ABIODUN COMMENDS CUSTOMS AS CG VISITS PROPOSED ZONAL OFFICE/TRAINING SCHOOL IN OGUN
Ogun State government says its proposed Deep Sea and Dry Port projects will open up the state for more investment opportunities, and positively impact the lives of the people.
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The State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, stated this during a visit with the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, to the site of the Nigeria Customs Service's proposed Zonal Office/Training School in Ilisan, Ikenne Local Government Area.
Governor Abiodun added that the Gateway Agro-Cargo International Airport was strategically located to provide access to the Lagos-Ibadan and Sagamu-Ore-Benin Expressways, noting that it was built to comprise the Special Agro-Processing Zone, and an Industrial Park to process goods for export and local consumption, due to the uniqueness of the state as the number one producer of poultry, cassava, and high-quality cotton.
Speaking on the location of the proposed Zonal Office and Training School of the Nigeria Customs Service near the airport, Abiodun said the move would enable the Customs to carry out its duty of ensuring due process for the importation and exportation of goods, and also improve the status of the state as the industrial hub of the nation.
While appreciating the Comptroller General for instituting many laudable programmes that had enhanced the service's operations, the governor also commended him for ensuring the continuity of the project, noting that with the coming of the Olokola Deep Sea Port, and the Liquefied Natural Gas Projects in the state, the presence of Customs was vital and appropriate, and would score the state high in the Ease of Doing Business in Nigeria.
Speaking, Mr. Adeniyi said the Nigerian Customs Service was excited to key into the vision of the state government to transform the state into a larger economic giant. He added that the project would provide direct and indirect jobs to the people in the area and called for the support of the government and people of the state to make it a reality.
The Comptroller General, who said that the project might be completed ahead of schedule, as it was needed to expand its Federal Operations Unit in Lagos for the purpose of relocating the Zonal Office to Ogun State, hinted that a similar project was ongoing in Kaduna State, pointing out that budgetary provision and approvals had been given for the take-off of a Customs University in Lagos.
"Ogun State has played a key role since the inception of this project. The project is to support what the governor is doing to enable his people enjoy the dividends of democracy. The rest of Africa looks up to us to provide leadership, and after the completion of this project, no customs in the entire African corridor will come close to us", Adeniyi said.
Elijah Udofia,
Press Officer, Office of the Governor
OGSHC GIVES 7 DAYS NOTICE TO ILLEGAL OCCUPANTS OF HOUSING ESTATES
Ogun State Housing Corporation (OGSHC) has issued a seven day quit notice to illegal occupants of its housing estates across the state, to vacate and remove structures and buildings.
General Manager of the Corporation, ESV. Wale Ojo, during a development control and enforcement exercise at Idiroko Housing Estate in Ipokia Local Government Area, said the notice was in line with section 7 (1) of the Ogun State Housing Corporation Law 2006.
ESV. Ojo said the exercise was to identify developments without approval, fish out those that were not in compliance with the approved plan, inappropriate use of purpose, as well as ensure that developments were well positioned as designed on the layout after the expiration of this process, among others.
He warned that failure to comply with the directive of the Corporation would lead to demolition of the structures, while the occupants would be prosecuted and made to pay for the cost of removing their illegal structures.
Contributing, Director of Survey in the Corporation, Surv. Bunmi Oladeinde-Oluwakemi, said part of the agency’s core mandate was to number illegal houses and identify structures that were not up to the Corporation’s standard, noting that documents or complaints from occupants would be entertained before the commencement of demolition.
She appealed to residents to always consult appropriate government authority before buying landed property in the state.
Speaking on behalf of the residents in the estates, Chairman of Ifeloju Community Development Association, Idiroko Ikolaje, Chief Babatunde Taiwo promised to abide by the directive of the corporation, pleading for extension of notice.
Segun Craig,
Press Officer, Housing Corporation
STATISTICS BUREAU CHARGES DIRECTORS ON INNOVATION
Directors of Planning, Research and Statistics (DPRS) in the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Ogun state government have been charged to adopt advanced technology, to increase the volume of daily generated data and evolve the methods of data collection and processing.
The state Statistician-General, Mr. Michael Ajayi, gave the charge while delivering a keynote address during a stakeholders’ meeting with the DPRS in Abeokuta, stating the significance of ensuring harmonisation of accurate, comprehensive, and timely data for achieving effective and sustainable development.
He said the vision for harmonisation should be collectively embraced to enhance capacity for accurate reporting and monitoring, as well as ensure that policies were formulated to address the actual needs of the people, adding that seeking for commitments and collaboration of stakeholders would help the vision to be transformed into reality.
‘’Data landscape in the state show the significant strides in data collection and management over the years, yet the challenges still persist due to data silos within the MDAs, which resulted in duplication of efforts, varying standards, and conflicting data set”, Mr. Ajayi.
Earlier, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Budget and Planning, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Dada, represented by the Director, Development Partner Coordination, Mrs. Funmilola Tade, said partnership had been a driving force to strengthen data systems alongside necessary tools to make informed decisions that would benefit the people, appreciating United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) for their unwavering support on data harmonisation.
In their presentations, two resource persons, a Statistics Reform Specialist, Mr. Femi Luther, and Director of Economic and Social Statistics in the Bureau, Mr. Abimbola Bolarinde, described data as the lifeblood of effective modern governance that should be available and accessible for decision making, highlighting the best practices for effective data harmonisation to include, defining objectives clearly, standardising data format, establishing data quality, utilising metadata, and automating data integration, among others.
One of the participants, a Principal Statistician in the Bureau, Mr. Adesanya Kolawole, while appreciating the state government for providing an enabling environment for the State Bureau of Statistics to thrive, commended the organisers of the programme, promising to use the knowledge acquired in the discharge of their duty.
Pelumi Oduronbi,
Bureau of Statistics
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