Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Category: Metro

Ogun revises 2020 budget from over N449b to N280b

The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun on Wednesday signed Today into law the Revised 2020 Appropriation Bill, which reduced the state’s budget from 449.97 billion Naira to 280 billion Naira.

In a statement by the Governor, the revision of the Budget which was presented to Abiodun by the Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo, was due to the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I appreciate our Lawmakers for taking State matters as a priority of office. This, the Executive will work to compensate with a focus on critical sectors that impact positively on our people”, Governor Abiodun said.

July 30, 2020
COVID-19: Ogun – Gov. Abiodun reopens worship centres Aug 14

The Governor Dapo Abiodun-led Ogun State Government has announced that worship centres would tentatively reopen across the state from August 14.

Giving an update on strategies his administration was employing to combat the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Abiodun explained that the decisions were reached after rigorous deliberations.

According to him, “After rigorous deliberations by the related committee, I can announce that worship centres will tentatively reopen on Friday, 14th August, on the condition that they adhere to agreed guidelines, failing which we shall not hesitate to impose severe sanctions on erring centres.

READ ALSO – COVID-19 Regulation: Buhari to mark Eid prayers with family at home

“These are on the use of face masks and hand sanitisers; distancing; and provision of medical, toilet and hygiene facilities including Veronica buckets.

“Others include: Muslims should perform ablution at home and go to mosque with personal praying mats; certified medical personnel to check worshippers’ temperature before admittance to venues; handshakes, hugs and air conditioners to be avoided in all centres; provision of isolation rooms, as well as digital cameras to record services, in each centre; and adequate medical support to be provided for sick persons.

“Other measures are: duration of services not to be more than an hour and a half, while intervals in the case of multiples should be of the same duration; constant sensitisation on COVID-19, its dangers, preventive measures, and especially the susceptibility of the elderly, to be included in sermons; and large worship centres (with more than 200 worshippers in a given service) to further pursue concurrence with Ogun State Government Committee, towards ensuring ventilation and effective entry and exit management procedure and the avoidance of item sharing during Holy Communion.”

The governor said it’s worrisome that Ogun State, like Nigeria, has been witnessing an increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases.

He noted that despite his administration having screened over 10,000 persons and also tested about 5,611 people as at July 28, the state has 1,326 confirmed cases; out of which 1,068 have been discharged; while the state has an unfortunate record of 23 related fatalities; with 227 active cases.

READ ALSO:

FG says NECO exams will hold from Oct 5 to Nov 18

Abiodun urged the residents of Ogun State to adhere to advisories rolled out by health authorities.

On the reopening of schools, the governor said despite having initiated e-classes for students, “we understand the uniqueness of physical classes, so we have made available Risk Assessment Forms on ogmoest.org to public and private schools to evaluate readiness for the adoption of the Federal Government’s resolve to allow SS3 students resume on 4th August to prepare for SSCE (to begin on the 17th).”

He added that “a mandatory virtual training is also being organised for school staff on decontamination, medical equipment, toilet facilities, flexibility of closing times, and special requirements for boarding schools.”

Idowu Sowunmi

July 30, 2020
Gov. Abiodun solicits NASS support to take over Lagos-Sango-Abeokuta road

The Ogun State Goverrnor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has solicited the support of the National Assembly for the takeover and reconstruction of the Lagos-Sango-Abeokuta and the Sagamu-Ikorodu roads, by Ogun and Lagos State Governments.

Prince Abiodun made the call in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, when he received the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila who paid him a courtesy visit.

The Governor, who informed the Speaker of the current deplorable condition of the roads, added that the takeover of the roads would enable the two State Governments put them in proper shape, thus taking the load off the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and bring succour to users.

He described Agbara and its environs as the industrial hub of the State, but decried the poor condition of the Agbara-Atan-Lusada road, noting that some industries may be forced to exit the area, if the road was not fix on time.

“The Agbara-Atan-Lusada road is in a very deplorable condition. Not only that, the Lagos-Sango-Abeokuta Expressway and the Sagamu-Ikorodu roads are also very bad. I want to call for the support of the National Assembly in taking over or construction by the Federal Government. Our people are really suffering on these roads,” he said.

Governor Abiodun informed the Speaker of the House that his Administration was currently constructing the Ijebu Ode-Epe Road, which would serve as an alternative route to the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, for those going to the Northern and Eastern parts of the Country, as well as open up the axis for economic activities.

The Governor said government was trying to tap from the State’s advantaged location, by providing security, infrastructure and making health accessible, saying the State was able to manage and curtail COVID-19 by providing well-equipped Isolation centres and a molecular laboratory.

He described the Speaker as one of the longest serving members of the House and a grassroots politician who has distinguished himself by being a worthy representative, not only of his Constituency, but the whole of the Southwest.

Speaking earlier, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Gbajabiamila, said he was in the State to see things for himself, listing road infrastructure as one of the areas where the House would collaborate with the State Government.

“I am here to see things for myself. I have heard of the development that is going on in this State, despite scarce resources. I want to commended the Governor for what he has done, especially in tackling the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I know the Governor very well. He moves at a very quick pace. With him as the Governor, Ogun State will receive a facelift. So I am here to extend a hand of fellowship as there will be the need for partnership and collaboration particularly on road projects,” the Speaker noted.

He opined that for the Government to make more development strides in the coming years, the Governor may need to rejig his plans, as the Coronavirus has negatively affected every facet of life, calling on the people to rally round him to deliver the dividends of democracy to them.

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July 29, 2020
Ogun Assembly passes 2020 Appropriation Amendment Bill

Ogun State House of Assembly has passed the 2020 Appropriation (Amendment) Law which seeks to reduce the annual budget from N450 billion to N280 billion resulting in 38 per cent reduction of the initial budget.

The passage of the bill titled: “H.B. No. 050/OG/2020 – A Bill for a Law to amend the Year 2020 Appropriation Law,” was consequent upon the presentation of the report of Ogun State House Committee on Finance and Appropriation by the Chairman, Olakunle Sobunkanla, at a plenary presided over by the Assembly Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, in Abeokuta.

Sobunkanla thereafter moved the motion for the adoption of the report, seconded by the Minority Leader, Ganiyu Oyedeji, and supported by other lawmakers through a voice vote.

The Assembly later considered the bill clause-by-clause before the Assembly Committee of Supplies, after which the motion for the third reading was moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sheriff, seconded by a member representing Odeda State Constituency, Oludaisi Elemide, after which the Clerk of the House and Head of Legislative Services, Deji Adeyemo, did the third reading.

Responding, Oluomo directed that the clean copy of the bill be transmitted to Governor Dapo Abiodun for his assent.

Meanwhile, two bills including Ogun State Energy Board Law, 2020 and Ogun State Safety Commission Law, 2020 scaled the first reading, as they were read by the Clerk/Head of Legislative Service before the lawmakers.

By Idowu Sowunmi

July 29, 2020
Fashola Inspects Ongoing Repair Works on Third Mainland Bridge

Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Tuesday said the on-going repair works on Third Mainland Bridge and other Federal Government projects in Lagos State were borne out of a long years of neglect by successive governments in Nigeria.

Speaking while inspecting repair works on Third Mainland Bridge on Day Four of the partial closure of the bridge, the minister said he’s at the site to ascertain the status of the work done and the impact of the partial closure on traffic movement.

Accompanied by Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Frederic Oladeinde; Special Adviser to Lagos State Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Aramide Adeyoye; her counterpart in Transportation, Toyin Fayinka; South-west Federal Controller of Works, Adedamola Kuti; and other top government officials, Fashola noted that his visit was to lend support to his team of engineers and other crew, who had been on ground for about two weeks in preparation for the repair works.

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He added that his men had concluded their scientific laboratory works in Abuja before coming to Lagos for practical fieldwork to fix the worn out expansion joints and other maintenance works required to keep the 11.8 kilometre bridge in good shape.

“As you would have noticed, Eko Bridge is also undergoing repairs, likewise, Apapa, Oworonshoki, Apongbon.

“We just completed Liverpool Bridge, Gbagada-Oworonshoki is on-going and many other bridges. This is as a result of many years of not working or maintaining them by successive governments.

“This government is, therefore, faced with the reality of repairing and maintaining all these bridges and other federal projects across the country for the safety and benefit of our people.

“I want to thank you sincerely for your level of cooperation so far, while I assure you that we will continue to collaborate to ensure there is less pressure on commuters as a result of this work,” Fashola said.

The minister outlined other bridges with renovation work either completed or on-going as: Marine Bridge (Apapa); Kara Bridge (Lagos-Ibadan Expressway); Falomo Bridge (Lagos Island); Ojuelegba; Eko Bridge; Apongbon; and Obalende among others.

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While expressing happiness that the impact of the partial closure was not much on vehicular movement when he and his team inspected vehicular movement from Oworonshoki in-bound Lagos to Adekunle and Adeniji Adele end of Third Mainland Bridge, Fashola, a former Lagos State governor, ordered operatives of the Federal Safety Corps (FRSC), and Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to immediately move away from the main bridge where construction work was currently ongoing to the alternative route areas where there’s likely to be congestion, especially during the peak hours.

Fashola commended the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led Lagos State Government for effectively managing the situation through the rehabilitation of various alternative routes and provision of adequate traffic management officials.

He urged Lagosians to be calm as the Federal Government would work hard and collaborate with the Sanwo-Olu administration to ensure that the repair work does not extend beyond its stipulated period.

Earlier, Oladeinde, while briefing the minister on the traffic management strategy adopted to ensure free vehicular movement, disclosed that about 650 LASTMA personnel have been deployed by his ministry to support about 250 FRSC men on ground to direct traffic and ensure less congestion while the construction works last.

Oladeinde added that since just about 25 per cent of Third Mainland Bridge users are going to be affected, the state government, through the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, has done palliative work to ensure alternative routes are accessible to ease congestion while the government has increased the BRT fleet plying Lagos Island corridor.

The commissioner also advised Lagosians to make use of the waterways by plying the various jetties in the metropolis to reduce travel time, noting that the state government in consideration of the likely increase in the use of water routes has provided improved safety guidelines and measures for ferry operators.

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While allaying the fears of residents over the partial closure of the bridge, the commissioner urged road users to cooperate with LASTMA and FRSC on the laid down traffic directives to minimise inconvenience in movement and ensure free flow of traffic.

Also speaking, Adeyoye reaffirmed that palliative works on several alternative routes provided for motorists have been completed, assuring that her ministry would keep on monitoring the work progress to identify other areas where rehabilitation works are necessary.

Idowu Sowunmi

July 28, 2020
You’re a Legendary Political Swindler : PDP to Oshiomhole on Kneeling Stunt

Edo State Peoples Democratic Party Governorship Campaign Council has told a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, to stop deceiving himself as the elders and leaders in the state could not be swayed by his pretenses and deceptive genuflections.

The council, which is part of Governor Godwin Obaseki’s re-election bid, allegedly described “Oshiomhole as a self-confessed liar and political swindler, who can no longer enjoy the trust and confidence of the people, including members of his party, APC, who not only suspended him but kicked him out as a national chairman on account of his penchant for deception.”

READ ALSO…Edo Guber: Oshiomhole, Ize-Iyamu go down on their knees for support

“It is sad that Oshiomhole thinks that he can use his antics, orchestrations and stage-managed kneeling to suddenly grip the elders and leaders of Edo State in his voodoo of deception, to accept the same individual he exposed as a fake pastor and treasury looter, who is only fit for ‘night meetings’ and should not be trusted with the position of the governor of Edo State.

“Oshiomhole ought to have also brought the already discredited APC candidate, Ize-Iyamu, along with him to kneel and plead for forgiveness over his alleged atrocities.

“Furthermore, the sacked APC national chairman ought to have also used the occasion to offer explanation to the elders of Edo State how he allegedly siphoned billions of naira Edo State funds, for which he is being dragged to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“It is unfortunate that Oshiomhole has turned himself into a wretched clown of a derelict circus, particularly as the people of Edo State can see through his selfish shenanigans and are not ready to dance to his deceptive tune.

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“By trying to go back to his vomit, the former APC national chairman has confirmed that his intention is only to deceive. The people of Edo State know that Oshiomhole’s pain is that Governor Godwin Obaseki, upon assumption of office, refused to allow him to have unfettered access to the resources of Edo State which Governor Obaseki has continued to apply towards the development of the state.

“The Edo people are already aware that Oshiomhole is desperate to foist Ize-Iyamu, who, giving his antecedents as exposed by Oshiomhole, will be ready to grant him unrestricted access to continue looting the state’s treasury.

“We counsel Oshiomhole to stop deceiving himself and perish the dream of pillaging the treasury as the people of Edo State will never trade the focused, accountable, transparent and development-driven government under Governor Godwin Obaseki for deception, corruption, incompetence and disregard for value, which Oshiomhole, Ize-Iyamu and the APC have come to represent,” the council alleged, in a statement by Chris Osa Nehikhare.

Idowu Sowunmi

July 28, 2020
African Development Bank Approves $27m Grant Financing to Curb COVID-19 Pandemic

African Development Bank has approved a sum of $27.4 million in grants to boost the African Union (AU)’s efforts to mobilise continental response to curb the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Speaking after the bank’s approval by its Board of Governors, President of the African Development Bank, Akinwumi Adesina, said: “With this financing package, we are reaffirming our strong commitment to a coordinated African response in the face of COVID-19.

“Most importantly, we are sending a strong signal that collectively, the continent can address the pandemic in Africa, which is straining health systems and causing unprecedented socio-economic impacts on the continent.”

The bulk of the bank’s grant financing for this operation, about $26.03 million, would help to strengthen the institutional capacity of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) to respond to public health emergencies across the continent, while the balance of $1.37 million, would be a contribution to the AU COVID-19 Response Fund.

The two grants, from the bank’s concessional window, the African Development Fund, and the Transition Support Facility, would support the implementation of Africa CDC’s COVID-19 Pandemic Preparedness and Response Plan through strengthening surveillance at various points of entry (air, sea, and land) in African countries; building sub-regional and national capacity for epidemiological surveillance; and ensuring the availability of personal protective equipment for frontline workers deployed in hotspots and testing materials.

The operation would also facilitate collection of gender-disaggregated data and adequate staffing for Africa CDC’s emergency operations center.

The approval came on the heels of a meeting of the extended Bureau of the AU Conference of Heads of State and Government with Africa’s private sector on April 22, chaired by President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, who is the current chairperson of AU.

Adesina, who attended the meeting, pledged strong support for the AU COVID-19 initiative.

AU Bureau meeting called for contributions to the African Union’s COVID-19 Response Fund established by the AU Commission chairperson, Moussa Faki Mahamat, in March 2020.

At the beginning of February 2020, only two reference laboratories in Senegal and South Africa could run tests for COVID-19 on the continent.

Africa CDC, working with governments, World Health Organisation (WHO), and several development partners and public health institutes, have increased this capacity to 44 countries.

Despite this progress, Africa’s testing capacity remains at less than 600 per one million people compared to 50,000 in Europe.

“Our response today and support to the African Union, is timely and will play a crucial role in helping Africa look inward for solutions to build resilience to this pandemic and future outbreaks,” said bank’s Acting Vice President, Agriculture and Human Development, Wambui Gichuri.

This support would complement various national and sub-regional operations financed by the African Development Bank under its COVID-19 Rapid Response Facility to support African countries contain and mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.

Idowu Sowunmi

July 28, 2020
IGP breaks silence on killings in Southern Kaduna, deploys intervention squad

As part of efforts at restoring law and order in parts of Southern Kaduna affected by recent violence and other security challenges, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Adamu, Monday directed Kaduna State Commissioner of Police, Umar Muri, to ensure full enforcement of a 24-hour curfew imposed by the Governor Nasir El-Rufai-led state government.

The police chief equally tasked Kaduna State Police Command “to ensure optimal deployment of both human and material assets of the Intervention Squad currently on ground in the state to safeguard lives and property of people in the communities.”

Adamu directed that Muri must “personally coordinate the operations of the Intervention Squad in carrying out collective and holistic tasks of ensuring peace and safety in the communities.”

The Squad comprises: the Police Mobile Force (PMF), Counter Terrorism Unit (CTU), Police Special Forces, Detectives/Intelligence Operatives as well as personnel of Kaduna State Police Command, the military and other security agencies.

IGP commiserated with the people of Kaduna State, particularly those who have lost their loved ones and property as a result of the crises. He assured that the Force would do everything within its powers and means to ensure that peace is restored in the affected areas.

Adamu, in a statement by the Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, also enjoined the people of Kaduna State to cooperate with the police, the military and other law enforcement agencies as they carry out the full enforcement of the curfew amongst other measures directed at ensuring their safety.

He, however, warned troublemakers in the state to desist forthwith from acts of violence and lawlessness.

By Idowu Sowunmi

July 27, 2020
Edo Guber Poll: Three Commissioners dump Obaseki, root for Ize-Iyamu

Three Commissioners of Edo State Oil Gas Producing Area Development Commission (EDOSOGPADEC) have resigned their position on Monday, and declared support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

The commissioners are: Emmanuel Odigie, Rilwanu Oshiomhole and Osamwonyi Atu, representing Edo Central, Edo North Senatorial districts and Orhionmwon constituency respectively.

Atu, in his resignation letter, said his decision to leave the Obaseki administration was to attend to family issues which has become necessary.

Few hours after their resignations, the trio declared support for Ize-iyamu, promising to campaign and work for the victory of APC in the September 19 governorship election.

Below are the resignation letters by the three Commissioners.

By Idowu Sowunmi

July 27, 2020
Edo Guber: Oshiomhole, Ize-Iyamu go down on their knees for support

A mild drama played out on Sunday in Edo State as a former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, and the APC governorship candidate in the September 19 election, Osagie Ize-Iyamu, went down on their knees, pleading for support from the traditional rulers and the people of the state.

Oshiomhole, who’s also a former Edo State governor, knelt down along with Ize-Iyamu at the palace of His Royal Highness, Edomwonyi Iduozee Ogiegbean, Enigie of Egbaen town and President of Enigies in Benin Kingdom.

The governorship candidate used the occasion to present his SIMPLE agenda manifesto to the traditional rulers.

Ize-Iyamu said his manifesto highlighted some of the measures designed to tackle insecurity, particularly the rising cases of kidnapping, through careful investments and partnership with community heads and traditional rulers for crucial local intelligence.

“We will replace the elitist and detached approach of the present government with a functional and true government of the people, by the people, and for the people with felt policies and achievements at the grassroots,” he said.

He expressed gratitude to the Enigies for their prayers, blessings, and warm reception.

By Idowu Sowunmi

July 26, 2020