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Makinde admits epileptic performance of light-up Oyo project, promises permanent solution

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Oyo State governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde has assured residents of the state that his administration will find a permanent solution to the challenges facing the light-up Oyo project after the ongoing audit.

The governor, who gave the assurance while speaking during a special service held at Maranatha Lord Cometh Ministries International, Abayomi, Iwo-Road, Ibadan, said that his administration was also reviewing environmental laws to clean up the environment and remove beggars from the streets.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, quoted the governor as saying that there will be a permanent solution to the epileptic performance of the light-up Oyo project and the traffic congestion being experienced by the people of the state.

He added that the traffic gridlock experienced in recent months must have been the result of influxes of people seeking a conducive environment in Oyo State.

He explained that residents should not be afraid of whether the light will come back or not, as according to him, it will come back sustainably.

Similarly, the governor vowed to get beggars and the destitute off the streets as soon as possible.

He warned lawbreakers, to turn a new leaf by obeying environmental and traffic laws, adding that violators of state laws would not go unpunished under Omituntun 2.0.

He promised to fix the road that leads to the church as quickly as possible.

He said, “You know, it is one thing to be here and another thing to do something that you can remember. So, your request to fix this road is approved. And let it be on record that this is done under Omituntun 1.0.

“Let me also say that we have been blessed with the message this morning of mercy and grace. For the beggars, we are thinking about them and will take them off the streets. Two days ago, I visited the camp at Akinyele but it did not perform as envisaged, but we will take another approach to it. So, between now and May 29th, you will see us taking the beggars off the streets.

Speaking on the light-up project, he said: “So, an audit is going on right now, and I have asked the Commissioner for Energy to put out a notice. It will take about four to six weeks to complete the audit process, and we will have a permanent solution immediately after that audit. “So, you don’t have to be afraid of whether the light will come back or not. They will come back and stay there sustainably.

“The second issue is about the investment on the road. As you can see, we have traffic situations here. Well, let me say this: many people are coming into this state from other states because things are being done right here.

“When we came in, we were in a hole. Now, we are out of the hole and yet to start working or running, but we are crawling along and being proactive in how we are situating our infrastructure.” Many people are coming in, and we have to stay ahead of how we provide the infrastructure. If you look at the airport road coming into Ibadan, it is not the same situation as we have in Lagos. We are looking at multiple routes to get to the airport. Not only have we dualized the airport road itself, but the airport road is now going to Ajia to burst out at the Ajia junction. So, if you are going to Ife, you don’t need to get to the junction.

“We also have a new road now going through Oremeji, Agugu, which is right after the gate of the airport.” So, if you are going to the center of the city, you don’t have to come to Iwo Road. You turn in right after the gate to get to Oremeji, Agugu, and beyond. Also, on that road to Ajia, we made a spur to Amuloko, and from Amuloko, you can turn left and go towards Akanran and Ijebu-Ode, and you can turn right and come to Olorunsogo. Not only are we fixing the road, but we are also dualizing the biggest portion, which is about 3.5 km.

“For example, if you want to come to Secretariat, Gate, Total Garden, and all those neighbouring areas, you don’t have to come in through Iwo Road. The Old Ife Road is being fixed. I was there yesterday night around 9:30 p.m. and inspected the underpass at Onipepeye. You know it is connected to the Ogbere River, and we have expanded that place. We can never experience floods at Onipepeye again. If you want to go to Gate, you take the old-Ife road, which has been dualized. No bottleneck. That underpass will be open for traffic before the 29th of May. All of these are under Omituntun 1.0.

“You also touched on waste management. Yes, we have moved from where we used to be but still need to do more, and we are constantly looking at the means to achieve a very clean and presentable environment. I can say we are well on our way. We know the solution, and we are trying to implement it. So, I look forward to a cleaner and saner Ibadan.

“If you look at the roadmap for sustainable development 2023–2027, Section 6, it deals with the rule of law. We have the grace period now, too. Between now and May 29, people will have grace. But starting May 29, I will make the pronouncement and put big billboards at all entry points to Oyo State that will suggest that this will be a state where you will be responsible for your actions.

“We will engage with all stakeholders whose markets are flowing into the roads and causing traffic logjams. We will ask them to be confined within the space provided for buying and selling. I will not go after the sellers, but the buyers. If you want to buy things, go inside the market. We will provide parking spaces and organization within those marketplaces. But if you stay on the road to patronize people who are not supposed to be on the road, you will pay the fine for both of you the buyer and the seller. We will show mercy on the seller, but the grace will not cover the buyer. We will sensitize the people first.

“We had the last Exco meeting about a week and a half ago, and we tasked the Exco and they harmonized the Environmental Bill. It is with the Oyo State House of Assembly now, and once it is passed, then there is a law. We will ask people to obey our laws, and we will all be better for it. We have connected almost all of our zones. I went for inspection in three zones of Oyo State, and we did it within five hours and got to Oyo, Oke-Ogun, and came back to Ibadan to inspect projects. So, we have put in the handwork but left it to people to obey the law and let the rest also enjoy the benefits of the money we have put into our infrastructure.”.

Earlier in his message, the presiding pastor of the church, Bishop Samuel 1 Olumakinde Alawode who read from the Bible Ephesians 4:7, admonished people to repent of their sins and seek divine grace from the Lord.

While commending the unprecedented feats achieved by the governor in Omituntun 1.0, the cleric charged Governor Makinde to be more active in his second term in office and strive to leave a lasting legacy in the history of the state.

 

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Ford Trims Workforce: 4,000 Jobs to Go in Europe

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(FILES) The logo of carmaker Ford is pictured on the sidelines of a warning strike called by metalworkers’ union IG Metall at the plant of carmaker Ford in Cologne, western Germany, on October 29, 2024. – US car manufacturer Ford on November 20, 2024 announced plans for 4,000 further job cuts in Europe, mostly in in the UK and Germany, in the latest blow to the continent’s beleaguered car industry. (Photo by INA FASSBENDER / AFP)

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.

 

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Tinubu Dissolves UNIZIK Council, Sacks VC, Registrar, Otukpo Pro-Chancellor

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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.

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Ekiti Workers to Earn N70,000 Minimum Wage as Govt Signs MoU with Unions

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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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