NEWS
Gov Akeredolu Inaugurates Olaiya Flyover In Osogbo
Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, on Thursday inaugurated the iconic Olaiya flyover in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
Akeredolu described the performance of Oyetola in the State as incredible and worthy of emulation.
This is even as Governor Adegboyega Oyetola said the construction of the flyover was a child of necessity aimed at putting a permanent end to avoidable road accidents and other mishaps hitherto being experienced by road users and residents of the State.
The newly-inaugurated Olaiya flyover was completed within the one-year time frame allotted to it a few months ago with a target to substantially ease the growing traffic, eliminate unnecessary cases of accident, secure the lives of the valued citizens and further enhance the architectural beauty of the State capital.
Addressing the people at the venue of the inauguration, Governor Oyetola said the successful completion of the flyover was an attestation to the efficacy of the Alternative Project Funding System, a novel development model introduced by his administration to boost the State’s development and infrastructure needs.
He said his administration has taken care of the fears and evil of fiscal indiscipline and lack of implementation, which hamper projects and services in the nation’s public service as seen in the myriad people-centred and masses-focused projects being inaugurated and delivered for the use of the people of the State in the about four years of being at the helm of affairs.
The Governor who described the flyover as an architectural masterpiece, a paragon of aesthetics and a socioeconomic signature on the economic transformation captured by the Development Agenda of his administration, said, “This is another fulfilment of our electoral promise we exchanged for the mandate of our people”.
He said his government has so far proved that infrastructure and economic development are doable in a depressed economy and that stagnated development in a struggling economy is a product of intellectual laziness, dearth of creativity, shortage of innovation and lack of political will.
“It (Olaiya flyover) is a worthy complement to the over 500km roads we have rehabilitated and constructed in our four years in government so far.
“Fixing our State’s infrastructure deficit is a critical item on our Development Agenda. This is because no economy can truly succeed without adequate infrastructure to make life easy for residents and businesses.
“This realisation accounts for why we are engaging in mass spread of infrastructure development across the State to stimulate development in line with our Development Agenda.
“We have rehabilitated and constructed several roads across the State as a catalyst for equitable socio-economic development. Among these roads are: Ada-Igbajo road, Osogbo-Kelebe-Iragbiji road, and Akindeko-Awosuru link road via Adejumo Street with Oremeji spur, Akinlade Street, Adewale Street with loop to WAEC road all in Osogbo; Army Barack (Ede)-Ara-Ejigbo township road, Moro- Yakoyo-Ipetumodu-Asipa-Ife/Ibadan Expressway Junction Road and Ereja Roundabout-Ereguru-Isaare-Oke Oye-Sabo (Irojo)-Ilesa/Akure Expressway Junction.
“Others are: Lawyer Atanda Road, Iwo; Ila-Arandun-Kwara Boundary Road; Nike Gallery-Ido-Osun Township airport with palace spur; Ikirun-Eko-Ende Road; the access road to Fountain University, Osogbo; Osogbo (Lameco)-Okinni-Ilobu-Ifon Osun Market with Spur to Olobu’s Palace; Osogbo/Ilobu-Akari-Erin Osun Roundabout on Osun LCDA Junction; Post Office-Ayetoro-Jamodo-Ifon Palace-Janta Ifon Osun; Isale-Asa-Oke Aree road, Iree, as well as Ikire township roads, among other interventions.
“There are however a few other roads that are still on-going, while some are nearing completion. Among these roads are: Ife Township Roads; Inisa Road and Osogbo-Iwo Road.
“We have also focused attention on opening up our rural roads with the aim of connecting them to the urban areas. This is to stimulate rapid state-wide development and facilitate ease of movement for our people and goods from one part of the State to another.
“The strength of this Olaiya Flyover is in the faithful implementation of traffic regulations by our relevant officers and the resolve of our people to obey the rules. I, therefore, appeal to us all to faithfully play our parts so that we can be united in saying never again to loss of lives and economic wastage in our dear State.
“My dear good people of Osun, as we inaugurate this iconic Olaiya Flyover today, I welcome you, the good people of Osun, to an accident-free driving around this axis, a safe and secure life and an enduring architectural beauty of Osogbo, our State capital.
“Olaiya Flyover is your property and heritage. Own it. Make the best use of it and pass it to our unborn generations as you go about your businesses and daily lives”, he added.
Inaugurating the flyover, Governor Akeredolu, commended Oyetola for being committed to the welfare and general well-being of the people of the State.
Akeredolu who described the flyover as unprecedented in the history of the State, expressed confidence in the fact that the facility would go a long way at meeting the infrastructure needs of the axis, most importantly the road users.
“I am not new to Osun. I am not new to Osogbo. It is important to me for many reasons. I have followed the history of this State. I say it without mincing words that Oyetola has made his mark in the sand of time. If you don’t know what he has done, see this place, you will see part of what he did. I am overwhelmed with joy for giving me the opportunity to partake in this programme.
“This is historic in the history of Osogbo. Oyetola has made history. I congratulate you for your resilience in the face of daunting challenges even from those that are supposed to be your friends.
“We knew what you met in the State and we know what you have done and where you have taken the State. We can’t lie to ourselves, we are fearless — you have tried. We were here when salaries were owed for several months but you came and the story changed. I commend you for making the interest of your people primary consideration.
“For me, development is about people. All efforts conceived and geared towards the amelioration of the welfare of the people must be commended. You are indeed a talk and do governor. Any government that prioritizes the interest of the people is an organized one.
“The verdict of history will be written after your eight years. You have done excellently well. I know the crucial role infrastructure development plays in any society as it opens up everywhere. Some people may be saying road is not what they will eat, but I know it brings development.
“Living in an environment will be stress free if infrastructure is put in place for socio-economic development to thrive. We know what you have done. God will reward you. As we can see, direct beneficiaries of this initiative are numerous both within and outside the state.
“I thank you for insisting to discharge this for the people of Osun. We were here when the results of the election were declared. We were downcast but you were not. I commend you for the way you have managed the affairs of this State. You have done incredibly well. You shall be returned for another four years. How many Governors can boast of what you have done in four years? You have justified the confidence bestowed on you by your people.
“I congratulate the people of Osun on the tremendous boost they have witnessed in the State. It is not only mouthing Omoluabi ethos that matters but upholding it. I say to you, Oyetola, you are indeed an Omoluabi, true and true,” he added.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Works and Transport, Engr Remi Omowaye, said the successful completion of the flyover would in no measure add value to the socioeconomic activities in the State in general and Osogbo in particular.
Omowaye who highlighted many of the infrastructure developments, particularly road infrastructure initiated by the Oyetola led administration, said indeed the government has raised the bar of infrastructure in the State.
He commended the people of the State for their love and perseverance throughout the construction period saying, “It is a thing of joy that the State has successfully inaugurated it for the use of the generality of the people in the state and beyond.
The Contractor of the project and Chairman Peculiar Ultimate Concerns, Engr Olanrewaju Adeleke, reassured the people of the quality of work done on the flyover which according to him has the capacity to meet immediate and future needs of the road users.
He said: “Every engineering work is meant to meet immediate and future requirements. This project has met its billing. It has solved all the immediate problems and future road mishaps. I commend the Alternative Project Funding Approach of the State that has helped to actualise this iconic Olaiya flyover”
In a controversial move, Republican Representative Andy Ogles has introduced a resolution aimed at amending the U.S. Constitution to permit former and current President Donald Trump to run for a third term in office.
The proposal, announced on Thursday, seeks to revise the 22nd Amendment, which limits presidents to two terms.
Ogles argued that Trump is uniquely equipped to address the nation’s challenges and lead a turnaround for the United States.
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“No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than three times,” Ogles said in his statement. “He has proven himself to be the only figure in modern history capable of reversing our nation’s decay and restoring America to greatness. He must be given the time necessary to accomplish that goal.”
The congressman also underscored the importance of giving Trump the tools needed to address what he described as damage caused by the Biden administration.
“We must provide Trump with every resource necessary to correct the disastrous course set by the Biden administration,” he added.
“He is dedicated to restoring the republic and saving our country, and we, as legislators and as states, must do everything in our power to support him.”
The resolution calls for a constitutional amendment to modify the 22nd Amendment, which was ratified in 1951 following Franklin D. Roosevelt’s unprecedented four-term presidency from 1933 to 1945.
Roosevelt’s extended time in office spurred fears of presidential overreach, leading to the adoption of term limits.
Trump, who won the 2024 presidential election and returned to office, has previously downplayed the idea of seeking a third term.
However, during a conversation with Republican lawmakers, he humorously alluded to the possibility.
“I suspect I won’t be running again unless you do something,” Trump said. “Unless you say, ‘he’s so good, we have to just figure it out.’”
Ogles lauded Trump’s actions during his second term, citing executive orders aimed at securing the southern border, restricting gender identities to male and female, boosting energy production, and withdrawing the U.S. from the World Health Organization.
These measures, according to Ogles, demonstrate Trump’s ability to restore America’s standing and address critical issues.
The 22nd Amendment, proposed in 1947 and ratified four years later, was designed to uphold the principle of limited presidential terms first established by George Washington, the nation’s first president.
Washington voluntarily stepped down after two terms, warning against any president serving so long as to resemble a monarch or dictator.
Republicans currently hold a slim three-seat majority in the House of Representatives, but amending the Constitution is a daunting task.
The proposed amendment would require approval from two-thirds of both the House and Senate, as well as ratification by three-fourths of the states—a high bar in today’s deeply divided political climate.
While Ogles’ proposal is unlikely to succeed, it reflects the enduring loyalty Trump commands among his supporters and within the Republican Party.
The resolution has already drawn criticism from opponents who argue it undermines democratic principles, while supporters insist it is necessary to allow Trump to complete what they view as his mission to “restore America’s greatness.”
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of board chairpersons for 42 federal organizations, alongside other key leadership positions, as part of his administration’s efforts to strengthen governance structures across the country.
Among the notable appointees is Abdullahi Ganduje, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who has been named Chairman of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Similarly, APC National Secretary, Senator Bashiru Ajibola, has been appointed Chairman of the National Sugar Development Council (NSDC).
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The appointments, announced on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, include key figures from diverse sectors of the country.
In the statement, Onanuga revealed that President Tinubu had also appointed a new Managing Director for the Nigerian Railway Corporation and a Director-General for the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI).
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed board chairpersons for 42 federal organizations and a secretary to the board of the Civil Defence, Immigration, and Prisons Services,” the statement read.
“The President has also appointed a new managing director for the Nigerian Railway Corporation and a director-general for the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI).”
Here is the full list of the appointments announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu:
1. Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) – Abdullahi Ganduje (Chairman)
2. National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) – Senator Bashiru Ajibola (Chairman)
3. Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company – Sulaiman Argungu (Chairman)
4. National Agency for Great Green Wall – Senator Magnus Abe (Chairman)
5. National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) – Hillard Eta (Chairman)
6. Nigerian Institute of International Affairs – Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi (Chairman)
7. National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI) – Kazeem Kolawole Raji (Director-General)
8. Nigerian Railway Corporation – Dr. Kayode Isiak Opeifa (Managing Director)
9. Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria – Nasiru Gawuna (Chairman)
10. National Teachers Institute – Festus Fuanter (Chairman)
11. Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria – Mustapha Salihu (Chairman)
12. Industrial Training Fund – Hamma Adama Ali Kumo (Chairman)
13. Nigerian Institute of Educational Planning and Administration – Victor Tombari Giadom (Chairman)
14. Nigerian Postal Service – D.J. Kekemeke (Chairman)
15. National Inland Waterways Authority – Musa Sarkin Adar (Chairman)
16. National Steel Council – Prof. Abdulkarim Kana Abubakar (Chairman)
17. National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) – Garba Datti Muhammad (Chairman)
18. National Bio-Safety Management Agency – Mu’azu Bawa Rijau (Chairman)
19. Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute – Durosimi Meseko (Chairman)
20. Nigerian Institute of Science Laboratory Technology – Donatus Enyinnah Nwankpa (Chairman)
21. Sheda Science and Technology Complex – Senator Abubakar Maikafi (Chairman)
22. Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe – Zainab A. Ibrahim (Chairman)
23. Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti – Durotolu Oyebode Bankole (Chairman)
24. Federal Medical Centre, Abeokuta – Abdullahi Dayo Israel (Chairman)
25. Federal Medical Centre, Asaba – Dr. Mary Alile Idele (Chairman)
26. Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja – Nze Chidi Duru (Chairman)
27. Federal Medical Centre, Owerri – Emma Eneukwu (Chairman)
28. Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia – Uguru Mathew Ofoke (Chairman)
29. Federal Medical Centre, Yenagoa – Felix Chukwumenoye Morka (Chairman)
30. Federal Medical Centre, Yola – Bashir Usman Gumel (Chairman)
31. David Umahi Federal University Teaching Hospital, Ubuhu, Ebonyi State – Dr. Ijeoma Arodiogbu (Chairman)
32. Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) – Yusuf Hamisu Abubakar (Chairman)
33. Federal Scholarship Board – Babatunde Fakoyede (Chairman)
34. National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency – Edward Omo-Erewa (Chairman)
35. Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) – Isa Sadiq Achida (Chairman)
36. Federal Medical Centre, Birnin Kudu – Mohammed Gusau Hassan (Chairman)
37. National Building and Road Research Institute – Yahuza Ado Inuwa (Chairman)
38. Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Authority – Abubakar Shehu Wurno (Chairman)
39. Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital – Augustine Chukwu Umahi (Chairman)
40. Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi – Ali Bukar Dalori (Chairman)
41. Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika, Zaria – Lawal M. Liman (Chairman)
42. Civil Defence, Immigration, and Prisons Services Board – Jubril Abdulmalik (Secretary)
43. Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund – Shola Olofin (Chairman)
All appointments take immediate effect and the President has directed all board chairpersons to refrain from interfering in the day-to-day management of the agencies, emphasizing that their roles are strictly non-executive.
“President Tinubu directs the board chairpersons not to interfere with the management of the organizations, emphasizing that their positions are non-executive,” Onanuga added.
Bangkok authorities closed more than 350 schools on Friday due to hazardous air pollution, marking the largest mass closure since 2020.
This comes as the Thai capital was ranked the world’s seventh-most polluted major city, according to air quality monitor IQAir.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) announced that 352 schools across 31 districts were shut down to protect students from the worsening air quality.
By Friday morning, PM2.5 pollutant levels — fine particles small enough to enter the bloodstream — reached 108 micrograms per cubic meter, far exceeding the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of 15 micrograms for daily exposure.
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Air pollution in Southeast Asia typically spikes during the colder months, as stagnant air combines with smoke from crop burning and vehicle emissions.
Authorities reported that this week’s pollution levels were among the highest in years, prompting measures not seen since the pandemic.
On Thursday, more than 250 schools in Bangkok were already closed, and city officials urged residents to work from home while restricting heavy vehicles from entering the capital.
The Interior Ministry has also banned the agricultural practice of stubble burning, threatening legal action against offenders.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, speaking from the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, called for urgent measures to combat the crisis, including limiting construction projects and cooperating with neighboring countries.
Both Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City and Cambodia’s Phnom Penh also ranked among the world’s top 10 most polluted cities on Friday, with their governments facing mounting pressure to address air quality concerns.
Despite international attention, Cambodian authorities downplayed the issue, stating that their air quality remained within acceptable levels.
“Other countries have their own standards. Cambodia has our own standard to determine the air quality,” said Environment Ministry spokesperson Khvay Atitya.
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