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Oyo: Neglect turns Agbele hill into garbage dump

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Oyo state is blessed with several tourist sites with potential of generating millions in income and employment opportunities for the people.

Agbele hill situated along Ago Aare axis, Igbeti in Olorunsogo Local Government Area of Oyo state is one of the tourist sites.

 

Despite its intimidating and enviable potential, the unique Agbele-human-like-rock structure that welcomes visitors to the town of 16 hills -Igbeti appears to have been forgotten, as the tourist site suffers total neglect both from successive administrations and the present administration in the self acclaimed Pace setter state – Oyo.

While the tourist site is waiting to be officially recognized, developed and generate revenue, outlaws have turned the spot into a refuse dump site, and the surroundings endemic in the open defecation practice, putting children at risk of diarrhoea and other diseases and wreaking havoc in its landscape.

In a chat with our reporter, one of the residents, Mr Adebayo Tawheed said, “more and more refuse is being dumped here. The fence and gate awarded several years ago have been abandoned. Our foundation, a Non – Governmental was responsible for the cleaning in collaboration with secondary school students because this is our own heritage and the rock is very dear to us. It has become a recognisable symbol of not just Igbeti town, but Oke-Ogun and Oyo state”.

Due to the tourist site’s bleak state, Adebayo, therefore called on the state government to declare a state of emergency on the monument so as to  prevent people from continued damage. The fascinating Agbele Rock with its delicate balance wore a physical representation which appears like a woman with a basket on her head and a child strapped to her back.

It was further learnt that this rock formation was formed when a woman stole some yam tubers from a rocky part of the village which was being dried in the sunlight. Surprisingly, like Lot’s wife in the holy Bible who became a pillar of salt after she looked back at Sodom, the woman also became a permanent fixture on the spot.

But unfortunately, the monument, which attracted first time visitors to Igbeti and that could have served as economic booster is now in ruin. Agbele Hill lives in the past glory, as the once great tourist centre is now nothing, but the shadow of itself due to total abandonment.

And the song on the lips of the people of the town housing the monument has since been, “government come to our aid”.

When will Agbele Hill’s prayers be answered?

 

 

 

 

 

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Crime & Court

EFCC Chair Raises Alarm on Rampant Fraud in Nigeria’s Electricity Sector

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Ola Olukoyede, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), has raised concerns over widespread corruption in Nigeria’s electricity sector, attributing frequent national grid failures to fraudulent practices involving substandard materials.

Olukoyede made these remarks on Tuesday during a visit from the House of Representatives Committee on Anti-Corruption and Financial Crimes to the EFCC headquarters in Abuja.

He revealed that ongoing investigations in the power sector had exposed disturbing levels of malpractice, often resulting in compromised infrastructure and recurrent grid collapses.

“As I am talking to you now, we are grappling with electricity. If you see some of the investigations we are carrying out within the power sector, you will shed tears,” Olukoyede stated.

He further explained that contractors awarded projects to supply electrical equipment were substituting recommended materials with cheaper, inferior alternatives.

“People who were awarded contracts to supply electricity equipment, instead of using what they call 9.0 gauge, they will buy 5.0,” he said, noting that such fraudulent practices contribute significantly to the country’s unstable power supply.

“So, every time you see the thing tripping off gets burnt, and all of that, it’s part of our problems.”

The EFCC boss disclosed that the agency would be intensifying efforts toward crime prevention rather than focusing solely on asset recovery.

He emphasized that future scrutiny would prioritize spending by government ministries and agencies to curb misappropriation at the source.

 

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Customs Surpasses Revenue Target with N5.7 tn Collection

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Comp[t. General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi

 

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a record revenue collection of N5.7 trillion as of November 12, 2024, surpassing its yearly target by 10 percent.

This was disclosed by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the ongoing 2024 Comptroller-General of Customs Conference in Abuja.

Themed “Nigeria Customs Service: Engaging Traditional and New Partners with Purpose,” the conference showcased the Customs Service’s progress in modernizing its operations and fostering collaborative partnerships.

“Today, I stand before you to demonstrate how our commitments in 2023 have evolved into tangible achievements,” Adeniyi stated.

He attributed the revenue growth to a series of reforms, including the implementation of a one-stop solution for cargo alerts, a revamped ICT infrastructure, streamlined inspection procedures, and enhanced automation.

Adeniyi explained that these changes reflect the agency’s commitment to elevating operational transparency and efficiency.

“We pledged to re-align our free trade operations, elevate cargo integrity standards, and expand our scanning capacities,” he said.

“Above all, we promised to usher in a new era of customs operations—one built on transparency, efficiency, and genuine collaborations with our partners.”

As of Tuesday, November 12, Adeniyi confirmed that the NCS collected N5.07 trillion, achieving the anticipated 10 percent revenue surplus.

“This performance validates our partnership-driven approach to revenue collection and trade facilitation,” he added.

Adeniyi also highlighted recent strides in trade facilitation, revealing that six companies have been selected to benefit from the Authorised Economic Operators programme, which provides fast-tracked customs clearance and other trade facilitation benefits.

Similarly, the NCS has processed 21 requests under an advance ruling programme, designed to expedite customs decisions on import and export cargoes before they reach Nigerian ports.

The Comptroller-General expressed optimism about the NCS’s potential to drive further economic growth, citing the agency’s commitment to fostering partnerships and advancing innovative practices within the customs sector.

 

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Half of Shortlisted Directors Fail Federal Permanent Secretary Exam

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Nineteen out of the thirty-eight directors who were shortlisted to fill permanent secretary vacancies within the Federal Civil Service have failed the qualifying examination, a memo from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF) revealed on Tuesday.

 

The memo, signed by Dr. Emmanuel Meribole on behalf of the examination committee, disclosed that the qualifying exam was conducted on Monday, November 11, 2024.

 

The Federal Government, through the OHCSF, launched the recruitment drive in October to fill permanent secretary vacancies in eight states.

 

Providing insights into the progress, Eno Olotu, Director of Press at OHCSF, stated, “Of the 38 eligible directors who sat for the exam, 19 have passed the first stage and will move on to the second stage, which will assess their competency in using Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in government operations on Wednesday, November 13, 2024.”

 

Olotu highlighted the rigorous three-stage selection process, designed to ensure that only the most capable individuals are appointed to these high-ranking civil service roles.

 

This comprehensive approach, according to OHCSF, aims to elevate the quality of leadership across federal ministries.

 

The directors who advance beyond the ICT proficiency test will face a final stage on Friday, November 15, 2024, where a panel of senior government officials and private sector experts will conduct a final evaluation to determine their suitability for the permanent secretary positions.

 

 

 

 

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