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Vacate Trans-Amusement Park Premises – Oyo Govt To Illegal Occupants

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Oyo state government has issued a final warning to mechanics and car dealers occupying the the Trans-Amusement Park premises, Ibadan to vacate the space before Monday 30th September, 2019.

 

The recreational park has harbored motor mechanics, car dealers and other spare parts dealers for some years now but due to the proposed upgrade and renovation of the park, the government through the Bureau of Investment and Public Private Partnership in collaboration with the Oyo State Road Transport Management Agency (OYRTMA) met with the artisans on Friday, warning them to desist from using the said space as a mechanic village.

 

The Executive Assistant to the Governor on Investment and Public-Private Partnership, Honourable Segun Ogunwuyi informed newsmen on Friday afternoon of the evacuation order which he said would give room for a face lift of the Park in order woo investors and generate revenue for the state.

 

In an interview with the General Manager, Trans-Amusement Park, Mr Sunday Kolawole, he said that the eviction was long over due as the occupants have been given notice to vacate the land since March, 2018.

 

He also revealed that the artisans have been provided with a temporary space since March, 2019 but have remained unyielding to move.

 

“This action is long overdue because as far back as March 2018, the board gave them a quit notice because the company wanted to develop the park but they appealed for extension and the board gave them till January 2019 to move.

 

“Upon expiration of the due date, they appealed for another extension and they were given another two months extension, during which they requested for another space for temporary relocation and they were provided with one.

 

“It is however sad to know that they have neither moved out of the old space nor made use of the temporary space allocated to them. This is why we are here today, to give them the last warning because by Monday 30th September, we will allow the law to take its course as this is government land and cannot be claimed by anyone,” Kolawole explained.

 

In a similar occurrence, the State government has reiterated its promise to turn the popular Bola Ige International Business Complex to an international standard market as promised by the governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde during the campaign period.

 

The Hon. Commissioner for Trade, Industry, Investment and Cooperatives, Hon. Adeniyi Adebisi  disclosed this during his touring of the market to implement the Task Force committee’s report earlier set up by the state Governor.

 

 

During the tour of the complex by the ministry officials led by the Hon Commissioner, Hon Adebisi discovered that many infrastructure initially provided for the complex have been damaged and overstretched due to over population of the market, while it was also discovered that the original master plan of the complex has been distorted.

 

Hon Adebisi while addressing the Executives and the market elders commended them for cooperating with the Government and therefore pledged that the distorted complex master plan would be looked into in such a way that the repairs would not affect both the government and the traders.

 

While responding, the chairman of the market ,Alhaji Lukuman Arowolo commended the government and emphasized that the market executives, elders and the traders had no objections to the government’s decision to transforming the complex to an international standard as it was in the master plan, so as to bring back the old glory of the market.

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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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