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Oyo’s IPP project ‘ll power hospitals, govt. house, streetlights, stadium, others – Makinde explains
Oyo state governor, Mr. Seyi Makinde, on Sunday, said that contrary to claims by some opposition elements, the Independent Power Project (IPP) embarked upon by his administration will not only power the government house but will power other critical state assets including schools, hospitals, streetlights and stadium, among others.
The governor, who stated this while speaking at the special Thanks Giving Service held at First Baptist Church, Igbojaye, Itesiwaju, Local Government Area added that his administration will continue to leverage on the four comparative advantages of Oke Ogun and the state generally, which includes agribusiness, tourism, solid minerals and commerce.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, also quoted the governor as telling critics to always assess the performance of his administration based on his electoral promises.
“Concerning the power project we are embarking on in Ibadan, they have been criticising us. They said the 11 megawatts project does not make any sense because it will only power the Government House. Let me say here today that they need to do more research. It is not only Government House that it will power but all the street light within 10km radius, hospitals, schools, Judiciary Complex and the stadium will be powered.
“On my way here, I have seen the poles meant for the light-up project in Igbo-ijaye. We will ensure we power the project with gas generators here. And when the light comes, darkness will definitely vanish and that is the essence of the project”, he said.
The governor asked critics to evaluate his performance based on his electoral promises saying: “For us in Oyo State, we are saying you should evaluate us based on what we said we would do and whether we are doing them or not.”
He said that his administration has continued to leverage on the comparative and competitive advantages of each zone of the state.
“In Oyo State, we have both comparative and competitive advantages in about four areas. One is agribusiness.
“When we went to Brent Farm at Ijio, the owner said that from the survey, the area is the most fertile in Nigeria, and it is the same for most places in Oke-Ogun. So, if we talk about competitive and comparative advantages in agribusiness, Oke-Ogun has a place.
“The second area is solid minerals and Oke-Ogun will also feature when we talk about the development of solid minerals. Another aspect is Tourism. The hanging lake, which is at Ado-Awaye, is a perfect example and the Oke-Ogun zone will feature too. The deepest Gorge Dam on the entire continent of Africa is at Ikere. So, this zone will also feature as far as tourism is concerned.
“The last is commerce. Oyo State shares an international border, which is between Ibarapa and Oke-Ogun axis. So, Oke-Ogun also features in commerce. So, as a government, if we want to lead our people from poverty to prosperity like we mentioned in our roadmap for accelerated development, we have to focus on those areas.
“And what exactly are those things we need to do? We need to develop our infrastructure and that is why, six months into this government, we awarded the Moniya-Iseyin road. If we also talk about commerce, Saki is almost the furthermost city in Oyo State, which is closer to the border with the Republic of Benin. That was why we focused on completing the Saki Township road, which is done right now.
“Let me also say that there are other zones that have one or two things they can contribute to the development of our state. Talk of Ogbomoso, Oyo and others. We have started the construction of Oyo-Iseyin road, passing through Fasola. Fasola is our agribusiness hub and the same thing in Ibadan. If you are coming from Lagos and going to North or East or other parts of the South-West, you will pass through Ibadan. So, Ibadan is almost the centre of Commerce for the entire South West. That is why we are saying anybody who is passing through Ibadan should have a good experience and want to come back. Those are some of the steps that this government has taken to ensure that we are expanding our economy and I’m very sure we are on the path of taking many of our people out of poverty”, the governor added.
He also appreciated the clerics and the people for what he called their consistent prayers, adding that without the prayers, “we won’t be where we are today.”
He cautioned those campaigning about second term for him, saying: “You can only pray that the will of God be done.”
Earlier in his sermon, the President of Oke Ogun Baptist Convention, Rev, Dr. Gabriel Olanrewaju, noted that the nation needs trustworthy leaders to survive its challenges.
He added that leaders must also fear God in their dealings.
“This nation needs the type of leader we have in Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, for us to triumph the present situation we are facing. Not just for political position but for uniting the people. We need someone who can keep us focused and give us direction in the nation.
“Your Excellency, you have a lot of Special Advisers and other aides but I can tell you that the knowledge of men sometimes fail. You need wisdom from above like that of King Solomon. It is fruitful, pure, merciful, impartial, submissive and fair and we want it in your life. Always draw from the wisdom from above.
“Please, whatever God says you should do to turn things around in Nigeria, especially in Oyo State, do it.”
The service also witnessed the presentation of Awards to outstanding dignitaries, including Governor Makinde, the state’s Head of Service, Alhaja Ololade Agboola; Chairman Advisory Council, Senator Hosea, Agboola; and Mrs Lizzy Ayodele.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has dismissed media reports suggesting that the recently resuscitated old Port Harcourt refinery has been shut down, labeling such claims as baseless and misleading.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, clarified that the refinery, with a capacity of 60,000 barrels per day, is “fully operational.”
The facility resumed operations two months ago after years of inactivity.
“We wish to clarify that such reports are totally false, as the refinery is fully operational, as verified a few days ago by former Group Managing Directors of NNPC,” Soneye said.
He added that preparations for the day’s loading operation are currently underway, emphasizing that the public should disregard the claims.
“Members of the public are advised to discountenance such reports as they are the figments of the imagination of those who want to create artificial scarcity and rip off Nigerians,” Soneye stated.
The old Port Harcourt refinery is part of the country’s efforts to revive its local refining capacity. Three years ago, the Federal Government approved $1.5 billion to rehabilitate the plant, which was initially shut down in 2019 due to operational challenges.
Despite being one of the largest oil producers globally, Nigeria has long relied on fuel imports to meet its domestic needs, swapping crude oil for petrol and other refined products. This dependency, coupled with government subsidies, has strained the nation’s foreign exchange reserves.
The recent return of the Port Harcourt refinery to operation follows the commissioning of the Dangote refinery, which began petrol production in September 2024. These developments are expected to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on imports and address long-standing issues in the petroleum sector.
The Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has declared that the era of armed and bank robberies in Lagos State is a thing of the past, attributing the success to the collaborative efforts between the police and the state government.
Egbetokun made this statement on Thursday during the 18th Annual Town Hall Meeting on Security organized by the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF). He noted that since 2007, only one bank robbery had been successfully executed in the state, which occurred in 2014.
“There was a time when armed robbery and bank robbery were common in Lagos. However, I can confidently say that since 2007, only one bank robbery succeeded, and that was as far back as 2014. The days of armed robbery and bank robbery are gone,” he said.
The IGP commended the Lagos State Government for its consistent support, emphasizing the critical role it has played in maintaining security in the bustling economic hub of the nation. He highlighted the challenges posed by the state’s continuous internal migration, with thousands of people moving into Lagos daily, creating additional security demands.
“What we are doing here today is the usual assistance the state government has been giving to the police. Without this, we would have been overwhelmed with insecurity in Lagos State,” Egbetokun added.
At the event, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu further demonstrated his administration’s commitment to security by donating over 250 brand-new patrol vehicles, along with hardware, communication gadgets, and protective gear to the police.
In his address, Sanwo-Olu outlined the government’s efforts to scale up the use of technology and data for improved security and traffic monitoring. He revealed plans to deploy drone technology for surveillance of waterways and densely populated areas.
“The EGIS component of our mapping and digitalization has almost been completed. Lagos is now properly mapped, and drone technology will be deployed to enhance monitoring, crowd management, and traffic assessment. This will ensure real-time responses to incidents,” the governor explained.
Chad announced Thursday that it was ending military cooperation with former colonial power France, just hours after a visit by French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.
“The government of the Republic of Chad informs national and international opinion of its decision to end the accord in the field of defence signed with the French Republic,” foreign minister Abderaman Koulamallah said in a statement on Facebook.
Chad is a key link in France’s military presence in Africa, constituting Paris’s last foothold in the Sahel after the forced withdrawal of its troops from Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
“This is not a break with France like Niger or elsewhere,” Koulamallah, whose country still hosts around a thousand French troops, told AFP.
At a press briefing after a meeting between President Mahamat Idriss Deby and Barrot, Koulamallah called France “an essential partner” but added it “must now also consider that Chad has grown up, matured and is a sovereign state that is very jealous of its sovereignty”.
Barrot, who arrived in Ethiopia on Thursday evening, could not immediately be reached for comment.
– ‘Historic turning point’-
Chad is the last Sahel country to host French troops.
It has been led by Deby since 2021, when his father Idriss Deby Itno was killed by rebels after 30 years in power.
The elder Deby frequently relied on French military support to fend off rebel offensives, including in 2008 and 2019.
It borders the Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya and Niger, all of which host Russian paramilitary forces from the Wagner group.
Deby has sought closer ties with Moscow in recent months, but talks to strengthen economic cooperation with Russia have yet to bear concrete results.
Koulamallah called the decision to end military cooperation a “historic turning point”, adding it was made after “in-depth analysis”.
“Chad, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement, undertakes to respect the terms laid down for its termination, including the notice period”, he said in the statement, which did not give a date for the withdrawal of French troops.
The announcement comes just days after Senegal’s President Bassirou Diomaye Faye indicated in an interview with AFP that France should close its military bases in that country.
“Senegal is an independent country, it is a sovereign country and sovereignty does not accept the presence of military bases in a sovereign country,” Faye told AFP on Thursday.
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