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Covid-19: Makinde promises to turn around Saki facility, as Oyo govt. receives N250 million CACOVID support

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Oyo state governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has declared his readiness to turn around the standard of the 100-bed isolation and treatment Centre in Saki, Oke Ogun part of the state.

A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Governor Makinde gave this assurance while receiving support of medical equipment worth N220 million from the Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID), a private sector initiative supporting Federal Government and state governments in fight against COVID-19.

The governor, who was represented by his deputy, Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, said that when completed, the treatment and isolation facility in Saki will be an improvement on the one existing in Olodo, Ibadan.

CACOVID had earlier promised the state N220 million worth of medical equipment and a cash gift of N30 million.

The private sector-driven CACOVID, the statement said, is in partnership with First Bank of Nigeria.

According to the statement, some of the equipment donated to the state government include, lead ECG electrode, heavy duty apron, autoclave, auto syringe pump, biohazard bag, blood warmer, centrifuge (refrigerator), defibrillators (AED) and portable ultrasound imaging.

Others are mobile digital x-ray unit, face shield, protective goggles, hospital gowns, oxygen cylinders, wheelchairs, oxygen concentrator, oxygen regulators, nebuliser, kidney dish, patient multiparameter monitor, stretcher and suction devices, among others.

The governor explained that the Saki isolation centre to be completed and commissioned soon, will be for both treatment and research, adding that the facility will have provisions for observatory, isolation and treatment sections.

He appreciated the CACOVID team for the initiative and donations, assuring that all the facilities are to be deployed to the Saki isolation centre, because of the peculiarities of the axis, which shares a border with neighbouring West African countries.

He said “The Saki Isolation Centre is going to be three-in-one. It will have what you call an observatory, isolation and treatment centre.
“The reason we need to have an observatory is because Saki is a border town and many people come in from different parts of the West African states, especially Burkina Faso and Benin Republic, they come in through that area.

“So, when patients come in, what we do is to create an observatory. An observatory is not available in Olodo as I speak. So, Saki is the only one that will have an observatory, an isolation and a treatment centre.

“What that means is that the bed capacity of Saki ideally should be more than that of Olodo. Saki already has a hundred capacity bed, divided into Intensive Care Unit (10), High Dependency Unit (20), general male and female ward (70).

“But because we want to add an observatory, where patients who come in with no symptoms but have had a contact and may be worried that they may have contracted the infection. What we need to do is to bring them to the observatory, take their samples and within 48 hours get the result and decide whether they will get into isolation or go home.

“So, Saki by all standards, is going to be bigger than Olodo even though the structure is the same. But we have harnessed some areas specifically for the observatory and that will take ten extra beds.

“It will take about six weeks to put the place in shape, because the governor has approved the funding, which will be utilised. We are installing everything that will make the place fully functional as soon as we take off.”

Justifying the decision to move all the donated facilities to the Saki Isolation centre, the governor said “why we are taking all the facilities to Saki is because we want to give everybody the same sense of belonging.

“We have built the Olodo centre and we must also care for those outside of Ibadan. When test results of people come out negative, nobody wants to know which part of the state they are from but are more concerned that they are from the state.

“We don’t want to see any COVID-19 patient dying in any part of the state. So, if we now say after all we have done in Olodo and we decide to put other structures in place in other parts of the state, is there anything wrong in that?”

While appreciating the CACOVID team for the donations, a member of the Oyo State COVID-19 Task Force, Professor Temitope Alonge, in his remarks described all the equipment donated as appropriate for the treatment pattern being followed in the state in the fight against COVID-19.

Alonge said “What thrilled me is that the CACOVID team took cognisance of the disease pattern that we are managing and decided to provide equipment that are appropriate. On many occasions, people have made donations that are good on paper but in terms of usefulness, probably not as good.

“But what they have done is to provide everything from the most mundane to the expensive ventilators, which are all going to be utilised for the management of this disease.
“And to top it all, they brought us about 40 cylinders of oxygen, meaning for the next one year or thereabouts, there may not be need for the Saki Centre to run to Ibadan to come and collect oxygen.”

Speaking while making the donations, the CACOVID Team Lead in charge of Oyo and Osun states, Dr. Timothy Aroowogun, said the objective of donating the equipment is to “support the state government in eliminating COVID-19, help the citizens and also help the health workers to contain the pandemic in the state.”

Aroowogun, who also represented FBN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Adesola Adeduntan, maintained that the bank is a frontline partner in the extensive measures that the Federal Government-led public and private sector partnership have taken to treat the sick and to stop the spread of Coronavirus in the country

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Alli hails Ajimobi’s appointment to IAEA board

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Senator Sharafadeen Alli, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Oyo State, has congratulated Nigeria’s Ambassador to Austria, Dr Florence Ajimobi, on her appointment as Nigeria’s Governor on the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Ajimobi’s appointment is for the 2026–2028 term, following Nigeria’s election to the 35-member IAEA Board during the agency’s 70th General Conference in Vienna, Austria.

Alli, in a statement on Sunday, described the appointment as a significant diplomatic achievement for Ajimobi and a source of pride for Oyo State and Nigeria.

He said the appointment reflected the confidence placed in Ajimobi’s diplomatic experience and her capacity to represent Nigeria in discussions on the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology.

“This is not only a personal achievement for Ambassador Ajimobi but also a proud moment for Oyo State and Nigeria.

“Her appointment reflects the confidence reposed in her ability to contribute to critical global discussions on nuclear science and technology,” Alli said.

The APC candidate said Nigeria’s membership of the IAEA Board would give the country a stronger platform to participate in global discussions on nuclear governance and advance its interests in the peaceful application of nuclear technology.

According to him, nuclear science has important applications in sectors including healthcare, agriculture, energy, environmental protection and scientific research.

Alli urged Ajimobi to use her experience to promote initiatives that would support the development and responsible application of nuclear science and technology in Nigeria and other developing countries.

He specifically mentioned nuclear medicine, food security and clean energy as areas where greater international cooperation could benefit developing countries.

“Ambassador Ajimobi’s appointment comes at a time when the world is seeking safer, cleaner and more sustainable solutions to its energy and development challenges.

“I am confident that she will bring her expertise, integrity and commitment to the board and make Nigeria proud,” he said.

Alli also commended the Federal Government for supporting Nigeria’s representation on the IAEA Board, saying the development would further strengthen the country’s engagement in international diplomacy.

He wished Ajimobi a successful tenure and urged Oyo State stakeholders to celebrate the appointment as a reflection of the state’s contribution to national and international affairs.

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Oyo South: Oseni Supports Apete Widows With N10m, Promises More Interventions

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The All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate for Oyo South Senatorial District, Hon. Aderemi Oseni, has supported widows from Apete, Awotan and neighbouring communities in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State with N10m, promising more interventions to improve their welfare and livelihoods.

Oseni, who represents Ibarapa East/Ido Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and chairs the House Committee on the Federal Road Maintenance Agency, made the donation on Tuesday during an interaction with hundreds of widows at Awotan, Ibadan.

The meeting was part of his ongoing consultations across Oyo South ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Speaking at the event, Oseni said his support for widows, market women and other vulnerable members of society was not driven solely by politics, but by his personal conviction and faith.

According to him, his own experience of growing up under difficult circumstances had strengthened his resolve to support people facing hardship.

He said, “The more I give, the more God blesses me. I pray every day that God should give me more so that I can give more to society. My joy is to see people happy.”

Oseni also assured the women that he would continue to support initiatives aimed at improving their welfare, while urging them to remain active in their communities and engage other residents on issues affecting their lives.

He encouraged the women to take the message to the grassroots through house-to-house and street-to-street engagement, including interactions with market women, artisans and youths.

The lawmaker also solicited support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and other APC candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.

Earlier, the coordinator of the widows, Mrs Comfort Adedeji, said widows should not be regarded as helpless, noting that many of them had continued to provide for their families despite the loss of their husbands.

Adedeji described the women as mothers, caregivers, traders, farmers and workers who had continued to shoulder the responsibilities of their households.

She commended Oseni for what she described as his support for the women and appealed to him and other stakeholders to pay greater attention to widows through empowerment programmes, skills acquisition, financial assistance and educational support for their children.

She said supporting widows was effectively an investment in entire families because of the responsibilities they carried.

“When you empower a widow, you are not helping only one woman; you are helping an entire family and securing the future of her children,” she said.

The women expressed appreciation for the intervention and urged the lawmaker to sustain support for them, particularly in areas of business development and livelihood assistance.

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‎OYO 2027: ‘Fact-Check Always’ – Oseni’s Aide Replies Ex-AGF , Ojo Over Alli’s Campaign Billboard Claims

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The media aide to the All Progressives Congress (APC) senatorial candidate for Oyo South, Hon. Aderemi Oseni,  Com. Idowu Ayodele, has dismissed allegations that his principal deliberately excluded the party’s governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli, from his campaign activities.

‎Idowu described the allegation by a former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Oyo State, Mutalubi Ojo Adebayo, SAN, as unfounded, saying it was based on hearsay rather than facts.

‎Adebayo had, in a Facebook post on Friday, accused Oseni of not being a team player and alleged that the lawmaker deliberately left Alli out of his campaign billboards across Oyo South Senatorial District.

The former Attorney-General described the alleged action as anti-party and unfortunate, urging Oseni to retrace his steps in the interest of party unity ahead of the 2027 general elections.

‎Adebayo also appealed to the APC leadership in Oyo State to intervene and ensure a united and coordinated campaign structure.

‎However, Idowu, while reacting to the allegation, urged the former Attorney-General to verify his facts before making such claims.

‎“I cannot pre-empt your reason or say exactly what informed your decision or the motive behind your post.

“But knowing your nature and what you stand for, I believe your submissions on issues like this should not be based on hearsay. They should be based on facts, proper checks, genuine information and, where necessary, investigation,” he said.

‎Idowu said contrary to the allegation, Oseni had sponsored and erected no fewer than 20 billboards across Oyo South featuring Alli.

“For the record, there are no fewer than twenty billboards presently across Oyo South Senatorial District, sponsored and erected by Hon. Aderemi Oseni, featuring the APC governorship candidate, Senator Sharafadeen Alli,” he stated.

‎According to him, Oseni’s support for Alli was not limited to billboard publicity, as the lawmaker had also actively campaigned and solicited support for the APC governorship candidate, President Bola Tinubu and other candidates of the party.

“Oseni did not just sponsor or erect billboards. He also actively campaigned and solicited support for President Tinubu, Senator Alli and other APC candidates.

“This is a known fact, and Senator Alli himself can attest to it,” Idowu added.

The media aide urged Adebayo to verify the information and correct the impression created by his post.

“I therefore expect you, as a man of honour and integrity, to do the needful by verifying the facts and honourably debunking the falsehood contained in your post,” he stressed.

Idowu also appealed to APC leaders and stakeholders in the state to exercise caution in their public statements, warning that unverified allegations could create unnecessary tension among party leaders.

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