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FG eyes 25,000 jobs from Lagos textile, garment economic zone

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The Managing Director of the Nigeria Export Processing Zones Authority, Dr Olufemi Ogunyemi, has said the Lekki Textile and Garment Special Economic Zone project located in the Eyin-Osa area of Epe, Lagos State, will generate 5,000 direct and over 20,000 indirect jobs when operational.

Ogunyemi made the remarks while disbursing cash compensation to the seven Eyin-Osa families that contributed the 240.09 acres of land for the Federal Government project.

A statement issued by the NEPZA Head, Corporate Communications, Martins Odeh, disclosed this on Sunday in Abuja.

The MD, represented by Mrs. Chika Ibekwe, Director of Zone Operations, said that the community would be continually regenerated, adding that the benefits that would accrue from the gestures would spill over to several generations.

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The beneficiaries included families of Olayinka Salami, Aderenle village, Muhammed Balogun, Bashorun Seidu, Iyanda, Matanmi Mobolaji, as well as the Agara Onileyan respectively.

“The space will generate 5,000 direct and over 20,000 indirect jobs for the country, just as it will serve the export markets of the South-West region.

“There are many benefits to gain from the SEZ, including employment generation, especially to the local community, the opportunity for backward linkage, improvement of infrastructure network around the project, and others too numerous to mention now,” he said.

Ogunyemi further said that the development was in line with the goals and objectives of the Federal Government’s Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

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He, however, stated that the current administration of President Bola Tinubu is not just interested in attracting Foreign Direct Investments through the Free Trade Zone Scheme but was also interested in the development of all the host communities.

“This exercise is to commence the application of the Authority’s new concept of Community Social Regeneration in order to open a new chapter of cooperation and mutual understanding to foster unhindered progress of the free trade operations across the country.

“NEPZA has since re-aligned its mandate with the administration’s economic policy to deliver the Renewed Hope Agenda of the president.

“NEPZA will not shy away from leading the country on the path of economic growth. The Lekki Textile and Garments SEZ project is already attracting investment interest to this remote area of Lagos.,” Ogunyemi said.

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Ogunyemi also explained that the Federal Government had taken steps to replicate the economic scheme across the six geopolitical zones, adding that more states should leverage the speedy development potentials of the scheme.

According to him, the Lekki Textiles and Garment SEZ will also serve as hubs for Information and Communication Technology, Agro-industries, as well as world-class sports and community development centres.

On his part, the president of Eyin-Osa United Kingdom Development Association, Muftau Shittu, the umbrella association for the host community, said that the area had been occupied by their forefathers for over 500 years.

He said that at the beginning, the enclaves and villages that constituted the community had lived in peace practising economic activities such as farming, hunting, fishing, brewing of hot drinks and timber lumbering.

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Shittu however, said that trouble started in mid-year 2003 when groups of land grabbers started claiming ownership of Eyin-Osa lands from the original and rightful owners.

According to him, in May 2008, without due diligent information, the lands were expropriated to the Lekki Free Trade Zone, and the journey for adequate compensation with the Lagos State Government began.

“We are delighted today for this humane approach of the federal government through NEPZA. The community can only imagine these good gestures as most of the earliest promises were not kept. We now have NEPZA management and government that are serious about regenerating the Eyin-Osa land.

“We are happy to cede the total of 240.09 acres to NEPZA for the economic emancipation of our land. We pray that this cooperation and the steps to regenerate our people become permanent,” he added.

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BREAKING: Tension in Delta as soldiers invade another community

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Fear grips Okpare-Olomu town, located in the Olomu Kingdom of Ughelli South Local Government Area in Delta State, after Nigerian military personnel invaded the community with three Hilux vehicles.

The incident, which occurred on Thursday morning around 7:30am, has left residents on edge, with reports indicating that the soldiers took control of the community town hall by force. It was learnt that locals are concerned about the military’s presence in their community.

It was gathered that the military stormed the community in search of some of the community’s leaders, especially its President-General, Okiemute Otoka.

The sudden appearance of the military in Okpare-Olomu community sparked widespread panic, with residents fleeing in all directions, while women and children ran for safety to avoid a repeat of a similar incident in Okuama community.

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According to Otoka, Okpare-Olomu community President-General, the military’s true intention was to disrupt the community’s annual conference, scheduled for Thursday, where crucial decisions on growth and development were to be made.

Otoka’s allegations suggest that the military’s presence was not just a coincidence, but a deliberate attempt to interfere with the community’s affairs.

Otoka further accused some elders and leaders of the community of unlawfully selling communal land without the approval of the annual conference as those behind the invasion of the community by the military.

Meanwhile, at the time of filing this report, there was apprehension in the community as the invading military personnel were still in the community.

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Source: Saharareporter

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Sad! Ex- Kwara Commissioner Abdulraheem Adisa Is Dead

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Ex-Kwara State Commissioner and prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abdulraheem Adisa, has passed away at the age of 91.

He died in the early hours of Thursday, according to sources in Ilorin, the state capital.

Adisa, a loyal figure in the Saraki political dynasty, had an extensive career in journalism and public service.

He served as the Editor of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the General Manager of The Herald Newspapers, and as the Commissioner for Information in Kwara State. He also held the position of Chairman of Moro Local Government Area in the state.

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The burial arrangements are currently underway, with the funeral scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Muslim Public Cemetery in Ilorin.

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Stop Managing Nigeria Like Your Personal Business – Edwin Clark Blasts Tinubu

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Elder statesman Edwin Clark has cautioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, urging him to refrain from treating Nigeria as if it were his personal outfit.

Speaking during a press conference in Abuja, Clark, a prominent Ijaw leader and elder in Nigerian politics, emphasized that the nation’s leadership must be grounded in transparency, inclusivity, and respect for democratic principles.

Clark, who has long been an influential figure in Nigerian politics, expressed deep concerns over recent policies and actions he believes favor narrow interests over the collective good. He cited the President’s economic decisions and appointments as examples of a tendency to prioritize personal or regional advantage, rather than acting in the best interests of all Nigerians.

“Nigeria is not a personal business where one person’s decisions rule unchecked,” Clark declared. “We have a democratic system in place, and the people of Nigeria expect the President to be accountable to them, not to his personal interests or those of his inner circle.”

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The 86-year-old statesman also called on President Tinubu to embrace a more inclusive governance model, one that listens to the voices of all Nigerians, including opposition groups and civil society organizations. “This is not about personal power,” Clark said. “It’s about national unity, prosperity, and the future of our children.”

The call comes at a time of heightened political tension in the country, as debates over the President’s economic reforms, security strategies, and appointments continue to dominate public discourse. Critics argue that some of the administration’s policies have disproportionately benefited certain groups while leaving others behind, exacerbating existing inequalities.

In response to Clark’s comments, government officials have yet to release a statement, but supporters of the President have dismissed the remarks as part of a broader political attack aimed at undermining the administration’s legitimacy. They argue that the President’s actions are driven by a desire to modernize the economy and stabilize the nation, especially in the wake of mounting challenges such as security concerns and a faltering economy.

Despite the differing views, Clark’s warning resonates with many Nigerians who feel that their country is at a crossroads, and that leadership must be more than just a pursuit of personal power. As the nation prepares for the years ahead, calls for a government that serves all citizens, rather than a select few, continue to echo across political and social platforms.

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