Education

ASUU Strike: Government is more concerned about elections – UI Students

By Web News 478

Students of the University of Ibadan on Monday continued their protests over the unresolved issues between the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU and the federal government which led to the closure of federal and some state universities in the country three months ago.

The students continued their protest with the blockage of the highway linking Sango, Bodija and Ojoo.

The blockage of the highway led to a traffic jam around the institution’s main gate as motorists try to maneuver their way out of the scene.

Speaking with Radio Nigeria, one of the leaders of the protesting students, a three hundred level student in the Department of Sociology, Mr James Azubuike said the federal government was more concerned about election rather than their education.

Mr Azubuike who said the protest would be taken to the Iwo Road interchange, noted that the students had their means of identification on them to prevent hoodlums from hijacking the protest.

Radio Nigeria observed that men of Nigeria Police, Operation Burst and Oyo State Security Network code-named “Amotekun” were on ground to ensure orderliness.

Our correspondent also observed that the protest had caused traffic jam in most of the narrow roads within Orogun and Agbowo axis of Ibadan.

Similar, following a protest embarked upon by students of the polytechnic Ibadan today, the institutions second semester examination have been suspended pending the time when the crises is resolved.
The public relations officer of the institution, Alhaji Soladoye Adewale stated this while reacting to the student’ protest.
Alhaji Soladoye said significant percentage of the students have neither paid their tuition fees nor completed their registration saying computing their result would be difficult.

“A very high percentage of them are owing tuition fees.

“Exam for full time is expected to start today while part-time students were writing before and we had to suspend the exam to compel them to pay the tuition fee.

“The Institution’s provided a lenient process in payment of their fees which is done twice 60% first and 40% thereafter but many of them have not paid their tuition fee. without payment, it is not possible to complete registration”

“But as it stands now, all examinations has been suspended by the Management.”

Alhaji Soladoye said sufficient grace have been given the students while the students have been told severally to fine tune their registration records in the institution.
Students of the institution shutdown academic activities within the campus while the institution’s main gate was locked.

Rotimi Famakin

Environment

Several flood mitigation projects to be completed in the next 18 months – Makinde

By Web News 769

Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has promised to complete several ongoing flood management projects across the state within the next eighteen months to reduce challenges of flooding.

He gave the pledge during an on-the-spot assessment of communities affected by the heavy rainfall which caused flooding in some part of Ibadan, destroyed properties worth millions of naira while some were rendered homeless.

Governor Makinde explained that the state government had commenced work on proper channelization, better drainage system, construction of necessary bridges and ensuring that no structure blocks waterways in accordance with the Ibadan City Master Plan. 

Governor Makinde stressed the need for residents to imbibe necessary safety behavior by not blocking drainages with waste and building structures that disrupt free flow of water. 

According to the governor, instructions had been given to the state Ministry of Public Works to commence immediate evaluation of public properties destroyed and fix them.

The governor was accompanied by the officials of the state Ministry of Public Works, Ibadan Urban Flood Management Project, Oyo state Emergency Management Agency and visited Iwo Road, Olodo, Onipepeye, amongst other places affected by the rain.

Iyabo Adebisi

Politics

Oyo Governor Inaugurates Eleyele Water Dam

By Web News 853

Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde has expressed confidence that the rehabilitated Eleyele Dam Complex would check to the perennial flooding challenges being experienced in the state.

He stated this during the inauguration of the Eleyele Water Dam as part of activities to commemorate his one year in office. 

The governor explained that the step was part of efforts to forestall the reoccurrence of the sad flood incident of 2011 adding that the rehabilitated dam would boost potable water supply in the area.

Governor Makinde who noted that channelization of major rivers in the state were ongoing, urged members of the community to justify the huge government investment on infrastructural renewal by avoiding activities that might block waterways. 

Earlier in his welcome address, the chairman of the steering committee and Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinola Ojo said the administration remained committed to maintaining the facility for it to continually achieve its purpose. 

Governor Seyi Makinde later flagged-off the construction of a modern bus terminal in the state at Iwo Road interchange. 

The governor explained that Iwo Road interchange is a major connecting junction and a meeting point in Nigeria, hence the need for an ultra-modern bus terminal to not only create proper aesthetics and reduce travel time but to improve the socio-economic development in the state.

Iyabo Adebisi