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Osun State Governor, Mr Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has approved the refund of a sum of N28,500  to each of 2017 hajj pilgrims from the state for services not rendered to them while in the holy land. The Chairman of the Osun State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board who doubled as Amir-ul-Hajj of the state, Barrister Zikrullah Olakunle Hassan said the refund to 2017 hajj pilgrims was approved sequel to the successful payment of the refund to the 2016 Osun Hajj pilgrims.    Hassan added that the present administration in the state does not joke with issue of transparency and accountability when it comes to a matter that has to do with the people of the state. He explained that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) met with the Saudi Authority over the services that were not provided during this year’s hajj and demanded refund. He said, “After receiving the money from the service providers concerned in Saudi and after reconciliation of each state account, the c...

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has promised to ensure justice for a murdered corps member, Modupe Tawose, who was raped and killed on December 9, 2017 in Ogun State.  The assurance was given by Mr John Okpo, the Ogun State NYSC Coordinator, during a condolence visit to the family of the deceased in Ibadan, Oyo State, yersterday.  Tawose, 23, a 2017 Batch ‘A’ corps member serving at the Ogun State Ministry of Housing in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, was lured to her death through her driving instructor, Festus Udoh, 29.  Her decomposing body was discovered on Wednesday at the Abule Ayo area in Odeda Local Government, Ogun State, in a bush where she was tied by her hands to a tree.  Udoh, who had since confessed to the crime, is being remanded in prison while awaiting trial in court.  Okpo, who was visibly traumatised by the incident, said the NYSC body was deeply saddened by the occurrence. “The NYSC family nationwide is sad ...

The Lagos State Commissioner for Housing, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, has expressed worries over rising housing deficit in the state which he puts at three million units. Lawal said at the second Real Estate Stakeholders’ Forum held at the Lagos State Government Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, that Lagos being Nigeria’s economic nerve centre had made it susceptible to influx of people which in turn put continuous pressures on the state’s infrastructure. “About 87 people enter Lagos per hour every day. This has led to unusual pressure on land and housing infrastructural facilities. Today, the state has about three million units of housing deficit. But in the next four years, we plan to provide 20,000 units of houses,” Gbolahan said. The Commissioner also disclosed that the administration had appointed facilitt managers for both its old and new housing estates. 

Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa state replied Governor Ayodele Fayose and others making a ruckus over the $billion approved to fight insecurity. He said the decision by the governors was taken in good faith. Dickson who belongs to the same Peoples Democratic Party like Governor Ayodele Fayose, who has challenged the move in court, explained why the Governors’ Forum’s decided to grant Federal Government permission to utilize one billion dollars from the Excess Crude Account for security. The decision was announced at the end of the last National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja. Fayose is a member of the forum. The Bayelsa governor noted that the decision was not a political one but meant to strengthen the country’s security apparatus. “It was a decision taken in good fate to support our security services, to strengthen our national security and enhance operations in the interest of everybody else. “This is not a political issue and I thought that I ...

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday congratulated Senate President Bukola Saraki on his 55th birthday. Buhari, according to a statement by his spokesman Mr Femi Adesina, joins all members of the National Assembly, friends and family in celebrating the life of a distinguished Nigerian, who has made his mark on the political scene. He said having served as governor, senator and Senate President, Saraki had demonstrated commitment in the pursuit of a prosperous, united and peaceful Nigeria. The president prayed that God Almighty grant Saraki more years of good health, wisdom and fulfilment in the service of God and country.

The recent approval of $1billion from the Excess Crude Account by the Nigerian Governors Forum for the fight against insurgency raised dusts yesterday after an emergency meeting between governors and speakers of state assemblies at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. The chairman of the governors’ forum, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State and his Ekiti counterpart, Ayo Fayose, disagreed while addressing State House reporters after the meeting. Before Yari briefed journalists on the outcome of the meeting, some governors, including Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa) Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom) and Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) were seen calming Fayose. Fayose, while addressing journalists outside the venue of the meeting, said he had gone to court to challenge the approval of the fund, vowing that he would never support it. “I’m not in support of $1 billion and will never be in support. In my state we have agreed to go to court to contest this. It is our legitimate right, all accruals to ...

Immediate past Senate President, Senator David Mark has described accusations by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that he purchased his Apo Residential House illegally as ‘baseless.’ Mark in a statement by his media aide, Paul Mumeh said the EFCC or any other agent of government are chasing shadows because the property was dully offered for sale, bided for, and he purchased like any other person would in line with Federal Government’s Monetization Policy. “I had the right of first refusal. Even if I did not purchase it, someone else would have. I am a law-abiding citizen. I did not flout any law. “Curiously, four houses occupied by the then Presiding Officers of National Assembly were offered to the occupants. All of us, me as the then President of the Senate, Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and his Deputy Bayero Nafada were all given the same offer.”