Sanwo-Olu, Oyebanji open Oyingbo Bridge.

 Sanwo-Olu, Oyebanji open Oyingbo Bridge.

Ekiti State governor Abiodun Oyebanji has described Lagos as appealing to other states because ‘everybody is interested in the Lagos miracle.’

He spoke when he joined Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to open the new Oyingbo Bridge.

The 717km long bridge is part of the five essential infrastructure rail level crossing of the Red Rail Line.

According to him, the projects speak for what is possible when there is a listening leader in charge.

He said: “Lagos has become a model for infrastructure leadership and Ekiti has a lot to learn from Lagos. Everybody is interested in the Lagos miracle, especially because Governor Sanwo-Olu is a mentor to many of us. I will not be tired of returning to commission more projects.

“I urge Lagosians to treasure this path so they can continue to benefit from it. They must guard jealously everything the progressive government has done because it is a testament to the continued progressive administration.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu noted that the government is investing so much in transportation infrastructure to support commerce and ease movement, ‘especially considering the importance of Oyingbo as a major link between the mainland and the Island’.

He added: “With these overpass bridges, we are providing a permanent solution to the avoidable fatal accidents often recorded at railway crossings. The siting of these infrastructures in this area is strategic and intentional to achieve a seamless integrated intermodal transport system for the people.

“As the rehabilitation of the Third Mainland Bridge starts, this bridge will provide a lot of relief to motorists. I, therefore, appeal to our motorists to exercise patience and cooperate with traffic and law enforcement officers in order to minimize the inconvenience that will be experienced during the period of rehabilitation.”

Test running of the red rail line will be in Q1 2024.

President Tinubu Takes Investment Push, Diplomatic Expansion To Saudi, Arab Nations.

 President Tinubu Takes Investment Push, Diplomatic Expansion To Saudi, Arab Nations

.....Targets are more FDIs from Saudi Arabia, League of Arab nations – Ngelale.

.....Says counter-terrorism, agric, environment, infrastructure to be priority targets.

President Bola Tinubu is scheduled to take his administration’s aggressive push for attracting more foreign direct investments and infrastructure boost into Nigeria to Saudi Arabia, where he will attend two bilateral summits.

Briefing journalists at the State House on Sunday, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, said President Tinubu will be participating in two critical summits; the Saudi-African Summit and the Araba-African, both taking place in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia on November 10 and 11 respectively.

According to the President’s spokesman, the events are targeted at different areas of interests, but noted that the outings are going to be critical to how Nigeria takes advantage of the projected potentials of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), market.

He said the Saudi-African Summit’s target will be exploring issues around the economic ties between Africa and Saudi Arabia, including counter-terrorism, agriculture, environment and other areas of mutual concern.

For the second, being the Arab-African Summit, according to Ngelale, will be focusing on expanding infrastructure between both regions and will particularly be paying attention to the establishment of a new high-speed train network between the Arab League of Nations and the African Union countries.

“His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will be heading to Riyadh, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to attend two major summits. The first of which is the Saudi-Africa Summit, at which several areas of mutual concern will be addressed with respect to the economic ties between the regions with respect to the issues of counterterrorism, the environment, agriculture, and many other areas of mutual concern, where we feel much more can be done in terms of accelerating the level of trade and investment between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the African continent.

“Obviously, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is very keen on ensuring that the Federal Republic of Nigeria, within the context of the continent, is in a position to maximally leverage on opportunities that will be afforded by the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, where we will be having a single trade market of over one billion Africans, the expectation, according to the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, is that by the year 2050, our market here on the continent would have surpassed $29 trillion. We believe that action toward that begins now. 

“So the President is going to be very active and leading that effort from the forefront. That will be holding on November 10, followed by a very important summit. That is the Arab-African Summit holding on November 11, where His Excellency, President Bola Tinubu in his capacity, not just as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, but also as the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of Government, will be taking part in the summit, ensuring that he is at the forefront of advocating for really a deepening partnership of the two regions, that is the League of Arab Nations as well as the African Union, with respect to how we can integrate in terms of our infrastructure, how we can facilitate the establishment of a new high speed train network that would league that would tie Arab nations from the Middle East and Northern Africa, to the rest of the African continent”, he said.

Speaking specifically on what Nigeria stands to gain from the outings, Ngelale said projections are on bringing back tangible and stronger economic connections and increased commerce and trade relations, not just between Nigeria and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but between the country and the entire Arab world.

“Certainly, His Excellency Mr. President is passionate about any areas in which we can really leverage on the massive population and market that not just Africa presents, but that Nigeria itself presents. We are expecting that the outcomes of this summit will lead to very tangible results with respect to increase in trade between not just the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, but all Arab nations, and especially the leading economies in Africa, of which Nigeria is now number one.

“So we believe there’s a lot to be gained from these two summits. Of course, as we are there, you can fully expect that you will be briefed on a routine basis with concrete details as to what the outcomes are from not just the Saudi African summit, but also the Arab-African Summit, but obviously with a particular emphasis on what the Federal Republic of Nigeria stands to gain under the leadership of His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“The last point I want to make is that His Excellency, Mr. President, is going to be very aggressive, as always, in his promotion and pursuit of new foreign direct investment. It’s no secret what he’s been doing around the world since he assumed office that will continue in Riyadh.

“We will be meeting with investors across sectors, we will be pushing very proactively for new inflows of foreign exchange into the Nigerian economy, through investments in really growth-enabling and labour-intensive sectors of the economy.

“There should be more information on that once we get into Riyadh, but what I want to assure the Nigerian people today is that His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is going to do everything he can to reinvigorate the Nigerian economy, through the instrumentation of his leading participation in these two important summits”, he explained.

President Tinubu Directs Reform And Reactivation Of Presidential Project Delivery Tracker.

 President Tinubu Directs Reform And Reactivation Of Presidential Project Delivery Tracker.

President Bola Tinubu has directed the reactivation of the Presidential Delivery Tracker to empower Nigerians to track the implementation of projects across the country in real time.

Speaking at the closing session of the three-day Cabinet Retreat, on Friday in Abuja, the President said that his determination to ensure the active and direct participation of citizens in governance is unwavering, noting that all Nigerians must be given the opportunity to track and report on the implementation of projects across the country. President Tinubu said he has asked his Special Adviser on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, to immediately reactivate the tracking system in a way that maximally leverages on cutting-edge digital innovation to provide real time oversight capability for the benefit of all Nigerians. 

President Tinubu also redefined the priority areas of his administration as: 

1. Reform the economy to deliver sustained inclusive growth.

2. Strengthen national security for peace and prosperity.

3. Boost agriculture to achieve food security. 

4. Unlock energy and natural resources for sustainable development.

5. Enhance infrastructure and transportation as enablers of growth.

6. Focus on education, health, and social investment as essential pillars of development.

7. Accelerate diversification through industrialization, digitization, creative arts, manufacturing & innovation.

8. Improve governance for effective service delivery.

The President further implored all members of his cabinet to work very hard to meet the expectations of Nigerians.

"I want to reiterate that the Renewed Hope Agenda is about more than just economic growth. It is also about building a more just and equitable society for all Nigerians. It is about creating jobs, improving education and healthcare, and reducing poverty. It is about ensuring that all Nigerians have the opportunity to succeed.

"I know that we have a lot of work ahead of us, but I am confident we can achieve our goals. We have a strong team in place, and we are committed to working together to build a better future for Nigeria.

"Let me remind you that our people are not interested in excuses, political games, or procrastination. Neither am I. They are interested in tangible results. They seek solutions to the problems that have long plagued our great nation. The challenge before us demands that we must put aside personal ambitions and focus on adhering to the performance bond we have all signed up to on this day. These performance bonds represent a contract we must uphold," the President said.

The President also emphasized the importance of data in governance, saying: "Data is the lifeblood of effective governance. It enables us to understand the challenges we face so that we can design and implement effective solutions as well as monitor and evaluate our progress. Without data, we are flying blind."

The climax of the retreat was the signing of performance bonds by ministers and permanent secretaries alongside President Tinubu, who charged all implementing authorities to unfailingly demonstrate diligence, innovative thinking, commitment, and an unrelenting focus on results.

Suspend Personal Ambitions For Better Nigeria, President Tinubu Charges Ministers.

Suspend Personal Ambitions For Better Nigeria, President Tinubu Charges Ministers.

President Bola Tinubu has charged his Ministers and other presidential aides to set aside their individual aspirations and prioritise the administration’s target of delivering quality governance to Nigerians.

President Tinubu made the call on Friday while closing the 2023 Cabinet Retreat for ministers, special advisers and other top government functionaries at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President urged the executives to concentrate on repositioning Nigeria’s economy, prioritise education and ensure quality healthcare delivery for Nigerians.

The Nigeria leader also obtained the pledge of the executives to work for Nigeria towards realising the common goals of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He also tasked the public office holders to work together to ensure Nigeria fully recovers from the challenges it currently facing.

He told the participants that they have the responsibility to change the narrative about the country, noting that if they have any problem about Nigeria, they should have a conversation about it.

The president stressed the need for the officials to bond together and ensure that the country recovers from “elephantiasis.”

He reminded them that none of them, including himself as the President, cannot make any excuses to Nigerians.

Hon. Oluwadamilare Ajayi Inducted As Public Administrators Fellow of Nigeria.

Hon. Oluwadamilare Ajayi Inducted As Public Administrators Fellow of Nigeria.

....Gbonyin LCDA Chairman Receives Prestigious Recognition for Outstanding Leadership.

The Executive Chairman of Gbonyin LCDA, Hon. Oluwadamilare Ajayi, has achieved a remarkable milestone by being inducted as a Fellow of the esteemed Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria. The induction ceremony, an honor that underscores his exceptional contributions to public administration, took place on Friday, November 3, 2023, at the Assembly Hall of The Polytechnic Ibadan.

The ceremony was conducted by the Registrar of the Institute, Dr. Uche Okereke, who highlighted the significance of Hon. Damilare Ajayi's induction. Dr. Okereke described the decision to induct him as a Fellow as a recognition of his expertise and proficiency in managing public enterprises and his outstanding performance in public administration activities across Nigeria. "Hon. Ajayi has exhibited a high degree of exemplary leadership and is known not only as a seasoned politician but also as a person of great integrity, whose virtues are worthy of emulation," Dr. Okereke explained.

In a notable highlight of the event, Hon. Ajayi was inducted alongside his close friend, the Executive Chairman of Igbara-Odo/Ogotun LCDA, Hon. Ayodeji Abiodun Olaniyi. This achievement aligns Hon. Ajayi with other eminent Nigerians who have been previously inducted as Fellows of the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administrators, including Senate Leader, Senator Michael Opeyemi Bamidele, former governor of Taraba State, Rev. Jolly Nyame, former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran, former governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida, Senator Duro Faseyi, and Hon. Dupe Bakare, Executive Chairman of Irewolede. These individuals, like Hon. Ajayi, have demonstrated exceptional leadership and contributions to public administration in Nigeria.

Accompanying the Chairman during the induction were the Director of Administration of Gbonyin LCDA, Chief Anthony Ajila, and the Director of Finance, Mr. Omolade. The recognition of Hon. Oluwadamilare Ajayi as a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Local Government and Public Administration of Nigeria is a testament to his dedication to public service and his commitment to fostering excellence in public administration.

President Tinubu Meets French Presidential Envoy As Nigeria Prepares For Return Of $150M Abacha Loot.

President Tinubu Meets French Presidential Envoy As Nigeria Prepares For Return Of $150M Abacha Loot.

President Bola Tinubu, on Friday in Abuja, expressed his appreciation to France for the return of $150 million stolen from Nigeria by former Head of State, General Sani Abacha.

In addition to the recovery of another tranche of Abacha loot, the President acknowledged the signing of a €100 million agreement between Nigeria and France to support the i-DICE programme -- a Federal Government initiative to promote investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and Creative Arts Industries.

The agreement was signed by Dr. 'Bosun Tijani, the Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Technology, and the French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs, at an earlier event at Tafawa Balewa House, the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

President Tinubu commended the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and France, noting that this progress followed his visit to Paris after his inauguration.

"Thank you for the good news on the return of Abacha loot. We appreciate your effective cooperation concerning the return of Nigeria's money. It will be judiciously applied in attaining our development objectives," the President told Catherine Colonna, the Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, who delivered the news. 

The President, while emphasizing the need to reinforce collaboration on both political and economic fronts, welcomed the growing cooperation between the two countries in areas of shared interest, such as climate change, economic integration, education, and culture.   

On the situation in Niger Republic, President Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, said Nigeria is monitoring the situation in the neighbouring country, and exploring diplomatic channels to avoid bloodshed.

"Leadership is about responding to the needs of the people; their cries, and their frustrations. Nigeria shares a border with Niger across the expanse of seven Nigerian states, and most of these states are very populated. Therefore, I need to guide ECOWAS carefully and steadily so that we manage our anger carefully.

''We have a colleague and a democratically-elected leader, President Bazoum, being used as a human shield. If we are not careful, he and his family can be endangered.

''I am deploying all appropriate back-channel strategies to avoid bloodshed in Niger Republic. We recognize the wishes of our people; they do not want war, but that does not mean we can not take bold and decisive action," the President affirmed.

President Tinubu said Nigeria will continue to galvanize international partners in the determined pursuit of a peaceful resolution to the situation in Niger Republic.

The French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs conveyed the goodwill of President Emmanuel Macron and expressed the readiness of France to expand mutually beneficial collaboration with Nigeria across multiple sectors.

She proceeded to extend a formal invitation to President Bola Tinubu to attend the forthcoming Paris Peace Forum.

Speaking on the Abacha loot, the French Presidential Envoy said the repatriation followed the completion of legal processes.

"It was a long process, but we are glad that it was concluded. Sometimes, justice may be slow, but this is a very good achievement," she said.  

Ms. Colonna also commended President Tinubu’s leadership in ECOWAS, saying: "We support your efforts at ECOWAS. We are behind you because we believe that constitutional order is a treasure for all countries, and democracy must be a reality."

Ekiti's Independent Power Project Kicks Offwith Test Run.

 Ekiti's Independent Power Project Kicks Offwith Test Run.

The Ekiti State Independent Power Project (IPP) has commenced operations with a successful test run. The IPP project has been tested successfully for two weeks, distributing 700 kW out of the total 3.5 megawatt capacity, leaving room for expansion.

The IPP project was initiated by the previous administration led by Dr. Kayode Fayemi and completed by Governor Biodun Oyebanji. This initiative aims to address the shortage of electricity supply in the state and reduce sole dependence on the national grid for electricity generation.

The power generation concept, under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP), involves an electricity generation firm, Fen-Church Power Nigeria Ltd, building the power plants and generating electricity sold to the state for consumption. Private entities can also participate on a willing buyer, willing seller basis.

The independent power arrangement will guarantee power supply to essential public facilities, including the Ekiti State Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ekiti State University (EKSU), identified primary and secondary healthcare centers, streetlights along major roads, and booster stations, among others.

The IPP project offers 24-hour uninterrupted power supply, making it a reliable source of electricity for individuals and corporate organizations. The project includes underground distribution networks, substations, Ring Main Units (RMUs), and multiple generating sets, with room for further expansion.

The project aims to promote industrialization, socio-economic development, and good governance in the state while reducing costs and environmental pollution by replacing generators for public facilities.

The government has also restored electricity to areas such as Ekiti East and Gbonyin (Ayekire) LGAs after 15 years of blackout. Additionally, the tourism hub in Ikogosi, Erijinyan, and Ipole-Iloro has been reconnected to the national grid after nearly two decades of power outage.

The government prioritises stable electricity supply across the state to support the growth of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and boost the local economy.

The Government of Ekiti State continues to lead as a model sub-national government with a commitment to creating an attractive destination for work, living, and investment.