Infrastructure

Oyo State pays another ₦200m Compensation for Circular Road Project

By Web News 561

By Iyabo Adebisi

The Oyo State Government has disbursed over ₦200 million to residents affected by the ongoing Ibadan Circular Road project.

The state government presented the funds at an event held at the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development in Agodi, Ibadan.

The Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Akin-Funmilayo Williams, stated this is the fourth round of payments for affected residents in the Odeyale area of Ona-Ara Local Government.

Mr. Williams promised the state would soon complete the total ₦1 billion compensation package for all project-affected persons.

Similarly, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, commended the administration’s political will to strengthen the state’s infrastructure and economy.

Prince Oyelade called for the continued support of residents for the road project, which has been planned for over 20 years and is expected to boost industrialization and socio-economic growth.

Two beneficiaries, Adekunle Bolaji and Dauda Jimoh, lauded the government’s sincerity, noting that the compensation has restored their lost joy.

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Politics

LG Polls: PDP’s Dominant Victory Predictable

By Web News 421

By Iyabo Adebisi

Oyo State government says the victory of all the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP candidates in the just concluded local government elections was predictable.

In a statement issued after the announcement of the results, the state Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, noted that the outstanding performance of Governor Seyi Makinde in the last five years was the major reason why the election turned out to be one-sided.

The commissioner also attributed the election result to the quality of the candidates which the ruling party presented.

Prince Oyelade saluted the commitment of the security team, the Oyo State Independent Electoral Commission, OYSIEC chairman and his team for daring to make a difference after the challenges of the past two local government elections.

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Governance

OYACA remains a reference point for others – Justice Esan

By Web News 354

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Chairman of Oyo State Anti Corruption Agency, OYACA, Retired Justice Eni Esan has revealed that over 300 corruption cases have been investigated since the inception of the Agency in 2021.

Speaking during a chat with the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, who paid her an official visit in her office, Justice Esan said the agency has made significant strides in investigating cases of corruption with 14 cases currently being tried.  

According to the OYACA chair, large sums of money have been recovered from politicians, contractors, and civil/public servants among others. 

She revealed that states like Kano, Kaduna Jigawa, Ondo, Lagos, and Cross River have come to understudy the anti-corruption blueprint of OYACA in a bid to intensify the fight against corruption in their respective states. 

She further revealed that the Oyo State Anti Corruption Agency‘s mandate is to promote ethical conduct, prevent corrupt practices, and protect public resources from mismanagement and embezzlement. 

“Corruption fighting begins with sensitization on prevention. The agency has initiated this process by educating traditional leaders, tertiary institutions in Oyo state, civil/public servants, Members of the Judiciary and other stakeholders in the campaign”

Justice Esan disclosed that Oyo State is determined to create a culture of transparency and accountability, where corruption is reduced to the barest minimum.

“While we are committed to zero tolerance for corruption, we also recognize the importance of due process and ensuring that individuals are given a fair opportunity to defend themselves against any allegations.” 

Justice Esan assured that all cases brought before the agency are treated with confidentiality.

Responding, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, appreciated the sensitive task of the agency and assured that the information ministry will periodically sensitize the public on the agency’s activities in line with the state government’s determination to rid the state of corruption.

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Governance

We did not abandon Bodija Explosion victims – Oyelade

By Web News 308

By Iyabo Adebisi

Oyo State government has debunked the insinuation that it has abandoned the welfare of victims of the Bodija explosion in Ibadan.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the government said the rumour is unfair and unnecessary.

The commissioner revealed that ever since the January 16 explosion, the government has been spending between 15 and 20 million naira weekly on accommodation and feeding for the victims in the past eight weeks.

“As we speak, government has spent over 160 million naira on accommodation and feeding alone for the victims who were immediately accommodated at the hotels and the 38 of them still residing in the various hotels.” the commissioner said.

“In the same vein, government has picked up a medical bill of over 17 million naira while those still in hospitals are being actively catered for.”

The commissioner said that seven decent hotels, some in highbrow areas, are being used to accommodate victims of the unfortunate incident.

The commissioner also said that two million naira is spent weekly, amounting to 16 million naira in eight weeks, for security operatives to protect the property left behind by the victims.

On the rumour that some of the victims were ejected from their hotels, the Commissioner for Information said nothing can be further from the truth.

One of the hotels at Idi-Ape informed their occupants that they would like to fumigate their premises and the state government took it upon itself to immediately arrange transportation for the explosion victims to be accommodated in another hotel at Jericho together with members of their families.

The government does not think making an issue of fumigating a facility is the correct thing to do because such exercise is routine and the prerogative of the hotel owners.

On the accusation that victims’ meals have been reduced to one, the government sees this as equally spurious because many hotels provide complimentary breakfast, and most of our wards go out in the daytime, hence, the government’s decision to provide dinner.

Prince Dotun Oyelade said that the government is humbled by the gratitude and understanding shown by the victims and the populace alike who see the genuineness of the government spending millions of naira to protect the property left behind by the victims including the large sums of money spent on their medical bills, accommodation and feeding so far.

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Governance

Bodija Explosion: Oyo State Government Sets Up Emergency Situation Hub

By Web News 574

By Iyabo Adebisi

Oyo State Government has set up an Emergency Situation Hub to collate and coordinate the management of victims affected by the explosion that rocked Ibadan.

In a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, anyone who is affected can go to the premises of the Housing Corporation, Bodija, Ibadan.

The commissioner, who said the situation hub is headed by the Deputy Governor, Chief Bayo Lawal, also advised victims to submit verifiable pieces of evidence of their losses and seek clarifications on the nature of government intervention.

The statement states that temporary accommodation has been organised by the government for those displaced as a result of the explosion, while the state government will also finance the hospital bills of those injured.

The commissioner confirmed that several victims have started registering at the hub, and are being put through by emergency and disaster experts. 

As the investigation continues by the security men, the state government is narrowing down on the possible cause of the explosion. 

The commissioner said that as a result of new evidence, the government is interrogating certain leads that suggest the storage of explosives by illegal miners residing in the area.

During his visit to the scene, Governor Seyi Makinde implored residents of Oyo State to be more sensitive to the goings-on in their environment. 

Prince Oyelade said the explosion affected some structures of Ministries, Departments and Agencies, MDAs, at the Oyo State Secretariat. 

He said the impact and venom of the explosion was felt about 15 km away.

It would be recalled that Governor Seyi Makinde last month deployed massive military land, air and intelligence to the Oyo National Park to flush out illegal miners and other criminals.

The commissioner said residents can call the situation room on 615, or 09040899710 (for SMS, Whatsapp and pictorial evidence).

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Education

Over 1500 Students Set for Resumption at LAUTECH Iseyin Campus

By Web News 574

By Oluwakayode Banjo

One Thousand, Five Hundred and Thirty-Three 200 Level students of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso will resume at the Iseyin Campus, by the end of October, 2023.

This is in fulfilment of the promise made by Governor Seyi Makinde during the commissioning of the Iseyin campus, last month. 

In a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade, on Tuesday, the college of Agricultural Science and Renewable Natural Resources, will begin the second semester in Iseyin on October 23, 2023.

The Commissioner recalled that his counterpart in the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, Prof. Saliu Adelabu has held series of meetings with the Pro- Chancellor, Prof. Deji Omole and the Ag. Vice-chancellor to ensure the realisation of the students’ resumption. 

According to him, the resumption is significant because since April, 2023 when Oyo State Government announced the movement of the Agriculture Faculty to Iseyin, commencement of lecture for the 200 level students will now formally begin.

Last week Thursday, the Ag. Vice-chancellor, Prof. Rasaq Olatunde Kalilu led the institution’s management team, to a meeting with stakeholders, where community leaders pledged their absolute support for the resumption and promised, to do all in their power to ensure comfortable stay of the coming students.

Prince Oyelade said agreement was reached on affordable accommodation, transportation and security measures in anticipation of their resumption.

Some of the lecturers, who may not secure immediate accomodation within Iseyin township, have made arrangements, to come from their Ogbomoso base on daily basis.

This is made feasible, because the newly constructed 76km Ogbomoso-Iseyin road, is 55 minutes drive.

The Commissioner recalled that the first semester officially ended on October 3, 2023.

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Economy

Oyo Govt. Fulfills Promise, Clears Non-statutory Deductions Arrears

By Web News 622

By Oluwakayode Banjo

The Oyo State Government has cleared all the non-statutory deductions of civil servants in the state.

This is in fulfillment of Governor Seyi Makinde’s promise that their deduction arrears will be paid along with their August salaries.

In a release issued from the Oyo State Ministry of Information and Orientation and signed by the ministry’s commissioner, Prince Dotun Oyelade, the pledge by Governor Seyi Makinde in a state broadcast in the wake of the week-long protest by the state NLC, the government released over 1.3 billion naira as deductions and salaries for June, July, and August. 

With this development, workers who choose to continue making cooperative contributions will have to work with their unions as the state government will no longer be making any deductions from the source.

The commissioner recalled that to date, many states have not complied with the minimum wage and still owe civil servants many months’ backlog of statutory deductions while Oyo State had complied with minimum wage payment three years ago and has now cleared its deductions. 

The commissioner said Governor Seyi Makinde enjoys the support of the over 71,000 Oyo State civil servants because of his genuine love for their welfare.

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Lifestyle

BCOS 40th Anniversary: Media Professionals Must Ensure Balanced Reportage – Dotun Oyelade

By Web News 1437

Media professionals have been encouraged to sustain professional standard so as to overcome the challenges created by social media.

The Executive Chairman, Broadcasting Corporation of Oyo State, BCOS, Prince Dotun Oyelade stated this while addressing newsmen as part of the activities marking the 40th anniversary of BCOS.

Prince Oyelade explained that the problem of fake news being peddled by the new media was not peculiar to Nigeria alone saying conventional media must continue to set the pace through the transmission of balanced, accurate and objective reportage of events.

Speaking on the 40th anniversary of BCOS Prince Oyelade said the media outfits established in 1982 as Television Service of Oyo State, TSOS, had not only survived different political manipulations in the state but had also triggered the emergence of other state-owned media.

The BCOS executive chairman who commended the vision of Late Chief Bola Ige for creating a conducive working environment for the state media to operate in its formative years said the establishment of the media outfit followed the discovery of the potent power of television in influencing and moulding people’s opinion.

The BCOS boss while commending Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state for funding the media organization said the media outfit would not handle the training and retraining of staff with levity.

In their separate remarks, former Nigeria’s ambassador to the Philippines, Dr Yemi Farounbi, former director of Engineering, BCOS, Alhaji Lateef Busari and the former secretary to oyo state government, Mr Bisi Adesola encouraged BCOS staff to keep the vision and broadcast policy of the station alive irrespective of the prevailing condition within which it operates.

Among series of activities lined up for the 40th anniversary of the station include BCOS beauty pageantry, coming up last week in March, children funfair, May 27. 

Other events include walk and Kumar prayer slated for Friday, May 27, traditional prayer May 28th and Church thanksgiving service at the Saint James Cathedral, Oke Bola. On the 29th of May this year.

The 40th anniversary will also feature a special lecture.

Rotimi Famakin