Ogun State House of Assembly has promised to redouble its efforts towards conducting effective legislative oversight on all Ministries, Departments and Agencies of Government for improved transparency, prudence and accountability in the implementation of the Year 2024 Appropriation Law.

Speaker of the house,Right Honourable Olakunle Oluomo who gave the assurance on Tuesday during  the resumption of plenary for the new year held at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said more effective monitoring of budget implementation process  would deliver more democratic dividends to the people. 

He expressed the readiness of  legislature as partner in progress and development of the State, to always assist the State Government to create value for money, while ensuring an effective monitoring of a more coordinated budgeting process 

Oluomo, who sought for the support of his colleague-lawmakers, management and members of staff of the Assembly for a sustained effective service delivery by the 10th Assembly, said all hands must be on deck in the new year to allow the Gateway State retain in its leading position among the comity of States. 

Explaining that the recently passed 2024 budget would build on the economic legacies of the State, thereby enhancing its socio-economic status through the completion of all ongoing developmental projects and initiation of new ones across the three Senatorial Districts, the Speaker noted that the gains of the projects would attract more foreign and local investment opportunities to the State for improved GDP.

According to the Speaker, the other inherent benefits of the 2024 Appropriation law included improved healthcare services, improved educational system across all levels, infrastructural development, agriculture and food security, incentives meant to boost the ease of doing business amongst others.

Speaking on the lofty achievements of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Speaker commended the President for delivering on his promises, as well as his efforts in checkmating corrupt practices, addressing currency instability, fuel subsidy removal and other issues that would ease the well-being of the common man.

In her message to the people of Yewa South State Constituency, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Bolanle Lateefat Ajayi promised to address more pressing needs of her Constituents, with renewed efforts towards advancing more democratic dividends to the people.

Also speaking, Hon. Seun Adesanya, representing Ijebu North East State Constituency, promised to ensure facilitation of more developmental projects to his constituency.

Adesanya also noted that plans were underway to empower secondary school students from SSS 1 to SSS 3 on Information Communication Technology , saying it would build their knowledge in computer technology.

Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun has called on Nigerians to have faith in the current political system, the government and its leaders, saying the country is on the verge of rising again.

He also called on them to shun all acts of violence or act that do not define them as a people.

The governor stated this during the 2024 Armed Forces Remembrance Day, held at the Arcade Ground, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

Prince Abiodun also called on Nigerians to continue to be their brother’s keeper, urging them to stay away from sowing discord among themselves.

The governor urged Nigerians to subscribe to the spirit of nation-building and nationalism while supporting the families of fallen heroes.

“Let us eschew the spirit of brotherhood amongst ourselves. Let us uphold the spirit of not just nationhood but optimism. Let us have faith in our system, our government, and our leaders. Nigeria is on the verge of rising again.

“For those of us that are not privileged or bold enough to join the armed forces, we should subscribe to nation-building and patriotism.

“We should not be the ones that continue to sow the seed of discord amongst ourselves. We should not begin to fan the flame of discord amongst ourselves; let us be our brother’s keeper.

“Let us shun all act of violence or acts that do not define us as a people, acts that does not define us as citizens of the biggest conglomeration of black people on the continent,” he said.

Prince Abiodun charged Nigerians to show an act of kindness to the patriots who paid the ultimate price for defending the territorial integrity of the country by reaching out to the families they left behind, saying that government can not do it alone.

The highlight of the event included the release of pigeons to signify peace and the laying of wreath by Governor Abiodun, Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Olakunle Oluomo, the Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Mosunmola Dipeolu, Alake and paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Micheal Adedotun Gbadebo.

Others were the Akarigbo and Chairman, Ogun State Council of Obas, Oba Babatunde Ajayi, the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona who was represented by the Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo, Oba Lawrence Adebajo.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery has commenced the production of refined petroleum products.
The 650,000 barrels per day facility began work on Friday.

The largest single-train refinery in the world started producing after it received the final 6th batch of one million barrels of crude oil required by the plant for its initial operations.

The 6th batch from Agbami crude was discharged on Monday at the Single Point Mooring at the Dangote Offshore Oil Terminal.
The the refinery received the first batch of one million barrels of Agbami crude grade from Shell International Trading and Shipping Company Limited, one of the largest trading companies in Nigeria, as well as globally, trading in over eight million barrels of crude oil per day.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his New Year broadcast, had hinted that the Port Harcourt and Dangote refineries are expected to kickstart operations in January 2024.
Dangote Refinery has the capacity to meet 100 per cent of Nigeria’s requirement of all refined products, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, and aviation jet.

The surplus of each of these products are for export, according to the company.

The Managing Director of Dangote Ports Operations, Akin Omole, had earlier announced that the refinery would be in good stead to commence operation once the six million barrels of crude had been delivered.
“Once the six million barrels are fully delivered, it will facilitate the initial run of the refinery as well as kickstart the production of diesel, aviation fuel, and Liquefied Petroleum Gas before subsequently progressing to the production of Premium Motor Spirit,” Omole told journalists at the Dangote Quay, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos.
Already, there is a widespread optimism that the commencement of operations will alleviate the fuel supply challenges faced by Nigeria and the West African countries.

Operatives of Ogun State Police Command have arrested three suspects for allegedly robbing students of Gateway Polytechnic Sapaade, in Remo North local government area of Ogun State.

The command Public Relations Officer, Omolola Odutola, disclosed this in Abeokuta.

It would be recalled that between late November and early December last year, multiple robbery attacks were recorded in the school, leading to the deaths of two students and several others were reportedly injured.

These attacks reportedly led the school management to suspend physical classes and directed the students to stay out of school for two weeks.

Following a report of a break-in to the residence of some students in the Obalande area of Isara Remo on January 8, 2024, Musa Adamu, Marasa Aliu, and Yahaya Muhammed were arrested by the police in connection to the crime.

It was learned that a 3kg cylinder and about three mattresses suspected of being stolen from the students’ apartment were recovered by the police.

Speaking on the arrest, the police spokesperson said some students returned to the school after the holiday to discover that their apartments had been ransacked and that their refrigerator, among other items, had been stolen.

“The students just returned from holidays and discovered that their apartment had been broken into. There was a reported case of some stolen items. Our investigation led us to the arrest of Adamu and two other suspects in the crime,” Odutola said.

Before the recent arrest, at least eight suspected robbers were apprehended in connection with robberies and killings in the school between late November and early December last year.

Also, the command was said to have recovered two Lexus cars and other items stolen during some of the attacks.

The wife of Onipara of Ipara Remo, Olori Olufolake Taiwo will be hosting children in the town and it’s environs to a feast in the spirit of the season of Christmas.

Olori Taiwo disclosed that she believed that children today are leaders of tomorrow, saying the time to start preparing them for leadership is now. “This is the reason my foundation has put together the programme, tagged “Day Out with King and Olori Taiwo to provide an avenue and a day for them to learn and dance and imbibe good ideals of life.

“The reason for this season is Jesus Christ who the Bible quoted as saying, “Let the Children come to me for theirs is the kingdom of God” This clearly states the importance of the children. They are special and we should treat them as such”, Olori Taiwo stressed.

She stated that the highlight of today’s event would be to open accounts for some lucky children as a way of inculcating in them saving culture which she said had to do with the management of money, either for investment purposes or as a matter of discipline.

Olori Olufolake Taiwo said she and her husband, His Royal Highness, Oba Taiwo Taiwo, Onipara of Ipara Remo would not be doing this alone as they had invited some well meaning individuals to join them to celebrate with the children, either by physically gracing the occasion or helping in open account for some of them.

She described the event as a win win for donors or sponsors as they would not only be keeping a date with prosperity but also contributing to the lives of the beneficiaries, as well as improvement of the world and, indeed mankind.

“My husband and I have packaged this project, not because we have all it takes to run it, but we believe in ‘Humanity First’, having embraced the postulate which is ‘live and let’s live’. We understand a little support given to some of the beneficiaries may go along way to proper their lives to path of greatness”

By Our Reporter

The Ogun State Community, Social Orientation and Safety Corps (So-Safe Corps) have arrested members of Notorious Gang suspected to be robbing and terrorizing Abule-Oko, Agbado, Olaogun, Ijoko Communities in Ifo Local Government Area in Ogun State.

This was contained in the press release issued by the State Commander of the Corps, Commander(Dr) Soji Ganzallo through the office of the Director of Information and Public Relations of the Corps, Assistant Commander Moruf Yusuf.

The statement stated that the criminally minded suspects: Kehinde Smith Alias ’72’ and Tunde Alabi and the ring leader Abiodun Odewale 32 years old who is popularly known as ‘Confidence’ were apprehended while efforts were in top gear to catch up with other members of the gang still at large.

Ganzallo stressed further that ‘this deadly team had been on the black list of the agency for years back and efforts had been put in place to ensure they are sent parking from Ogun state for peace to reign.

However, Ganzallo said that the gang of criminals at about 2030hrs on Friday, 2nd. December, 2022 allegedly shot 3 persons who are now receiving treatment at undisclosed hospital and this triggered investigation into the deadly attacks and prompted the action taken by the Super Operation Team of Agbado-Ibaragun Area Command under ACC Olaiya Akeem to arrest and bring them to book.

Ganzallo noted that the Officers of the Corps intensified effort and got the suspect apprehended while peace has been restored to the concerned communities.

effort is ongoing to arrest the other suspect now at large and retrieve the second gun used to perpetrate the heinous crime.

The suspects and exhibit, 1 locally made pistols has been transfered to the Nigeria Police Force NPF, Agbado Divisional Headquarter for further investigation and likely prosecution.

By Omotola Lawal

The newly sworn-in Chairman of the Ogun State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Mrs. Oluwaseun Boye has called for issue based campaigns as well as better involvement of the electorate in the electoral process in order to deepen the democratic process.

She made the call shortly after being sworn- in alongside other members as the new executives of the chapter for the next two years during her Annual General Meeting held at Oke- Ilewo, in Abeokuta.

Other members of her Executive included, Messrs: Waheed Ogunjobi, Vice Chairman, Mr Kunle Olayeni, Secretary, Ifekayode Akinbode, Public Relations Executuve and Mrs. Adijat Olaleye, Treasurer.

According to Mrs. Boye as the electioneering campaign is here, politicians need to play the game by the rules and avoid acts capable of truncating the system.

“In order not to heat up the polity, politicians must play by the rules and promote issue based campaigns in line with the principles of public relations of constructive engagements”, she said .

The NIPR Chairman also called on the electorate to get more involved in the electoral and political process by preparing to play the roles expected of them appropriately in order to help deepen the democratic process.

On the plan of her administration to reposition the Ogun State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Mrs Boye informed that working towards building a befitting Secretariat for the Chapter would be top on the priority, while resuscitation of the annual Colloquium as well as the “Image Maker”, the NIPR professional publication are also to be given priorities.

Also to be expected, according to her is the automation of the process of registration as well as enhancing visibility through the creation of website among others.

Earlier, the immediate past Chairman of the Chapter, Mr Lekan Togunwa also called on Campaign Managers to imbibe PR education and orientation.

This, he noted, would moderate activities of political candidates and voters to have a free and credible elections in 2023, maintaining that PR is of a divine philosophy and value.

The Registrar of the Institute, Mr. Olukayode Yeku, while admonishing the new leadership, told them they had a lot of work to do and that they should strive not to end up as an endangered species.

By Sinob Lawal

Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has commended traditional institution for complementing the state government’s efforts towards maintaining peace and security of lives and property.

Abiodun gave the commendation in Sagamu at the Official Installation and Presentation of Staff of Office to the new Alagura of Agura-Sagamu, Oba Asiwaju Oladimeji Magbeuku, saying the leadership roles of the institution had created harmonious relationship between government and the citizens.

The Governor, represented by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Ganiyu Hamzat noted that indication had shown that the institution was properly positioned.

He assured that his administration would continue to sustenance the rich cultural heritage, social mobilisation, community development, and effective governance, especially at the grassroots.

The Governor urged the new Monarch to contribute his own quota towards raising the level of achievements the State had recorded so far, saying he had a greater responsibility to his people and the State at large.

“I want you to mobilise your people to discharge their civic responsibilities to the State as and when due, because the State relies on Internally Generated Revenue for the continued delivery of dividends of democracy to the people”, Abiodun said.

The Chairman, Sagamu Local Government, Hon. Odulate Olashile called on the sons and daughters of Agura-Sagamu to join hands with Oba Magbeuku for the development of the town.

In his address, the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Adewale Ajayi enjoined the new Monarch to always carry the people along in decision making for the peace and progress of the area.

Responding, Oba Asiwaju Magbeuku expressed appreciation to the Governor and Executive Council members for approving his installation, assuring that he would work with the people of the town to bring swift growth, peace and unity, as well as facilitate more infrastructure to Aguraland.

By Tolani Lawal

The annual Akesan Day celebrated by kiths and kin of Gov Dapo Abiodun’s country home of Iperu Remo held on Saturday might have come and gone, however, part of what will remain memorable in the hearts of those who graced the event from far and near was the mammoth crowd mobilised to the venue by Armstrong ‘Tope Akintunde, an indigene of the town and convener of Dapo Abiodun for Second Term Agenda (DACA) who also doubles as Chief Launcher of the event.

The over 25000 members of the political support group rooting for the second term of Gov Dapo Abiodun came from the 20 local governments of Ogun State.

Speaking at the event, Armstrong, a fast rising property merchant who made a handsome donation in support of development of Iperu community declared that Gov Abiodun had done so well with the mandate given to him about four years ago and surely deserved all the support to continue his good work beyond 2023.

He said, “aside from coming around as a proud indigene of Iperu to join in the celebration of the annual Akesan Day and lend helping hands towards its development, I have also mobilised a fraction of DACA members numbering over 25,000 across the state down here to reassure our hardworking governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun that we are working seriously, leaving no stone unturned to ensure that he is without stress rewarded with another term during March 11, governorship elections of 2023”.

Armstrong also used the medium to urge Nigerians to be concerned with supporting developmental efforts in their various communities, saying that “it’s obvious government could not alone shoulder all the responsibilities, all of us as patriotic citizens should be able to partner with the government to make life much easier for all”.

Speaking during the programme, Gov Dapo Abiodun while thanking his kiths and kin for their support since becoming the governor pledged to remain committed to implementation of projects that would continue to enhance the prosperity of every resident of the Gateway State.

Gov Abiodun highlighted some projects he had done in the town, such as Iregun road, Sokoto road, the newly reconstructed market, the ongoing Sagamu-Iperu-Ode-Saapade dual carriage road as well as the Agro-Cargo Airport which he said would provide over 15,000 jobs for the people of Iperu and beyond.

The governor specifically disclosed that the Agro-Cargo Airport would have the first airplane landed on the facility before the end of December.

He has therefore urged people of Iperu to rally support for his second term ambition, saying that he was poised to do much more for the people of the community and the state as a whole.

The governor has however frowned at the growing menace of cultism in the town calling on parents to warn their children to stay off such infamous venture as anyone caught would be severely dealt with.

By Prof. Abayomi Arigbabu

On Tuesday, November 22, 2022, Governor Dapo Abiodun officially unveiled the new name of Tai Solarin College of Education as Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science and Technology.

While a number of people have welcomed this development there were few that expressed reservations about the renaming. This group probably thought the name of our late sage, Dr Tai Solarin was replaced with that of Kabiyesi.

Governor Abiodun will go down in history as a man who saw a problem and, rather than run away from it, decided to face it headlong and tackle the problem. It is important to put the records straight. In 1978, the Ogun state government established the erstwhile Ogun State College of Education (OSCE) as an institution to produce highly qualified middle level manpower to meet the needs in the education sector in line with the Ashby Commission report of 1960.

Following the death of the education icon, Dr Tai Solarin in 1994, the College was renamed Tai Solarin College of Education (TASCE) to honour the distinguished educationist. The College later metamorphosed into Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED) following an official pronouncement of the then Governor of the state, Otunba Gbenga Daniel on January 29, 2005.

The pronouncement was later given the required legal backing via the Tai Solarin University of Education Law, 2005.

The original intention at the commencement of TASUED was to have a university that would subsume the erstwhile college. Hence the law that established TASUED made provision for this. In particular, part IX sections 65 to 69 of the law are very clear on this. Indeed section 69, subsections I and 2 put a legal seal termed “transfer to the University of land, properties and obligations of the College”:

69 (1) All properties vested in the College immediately before the appointed day shall as from the appointed day vest in the University by virtue of this Law and without further assurance, and as from the appointed day the University shall have all rights and be subject to all liabilities which the College had or to which it was subject immediately before the appointed day.

(2) subject to the provisions of this Law, every Deed, Agreement or other instrument or any arrangement whatsoever, to which the College, either by itself or through any other authority or person was a party Immediately before the appointed day shall, as from the appointed day, have effects as if the University had been a party to the same.

The above leaves no one in doubt that the University by right, actually ‘inherited’ the name ‘Tai Solarin’.
Sequel to the refusal of the National Commission for Colleges of Education to allow the cohabitation of the College of Education with the University, a situation whereby the Provost, who was supposed to be the Chief Executive Officer of the then College was under the direction of a Vice Chancellor, the College was disarticulated from the University. It was at this point that the College that was being re-established should have assumed a new name. The old name was however retained for some strategic reasons, and the State then ended up with two institutions with the name ‘Tai Solarin’, viz:
Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun
Tai Solarin College of Education, Omu-Ijebu.

It is also pertinent to mention that the Ogun State House of Assembly (the 8th legislative house) actually passed a bill that changed the name of the Tai Solarin College of Education to Ogun State College of Education on Wednesday 24th April 2019. The bill was one of the three bills titled,” HB.NO 31/OG/2018- Ogun State College of Health Technology (Amendment) Law, 2018, HB. No 32/OG/2018- Gateway Polytechnic, Igbesa (Amendment) Law, 2018 and HB. No 033/OG/2018- The Tai-Solarin College of Education, Omu (Amendment),Law, 2018
The Gateway Polytechnic, Igbesa which became Ogun State Institute of Technology has assumed the name since then. The crises that engulfed TASCE towards the end of the last administration probably never made it possible for the College to assume the new name.

The law passed in April 2019 was really in response to the need to resolve the confusion that had often accompanied the University and the College bearing Tai Solarin. Official communications often got mixed up.

The renaming was also meant to correct what the law on the re-establishment of the College at Omu-Ijebu in 2008 would have done. With this development, what we now have in Ogun State tertiary education sector is:
Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun. Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science and Technology (SACEST), Omu-Ijebu

The renaming done by HE Prince Dapo Abiodun, MFR is like buying two for the price of one. On the one hand, an age-long confusion in nomenclature was resolved while on the other hand, an eminently qualified personality, Oba Dr Sikiru Kayode Adetona, CFR was appropriately honoured.

Consequently, instead of condemning the action, the governor should rather be commended.

Prof Abayomi Arigbabu
is the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Ogun State