News

Abiodun: Ogun Will Assume Oil Producing Status Soon

Published

2 years ago

December 27, 2021

The Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun says his administration is working towards ensuring that the state takes advantage of its oil-rich deposit and becomes an oil-producing state.

Abiodun gave this position during the Convocation Lecture he delivered at the 2nd and 3rd convocation ceremony of the Mountain Top University with the topic, ‘Quest for Excellence: The Nexus of Faith, Knowledge, and Resilience.’

The governor expressed disappointment that Ogun lost a $16b Dangote refinery to Lagos after a break-in discussion between the immediate past administration and Dangote.

He, however, expressed optimism that the state will become oil-producing, saying “we are working assiduously on that, so, I accept this challenge, we will further strengthen our resolve to ensure that we bring Ogun State to oil-producing status in the very near future.”

Abiodun, while also noting that he had the privilege to work as the chairman of the Olokola Free Trade Zone that was meant to have the refinery cited in the state, added that the project was not just conceived with the aim of refining petroleum products only, but to take advantage of the mining lease that as been awarded around the corridor.

“I worked as chairman of Olokola Free Trade Zone that was meant to have the Dangote refinery cited in Ogun Waterside, however, discussion broke down between Dangote and the then administration which led to the loss of that project to Lagos state; a sixteen billion dollars was lost to another state.

“That project was conceived with the aim of not just refining petroleum in Ogun, but also take advantage of the mining lease that had been awarded around that corridor that has even not begun to be exploited,” he said.

The governor affirmed that the state has very rich oil reserves in Tongeji Island, adding that “Ogun State is situated in the Dahomey Basin, which stands for the Niger Delta that goes all the way to Ghana.”

“Everyone of the states in that corridor are oil-producing today, even Ondo and Lagos states,” Abiodun submitted.

News

Drama As Two Ebonyi Commissioners Fight In Public

Published

6 mins ago

April 19, 2024

Editor

Two commissioners from Ebonyi State reportedly fought shamelessly in public during the defection ceremony of chieftains of the PDP into the APC held at Ebiaji, Ezza North Local Government Area of Ebonyi State.

The two commissioners Victor Chukwu, Commissioner for Environment and Jude Okpor, the Commissioner for Information, engaged in the fight which attracted the attention of the state party chieftains from the area.

An eyewitness who identified his name as Nwite told Vanguard that the two commissioners, not minding their social status, engaged themselves in fierce fight which took the intervention of some stakeholders and security agents to stop the fight.

“Nobody told me anything about it. I saw everything myself. I don’t know the cause of their fight but they fought and this is the 5th fight between them”, he aid.

“As a leader of thought in my place, this is embarrassing to me, our people and the people of Ebonyi State. It happened during the defection of some people into APC at Ezza North.

“It was a very big fight and it was not hidden”, he added.

The two Commissioners who are said to be stakeholders in their various communities had a field day as they reportedly exchanged blows, not minding those that were watching them.

News

PICTORIAL: Lagos Arrests 10 Fake Enforcement Officials

Published

32 mins ago

April 19, 2024

Editor

The Lagos State Government has arrested 10 individuals parading themselves as enforcement officials at the Cele/Itire axis of the state.

This was made known in an update shared by the state governor’s Special Assistant on New Media, Jubril Gawat, on his X account on Friday.

Sharing photos, Gawat wrote, “The Lagos State Government has apprehended 10 fake enforcement officials at Cele/Itire axis of the state.

“The apprehended persons; Ojo Oluwaseun, Rafiu Agbabiaka, Babatunde Ibrahim, Abiodun Olusegun, Daniel Olanrewaju, Aweda Kabiru, Olufowobi Michael, Olamilekan Olasupo, Bunmi James and Iyiola Shola (female) were caught carrying out unauthorised enforcement earlier today using different fake ID cards.

“The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Olawale Musa, while addressing the press, revealed that the arrest was made in response to complaints registered at the ministry by concerned citizens.”

News

Forgive Me, Purported Hausa Traditional Ruler Begs Benin Monarch

Published

55 mins ago

April 19, 2024

Editor

Following the reservation the Benin Traditional Council raised over the planned installation of Alhaji Danjuma Binkola as Hausa traditional ruler (Garkuwan Hausawan) in Benin, Edo State capital, the embattled Binkola has begged for forgiveness.

Binkola, who was to be installed on May 5, was seen in a viral video begging the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, for forgiveness.

Binkola, who spoke in Pidgin English in the video, pleaded ignorance of the magnitude of his purported installation as the Garkuwan Hausawan Benin.

He said, “I know the traditions and customs of the people of the state, having been born and raised in Edo State, the same way my father, Alhaji Garuba, was born and raised in Benin.

“I did not know the implications of my actions, as the person who was to confer the title on me only told me that my role was to assist him in overseeing the activities of the Hausa Community in Edo State while, in return, communicating to the palace.”

He, however, begged the monarch to forgive him, noting that Edo State had favoured him.

The Benin Traditional Council, had in a statement on Thursday, warned against the purported turbaning of anyone as Garkuwan Hausawan Benin in Edo State.

The statement read, “The BTC hereby inform the Nigerian Police Force and other security agencies as well as the general public, that this planned event is a violation of Benin Tradition and Customary Law applicable to chieftaincy matters and therefore must not hold under any circumstances.

“Consequently, BTC therefore warned the organisers of the installation against violating the sanctity of the Benin Traditional and Customary Law by cancelling the planned ceremony.”