NAIJA TODAY NEWS ..... Relaying the latest

The Oyo State government may likely lockdown the state by the time distribution of palliative packages commence in order to restrict human and vehicular movement. This was disclosed on Tuesday by the state commissioner for special duties Chief Bayo Lawal while featuring on Fresh FM Ibadan COVID 19 situation room. Chief Bayo Lawal explained that palliative packages in the state will soon be distributed as arrangements are almost concluded and by the end of the week, the distribution may kick off. He stated that the sub committee in charge of palliative packages had identified the poor of the poorest across the state and as only those that are affected will be considered irrespective of political affiliation or religion differences. The commissioner said the figure of the population in the state announced by the federal government was not correct as the state population as at now stands at 7.8 million as against the earlier figure given by the FG. Chief Lawal also disclosed ...

The Management of SUDIT OIL and Chemical Limited,  maker of ROSEL Vegetable Oil has on  Saturday delivered to the Oyo State Government, 200 cartons of ROSEL Vegetable Oil as part of her social responsibilities. The delivery of the palliatives aimed at cushioning the effects of lockdown caused by coronavirus pandemic were received on behalf of the State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde, by the Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon Bayo Lawal, who described the donation as timely and in tune with the efforts of the state government to put smiles on the face her citizens who have had their businesses disrupted by the Coronavirus ravaging the entire world.  In the word of the Managing Director of SUDIT OIL and Chemical Limited, maker of ROSEL Vegetable Oil, Mr Babatunde Balogun Kuku, who was ably represented by his wife, Mrs Rachel Kuku, he expressed satisfaction with the transparency and utmost sincerity being displayed by Governor Seyi Makinde led administ...

The Oyo state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed its rude shock at the demise of Chief Richard Akinjide SAN, who died early Tuesday morning at a very old age of 88years. The party in an official statement co-signed by the state chairman, Alhaji Kunmi Mustapha, State Secretary, Alhaji Wasiu Adeleke and state publicity secretary, Engr Akeem Olatunji, and made available to pressmen, described late Chief Richard Akinjide as a staunch party faithful and one of the founding fathers of PDP in Nigeria adding that he was a great pillar of the party in Oyo state. The party stated that the death of the former Attorney General of the federation was a big blow to the entire PDP family in Oyo state and Nigeria at large stressing that regardless of his very old age, the party always relied on his wealth of wisdom and experience in managing state and national affairs within the party. PDP described the death of Chief Akinjide as an irreplaceable loss and p...

On Monday morning, residents and commuters at Iwo-road in Ibadan had no choice but to run helter-skelter as another fight broke out between commercial vehicle drivers in the state. The chairman of the suspended NURTW in the state, Alhaji Abideen Olajide, confirmed the incident in an interview with BBC Yoruba. He, however, explained that the NURTW was not involved in the fight. In his words, “NURTW members were not involved in the fight because we are united. In fact, our vehicles are not in the garage anymore but it is those the state government appointed to head the car parks that were involved in the fracas. “It is the chairman of the Park Management Committee, Alhaji Mukaila Auxiliary that has been causing violence in various parts of the state and since we know this we have maintained decorum.” Ejiogbe, as the suspended NURTW chairman is fondly known, added that the fight is not between Auxiliary and NURTW but between Auxiliary and some people who Auxilia...

Police operatives and some medical personnel at Osun/Oyo border on Sunday evening reportedly intercepted a car, said to have conveyed a sick man, who eventually died while being checked. The vehicle, it was learnt, was stopped at Odo Oba, Iwo, an entry point to Osun from Oyo State while attempting to enter Osun State. The car was said to have left Ibadan for an undisclosed destination, when it ran into a police checkpoint which stopped the vehicle and demanded explanation. While being interrogated, one of the occupants, believed to be sick, suddenly started coughing and died on the spot. The chairman, Iwo Local Government, Raji Kamoru, who spoke to our correspondent, said policemen and health personnel stationed at the checkpoint were not convinced with the explanation of the occupants of the vehicle, when they stopped them. He said when the team at the checkpoint told the occupants of the vehicle that they could not proceed, one of the occupants said to be sick suddenl...

The Commissioner of Police Oyo State Command, CP Shina T. Olukolu psc(+) has observed with dismay and trepidation, the persistent,  panicky and wide spread distress calls on non-existing criminal activities in several communities across the state,  but rampant in the night time in the State capital, Ibadan. Olukolu lamented this in a release issued by the State's Police Public Relations Officer(PRO), SP Fadeyi Olugbenga and made available to Naija Today News on Modnay, April 20th. In his words, "The Oyo State Police Command is conscious, capable, ready and willing to carry out its constitutional responsibilities of the protection of lives and properties, maintenance of law and order and other extant laws in Oyo State, therefore,  the Commissioner of Police appeals to the entire peace, loving and good people of Oyo State to be circumspect in their persistent,unverified or nonexistent criminal activities and distress calls to the Police Command on a daily basis p...

The Nigeria Union of Journalists(NUJ), Oyo State Council has sought the intervention of Oyo State Government for the restoration of the recently razed Agidigbo station in Ibadan, the State capital.  This is contained in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Ademola Babalola and Secretary, Sola Oladapo. The union in the statement made available to newsmen on Monday in Ibadan, also lauded the prompt response of Governor Seyi Makinde to the recent inferno at Dugbe market in Ibadan. It will be recalled that the popular radio station owned by Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat was on April 11 razed by fire with equipments worth several millions destroyed. The NUJ described the incident as very unfortunate, calling on the state government to assist the owner in the reconstruction and restoration of the station. ''This is an unfortunate incident that will no doubt touch the people of the state and lovers of the station directly or indirectly. It i...

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) is to review the Covid-19 situation and various measures taken by state governments at various stages since the virus hit Nigeria.   The meeting is slated for April 22. The NGF made the announcement in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday by its Head, Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazaque Bello-Barkindo. He said the meeting would be the sixth tele-conference of the governors since the COVID-19 pandemic slipped into the country.   Mr Bello-Barkindo said that the Director-General of the NGF, Asishana Okauru, in an invitation to members of the forum, asked governors to prepare to discuss the journey so far and provide state-by-state updates on the dominant issue of the season. “Four states, namely Bauchi, Ogun, Lagos and Oyo will be invited to share their experiences with the rest of the country.   “The National Economic Council Ad-hoc Committee and the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 are also ...

Chief Osuolale Abimbola Richard Akinjide, SAN, lawyer, politician, and former Minister of Justice (1979 -1983) passed on some minutes ago. He was 88 years old. His daughter, former Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mrs Jumoke Akinjide, and Senator Babafemi Ojudu confirmed the news to The Podium. He was born on November 4, 1931, at Ibadan, Oyo State to an influential family of warriors. Chief Richard Akinjide attended Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife from where he passed out in Grade One (Distinction, Aggregate 6). He travelled to the UK in 1951 for his higher education and was called to the English Bar in 1955 and later in Nigeria. He established his practice of Akinjide & Co soon after. He was a former minister of education in the government of Prime Minister Tafawa Balewa during the second republic and the minister for Justice in the administration of President Shehu Shagari. He was a member of the judicial systems sub-committee of the Constitution...

The outbreak of corona virus otherwise called COVID-19 has undoubtedly changed the destiny of the world as global economy has been declared to be in recession but whether the change is either for good or for bad is yet to be seen as the plague continues to ravage every part of the planet. Before the outbreak of the dreaded virus which many global observers have described as a weaponized virus with the aim of gaining global economic prominence and advantages by some global powers, many African leaders and particularly successive Nigerian leaders have shown high level of ineptitude towards development of its health institutions and infrastructures so, corona virus outbreak may not be tenable as an excuse for failure in case of adverse development in the number of confirmed cases cases in the coming days. Some have even gone ahead with the notion that the virus was a creation designed to achieve depopulation agenda following reports that human beings are growing astronomicall...

The Management of Naija Today News heartily felicitates 2019, Oyo State's Gubernatorial Aspirant of Zenith Labour Party(ZLP), Barrister Sharafadeen Abiodun Alli Akogun on his occasion of birthdate that comes on every 20th of April. The management at the end of its editorial meeting considered it noteworthy and necessary to heartily felicitate Akogun and Asiwaju Balogun of Ibadan Land on his occasion of birthdate. The online news medium described Akogun as a focused politician, talented lawyer, indefatigable business man and technocrat per excellence. It added that BSA remained a bridge builder and passionate leader who believes patriotically and efficiently in natural endowment and skills of his followers. Stressing that he is a man with no blemish records as he was accountable and transparent while he was the Secretary to Oyo State Government, Chairman Odua Investment Group of Companies among others. Not only that but also a man of vision, mission, courage, discipline, ...

Oyo state House of Assembly has agreed to a 30 per cent slash in their monthly allocation effective this month due to drop in oil price, federal revenue and COVID-19 restrictions. The agreement was reached when Governor Seyi Makinde met with the state’s lawmakers at government house, at the weekend, Nigerian Tribune reports. At the meeting, Governor Makinde explained that the pandemic had resulted in about 60 per cent drop in the federal allocation and it is taking toll on the state’s economy. Chairman, Oyo House Committee on Information and Media, Honorable Kazeem Olayanju said the lawmakers agreed to the slash in the interest of the smooth running of the state.   “Our income has been slashed by 30 per cent as our support towards COVID-19. The governor brought the idea and we agreed that effective this month, there should be the 30 per cent deduction. “We were made to understand that the pandemic had greatly affected the economy of the country and the ...

The provost of the Emmanuel Alayande College of Education,Oyo ,Dr.Rasaq Adefabi has commended the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer,Seyi Makinde for his commitment to prevent, curtail and control the Coronavirus disease in all the nooks and crannies of the State.  The provost who gave the commendation while donating the customised food items included Garri,Yam flower and alcohol based Handsaniters worth two million Naira (#2,000,000.00) to the State Government through the Ministry of Agriculture,said the kindheartedness of Governor  Seyi Makinde, towards ensuring the welfare of the staffers of tertiary institution in the State motivated the institution to donate the school based relief items  for the State. "Cost of these food materials presented to Oyo State today is over two million Naira." "We were moved to do this because of the kindheartedness of His Excellency, Engineer Seyi Makinde, especially towards ensuring that the welfare of staff of tertiary ins...

The Commercial Drivers in Oyo State have alleged the designated officers under the supervision of State's Park Management System(PMS) of extortion and noncompliance with government's directives on daily payment to be charged from them. It was revealed during an interview with some commercial drivers who spoke on a condition of anonymity in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State recently. The anonymous drivers who operate within in Ibadan axis of the state lamented that the Park Managers had been extorting them through daily exorbitant charges that have neither tickets nor valid evidence of payment. They added that instead of daily #200 that Oyo State Government announced that the PMS should be collecting from them with issuance of valid tickets, stressing that the PMS had resulted to collecting minimum of #50 at every junction in Ibadan with no government's official evidence of payment but only inscription on their windscreens  with chalks. The anonymous drivers lamente...

Oyo state has recorded two new confirmed cases of COVID-19 as the number of active cases in the state is now seven.   Governor Seyi Makinde made this known on Friday night in a tweet on his official twitter account. Recall that Naija TODAY News has earlier reported that the state recorded 2 cases yesterday which made the number of active cases to be 5. “During the COVID-19 Task Force meeting today, we were informed that two more tests came back positive.   “So, we have four new cases from the tests being conducted at Adamasingba Stadium. This brings the number of active cases in Oyo State to seven,” Governor tweeted. On Thursday, the governor appealed to foreign returnees within the last one month to go for check if they have not done so.   They can call the Emergency Operations Centre on 08095394000 / 08095863000 / 08078288999 / 08078288800, or visit the ongoing drive through/walk through testing at Adamasingba Stadium.

Governors of the six South West states of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo have agreed to close all entry points to the region with a view to curbing spread of COVID-19. The Governors also made the wearing of face masks compulsory in all the states as a way of tackling the pandemic. This was contained in a statement signed by Ondo State Governor and Chairman of the South West Governors’ Forum, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, at the end of the virtual meeting of the forum. The Governors also agreed to dissolve the Board of Directors of ODUA Investment Limited with immediate effect. The statement said the Group Managing Director should take charge of the conglomerate affairs pending the constitution of a new Board. According to the statement: “That the entry points of our six States be closed forthwith to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. “That the state Governors agreed that people involved in essential services or dealing in medicine, water and consumable items...

A Nigerian man who lives in Europe and received over N300,000 stimulus payment from the European Union has laid curses on Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari. In a video that has gone viral, the young man could be heard saying Ogún (the powerful spirit of metalwork) will kill President Buhari and all the bad leaders in Nigeria. He said he isn’t even a citizen and he received such huge amount from the country just for him to buy what he needs during the period of the lockdown which was mandated to fight the spread of the coronavirus. Here’s the screenshot from the video as he displays his cash.

Late Abba Kyari was a Kanuri from Borno, a lawyer and banker. He was an alumnus of both the University of Warwick and University of Cambridge.   He earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Warwick and a law degree in 1983 from Cambridge. He was called to the Nigerian bar in 1984 after attending the Nigerian Law School. He worked for the law firm Fani-Kayode and Sowemimo after law school. From 1988 to 1990, he was Editor with the New Africa Holdings Limited Kaduna. In 1990, he served as a Commissioner for Forestry and Animal Resources in Borno State. From 1990 to 1995, Kyari was the secretary to the board of African International Bank Limited, a subsidiary of Bank of Credit and Commerce International. He was also an executive director in charge of management services at the United Bank for Africa. Later, he was appointed the chief executive officer of the bank. In 2002, he was appointed a director of Unilever Nigeria. He also ...

Honourable Tolu Akande Sadipe representing Oluyole Federal Constituency on Friday  reacted to what she described as  misinformation by her predecessor, Hon. Sumbo Olugbemi over the execution of a project which he claimed to be his achievement. Sadipe in a statement issued and made available to newsmen in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital expressed her disappointment over an unnecessary allegation of the former lawmaker, someone who is supposed to know better than to make the claim he has circulated. The lawmaker in the statement further submitted, “Let me say without any apology that Hon. Olugbemi is still suffering from the shock of the loss of the general election, more so to a woman. “As a well-exposed person that I presume he is, I am surprised that he could come out to lay claim to projects he didn’t commence before he left office. The project belongs to Oluyole and I have every right to celebrate its commencement. “As a lawmaker who has always put the ...

Sunday Adeyemo, who is popularly known as 'Sunday Igboho' has distributed relief materials to over one thousand people in Soka Community and other parts of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. The distribution of palliatives to the beneficiaries was predicated upon an intention to cushion the effects of lockdown and current hardship being triggered by coronavirus pandemic. The relief items distributed were said to be ranged from money, rice, beans, semovita and other consumable goods aimed at mitigating the effects of lockdown that is occasioned by the killer disease. Sunday Igboho while speaking with the crew of Naija Today News in his residence at Soka, Ibadan disclosed that the distribution of palliatives to the people was facilitated by his intention and feelings to cushion the effects of lockdown in the state. In his continuation, he said that the current lockdown, restriction of free movement and prevention from concentration on individuals' jobs had no ...

The National Centre For Disease Control, NCDC, has released the list of states with new cases of coronavirus pandemic. Oyo stare has two more cases according to the information released around 10:20 pm Thursday night. “As at 10:20 pm 16th April there are 442 confirmed cases of #COVID19 reported in Nigeria. 152 have been discharged with 13 deaths,” NCDC stated. This brings the number of infected persons to 13 in Oyo. Though close to 7 people have recovered, NCDC is yet to make changes on its website. OYO STATE COVID-19 TASK FORCE UPDATE (APRIL 16, 2020) 1. The COVID-19 confirmation test for two suspected cases came back POSITIVE, tonight. One confirmed COVID-19 patient was discharged today after receiving their second negative test result. This brings the number of discharged cases in Oyo State to seven. As reported earlier, one case was transferred to Lagos. So, there are currently five active cases in the state. 2. We invite the following categories of peo...

….Cause of fire unknown—Victim Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, on Thursday, visited the scene of the fire incident that razed some shops in Dugbe market, Ibadan, on Wednesday. Governor Makinde, who was accompanied by a number of government officials, told the victims and a crowd of sympathisers, who had converged on the location to possibly salvage remnants of their wares, that the state government would launch an emergency fund to address disasters and emergencies. A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that Makinde commiserated with the victims of the Dugbe inferno and promised to get to the roots of the incident. The governor, who described the incident as unfortunate and heartbreaking, maintained that the State would find means, despite the challenges occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic, to give palliatives to those that were affected by the inferno. He, however, stated that there was the need for t...

The Oyo State Government has commenced airing lessons in English Language and Mathematics for Primary School Pupils on the radio. This, the Executive Chairman, Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board, Dr. Nureni Adeniran said is in fulfilment of Oyo State Government’s promise to reduce the negative impact of schools’ closure as a result of the COVID-19 on pupils. Adeniran revealed that there would be a broadcast of the interactive radio instruction initiative tagged ‘OyoSUBEB Learning-on-air’ on Oluyole 98.5 f.m, while a simulcast would be aired on Oke-Ogun 96.3 f.m and Ajilete 92.1 f.m. According to him, the programme, which covers Basic 1-6, is part of the strategic efforts of Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration to keep pupils busy during the ongoing sit-at-home period and to reduce the negative impacts of school closure on pupils. He said, “The programme is designed to start with the teaching of English language and Mathematics, while we may include other sub...

Sequel to an outbreak and prevalent spread of corona virus pandemic that triggered the government's directives of partial lockdown(7pm-6am) in the state, The Caretaker Chairman, Iseyin South, Local Council Development Area(LCDA), Area of Oyo State, Hon. Fasasi Raheem Ajibola FM has enjoined the state's residents to comply strictly with Governor Seyi Makinde's directives on partial lockdown, so as to curtail, contain and prevent the further spread of pernicious disease. FM in a chat with Khalid Imran, Editor Naija Today News in his Office at Molete, Iseyin said that it became imperative and necessary for the people of Oyo State to comply strictly with state government's directives on partial lockdown aimed at containing and curtailing the further spread of coronavirus pandemic in Oyo State and Nigeria at large. In his furtherance, FM disclosed that Covid-19 is real, considering the ways it spreads and kills victims across the globe, adding that its contraction wou...

The Oyo state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has commiserated with victims of the fire inferno at Dugbe market on Wednesday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital. The ruling party in a statement signed by its state publicity secretary, Engr Akeem Olatunji and made available to Naija Today News described the incident as unfortunate and heartbreaking. Olatunji said that the demands of dealing with COVID-19 in the state was already overwhelming, noting that such unfortunate occurrence was surely going to overstretch the state government especially during this period of fighting hard to curb spread of the dreaded virus in Oyo state. The party added that it had already set up a team to investigate the situation and true cause of the explosion in order to be able to properly interface with necessary authorities with facts and comprehensive details. PDP in the state stressed the importance of always applying precautions and safety measures within and around business en...

Appeal has gone to  Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde to accord urgent attention to all the State's  General Hospitals in Oke-Ogun Area,so as to put an end to premature death of infants and the aged ones. The Special Assistant to Makinde on Health, Dr Abdullateef Ajibike made the call during his on-spot assessment to all Government's Hospitals at Iseyin Local Government, Okaka in Itesiwaju Local Government, Okeho in Kajola Local Government, Iganna in Iwa Local Council Development Area and Iwere-Ile in Iwajowa Local Government that makes a Federal Constituency .  Ajibike expressed his displeasure on the sorry situation of the General Hospitals at Okaka and Okeho, saying that the Hospitals could only abode reptiles and other terrestrial animals. He berated the eight years' reign of the immediate past administration of Senator Abiola Ajimobi for total neglect of health care of the people of the region. According to him, "despite the supp...

Oyo State governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has signed the Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency (OYSADA) Bill into law. A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, indicated that the signing ceremony took place at the Government House, Agodi, Ibadan, the state capital. Speaking shortly after signing the bill into law, Governor Makinde said: “I have just signed the law to make provision for the establishment, composition and powers of the Oyo State Agribusiness Agency and every other matters connected therewith. “Agribusiness is one of the cardinal programmes of this administration and what we have done today is to give a legal backing to Oyo State Agribusiness Development Agency.” The governor said that the signing of the Agency bill into law would allow the Agency, which is based in Saki, to start work fully and to kickstart the operation of the Farm Estates projects in Eruwa in Ibarapa axis and Akufo, Ibadan. “With the sign...