Filling Stations, banks and multinational companies in the state of Osun are now mandated to pay for Fire Safety Inspections, certification and other precautionary levies in line with national fire safety code.
 
 

 
 
This is contained in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) jointly signed by the state chairman, Task Force on Revenue Collection on Fire Services, Hon Oguntola Toogun , Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Home Affairs, Tourism and Culture, Mrs Olajumoke Bello, Director , Fire Services, Mr Michael Ogundipe and South West Head, Federal Fire Services, Mr S.A Aderemi and Officer in Charge of Federal Fire Service in Osun , Mrs B.O. Komolafe.
The MoU agreed that both Federal and State Fire Personnel would jointly organise and administer fire prevention and training of staff of organisations and establishments within the state.
Also, the Federal Fire Service is to carry out fire safety inspections, certification and others of NNPC stations and other Federal parastatals and establishments in the state.
The MoU further stated that the State Fire personnel are to carry out Fire Safety Inspections, certification and other levy collections in ALL establishments in the state except NNPC stations and Federal establishments. The inspection of multinational companies like GLO, MTN ,ETISALAT, banks and others WILL be done by the state fire personnel and that the sealing of premises that violate safety precautions as contained in the National Fire safety codes can be done by both Federal and State fire personnel.
The MoU therefore enjoined all filling stations , federal establishments and multinational organisations in the state to comply with these directives.

The Governor, state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has charged traditional rulers in the state on the need to consistently champion communal peace and promote unity among their subjects in their various domains.
 

 
 
Aregbesola also urged the monarchs to expedite actions capable of heralding genuine rapid development as well as foster peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial relationship among the residents in their communities.
Governor Aregbesola gave the advice while presenting the Staff of Office and Instrument of appointment to the new Akinla of Erin-Ijesha, Oba Isaac Adeyeba, in the ancient town of Erin-Ijesha.
The Governor who was represented by the State Secretary to the Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, called for the continuously strengthening of the existing love and unity in the state, saying it remains the only way to actualize the desired progress, growth and development.
He said the development and progress of the society must certainly be prioritized by traditional rulers and other stakeholders in society, just as he charged the monarchs not to rest on their oars at ensuring sustainable transformation.
Governor Aregbesola who described the traditional institutions as an heritage of societal reformation, attitudinal change and moral building, also called on the royal fathers not to relent in their efforts at placing the Yoruba’s values, customs, traditions and culture at the front burner of growth and development in the global community.
Aregbesola further attributed the existing peace and tranquility being enjoyed by his administration to what he described as unflinching support and cooperation received from the citizenry.
While enumerating some of his achievements, Governor Aregbesola said his government has successfully given the state a deserved look and identity as evident in the influx of socioeconomic, political and cultural transformations across the nooks and crannies of the state.
He said the current government had significantly accorded  due recognition to all the traditional institutions, religious institutions as well as the people’s culture, values and traditions since assumption of office.
Advising the new monarch, Governor Aregbesola admonished Oba Adeyeba to be magnanimous in victory and extend hands of love and togetherness to all and sundry.
Governor Aregbesola implored the new traditional ruler to maximize his position in bringing all round development and progress to the ancient town, saying he must not hesitate to fill the seventeen years (17 years) vacuum created after the demise of his predecessor, Oba Adeyinka Adeosun.
He therefore called on the sons and daughters of the town to rally round the new monarch in his bid to pilot the affairs of the town to the greater heights.
In his remarks, Oba Isaac Adeyeba who commended Governor Aregbesola on his giant strides, however expressed profound gratitude to the state government for approving him as the new monarch of the ancient town after seventeen years of royal interregnum.
Oba Adeyeba who promised to consolidate on the efforts of his ancestors, said his reign would bring unprecedented development and progress to the town.
The monarch said his emergence was a new dawn to the people of Erin-Ijesha both at home and in diaspora.
He affirmed on his determination to turn the town to a must-visited world tourist centre in the world, pledging that his reign would leave no stone unturned at showcasing the natural values of the town- (Olumirin Water falls) to the global community for general development and betterment of all.
Oba Adeyeba however promised to support the state government in its bid to maximize the state revenues through sustainable taxation, adding that his office would be used to enforce prompt tax payment among his subjects.
The monarch described taxation as a driven force aiding the policies and programmes of government, stressing that the time has come for all and sundry to demonstrate positive attitude towards taxation.
He therefore sought for cooperation and support from the indigenes and residents of the town, just as he assured peaceful cohabitation of all.
Meanwhile, it would be recalled that Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbeshola approved the appointment of the then Prince Isaac Adeyeba Ayeni as the new Akinla of Erin Ijesha in Ori ade Local Government area of the state, just as his appointment came 17 years, 17 days after the demise of his predecessor, Oba Adeyinka Adeosun.
The 52-year old new monarch however hails from Ayeni Royal family of Osefiri
Ruling House.

Osun state government has hinted that plans are in top gear to make the state a ceramic training center for students and lovers of ceramic all over the world.
 

 
 
The Director General, Economic Development and Partnership, office of the governor, Mr Charles Akinola, stated this during a visit to Atamora Pottery, Ikire, Osun state.
He disclosed that three Universities have shown interest in partnering with the state in the area of pottery, maintaining that such would fast track the government’s plan for the initiative.
The founder of the pottery, Mr Ibukunoluwa Ayoola, said with the government’s support, the initiative would reduce unemployment in the nation.
Ayoola who frowned at lack of equipment to train students in higher institutions, observed that over 450,000 students are graduating  every year without impact.
Ayoola, an  accountant  turned potter, stated that his aim was to turn the village to a resource centre where students all over the world would come to train.
He encouraged students with potential and interest in pottery to extend their learning beyond classrooms and visit Atamora village for practical learning of ceramic.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has announced this year’s free train ride for the Easter celebration as part of its continued commitment to the welfare and well-being of the people of the state.
 
 
 

 
This is contained in a statement by the Ministry of Commerce, Cooperative, Industry and Empowerment announced that on Wednesday, the free train ride would convey people coming for the Easter festival from Lagos to Osogbo on Friday 25 by 10am.
A return train will depart Osogbo to Lagos on Monday, March 28 by 11:00am.
The statement noted that the government did this to ease movements of the people during period of the festivity.
The Government therefore enjoined indigenes of the state to maximise the advantage the free train ride offers them to visit home and enjoy the celebration.

Governor, state of Osun , Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has expressed his determination to complete all projects his administration embarked upon despite the drastic reduction in revenue allocation to the state from the federation account.
 

 
 
Aregbesola who allayed the fears of residents who are apprehensive of possible abandonment of many ongoing road projects as a result of visible economic decline reiterated his commitment to complete all projects he initiated.
Speaking through the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Mr. Nurudeen Adeagbo after inspecting ongoing road projects being constructed under Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (O’RAMP), Aregbesola said he would not only complete ongoing projects but initiate new ones.
The Permanent Secretary, who is the chairman of the Osun Project Monitoring Committee (OSPMC), explained that 225kilometers rural road projects in Iwo and Ilesa regions of the state were inspected.
Expressing satisfaction at the level of work done on the roads, Adeagbo said  no fewer than nine roads in Iwo, as well as six roads in Ilesa region were inspected during the inspection tour.
He lauded the governor for allowing the World Bank to partner with Osun Rural Access and Mobility Project (O’RAMP), in the development of the rural roads.
In his remarks, the coordinator for the project, Engr. Adelere Oriolowo, explained that work commenced on the roads in 2015 in rural areas across the state to enable farmers transport their farm produce without stress.

As the Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, has given indication that the Federal Government will soon extend to other solid minerals the backward integration policy on lime stone that transformed Nigeria from a net importer of cement to net exporter in less than 10 years, a geologist at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Dr. Abraham A. Adepelumi has said that one single company exploring gold in the state netted N2.2 trillion in one year. Adepelumi, who spoke at the first New Telegraph Newspapers Economic Summit, in Lagos, on Thursday, stressed the need for immediate commencement of exploration of the over 44 solid mineral deposits in the country.
 

 
 
 
According to him, diversification of the economy into this very rich sector would hasten the rebound of the Nigerian economy which has been stressed by dwindling revenue from oil. Speaking on the topic: “Nigeria Beyond Oil: Opportunities in Solid Mineral Resources”, he said that Nigeria is endowed highly with several minerals that include coal, gold, tantalite, bitumen, galena, sphalerite.
“These minerals have transformed the economic landscape of some countries. These minerals have to be mined in order to contribute significantly to the economy. Nigeria has an enormous amount of solid minerals which can be harnessed for our economic well being.
These minerals have remained untapped over the years. “Nigeria is endowed with the solid mineral sector. We have well over 44 mineral types both on occurrence and deposit scales. Occurrence means you have discovered but not done further works to prove if it is economic or not. So, we have minerals at both scales in over 800 locations in the country.
There are still hundreds of places of these minerals that haven’t been discovered. Of the 44 types, at least 20 are of economic value.” Adepelumi added that the extensive exploration and evaluation of mineral deposits in Nigeria from the colonial time to date by the geological survey of the country, has revealed mineral deposits across the whole nation and has recently been compiled state by state in various researches conducted by experts He said the mineral wealth extraction would lead to job creation, production of raw materials and commodities for trade, and significant revenue for development, if well-managed.
He alluded to one Segilola Gold Limited, a gold exploration company with operational base in Osun State which exports over 620,000 ounces of gold annually which amounts to over N2.2 trillion turnovers as an indication of the amount of money which can accrue to the country from that sector.
Adepelumi added that bearing in mind the fact that gold and several solid minerals deposits abound around Zamfara, Kebbi, Niger, Kwara and Osun axes, immediate exploration of these, coupled with useful rail line as means of transportation will return Nigeria to the good old days of a buoyant economy.