Ekiti State Government Embarks on Rural Road Construction Initiatives.

Ekiti State Government Embarks on Rural Road Construction Initiatives.

Ekiti State Government has disclosed its readiness to begin massive construction of roads across the 16 local governments under the World Bank Assisted projects Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Projects (RAAMP).

The state RAAMP Coordinator, Mr. Sunday Adunmo, made this known in Ado-Ekiti at a one-day sensitisation training organised for the workers of the Project.

He said construction would begin on some of the rural roads in the state next month, noting that Ekiti was officially added to the participating states last year August after meeting the conditions for the project.

The RAAMP boss said the engineering designs for 12 roads totalling 77km roads had been received and would be launched by the end of October for construction work to begin.

He added that RAAMP had last weekend opened tenders for consultancy services for the design and supervision of spot improvement of 122km of rural roads as part of phase one, while rural road upgrading would be advertised next year.

The state project coordinator, who said the Project office was not unaware of the transportation challenges being faced by farmers in the state, noted that rural communities would soon become sites for massive road construction.

He said the delay in the commencement of the project was as a result of the need to adhere to the procedures of the donor partner, the World Bank, whose commitment to due process and transparency was irrevocable.

“Permit me to use this medium to inform you that construction work will soon start on some of our road projects. I am aware that Ekiti people have waited for the commencement of the project since 2018 when former Governor Kayode Fayemi indicated the interest of Ekiti State to participate in the project. The delay is not unconnected to the fact that we must follow the necessary procedures for construction works to begin.

Ekiti Traditional Ruler Demands Constitutional Roles For Grassroots Development.

Ekiti Traditional Ruler Demands Constitutional Roles For Grassroots Development.

The Onijan of Ijan Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Aladesuyi, has urged the federal government to grant constitutional roles to traditional rulers in the country to promote rapid development at the grassroots.

He argued that assigning specific responsibilities to the monarchs would enable them to contribute more effectively to the development of their respective communities.

Oba Aladesuyi made these remarks during an event marking his first coronation anniversary in Ijan-Ekiti, Gbonyin Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

He also advised the government to adopt a long-term approach to alleviate the effects of fuel subsidy removal on citizens.

During the well-attended event, over 10 eminent Nigerians were honoured with honorary chieftaincy titles, and nearly 20 sons and daughters of the town were recognised for their contributions to the development of the community, Ekiti State, and Nigeria.

The first-class monarch stated, “I believe we need the federal government to provide traditional rulers with the opportunity to rule and serve, given their proximity to the people and their subjects, as well as their role as custodians of tradition and culture.

Expect consequences for non-performance - Oyebanji tells MDAs at EKPAIR Workshop.

Expect consequences for non-performance - Oyebanji tells MDAs at EKPAIR Workshop.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji on Monday, restated  his administration’s  zero tolerance for any form of indolence or non-performance, saying there will be consequences  for lack of performance going forward. 

The Governor stated this in Ado Ekiti while addressing heads of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) during the opening session of the Ekiti Performance Assessment and Improvement Report (EKPAIR) workshop, at the Conference Hall, Governor’s Office, Ado- Ekiti. He said if his administration would positively affect the life style of Ekiti people, then government must set bench mark for service and project delivery.

The Governor explained that holding meetings, treating files and organizing programmes without translating them into tangible outcomes would amount to a waste of time, without putting in place templates that would measure performance.

While urging the heads of MDAs to detach emotions in the discharge of their duties so as to perform optimally, the Governor maintained that there would be dire consequence for laxity among MDAs.

He assured the participants that government would play its part by ensuring that all necessary logistics required to succeed are put in place, stressing that  he would not want to leave any project uncompleted at the end of his tenure.

“If we want to positively affect the life style of Ekiti people and we want to make impact as a government, we must set benchmark for service delivery and project delivery. We can continue to hold meetings, discussing or treating files every day, if it does not translate to tangible outcomes for the people, we are just wasting our time.

“I promised you my support and commitment, I can assure you that our people are expecting much more from us because there will be consequence for lack of performance”. The Governor asserted.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Special Adviser,  Office of Transformation and Service Delivery (OTSD), Dr John Ekundayo thanked the Governor for his commitment towards ensuring that his administration’s shared prosperity agenda translates into better life for all the citizen of the state.

Dr Ekundayo said that the workshop would enable the participants to learn the rudiments of putting together building blocks in writing Performance Assessment and Improvement Report (EKPAIR), so as to enable the office of transformation and service delivery know how MDAs are fairing.

Participants at the workshop said they would put the lessons learnt into proper use in the bid to ensure a more excellent service delivery.

Hon. Wale Alade Oba Extends Warm Birthday Wishes to Hon. Steve Olusola Fatoba.

Hon. Wale Alade Oba Extends Warm Birthday Wishes to Hon. Steve Olusola Fatoba.

On this special occasion, Hon. Wale Alade-Oba extends warm and heartfelt birthday wishes to Hon. Steve Olusola Fatoba, the distinguished representative from Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1.

As the first-ever member of the House of Representatives to be reelected from this constituency, your dedication to public service and your constituents is truly commendable. Your unwavering commitment to representing the people of Ekiti Central Federal Constituency 1 has not gone unnoticed, and your achievements have set a high standard for all.

May this birthday mark the beginning of a new chapter filled with health, happiness, and continued success in your endeavors. Your contributions to your constituency and our great nation are invaluable, and we celebrate you on this special day.

Happy Birthday, Hon. Steve Olusola Fatoba! 🎉🎂🎈

I want to see more Women at Work in Shaping the Society — First Lady.

I want to see more Women at Work in Shaping the Society — First Lady.

•••Says it is a new dawn for women especially with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu administration.

First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON, says efforts to reshape Nigeria and address societal ills plaguing the female gender require active participation of women.

She said this when she granted audience to the Minister of State for Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who led senior female police officers on a courtesy visit to her office at the State House, Abuja.

Noting with pride, the fact that a large number of women are actively involved in policing and securing the country, the First Lady says the current administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has given more room to women to contribute their own quota to national development.

” It is the beginning of a new dawn for women in the country as the current administration will give women more room to contribute their quota. I am also looking for ways to contribute. We can not have a Nigeria without people doing new and great things”.

On how the senior female police officers and other women can help forge a better Nigeria, the Senator Oluremi Tinubu charged them to lead the action in addressing some of the ills, such as rape, child abuse, human trafficking and proliferation of baby factories, that affect them the most in the society.

“Women must thrive and be empowered in a safe environment. We want to see our children not abused through crimes and maltreatment, rape of minors and children. There must be reduction in cases of human trafficking, organ harvesting and baby factory.”

She added that she is looking forward to a day when a female will become the nation’s Inspector General of Police.

Applauding the steadfast advocacy by the First Lady for setting the pace and advancing the interest of women in the country, the minister of State for Police Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that gender equality, safeguarding of human rights and empowerment of women were key anchors of a just and fair society.

“We are working on a bold initiatives aimed at not only addressing existing challenges, but fundamentally reshaping the Nigeria Police into a modern, responsive, intelligence-led and technology-driven institution. We recognize the limitations of past reforms and are now taking a more proactive and holistic transformation that permeates every facet of police operations.

 We are here today not just to discuss but to seek your collaboration, for we understand that the collective advancement of these crucial issues requires your esteemed support and partnership”.

Appointed by President Bola Tinubu, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim is the First female Minister of State for Police Affairs in Nigeria.

Just In: No fuel subsidy whatsoever, says NNPCL.

Just In: No fuel subsidy whatsoever, says NNPCL.

The federal government, on Monday, October 9, debunked claims that Nigeria has restored subsidy for premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.

President Bola Tinubu had on May 29, during his inauguration as President at Eagle Square, Abuja, announced the effective end of the subsidy regime.

However, the removal of fuel subsidy has been trailed by serious economic repercussions, which have led to protests from the organised Labour.

Just last week, the Tinubu administration managed an arrangement with Labour, including the implementation of some palliative measures, including a provisional wage increment.

Oil marketers and a section of organised Labour have recently alleged that the government had restored the subsidy, contrary to its earlier resolve, claiming that with the removal of the subsidy, fuel pump price stability, despite fluctuations, is unexplainable. 

However, responding to journalists’ questions at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after a meeting with President Tinubu, Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, said there is no fuel subsidy at all.

He said: “I told you there’s no subsidy whatsoever, we are recovering our full cost from the products that we import. We sell to the market, we understand why the marketers are unable to import. We hope that they do this very quickly and these are some of the interventions the government is doing. There is no subsidy.”

Credit: The Nation Newspaper

Solid minerals will promote climate change, says Alake.

Solid minerals will promote climate change, says Alake.

Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Oladele Alake, reiterated that the Federal government’s shift from hydrocarbon to prioritizing the minerals sector as a significant contributor to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) aligns with their commitment to combat climate change.

He said Nigeria has been operating a mono-cultural economy for a long, adding that the shift to solid minerals is overdue.

The head of press and public relations of the ministry, Alaba Balogun in a statement said the minister made the statement when he received a delegation of the Miners Association of Nigeria, led by their national president, Dele Ayanleke.

He stated: “Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Oladele Alake has reaffirmed that the decision of the Federal government to diversify from hydrocarbon to making the minerals sector a major contributor to Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) is our contribution to climate change.

“Dr Alake dropped this hint when he received a delegation of the Miners Association of Nigeria, led by their National President, Mr Dele Ayanleke. The delegation comprised representatives of the VUKA group, co-organizer of the forthcoming Nigeria Mining Week and Price Waterhouse Coopers, the foremost accounting firm.

“While commending the Association for its suggestive recommendations and consistent role in organizing the Mining Week; Dr Alake stated that Nigeria has been operating a mono-cultural economy for a long noting that the shift to solid minerals is overdue.”

He said: ”Our vision is to make solid minerals our pride, a major contributor to Nigeria’s gross domestic product.

“To this end, the Minister emphasized that the Ministry is committed to making requisite policies that will sanitize and rejig the regulatory framework and to make it more conducive for local and foreign investors to play”.

“On the issue of incursion by the second tier of government into mining, Dr Alake stressed that the federal government will engage the state government and local government with a view to resolving surrounding issues within the ambit of the law.

“Speaking on securing the mining sector environment for maximum yield to the Federal government, the Minister revealed that high-end technology will be deployed coupled with an inter-agency task force to arrest the menace completely. He, therefore, sought a partnership with the Miners Association of Nigeria to strengthen capacity in this regard for the growth and repositioning of the sector.

“In his earlier remarks, the National President of Miners Association of Nigeria, Mr. Dele Ayanleke, in a vote of confidence, expressed  absolute assurance that the seven-point agenda unfolded by the Minister of Solid Minerals under the renewed hope agenda of this present administration will consolidate and enhance  the sector for maximum contribution to national development.”

Credit: The Nation Newspaper.