Lawmaker defends second Ekiti flyover.

Lawmaker defends second Ekiti flyover.

The Chairman, Ekiti State House of Assembly Committee on Innovation, Science and Digital Economy, Idowu Odebunmi, has said Governor Biodun Oyebanji administration’s road infrastructure policy is being strategically prosecuted to transform the economy, create employment and boost the internally generated revenue of the state.

Odebunmi, the lawmaker representing Oye Constituency II, hailed the proposed construction of a 1.2km flyover between Okeyinmi and Ijigbo Roundabouts in Ado Ekiti metropolis.

“This project is not a misplaced priority. It will decongest the capital city’s business district of traffic logjam and add aesthetic value,” he said.

The lawmaker, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Youths and Sports, hailed the pace of ongoing work on the Ado-Iworoko-Ifaki dual carriageway and the return to the site of the contractor handling Itapa-Omu-Ijelu Road, saying the two projects would bring an upswing to the local economy when completed.

He said these in a statement on Wednesday titled: “Oyebanji’s road projects boosting Ekiti’s economy, employment, IGR.”

Commenting on the flyover project, which would be the second in the state capital, Odebunmi described it as a step in the right direction.

“That area represents the Ado Ekiti business district. We have the Erekesan market, banks and several business centres located along that axis, which often resulted in regular traffic hold-ups.

“With this effort, this crisis will be resolved. That portion remains the most congested in Ado Ekiti and plans must be intensified ahead for its decongestion. We must plan ahead in resolving our problem, not that we will wait for the problem to arise before rushing to solve it,” he said.

Lagos begins construction of Ijake road February.

Lagos begins construction of Ijake road February. 

The Lagos State Government says it will commence the construction of Ijake Road in the Oto-Awori Local Council Development Area of the state in February.

The Special Adviser to the state governor on Rural Development, Nurudeen Agbaje, said the move was part of the efforts of the state government to improve road networks in rural communities, according to a statement on Wednesday.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ meeting and the flag-off ceremony of the construction of the 400 metres Ijake Road, Agbaje assured that “the project is expected to be completed in six months,” adding that “construction would commence in February.”

He noted that the project “is part of the efforts of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to fulfil the T.HE.M.E.S. Plus agenda of his administration, which is to make Lagos State a 21st-century economy, thereby reducing rural-urban migration and extending the dividends of democracy to the grassroots communities across the state.”

The Special Adviser urged members of the community to collaborate with the contractor to ensure the safety of the workers, advising them to also “take ownership of the project upon completion by protecting and guarding it judiciously.”

He noted further that the contractor had promised to engage youths in the community who are qualified and willing to work, either as skilled or unskilled workforce.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mrs Kikelomo Bolarinwa, earlier in her welcome address, commended Sanwo-Olu for “his continuous effort in ensuring that the T.H.E.M.E.S Plus agenda is felt in the length and breadth of Lagos State, especially in the rural communities.”

EKSG To Hold Retreat For LG Chairmen And Other Top LG Functionaries.

EKSG To Hold Retreat For LG Chairmen And Other Top LG Functionaries.

Ekiti State Ministry of Local Government Affairs is to hold a 3-day retreat for theChairmen/Chairperson of the 16 Local Government (LG) and 22 Local Council Development Areas (LCDA) in the State.

The State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs (LGA), Chief Folorunso Olabode who made this known in Ado-Ekiti said that the 3-day retreat is organized for the LG and LCDA Chairmen, Vice Chairmen, Secretaries, LG lnspectors, Head of Local Government Administration and other relevant stakeholders.

Olabode explained that the agenda of the retreat would focus on "Alignment of State and Local Government plans for enhanced coordination, value for money, and effective service delivery in Governance in Ekiti State" with the sole aim of ensuring excellence in service delivery, stressing that the Retreat would be a review on the management and running of local government administration generally. 

The retreat would hold at Abiodun Adetiloye Hall, Trade Fair Complex, lyin Road, Ado-Ekiti from Thursday 18th to Saturday 20th 2024 by 9am daily.

The Local Government Commissioner enjoined all the participants to attend punctually and make the maximum opportunity provided by various resource person at the Retreat.

Ondo APC chieftain seeks review of reward system.

Ondo APC chieftain seeks review of reward system.

Chieftain of All Progressives Congress, (APC) in Ondo State, Morayo Lebi, has called for a review of the party’s reward system for loyal party members in the state.

 Lebi said Ondo APC failed to reward some members who sacrificed their resources to establish APC in the state.

 He spoke in Akure after he was honoured with “Ondo State outstanding sponsor of Progressive Party of the decade.”

 Lebi said it was worrisome that those who joined the party in less than three months were given tickets to contest for election.

 “Our resources are meant to develop our people and how do we develop them, it is by ensuring what they can live with. For so long, there is no reward. Our reward system is bad.

 “When we started this party in Ondo and I took it to the southern part of the state, people thought I didn’t know what I was doing because that time, it was the conservatives that were ruling in Ondo State.

 “We have former Governor Olusegun Agagu and we believed in him because he contributed his to the development of Ondo State. So, because of him, everybody trooped to PDP.

 “When I brought the idea of the progressives, people were questioning my sanity. I brought the party because I had a vision and the vision I had brought us all to where we are today…’’

“I was a member of the defunct NADECO. I was arrested and locked up with baba Opadokun. We fought the war to ensure democracy thrive very well and I have been a very strong financial member over the years.

 “But the truth is this, for so long after this, what has been my reward ? Maybe generally there is reward because the progressives are now in government. But for some of us that have been loyal and active but we got no reward.

 “It is only in this our progressive family that somebody who joined the party in March 2022, and he became the senatorial candidate of the party in May 2022.

 “Just in two months while I that brought the whole thing together, they took the ticket from me and gave to someone who joined the party two months earlier. Same thing happened in the house of Representatives, even without primary elections.

 “I had gone to consult with party leaders and they assured me it was the candidate based on my efforts towards the development of the party. I relied on it. But they changed along the way. They gave the ticket to someone who joined in two months.”

 Publisher of Golden Rule Magazine, Pastor Taiwo Gbamila said the award was a testament and proof of Lebi’s philanthropic gestures to humanity.

 “The award is in recognition of his outstanding contributions in bringing progressive party to lime light in Ondo State, particularly in Ondo South.

 “Moreover, to motivate the awardee (Morayo Lebi) to continue to make progress in his contribution to human capital development and progressive ideas. And also to appreciate him for his positive impact in progressive race.”

Fed Govt targets oil revenue, domestic savings, loans to boost naira.

Fed Govt targets oil revenue, domestic savings, loans to boost naira.

The Federal Government yesterday outlined a three-pronged strategy to boost its foreign exchange (forex) position with a view to reducing the pressure on naira and stabilize the economy.

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister for the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, said the government was working to address the forex gap and backlog, which he identified as major pressure on the naira.

He spoke of plans to mobilise Nigeria’s strengths in oil revenues, substantial forex savings, liquidity in the banking system and international loans.

According to him, there is enough liquidity in the Nigerian banking system to clear the forex backlog, estimated at $5 billion, with appropriate mechanism put in place.   

He said: “The priority is to stabilise the naira – that means getting in the additional liquidity – number one from oil revenue. We’re also looking at ways to tap Nigerian savings, in particular domestic dollar savings – both inside and outside the formal market. There’s a lot of cash in the Nigerian economy.”

The naira yesterday fell to a record low of N1,320/$ at the parallel market. The naira decline was attributed to strong demand on the parallel market, also known as the black market.

This represents 3.03 per cent (or N40.00) weaker than N1,280 recorded at the close of trading on Tuesday. The depreciation marked the lowest the naira has come to since October 26, last year, when it reached N1,300 against the dollar at the parallel market.

At the Investors and Exporters Window, the local currency traded at N931/$, creating N389 to dollar premium between the official and parallel markets.

The minister said the current forex backlog could easily be cleared if steps to lift oil revenue and mobilise dollars already in the economy succeed.

He said: “There is actually liquidity within the banking system and there should be a way of getting the banks to actually help with that backlog, either on a spot or a forward-rate basis.

“We believe that if we coral the dollars that are available, we can pay down that backlog almost in one fell swoop.”

The government expects oil production to ramp up to 1.78 million barrels per day, from about 1.49 million barrels last month.

The anticipated rise in production will stimulate the economy and bolster its coffers.

 

Domestic refining of crude is expected to resume soon at the state-owned Port Harcourt Refinery and from the private-run Dangote Refinery in Lagos. They will reduce gasoline imports and ease currency squeeze.

Edun said the government was also working to attract international loans from the World Bank and through issuance of Eurobond.

He said the government was optimistic of securing a $1.5 billion budgetary support loan from the World Bank, although the loan request is currently at the discussion level.

He said: “We’re hoping to get $1 billion or $1.5 billion from the World Bank” for budgetary support, Finance Minister Wale Edun said yesterday in a Bloomberg Television chat.

He added: “It is a matter of discussion at the moment, but we think we will get the support because we are continuing with our reforms.

 ”What we’ve done with fuel subsidies, what we have done in terms of the foreign-exchange market reform, deserve support. We’ve done enough and we deserve to be rewarded imminently.”

Besides, Nigeria has the confidence of having access to the Eurobond market and may look to tap it later this year, if rates move sufficiently lower.

“The major issuers and the book runners have told us that there should be a window for Nigeria in the Eurobond market,” Edun said.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has carried out very tough reforms, including the scrapping of costly fuel subsidies and relaxed its exchange-rate policy.

The reforms, which got the acceptance of international investors, triggered a surge in the cost of living, with inflation hitting a 27-year-high of 28.9 per cent last month.

The naira also slumped by about 50 per cent in value against the dollar.

INEC releases list of candidates for February 3 by-elections.

INEC releases list of candidates for February 3 by-elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has published the final list of candidates that will participate in the February 3 legislative by-elections.

The polls are for filling the vacant seats in the Senate, the House of Representatives, and some states’ Houses of Assembly.

The vacancies followed the resignations and death of elected members.

Two seats are vacant in the Senate as a result of resignations for appointments in the Executive arm of government; three seats became vacant in the House of Representatives due two resignations and one death.

In a statement yesterday in Abuja, the INEC National Commissioner in charge of Information and Voter Education, Sam Olumekun, explained that the final list, which has been published in the state offices of the commission and the affected constituencies, is for the by-elections only.

The statement reads: “Nigerians may recall that recently the commission released the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for by-elections arising from the deaths or resignations of members of the National and states’ Houses of Assembly.

“These elections will be held on Saturday, February 3, 2024 across nine states of the federation covering two senatorial districts (Ebonyi South and Yobe East); four Federal Constituencies (Shanga/Ngaski/Yauri Federal Constituency of Kebbi State; Surulere I Federal Constituency of Lagos State; Akoko North East/Akoko North West Federal Constituency of Ondo State; and Jalingo/Yorro/Zing Federal Constituency of Taraba State); and three state constituencies (Guma I State Constituency of Benue State; Chibok State Constituency of Borno State; and Chikun State Constituency of Kaduna State).

“As provided in the Timetable and Schedule of Activities, the personal particulars and final list of candidates have been published today in our state offices and the affected constituencies pursuant to the provision of Section 29(3) of the Electoral Act, 2022. The list of candidates is also published on our website and social media platforms.

“We appeal to Nigerians to scrutinise the personal particulars (Form EC9 and academic credentials) of the candidates.

“Any aspirant who participated in his/her party primaries with reasonable grounds to believe that the information provided by the candidate is false can challenge the nomination in a Federal High Court as provided in Section 29(5) of the Electoral Act 2022.

“For clarity, this publication only applies to the forthcoming by-elections as they are fresh elections for which political parties conducted primaries and nominated their candidates.

“For the rerun elections to be held on the same day, the list and personal particulars of candidates have been published before the 2023 general election.

“The rerun elections are conducted pursuant to the orders of the Election Petition Appeal Tribunals. They are not fresh elections open to new/disqualified candidates, which obviates the need to publish their personal particulars again.” 

Also, five political parties have named their candidates for the Yobe East Senatorial by-election.

They are: African Democratic Congress (ADC) – Umar Kalli; All Progressives Congress (APC) – Mustapha Musa; All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) – Hussaini Auwalu; New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) – Muhammad Jawa Adamu; and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) – Kolomi Aji.

Also, a former member of the House of Representatives, Linus Okorie, has received INEC’s green light to participate in the Ebonyi South senatorial by-election.

This followed the publication of his name as the candidate of the Labour Party (LP) in the election.

Okorie represented Ohaozara/Onicha/Ivo Federal Constituency from 2011 to 2019.

He contested for the Senate seat under same party in last year’s general election but lost to Senator David Umahi of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

Okorie will contest against seven other candidates of other parties, including Prof. Anthony Ani Okorie of APC, who is 58 years old like Okorie.

A former PDP State Chairman Silas Onu will fly the party’s flag for the senatorial by-election.

The two Okories hail from Onicha Local Government Area while Onu is from neighboring Ohaozara Local Government Area.

The only woman among the eight candidates is 46-year-old Stella Njoku of the Action Democratic Congress (ADC).

Other candidates for the election are: Eleje Ifeanyi, All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), 68, Male; Udeogu Uche Samuel (APP), 63, Male; Idam Leo Ogbonna, NNPP, 39, Male; and Mba Christian Uchechukwu, Social Democratic Party (SDP), 40, Male.

Oyebanji commiserates with Gov Makinde over Ibadan explosion.

Oyebanji commiserates with Gov Makinde over Ibadan explosion. 

Ekiti State Governor, Mr Biodun Oyebanji has commiserated with the Governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde and the people of the state over Tuesday’s massive explosion in Ibadan, the state capital.

The Governor also commiserated with families of victims of the explosion and those whose properties were damaged. 

Governor Oyebanji in a statement by his Soecial Adviser on Media, Yinka Oyebode also commended Governor Makinde for the swift manner he responded to the incidents. He urged law enforcement agencies in the state to get to the root of the matter and bring the culprits to justice. 

“The Government and people of Ekiti State commiserate with the people of Oyo State, especially victims of the explosion. 

“ it is regrettable that while the government is busy making concerted efforts to ensure progress and development, some individuals, through their nefarious activities, have wreak havoc and caused pains for fellow citizens.”

The Governor urged Governor Makinde not to be discouraged or destracted by the development.