News

Why we demolished over 200 shanties — Ogun Govt

Published

6 months ago

May 17, 2024

The Ogun State Government has said the demolition of over 200 illegal structures around school fences and marketplaces is part of the Safer School Initiative, aimed at ridding the learning environment of criminals.

Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, Farooq Akintunde, said owners of the shanties, illegal structures and makeshift shops had been issued notices about six months ago, but they failed to comply with them.

The state government stormed Kuto, Idi-Aba, Oke Ijeun, and Panseke with bulldozers and pulled down the shanties and illegal structures on Thursday.

Some of the schools visited are St. John Primary School, Kuto; Nawairudeen Primary and Secondary School, Oje Ijeun; and Government Technical College, Idi-Aba.

The taskforce led by Akintunde also pulled down some make-shift shops in the Panseke area of Abeokuta for disrupting the free flow of traffic.

According to him: “ The main objective of the government embarking on this exercise is to ensure that students are not distracted from learning. We have occasions whereby students, because of this trading up and down, are distracted from the classroom and that is not too good for their learning process.

“And in line with the Safer School Initiative of this present administration, we need to protect our children. All these shanties are hideouts for criminals. You are aware of a lot of kidnapping cases all over the nation. So these are the cheap places where the kidnappers can make use of to come and perform their nefarious activities and the government, in its proactive measures, does not want such to happen.”

He also warned heads of schools who allegedly allocated unauthorised spaces to traders to desist or face the full weight of the state law.

“I want to sound a note of warning because there has been a lot of information gathered since we commenced this action. Our school principals and headmistresses need to sit up because the information we are getting all over the place is unpalatable. They are employed by the state government to teach students. They are not given any power or authority to go and lend out government setbacks to people.

“Such money is an illegal fee and we don’t want a situation whereby they will find themselves in government’s trouble,” he said.

News

SAD! Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, loses father

Published

2 minutes ago

November 15, 2024

Naijablitznews

Super Eagles goalkeeper, Stanley Nwabali, has lost his father.

Nwabali took to Instagram on Friday to mourn his father, sharing a post accompanied by a tearful emoji.

Although the goalie did not reveal the cause of the death instead shared a heartfelt tribute with message, “Rest in peace, dad”.

Details later…

News

Ondo: Aiyedatiwa coasting to victory as 8 candidates pull out to back him 24 Hours To Election

Published

5 minutes ago

November 15, 2024

Naijablitznews

Eight governorship candidates of various political parties have declared support for the Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, ahead of the state gubernatorial election.

Aiyedatiwa, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the election, stated this on Thursday in Akure during an interactive event organised by the Special Engagement Committee of the APC National Campaign Council.

Aiyedatiwa declared that the eight governorship candidates who declared support for him showed that the people of the state were with the APC.

The Governor appealed to his supporters not to relax until he is victorious in Saturday’s governorship election.

Aiyedatiwa said that the remaining hours before the election should be used to intensify the mobilisation drive towards delivering victory for the party.

He said, “We have only one agenda ahead of us; that is to deliver the victory on Saturday because we have campaigned across the state and listened to the plights of the people.

“Let us go back to our communities and continue the work; we must not be complacent; there are still works to be done and we must be ready to finish the work for ultimate victory.

“Just this morning, eight governorship candidates have declared support for us ahead of the election and that should tell us that the people are with us.”

The Governor added that when elected, he would deliver on his promises to the people towards the development of the state.

News

AFCONQ 2025: Nigeria’s Super Eagles fail to beat Benin Republic in Abidjan

Published

3 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Kayode Sanni-Arewa

Nigeria’s Super Eagles on Thursday failed to beat Benin Republic in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, AFCON, qualifier as two West African neighbours settled for a 1-1 draw in Abidjan

With the results, Nigeria officially qualified for the TotalEnergies CAF AFCON, securing a top-two finish in Group D,

Benin opened the scoring in the 16th minute when Mohamed Tijani capitalized on a corner delivery from Junior Olaïtan, heading the ball into the center of the net.

The Super Eagles found themselves trailing despite creating opportunities, with Victor Osimhen and Moses Simon both testing Benin’s defence.

In the second half, Nigeria intensified their attack and were rewarded in the 81st minute when Osimhen met Simon’s cross with a precise header to level the score.

Benin fought hard to reclaim the lead, but Nigeria’s defence held firm, preserving the draw.

Nigeria’s qualification for TotalEnergies CAF AFCON marks a relief for fans and sets the stage for their preparations for the tournament. Benin, meanwhile, remains in contention but will need positive results in their final game to have any chance of progressing.