ABEOKUTA NORTH LG OVERHAULS REVENUE SYSTEM, SETS UP DIGITAL TRACKING

Abeokuta North Local Government has embarked on a comprehensive revenue reform aimed at boosting its financial base and ensuring accountability.

The Executive chairman of the local government Hon. Lanre Oyegbola-Sodipo, announced this during a press conference held at the council secretariat on Monday.

While addressing the press, the chairman said upon assuming office, his administration discovered that the revenue base of the local government was significantly low and mismanaged.

To address this, he canceled all previous revenue collection contracts and set up a Revenue Monitoring Team (RMT), led by the Vice Chairman, Hon. Taiyelolu Egbeyemi.

“As of today, we have identified 67 revenue points within the local government, compared to the 10 or 15 revenue points we met on the ground,” Oyegbola-Sodipo revealed.

“We have deployed able and committed young men to monitor revenue collection, and we are now working towards scaling up our revenue drive across all identified points.”

The Chairman added that the local government is also introducing a digital revenue collection system to enhance efficiency and transparency adding that the system will officially commence on Wednesday in which all levies and taxes are paid digitally.

Providing an example of how this will work, the chairman explained that petrol stations in the local government were previously charged a flat rate, regardless of the number of pumps they had.

This, he noted, was unfair. “We have now introduced a pump-based levy system to ensure fairness. Starting Wednesday, we will begin capturing and onboarding all petrol stations into the digital system,” he said.

The chairman also said the new system will be extended to markets, with market women being properly identified and grouped into clusters.

Hon. Lanre Oyegbola Sodipo also highlighted plans to maximize local government assets, citing Ori-Omi, a local venue previously rented out for as low as ₦90,000 per event.

He described this as a gross abuse of government property and announced an immediate review of its management to increase revenue generation.

Furthermore, a Skills and Enterprise Development Center is being established within the council secretariat to support young entrepreneurs.

According to Oyegbola-Sodipo, a team of seven young professionals has worked for nearly nine weeks to develop a blueprint for the center.

“The center will provide a platform for young people to develop their innovations and grow their businesses,” he said.

Hon. Oyegbola-Sodipo reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring a more transparent, accountable, and efficient local government.

His words” if you are unable to measure anything, then you’ll be unable to manage it, whatever you can’t measure, you cannot manage.

“Whatever you cannot inspect don’t expect, it is on this principle that we charge ourselves that we need to do a complete overhaul the process, the system, the architecture that drives our revenue in the local government.”

The chairman assured residents that these reforms will not only boost internally generated revenue (IGR) but also improve service delivery and attract more development projects to the local government.

PDP Chieftain Ewenla Condemns State of Emergency in Rivers

By Ifeoma Ikem

Prince (Dr.) Adedipe Ewenla, a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has criticized President Bola Tinubu over his declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State. He described the move as a total disregard for Rivers people, an attack on PDP, and a serious embarrassment to Nigeria as a democratic nation.

Background of the Crisis in Rivers

It would be recalled that Rivers has been embroiled in a festering political crisis, revolving around a power struggle between Governor Siminalayi Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who is now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The crisis escalated due to political realignments within the state legislature and disagreements over governance, leading to violent clashes, destruction of property, and threats of impeachment.

The political turmoil drew national attention, with concerns over law and order in the oil-rich state. While President Tinubu initially called for political actors to respect court rulings and embrace dialogue, he has now taken the drastic step of imposing a state of emergency, citing worsening security concerns.

Ewenla’s Condemnation of State of Emergency

Amb. Ewenla, in his reaction, condemned the decision, arguing that the imposition of emergency rule is undemocratic and a direct attack on PDP, the ruling party in Rivers. He asserted that the move was an abuse of federal power aimed at suppressing opposition-led states.

According to Ewenla, the crisis should have been resolved through legal and constitutional means rather than the suspension of democratic governance. He warned that using emergency rule as a political weapon could destabilize Nigeria’s democracy and set a dangerous precedent for future administrations.

Call for Reversal and Respect for Democracy

Ewenla called on President Tinubu to immediately reverse the declaration and allow Rivers handle its internal matters through democratic processes. He urged PDP leaders, traditional rulers, and other stakeholders to resist any external interference that undermines the state’s autonomy.

The PDP chieftain also expressed concerns that the emergency declaration would damage Nigeria’s international reputation and discourage investors, given that Rivers is one of the country’s key economic hubs.

The state of emergency in Rivers State marks a critical moment in Nigeria’s political landscape. While the federal government justifies the decision as a security measure, opposition voices like Prince Ewenla argue that it undermines democracy. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether political dialogue or federal intervention shapes the future of governance in Rivers State.

Rivers in Turmoil: Fubara Rallies Supporters After Tinubu Declares State of Emergency

The political storm in Rivers State has escalated to unprecedented levels as Governor Siminalayi Fubara urges the people to remain calm and law-abiding following President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in the oil-rich state. The move, which has sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s political landscape, has effectively sidelined Fubara’s administration, paving the way for the appointment of former Naval Chief, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State.

Despite the drastic turn of events, Fubara, in a passionate address to the people of Rivers, reaffirmed his commitment to constitutional governance and accused the Rivers State House of Assembly of sabotaging peace efforts.

“Even in the face of the political impasse, we have remained committed to constitutional order and the rule of law, putting the interest of our people above all else,” the embattled governor declared.

A Political Battlefield: Fubara vs. Rivers Assembly

The crisis in Rivers State has been brewing for months, with intense political battles between Fubara and factions within the state legislature. The power struggle reached a boiling point with impeachment threats against Fubara, defiant court rulings, and open rebellion from lawmakers allegedly backed by powerful political interests.

Fubara insists that his government complied with all peace agreements brokered by the presidency, including reinstating resigned commissioners and implementing a Supreme Court judgment. Yet, he claims that certain lawmakers deliberately blocked efforts to restore stability, making governance nearly impossible.

Tinubu’s Drastic Move: Rivers Under Federal Control

The state of emergency declared by President Tinubu marks a historic intervention in Rivers politics, effectively stripping the elected governor of his powers and placing the state under federal control. The suspension of Fubara, his deputy, and the Rivers State House of Assembly raises legal and constitutional concerns, with analysts debating whether Tinubu’s action is a necessary intervention or an overreach of executive power.

Fubara, however, remains defiant, assuring Rivers people that his administration had kept the state safe, secure, and functioning despite the political turbulence.

“Yes, we have political disagreements, but good governance has continued. Salaries have been paid, great projects are being executed, and above all, Rivers State remains peaceful under our watch,” Fubara declared.

What’s Next? Legal, Political, and Public Reactions

The declaration of a state of emergency has set the stage for a political and legal showdown. Will Fubara challenge his suspension? How will Rivers’ political stakeholders, opposition parties, and civil society groups respond to Tinubu’s intervention?

For now, the fate of Rivers State lies in uncertain waters, as its people wait to see whether Tinubu’s move will bring order or further escalate tensions in Nigeria’s most politically volatile state.