General
Oyo Cautions Residents Against Fire Incidents
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Residents of Oyo State have been urged by the government to be careful and avoid anything that might cause fire outbreak during the harmattan season, saying that the Mr Abiola Ajimobi’s administration would continue to support the fire services department to ensure that it performs its life-saving functions effectively.
Commissioner for Works and Transport in the state, Mr Wasiu Dauda, who gave this admonition during a courtesy call by members of the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Works and Transport recently, also cautioned motorists and other road users to be patient while driving during and after the festive period to avoid unnecessary roads mishap.
Mr Dauda said that the government understands the expediency of the fire service department and its official, stressing that government is working assiduously within its tight revenue to ensure that the operating vehicles and equipment of the State Fire Services function effectively.
According to him, the government has directed the Vehicle Inspection Officers in the state to ensure that motorists and other road users comply with roads’ rules and codes.
Responding, the committee Chairman, Mr Adesola Sangodipe, charged the state government to urgently address the shortcomings in the fire service department and consequently urge officers of the Vehicle Inspection Officers department to be prudent in their operations and always remit the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to government coffers appropriately.
Similarly, the State House of Assembly has applauded Governor Abiola Ajimobi for his commitment towards the development of the State through road infrastructure despite the state’s dwindling revenue.
The Majority Leader of the House, Mr Kehinde Subar, representing Ibadan South West Constituency 1, who is also a member of the House Committee on Works and Transport, gave this commendation during an inspection exercise of the committee to the reconstruction/rehabilitation of the Mobil-Oluyole-Wema Bank-Apata Road and the dualization of Efunsetan-Podo roundabout-Tollgate Interchange Phase II, both in Ibadan.
Mr Subair said the inspection was part of the oversight functions of the committee on any awarded project that the state government embarked upon to monitor and know if the project is done to specifications and standard.
While appreciating the Governor, Mr Subair said that Mr Ajimobi understands the plight of the citizens because he executes environment/business friendly projects, adding that development and businesses can only thrive in a conducive environment with good and accessible roads that will attract foreign and local investors.
“The Committee is very satisfied with the level of the projects, all the measurements are accurate and the thickness of the asphalt is realistic. We also commend the Ministry of Works and Transport for playing their part by supervising the projects,” he stressed.
While commending the contractors handling both projects, Adold Engineering Development Company Limited and Hitech Construction Company respectively for carrying out the projects according to specifications, Mr Subair noted that the committee is very satisfied with the levels of the projects’ completion.
He also pointed out that there would be easy movement of vehicles, economy improvement and less traffic gridlock especially along Apata-Odo – ona road and therefore appealed to the people of the area to make use of the road judiciously as the present administration would do more to fulfil its electioneering campaign promises.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has been commended for its contribution to the growth of Nigeria’s economy and general Arica’s development.
This applause came from the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines, and Agriculture (ECCIMA) during the Dangote Group Special Day at the 2025 Enugu International Trade Fair.
The Deputy President of ECCIMA, Mr Eric Chime, who was at the event, said the conglomerate, through its various investments, has contributed to the growth and development of the domestic economy.
“We are highly delighted to welcome Dangote Plc once again to their special day at the ongoing trade fair. Their continued presence and commitment have been instrumental to the success of this annual gathering.
“Dangote’s contribution to the Nigerian economy is enormous spanning virtually every sector, from cement and food production to their recent game-changing entry into the oil and gas sector through the Dangote Refinery,” he stated.
He emphasized that the impact of the refinery, especially in regulating petroleum product prices, deserves national recognition and support.
“We call on the Federal Government to continue to support Dangote Group in its efforts to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians,” he urged.
Mr Chime further praised the president of DIL, Mr Aliko Dangote, for his visionary leadership and relentless drive for innovation, noting that the Dangote business empire represents a perfect example of what entrepreneurial excellence can achieve through research, resilience, and dedication.
In his remarks, the Deputy Regional Director for Southeast at Dangote Cement Plc, Mr Ayirioritse Okerentie, expressed gratitude to ECCIMA for providing a viable platform to engage stakeholders and show case Dangote Group’s contributions to Nigeria’s economic development. He said that the theme of the Fair, “Developing Nigeria’s Industrial Sector/SMEs for Economic Advancement & Global Recognition” speaks directly to the core mission of Dangote Group.
“As Africa’s largest indigenous manufacturing conglomerate, we are focused on Production, Prosperity, Power, and Pride. We believe the industrial sector, and by extension SMEs, can play a transformative role in job creation, import substitution, and overall economic advancement.
“The industrial/manufacturing sector has the capacity to impact significantly on the economy especially in the creation of jobs, provision of goods, reduction in imports of finished products and adding of value to our raw materials. It is generally accepted that a nation’s economic wellbeing is largely dependent on the industrial/manufacturing sector,” Mr Okerentie said.
“The industrial/manufacturing sector is labour intensive, could create millions of both direct and indirect employments for people of diverse skills such as administrators, accountants, engineers, technicians, marketing & sales among others.
“It can also create indirect employment for supply chain actors in other sectors of the economy such as raw materials suppliers, logistics and transportation, farmers, and miners,” he added.
By Dipo Olowookere
On Friday, April 18, 2025, all roads will lead to the headquarters of the Love of God in Christ (LOGIC) Church in the Lekki area of Lagos State for an uplifting evening dedicated to expressing the message of the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ in music.
The day, which is Good Friday, has been set aside to celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which is the cornerstone of Christian faith.
Christian faithful from across the global will gather for the hybrid programme tagged Jesus + Nothing Worship, a platform that provides worshippers an opportunity to connect with the essence of the Gospel in worship.
Soul-lifting singers expected to minister on that day include Neon Adejo, Greatman Takit, Victor Thompson, Timi Dakolo, Samuel Giveson (SMJ), Noble G, Steve Hills, and Lily Perez.
Others are Joxie, Anderson Qozan, Pastor Victor Paul, EmekaSongz, Flo, Dorcas Moore, Magpsalms, Mera Owili, Gerald Bishung, Phebe Lion, and the vibrant Evolution Children’s Choir.
The Lead Pastor and Apostolic Head of the LOGIC Church, Apostle Flourish Peters, while commenting ahead of the event, said, “As a Christocentric faith community, this event is a great way to celebrate the gift of Christ, who laid down his life for our redemption. Good Friday is a great time to have a worship celebration like this.”
“Nothing speaks to the culture of a people like the music they listen to. Jesus + Nothing Worship will contribute to shaping and mainstreaming a culture of christocentric worship, where the Gospel of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection is platformed through worship,” he added.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called for the withdrawal of the amendment of the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 because it seeks to regulate the activities of bloggers operating within the territorial boundaries of Nigeria.
The organisation in its letter urged the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Tajudeen Abbas, to “immediately withdraw the repressive bill.”
Business Post reports that the titled A Bill for an Act to Amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act, 2023, to Mandate the Establishment of Physical Offices within the Territorial Boundaries of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by Social Media Platforms and for Related Matters among others intends to regulate bloggers, including by requiring all bloggers to register local offices and join recognised national association for bloggers.
Currently, the bill has passed its first and second reading in the Senate.
In the letter signed its deputy director, Mr Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP asked Mr Akpabio and Mr Abbas “to ensure that any amendment to the Nigeria Data Protection Act promotes and protects the rights of bloggers and other journalists and does not undermine the fundamental human rights of Nigerians.”
It demanded an end to “the imposition of unnecessary restrictions on the rights of Nigerians online and Internet-based content.”
In the letter dated April 12, 2025, the group said, “This bill is a blatant attempt to bring back and fast-track the obnoxious and widely rejected social media bill by the back-door.”
“If passed, the bill would also be used to ban major social media platforms—including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, WhatsApp, YouTube, TikTok, and independent bloggers if they ‘continuously fail to establish/register and maintain physical offices in Nigeria for a period of 30 days.
“Lawmakers should not become arbiters of truth in the public and political domain. Regulating the activities of bloggers and forcing them to associate would have a significant chilling effect on freedom of expression and lead to censorship or restraint.
“Should the National Assembly and its leadership fail to withdraw the bill to regulate the activities of bloggers, and should any such bill be assented to by President Bola Tinubu, SERAP would consider appropriate legal action to challenge the legality of any such law and ensure it is never implemented in the public interest,” the organisation warned.
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