Metro

Kwara community groans over 18 months blackout

Published

4 weeks ago

August 28, 2023

Alhaji Ahmed Seriki, the Chairman of Oke-Oyi Community Development Association of Ilorin East Local Government area of Kwara, has called on IBEDC to restore normal electricity supply after 18 months of power outage in the area.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Ilorin, Seriki decried the situation and appealed to the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) to urgently address the issue.

The situation, he said, has been affecting the commercial activities in the area, amidst prevailing economic hardship.

“We urge the appropriate authorities, particularly the state Governor and the IBEDC, to restore the power outage in the town.

“The power outage has paralysed socio-economic activities in this community,” Seriki said.

The leader regretted that many business men and women have relocated to other towns, while those that could not, have been languishing in abject poverty.

Similarly, the Secretary of the association, Mr Jamiu Oladokun, explained that there was a time the community bought cables to replace the faulty ones to restore the light.
But Oladokun said the effort yielded no desired response.

“All the hospitals in Oke-Oyi are complaining about the huge amount of diesel and petrol they buy to power their generators and other necessary equipments.

“We have made several meetings with the IBEDC officials at Baboko and Sango in Ilorin, to the extent that we contributed money to procure the damaged materials, yet it was fruitless,” he said.

The secretary described the situation as unbearable for the residents of the community.

A resident, Mr Jimoh Yewande, appealed to the authorities to save them as it is easy for the men of the underworld to operate more in darkness.

The blackout has also affected other neighbouring communities, including Agbeyangi, Oke-Ose, Panada, Badi, Adelu and Oloro.

Headline

LASTMA, others combat Ilupeju industrial fire outbreak

Published

37 mins ago

September 23, 2023

Ifunaya Emeka

The operatives of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and other emergency responders at early hour on Saturday combated an industrial fire outbreak at Mega Plastics Company at No.4, Ilupeju Bypass.

Mr Taofiq Adebayo, the Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department of LASTMA, made the disclosure in a statement in Lagos on Saturday.

Adebayo stated that the industrial fire outbreak took place at Mega Plastics Company at No.4, Ilupeju Bypass beside Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Ilupeju area of Lagos.

“The Traffic Officer of LASTMA, Mr Ayo Olaosebikan (Falcon) of Zone 21, confirmed that LASTMA rescue team arrived at the scene of the industrial fire outbreak around at 6:30a.m. before other emergency responders were contacted by LASTMA.

“Immediately we arrived at the scene of the industrial fire, we quickly informed other emergency responders particularly the Lagos State Fire, Rescue Services and the Nigerian Police.

“The causes of industrial fire could not be immediately ascertained, he said.
Olaosebikan noted that preliminary investigation revealed that the storage and factory section of the petrochemical company were seriously affected by the fire outbreak.

According to him, emergency responders on ground include Federal and State Fire Services, policemen and LASTMA Response Unit.

Olaosebikan said that neither injury nor death had been recorded.

Headline

NGO takes free medical outreach to Plateau community

Published

50 mins ago

September 23, 2023

Ifunaya Emeka

GDG Wellness Initiative, an NGO, on Saturday offered free medical services to no fewer than 400 indigent persons in Gyel community, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau.

Mr Gyang Dung-Gyang, founder of the initiative told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the exercise was his little way of giving back to the society that made him.

He said that he was spurred by the plight of the people and the urgent need to reach out to them, in view of the current economic realities and its implications on their health.

Dung-Gyang said that he had been organising such outreaches annually, adding that the current hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy had made this year’s outing unique.

“It’s my heart desire and passion to reach out to the vulnerable and the needy in the society.

“And it’s not just this, we have been able to give scholarship to some students, with some already graduates.

“Today, we have planned to treat a minimum of 400 persons but from the way it is going, it may exceed that number,” he stated.

The outreach Team Lead, Mr Pam Chong, listed some of the medical services to include testing and treatment of patients for aliments such as malaria, hepatitis B & C, high blood pressure, diabetes among others.

Chong, a pharmacist, told NAN that the medical team comprised of doctors, nurses, lab scientists and pharmacists.
He said cases that they were unable to handle would be referred to hospitals that could handle them.

The team lead said that they have sufficient drugs to treat over 400 patients.

Mr Ishaya Pam, Vice President, Gyel Development Association of Jos South LGA, lauded GDG Wellness for the gesture, which he believed would improve the health and wellbeing of the people.
Pam prayed God to bless the organisers of the outreach to continue to impact the lives of the less privileged.