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In Paradigm Shift, Adeleke Plans 45 Major Roads, 5 Flyover Bridges Without Loan

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Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has identified public infrastructure as a key driver of inclusive socio-economic growth and development which empirically catalyzes reducing inequalities.

For Mr. Governor, if done right, broad-based provision of public infrastructure like roads, bridges etc, can connect markets, and facilitate production and trade, while also creating multi-dimensional opportunities.

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Other benefits are water and sanitation, schools and hospitals which improve people’s lives, skills, and health, supporting their income and gender equality; helping address urgent health care needs (for example, during epidemics); reducing pollution; and building resilience against climate change and natural disasters.

Thankfully, a glimpse of hope finally came as Adeleke vigorously engaged in ridding of leadership deficit and creating an enabling environment to foster sustainable development goals, food security, and human capital development, among other things in Osun.

READ ALSO: Bauchi Man Stabs Brother Dead Over Motorcycle

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The new kid in the bloc is also not encouraging infrastructural projects that will be poorly designed, or with large cost overruns, neither will he tolerate long construction delays which could yield poor social dividends for the citizenry.

Matching his words with action, the governor, on Friday, October 27, 2023, unveiled his laudable plan to build infrastructure worth N100 billion in the state. The infrastructure is set to provide 45 major roads, 345 healthcare centres, 5 flyover bridges, potable water and a street lighting network among others.

The governor boldly cited passion as the force behind his administration’s infrastructural development in Osun. These projects include the rehabilitation of Otan Ayegbaju-Iresi Road and Ede-Egbedi-Erin Osun Road. It also targets water projects across all 332 wards across the state.

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Besides, the administration is conducting geophysical surveys across the political wards. Likewise, borehole drilling is taking place in all the selected areas of each ward as well as installation and supply of head tanks.

READ ALSO: Man Alleged Of Killing 18 People In US Found Dead

For the health sector, the Imole Medical and Surgical Outreach is set to be held every quarter of the year, in six of the state hospitals under the coordination and supervision of the Osun State Ministry of Health.

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For his love for education and being the best legacy to bequeath to the younger generation, the governor equally marked for reconstruction Ede Muslim Grammar School (Ede Zone), Ifeoluwa C&S Grammar School, Ilesha (Ilesha Zone), Oranmiyan Memorial Grammar School, Ile-Ife (Ife Zone), NUD Grammar School, Oke Bailey, Osogbo (Osogbo Zone), Baptist Grammar School, Bowen Road, Iwo (Iwo Zone) and College High School, Ila Ikirun (Zone 7).

Mr. Governor is also set to carry out dualisation of the following roads: Old Garage Oke Fia-LAMECO Roundabout, Osogbo, Skoda Junction-Baptist High School Ede, Baptist High School-Oke Gaza, Ede, Oke Gada-Ido Osun-Ofatedo Road and Ilesha/Akure-Brewery-Palace-Ilesha. Also set for rehabilitation are Otan Ayegbaju-Iresi Road and Ede Egbedi-Erin Osun Road.

Adeleke’s administration is also constructing a 1.5km length of roads across thirty local government areas and one area office. It is also constructing the Oke Fia Roundabout, Osogbo; a flyover, underground tunnel at the stadium roundabout Osogbo; a flyover at May Fair Roundabout, Ile-Ife, and a flyover at Owode Market Ede. These interventions are also extended across the Osun River, Ede and Erinle Rivers also in Ede.

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READ ALSO: Police Arraign Bayelsa Blogger For Cyberstalking, Defamation

Adeleke’s words: “I have used the last 11 months to address the over 90 per cent infrastructural deficit our administration inherited.

“But more still needs to be done, hence the ambitious plan to launch this infrastructure plan that covers roads, health, water, and schools among others.

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“By investing so much in infrastructure upgrades, we are laying the foundation for effective public-private partnership”.

In terms of finance, the governor said the infrastructure plan would be sponsored entirely by the state without procuring loans from any financial institution.

He added that his plan entailed complying with all procurement laws and due process while also ensuring that the local content part of the implementation was adequately satisfied.

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Adeleke said: “Very importantly, our administration is ensuring localisation in the implementation process. Local content in terms of sourcing materials and workforce is key to transferring skills and economically empowering our people”.

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Sanwo-Olu makes U-turn, Unblocks Lawyer Who Sued Him Over Blocking On X

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Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has unblocked human rights lawyer, Festus Ogun, on X after a meeting with him at Lagos House, Marina, on Friday.

The lawyer, who had accused the governor of rights violations, announced the development in a post on his X account on Saturday.

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According to him, Sanwo-Olu personally invited him for a brief meeting to address his complaints.

Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has unblocked me on X (Twitter). I met briefly with him yesterday at Lagos House Marina, on his invitation, to amicably resolve my complaint of human rights violations. We will continue to hold authorities accountable, regardless. Aluta continua!” Ogun wrote.

READ ALSO:Lawyer Sues Sanwo-Olu For Blocking Him On X

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Tribune Online reports that Ogun had earlier filed a suit against Sanwo-Olu at a Federal High Court in Lagos, accusing him of violating his fundamental rights by blocking him on his verified X account.

In the suit marked FHC/L/CS/1739/25, which he shared on Facebook, the lawyer claimed the governor blocked him over his 2021 “constructive criticisms” and “demand for accountability” on the October 2020 #EndSARS killings.

In 2021, I noticed that the Governor blocked me on his official X handle @jidesanwoolu owing to my constructive criticisms of his policies and demand for accountability in respect of the October 2020 #EndSARS Massacre.”

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READ ALSO:‘Court Of Corruption’ — Obasanjo Knocks INEC Chairman, Judiciary In New Book

Ogun said the action has prevented him from accessing vital government updates and information.

“Blocking me on X has prevented me from accessing public updates and receiving information about policies and governance in Lagos, which constitutes a violation of my right to receive information without interference,” he said.

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In his originating summons, he asked the court to declare the move unconstitutional, arbitrary, and discriminatory.

 

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Tragedy Deepens As Prime Suspect in Taraba Student’s Death Found Dead

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The investigation into the death of Comfort Jimtop, a 100-level Mass Communication student at Taraba State University, has taken a dramatic turn following the discovery of the lifeless body of Emmanuel Kefas, the prime suspect in the case.

Kefas’s body was discovered on Friday in the Tudiri community, Ardo-Kola Local Government Area, under unclear circumstances, intensifying public concern and adding a tragic dimension to a case that has already gripped the university community and residents across Taraba State.

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Confirming the development on Saturday, the spokesperson for the Taraba State Police Command, James Lashen, said the police received a report from the village head of Tudiri about the discovery.

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A lifeless body was found in Tudiri, and a Tecno Android phone was recovered beside it,” Lashen stated.

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Upon charging the phone, investigators found a photograph showing the deceased with the late Comfort Jimtop, suggesting they were in a romantic relationship.”

Lashen added that the body has been taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Jalingo for autopsy. At the same time, efforts are ongoing to officially identify the remains through the suspect’s family.

READ ALSO:Four Feared Killed As Gunmen Attack Burial Ceremony In Anambra

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Police have yet to determine whether Kefas’s death was the result of suicide, homicide, or an accident. Investigations into both deaths are continuing.

Comfort Jimtop’s mysterious death had earlier sparked outrage on campus and across the state, with students and rights groups demanding justice. Kefas was named a prime suspect in the case, which remains open.

This latest development has left many unanswered questions and deepened the grief surrounding the case.

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Students, residents, and civil society groups are closely monitoring the situation, calling on authorities to ensure a thorough investigation and bring clarity to the tragic chain of events.

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Ossiomo, Chinese Impasse: This Is Our Story — Management

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The management of Ossiomo Power Plant has cleared the air on the dispute between its Chinese partners and the circumstances surrounding the shutting down of the power plant early this month.

Representative of Ossiomo management, Engineer Festus Evbuomwan, during an interactive session with customers on the impasse between the two partners, said contrary to the rumour making the rounds, the management of Ossiomo Power Plant had paid over ₦2bn to its Chinese partner — Jiangsu Communication Clean Energy Technology (CCETC) — since the power plant started operation.

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Recall that representative of CCETC who identified himself as Mr. ‘W’ had, during a telephone phone interview two weeks ago, claimed that “instruction to shutdown was because we lost lots of money and did not get any return on investment,” adding that “all the $20m investment was done by us including the distribution lines.”

But Evbuomwan during the interactive session, said the management was not aware of the $20m investment the Chinese partner claimed, just as he disclosed that “when they generate power, we sell and pay them.”

READ ALSO:Edo Govt Denies Shares As Ownership Tussle Rocks Ossiomo Power

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He disclosed that after shutting down the power plant, the Chinese partners came up with a request of ₦185m to be paid to two Chinese not known to the management, stressing that this was declined.

According to him, the Chinese partner, having seen how lucrative the business is, “went to some quarters and raised some issues probably thinking they can manoeuvre us with the help of some big persons, so that they can use their machines to generate power and sideline us but this is not possible.”

The Chinese partners also claimed that they borrowed $20m from their native land to invest, we are not aware of such investment, and we do not know where the money was invested up till now.

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“They have been also saying they have not been receiving anything, but I want to tell you unequivocally that first, the partners run a joint account where their investment is going into. More so, The Chinese partners have received over ₦2bn so far for the power they generate with their machines. When they generate the power, we sell and pay them.”

READ ALSO: Five Years After, Edo Govt Reconnects To BEDC As Ossiomo Shut Down

Engr. Evbuomwan, while apologising to customers for the power outage caused by the dispute between the two partners, said Ossiomo had started power generation though not in full capacity, assuring that power generation would be fully restored soon.

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“We have purchased turbines, and one have started working. They are working on the second one, so, by the time our five turbines start working we will be in full capacity. Even with that, those connected to the government may not be reached immediately. This is because the government bought the poles and contracted the wiring, and we cannot force the government to do our bid. Also, we are making efforts to site 33kva transformer along Airport Road and Lagos Road as soon as possible, so that our customers there will get power.”

He said the Edo State government does not have a stake in the company, just as he appealed to the “government to let us supply power to customers in through their Lines. I want to emphasise that Ossiomo is not completely shut down.”

He further urged the “government to encourage the Nigerian citizens to invest and not to work against local investors.”

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