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Tag: Aregbesola

  • We Spends N1m On Each Inmate Annually – FG

    We Spends N1m On Each Inmate Annually – FG

    The Federal Government says it spends N1 million annually to cater for each of the inmates at the correctional facilities in the country.

    Sola Fasure, the Media Adviser to the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, made this known in a statement on Saturday in Abuja.

    According to the statement, the minister said this while inaugurating a 20-bed COVID-19 Crisis Intervention Fund Hospital and Equipment at the Maximum Security Custodial Centre, Port Harcourt.

    The minister said that the project would be an enduring legacy and a testimony of the utmost importance the Federal Government had so far taken corrections, the welfare of inmates as well as the staff.

    Aregbesola added that President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration had, to a large extent, addressed the problem of inmates contracting diseases in custodial centres.

    “The custodial centres were frighteningly centres for contracting diseases like scabies and tuberculosis, among others.

    “Happily, this has been addressed by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration and is now a thing of the past.

    “We not only have well-manned clinics and well-stocked pharmacies, the inmates at the custodial centres now have access to excellent medical care beyond the centres,” he said.

    The minister also decried the enormous challenges of running correctional services with huge demands for infrastructure, equipment and maintaining the welfare of inmates.

    He, however, assured that the Federal Government had provided a long-term solution to the challenges.

    “This centre in Port Harcourt, with a capacity for 1,800 inmates, presently houses about 3,067 inmates. This is just a reflection of the situation in most urban custodial centres where we have congestion at the moment.

    “The facilities and even the personnel are overstretched, but we are coping and providing long-term solutions to this challenge.

    “One of such solutions is the construction of mega 3,000-capacity custodial villages in six geo-political zones of the country. The one for the South-South is in Bori, not far from here in Rivers.

    “The ones for the North-West in Janguza, Kano and the North-Central, in Karshi, Abuja, are ready. Hopefully, we shall inaugurate the one in Kano in a few days, before our departure.

    “Even work is steadily going on in the others and has reached appreciable level.

    “Let me also reiterate that the Federal Government will stop feeding inmates incarcerated for breaching state laws. As you commence your budget process for next year, include feeding of your inmates,” he said..

    Aregbesola said that he had no doubt that the facility would go a long way in addressing the medical concerns of inmates and correctional service personnel.

    The minister commended the management and staff of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS) for working hard to keep the virus away.

    He added that the new hospital was an intervention aimed at making robust healthcare for those in custody and the NCoS staff.

    Aregbesola said that the beauty of all the interventions in consonance with other reforms in the NCoS would obviously translate to security, peace and tranquillity in and around the centres and ultimately the entire country.

  • Passport Booklets Now Sufficient, No more Shortage – says FG

    Passport Booklets Now Sufficient, No more Shortage – says FG

    The federal government has said that there is no more shortage of booklets for the production of passports in the country.

    Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola disclosed this at the commissioning of the Enhanced Passport Production Centre in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State Capital on Tuesday August 9.

    He said the newly commissioned passport centre will now be responsible for the production of passport demands from Rivers, Cross Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States.

    Aregbesola said;

    “We have left no stone unturned in our quest to make passports available to Nigerians.

    “Last year alone, we provided 1.3 million passports to Nigerians. As of today, there is no booklet shortage in Nigeria.

    “As of the second quarter of this year (in June), the NIS has provided 645,000 passports out of the 750,000 applications received.

    “To address the challenge of the backlog, we have sent 11,000 booklets to Ikoyi, 11,000 to Alausa and 8,000 to FESTAC centres in Lagos.

    “We have also sent sufficient booklets to all the centres nationwide to address this challenge.

    “There is, therefore, no excuse again for delay and non-issuance within a reasonable period.”

    The Minister also urged applicants for the Nigerian passport to apply early enough before their travel date to avoid cutting corners and falling into the hands of scammers and other opportunists.

    Aregbesola added;

    “I will urge applicants for the Nigerian passport to apply early enough before their travel date to avoid cutting corners and falling into the hands of scammers and other opportunists.

    “It is important also that they apply by themselves at the Nigeria Immigration Service portal and not through touts and unscrupulous officials, which often bring heartaches.

    “We have provided a window of six weeks and three weeks for fresh application and renewal respectively, after biometric data capture, by which time, other things being equal, the passport will be ready for collection.

    “This timeline is to enable NIS to investigate and validate the claims of applicants and confer integrity on the passport issued.

    “It is a reasonable provision in passport administration by global standard. There is no wait-and-get passport service anywhere in the world. The only wait-and-get passport is a passport-sized photograph from a Polaroid camera.”

  • APC Defeat PDP in Oyetola, Aregbesola’s polling units

    APC Defeat PDP in Oyetola, Aregbesola’s polling units

    The All Progressives Congress won elections in the polling units of Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola, his deputy, Benedict Alabi, and Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

    In Oyetola’s polling unit situated at ward 1, LA school, Popo, Iragbiji in Boripe Local Government Area, APC got 545 votes to defeat its closest rival, Ademola Adeleke of Peoples Democratic Party, who had 69 votes.

    APC also won Aregbesola’s polling unit situated at Ward 8, unit 1, Isare Ifofin, Ilesa East Local Government Area of Osun State in Saturday’s election.

    The ruling party secured 164 votes while PDP trailed with 134 votes.

    However, Aregbesola didn’t participate in the election.

    Deputy Governor Alabi also won his polling unit at ward 6, unit 7, Baptist Day School, Ikire, in Irewole Local Government with 206 votes while PDP scored 184.

    Alabi, who voted at 10:32 am, described the exercise as peaceful and orderly.

    He commended the level of consciousness and enthusiasm displayed by voters, adding that Nigeria was moving towards democratic advancement.

    “The turnout is massive and encouraging as you can see, every process is orderly and impressive. All stakeholders diligently discharged their duties.

    “This is a clear testimony that our democracy is growing to the point of maturity and we are sure of victory as a party,” he said.

    Also, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Ademola Adeleke, won his polling unit in the ongoing governorship election in the state.

    He polled 218 votes to defeat his main contender, Governor Gboyega Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress.

    Oyetola scored 23 votes while Dr Akin Ogunbiyi of the Accord party had one vote.

  • Oyetola Floors Aregbesola, Wins Osun APC Primary

    Oyetola Floors Aregbesola, Wins Osun APC Primary

    By Isaac Kertyo

    Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun state has been declared winner of the governorship primary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) held on Saturday.

    Announcing the result on Sunday, the Chairman of the governorship primary committee and Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, said Oyetola won the election, having garnered 222,169 votes, against 12,921 votes that his closest challenger, Moshood Adeoti got.

    He also said another of Oyetola’s challenger, Lasun Yusuf, got 460 votes and placed third.

    He said a total of 408,697 voters registered in the primary election of the party, while 247, 207 voters were accredited to vote. The total vote cast and valid votes were 235,550.

    Abdulrazaq said Oyetola won in all the 30 local government areas in the state.

    In his remarks, Osun APC chairman, Gboyega Famoodun, commended the diligence of the committee, security agencies and others that worked for the success of the exercise.

    The Rasaq Salinsile-led faction of the party to which the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, belongs, has however rejected the result. The faction claimed that the exercise was fraught with irregularities.

    Adeoti, a former chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria before it merged with the APC, is the anointed candidate of Aregbesola for the party’s governorship ticket.

    Oyetola, was the chief of staff to Aregbesola when the latter served as governor of the state for eight years.

    Also in the race is a former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuf.

    In Aregbesola’s Ifofin Ward 8, Ilesa East Local Government, Adeoti got 146 votes while Oyetola polled 309 votes. Lasun Yusuf also lost in his Ward 5, Ilobu getting 10 votes, as Oyetola polled 323 while Adeoti got 62 votes.

    Also, in his Iragbaji Ward 1, Saint Peters Primary School, Iragbiji, Oyetola got 1,612 votes, while Adeoti and Yusuf got no vote.

  • JUST IN: Osun APC Primary: Oyetola Wins Aregbesola’s Ward with Wide Margin

    JUST IN: Osun APC Primary: Oyetola Wins Aregbesola’s Ward with Wide Margin

    By Becky Adi

    Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, was absent at his Ifofin Ward 8, Ilesa East Local Government, even though primary election was held in the area and Governor Gboyega Oyetola was declared the winner.

    Oyetola won by 309 votes against 146 recorded for Moshood Adeoti, the candidate supported by Aregbesola.

    Speaking with journalists, factional chairman of APC in the ward, Adegoke Saheed, alleged manipulation.

    He also confirmed absence of Aregbesola from the exercise.

    He said, “We concluded (voting) but it is unfortunate that the process did not go smoothly. They brought a party register that was not the original. I supervised the registration and I told those that brought the register that it was not the original.

    “So people that are supporting us, we could not find their names in the register. I told them the list has been doctored but they did not listen to me. When they wanted to count, they said those that voted for Oyetola are over 300 and when they counted those that voted for us up to 146, they disrupted the exercise and said they should not count again.

    “They didn’t bring the result sheet. They just pack their papers and ran away. This is ward of Hon Minister, Rauf Aregbesola. I was told when I asked about his whereabouts that Ogbeni went on official assignment. He was not around.”

  • Reps probe Aregbesola, over misuse of N165 billion for Correctional Service

    Reps probe Aregbesola, over misuse of N165 billion for Correctional Service

    By Isaac Kertyo

    The House of Representatives has ordered an immediate investigation over the usage of over N165 billion budgeted to the Nigeria Correctional Services (NCS) within the last two years.

    Adopting a motion under matters of national importance sponsored by Mr. Ndudi Elumelu at the plenary presided by Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, the House explained that the measure was aimed at addressing the appalling state of custodial facilities and general welfare of inmates in the country.

    In effect, the House mandated its Committee on Reformatory Institutions to probe into the alleged infraction and turn in its report within twelve weeks for further legislative action.

    Elumelu who is the House minority leader claimed that the NCS has not lived up to expectations in spite of the enactment of the Nigeria Correctional Service Act 2019 which prioritized the welfare of its officers and men in line with international best practices.

    The Delta-born lawmaker alleged that despite the increase in budgetary allocations to the Nigerian Correctional Service to drive its renewed mandate, the tempo and quality of the Service have remained the same if not retrogressing.

    Elumelu said it was worrisome that the working conditions of Staff and inmates’ welfare have deteriorated notwithstanding the over N165Billion budget allocations to the Service in the last two years.

    Elumelu specifically claimed that the Arms Squad unit of the Service still parades obsoletes and substandard weapons despite over N1Billion budget provision for Prison Biometrics, Arms and Ammunition in the 2020/2021 Capital budget; thus, impeding its ability to deter, prevent or respond effectively to both internal and external threats.

    He added: “The House is aware of deaths of correctional officers and men across the country following attacks either on escort vehicles or custodial facilities; also observed that Staff still buys or makes their uniform till date regardless of the huge budget allocations provided for this purpose, provision of uniform for inmates is nonexistence in most Custodial centers.

    “Further observed that in addition to allegations of non-utilization of Budget allocations in the manner prescribed by the National Assembly and administrative incompetence of drivers of change in the rebranded Service, there are also claims of unscrupulous staff promotion, denial of rights and benefits including hazard and duty tour allowances levelled against the management of the Service.

    “Concerned that the demoralizing effects of these allegations, given increasing evidences of susceptibility of some officers and men compromising security of custodial facilities, might worsen violations of these facilities and current security challenges in the country.”

    The NCoS is headed by Mr Haliru Nababa and supervised by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

  • Osun gov poll: Aregbesola denounces Oyetola

    Osun gov poll: Aregbesola denounces Oyetola

    By Isaac Kertyo

    MINISTER of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, yesterday, openly denounced the relationship with Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun State, just as he vowed to ensure that former Secretary to the State Government, Moshood Adeoti, emerges the next governor of the state.

    He also said that the All Progressives Congress, APC, is back in the hands of true progressives, who will work assiduously to win in the July 16 governorship election.

    Aregbesola, in a statement by his Media Aide, Sola Fasure, spoke while addressing supporters at Ijebu-Jesa, ahead of the party’s primary scheduled for February 19, 2022.

    Aregbesola said: “Anyone who was with us when we started the journey to reclaim Osun for the progressives in 2004 would know we fought very hard for this victory we have today. We went through several challenges then but, through thick and thin, we were able to succeed and this time around, we will succeed.

    “We are ready to allow a free flow of the democratic process to interplay here. We are not those who play God. We are resolute about reclaiming our party from those who think they can continue to abuse our legacies or even want us to be second fiddles in the party we worked and laboured for. This is our pride and we will sustain it.

    “Let me tell you that God is with us. I urge all our supporters to come out and back us. Do not have any fears. We are the authentic APC in Osun. If in Lagos, the governor did not do well and the party decided not to return him for a second term, why can’t it be so in Osun? They know what they have done to us is bad and they want to continue the impunity. We will not accept it.

    Osun govt accuses Aregbesola of allegedly invading state capital with armed thugs

    “Do not be disturbed by their threats. Come out en-masse and vote for our aspirant. Adeoti is the next governor of Osun. We should all support him.”

    Meanwhile, the Osun State Government, yesterday, chided the convoy of Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola for allegedly invading the state capital with armed thugs, shooting sporadically into the air to scare innocent people away from their businesses.

    But an aide to the Minister, Mr Bola Ilori said the security operatives attached to the Minister shot to repel an attempted attack on the former Governor.

    Sporadic gunshots were fired severally around Old-Garage around 7 pm while the former Governor’s convoy was moving through the Ajegunle area to Oke-Fia, forcing shop owners and other residents to scamper for safety.

    The state government, in a statement by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Funke Egbemode said: “We have credible reports that some misguided cowards have invaded Osogbo, the Osun State capital with armed thugs to foment trouble. These miscreants and their kingpin started shooting as they raced through the town.

    “Their interest is simply to attempt to thwart the peace of the state and create fear in the minds of the good people of Osun counting on a long-lost influence.

    The Government of Osun hereby warns that there are no sacred cows in the state. No one is above the law here regardless of their past glories or future aspirations. Security agencies have been well briefed about the activities of these mischief-makers, who have set themselves on a collision course with the law.”

    But in a swift reaction, Ilori, on his Facebook page, wrote: “Only a lazy man starts a wrestling match with cutlass and guns.

    “Oyetola’s thugs fired several gunshots at Aregbesola and Adeoti’s convoy after declaring his preferred choice for Governorship. The attackers were repelled by combined efforts of Police, DSS, NSCDC etc and luckily no casually was recorded.”

  • Aregbesola is Playing God – Oyetola Fires Back at Predecessor

    Aregbesola is Playing God – Oyetola Fires Back at Predecessor

    By Isaac Kertyo

    Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun state has berated the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for acting as God and pontificating about the future of the state.

    The governor said Aregbesola is not God and he is in no position to determine the fate of his second term as Osun state governor, adding that only God and the people of Osun will do that.

    He accused the Minister and former governor of the state of creating division in Osun state All Progressives Congress, APC, despite the intervention of the National Reconciliation Committee of the party.

    Speaking through a statement by his spokesman, Ismaila Omipidan, the governor said the people of Osun can differentiate between him and his predecessor, adding that his achievements in the state will speak for him.

    “My Principal has absolute faith in God and the people of Osun. In these last three years plus, the people can tell the difference in terms of responsible and responsive governance and politics.”

    “Before we came in, Osun West was literally neglected in terms of infrastructure. But since we came in, we have done roads that had been abandoned for close to 20 years in that district. This, perhaps, explains why leaders and critical stakeholders from the area are already appealing to themselves to allow Oyetola to take another shot at the governorship for the second term,” the statement read in part.

    He added that recently, the Oluwo of Iwo endorsed Oyetola for a second term despite the fact that Mashood Adeoti who Aregbesola is rooting for is from Iwo.

    “Just about a week ago, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, charged the people of the town to vote for incumbent Governor Adegboyega Oyetola.

    “Oluwo, who advised his subjects not to waste their resources and energy working against the re-election bid of the governor, said only those who are not interested in the growth and development of the town in particular and Osun State in general would want to run against Oyetola.

    “The Royal Father said by the special Grace of God and the support of the people of Osun, Oyetola will be re-elected to consolidate the achievements he has so far recorded. Now, Aregbesola’s anointed candidate is from Iwo. So you be the judge,” the statement concluded.

  • Aregbesola Enjoins Agencies And Ministry Of Interior Officials To Serve Nigerians

    Aregbesola Enjoins Agencies And Ministry Of Interior Officials To Serve Nigerians

    By Richard Ayinde, Osogbo.

    The Federal Government has charged security agencies in the country to serve the Nigerian people by strengthening internal security.

    Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, gave the charge at the Second Ministerial Retreat of the Ministry on Thursday in Ilorin, the Kwara State Capital.

    “At the back of our mind, we must never forget, above all things, that our main purpose is to serve the people by strengthening internal security and give all the people resident in the country the peace of mind they deserve”, the minister said at the event.

    Ogbeni Aregbesola also charged the agencies under the Ministry to forge strategic alliance with sister agencies.

    “It is also important for the four agencies to forge strategic alliances with other agencies, especially in light of new security challenges to our facilities and the nation at large.

    “This retreat should also afford us critical and creative thinking and original solutions and ideas. Everyone should speak freely but creatively and intelligently. No one should be a bench warmer,” the Minister told the gathering.

    On the recent spate of external attacks on the Custodial Centres of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, the Minister noted that men of the underworld have capitalized on the general insecurity in the country to lead unconscionable attacks on her facilities, but that the Federal Government is rising up to the new challenge posed by these attacks.

    “I must address the scourge of recent vicious attacks on our custodial facilities. Men of the underworld have capitalised on the general insecurity in the country to lead unconscionable attacks on few of our centres. Our gallant officers and men of different security agencies have given their all, including sacrificing their lives to protect these centres. May God grant those who have died eternal rest and comfort the family they have left behind. As a government, we will continue to support the families of our heroes.

    “We are in extraordinary times as a nation. We are facing unique challenges that will define how we live, moving forward. As a result, there is no shortage of work to be done, or responsibilities to bear. The Federal Government is rising up to the new challenge posed by these attacks.

    “We have commenced retraining of our officers to respond to these attacks, whilst providing more sophisticated weaponry for their use. We have invested in the construction of 3,000 modern capacity custodial centres in each of the six geo-political zones,” the Minister noted.

    Setting agenda for the retreat, the Ministernoted that there is an urgent need to put in place well thought-out policies and programme that would ensure effectiveness and efficiency toward improving internal security, according to the mandate handed down by President Muhammadu Buhari.

    “In order to achieve Mr President’s mandate, there is an urgent need to put in place well thought-out policies and programme that would ensure effectiveness and efficiency toward improving internal security. There is need to determine where we are on the delivery of internal security, the challenges and the limitations. These would enable us develop plans and strategies with timelines for effective service delivery.

    “As a Ministry and Agencies, we must work towards improving on the following, amongst others; Ensuring and maintaining relative public safety and security of all Nigerians and foreign nationals’ residents in country; Timely processing of applications for Business Permit and Expatriate Quota Positions in a manner that would promote transfer of skills to Nigerians and create employment while enhancing internal security; Prompt processing of all citizenship related applications and encouragement of wider spread of Marriage Registries nationwide,” the Minister stated.

    In his welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaibu Belgore, stated that the Ministry will serve as a means of evolving solutions to the several security challenges facing the country.

    “This retreat will serve as a platform for the Ministry and Agencies to evolve solutions for the various internal security challenges affecting the nation. The topic of this retreat has been carefully selected to illuminate the focus of the Ministry’s mandate and identityour challenges,” Dr. Shuaibu stated.

    The retreat which continues on Friday through Saturday, with the theme“Developing Internal Security and Public Safety towards a Five-year Strategic Plan for Accelerated National Development,” will end with the production of a Five Years Strategic Plan for the Ministry and its agencies.

    The event hosted by the Kwara State Governor, Alhaji AdbulRahmanAbdulRazaq, had in attendanceRepresentative of the Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Kolapo Sulu Gambari; the Controller General, Federal Fire Service, CG Ibrahim Liman; Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, CG Abubakar Audi; Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, CG Haliru Nababa; Ag. Comptroller General of the Nigeria Immigration Service, CG Idris Isah General; others include Directors in the Ministry, Deputy Controllers General, Deputy Comptrollers General, Deputy Commandants General, ACGs, Controllers, Commandants and other dignitaries.

  • Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on condolence visit (see photos)

    Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on condolence visit (see photos)

    Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola condoles with the family of Late Alhaji Gbadamosi Okunlola Lawal (aka Owoseni), the leader of All Progressive Congress (APC) in Ikirun, State of Osun who recently departed this world.

    May almighty Allah grant him Al Jannah Firdaus, Aameen.