility by providing access road in the corridor

He noted that his administration, upon the construction of a world-class airport at Ilishan, deemed it fit to open up a new access road directly from the Sagamu-Benin Expressway, even as the Ilishan and Iperu roads still exist.

The Governor stated this during a special church service to usher in the 2024/2025 Legal Year held at the Cathedral Church of St. Peter, Ake, Abeokuta.

Abiodun said that the contractor handling the road project, has just completed the construction of two big box culverts (mini-bridges) that will channel water away from the road, while earthwork and drainage will soon commence.

He said: “We don’t understand why a train station is built without an access road as part of that project conception. Today, we have built a world-class airport in Remo; can you imagine that we built that airport without considering the access road to that airport?

“There are other existing roads to that airport. However, we have begun the construction of an access road that tees off the Sagamu-Benin Expressway. If you are coming to that airport, you don’t need to go through Ilisan or Iperu; you make a left turn straight to the airport. This is what a project from inception should look like.

“In this instance, this train station was conceived, built, and completed without an access road being part of the project.

“As a responsible governor and government, we have taken it upon ourselves to award the contract for the road leading to that train station, and that contract is currently ongoing. However, the construction of two big box culverts that will channel stormwater away from the road has been completed.

“Earthwork and drainage will start. I will, however, personally urge the contractor to ensure he finishes on record time.”

He said the legal year provides an opportunity to collectively reaffirm commitment to pursue justice as well as continually improve the administration of justice in the state.

Abiodun said the outgoing year witnessed the resilience and dedication of the judiciary system despite unprecedented challenges confronting the nation, adding that the judiciary has, however, remained the beacon of fairness, integrity, and independence.

“As we all know, the judiciary is the bedrock of democracy, the pillar that upholds justice, equity, and fairness, which safeguards our rights to freedom and ensures the stability of our society.

“The commencement of the new legal year offers the chance to reiterate the importance of justice in society, a time for introspection on the ethics of the profession, principles of justice, and commitment to serving the public good,” the governor said.

The maintenance of law, order, and administration of justice, Prince Abiodun emphasised, is intricately linked as essential to ensuring healthy politics and achieving a just society.

He expressed the hope that members of the state judiciary would individually and collectively fulfill their constitutional roles, just as he expressed confidence in their unwavering commitment to uphold the rule of law, ensuring justice and safeguarding the rights of every citizen.

“I am confident that Law Officers will continue to perform their duties with the highest level of professionalism and dedication in alignment with the state government’s vision of a fair, just, and equitable society, free from anarchy and tyranny,” the governor noted.

In a sermon titled “Let Justice Flow,” the Archbishop of the African Church, Reverend Solomon Ojumu, stressed the need for judges to always deliver impartial judgments while judicial officers should also ensure quick dispensation of justice, as justice delayed is justice denied.

Taking his text from Amos 5, verses 21-23, the clergyman noted that there are injustices in the land as people are oppressed by the powerful in society, adding that as the last hope of the common man, judges ought to be champions of the poor by delivering sound judgment to all manner of people regardless of their social status.

Ojumu called on Nigerian leaders to do the needful to reduce suffering in the land as there is hunger and desperation among the poor due to the sins of the few elites.

The Chief Judge of the State, Hon. Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu read the only lesson of the service taken from Romans 12, verses 9-21.

•Begins free conversion of vehicles in Ogun 

James Sowole in Abeokuta

The federal government yesterday distributed 1,200 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) conversion kits in five cities.

It has also commenced the distribution and installation of conversion kits for commercial vehicle owners in Ogun State.

Presidential Compressed Natural Gas Initiative (P-CNGI), Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Michael Oluwagbemi made this known yesterday in Abuja.

He explained that the 50 kits were distributed in 18 centres in five of the eight centres, where the project has been activated.

He said: “We are distributing 50 kits per cent in 18 centres across Nigeria. Additional 200 kits. 

“So, we are going to distribute about 1,200 or thereabouts in five cities today. Like I said, these five cities are the five of the eight cities so far.”

Oluwagbemi said by the first quarter of 2024, the total conversions would have hit 1,250,000.

He explained the P-CNGI had liberalised the conversion process by dealing directly with commercial drivers instead of going through their unions.

According to him: “We expect that next that the next round of this project we will be having first come, first serve window at least once in a month and ensure this is an opportunity for commercial drivers who are not necessarily to sitting down with their union, vehicles, union bus that can just drive up without knowing anybody gets converted.”

He recalled that in response to the different protests across the country,  President Bola Tinubu had in August directed there should be one million conversion kits available for free for the commercial sector or at deep discounts for the rideshare industries to enable transportation fare to be moderated across the country over the next couple of years. 

He said the P-CNGI had so far signed with over 75 conversion partners in eight states of Lagos, Ogun, Oyo, Edo, Delta, Kogi, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

He added that the initiative will be adding nine states in the next eight weeks.

Meanwhile, the P-CNG yesterday began the distribution and installation of conversion kits for commercial vehicle owners in Ogun State.

The exercise, which was done in two locations in Abeokuta, the state capital, started with the inspection of vehicles brought by the members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

The two centres in Abeokuta were located within the premises of the Ogun State Public Works Agency, Quarry Road, and at NEXGEN Automobile, Olorunsogo in the Abeokuta metropolis.

For this stage of the conversion of petrol engine to the CNG-enabled, the exercise, according to P-CNGI, would be done free of charge for commercial vehicle operators, adding that a total of110 cylinders of different capacities and conversion kits, were received at the two centres in Abeokuta.

The installation of the free CNG conversion kits was in continuation of the federal government’s commitment towards achieving the conversion of one million petroleum vehicles to Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) by the year 2027 under the Conversion Incentive Programme (CIP) initiative.

Speaking with journalists at one of the conversion centres in Abeokuta, the Director of Vehicle Inspection Services in the State Ministry of Transportation, Mr Olugboyega  Adetimehin,  said benefitting vehicles have to undergo inspection, to determine whether they are convertible.

Adetimehin explained that a 75-litre CNG cylinder will cover a range of 150 kilometres journey, thereby contributing to the reduction of transportation fares as envisaged by the federal government following the removal of the fuel subsidy.

“The cylinder is molded and not welded and is as thick as 60 mm, bulletproof, accident proof and cannot cause any explosion. In Abeokuta here we have two refilling stations presently and one at Ibafo. To install a kit for a petrol engine it takes 4-5 hours but for a diesel engine it would take  three days”.

 James Sowole in Abeokuta

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun has described the former correspondent of The Guardian in the state, Mr. Charles Coffie Gyamfi, as a thoroughbred professional who positively impacted society.

Gyamfi died in Abeokuta yesterday, September 13.

Abiodun, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Lekan Adeniran, described Gyamfi’s death as a great loss to the journalism profession.

He condoled with the family of the deceased as well as the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Ogun State chapter, urging them to take solace in the fact that he left an indelible mark as a professional whose name will continue to reverberate in society.

“His contributions to the field of journalism were both significant and impactful, and his absence will be profoundly felt within the profession.

“He was a journalist who dedicated his life to shedding light on important issues and events, advocating for truth and integrity in reporting.

 â€œHis unwavering commitment to journalistic excellence and his passion for the truth marked him out. He demonstrated exceptional professionalism and a keen ability to connect with his audience.

“He reported on a wide range of topics as a state correspondent of The Guardian, traversing the nooks and crannies of our dear state, always approaching his work with a sense of responsibility and a deep understanding of the power of the written word.

“I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), with whom he had a strong affiliation.”

James Sowole in Abeokuta

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, has disclosed plans by his administration to introduce a price control mechanism in the state.

Abiodun also disclosed that henceforth, all forms of market levies have been suspended, noting that only development and environmental levies will be allowed, as they are meant for the development of markets in the state.

The governor made this known during a meeting with market leaders led by the Iyaloja General, Chief (Mrs.) Yemisi Abass, at the Governor’s Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Abiodun said as part of measures to control the uptick in the prices of food items, the state government would soon commence the operation of its Bulk Purchasing Company, which has now been rebranded as Gateway Trading Company, with the aim of ensuring that the cost of food items is much more affordable for the people.

Abiodun also noted that the Gateway Trading Company would, in the first instance, begin operations in the four zones of the state.

His words: “We’ve also resolved that we will begin the implementation of Bulk Purchase and Selling in the state. To that extent, the state government has rebranded our Bulk Purchase Company. It is now called Gateway Trading Board.

“Gateway Trading will now assist in bringing food items to our teeming public at prices that will be significantly below what they can obtain when they go to the market themselves.

“So, we are going to aggressively implement our Gateway Trading objectives. They will first start in the four zones; they will buy in bulk and resell at prices that will be more affordable to our people.”

Abiodun also announced the ban on all forms of levies in the markets in the state.

He added that a market enforcement task force with a central body in the state would be mirrored in all twenty local government areas, adding that all forms of coercion and intimidation by people who add no value to markets across the state will be stamped out.

Abiodun further noted that anyone caught collecting illegal fees in markets across the state would face the full wrath of the law, adding that he would also ensure that all exorbitant and unbearable shop and stall rents imposed on market men and women are stopped.

He said: “A few things have been identified by way of illegal taxes that are being imposed right there in the market; loading taxes, discharge taxes, offloading taxes, and illegal levies in the name of different people. From now on, we are putting a ban on such illegal levies in any market in Ogun State.
“The only levies that will be allowed are what they call the Development Levy and the Environmental Levy. Those are levies that are associated with the upkeep of the market, and even those will have to be agreed upon and made public.

“We also identified that there are people who add no value to food items coming from the farm to markets. They either, by coercion or intimidation, accost farmers and force them to sell at inflated prices.

“We have resolved here that we are going to have a market enforcement task force; there will be a central body here in the state.

“That central body will be mirrored in each local government area. Their job will be to ensure that all illegal levies, coercion, and intimidation by different people do not occur again.

“This is not the time for anyone to take advantage of another person. We are going through a transition period; we should be our brother’s keeper, considerate, and humane.

“The Iyaloja gave us the example where a basket of tomatoes is selling for N3,500, while some transporters want to charge N7,000 for transportation. The transportation cost is even much more than the cost of the tomatoes themselves.

“This will no longer happen in Ogun State. We are resolved to ensure that we stamp this out of Ogun State because we want to make this period as painless as possible.

“We also talked about the illegal levies and roadblocks that market men and women are subjected to paying at different points, like tollgates. I have said that I was going to look into this, and that is why we have our law enforcement agencies here to ensure that all those illegal roadblocks and tollgates are removed.

“Any person found collecting money illegally by way of tolls will be arrested and made to face the full wrath of the law; we are not going to tolerate any of these illegalities.

“It was brought to my attention that in some local government areas of the state, developers are brought in to develop their shops and stalls, and when they do so, because they are developers and entrepreneurs whose objective is to make money, they impose unbearable rents on our market men and women. I promised to look into it and ensure that it stops forthwith.”

The governor noted that his administration would be providing support in the form of grants, loans, and farm implements to different farmers’ associations in the state.

“We will also assist our market men and women by way of very low-interest loans, which we are already working on.

“We have an Ogun Empowerment Scheme that is being finalised by the Ministries of Industry, Trade and Investment, and Women Affairs, which is geared towards providing single-digit loans or grants, as the case may be, particularly for our informal sector, the market women,” he said.

The governor further said that the Ministry of Environment, Ogun State Waste Management Agency, and the Ministry of Women Affairs will work together to ensure the effective management of waste in markets across the state, charging the agencies to ensure that dumpsters are readily available at the markets and picked up regularly.

In her remarks, the President of Market Women and Men in the State and Iyaloja of Yewaland, Chief Yemisi Abass, commended Abiodun for deeming it fit to call market leaders together to deliberate on how to make life more bearable for the people of the state.

She disclosed that they are happy with all the resolutions reached at the meeting.

James Sowole and Funmi Ogundare

UNICEF, yesterday, disclosed that Nigeria requires approximately 20 million toilets to eliminate open defecation in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

Jane Bevan, Chief of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH), made this known at a two-day media dialogue in Lagos focused on ending open defecation in Nigeria and eradicating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).

The media dialogue, organized by UNICEF in collaboration with the Oyo State Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA), gathered stakeholders from Ogun, Lagos, Oyo, Ekiti, Ondo, and Osun states, alongside representatives from the Federal Ministry of Health and the private sector.

Bevan emphasized the need for better hygiene practices and strong political commitment from the government to end open defecation. She highlighted the severe health risks associated with the practice and called for urgent action, stating, “We need political will to tackle open defecation. We need to make it real and make washing our hands a priority. This is what the media must help promote so that we can put an end to open defecation.”

Chizoma Opara, Deputy Director of the ‘Clean Nigeria Campaign’ at the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, explained that around 48 million Nigerians still practice open defecation, according to the 2021 WASHNORM report.

She linked the practice to the spread of sanitation-related diseases, including several NTDs like onchocerciasis, schistosomiasis, trachoma, lymphatic filariasis, and soil-transmitted helminthiasis (STH), which are transmitted through contaminated soil and feces, perpetuating poverty, malnutrition, and ill health.

Opara stressed that tackling open defecation would significantly reduce the transmission of these diseases.

 “Improved sanitation and hygiene practices can break the cycle of infection, protecting vulnerable populations, especially children and women. This dialogue aims to raise awareness about the importance of ending open defecation and its impact on NTD elimination.

“We will explore strategies for collaboration, share success stories, and discuss the challenges of achieving a Nigeria free from open defecation and NTDs,” she stated.

Citing the 2021 report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Opara pointed out that only 126 of the 774 local governments in Nigeria have been declared open defecation-free.

Jigawa is the only state to have achieved this status, while Katsina State has 27 of its 34 local governments free from open defecation.

She called for a shift in behavior to end the practice, which has contributed to the spread of diseases across the country.

Alhaji Babalola Afobaje, Chairman of Oyo State’s Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), praised UNICEF and Governor Seyi Makinde for their efforts in supporting the fight against open defecation, especially among rural communities.

He assured that the agency would make the most of the opportunities provided under the WASH project to address the issue.