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‘We have reached agreement with FG to construct Oyo-Iseyin road’ – Makinde
Governor ‘Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, on Friday, said that preliminary works have begun on the planned Iseyin-Ogbomoso road.
The governor, who stated this in Iseyin, while attending the 8th Day Fidau prayer of the mother of the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Omokunmi Mustapha, added that his administration will ensure the road is completed before the end of his tenure.
He said that survey works on the new road have already begun, adding that the new road designed to connect Iseyin to Ogbomoso will boost the economic expansion drive of his administration.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, also quoted the governor as saying that the state has also reached an agreement with the Federal Government to construct the Oyo-Iseyin road.
He stated that his government will go ahead with the construction despite the Federal Government’s position that it would not repay the state if it constructs the federal road.
Governor Makinde, to the excitement of the crowd of well-wishers and residents of Iseyin, also declared that his administration will, in the next six weeks, announce the situation of a tertiary institution in the town in line with his promise during the electioneering period.
The statement further indicated that the governor eulogised the late mother of the PDP chairman, Alhaja Nimotallah Alake Olayiwola, stating that she lived an enviable life.
The governor said that only an individual that is blessed by God could live up to 118, as he prayed to God for a long life for her children and those in attendance.
He said: “We want to thank God for Mama’s life and we are here today to celebrate her life. But as a government, we would like to say one or two things. On my way here, I had to time myself when we left Ibadan. From the roundabout in Iseyin here to where the construction of Moniya-Iseyin road stopped is just a 20-minute drive.
“What that means is that by the time they are done, we won’t be spending more than seven minutes to reach that road. And if we add those seven minutes to the minutes one will spend from Ibadan, it means Ibadan to Iseyin won’t exceed 45 minutes.”
Speaking on the readiness of the state government to construct the Iseyin-Oyo road, Governor Makinde said that the state has reached an agreement with the Federal Government to construct the road, saying: “We have formally agreed with the Federal Government to construct the road from Iseyin to Oyo but they wrote in the document that the road belongs to the Federal Government.
“They said if we construct it, they won’t return the money but I told them that they should put whatever money we spend on the road in record, as a government that will refund the money to Oyo State might come into place one day.
“I am also pleased to tell you that survey works have begun on the road that will lead to Ogbomoso from Iseyin. Some are saying we should begin the road construction from Iseyin to Ogbomoso but, by the grace of God, we will not only start it, but we will also complete it in this administration.”
The governor also used the occasion to charge residents of the state on the need to take the issue of security more seriously, stating that security is everybody’s business.
He added that the introduction of the Peace and Security Committee in all local government areas, which will include religious leaders, traditional institution leaders and all stakeholders will help to stem the tide of insecurity in the state.
“Apart from the prayers that you have been praying for us, I also want to urge you to take the issue of security very seriously. Our security is in our hands. We all know what happened recently in Ibarapa and the Oke-Ogun axis.
“There is nothing that is happening in our environment that you are not aware of. If any stranger or visitor enters any environment now, you will see them. So, what we are saying, in essence, is, if you see something, say something to the government. Let us come together and fix the issue of insecurity in our land,” the governor added.
In his response, renowned lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Barr. Ahmed Raji (SAN), while giving a vote of thanks, described Governor Makinde as a man of his words, praying to God to uplift him.
“Your Excellency, we want to thank you for three things. First, we want to appreciate you for coming here with your entourage. Secondly, we thank you for the road projects you have embarked on and the promise you have made to continue to construct more roads.
“The third is the commitment on the establishment of a tertiary institution in Iseyin. You told me one on one that you will bring a higher institution to Iseyin and, today, you have declared it, may God reward you abundantly.
“No matter how long you stay in office, you will leave one day but the prayer we have is that God should lift you higher. We really thank you. Oyo State will not witness retrogression under your tenure. You are a promise-keeper. And whoever makes promises and keeps it is who we want at the top.”
Similarly, the Chief Imam of Iseyinland, Alhaji Abdulhakim Olayori, commended the governor for doing well in terms of infrastructure and other aspects of life, saying the governor’s good works are showing and that the people want him to continue the good works for eight years.
“You are doing well; we are seeing your works. You have given us good roads in Iseyin but we want you to also give us a higher institution of learning.
“When someone is doing something good, we tell him to continue. Your works are showing; we want you to continue for eight years,” the Imam said.
The event had in attendance top functionaries of the Oyo State Government, including the Deputy Governor of the state, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan; Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, and members of the House of Assembly; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Bisi Ilaka, among others.
Top politicians and chieftains of the PDP in attendance include Senator Gbenga Babalola, former Chief of Staff to the Oyo State governor, Dr. Saka Balogun, Chief Sunday Ogunlade, members of the Oyo PDP State Working Committee, former Oyo North Senatorial chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Yakubu Oladoja, Oyo North Senatorial chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Waheed Oluwakemi, PDP chairmen at the local government levels, among others.
The lawmaker representing Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Engr. Aderemi Oseni, has mourned the death of a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State and former member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Akeem Abimbola Oladipupo, popularly known as Able, describing his demise as a painful loss to the progressive family.
Oladipupo, who represented Ibadan North-West Constituency in the Oyo State House of Assembly, was widely regarded as a grassroots politician and committed party loyalist until his passing.
Oseni, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Federal Roads Maintenance Agency and the APC candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, said the late politician’s death had created a vacuum within the party and among those who benefitted from his unwavering commitment to public service.
In a condolence statement issued on Monday by his Media Aide, Idowu Ayodele, and made available to journalists in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, the federal lawmaker described the late Oladipupo as a dependable progressive, humble political actor and loyal party stalwart whose impact would remain indelible.
He said the deceased dedicated his life to serving humanity, strengthening the progressive movement and supporting the aspirations of many at the grassroots.
Oseni said, “The death of Hon. Akeem Abimbola Oladipupo (Able) came to me as a rude shock. Oyo State and the progressive family have indeed lost a committed, loyal and selfless leader whose passion for service, humility and dedication to the people stood him out.
“He was not just a politician but a bridge-builder, a dependable ally and a grassroots mobiliser who believed strongly in the ideals of our great party. His contributions to the growth of the APC in Oyo State and his service to humanity will remain unforgettable.”
The APC senatorial candidate noted that the late former lawmaker remained steadfast in promoting peace, unity and political development, adding that his simplicity and accessibility endeared him to many across political divides.
According to Oseni, the late politician’s legacy of service and sacrifice would continue to inspire younger politicians and party faithful.
He, however, urged members of the APC, associates and family members of the deceased to take solace in the remarkable life he lived and the positive impact he made during his lifetime.
Oseni also prayed for the repose of the deceased’s soul and for God to grant his family the fortitude to bear the painful loss.
State governors have proposed a new national minimum wage of N100,000 for Nigerian workers as part of efforts to cushion them from the biting effects of inflation and the rising cost of living.
Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, who is also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), disclosed the proposal on Saturday in a post by the state government’s official Facebook page. He said the move aims to improve workers’ welfare while ensuring that government finances remain sustainable.
“State governments recognise the urgent need to improve workers’ welfare in response to the current economic realities facing Nigerians,” AbdulRazaq said.
“We are actively engaging with the Federal Government and organised labour to arrive at a wage structure that is fair to workers and sustainable for government finances.”
The NGF chairman explained that ongoing discussions are focused on balancing the need to boost workers’ purchasing power with the capacity of governments to deliver essential public services and development projects.
“The goal is to improve the living conditions of workers while ensuring that states can continue to meet their obligations and sustain projects that directly impact citizens,” he added.
The proposed N100,000 minimum wage is expected to intensify national debates on salaries, inflation, and broader economic reforms as Nigerians continue to contend with rising food prices, transportation costs, and other living expenses.
Currently, Nigeria’s statutory minimum wage stands at N70,000 per month. Some states, including Lagos, Rivers, and Imo, are already paying above the national benchmark to support workers amid the country’s economic challenges.
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has continued to call for a comprehensive review of salaries, insisting that workers deserve a living wage that reflects present-day economic realities rather than merely guaranteeing survival.
The average retail price paid by consumers for Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, rose to N1,532.93 per litre in April 2026, representing a 23.69 per cent increase compared to the N1,239.33 recorded in the corresponding period of 2025, findings by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) have shown.
The sharp rise in petrol prices came amid mounting inflationary pressure and worsening living costs, with Nigerians grappling with soaring transportation and food expenses that have continued to shrink household purchasing power.
The NBS disclosed this in its Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) Price Watch for April 2026, released on Friday.
The report further showed that on a month-on-month basis, petrol prices rose by 18.97 per cent from N1,288.54 recorded in March 2026, underscoring persistent volatility in the downstream petroleum market.
A breakdown of prices across states revealed that Yobe recorded the highest average retail price for petrol at N1,599.05 per litre during the review period.
Edo and Bauchi followed closely with average prices of N1,595.74 and N1,589.07, respectively.
However, Niger residents paid the least for petrol at an average of N1,403.89 per litre, while Sokoto and Katsina recorded N1,404.16 and N1,406.28 respectively.
At the zonal level, the South-South recorded the highest average retail price at N1,566.76 per litre, while the North-West posted the lowest at N1,508.81.
The latest petrol price increase comes as millions of Nigerians continue to battle the ripple effects of rising inflation, with higher energy costs worsening transportation fares and the prices of essential commodities.
Similarly, the NBS said the average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder of Liquefied Petroleum Gas, also known as cooking gas, rose by 13.73 per cent month-on-month to N8,706.93 in April 2026 from N7,655.73 recorded in March.
On a year-on-year basis, the price increased by 10.42 per cent from N7,885.60 recorded in April 2025.
Lagos recorded the highest average price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N9,745.10, followed by Nasarawa at N9,451.70 and Bayelsa at N9,422.74.
In contrast, Anambra recorded the lowest average price at N7,204.76, while Ondo and Ogun followed with N7,239.49 and N7,825.75, respectively.
At the regional level, the North-West recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 5kg cylinder at N9,025.07, followed by the North-East at N8,847.16, while the South-East posted the lowest average price at N8,224.37.
Also, the average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder of cooking gas increased by 13.89 per cent month-on-month to N22,382.20 in April 2026 from N19,652.83 in March.
Compared to April 2025, the price rose by 10.43 per cent from N20,268.06.
According to the NBS LPG Price Watch for April, Katsina recorded the highest average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N25,596.71, followed by Kogi at N24,558.25 and Gombe at N24,438.97.
Ogun recorded the lowest average price at N19,564.36, while Bauchi and Anambra followed at N20,178.87 and N20,511.90 respectively.
The North-West recorded the highest zonal average retail price for refilling a 12.5kg cylinder at N23,276.95, followed by the North-Central at N22,865.29, while the South-East posted the lowest average at N21,060.92.
The latest figures signal growing pressure on household energy costs, raising concerns over the implications for inflation and the cost of living in the coming months.
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