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Oyo/Osun Customs Arrest 63 Smugglers, Generate over N20b in Four Months

By
Peter Ayoade
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By YSO Olaniyi

The Oyo/Osun Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it has arrested
sixty- three smugglers within its jurisdiction, and declared over N20billion revenue between January and April of 2020.

Customs Area Comptroller in charge of Oyo and Osun, Mrs. Uche Ngozi, while addressing the press at its Ibadan headquarters on Tuesday, said the customs confiscated 3,465 bags of foreign rice, 13 kegs of 25L vegetable oil, 44 gallons of 4L vegetable oil, 20 units of used tyres, 310 drums of 100 liters of PMS, 180 kegs of PMS and 180 bales of second hand clothing materials, 54 sacks of new shoes and other contraband from different axis under the command. She noted that the seized items will be auctioned and the proceeds will be remitted to the federal government coffers.

Mrs. Ngozi in her briefing said, “with smart intelligence gathering, we are able to identify a petrol filing station carrying out illegal activities within its premises. The petrol station has been sealed and suspects arrested were made to write statement and undertaking to desist from such illicit activities”.

The command boss revealed that out the annual revenue target of N62,848,518,366.93 apportioned to Oyo/Osun command, N20,051,805,179 have been generated with the first quarter of the present year.

Mrs. Ngozi further informed that the Comptroller General of Customs, Rtd. Colonel Hameed Ibrahim, has directed more stringent measures to further strengthen the interception capabilities of customs officers in corroboration with the extant laws and regulations guiding import and export procedures of the country.

According to her, “we are proud to inform the public that through these difficult months of dealing with the COVID 19 pandemic, we have worked tirelessly as a service to ensure that our borders are secure and smuggling activities are reduced to the nearest minimum. We combed the bushes day and night to ensure that government fiscal policy is enforced.

”Within the period under review, we have made 72 seizures and detentions. We have carried out enforcement and anti-smuggling activities with utmost professionalism , caution and intelligence gathering . We urge the public to cooperate with the Nigeria Customs Service in the implementation of government fiscal policies to help improve the economic and social welfare of the nation” she said.

Mrs. Ngozi concluded her briefing by acknowledging the cooperation of traditional rulers, community leaders, stakeholders and the good people of Oyo and Osun especially in identifying and providing enabling environment for the officers to function properly.

BREAKING: Oyo Records 6 New Cases of Coronavirus. Total Hits 143

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By YSO Olaniyi

Oyo State has recorded six additional cases of coronavirus bringing the number of confirmed cases to 143. The state retains its 10th position on the Nigeria COVID-19 log.

The new active cases were revealed in the routine update of information released by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) late Tuesday.

Also, the agency also 226 cases of the deadly virus were recorded on Tuesday May 19, 2020, in FCT and fifteen states of the country. The total number of confirmed cases is 6401. Total Discharged cases stand at 1734 while 192 Deaths cases have been recorded so far.

Below is the breakdown of the 226 new cases of COVID19;

131-Lagos      25-Ogun           15-Plateau

11-Edo.            7-Kaduna          6-Oyo

5-FCT.             5-Adamawa.    4-Jigawa

4-Ebonyi.         4-Borno.          3-Nasarawa

2-Bauchi.         2-Gombe.        1-Enugu

1-Bayelsa

SPN Berates Makinde Over Handling of COVID-19

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By YSO Olaniyi 

The Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN) has described the non disclosure of the identity of the Ibadan based company where fifty-seven workers tested positive for coronavirus as ‘unserious approach’ of the Oyo State government at curtailing the spread of the virus.

The party tasked the state leadership of Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and United Labour Congress (ULC) to come up with a list of demands for adequate protection of workers in private and public sectors across the state.

Part of the statement reads, ‘we are worried by the relatively unserious approach of the Engr Seyi Makinde-led government towards the containment of COVID-19 spread in the State and its refusal to disclose the identity of the affected company”.

“To us in SPN there can never be a better way to allay the fear already created by this bad news than to publicly disclose the identity of the affected company. Otherwise, the Government’s refusal to do so will continue to create undue room for  rumor  and an atmosphere of panic among the poor working people of Oyo State’.

“It is also dangerous to the public health of the State as the  Governor continues to hide the identity of the affected company because individuals who might have recently interacted with the company and that 57 workers may not yet be aware of the possibility of them being already infected with COVID-19 by now, let alone  being conscious of the need to subject themselves to the necessary precautions recommended for potential individuals with COVID-19 infection”

The SPN stressed that to  conduct an effective contact tracing while the Government keeps hiding the identity of the affected company would no doubt be extremely difficult that is if at all is going to be possible.

“SPN recognises the fact that the fear of stigmatization and other possible consequences like decline in the patronage and profit margin of this undisclosed company could have been the basis for the Governor to have chosen to conceal the identity of the company. As much as this kind of economic excuse is notable, we of the SPN reject such confidentiality in the government’s handling of public health emergency of this magnitude. We strongly hold that public health must not be sacrified on the altar of corporarte profit.  It is in the light of this that we demand that the identity of the affected company must be unveiled without further delay” the statement concluded.

Just In: UI advertises Vice Chancellor’s Post .as current VC leaves December 1st

By
Peter Ayoade
-
By Rebecca Akinkanju
The University of Ibadan on Tuesday advertised the position of the Vice Chancellor for the Premier University of Ibadan ahead December 1st exit date of the current occupant of the seat, Prof. Idowu Olayinka.
A four-page special release titled internal and external advertisement, signed by Secretary to the University’s Council, Olubunmi Faluyi listed the conditions to be met by the would-be VC.
According to the release obtained by Pacesetter News, “the candidate for the post of Vice Chancellor is required to possess a good
University education and should be a proven, successful manager of human and
material resources.
Specifically, the candidate shall be expected to:
 
(a) be a highly distinguished scholar of the rank of Professor, with a
minimum of ten (10) years experience on that level and demonstrate ability to
provide academic and administrative leadership for such a well established
institution;
 
(b) be a person of proven integrity;
 
(c) be not more than 65 years old as at the date of possible assumption of
duty on 01 December, 2020;
 
(d) command the respect of the national and international academic
communities through his/her track record;
 
(e) strengthen the bridges between staff, students and other members of
the University community;
 
(f) be a person with a clear vision for the development of the University
(g) enjoy excellent physical and mental health;
 
(h) attract the much-needed funds into the University.
On the terms and conditions of service applicable to the post, it stated that, “the Vice Chancellor shall hold office for a single term of five (5) years only on such
terms and conditions as may be specified in the letter of appointment.
“The remuneration and other conditions of service are as applicable to the post of
Vice Chancellor in all Nigerian Federal Universities and as may be determined from time to time by the Government/Governing Council as appropriate,” the release stated.

Folarin’s Bill on Oil and Gas Passes Second Reading in Senate

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By YSO Olaniyi 

The Senate has commenced amendment of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010, following the consideration of a bill seeking to boost local content and strengthen the nation’s economy.

The Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content  Development Bill 2020, which scaled second reading on Tuesday, was sponsored by Senator Teslim Kolawole Folarin representing Oyo Central Senatorial District.

The three-term legislator while leading debate on the bill, said the bill seeks to amend 38 Sections of the extant Act while introducing six new sections.

According to Folarin, the essence of the bill is to bring the provisions of the sections to be amended into congruence with industry best practices.

He recalled that the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Act which was passed in 2010 sought to among others, address the then abysmally low level of Nigerian content in the oil and gas sector of the economy; create a regulatory mechanism to monitor and enforce compliance by industry players; and to domesticate substantial part of oil and gas exploration and production activities within Nigeria.

“You will recall that before this Act came into force in 2019, over ninety percent of the $20 billion spent yearly in the Nigerian oil and gas industry was repatriated abroad.

“This was because a large chunk of the contracts were executed by foreign companies and in foreign facilities. With only few indigenous players and facilities participating in the contracting process in the industry, Nigerian content was less than five percent,” Folarin said.

He, however, said with the enactment of the Act and the establishment of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Nigerians have also developed the capacity to carry out a lot of onshore upstream activities.

“There has been a boost in the promotion of indigenous participation and the fostering of technological transfer as reflected in appreciable local growth. Only recently, one of Nigeria’s indigenous oil servicing firms established a 100 million fabrication plant in the Niger Delta region.

“The implementation of the Nigerian Content Fund by the Board has also facilitated the provision of capital and financial support to several indigenous companies,” the lawmaker said.

The amendment to Section 11 captured in the new bill, according to Folarin, would give powers to the Minister of Petroleum to review the minimum target level for Nigerian content set in the schedule where the level is considered beyond the capacity of Nigerian companies by the board.

Similarly, the amendment proposed to Section 33 of the Act would streamline and strengthen the process for obtaining expatriate quota to close the gap for current leakages and manipulation by foreign companies.

Amendments to Sections 37, 38 and 39 in the bill are to improve the provisions relating to research and development and to ensure proper implementation, while Section 76 is proposed to give the Governing Council of the Board the role of Superintending over the conditions of service of employees of the board.

Section 81 was also introduced to empower the Senate to screen and approve nomination of the Executive Secretary of  Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) before confirmation.

Contributing to the debate on the bill, Senator Olamilekan Solomon Adeola (APC – Lagos West) said, “this amendment is long overdue, and I want to believe it would stand. The Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Bill should now be Nigeria Industry Content Development Act.”

“Now that we have succeeded in trying to see that local content has come to stay in the oil and gas sector, it is time for us to move to other line sectors which include manufacturing, ICT, construction and other sectors of the economy.

“The main objective of this particular Act, is for two things: for Domestication and Domiciliation. That is the reason ab initio, the local content was set-up,” the lawmaker added.

The bill after scaling second reading was referred by the Senate President, Senator Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Local Content for further legislative work.

The Committee which is Chaired by Senator Teslim Folarin was given four weeks to submit its report to the Senate.

BREAKING: Ibadan Company with 57 COVID-19 cases Breaks Silence

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By YSO Olaniyi 

Controversies surrounding the exact location where a scary figure of about 57 cases of Coronavirus infection was recorded in Ibadan few days ago may have finally been laid to rest as a private company has taken to the press to own up and also douse tension generated by the development among residents of the state.

A corporate organisation located Southwest Local Government Area of Oyo State, on Tuesday, revealed itself as being the company which identity had been hitherto concealed by the state government following the series of announcement detailing how about 57 of its staff have, so far, been tested to COVID-19.

iSON Xperiences, a leading customer experience provider, came out today to clarify issues on some controversies which had greeted the development. The company with a presence in 15 countries across Africa employing over 10,000 people, revealed that some of its employees tested positive for COVID-19 in one of its centres in Ibadan, Oyo State.

In a statement, the management of the firm stated that those employees with suspected risks have undergone the necessary test and are now in isolation under the supervision of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

Part of the statement reads: “We operate Contact Centres and Customer Care processes from two Centres in Ibadan and one in Ilorin for leading Telecom Service Providers in Nigeria. iSON has implemented strict Covid-19 pandemic preventive measures including social distancing norms, Covid-19 awareness campaigns for employees, mandatory use of sanitizer and masks, temperature checks, general health check at the in-house clinic based on WHO guidelines.

“We have ensured Contact Centre services are available on a 24/7 basis with additional Work from Home Customer Service Advisors activated and maintained ‘Business as Usual’ for us as well as for our Customers”

“Important points with regards to our Nigeria operations – we have some of our employees who were detected positive for Covid-19 at one of our Centres in Ibadan.

“Employees with suspected risks have undergone the necessary test and placed in isolation under the supervision of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC). Together with the authorities, we will ensure the full return of our employees to good health for their eventual resumption back at work.

“As of now, our office premise is temporarily closed for thorough disinfection. We are focused on providing services in a safe and healthy environment, and taking the necessary proactive measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19 virus”

The iSON Xperiences’ statement is coming 24hrs after Pacesetter News leaked the internal memo of the company.

In a follow up to the Pacesetter News report and the mounting pressures from the residents of Oyo State, Governor Makinde on Monday said the identity of the company in the Southwest Local Government Area of the state will be unveiled today (Tuesday).

According to the Governor, “we have held back from revealing the name of the company so as to allow the Emergency Operations Centre gather intelligence and complete their investigation. So, they will be done by tomorrow (Tuesday) and we will be able to give you that information so that any person who has visited the company recently will be able to present themselves for testing”.

As at the time of filing this report, the Oyo State Government was still hiding the identity of the said company even as members of the public heightened their fear over the development.

JUST IN: Oyo Poultry Farmers lose N50m in single day over insensitive security agents

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By YSO Olaniyi

Poultry farmers in Ibadan on Tuesday alleged some police officers at Podo area in Oluyole local government, forcefully turned back 20 buses conveying day old chicks to the Southeastern part of the country.

The Farmers Ambassador, Azeez Maboreje who alerted the media about the unwholesome development, also called the attention of the Oyo State Police Commissioner, Shina Olukolu to the alleged high handedness of his men.

An SOS by Maboreje to the police commissioner stated thus: “good morning sir kudos to you for great works being done in Oyo State.

 “It is important to draw your attention to our plight. As at this morning, 20 of our buses carrying day old chicks were returned at podo opposite Top One.

“All effort to engage police officer were abortive as they claimed order from the governor.

“The present situation is serious as the worth of the birds to farmers is in excess of 50million. Our farmers are bleeding already due to negative impact of Covid 19. To add today’s loses to our present suffering is serious and unbearable,” Maboreje stated.

Maboreje said the Police Boss in his reply said they were exempted from the curfew. He said the CP sent another SMS, asking them to proceed on their journey.

But as at this morning when they exchanged messages, Maboreje said the deed had been done as hundreds of the chicks died in the process.

The worst hit farmer; an Ibadan-based hatchery, The Best Line Hatchery corroborated Maboreje, claiming they lost over N50 million naira resulting from death of several day-old chicks supposedly to be transported to other parts of the country.

Rev. Tunde Owolabi, the Managing Director of the company made the disclosure on Tuesday during a news conference held at the company’s premises in Ibadan.

Owolabi said that some police officers had on Monday evening allegedly stopped no fewer than 20 buses conveying the day old chicks to other parts of the country from Ibadan.

He said that the policemen had stopped their vehicles at Podo area of Ibadan and returned them on the claim of a new directive from the federal government.

“We trust God that with all effort that is on ground, COVID-19 should be a thing of the past very soon. But by the time this problem is over, there is a looming danger of scarcity of goods.

“Hunger problem is far far greater in dimension compared to the danger COVID-19 poses. The number of birds that is involved today is alarming.

“We have about 20 buses that are affected today and in each of these we have about 8,000 to 10,000 birds.The monetary value is huge. We are talking about over N50million worth of birds,” he said.

Owolabi wondered when the Federal Government ordered policemen not to allow movement of agriculture produce to other parts of the country as essential products.

“It is rather unfortunate that these our birds were returned last night. Birds that are meant to travel at the cool hours of the day and that is the reason you see us travel in the night.

“Our drivers have the passes. As you can see with me here, we have all the documents from Poultry Association of Nigeria and from Ministry of Agriculture. Each of the drivers carry the papers”.

“We are appealing to the Federal Government, we are appealing to the state government to continuously give us free passage for all our drivers,” he said.

Alhaji Asimiyu Oyetunde, the Chairman, Day Old Chicks Merchant Association of Nigeria, expressed sadness over the attitude of the security agencies inspire of the several directives.

Oyetunde said that their drivers who were moving the day old chicks from Ibadan to other states have several documents backing the movement of agricultural produce.

He said that a larger portion of the day old chicks died as a result of the hindrance, saying the loss was over N50 million naira.

“All our effort to make sure they move yesterday proved abortive because none of them even answered us. They said that was the new order which we are not informed.

“We have many papers from the federal ministry of Agriculture, Governor’s Forum, Oyo State Government and the Inspector General of Police to prove that agricultural produce have free passage in any part of the country,” he said.

Also, Mr Gbemisoye Agboola, the Oyo State Chairman, Poultry Association of Nigeria(PAN), expressed sadness over the huge loss caused by the security personnel who acted contrary to the directives.

However, Mr Gbenga Fadeyi, the State Police Public Relations Officer, told newsmen that he was yet to be briefed on the matter.

Fadeyi assured that the issue would be investigated as soon as they get the details.

Let us Take Solace in Ayoola’s Excellent Legacy – Lanlehin

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By YSO Olaniyi 

The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in the 2019 general elections, Senator Olufemi Lanleyin, has described the demise of Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Rt. Hon. Kehinde Olatunji Ayoola, as tragic and very painful occurrence.

Lanleyin in a condolence message he personally signed and made available to the Pacesetter News said late Ayoola was a unique and precious “wet tree, in the forest of Oyo State, indeed Nigerian politics”.

According to him, “he was a man of unimpeachable integrity, matchless character, profound depth and great wisdom, whose eloquence and mastery of the written words, gave him off as an intellectual, whose foray into politics, underscored the need for the incursion of more professionals, and pragmatic thinkers into Nigerian politics”.

“Kehinde was a decent man, a man of sincerity and of his word. He was a quintessential Yoruba Omoluabi”.

“One attribute of the deceased whom l had the privilege of interacting with, was his ability to relate across age-groups and party divides, as well as his broadmindedness, a tendency which advertised his humanism”.

The former Senator therefore condoled with Hon. Kehinde Ayoola’s family, especially his wife, Prof. Olukemi, and the children, the Oyo State Government, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, all friends, associates and loyalists.

“We can only take solace in the fact that he left behind an excellent legacy. I pray that God Grants repose to his great soul, as well as grant us all, the fortitude to bear this extremely irreparable loss” the message concluded.

Oyo Assembly Approves Makinde’s N22.5b Loan Requests

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By YSO Olaniyi 

The Oyo State House of Assembly has again approved the State Government’s request to access credit facilities of N22.5billion to enhance health sector and priority projects that would boost the economy of the state.

The breakdown of the request made by Governor Seyi Makinde, according to the lawmakers are credit facility of N20 billion from First Bank Plc and another N2.5billion from the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Oyo State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon Adebo Ogundoyin, read Makinde’s request letters at the plenary on Tuesday.

Makinde in the letters said N20bn loan facility from the First Bank became inevitable as a result of fast diminishing monthly federal allocations and sharp drop in the state’s Internally Generated Revenue occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Majority Leader, Hon Sanjo Adedoyin (PDP,  Ogbomoso South State Constituency) and the Minority Leader, Rt. Hon. Asimiyu Alarape (APC, Atiba State Constituency) respectively moved and seconded the motions for approvals of the loan requests. The duo said the house is backing the governor because the loan requests focus on infrastructural development projects and relieve in economic hardships brought by the novel coronavirus.

The Speaker in his remarks said the 32-member Assembly approved the Executive’s loan requests because they are meant to fund road constructions and rehabilitations, upgrading of health facilities and other social amenities.

Just In: Makinde Nominates Justice Aderonke As Oyo Customary Appeal Court President

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By YSO Olaniyi

The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, on Tuesday, nominated Justice Aderonke Aderemi as the substantive President of the state Customary Court of Appeal.

The Pacesetter News reports that the letter, seeking the confirmation of Aderonke’s appointment by the state House of Assembly, was read on the floor of the Assembly by the Speaker, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin.

Ogundoyin, while reading the letter entitled ‘Confirmation of Appointment’, said it was forwarded to the Assembly by the governor and that the Aderonke was expected to appear before the Assembly for screening on 28th May, 2020.

The Speaker directed that the judge to submit copies of her credentials to the Assembly.

Honourable Justice Aderonke is to replace retired first female President of state’s customary Court Appeal, Justice Eni Esan.

BREAKING: Makinde Nominates Aderibigbe, Kolajo, others as Civil Service commissioners

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By YSO Olaniyi

The Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has sent four nominees to Oyo State House Assembly for confirmation as chairman and full-time commissioners of the state civil service commission.

A letter seeking the confirmation of the nominees was read out by the Speaker of the house, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, at the plenary on Tuesday.

The nominnes are Alhaji Kamarudeen Aderibigbe (Chairman), Alhaji Isiaq Kolajo (Full-time commissioner), Mr. Toyin Akanmu (full-time commissioner), Chief Solomon Ogunjimi (Part-time commissioner) and Pastor Taiwo Oluwagbemiro (Part-time commissioner).

The House requested the nominees to submit their resumes to the Clerk of the house on or before 21st May, 2020 for consideration.

The Pacesetter News understands the nominees will appear before the house on May 26th, 2020.

COVID-19 Palliatives: Fish Farmers Donate Smoked Fish to Oyo Govt

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By YSO Olaniyi 

In a bid to support government’s efforts to cushion the economic hardships occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Catfish and Allied Fish Farmers Association of Nigeria (CAFFAN), has donated smoked catfish to Oyo State Government to be included in the food palliative of the state.

The donation was made at State Secretariat by the National President of CAFFAN, Mr. Oloye Rotimi. He said the gesture was to support the state government in the provision of palliatives to the citizens.

Oloye while delivering the packages said: “we are here today to answer President  Muhammadu Buhari’s clarion call on organisations and individuals to support the government in provision of palliatives that can be used to alleviate the sufferings of the less privileged in this period of COVID-19 pandemic.”

He said, “catfish is very important at this crucial time. It is one of the veritable sources of animal protein with complete profile of essential amino acids necessary for the development of the body’s immune system.

Oloye therefore called on the Federal and State Governments to include catfish produced and processed locally as part of items for distribution to all vulnerable and less-privileged Nigerians. “Our local fish species helps in building immune systems that fight against the ravaging effects of diseases” he maintained.

AKEUGBAGOLD TWINS: Mastermind of the Kidnapping is a Serial Betrayer- Oriyomi

By
Peter Ayoade
-

By YSO Olaniyi 

Popular Ibadan-born on-air-personality, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, has described the mastermind of Akeugbagold twins kidnapping as a serial betrayer. The ace radio presenter said the 25-year-old Opeyemi Oyeleye Agbehuso Odo had once betrayed him.

Oriyomi in reaction to the arrest of the Ibrahim Oyeleye-led kidnapping team by the Oyo State Command of Nigeria Police, narrated how the criminal betrayed him in the past.

Alhaji Oriyomi on his official Facebook page wrote:

“OPEYEMI OYELEYE 

NATURAL JUSTICE 

I picked you up from JSS3, I wasted a lot of money to sponsor you abroad but it was not successful, Ope, remember I later resulted in picking the option of tertiary institutions here and successfully you find yourself at the university of Ibadan.You know how much I love you.

You are in charge of so many things that belong to Oriyomi Hamzat, you are the closest person to me,you eat whatever I eat and you drink from the same cup with me, you have my password with you and I keep telling you to calm down,remember I always preach patience,perseverance and tolerance have you forgot I always tell you not to chase money but work hard to give your family enviable good name,Ope why? Why? Why?

I sent you to Akeugbagold at fresh fm to assist him on social media,it was not long when I had issue with the state then,you perfected your own way with Akeugbagold and you leave me and some boys with my predicament,you change from Oriyomi boy to Akeugbagold boy,you stabbed me at back then, but I never wish you bad.

Today you dragged the name of your family in the mud,you gave your gentle father another name.

Ope when that woman,the twins mother was crying and you are doing the video,how do you feel?And you know about it,when you piloted me to Akeugbagold private room I was surprised of the closeness. Do you still have conscience at all? I doubt it.

I wonder how you will get out of psychological trauma you put yourself.

Haa! O ma see ooo.

MY NIGERIA, MY COUNTRY, MY VIEW |Rotimi Fadoju

By
Peter Ayoade
-

I believe that our dear country has been under the illusion of wealth and riches because of oil. This illusion cuts across all boards, irrespective of our political, ethnicity and religious backgrounds.

I keep wondering, how can citizens (excluding students and disabled), that refuses or hardly pay TAX to the government but prefer to pay tithe in full to religious organisations be expecting palliative from the government? How come our president, vice president, senators and other political office holders in Nigeria are earning humongous salaries and other emoluments?

The truth of the matter to me is that, all this outrageous spending on political emoluments are either from crude oil or from borrowings.

Unfortunately, I’ve come to realise that these two are no longer sustainable. We are known to be a spending and importing nation, we even import our toothpicks from China despite the fact that we are blessed with palm trees and bamboo trees. Our spending habits cuts through government to individuals.

Most of us live above our earnings, believing that all is well, or it shall be well. Nigerians bribe TAX COLLECTORS, to either evade payment or heavily underpay their TAXES. Bills and other government levies are not left behind. Custom officials in collaboration with importers underpays government of all duties. My country has no developmental road map for the next five years either in infrastructure, education or health.

No savings for rainy day either. Government officials spend money as if there’s no tomorrow. How can my president, vice president, Senate president, speaker of house of representatives and governors justify their motorcade and aides? How can Nigeria justify the millions of dollars wasted annually on both Christians and Muslims pilgrimages? “Afęfę ti fę, a ti ridi adię”. Nigeria is a poor country economically based on mismanagement and courtesy of coronavirus.

My hope for the greatness of this nation had gone to sleep. How can I explain to my children, that a governor, whose states contribute little or nothing to the GDP of Nigeria earns more monthly from the federation account than those governors whose states contribute? That is the federalism we operate.

My worries are not about myself, my headache is about the children born now or yet unborn. Things will continue to get worse economically as a result of covid 19 and maybe, we will all realise now as Nigerians, that we’ve been living a fake life as a nation.

Like the bride who encourages the groom to borrow money for their wedding, it’s now time for reality!

By Chief Rotimi Williams Fadoju

OYO COVID-19: Panic as same Company Adds Fresh Cases. •Total Hits 137

By
Peter Ayoade
-
By YSO Olaniyi

*Oyo Govt to hold meeting with religious leaders. Mentions Foods That Help fight against COVID-19

*We’ll reveal the company with COVID-19 patients today – Makinde

Fear grips Ibadan residents as the yet-to-be named company in the Oyo state capital, Ibadan recorded 19 fresh cases of coronavirus on Monday, this brings the total number of confirmed cases in the company to 57. The state is now 10th on the national COVID-19 log as the total number of confirmed cases hit 137.
Governor Seyi Makinde via his verified Twitter handle wrote “the COVID-19 confirmation tests for nineteen suspected cases came back POSITIVE. All nineteen of these cases are from the same organisation referred to in the updates of May 16 and 17, 2020. So, the total number of confirmed cases in Oyo State is 137”.
Makinde in a press briefing at Agodi Government House yesterday said the identity of the company in the Southwest Local Government Area of the state will be unveiled today (Tuesday). “We have held back from revealing the name of the company so as to allow the Emergency Operations Centre gather intelligence and complete their investigation. So, they will be done by tomorrow (Tuesday) and we will be able to give you that information so that any person who has visited the company recently will be able to present themselves for testing” he said.
He also said that the Oyo State Taskforce would continue to allow all confirmed COVID-19 cases who are able to self-isolate at home to do so, in order not to overwhelm the capacity of the state isolation centres. “This also ensures that the isolation centres are available for those who need hospitalisation. However, we will keep tracking those self-isolating using technology to prevent community spread”.
“We will issue an advisory based on the advice given by Professor E. Olatunde Farombi, a Professor of Biochemistry and Fellow, Nigeria Academy of Science. This is on foods and natural products useful as preventive measures against COVID-19 and other viral illnesses. For instance, we have bitter kola, turmeric, zinc, ginger, garlic, citrus fruits and bitter leaf. Let me emphasise that this advisory is not for the treatment or cure of COVID-19, it is preventive”
“Regarding our directives on social distancing during this pandemic, we have received requests from religious leaders about relaxing the ban on gatherings to allow religious services hold. We are currently in an accelerated phase in the transmission of COVID-19 in Oyo State and the expert advice is that transmission occurs more easily in enclosed spaces. So, we cannot at this time, relax this directive”.
“However, the experts are carrying out a risk situation analysis and will be sending in their report before the end of May and this will determine our next steps. Therefore, we will be meeting with religious leaders before the end of this week to see how and when reopening of religious places will be possible” the Governor concluded.
Meanwhile, the NCDC on Monday confirmed 216 new cases of the novel coronavirus in FCT and 14 states. The total number of confirmed cases is 6175 as at Monday 18th May 2020. Total Discharged cases stand at 1644 while 191 Deaths cases have been recorded so far.
Below is the breakdown of the 216 new cases of COVID19;
74-Lagos          33-Katsina       19-Oyo
17-Kano            13-Edo              10-Zamfara
8-Ogun               8-Gombe          8-Borno
7-Bauchi             7-Kwara           4-FCT
3-Kaduna            3-Enugu           2-Rivers.
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