A call has gone out to farmers in the State of Osun to embrace latest initiative of the state government by focusing on mass production of cocoa and other farm produce which are viable alternatives to ameliorating the present economic challenges bedevilling the state and the nation at large.
The State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, made this call while speaking at the launch of medical equipments facilitated through AD King Foundation, Atlanta, USA by the authorities of Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the state.
 

 
Mrs. Laoye-Tomori, who noted the continuous nose-diving in revenue accruable to the nation arising from acute shortfall in oil price, said it is imperative for states in Nigeria, state of Osun in particular, to look inwardly for potentials inherent in agricultural practice.
According to the State Deputy Governor, the present administration in the state under Governor Rauf Aregbesola has taken some measures which include establishment of Cocoa Marketing Board to resuscitate cocoa production in the state as well as other agricultural produce such as coffee and plantain among others.
Mrs. Laoye-Tomori recalled the days of Western Region when cocoa was the mainstay of economy of the region and how it was exploited for overall development especially in the area of education, social and infrastructural development.
The State Deputy Governor also used the opportunity to appeal to residents of the state to join hands with the state government in developing the state through prompt payment of taxes by all taxable individuals adding that all should see to the current efforts to revive the economy of the state as a collective responsibility. Earlier, the Executive Secretary of Odo-Otin Local Government, Mr. Tope Adejumo, said his administration procured the equipment with a view to ensuring qualitative health care delivery in the local government in line with the cardinal objective of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration.

The Minister for Transportation, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, has commended the Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for building an unbeatable legacy in the state.
Hon. Amaechi noted that in spite the current economic meltdown, the State of Osun has continued to move graciously on the path of economic sustainability and prosperity.
 

 
The Hon. Minister stated this in Osogbo, the state capital during an inspection tour to the state.
Hon. Amaechi who was on a transitional trip to the state was reportedly saddled with the responsibility of touring and inspecting all ongoing construction of federal roads in the state.
Addressing  journalists shortly after the inspection, Hon. Amaechi disclosed that the purpose of his visitation to the state was to inspect and assess all ongoing federal roads projects as directed by the Federal Roads Inspection Committee setup by the members of Federal Executive Council.
Hon. Amaechi who commenced his inspection tour from Gbongan down to Osogbo, where the roads are still under construction, said the level of financial commitment incurred by the State Government under the leadership of Governor Aregbesola was an indication and testimony to the fact that the state has blessed with a governor whose love for development and transformation can never be measured or estimated.
The Minister of transport who said he was directed to inspect the ongoing federal roads from Gbongan to Ila-Odo, said the financial commitment of the state government on the roads implies that the current government has invested hugely on capital project.
Hon. Amaechi who lamented the current economic situation, said the tremendous achievements he met in Osun has really changed his impression to conclude that despite the adverse effects of the economic challenges, the state is  able to thrive with little resources.
He affirmed that even with meagre available resources, the giant strides recorded by the government of Governor Aregbesola would remain an indelible landmark for the generations to come.
He said, “Initially when the economic meltdown started I was wondering for states like Osun because of the availability of resources.”
“But despite the economic situation, Governor Aregbesola has able to improve and develop the state with the little resources.”
“For this purpose, he needs to be commended and applauded for all he has been doing over the years because hardly will one will see a state with meager resources like Osun performing this tremendously”
“With what I have seen, i believe that all the giant strides recorded in Osun so far by the current administration are an indication to the fact that Aregbesola is a good leader whose passion for development can never be distorted.”
“He has seriously developed the capacity to move the state towards the economic buoyancy, prosperity and sustainability.”
Hon. Amaechi who used the opportunity of the visit to inspect the ongoing construction of MKO Abiola International Airport, Ido-Osun in Osun State in company of Governor Aregbesola, his Deputy, Mrs. Titi Laoye-Tomori and other government functionaries, however said the Federal Government would look into what it could to assist the state on the laudable project.
On the Federal Government Assistance to the state, Mr. Amaechi reassured the state government of continuous support, cooperation and assistance, saying the Federal Government would ensure that the state of Osun benefit immensely.
Speaking on the significance of the visit, Mr. Amaechi said his visit to Osun was imperative sequel to the resolution made by the Federal Executive Council after setting up a committee headed by the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola to oversee and inspect all the ongoing construction of federal roads across the six geo-political zones.
He stated further that his visit to Osun was to tour all ongoing federal roads under construction and write a comprehensive report to the chairman and members of the Committee, according to him after which a recommendation would be forwarded to the Federal Executive Council for full implementation.
Hon. Amaechi also said the visit was found mostly important as some state governors according to him have approached  the Federal Government on the need to reimburse them the monies spent on federal roads in their respective states.
“Speaking on the blueprint of revamping the transportation in the country, Mr. Amaechi said the Federal Government has commenced massive resuscitation of railway, saying the motive was to ensure that the nation brings back to limelight the country’s once vibrant and effective rail transportation.
He stated further that the purpose of kick-starting with railway as a means of transportation was to reduce to the barest minimum the rate of road accident and the influx of trailers, trucks and containers plying major roads in the country.
He revealed that the current government has already prioritized railway, stressing that the collective focus now is to bring back railway to the economic limelight in Nigeria and ensure that it comes to stay permanently as one of the greatest means of transportation not only in Nigeria or Africa but in the whole world.
“Our focus is to strengthen transportation and banish the stress and pains confronting Nigerians on transportation.
“We are working assiduously on this in order to ensure that our roads are eased from the the adverse effects of trailers, trucks and other containers that have taken over our roads.”
“We equally wish to reduce to the barest minimum, the rate of road crashes majorly caused by the countless numbers of long vehicles and containers that often ply our major roads in the country.”
“For these lofty reasons, we believe that once all these are achieved, our roads will be well-maintained, will also experience a reduced accident rate, while the life-span of our roads would also be on the increase”, he stressed.
The Minister for Transportation also frowned at what he described undue pains on the maritime sector, saying the current government would ensure all round transformation of the nation’s seaports.
He said,  “We will also undertake major reforms in our maritime sector, we will ensure massive expansion of our seaports across the nooks and crannies of our country because I wonder why Nigerian seaports as big as Nigeria is, competing with Benin Republic seaports.”
“This is embarrassing, and for this reason, we will reposition our maritime sector for better improvement, upliftment and general well being of Nigerians.”
“We will not relax until we achieve all the reforms and changes in all aspects of the economy.”
“Though we have a lot to do on transportation, but by God’s grace we will do our best to enhance and strengthen the sector for the benefit of all.”
On the invention of new light rail , Hon. Amaechi assured Nigerians that the current government would invest meaningfully on light rail which according to him would be channeled for transportation from Lagos to Kano and Lagos to Calabar respectively.

In recognition of the laudable achievements recorded in all aspects of the economy by the current administration in Osun State, the Director  General, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, OSBC, Prince Adesoji Fadehan has commended Governor Rauf Aregbesola for being steadfast and forthright in executing all of government’s policies and programmes since assumption of office.
 

 
The OSBC Director General also extolled the genuine exemplary leadership quality demonstrated by the current government in multiplying the little resources of the state for greater development.
Prince Fadehan gave the salutation while playing  host to the team of Osun Police Community Relations Committee, PCRC, led by the State Chairman, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, at OSBC Station, Ile-Awiye, Osogbo.
The Director General who described Governor Aregbesola as an extreme lover of peace, said his security-inclined initiatives have contributed immensely towards the peaceful co-existence and harmonious cohabitation of the citizenry.
Prince Fadehan said the present government has set unbeatable records in placing the state at the front burner as the most secured and peaceful state in Nigeria.
Prince Fadehan further stated that the adequate provision of security apparatus by the current government has really helped in positioning the state as the best in terms of prevalent peace and tranquility.
The media practitioner who called on the Nigerian Government to establish State Police, said the only way to completely lessen the burden on Nigeria Police and as well enhance the level of security activities was the recognition of the request to constitute state police.
He said the security measures tactically put in place by the state Governor has helped to uproot all forms of criminality in every nook and cranny of the state.
According to him, the state is secured simply because Mr. Governor has invested so much in security and strengthened the security operatives by providing them with necessary equipment
Prince Fadehan said one of the ways to support the efforts of the current government was for citizens to be law abiding and always be vigilant about happenings around.
Earlier in his remark, the Chairman, OSBC Board, Mr. Kola Akanji also applauded the state government for being resilient, responsive and responsible to its responsibilities in spite the present economic challenges.
He lauded Governor Aregbesola for his untiring efforts in transforming the state to the best satisfaction of all.
Mr. Akanji described community policing as a formidable instrument to entrench security and enhance protection of  lives and property in any given state or country, stating the roles been played by the state PCRC in helping the security agencies can not be overemphasized.
He therefore commended the leadership of the state PCRC for living up to its task and meeting the expectations of the people, assuring that the state government and the people of the state would continue to stretch their supportive and collaborative hands to the organization for greater achievements.
He said, “since the advent of PCRC in Nigeria, our people do not rely so much on police as they believe in the efficacy of the fact that they are equally law enforcement agents in their various domains.
Mr. Akanji who implored the citizens to report any case of suspicion discovered anywhere in the state to the police and other security operatives, said the best way to enhance the activities of Nigeria Police is for all and sundry to be security participants.
He therefore assured the members of the PCRC of continued support in ensuring that all their activities are aided by media, stressing that OSBC would do its best to promote the activities of Nigeria Police to strengthen the level of security in the state.
Speaking, State Chairman, PCRC, Comrade Amitolu Shittu, expressed satisfaction on what he described as continued collaboration from the management and staff of the state broadcasting organization, saying the state PCRC would not relent until the state permanently sustains its status as the most peaceful in Nigeria.
Comrade Amitolu therefore commended the state police commander for maintaining law and order and enhance communal peace and tranquility.

In order to ensure state-wide collection of revenue on quarrables, the State Ministry of Environment and Sanitation has given provisional appointments to five companies as consultants on quarrables.
 

 
This was disclosed today in Osogbo by the Coordinating Director of the Ministry of Environment and Sanitation, Mr. Sunday Afolabi.
The five companies engaged by the ministry and given provisional appointments as Consultants are NEW GLOBAL, OPEN DOOR, TIMKOL INVESTMENT, JUNDEL CONCEPTS AND SEVEN FOLADEX.
According to the Coordinating Director, the new five consultants have been introduced to the Quarrable Association and other stakeholders in order to ensure that necessary internally generated revenue gets to the State Government and at the same time facilitate peace among stakeholders and prevent illegal activities of unscrupulous people in the state.

The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has presented the staff of office to five monarchs in Atakunmonsa East Local Government Area of the State.
 

 
The event was held at the Secretariat of the Local Government.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Muftau Oluwadare, who represented the Governor at the event, also presented to them their instruments of
appointment.
The monarchs were the Salio of Ilofa-Ijesa, Oba Elisha Aluko; the Alayinrin of Ayinrin-Ijesa, Oba Joseph Adedeji; the Alapaede of Alapaede-Ijesa, Oba Bello Aladejebi; the Agbagiri of Igbagiri-Ijesa, Oba Otunla and the Olowu of Araromi-Owu-Ijesa, Oba Amos Adeyemo Olowu.
Mr. Oluwadare urged the newly appointed monarchs to mobilise their subjects to support the government by paying their taxes and levies to ensure the development of the state.
The Executive Secretary of Atakunmonsa East Local Government, Prince Adesegun Olanibi tasked the monarchs to ensure peace and security in their domains.  He appreciated the efforts of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in the development of the Council Area and the State in general.
While responding on behalf of the monarchs, the Olowu of Araromi-Owu-Ijesa, Oba Amos Adeyemo Olowu thanked the Governor for the honour done them. He pledged the support and co-operation of the people of the five towns for the present government in the State.

A call has gone out to farmers in the State of Osun to embrace latest initiative of the state government by focusing on mass production of cocoa and other farm produce which are viable alternatives to ameliorating the present economic challenges bedevilling the state and the nation at large.
The State Deputy Governor, Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, made this call while speaking at the launch of medical equipments facilitated through AD King Foundation, Atlanta, USA by the authorities of Odo-Otin Local Government Area of the state.
 

 
Mrs. Laoye-Tomori, who noted the continuous nose-diving in revenue accruable to the nation arising from acute shortfall in oil price, said it is imperative for states in Nigeria, state of Osun in particular, to look inwardly for potentials inherent in agricultural practice.
According to the State Deputy Governor, the present administration in the state under Governor Rauf Aregbesola has taken some measures which include establishment of Cocoa Marketing Board to resuscitate cocoa production in the state as well as other agricultural produce such as coffee and plantain among others.
Mrs. Laoye-Tomori recalled the days of Western Region when cocoa was the mainstay of economy of the region and how it was exploited for overall development especially in the area of education, social and infrastructural development.
The State Deputy Governor also used the opportunity to appeal to residents of the state to join hands with the state government in developing the state through prompt payment of taxes by all taxable individuals adding that all should see to the current efforts to revive the economy of the state as a collective responsibility. Earlier, the Executive Secretary of Odo-Otin Local Government, Mr. Tope Adejumo, said his administration procured the equipment with a view to ensuring qualitative health care delivery in the local government in line with the cardinal objective of Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s administration.

Revenues from Cocoa and other prominent farms produce in which Osun has comparative advantages have great capacities to turn around the economy and fortunes of the state if pursued with renewed vigor.
 

 
The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, who stated this assured that his administration will leave no stone unturned to make the state great again, hence the recent investment and research into Cocoa production and the focus on other areas of agriculture.
The governor stated that for the state to start on a good footing at producing ‘Cocoa Omoluabi’, the state has enumerated and identified sixty million active cocoa trees in the state.
Aregbesola, while meeting with Cocoa Produce Merchants in the state at the Government House Banquet Hall in Osogbo, stated that with new cocoa development initiatives in the state, there will be a new cash inflow making the economy of the state prosperous.
‎
He stated that the state has also gone further in her bid to boost cocoa production and Agriculture with the signing of Memorandum of under standing with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) on the development of agriculture and production of massive food production as alternative to reliance on oil sector.
The agreement according to Aregbesola involved releasing of 204.39 hectares of land in Ago Owu Farm Settlement to IITA for the purposes of conducting research and setting up demonstration farms for best farming practices.
IITA will also carry out cassava, plantain and other crops multiplication including Cocoa as well as train the youths in the state in modern, commercial and profitable farming.
‎
Aregbesola emphasised that the state in her bid to increase Internally Generated Revenue in Osun, government will establish commodity board that will be supervised directly by the office of the governor to ensure that Osun ranks among the best cocoa producers in Nigeria within the next two years.

He told the produce merchants that the economic situation of the state has been badly affected with the pillaging of the national treasury by the previous administration.

Aregbesola added that the situation with the drop in oil prices and the sharp reduction in the Federation Accounts from N1.2 trillion in 2012 to N369 billion in November allocations shared in December 2015 has reduced the running of government to little or nothing hence the need to look inward in increasing IGR.
The governor noted that the state will soon bounce back‎ with the identification of sixty million Cocoa trees presently in the state, adding that government henceforth will criminalise any action of farmers and merchants that runs afoul of government laws on cocoa.
He pointed out that government will soon be registering all farmers in the state for easy implementation of government policies on agriculture thus giving adequate room for monitoring and giving the necessary support for farmers.
According to him, “to show the people of the state that we are ready to face agriculture squarely in Osun, I am establishing a commodity board that will be supervised directly from the office of the governor.
“Our bags of cocoa in Osun will be branded with this; government will be able to ensure that the quality of cocoa coming out of the state meets international quality. When there was free money coming from oil, no government was looking at what cocoa could bring to the economy; we are back to the days where cocoa will be the main stay of our economy in Osun”. The governor emphasised.
Aregbesola hinted that Produce tribunals will be set up across the state and that special colour will be given to vehicles that will be transporting cocoa within the state.
The governor added that the State Executive Council meetings will be held in rural areas where cocoa farming is thriving in the state for about six months to one year after the formation of his cabinet.
Earlier, the Chairman of All farmers Association of Osun, Chief Raheem Adeniji stated that the association is ready to partner and cooperate with government in her bid to revamp the cocoa farming in the state.
He lamented the poor economic state the country has found it with the neglect of cocoa which he said was the back bone of the economy in the 60s, identifying the cancellation of Cocoa and marketing Board by the then military government as a setback for the industry in Nigeria.
Adeniji commended government for introducing E-payment, adding that government should ensure and maintain that Osun cocoa should not go out of the state.

Governor of the state of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was in Ede, Osun state with high profile members of the state government as they paid an inspection visit to ongoing school projects around the state.
Here are photos of the inspection tour at the Seventh day Adventist High School Ede on Sunday 31-1-2016
 

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in a White attire (2nd right); his Deputy Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (right); the Project Manager, Engr Ajibola Obakin (left). During the inspection of the on going Construction of Seventh day Adventist High School Ede on Sunday 31-1-2016

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in a White attire (2nd right); his Deputy Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (right); the Project Manager, Engr Ajibola Obakin (left). During the inspection of the on going Construction of Seventh day Adventist High School Ede on Sunday 31-1-2016

Governor State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola in a White attire (2nd right); his Deputy Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori (right); the Project Manager, Engr Ajibola Obakin (left). During the inspection of the on going Construction of Seventh day Adventist High School Ede on Sunday 31-1-2016

Ministry of Education in the State of Osun will register only students that passed four (4) papers including English Language and Mathematics in the last Mock Examination for the West African Senior Secondary Examination for this year(2016).
 

 
This was disclosed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mr Lawrence Oyeniran.
According to him, this is sequel to the dwindling resources accruing to the state from the Federation Account hence Government has come to no other conclusion than to share the payment of WAEC  fees with parents and guardians of students.
 
The Permanent Secretary said parents and guardians of students with three papers and below are to pay for the WAEC registration of their children and wards.
 
He therefore urged the parents and wards of the affected students to pay within two weeks in order to meet the extension of time granted by WAEC.

The Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has called on the leadership and members of his political party, All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state on the need to champion his administration’s policies in actualizing an increased revenue base.
 

As he dispelled the allegation that his government was executing capital projects with workers’ salaries, describing it as mischievous, baseless and derogatory.
Governor Aregbesola made the call while inaugurating members of the party’s Elders Forum, at the State Party Secretariat, Osogbo.
He tasked the newly inaugurated members of the Forum to support the government at advocating and reawakening the consciousness of people towards regular tax payment.
Aregbesola who described members of the newly inaugurated Forum as distinguished and accomplished citizens whose wealth of experience had contributed greatly to the lives of their people, urging them to effectively replicate same gestures in the task they are saddled with.
He disclosed that the worrisome economic situation in the country has given an insight towards enhancing agricultural productivity and maximized tax revenues which according to him could only be achieved by collective efforts.
Governor Aregbesola disclosed that the ongoing tax regime policies of his administration has been positively structured so as to be of greater benefit not only to the government but to the entire citizens.
He said, “this inauguration was deemed fit purposefully to serve as driven force of winning elections at grassroots and as well support our government at actualizing its goals towards improved taxation.
“In view of this noble initiative, it is pertinent for the members to specially extend their beneficial support and cooperation towards the success of this administration.
“Obviously, the time has come for all of us as members, followers, leaders and stakeholders to embrace the current economic situation and as well support the government in its bid to maximize its revenue basis.
Governor Aregbesola however used the occasion to debunk the allegation credited to the members of the opposition that his government was using the funds purportedly meant for workers’ salaries to service capital projects, saying on no account does his government perpetrates such inhuman act.
The Governor explained that his government has been prudent in managing the affairs of the state in spite of  the meagre resources, analyzing that it was the Sukuk bond that his administration has been using to finance the ongoing construction of the utra-modern schools.
He also clarified that the ongoing reconstruction of Olaiya-Asubiaro-Itaolokan road is being financed out of the state’s emergency fund.
Governor Aregbesola admitted that  his administration’s commitment and passion in re-positioning the state led him to embark on numerous projects which some of them are still ongoing.
“It is laughable and erroneous for any sane or heartily minded person to conceptualize that our government has been financing capital projects with money meant for workers.
“We have been transparent in all aspects of our activities and all the loans we were granted were not secretive.
“So it is better for mischief makers to face reality and stop spreading unguided rumor against our government”, he warned.
The Governor therefore assured the total completion of the ongoing projects in the state before the expiration of his tenure.