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Alake hails Gov Abiodun’s giant strides in infrastructural development
Alake hails Gov Abiodun’s giant strides in infrastructural development
…as Ogun Central hosts 2023 budget town hall meeting
The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo has commended the effort of the Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration in the area of infrastructural development Ogun State, declaring that “you cannot beat a governor who makes promises and keeps promises”.
Oba Gbadebo who gave this commendation during the Town Hall Meeting on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) and 2023 Budget for Egba Division, held at the June 12 Cultural Center, Abeokuta, also declared that the governor has done incredibly well for the Egba Division in terms of infrastructural development.
The Alake, however, called on the governor not to rest on his oars, congratulating him on the public service award he recently received from President Muhammadu Buhari, saying “this is honour well deserved”.
“All the list that I had with me, as the governor was speaking, I started ticking them off one after the other. You see, you cannot beat a governor who makes promises and keeps promises.
“All the roads I listed here, he had started work on them and completed some, and he has promised to start on new ones,” he said.
The monarch who also commended the present administration in the state for its stride at increasing the Internally Generated Revenue of the state and being named as the fourth best state in terms of revenue generation after states such as Lagos, Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State, charged the Governor Abiodun to up the ante as the state has the capacity to challenge even Lagos State.
He further applauded the governor for his feat in the area of housing in state, stressing that “in terms of housing, you have done more than any other governor in building houses in the history of the state”.
“Please, I want this record to continue to go higher and higher, please, build more”, Alake added.
Speaking earlier, Governor Abiodun disclosed that his administration would begin its Light Up Ogun project towards actualising uninterrupted power supply in the state, adding that transformers would be given out to local governments across the state.
“In line with our Light Up Ogun project, we will be flagging off the pilot scheme right here in Abeokuta, the Light Up Ogun project promises to deliver uninterrupted power supply to Ogun Central, particularly Abeokuta,” he said.
Abiodun who also noted that his administration would continue to sustain it’s position as investors destination of choice, noted that he won’t allow any form of insecurity to affect its position as the investors choice.
Meanwhile, the governor refuted the allegation that his administration has been taking 30 percent of funds meant for local government areas in the State.
He explained that instead of taking funds from the local government, his administration has been given the LGs between N200m to N300m on a monthly basis to augment their allocations in to enable them meet their financial obligations.
The governor noted that his administration has remained firm in the distribution of funding to all the tiers of government, maintaining that the rumors of depriving local government of fund is completely unfounded.
“We have continued to support our local government administration every month. We ensure that we give them a minimum amount to allow them to function because their allocations over the last six months had not been enough to meet their expenses let alone execute any capital project.
“As a responsible administration, we continue to bail them out every month to the tune of N200m to N300m a month because they are the closest to the people and they must function.
“We also have a sharing formula which allows us to take all the generated funds in transport, land use and 20 percent of that is allocated back to the local government. When they say that we deprived the local government the revenue is not true.
“Whatever is generated is spent judiciously and we ensure that there is a fair and equitable distribution of infrastructure which can be seen across the length and breadth of the state”. Abiodun stated.
He, however, observed that the centrality of the Egba Division and its people cannot be overemphasized in the development plan for the socio-economic valve of the state, stressing that the senatorial district apart from being home to the state capital, also acts as the link with other parts of the state.
In his opening remarks, the Economic Adviser and Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo said similar meetings, which had taken place in three other zones, were meant to aggregate the people’s inputs that would form the basis for next year’s budget, appealing to all stakeholders to make meaningful contributions that would lead to a people’s oriented budget.
Commissioner for Budget and Planning Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan, in his presentation, said 68 projects were executed in each of the senatorial districts in the state,emphasizing that no local government area was left out on project allocation and execution.
Energy experts in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector have defended the pricing structure of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, accusing some fuel markers of attempting to blackmail the refinery and mislead the public over the recent increase in petrol prices.
The experts said reports suggesting that the refinery’s latest adjustment is solely responsible for the recent hike in fuel prices were misleading, noting that importers are also bringing in petrol at almost a N1,000 per litre, while the refinery’s coastal price is N948 and the gantry or ex-depot price stands at N995 per litre.
They stressed that public comparisons fail to consider the differences in pricing structures and supply channels.
According to the experts, N948 per litre represents the coastal delivery price, which refers to petroleum products transported by marine vessels or barges from the refinery to depots along the coastline. On the other hand, N995 per litre represents the gantry or ex-depot price, which is the rate paid by marketers who load petrol directly from the refinery into tanker trucks at the loading gantry for onward distribution across the country.
The experts explained that the two figures should not be interpreted as conflicting prices but rather as different logistics arrangements within the petroleum distribution chain.
Speaking with our correspondent on Sunday, energy expert David Okon said the pricing adjustments were inevitable given prevailing market conditions.
According to him, Dangote Petroleum Refinery & Petrochemicals operates in a deregulated market and procures crude at international prices, which have risen sharply due to geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
“The refinery is already absorbing part of the cost to cushion the impact of the crisis on Nigerians. We can see what is happening in other parts of the world where shortages and scarcity are being reported despite higher prices, yet the Dangote Refinery has continued to guarantee domestic supply,” he said.
Okon explained that when the refinery previously sold petrol at N774 per litre, crude oil was landing at about $68 per barrel. However, with crude now arriving at roughly $95 per barrel, the cost difference of about $27 per barrel translates to nearly N40,000 per barrel when converted to Naira.
“You cannot expect a refinery to continue selling at the old rate under those circumstances,” he added.
“If imported products were truly cheaper, importers would still be selling at the previous prices.”
He warned that without local refining capacity, Nigeria could have faced severe fuel shortages, long queues at filling stations and a resurgence of black market sales.
“Without the Dangote Refinery, many filling stations would likely shut down, queues would return across the country and black market traders would exploit the situation, hawking four litres keg at N20,000 or more. The refinery has effectively prevented that scenario,” he said.
Another analyst, Mohammed Ibrahim, also faulted narratives circulating in some quarters suggesting that the refinery’s pricing adjustment was responsible for worsening economic hardship in the country.
Accusing some importers of attempting to manipulate public perception, he said, “What we are seeing is nothing but deliberate blackmail by some fuel importers who feel threatened by local refining.
“They are twisting the pricing structure to mislead Nigerians and create unnecessary panic in the market.
“By exaggerating the refinery’s gantry price and ignoring the comparable costs of imported fuel, they are trying to make it appear as though Dangote Refinery is the cause of rising prices and economic hardship. This is a calculated attempt to protect their import businesses and undermine local refining, which is meant to reduce our dependence on imported petrol.”
Ibrahim added that such narratives were aimed at portraying the refinery as the reason Nigerians were struggling with higher petrol prices.
He stressed that petrol pricing in Nigeria is largely influenced by global crude oil prices, exchange rate fluctuations, and distribution logistics, noting that these factors affect both locally refined and imported fuel in the country’s deregulated market.
Afolabi Olowookere, Managing Director and Chief Economist at Analysts’ Data Services and Resources (ADSR) Limited, explained that although Nigerians expect refined products from the refinery to be significantly cheaper, prevailing market realities such as global crude oil prices, the cost of crude supply and refining margins make substantial price reductions unlikely in the short term.
“Therefore, improving domestic crude allocation to the refinery would strengthen supply stability and enhance the long term benefits of local refining for the economy,” Olowookere noted.
Recent conflicts in the Middle East and disruptions along key shipping lanes have tightened global oil supply, pushing crude prices past $90 per barrel, a development that directly raises the cost of both imported and locally refined petrol in Nigeria.
The unrest has pushed up fuel costs and transportation in several countries, including Ghana, the United States, the United Kingdom, South Africa, India, Canada, Brazil, Germany, France, and Japan, as rising crude prices increase the cost of refining, distribution, and logistics globally.
CHETACHI NWOGA-ECTON EMPOWERS 300 WIDOWS IN IMO
A renowned humanitarian and proud daughter of Mbaise in Imo State, High Chief (Dr.) Princess Chetachi Nwoga-Ecton, has empowered over 300 widows and vulnerable women across the Owerri Zone, in a remarkable demonstration of compassion and service to humanity.
The empowerment programme, which took place at the Palace of the Eze of Ngor Okpala, HRH Eze Engr. Fredrick Nwachukwu, brought together community leaders, traditional rulers, women groups and beneficiaries from different communities within the zone.
During the event, the widows received food materials and cash support, aimed at helping them meet basic needs and strengthen their small-scale businesses.
The initiative was widely applauded as a timely intervention to support women who often face severe economic hardship after losing their spouses.
Many of the beneficiaries expressed heartfelt appreciation to High Chief (Dr.) Nwoga-Ecton, describing the empowerment as a lifeline that would help them take better care of their families.
Some widows, while offering prayers for the philanthropist, noted that the gesture had restored hope and dignity in their lives.
Fondly known as Ada Imo and Adaure, High Chief (Dr.) Princess Chetachi Nwoga-Ecton has earned widespread admiration for her consistent humanitarian efforts both within Nigeria and internationally.
Through her philanthropic activities and foundations, she has continued to support widows, children, and vulnerable communities with interventions in healthcare, welfare and economic empowerment.
Community stakeholders who attended the programme commended the Mbaise-born philanthropist for her generosity and dedication to uplifting the less privileged, noting that her actions reflect true leadership and compassion.
Observers say the initiative further reinforces her growing reputation as one of the most impactful humanitarians of this generation, whose commitment to humanity continues to inspire hope across Imo State and beyond.
UNITED KINGDOM OF ATLANTIS ANNOUNCES APPOINTMENT OF ACTING ADMIN KING OF THE UKA THRONE
March 6, 2026 – In a landmark royal decree, the Office of the Minister of Information & Culture of the United Kingdom of Atlantis (UKA) has announced the appointment of His Imperial Royal Eminence, King Sir Benny Terry Danson, as the Acting Admin King of the UKA Throne. The nomination was issued through an official directive from the UKA Throne and is intended to pave the way for King Sir Benny Terry Danson’s eventual ascension to the title of Official Emperor Admin of the Throne, subject to the completion of necessary formal and constitutional processes.
The UKA Throne emphasized that the appointment underscores its unwavering commitment to competence, dedication, and integrity as the guiding principles for all administrative functions within the government structure. Officials stated that the decision is a strategic move to reinforce national leadership and accelerate the kingdom’s vision of becoming a more efficient, progressive, and unified nation.
The new Acting Admin King will oversee initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable growth, improving public service delivery, and promoting collective national development among citizens and followers of the UKA. The government expressed deep appreciation for the continuous love, loyalty, and support shown by the populace, noting that public engagement is essential for the kingdom’s shared prosperity and advancement.
Further details regarding the formalization of the appointment, including ceremonial schedules and administrative timelines, will be released to the public in due course through official communication channels.
Report Highlights:
– Nominee: King Sir Benny Terry Danson, Acting Admin King.
– Objective: Transition toward becoming Official Emperor Admin of the UKA Throne.
– Focus: Strengthening governance through competence, dedication, and integrity.
– Impact: Expected to drive national efficiency, progress, and unity.
– Next Steps: Official ceremonies and constitutional procedures to follow.
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