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No forest reserves were sold by Abiodun’s government – Odusile

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OGUN 2023: THE WAY FORWARD When candidates are seeking election into political offices, what they capitalise on for momentum and ultimate victory are popularity among the electorate, sound strategy, previous antecedents and the backing of some political heavyweights. In all, the task of winning an election into a particular political office is difficult and requires a combination of factors. On the other hand, seeking reelection into an office after a first term is much more straightforward, yet much more complicated. It is more straightforward because it boils down to just one major requirement and it could be complicated because many political officeholders seeking reelection often do not meet that singular requirement.  What is required of someone seeking reelection into a political office is simply their track record, because gunning for a second term in office is a clear referendum on a candidate’s first term in office. And if this premise is anything to go by, the incumbent Governor of Ogun State, Prince Dapo Abiodun, does tick the box in terms of track record, and deserves the vote of the good people of Ogun in his bid to return as governor come 2023 to continue the unprecedented value he and his team have added to governance in the state. If one’s first term in office is a referendum on whether they deserve a second term, then the coast is already clear for Prince Abiodun, especially when considering his interest in infrastructure, economic viability by creating an enabling environment, human development and harnessing the state’s potentials.          Anybody who is familiar with events in Ogun since May 29, 2019, will agree that the state’s rising investment profile does not owe to happenstance. It hasn’t also gone unnoticed, as Prince Abiodun was deservedly recognised with the Public Service Award  of Excellence in Industrial Revolution. The Dapo Abiodun administration’s systematic approach to governance, which saw him lay a solid foundation for the implementation of deliberate policies, programmes and projects within the first six months in office, has led to predictable yet unprecedented success in the socio-economic transformation of the state. He has delivered on a clear template and deliberate action plan on how he intended to transform the state by implementing the “Building Our Future Together” agenda, hinged on the five developmental columns of I-S-E-Y-A: Infrastructure; Social Development and Wellbeing; Education; Youth Development, and; Agriculture and Food Security. Since the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun came on board on May 29, 2019, he has prioritised construction and rehabilitation of roads. The governor made it known from the onset that infrastructure, especially good road network, was crucial to his administration’s investment drive. That is why roads across the state are being aggressively constructed and rehabilitated. This also led him to establishing the Ogun State Roads Maintenance Agency (OGROMA). Currently, the state government is working on roads (either rehabilitation or construction) in almost all its 20 local government areas. Also, early in the Governor Abiodun’s administration, it was clear that he was keen on exploring the opportunities presented by Ogun’s geo-location. To him, the state’s proximity to Lagos and its gateway status to the West African market through Benin Republic should propel the state into economic prosperity. He established investment agencies, such as the Ogun State Enterprise Development Agency (OGSEDA), to provide entrepreneurial literacy services, capacity development and access to start-up capital to support Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Credit to Governor Dapo Abiodun, the Gateway Cargo Airport, which is almost completed, is scheduled to commence operations by the beginning of 2023. With the siting of an agro testing firm at Sagamu to service the airport, the project is expected to facilitate export in agricultural products from Nigeria. The results of his commitment to making Ogun economically viable are so convincing that the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), in its 2021 second quarter report for investment announcement, put the estimated investment into Ogun State at $500 million, making the state the preferred investment destination representing 30 per cent of the total announcement in Q2. Curiously, the NIPC report showed that 14 projects were covered in the investment announcement in manufacturing, energy, information and communication, as well as real estate.   National Bureau of Statistics recently released the Internally Generated Revenue figures for Ogun State, confirming the efforts by the Dapo Abiodun-led administration to put the economy on a sound footing and make Ogun Nigeria’s top investment destination. The state, which grew its IGR from N50.6bn in 2020 to N100.7bn in 2021, performed excellently on its IGR index, being only out-performed by Lagos State, Nigeria’s economic capital (N753.3bn); the Federal Capital Territory (FCT N131.9bn) and Rivers State, a top oil-producing state (N123.3bn). Apart from the investment in infrastructure in the state, the governor is making conscious effort to advance Ogun’s reputation for attracting foreign investment and public private partnerships. Already, Abiodun has attracted some mouth-watering investments, including the OCP Africa investment. OCP Africa is a Moroccan-based multinational investing a total of N9Billion in fertilizer blending plant with a production capacity of over 600,000metric tons. Abiodun’s administration has also clinched an investment deal with Terratiga Limited, an investor from The Netherlands investing in animal feeds with a production capacity of 100 tons per day and 1.2million tones per annum. In his recent visit to Ogun State, President Muhammadu Buhari commissioned the Gateway City Gate and the 42km Sagamu-Abeokuta Interchange, before going ahead to commission three other projects:  the 14km Ijebu Ode-Mojoda-Epe Road, which was completed in record time and connects Ogun to the fast-growing Epe-Lekki axis of Lagos; Kobape Housing Estate, located along the Sagamu-Abeokuta Interchange under the Affordable Housing Scheme; and the upscale Kings Court Estate in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. After a busy yet exciting tour, the president gave this verdict about Prince Abiodun: “I am proud of what you have done for your state and your people. You have made our great party, the APC, proud too. You are a worthy example of promises made, promises kept. These lofty projects could not have materialised without your huge investment and commitment to security of lives and property. This has made Ogun State one of the safest and most peaceful States in the country and investors’ destination of choice. You have justified the mandate of the people of Ogun State. You have represented our party very well.”   These and many more have nullified all negative machinations against Dapo Abiodun’s second term bid. The same way he triumphed over evil in 2019, he will ride on his achievements and the mandate of the good people of Ogun to win reelection come 2023. Ayo Shomide, a politician and businessman wrote from Abeokuta .  

No forest reserves were sold by Abiodun’s government – Odusile

…says reserves concessioned by last administration

Abiodun

 

The Ogun State Government has refuted the rumours making the rounds that it has sold some forest reserves in the Ijebu axis of the state, to foreign investors.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Alhaji Abdulwaheed Odusile, who stated this while fielding questions from newsmen on the protest by timber merchants made up of Timber Sellers Association, Plank Sellers and Ijebu Sawmillers, and Timber Contractors Association, said the forest reserves were concessioned by the immediate past administration in the state.

 

 

 

 

 

The Chairman, Board of Trustee, Timber and Saw millers Association, Ijebu-East, Mr. Taiwo Adeboye, Chairman, plank Sellers Association, Eyirin Chapter, Adesanya Sulaiman and Secretary, Ijebu Saw Millers and Timber Contractors Association, Akinukawe Funmileye, had led their members on a protest, accusing the state government of selling the only surviving forest reserves in the axis.

They called on the state government to rescind its decision as it would create unemployment and cause untold hardship on the people.

 

 

 

 

 

Odusile, however, insisted that the reserves were never sold by Governor Dapo Abiodun-led administration, but were concessioned to two Nigerian companies for N800m per annum by the immediate past administration.

“Government is aware of their complaints. What they protested about is not the making of this present administration, but by the previous government. Since government is a continuum, we are looking into their complaints. The House of Assembly is also looking into the issues.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I want to state categorically that the forest reserves were concessioned to two Nigerian companies. And it is just a part that was concessioned; the larger parts are still there for people to use. I can assure you that we did not sell the forest and we will resolve all the issues amicably”, he said.

Odusile reiterated that the present administration would not do anything that would bring hardship to the people, pointing out that the state government would always take the interests of the people into consideration before taking any major decision.

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Public Health Alert: The Dangers of Oko Oba Abattoir’s Unhygienic Conditions for Lagos Residents

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Time was when the Oko Oba Abbatoir was the cynosure of all eyes.

The professionalism and neatness depicted by the Butchers and the distribution Unit of the Abbatoir was applauded by all.

Conveying the neatly packed Meats in an enclosed Van called ‘Eko Meat Van’ to various locations saw the Lagos State Government receiving accolades from opposition Parties, Lagosians alike for the initiative.

Years down the line, the once celebrated initiative has become a shadow of itself.

For a first timer visiting the Oko Oba Abbatoir, what greets the person is an offensive odour oozing from the Canals that passes behind the Abbatoir.

The stench is very strong. It fouls the air. It often even triggers breathing discomforts in people not used to such a sudden and unpleasant odour.

The drainage at the entrance of the facility is filthy. It is a major source of the pungent stench disturbing passersby and visitors to the abattoir.

This however poses health threats to Lagosians who inhale this offensive odour.

Aside the Canals, the environment of the Abbatoir is in a pathetic state, as dirt litters the environment with bloods of the butchered Cows stagnated at some potholes in the Abbatoir.

This is however unhygienic to the health of Lagosians who consume the Meats.

The safety of meat processed at Oko-Oba Abattoir, Agege, Lagos, has become a source of concern to beef consumers in the state owing to the unhygienic practices and poor sanitation that characterise meat processing at the facility.

Aside from the dirty drainage, the slaughter slabs where animals are slaughtered are not only dirty but also reek of the foul smell of cow dung as well as that of decomposing animal waste and blood.

The once upgraded processing equipment and units of the Abbatoir have become a shadow of itself.

Experts say poor handling of meat in abattoirs could lead to physical contamination, stressing that a situation where all manner of people accesses the slaughterhouse without check is inappropriate for a place where meat is processed for human consumption.

Investigation reveals that the handlers of the Abattoir are the one causing major problems by not allowing external body or professionals to handle the situation because of their selfish interest.

Moreso, it was also gathered that past administration has also put measures to salvage the situation but all to know avail as the activities of the centre is allegedly run by one family.

The said family is been alleged to be sabotaging the efforts of the Lagos State Government in changing the narratives in this regard, by monopolizing the administration of Abbatoir.

Sources who are in the know of the politicking happening at the Abbatoir that has made it leveraging on its past glory, say that if other Companies are saddled with the responsibilities of maintaining the Abbatoir, there will be drastic changes in the affairs of the Abbatoir, that will be a far cry from its present state.

It was also gathered that the Sub Concessionaire approved by the Ministry who has certain projects at the Abbatoir is allegedly been frustrated by the Main Concessionaire in connivance with the Commissioner.

This has further added to the pathetic situation of the Abbatoir.

Investigation also revealed that there are Shanties at the Abbatoir where some people allegedly live and pay rent to certain individuals at the Abbatoir.

This poses Security threat to the Abbatoir and residents around the Abbatoir, at a time when the economic fortunes of the nation has dwindled.

Sources revealed that the Abbatoir is porous, which exposes the State to impending danger that needs to be urgently addressed before it escalates.

No doubt, the present state of the Abbatoir is a far cry from what the Abbatoir was known for years back, leading to the call on the Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-olu led administration, the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Health and the Ministry Of Agriculture to wade into this issue and earnestly address the worrisome and abysmal state of the Oko Oba Abbatoir, no matter who ox is gored.

 

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TIME TO RECONSIDER OUR TIES WITH ISRAEL

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DO PALESTINIAN LIVES MATTER? 

TIME TO RECONSIDER OUR TIES WITH ISRAEL

 

 

 

 

Sahara Weekly Reports That In an article titled “Is Nigeria fuelling Israel’s genocide against Palestinians?” which was published in Businessday on October 30th, 2024, one Suraya Dadoo, who wrote in from South Africa, opened his contribution by quoting our Hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, my friend and brother, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar who he attributed the following words to.

 

 

“There is no justification for the carnage that is going on in Gaza… the complete disregard for the proportionality of force that is being meted out on innocent civilians. This carnage is completely out of hand and unacceptable. There is no way to explain the double standards; it has to stop”.

 

 

He went further by quoting our nation’s number two citizen, Vice President Kashim Shettima’s words at the UN General Assembly (UNGA) in September where he said the following.

 

 

“Justice is antithetical to revenge… Freedom is an inalienable right and a natural entitlement that cannot be denied to any person. The Palestinian people deserve their independence.”

 

 

 

Both the Minister and the Vice President have done us proud with their courageous words and bold stand and it is a reflection of the fact that the Tinubu administration represents the thinking and has expressed the sentiments of the overwhelming majority of Nigerians and have opted to tread the right path when it comes to the tragic events in Gaza and the pitiful plight of the Palestinian people.

 

 

 

Dadoo went further by writing the following,

 

 

“The Nigerian government has consistently condemned Israel’s military occupation of Palestine and has been particularly outspoken against Israel since October 7. Historically, Nigeria has been a strong supporter of the Palestinian liberation struggle, and Nigeria was central in efforts to ensure that Israel was not granted observer status at the African Union (AU). According to sources who were at the October 2021 meeting of the AU executive council attended by Africa’s foreign ministers in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, Nigeria’s then Foreign Minister Geoffrey Onyeama took the lead in objecting to Israel’s accreditation and urged other member states to do the same”.

 

Again, this is comforting, but he follows it by getting to the crux of his essay and the heart of the matter by dropping the following clanger. He wrote,

 

 

“While the Nigerian government has strongly condemned Israel’s military onslaught on Gaza it also stands accused of fuelling the Israeli war machine that had already killed, at the time of writing, more than 40,000 Palestinians through direct violence and bombing”.

 

 

To substantiate his point he wrote,

 

 

“According to a recently released report titled “Behind the Barrel: New Insights into the Countries and Companies Behind Israel’s Fuel Supply,” Nigeria accounts for 9 percent of the total crude oil supplied to Israel between October 21, 2023, and July 12, 2024. The researcher analyzed satellite imagery, ship positions, shipping logs, commodity trade flows, information from port authorities, and financial and media reports to track 65 oil and fuel shipments to Israel in that period”.

 

 

He concludes by alleging that,

 

 

“Over 133 kilotons of Nigerian crude were delivered to Israel from Chevron, Eni, Exxon, Shell, and TotalEnergies. Gabonese crude accounted for 22 percent, and the Republic of the Congo supplied 6 percent, but it is Nigeria’s contribution that has raised eyebrows given the country’s vocal criticism of Israel”.

 

 

 

Dodoo’s allegation, if proven to be true, is deeply troubling and needs to be taken very seriously, indeed, lest we leave ourselves open to his grave charge of complicity in the genocide that is being unleashed on Gaza by the Zionists.

 

 

The matter can be resolved by simply banning all crude oil shipments from Nigeria to Israel.

 

I hereby call on our President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to do precisely that and take an even stronger stance against the Zionists by banning all arms purchases from them and terminating any military and/or intelligence advice or services that the Israelis are offering or providing us with.

 

 

 

If he could find the courage to implement a number of bold and much-needed fiscal, economic, and constitutional reforms and policies such as the removal of the oil subsidy, the floating of the naira, the establishment of autonomy for the local government areas, the implementation of the students loan fund, the numerous tax reforms and most important of all the refusal to go to war against Niger Republic despite the enormous pressure that the western powers, led by France and the United States of America, put on him to do so earlier this year, he can certainly muster same to kick the Zionists out of Nigeria, nullify their pervasive influence in our country and sub-region and sever all trade, economic and diplomatic ties and relations with them.

 

 

 

General Yakubu Gowon, our reverred former Head of State, did this in 1973 when he was in power and as Chairman of the then OAU (AUtoto punished the Jewish State for its attack on the Palestinians during the Yom Kippur War.

 

 

 

For several years before then and specifically during the three-year civil war, Gowon had viewed Israel with much distrust and suspicion, given the covert support she gave to the Biafran secessionists and her complicity in the attempt to dismember and break up our beloved country.

 

 

 

However, the straw did not break the camels back until 1973, after which the final break took place, and diplomatic relations between our two countries were not restored until September 1992 by the then Head of State General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

 

 

 

I am constrained to say that now is the time to break diplomatic ties with Israel again.

 

 

 

This is the proper thing to do in light of their insatiable compulsion and appetite for mass murder, ethnic cleansing, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide, given their insane and psychotic disposition for murdering helpless and defenseless women and children and for killing babies.

 

 

 

Again this is the proper thing to do given the fact that they have not only illegally occupied the land of the Palestinian people for over 76 years and slaughtered and incarcerated millions of them but they have also unleashed what can best be described as the second holocaust against them over the last one year killing over 60,000 in Gaza alone and thousands more in the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria!

 

 

 

If the world could go to war with Nazi Germany in 1936 as a consequence of the first holocaust, every civilized nation ought to, at the very least, be able to break diplomatic ties with Zionist Israel as a consequence of the second.

 

 

 

Morality, decency, and justice demand no less, and those nations that insist on applauding the atrocities of the Jewish state and selling weapons of mass destruction to her are not only complicit in her war crimes but are also from the pit of hell and in the service of shaitan.

 

 

 

The Holy Bible says there can be no fellowship between light and darkness. It says we must either choose God or Belial.

 

 

 

It also compels us to resist evil and fight for the weak, the poor, the vulnerable, and the oppressed.

 

 

 

The Holy Koran does the same and is emphatic on the importance of justice for all and support for the less privileged and the vulnerable.

 

 

 

Nigeria can and must NEVER be seen to be complicit in the bestial barbarity that is going on in Gaza or to have relations with the beasts that have relentlessly unleashed it.

 

 

 

Though we have many challenges, ours is a nation of decent, God-fearing, just, and right-thinking people who have a long history of standing for the oppressed all over Africa and contributing to the efforts of numerous liberation struggles.

 

 

 

Let us prove to the world once again that that is who and what we are by openly and loudly challenging the barbarity, lunacy, and thuggery of the State of Israel at the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court, the United Nations, the African Union, and all other relevant fora and calling her out for her continuous violations of international law, her disdain for an international rules-based system and her racist, fascist and ethnocentric disposition.

 

 

 

Let us expose her contempt for humanity and human life, her total and complete adoption, espousal, and implementation of apartheid as a fundamental principle and cardinal policy in her system of Government, and her religious fanaticism and proselytizing bigotry.

 

 

 

 

Let us vigorously and aggressively resist her hatred for Arabs and Africans, her appalling treatment of Christians and Muslims, her rejection of the two-state solution, her desire to ethnically cleanse, wipe out, and eradicate and eliminate the Palestinian race, her intention to establish a ‘Greater Israel’ whose borders would stretch from Egypt to Iran and her heinous crimes and unspeakable atrocities in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon.

 

 

These are concrete and cogent steps that we as a people and nation can take to contribute our quota to the collective fight against the tyranny and oppression of the Zionists and I believe that we are still big and strong enough to take them.

 

 

 

May God guide and protect us in this noble endeavour and may history and posterity be kind to us.

 

 

 

 

 

(Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, is the Sadaukin Shinkafi, a former Minister of Aviation and a former Minister of Culture and Tourism of Nigeria)

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Michael Sijuade Bandele, distinguished legal expert and trailblazer, observes another birthday

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Michael Sijuade Bandele, distinguished legal expert and trailblazer, observes another birthday.

 

 

~By Oluwaseun Trust BethNews Media

 

 

Who is Michael Bandele?

 

Sijuade, a notable son of ErukuCity, hails from the renowned family of the late Baba Bandele, with their residence located directly opposite the Catholic Church on Oke Ogi Road

 

Michael Sijuade Bandele, distinguished legal expert and trailblazer, observes another birthday.

 

Michael Bandele, or ‘Mike’ to friends, displayed intelligence and determination during his early years at Secondary Commercial School, ErukuCity

 

 

This young man displays profound gratitude and a heart characterized by remarkable resilience and simplicity, reflecting the exemplary character of his late parents

 

 

The Law, my preferred name for him, has had a lasting impact on Kwara’s urban landscape and surrounding areas through his meticulous execution of duties and unwavering commitment, setting a benchmark for excellence

 

 

Michael Bandele’s outstanding achievements in fostering the growth and profitability of ErukuCity’s Ankara Night carnival exemplify his steadfast commitment and exceptional brilliance, earning recognition within the committee. His unwavering commitment to culinary excellence at Ankara Night, demonstrated by his expert preparation of Asun, Chicken, and Turkey, is truly exceptional

 

 

Michael Bandele exemplifies exceptional distinction, divinely appointed to pursue, overtake, and reclaim excellence

 

 

Through this feat, he maintains his status as an iconic figure of accomplishment amongst his equals, persistently innovating and leading the way

 

 

Today, I am delighted to be among distinguished associates, loved ones, acquaintances, and genuine well-wishers in celebrating your birthday, offering sincerest felicitations and warmest regards for many joyful years to come.

 

 

Oluwaseun Fabiyi a media practitioner writes from Lagos.

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