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Category: Oyo Update

  • BREAKING! Tension As Masked Men Storm Oyo Government Secretariat

    BREAKING! Tension As Masked Men Storm Oyo Government Secretariat

    Several individuals wearing masks reportedly forced their way into the Oyo State Government Secretariat on Saturday (today).

    Reports said the armed individuals believed to be Yoruba Nation Agitators were strategically positioned at various locations within the Secretariat premises.

    Some were reportedly stationed at the Governor’s office gate, while others were observed at the House of Assembly Gate and the main entrance.

    The presence of these masked men caused fear and anxiety in the area, with security personnel attempting to address the situation without success.

    The true identities of these masked individuals remain unknown at this time.

    However, law enforcement officers, including the Police Command and other anti-crime agencies, swiftly responded by deploying multiple patrol vehicles to the Secretariat entrance.

    Additionally, members of the Oyo security network known as Amotekun were also reported to have arrived at the scene.

    The situation, as reported, nearly descended into chaos as security personnel engaged in a gunfight with the protesters.

    Reports also mentioned the use of tear gas, causing panic among residents in the vicinity.

    Motorists travelling along the route have been forced to take alternative paths while other road users hurried to find safety.

    Road users heading towards the Secretariat were redirected through Customs Junction, as the Secretariat-Queen Elizabeth Road was blocked off.

    Despite the efforts of the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Security, CP Sunday Odukoya (retired), to calm the situation, the masked gunmen persisted in their attempt to raise their flag at the Secretariat.

    However, the arrival of military officers from the 2nd Division of the Army approximately an hour later reportedly changed the course of events, causing some of the protesters at the entrance gate to flee.

    The stern-looking officers were said to have pursued the masked agitators.

    Shop owners, businesses, and residents in Bodija, Ikolaba, and along the Awolowo route quickly secured their shops and doors.

    As of this report, it remains unconfirmed whether any arrests have been made, as security personnel work to restore normalcy.

  • IBEDC Restores Power to UCH After 16-Day Blackout

    IBEDC Restores Power to UCH After 16-Day Blackout

    University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan, Oyo State, has finally regained electricity after enduring a 16-day blackout due to a disconnection by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). 

    The disconnection was a result of an outstanding debt amounting to N495 million, accumulated over six years.

    The power restoration, which occurred around 6:30 pm on Thursday, came after the hospital management took steps to address the issue. 

    Part of the debt, totaling N80 million, was paid, and an agreement was reached with IBEDC on a repayment plan for the remaining amount.

    During the blackout period, the hospital faced significant challenges, with workers resorting to rechargeable lamps to attend to patients. 

    Many wards operated at minimal capacity, leading to patient discharges, while critical cases were still admitted, albeit with difficulties.

    In response to the outage, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) had previously announced limited working hours for staff, citing the lack of electricity as a major hindrance to their duties. 

    However, with power now restored, normal operations are expected to resume fully.

  • Enthronement Process of New Olubadan Begins Tuesday

    Enthronement Process of New Olubadan Begins Tuesday

    The process to enthrone the new Olubadan of Ibadanland is set to commence on Tuesday.

    According to Ibadan tradition, the Olubadan Advisory Council will meet on Tuesday to begin the enthronement process of a new monarch that will occupy the Olubadan stool after the demise of the former Olubadan.

    The passing of Oba Lekan Balogun, who died aged 81 on March 14, 2024 after ruling the ancient city for two years, has made the revered throne became vacant. 

    In accordance with tradition, the meeting of the Olubadan Advisory Council, is billed to hold at the residence of the most Senior High Chief, Chief Rashidi Ladoja, former Oyo State governor, at his Bodija residence.

    According to a source, the Olubadan Advisory Council will at the meeting nominate the successor to the late monarch, High Chief Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.

    The traditional practice of nomination of a new Olubadan by the Advisory Council, according to the source, is usually done after the eighth-day Islamic prayers for the late monarch, which was held on Friday, March 22, 2024.

    The source disclosed that soon after the nomination, a document of affirmation of Olakulehin’s nomination would be sent to Governor Seyi Makinde, through the Office of the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.

    Two lines have historically, on a rotational basis, been producing the occupants of the Olubadan stool. They are the Otun Line (Civil Line) and the Balogun Line (Military Line).

    The immediate-past Olubadan, Oba Lekan Balogun, who joined his ancestors on Thursday, March 14, 2024, after two years on the throne, was produced by the Otun Line.

  • Details of official report of Ibadan explosion emerge

    Details of official report of Ibadan explosion emerge

    Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has received the official report of the Jan. 16, explosion that occurred at Adeyi Avenue in Bodija, Ibadan, in which five persons died.

    The Special Adviser to the Governor on Security, Mr Fatai Owoseni, made this known on Wednesday while briefing newsmen shortly after the presentation of the report to the governor.

    Owoseni said that three persons of interest have been identified in connection with the cause of the unfortunate incident.

    He added that the identified persons will face prosecution based on the investigation carried out.

    Owoseni also revealed that the character of the explosive is known as ‘Water Gel Type Based Explosive’ and that the explosion was triggered by an electric spark.

    He explained that a Closed Circuit Television in one of the affected houses gave footage of how the incident happened.

    Owoseni, the former Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, assured that the state government would bring the perpetrators to book.

    He added that the government would also check the immigration status of all the people of interest since majority of the suspects quizzed were from Mali.

    “We have been able to report that the swiftness with which security was deployed to the epicentre had so far successfully made the state to fully secure the environment.

    “And with the security that was provided, the state has also been able to prevent untoward happenings, especially opportunistic crimes that hoodlums always take advantage of such situations to carry out.

    “We would recall that an emergency situation centre was put in place by the governor, and was located at the premises of Oyo State Housing Corporation, Ibadan.

    “The EOC has so far collated information, data of things that happened there and some of the data collated include census of the respective houses and the fatalities that were affected including the extent of losses suffered.

    “As of 6 p.m, Feb 3, which was the 18th day of the incident, a total of 335 affected persons registered at the emergency situation centre.

    “These include 16 companies or business operators, churches, mosques, three schools and the UCH also approached the centre to report on their losses.

    “The losses reported also include fatality, injuries of various degrees, damages ranging from total collapse and submerging of houses, houses that suffered collateral damage and the ones that suffered minimal damages,” Owoseni stated.

    The chairman, Nigeria Institute of Structural Engineers, Mr Mbim Okutinyang, who is also the lead coordinator of the team that carried out structural integrity on the affected houses, also told newsmen that 282 houses were affected.

    He however said that only four of the houses would have to be demolished due to the degrees of the damage.

    Okutinyang added that the seismic report was still being awaited.

    On his part, the Head of the Emergency Operation Centre, Prof. Temitope Alonge, said 80 victims in total were managed across various hospitals following the incident, but only five patients were on admission as of the time of the press briefing.

    Alonge explained that four of the patients are being treated at the University College Hospital (UCH) and were at various levels of recovery, while one patient is at the Redeemers Hospital being managed for a spinal cord injury.

    He said that most of the cases at UCH will likely be discharged within the next one week.

    The head of the EOC added that some of the affected victims that experienced medical disorder such as respiratory illness had been treated.

    He also explained that those with symptoms suggestive of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder were being attended to by clinical psychologists from UCH.

    Giving an update on the tests for radioactivity, Alonge said the site of the incident had been cleared in terms of radioactivity, as the EOC invited the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NNRA) to conduct another screening.

  • Ibadan Explosion: Atiku Reacts As Seyi Makinde Accuses Him Of Not Calling 

    Ibadan Explosion: Atiku Reacts As Seyi Makinde Accuses Him Of Not Calling 

    Former Vice President and 2023 Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has revealed that he commiserated with victims, people, and the Government of Oyo State following the Ibadan explosion.

     Atiku stated this in reply to a statement by Governor Seyi Makinde, who claimed that the former vice president failed to call him over the unfortunate incident.

    Recall that Makinde had berated Atiku over his failure to show concern regarding the explosion in Ibadan.

    Makinde stated this on Monday when he received the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, at his office in Ibadan.

    The governor said the former vice president has neither called nor sent a condolence message to commiserate with him and the people of his state over the explosion.

    He stated that President Bola Tinubu, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had called him over the incident, but Atiku, a member of the same political party as him, had not reached out to him.

    Reacting in a statement on Monday, Atiku’s Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, stated that the former Vice President released a statement to commiserate with victims and the people of Oyo State.

    According to him, Makinde has been too busy to take track of media reports on the incident.

    The statement reads: “With due respect to Governor Seyi Makinde, we wish to correct his expression about the response of His Excellency Atiku Abubakar to the recent explosion in the city of Ibadan.

    “Atiku Abubakar made a condolence message about the Ibadan explosion, less than 24 hours of its occurrence, where he shared his commiseration and empathy with the good people and government of Oyo State over the incident.

    “Perhaps the Governor has been too busy to take track of media reports on the incident. But we wish to put on record that on the 17th of January, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar did make a widely available message on the Ibadan incident, which reads as follows:

    “‘I wish to express my condolences to the good people and government of Oyo State over the explosion that rocked the capital city of Ibadan late yesterday night.

    “‘While the government continues to provide humanitarian support to victims of the explosion, I commiserate with the families of those who might have lost their lives and property to the explosion. -AA’”

  • Tinubu Reacts To Ibadan Explosion

    Tinubu Reacts To Ibadan Explosion

    President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the tragic incident which happened in Ibadan, Oyo state, on Tuesday, January 16.

    This was made known in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President, Ajuri Ngelale, via Dada Olusegun’s X handle on Wednesday, January 17.

    The statement reads: “President Bola Tinubu has expressed sadness over the devastating explosion that occurred on Tuesday night in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    “The explosion killed two persons and wounded about 80 others. It also destroyed several buildings, vehicles, and other properties. 

    “It is worrisome that the cause of the blast is being attributed to the activities of illegal miners. Those behind the inexcusable and reckless behaviour that has created the conditions for the sad incident to occur must be fished out and punished,” the President said.

    “President Tinubu commiserated with the government and people of Oyo State and called on all concerned agencies of government to unravel the circumstances that led to the tragedy with alacrity.

    “The President directs the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to work with the Oyo State Government to offer immediate and comprehensive relief to the victims.”

  • How My Brother Died In Ibadan Explosion – Survivor

    How My Brother Died In Ibadan Explosion – Survivor

    A survivor of the explosion that occurred at Dejo Oyelese Street, Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State on Tuesday night, identified as Adeleke, has recounted how he lost his elder brother to the tragic incident.

    Fewer than 10 persons were killed in the explosion, with 77 others injured.

    Adeleke, who spoke with a local broadcasting station, Lagelu FM, said they were playing tennis at the hotel before his brother left to attend to something, and the explosion, which caused a stir, sent a sharp object that gave him a deep cut in his stomach.

    He identified his late brother as Oladipupo, noting that he was rushed to the Adeoyo General Hospital immediately after the incident.

    He said, “He came out to the front of the transformer where the incident happened. His intestines were out after the cut.”

    Another survivor, Olaitan Okanlawon, said the incident happened around 7 pm after hearing a strange sound and vibration.

    She added, “I was inside with my husband and kids. And we started hearing strange sounds and vibrations, it was not clear until we began to see rubbles, outside the window.

    “One of my kids has a cut on his head and is being attended to, we have moved out our stuff to the hotel.”

    Reacting to the incident, the state governor, Seyi Makinde, said preliminary investigations by security agencies revealed that explosive devices stored by illegal miners caused the explosion that rocked the area.

    Makinde, who visited the explosion scene Tuesday night, said that though further investigations were still ongoing, anyone found culpable would be brought to book

  • Seyi Makinde Reveals Cause Of Ibadan Explosion

    Seyi Makinde Reveals Cause Of Ibadan Explosion

    Seyi Makinde, governor of Oyo, says two people were killed in the explosion which took place in Ibadan, the capital of the state, on Tuesday night.

    Makinde said the explosion, which injured 77 people, was caused by illegal miners who stored explosive devices in one of the buildings in the Bodija area of Ibadan.

    “We visited the scene of the explosion which occurred at about 7.44 pm yesterday, 16 January 2024 in Bodija, Ibadan,” the governor said.

    “This unfortunate incident resulted in death and injury to residents in the vicinity and also affected properties. We have already deployed first responders and all relevant agencies within Oyo State to carry out comprehensive search and rescue operations.”

    He said preliminary investigations by the security agencies revealed that “illegal miners occupying one of the houses in Bodija had stored explosive devices there which caused the blast”.

    Makinde said the investigations are ongoing and all those found culpable for this will be brought to book.

    The governor said the rescue operations will continue throughout the night.

    “Earth-moving equipment, ambulances, emergency lights, and security were deployed to the scene of the incident,” he said.

    “The wounded and injured are being treated and moved to public and private hospitals within Ibadan. Medical personnel are on standby at these hospitals to provide all needed assistance to the injured. We have visited UCH to see some of those injured during the incident.”

    Condoling the families of those who lost lives and properties to the explosion, Makinde said “in total, we have 77 injured victims so far, most of whom were treated and discharged and 2 fatalities. May their souls rest in peace and may God give their loved ones the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”.

    Makinde assured residents that the state government would take care of the medical bills of all victims of the blast.

    “We will also be providing temporary accommodation for those whose houses were affected and ensuring that they are supported to rebuild their lives,” he said.

    “I urge all residents to please call 615 for any emergencies they may be experiencing at this time and to remain calm and stay away from the immediate scene of the incident to allow rescue operations to be carried out without interference.

    “We are grateful to the first responders, security personnel and all those who are at the scene to assist with the rescue operations as well as the medical personnel taking care of the injured.

    “Please say a prayer for those who have been affected by this disaster as we continue with the rescue operations.”

  • Makinde flags off N9.6bn road project in Ibadan

    Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Friday flagged off the N9.6 billion Akobo – Olounda/Abaa 8.3 Kilometres Road project in Ibadan.

    The dualisation of the road project in Lagelu Local Government area was contracted to Samchase Nigeria Ltd.

    Makinde, reiterating his commitment to infrastructure development, said that his administration had resolved to put in place critical infrastructure that would open up the state for economic expansion.

    He explained that 30 percent of the contract cost had been paid to enhance speedy completion of the project within the time-frame of 12 months.

    The governor hinted that owners of properties that would be affected by the road dualisation project would be compensated accordingly.

    Makinde, soliciting the co-operation of all residents of beneficial communities, said that the project would have positive impact on the communities.

    According to him, it will also boost the state Internally Generated Revenue when completed.

    He name the entire stretch of 15.3 Kilometres IdiApe – Akobo – Olounda/Abaa Road after former Gov. Nyeson Wike of River, also a political associate of Makinde.

    Commenting, Mr Kazeem Gbadamosi, Chairman of Lagelu Local Government, said that the road dualisation would ease movement of goods and services in the neighborhood.

    Gbadamosi said that the project when completed, would have direct impact on the political and socioeconomic activities of the local government’s residents.

    Also, Mr Hyginus Okoro, Technical Officer, Samchase Nig. Ltd, promised that the company would deliver quality and standard project.

    Okoro said that the company would keep to the time-frame delivery and that value for every penny expended on the project would be provided.

    A cross section of residents of Akobo – Olouda/Abaa communities, in an interview with NAN, expressed joy over commencement of the road project.

    Mr Peter Akande said that flagged off of the project was a positive signal.

    Akande said that all motorists and other road users plying the route would soon experience smooth movement.

    He commended Makinde-led administration for awarding the road project.

    Akande assured the contractor of the communities’ support in ensuring speedy completion of the road construction without hindrance.

    Another road user, Michael Adewale, a commercial tricycle operator, said that the road project when completed would ease vehicular movement and reduce traffic being experienced on the road.

    Adewale urged relevant agencies in charge of the project to ensure effective monitoring to enable the contractor to keep to specification and deliver quality work.

    Traditional rulers, religious leaders, chieftains of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, and government functionaries were among the dignitaries that graced the occasion.

  • I’m 12% poorer since I assumed office, says Makinde

    Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has said he is poorer by 12 percent in the last four years as governor of the state.

    Makinde made this known on Sunday while speaking with newsmen in Ibadan.

    He told them that he submitted his Asset Declaration form at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) office, situated on State Secretariat, Total Garden Road, on Friday in Ibadan.

    Makinde, on assumption of office in 2019, had declared N48 billion worth of assets.

    He, however, did not reveal the details of his assets but told newsmen that in due time it will all be revealed to the public.

    In compliance with Paragraph 11 Part 1 to the fifth schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a governor is mandated to declare his assets at the end of the first tenure.

    “By law, I have to do a Declaration of Assets at the end of my first tenure and before assuming office for the next tenure.

    “So, I have gone to CCB office to submit my Assets Declaration form at the end of my first tenure and also my assets at the beginning of the second tenure.

    “You are all aware of my Assets Declaration for the first tenure.

    “I can tell you that in the last four years, I’m poorer by 10 to 12 percent.

    “This is because, I have not really have the chance to look after my business.

    “We have been looking after Oyo State business; so, I’m not surprised that there were losses a bit here and there, but I’m still okay,” Makinde said.

    Makinde’s Deputy, Chief Bayo Lawal, also went with the governor to submit his own Assets Declaration form.

    Meanwhile, the inauguration of Makinde as the Chief Executive Governor for the second term will come up on Monday at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Oke-Ado, Ibadan.