Latest news with #OyoState
Zawya
29-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
6 ‘hidden' tourist destinations in Nigeria
Nigeria is blessed with a number of tourist destinations but while a good number of these destinations have become popular sites for tourists, others have remained hidden or experienced less visits from tourists in and outside the country. Contents1. Gashaka Gumti National Park2. Ado Awaye Lake3. The Mambilla Plateau4. Awhum Waterfall Cave 5. Kajuru Castle6. Ogbaukwu Cave and Waterfall From Ogbunike caves to Ado Awaye lake and Kajuru castle, these and many more are little-known tourist destinations in Nigeria that are explored in this article. 1. Gashaka Gumti National Park Gashaka Gumti National Park is top of the list of hidden tourist destinations in Nigeria. Established in 1991, it is the largest national park in Nigeria, and is located at the international boundary of Cameroon in the North Eastern region of Taraba and Adamawa states. It houses an incredible array of wildlife, from elephants to chimpanzees to leopards. The landscapes are equally impressive, with formidable mountains and lush rainforests. 2. Ado Awaye Lake The Ado-Awaye suspended Lake, located in the Iyake Mountains of Ado-Awaye in the Oke Ogun area of Oyo State, is another hidden tourist destination in Nigeria. Also known as the Iyake Lake, it is one of the only two suspended Lakes in the world; with the other being the Hanging Lake located at Glenwood Canyon in the State of Colorado, United States. Ado-Awaye is home to a beautiful Lake and eccentric mountains. 3. The Mambilla Plateau The Mambilla Plateau in Taraba State, Nigeria is another not so popular tourist destination in Nigeria. It is Nigeria's northern continuation of the Bamenda Highlands of Cameroon. The Mambilla Plateau is the highest in Nigeria with an average elevation of about 1,600 metres above sea level and is home to Nigeria and West Africa's only highland tea plantations. 4. Awhum Waterfall Cave The Awhum waterfall is located in the beautiful scenic community at Amu-Ugwu village of Awhum town in Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State, Nigeria. The cave, which is formed as a result of a massive outcrop of granite rock, is a sight to behold. Water cascades down from the top to form a stream at its base with white sand along its shores. The cave itself stands at 30 meters (98 feet) high. The water flowing down the waterfall remains warm throughout the seasons. Awhum's waterfall is also believed to have healing powers and the ability to ward off evil spirits 5. Kajuru Castle Kajuru castle is a unique and hidden tourist destination in Nigeria. It is a luxury villa, built between the years 1981 and 1989, at Kajuru (Ajure) village in southern Kaduna State, Nigeria. It was said to have been built by a German expatriate in Nigeria, living in Kaduna at the time. 6. Ogbaukwu Cave and Waterfall Ogbaukwu Cave and Waterfall is a hidden tourist attraction in Owerre-Ezukala town in Anambra State, Nigeria. The cave is a natural site of limestone formation. It has a never-ending waterfall cascading beautifully into a river near its major entrance. It is considered the largest cave in West Africa, with unique and roomy compartments that collectively can accommodate an entire village. Others include Obudu cattle ranch, Idanre hills, and Ogbunike cave.
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
EFCC go pay di victims of CBEX back dia money?
Chairman of di Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ola Olukoyede don reveal say dem don get some of di money back and arrest some pipo wey bin dey behind di trading platform wey crash last month wey dem dey call CBEX. E tok dis open for interview wey bin comot on Sunday about wetin be di latest wey dey go on wit di trading platform. E tok say, "we don go far on CBEX, we don fit get some reasonable amount of money for crypto wallet wey be di same way we dem comot di money. E no get way wey you go fit give dis pipo dollars in cash witout say you go through dis way." CBEX bin first enta wahala for April afta dem bin suspend withdrawal for di platform bifor users find out say dia account balance dey read zero for di app. Tori be say na ova 1.3 trillion naira ($809,000) CBEX sweep comot from investors accounts. CBEX investment bin dey promise 100 percent return on investment for investors in one month and dis na why pipo bin rush am. Di mata make one group of angry youths bin storm CBEX office for Oke Ado area of Ibadan, di Oyo State capital, to loot items afta di trading platform bin crash. Oga Olukoyede explain give TVC tori pesin say di moves dem don make na to arrest and charge pipo go court and block di money wey dem fit block bifor e disappear for crypto. "We don make reasonable arrest and pipo dey tok. We no go tok too much make di process no come get k-leg. We still dey pursue many pipo wey we don declare wanted. We still dey investigate plenti wallet." How CBEX bin work Oga Olukoyede tok say na mostly foreigners bin get hand inside and wetin dem do na to use kontri pipo name take register do business for here. E add say di CBEX be dey work for different kontris like Egypt, Kenya and Myanmar. "Make I just give small idea of how dat tin bin work so Nigerians go know. Dem come in, most of di perpetrators na foreigners, so dem enta come hire Nigerians wey register di companies for dem, as at dat time weda dem bin sabi say wetin dem dey carry di company na fraud or not, we dey investigate dat one join. Dem register di companies come use am create awareness. In fact dem go do seminars, we get tapes of dia seminars, conferences, dem go bring in professionals, sabi pipo for capital markets. "One of dem wey be PhD Holder and specialist in capital markets dey follow us tok now. Dem go carry dem come to come teach pipo and wen you see pipo wey get dat kain levels, e go convince you. "Pipo come dey carry dia money, change am to dollar, from dollar dem go carry am put for dia crypto wallet, and from dat dem go move di money go oda those crypto wallet we dey call non custodial crypto wallet bicos dem no gey KYC, you no ift trace am to anybodi. So na from dat KYC, dem go come move am to some wallet to Europe, or Cambodia and from den di money don go. "But we don block some of di wallets wey di money neva go finish and na wia we don reach now. I still don hear say some pipo still dey di systems and Nigerians still dey fall victim. Dem need to learn form dis." EFFC boss tackle Nigerians on di greed wey fit don carry money lost inside CBEX, say e no get anywia for world wey pesin go make 100% on investment in three months. E say, "Wen di going bin dey good, wen pipo bin dey make 100%, dem no tell EFCC, but wen di bubble come burst, evribodi come dey blame EFCC say shey we no see dem. "Two weeks bifor dat bubble burst, we bin release list of 58 companies wey we investigate, file charges against and some of dem sef bin dey convicted, for pyramid scheme. Many odas bin plead guilty. We list deme out and we tell Nigerians say,dis na dia names, dey careful. We write to CBN and we write to SEC bicos we dey work wit dem". Meanwhile, di anti-graft agency bin tell BBC News Pidgin say dem dey collaborate wit di International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) and di Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and odas to find dose wey dey behind di CBEX platform and how dem fit recover some money.
BBC News
20-05-2025
- BBC News
'Who I offend, wetin I do?' - Papa of student wey police allegedly kill for Ibadan tok how e happun
Viral videos and fotos of a young boy wey police officer allegedly shoot for Ibadan, Oyo State southwest Nigeria don spark serious anger online and gbege within di region. Tori be say on Tuesday 20 May, 2025, police officer for Ibadan, Oyo state bin open fire while dem dey chase a particular around a popular market for di city. Sadly, di bullet bin hit a young student wey dey inside im papa car as e dey on di way to school. Di incident happun early morning, wen di young boy dey on im school uniform wit im twin broda. According to reports wey we still dey try independently confam, di boy bin die from di gunshot wey hit am. Some eyewitness say dem sharply carry di boy go hospital but dem declare am dead on arrival. We dey update dis tori
Zawya
14-05-2025
- Health
- Zawya
Nigeria: Oyo govt has built three PHCs in 351 electoral wards since inception — Makinde
Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi Makinde, has disclosed that his administration has built three functional Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) in each of the 351 electoral wards since inception. He expressed his administration's willingness to share the template with the Federal Government in its plan to build 8,800 PHCs across the country. Makinde made this disclosure during the launch of the 2025 Omituntun Free Medical Mission at the Ibadan North-East Local Government Secretariat, Ibadan. He noted that his government decided to build PHCs in each ward to make healthcare delivery more accessible to the people. He maintained that, since the template is working in Oyo State, it would also be effective for the Federal Government, adding that his administration would continue to prioritise healthcare delivery in order to achieve a healthy population, which in turn would drive economic expansion and poverty reduction. He said:'In the health sector, this government will continue to focus on ensuring a healthy population and tackling poverty in the state. 'Only recently, the Vice-President announced the Federal Government's plan to build 8,800 PHCs nationwide. However, before this, we had already commenced the renovation and equipping of functional PHC facilities in each of our 351 wards. 'We are pleased to offer our template to the Federal Government. It has been successful in Oyo State, and I am confident it will succeed at the national level as well. 'We have made significant progress in our commitment to primary healthcare, and we must sustain the momentum. 'I want to use this opportunity to thank everyone who has contributed to the success of our health sector initiatives. Special thanks to Professor Temitope Alonge and Dr Muideen Olatunji, who have done remarkably well. 'I also appreciate the Commissioner for Health, Dr Oluwaserimi Ajetunmobi, the Chairman of the Oyo State Hospital Management Board, Dr Akin Fagbemi, and the Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry, as well as all healthcare practitioners.' The governor stated that his administration has continued to deliver on its promises across four key pillars: education, health, security, and economic expansion, with its policies and programmes yielding tangible results. He declared that the state has successfully tackled insecurity, while assuring residents that efforts would continue until everyone can sleep with their two eyes closed. Makinde also highlighted the excellent performance of Oyo State students in the recent Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) and the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), attributing the achievements to sound policies implemented to improve education and grow the economy. He noted that his administration has been injecting approximately N24 billion into the state's economy every month through salaries, pensions, and infrastructure development to support private sector growth. The governor emphasised that his government has achieved this positive transformation by staying focused and avoiding the blame game, choosing instead to justify the trust placed in him by the people. He said:'I want to thank the residents of Ibadan North-East Local Government for their support, and also commend all Oyo State residents for playing their part, starting from the home. The successes we are recording are due, in part, to residents doing the right things at home. 'I also appreciate your support and prayers. The stability we enjoy in Oyo State today can be traced back to how our people are managing their homes. 'I had no prior political office until six years ago when I became governor. People often compare past governments with the present, but as far back as 2018, I was not interested in what previous administrations failed to do. The people themselves know which government delivered and which did not. 'In 2019, we campaigned not on the failures of others, but on what we intended to achieve — in education, health, security, and economic expansion. 'Today, we have made remarkable progress in security, but we will not rest until it is perfect. 'On education, the improved WASSCE and UTME results are evidence that our initiatives are working and our children are receiving quality education. 'In terms of economic expansion, this administration injects N24 billion into Oyo State's economy every four weeks — this is government-driven alone. We have also provided the infrastructure to allow private businesses to thrive.' Earlier, in her welcome address, the Commissioner for Health, Dr Ajetunmobi, thanked the governor for his unwavering commitment to improving healthcare access in the state. She highlighted his administration's robust investments in health infrastructure, human resources, and initiatives aimed at strengthening the sector. She explained that the Free Omituntun Medical Mission would adopt a clustering model, with each cluster operating for three full days to ensure comprehensive healthcare delivery and post-operative follow-up for surgical cases. Dr Ajetunmobi also revealed that efforts are ongoing to facilitate the enrolment of beneficiaries into the Oyo State Health Insurance Scheme under the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) via the OYSHIA Gateway, to ensure continuity of care beyond the outreach. She encouraged beneficiaries to take responsibility for their health by retaining their service codes and adhering to post-care instructions. In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Oyo State Hospital Management Board, Dr Akin Fagbemi, expressed gratitude to the governor for the recent recruitment of medical personnel. According to him, this has led to the state securing full accreditation for physiotherapy practice, which had been denied for the past 30 years. The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal; former Deputy Governor, Barrister Hazeem Gbolarumi; Deputy Speaker, Rt Honourable Mohammed Fadeyi; former Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Senator Monsurat Sunmonu; Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Otunba Segun Ogunwuyi; and the Head of Service, Mrs Olubunmi Oni (mni). Also present were the Senior Executive Assistant to the Governor on General Duties, Chief Bayo Lawal; Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, and the Chairman of the Local Government Chairmen in Oyo State, Hon Sikiru Sanda, among others.
Zawya
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Zawya
Nigeria: Oyo govt cracks down on illegal miners
In its bid to checkmate the activities of illegal miners in the State, the Oyo State Government has launched a Joint Task Force backed by Executive Order 001/2023. This development is a pointed to comprehensive crackdown on unauthorised mining activities and non-compliance with regulatory frameworks. The state government representatives, traditional rulers, community representatives, and security agencies at separate events held at Babaaro, Igbeti, and Iseyin City Hall, Iseyin reaffirmed their collective commitment to responsible resource management and environmental protection. The Director-General, Oyo State Mineral Development Agency (OYSMIDA), Mr Abiodun Oni in his address declared that the state will no longer tolerate illegal mining activities. He said 'The Joint Task Force has come to stay in Oyo State. Anyone found engaging in illegal mining will be held accountable and prosecuted. The law will take its full course', he said. He commended Governor Seyi Makinde for his visionary leadership and unwavering support in ensuring the security of Oyo residents and the protection of the state's natural resources. He also urged residents to report suspicious activities, saying, 'If you see something, say something. We must all join hands to curb this menace.' As a sign of commitment, the government is providing amenities such as a borehole to serve the local community. The General Manager, OYSMIDA, Mrs. Olufunke Omidiran, described the initiative as a strategic response to the growing threat of illegal mining, emphasizing that the Task Force is well-equipped and tasked with promoting sustainable mining practices and environmental stewardship. In his address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Migrant and Homeland Security, ACG Segun Adegoke (rtd), highlighted the link between illegal mining and organized crime, including banditry and kidnapping. He said 'This Joint Task Force includes all constitutionally recognized security agencies, including the Amotekun Corps' In a related development, the state has begun strict enforcement of Executive Order 001/2023, which mandates mining stakeholders and host communities to comply with the signing of Consent Letters and Community Development Agreements (CDAs) as stipulated by the Nigerian Mining Act. During a stakeholders meeting in Iseyin, Mr. Oni reaffirmed that the directive is designed to safeguard mining communities by clearly defining the responsibilities of all parties involved with a particular emphasis on the role of traditional rulers. According to him, 'Progress has been slow due to limited cooperation from some stakeholders, particularly traditional leaders. This enforcement meeting is to re-emphasize everyone's roles and ensure no one claims ignorance of the process,' Traditional rulers and Local Government officials unanimously appointed His Royal Majesty, the Olu of Igboora, Oba Jimoh Olajide Titiloye, and Hon. Kazeem Olayanju, Vice Chairman of ALGON and Chairman of Olorunsogo Local Government, as key figures in grassroots implementation. Oba Titiloye expressed the traditional institutions' readiness to support the government's efforts, while Hon. Olayanju underscored the importance of ensuring community benefits from mining operations. 'Although mining is on the Federal exclusive list, our communities must still benefit. Miners must register with the State and enter into CDAs before obtaining community consent,' he noted. Representatives from Operation Burst, NSCDC, the Old Oyo National Park, and the Zonal Mining Officer charged the newly inaugurated Task Force to remain focused and proactive in intelligence gathering and enforcement.
