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Tag: Ibadan

  • Olubadan died when he was most needed – Oyo ALGON

    Olubadan died when he was most needed – Oyo ALGON

    The Association of Local Government Chairmen of Nigeria (ALGON),Oyo State Chapter, has described  the  late Olubadan of Ibadanland,Oba Lekan Balogun, as a peace-maker ,saying he died when he was most needed in Ibadan and Nigeria,in general.

    The State AlGON Chairman, Mr Sikiru Sanda ,said this during the 8-day fidau prayer for the late traditional ruler on Friday in Ibadan.

    Sanda, who is the Chairman of Egbeda Local Government Council of the state, said that the late Olubadan was  a very pleasant man ,loved  by everyone in his domain.

    “His death came to us as a rude shock, we felt bad about, it is a great loss to the nation and we have accepted God decision.

    “We are going to miss him owing  to his contributions to Oyo State and Nigeria, in general.”,he said.

    In his sermon, Prof. Kamil Oloso, former lecturer at the Department of Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Ibadan, called on everyone to always do good and remember the  Judgment Day.

    Oloso said that there was no doubt that everyone would be resurrected to account for his or her deeds while on earth.

    Quoting chapter 75 vs 1 :5 of the Holy Quran ,the  Islamic scholar said those that do good while earth would surely  reap bountifully on  the Day of Judgment.

    He called on  citizens ,especially those with means , to always  assist those in need.

    The 8-day fidau prayer was led by the Chief Imam of Ibadanland,Shelkh AbdulGaniyu Agbotomokekere.

    Christian clerics and traditional religion worshippers also prayed for the repose of the late traditional ruler’s soul.

    Present at the occasion were members of immediate and extended families of the late Olubadan; the  Olubadan-In-Council,Magajis,Baales, and  chairmen of local government councils in Ibadan.

    Other were President-General, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Alhaji Sulaimon Ajewole, Ibadan traditional title holders, among others.

    Balogun, who ascended the throne on March 11,2022, died on March 14,2024, at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, after  a brief illness.

  • Olakulehin family head reacts to choice of Olubadan-designate

    Olakulehin family head reacts to choice of Olubadan-designate

    The Head of the Olakulehin clan in Ibadan, Pa Popoola Olabode Olakulehin, on Friday expressed great delight with the choice of the next Olubadan of Ibadan shifting to his family.

    Olakulehin told NAN that it was a surprise to him when the news broke out.

    “It is a thing of joy for us and we are grateful to God for this, even as I pray for the repose of the soul of the late Olubadan, Oba Lekan  Balogun, Ali Okumade II, and pray that God grant him eternal rest.

    “I also pray for the new Olubadan-elect, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the Balogun of Ibadanland, as he prepares to ascend the throne as the 43rd Olubadan, and pray for his reign to be peaceful.

    “God should grant the new Olubadan-elect good health in the position,” he said.

  • Next Olubadan already known to Ibadan people – Ladoja

    Next Olubadan already known to Ibadan people – Ladoja

    Chief  Rashidi Ladoja, a former Governor of Oyo State and Osi Olubadan of Ibadanland, on Friday said people of the ancient city already know the next Olubadan of Ibadanland.

    Ladoja told newsmen that Ibadan already has an Olubadan-designate and there is no question about that, following Thursday’s demise of Oba Lekan Balogun.

    He spoke after a meeting of the Olubadan-in-Council at the Alalubosa residence of Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, the new Oba-designate.

    “The departed Oba Balogun came from the Otun line, and the next monarch will be from the Balogun line.

    “So, the head of Balogun line is the Balogun of Ibadanland, who has become the Olubadan-designate.

    “We all know that Ibadan does things accordingly If a king dies, we already know who is next, we refer to him as designate.

    “We are only here to formalise what is next after the burial rites of the deceased would have been completed.”

    Ladoja also said the meeting discussed how to give a befitting burial to the deceased.

    “Since the deceased was a Muslim, his remains must be buried in the Islamic way, and the Islamic way is that he has to be buried today (Friday).

    “So, it has been decided that he will be buried today (Friday) at Aliiwo, which is his ancenstral home by 4 p.m.”

    The former governor however said there was no date yet for the coronation of a new Olubadan.

    “But the date shall be announced as soon as the burial rites for the deceased were completed,” he said.

  • Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Olalekan Balogun is dead

    Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Olalekan Balogun is dead

    The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Olalekan Balogun, has passed away.

    News of the death of the 82-year-old Ibadan traditional ruler was confirmed by his media aide, Dele Ogunsola, on late Thursday evening.

    Oba Balogun died at the University College Hospital (UCH) in Ibadan few hours after admission at the Hospital.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the first-class traditional ruler ascended the throne on March 11, 2022 after the demise of his predecessor, Oba Saliu Adetunji.

    Details to follow…

  • NLC Protest: Gov. Seyi Makinde joins protesters in Ibadan

    NLC Protest: Gov. Seyi Makinde joins protesters in Ibadan

    Seyi Makinde the Governor of Oyo state  on Tuesday, joined labour unions and their affiliates in a peaceful protest in the state.

    According to Makinde, he joined the protest to show solidarity with the people.

    Addressing pressmen,  Makinde assured the people that the current pains and hardship in the country would soon be over.

    The governor was welcomed with shouts by the protesters who were in their hundreds while the Oyo NLC chairman, Kayode Martins was addressing the protesters.

    Makinde said he was aware of the hardship in town and the difficulty the people were going through, promising that he would be part of the generation that would fix the country.

    He said he had replied to the NLC national president, Joe Ajero who claimed that no state in the country is paying wage awards to the workers.

    He also assured the workers that their letters of protest and complaints would be delivered to President Bola Tinubu.

    The protesters were seen in their large numbers on the streets of Ibadan, Lagos  and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to demand immediate intervention from the President Bola Tinubu-led Nigerian government to ease the hardships citizens are currently facing in the country.

     

    They are also protesting the government’s alleged failure to implement agreements reached between both parties on October 2, 2023, following the removal of the fuel subsidy.

  • BREAKING: Official report of Ibadan explosion released [SEE DETAILS]

    BREAKING: Official report of Ibadan explosion released [SEE DETAILS]

    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.

  • Sexagenarian docked for alleged land grabbing in Ibadan

    Sexagenarian docked for alleged land grabbing in Ibadan

    A 61-year-old man, Mohammed Subair, was on Friday docked in an Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court in Ibadan for an alleged land grabbing.

    Subair, whose residential address was not provided is charged with land grabbing and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

    The Prosecution Counsel, Insp Oladejo Balogun, told the court that Subair allegedly committed the offence sometime in 2020 at Kuye Village off Nigeria Wire and Cable Owode, Apata, Ibadan.

    Balogun alleged that the defendant encroached and forcibly entered the real property of Sulaimon Adegoke’ family land, dwelling at the afforementioned area.

    Balogun also alleged that Subair conducted himself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace by preventing Adegoke’s family from entering their land.

    He said the offences contravened Sections 81, 249 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State, 2000 and Section 9 of the Oyo State Real Property and Protection Law, 2018.

    The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the charges.

    The Magistrate, Mrs. Sanusi Zubair, admitted the defendant to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    She adjourned the case until March 18 for hearing.

  • FAAN confirms air mishap at Ibadan airport

    FAAN confirms air mishap at Ibadan airport

    No fewer than 10 persons, on Friday, escaped death as a private jet from Abuja overshot the runway while landing at Ibadan Airport.

    The private jet, with 10 persons onboard, skidded off the runway around 11.00 a.m. at the airport.

    It was gathered that the jet, with Registration Number: N580KR, missed the runway into the nearby bush.

    A Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident.

    The official said that the private jet landed safely but skidded off the runway while landing at the airport.

    The official said that firefighters and rescue officials from FAAN were immediately deployed to the scene of the incident, adding that everything had been brought under control.

    “No casualty was recorded from the incident,” the official said.

    Recall that the private jet conveying the Minister of Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu from Abuja to Ibadan also crash-landed at the same airport in November 2023.

  • Association reveals about 10 persons still missing from Ibadan explosion

    Association reveals about 10 persons still missing from Ibadan explosion

    Bodija Estate Residents Association (BERA) on Wednesday in Ibadan said about 10 people were still missing following Jan. 17 explosion in the area.

    “I think it is now more towards eight and nine persons now, or even 10, whom those in the neighbourhood have talked about,” the Association’s President, Mr Muyiwa Bamgbose, said after their consultative meeting.

    “We took the map of the street to them (government) and tried to account for (people) house by house to get accurate information.

    “If the person was seen yesterday and was not seen today or you can’t find him again, then you need to get worried. But I believe it’s nearer 10 now,” he added.

    BERA, an umbrella body of all communities in Bodija, also called for massive assistance for victims of the explosion to get back their lives.

    It pointed out the need for continuous care and support for victims whose lives have changed unexpectedly since the incident.

    The president said there were a lot of people who paid for their medical bills out of pocket and did not go to the designated hospitals.

    “I must also confess that some hospitals, like Redeemers Clinic, were treating victims free of charge without keeping records.

    “The hospitals contributed by treating people without asking for money, and some people who could afford it took themselves to their private hospitals,” Bamgbose said.

    He however lamented improper organisation for victims in accessing hotel accommodation the government said it provided.

    “Our fear is that government may end up being shortchanged. Yes, it was a chaotic situation but there should been some kind of order.

    “Yes, this is the first in Ibadan and I must commend the government’s willingness and response. But there is a difference between being willing and then having the ability.

    “People have worked overnight without sleeping. Even the Federal Government has taken the issue serious as all its security apparatus were deployed.

    “Then, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has been working with its Oyo state counterpart. Everybody has collaborated but our best is still short of the word best,” Bamgbose said.

    While commending the efforts of the Federal and Oyo State Governments, Bamgbose noted the need to learn from the explosion to better prepare for emergency operations.

    “The response to the incident, though quick, was uncoordinated. This is what led to the various lapses still being experienced by victims,” he said.

    He underscored the need to learn from the experience and improve on the gaps.

    ”This is necessary so as to improve on how to respond to emergencies which could come in any form — flood, fire outbreak and so on — and improve on best practices.”

    The BERA President also disclosed that the Bodija community was from all records yet to find anyone who resided in the house where the explosion occurred.

    “And that is another area of deficiency and we have taken it upon ourselves as from this meeting to know our neighbours.

    ”Not just to know who is living in the house but the owner as well, and what the occupants do for a living and really know ourselves,” he said.

    Bamgbose decried the lack of demographic records as a problem, adding that it might be difficult to trace it even from the records of the State Housing Corporation.

    “People have talked about some people running out of the house when the thing started, but now nobody knows whether they were caught up in the blast or disappeared under the radar.

    “Nobody has good record,” he said.

  • Oyo State draws curtain on rescue operations at Ibadan explosion site

    Oyo State draws curtain on rescue operations at Ibadan explosion site

    Oyo State has drawn the curtain on the search-and-rescue operation at the site of Tuesday’s explosion in the state capital, Gov. Seyi Makinde announced on Sunday in Ibadan.

    At least five persons were killed, while 77 others were injured when the explosion occurred at Bodija, a residential area of Ibadan.

    The impact of the explosion was said to have been felt as far away as 15km from the scene of the blast.

    The explosion affected some structures at the state government secretariat and many other structures in the adjoining areas.

    It also destroyed at least 10 cars and left about 30 houses at different stages of destruction in its track.

    Oyo State government is interrogating a suggestion that the blast arose from explosives stored in Bodija by illegal miners.

    Gov. Makinde stated on Sunday that 90 per cent of those injured in the explosion had been discharged from various hospitals.

    He added that the state’s emergency operations teams headed by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, were at two of the hospitals attending to victims, up until Saturday.

    He stated also that a clinical psychologist had begun counselling victims of the incident at the emergency operations centre located at the Oyo State Housing Corporation, Bodija, Ibadan.

    Makinde said security agencies were still investigating the incident and an update on their investigation would be made public.

    “Our administration remains committed to supporting all victims of this unfortunate incident and ensuring that everyone responsible is brought to book,’’ the governor assured.

    He expressed gratitude to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State for releasing operatives of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency to support Oyo State.

    “Let me seize this opportunity to thank the Nigerian Society of Engineers that had been carrying out structural integrity tests on about 230 properties around the site of the explosion.

    “The integrity tests will be carried out on 13 houses within 50 metres radius of the blast site and on 40 houses within 100 metres radius.

    “Similar tests will be conducted on 122 houses at 200 metres radius and 53 houses within 250 metres radius of the explosion,’’ the governor stated.

    Makinde enjoined concerned citizens to contact the Emergency Operations Centre on 07049948057 or 08147672009 on any issue related to the blast.

    Ibadan Prince donates relief materials to victims of explosion

    One of the Princes of Ibadanland, Prince Abioye Oloyede-Asanke, on Sunday donated relief materials to victims of Tuesday’s explosion which occurred at Bodija Estate in Ibadan.

    Oloyede-Asanke, while speaking during the presentation of the relief materials at the explosion’s Emergency Situation Hub, said the gesture was to identify with the victims at this critical period.

    He added that the relief materials would also complement efforts by the state government to provide succour to victims and relatives of the unfortunate incident.

    “I am here to sympathise with the victims of the unfortunate Bodija explosion and to also provide some relief materials and aid to the victims.

    “It is so unfortunate that this kind of ugly incident could have been avoided. So, I am here on behalf of my foundation, Handalat Oloyede Foundation, to join hands with the government.

    “I want to promise that we have a lot of  assistance to render to the victims, and also assist government in providing succour at this critical time.

    “The foundation will reach out to as many as possible through the provision of relief materials, accommodation and through other means,” Oloyede-Asanke said.

    Also, the Incident Manager, Ibadan Explosion Site, Prof. Temitope Alonge, disclosed that the Oyo state government was already in collaboration with the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) on the explosion.

    He said they have started structural integrity test on the buildings affected by the explosion.

    Alonge noted that the Oyo State Chapter of NSE began the integrity assessment of affected structures on Wednesday and had so far covered about 50 metres radius.

    He added that Gov. Seyi Makinde has also granted permission to the NSE to go up to 500 metres buffer to assess the level of damages and integrity of the structures.

    “We don’t want people to come in and build. We do not want buildings to start collapsing on them,” Alonge said.

    The explosion which occurred on Tuesday killed five persons, injured 77 and rendered thousands homeless in the state.

    The relief materials donated by Oloyede-Asanke included milk, noodles, tea, toiletries, food items and other essential household materials.