News
CBN House Of Horror: Multi-billion Naira Property Turns Hideout for Hoodlums, Rapists and Wild Animals in Ibadan.
*Community Cries Out for help.
These properties were built with public funds. Today, most Federal Government Properties in Nigeria are either abandoned or underused. These national statues are now in ruins and threats to security. Some of these abandoned properties have been hijacked by weeds, rodents, wild animals and reptiles, while also serves as abodes for hoodlums, miscreants, armed robbers, kidnappers and the likes, this is exactly the true picture of the Central Bank of Nigeria property at Owode Estate, Apata, Ibadan, in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The multi-billion naira property in question owned by the Central Bank of Nigeria has been abandoned for over two decades. Mega Icon Magazine investigations revealed that the property was designed and aimed at providing housing scheme to the staff of CBN. It was also established that the speedily completed Quarters had never accommodated any occupant, even for once, up till date.
Visit to this abandoned, neglected site shows the parlous, pathetic and deplorable situation of the property that could have accommodated an estimated figure of about 10,000 people conveniently.
subsequent to the total neglect and insensitivity of the Federal Government, the property now poses great security risks to residents of the community.
Speaking with one of the community leaders, Deacon Idowu Aladejobi expresses his displeasure about this ugly situation. Aladejobi further stated that the abandoned property has constituted security risks to the community, “we discovered that CBN normally come to the site to burn their refuse (currencies) almost on a daily basis, which is an environmental hazard and injurious to the community.
He stated that the property has also been turned in to a safe haven by rapists who hide in the bushy environment to lure and rape their daughters with reckless abandonment.
Abandoned CBN Quarters housing decayed buildings at Owode Estate, Ibadan.
According to him, men of the underworld also use the abandoned property as hideout to strategize and plan on how to carry out their evil operations, “they always come out of the place to attack and rob the community, this is very dishearten”, he lamented.
Though, one would bewildered with the ease at which CBN abandons its assets to decay still baffles many, other people perceive the problem as misapplied, misconceived, wrongly executed policies and absence of complete honesty in the management.
Stressing further , Aladejobi said the community has taken bold steps by writing the CBN consistently, both the Ibadan Branch and Headquarters in Abuja to curtail this malady.
“ Even former governors of the Bank, Professor Soludo and Mr. Sanusi also came to inspect the property, we thought when they came, they would be able to address the issue, but unfortunately, it is to no avail”, he decried.
He advised the CBN to investigate and appraise the matter, probably release the property to the Local Government, State Government or better still, sell to private individuals, so as to meet other community needs and serve the people.
In a related development, a former President of the Association, Pa. Lawrence Abayomi Kupoluyi make plain the rich history of the abandoned CBN property that should have make the deserted project stand out as a national monument or major source of revenue, but suffers neglect or underutilization.
Kupoluyi in his reaction said that the community had taken several steps to ensure that the place is turned to a useful legacy, “we had written letters to CBN and Housing Corporation on this issue, yet nothing has been done, it is inhuman, our hope is dashed as the residents suffer neglect, we have been dehumanized”, he lamented.
Access road leading to the abandoned property.
Mega Icon Magazine learnt that the abandoned property has been turned to a game reserve where wild animals, including python dwell while corpses are buried at the place since there is nobody to challenge those people who have turned the place into a grave yard.
“A former Nigerian diplomat son, Ambassador Maiyaki was brutally attacked in the Estate by hoodlums who use the site as a hideout and since then, the man had never returned to Nigeria, he is psychologically affected”, another aggrieved resident declared.
Mega Icon Magazine checks further unearthed that different investors had approached the CBN, including Universities, but they never responded.
The leaders, however called on the Oyo State Government and relevant authorities to come to their rescue and save the community before it is too late.
By Idowu Ayodele.
US car giant Ford on Wednesday announced 4,000 more job cuts in Europe, mostly in Germany and Britain, in the latest blow to the continent’s beleaguered car industry.
“The company has incurred significant losses in recent years,” Ford said in a statement, blaming “the industry shift to electrified vehicles and new competition”.
The move will affect 2,900 jobs in Germany, 800 in the UK and 300 in western Europe by the end of 2027, a Ford spokesman told AFP.
“It is critical to take difficult but decisive action to ensure Ford’s future competitiveness in Europe,” said Dave Johnston, Ford’s European vice-president in the statement.
The company also said it was adjusting the production of its Explorer and Capri models, resulting in reduced hours at its Cologne plant in the first quarter of 2025.
Europe’s car industry has been plunged into crisis by high manufacturing costs, a stuttering switch to electric vehicles and increased competition in key market China.
Germany’s Volkswagen has been among those hardest hit, announcing in September that it was considering the unprecedented move of closing some factories in Germany.
“The European automotive industry is in a very demanding and serious situation,” Volkswagen CEO Oliver Blume said at the time.
Ford had already announced in February 2023 that it was planning to cut 3,800 jobs in Europe, including 2,300 in Germany and 1,300 in Britain.
The company said then it was planning to reduce the number of models developed for Europe, concentrate on the profitable van segment and speed up the transition to electric vehicles.
Ford currently has around 28,000 employees in Europe with 15,000 in Germany, according to the company’s works council.
President Bola Tinubu has approved the dissolution of the Governing Council of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, and the removal of the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Bernard Ifeanyi Odoh, and Registrar, Mrs. Rosemary Ifoema Nwokike.
The council, chaired by Ambassador Greg Ozumba Mbadiwe, comprised five other members: Hafiz Oladejo, Augustine Onyedebelu, Engr. Amioleran Osahon, and Rtd. Gen. Funsho Oyeneyin.
A statement released on Wednesday by presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, revealed that the council was dissolved following reports of procedural violations in appointing the vice-chancellor.
According to the statement, the council had allegedly appointed an unqualified candidate, disregarding due process, which triggered tensions between the university’s Senate and the council.
The Federal Government expressed dismay over the council’s actions, emphasizing the need for adherence to the university’s governing laws in decision-making.
“The council’s disregard for established rules necessitated the government’s intervention to restore order to the 33-year-old institution,” the statement noted.
In a related development, President Tinubu also approved the dismissal of Engr. Ohieku Muhammed Salami, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of the Federal University of Health Sciences, Otukpo, Benue State.
Salami was accused of suspending the university’s Vice-Chancellor without following the prescribed procedures, a move the Federal Ministry of Education had previously directed him to reverse.
Despite the Ministry’s directives, Salami reportedly refused to comply and resorted to issuing threats and abusive remarks towards the Ministry’s officials, including the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government reiterated that the primary role of university councils is to ensure the smooth operation of academic activities, strictly adhering to the laws establishing each institution.
Tinubu warned university councils against engaging in actions that could destabilize their institutions, as his administration remains committed to enhancing the nation’s education system.
The Ekiti State Government has reached an agreement with labour leaders in the state, signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the payment of the N70,000 minimum wage approved by the Federal Government.
Addressing journalists at a brief ceremony in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, the Head of Service (HoS), Dr. Folakemi Olomojobi, announced that the payment would commence immediately.
She lauded Governor Biodun Oyebanji for prioritizing the welfare of workers despite the state’s limited resources.
“This development demonstrates the governor’s commitment to improving the livelihood of our workers,” Dr. Olomojobi stated, highlighting the proactive measures taken by the administration to ensure prompt implementation.
In their remarks, the Trade Union Congress (TUC) Chairman, Comrade Sola Adigun, and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Chairman, Comrade Olatunde Kolapo, expressed their appreciation to Governor Oyebanji for fulfilling his promises to workers.
They confirmed that the new minimum wage would apply to all cadres, including employees in ministries, parastatals, agencies, and pensioners.
The Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Comrade Femi Ajoloko, described the implementation as a fair and commendable adjustment.
“This decision reflects the governor’s magnanimity and his dedication to fostering a productive workforce in Ekiti State,” he said.
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