Residents of Ondo State have condemned the commissioning of a borehole and one tricycle ambulance by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa as part of activities marking his first-year anniversary in office.
According to some of the residents, the state, being one of the oil-producing states in the country, deserves better, particularly as it receives huge allocations from FAAC.
In commemoration of his first anniversary in office as governor, Aiyedatiwa, represented by his Deputy, Dr Olayide Adelami, a few days ago commissioned the tricycle ambulance and a 100,000-litre water supply scheme at the Federal University of Technology Akure Teaching Hospital complex.
Infuriated by the development, a human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, described the situation as an affliction.
He said, “An oil-producing state reduced to using a Kéké as an ambulance? Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa presides over a state that receives derivation funds from oil revenue. Ondo is not bankrupt. Ondo is not landlocked. Ondo is not a war zone. Yet, citizens in medical distress are transported in tricycles? It is finished!.
On his part, a resident, who simply gave his name as Odunayo, said the commissioning can best be described as a show of shame, stressing that “it is truly disheartening to see Ondo State gradually losing its place among leading states.
“Imagine the government publicly commissioning a renovated primary health centre and a tricycle ambulance; it says a lot about the priorities of the Ondo State Government under the leadership of Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
“This should not be celebrated as a landmark achievement. It raises serious concerns about the scale of development and ambition in the state. One even wonders whether the funds spent on mobilising for the commissioning ceremony may rival or exceed the actual cost of the project itself.
Oluwaseun Fashedemi: “This is so shameful for a governor to commission a Keke Maruwa ambulance. Ondo State citizens, how did you all get it wrong with bad governors?”
For Raphael Oyetogun, “What a shame. Local government chairmen are commissioning bigger projects far beyond these in Lagos State. While Wike built 13 flyovers, Alex Otti is working on bigger projects in Abia, and Zulum is doing greater works in Bornu State. Come to Delta State and see what Sheriff is doing in just 2 years.
“How did we get here in Ondo State? And some people are here applauding this government.”
Reacting to the development, Yomi Oyekan, an aide to Aiyedatiwa, stated that the tricycle ambulances are not a replacement for standard ambulances, disclosing that they are a strategic addition.
According to Oyekan, the ambulance tricycles were designed specifically for hard-to-reach rural communities, riverine areas, and narrow roads where conventional ambulances struggle to access quickly.
“Healthcare delivery is not about optics; it is about accessibility and saving lives. It is quite interesting to see some critics suddenly develop selective outrage over the recent distribution of modified tricycle ambulances.
“Were they blind when the administration of Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa unveiled and distributed fully equipped conventional ambulances across the state? Were they silent when emergency medical services were strengthened, response systems upgraded, and healthcare facilities supported with life-saving equipment?
“Governance requires practical solutions tailored to real terrain and real people. Ondo State deserves both conventional ambulances for highways and advanced emergencies and agile tricycle units for interior communities. Selective criticism does not save lives; responsive leadership does.”
The official social media page of the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), 𝕏 to be precise, has been attacked by suspected hackers.
Naija News reports that the DHQ confirmed the development in a statement made public on Saturday, August 15, by the Director of Defence Information, Maj. General Samaila Uba.
He said the body has hence treated the incident as a cybersecurity matter, with technical measures activated to secure the account.
“The Defence Headquarters wishes to inform members of the public, the media and all stakeholders that it has detected an attempted unauthorised compromise of its official X (formerly Twitter) account.
“The incident is currently being treated as a cybersecurity matter, and appropriate technical measures have been activated to secure the account and prevent further unauthorised access,” the statement noted.
The DHQ urged members of the public to disregard any publication from the account at the moment while ensuring that efforts were ongoing to fully restore control of the official account.
“The Defence Headquarters assures the public that efforts are ongoing to fully restore control of the official account.
“Consequently, members of the public are advised to disregard any suspicious, unauthorised or misleading content that may be posted from the account during this period,” he said.
Uba stressed the DHQ’s committment to maintaining high standards of information security and ensuring that Nigerians continued to receive accurate, timely and credible information on the activities and operations of the Armed Forces of Nigeria.
“We appreciate the understanding and vigilance of the public and will provide further updates as necessary,” he said.
He further urged Nigerians to henceforth check its verified accounts on other platforms, including Facebook under the name “Defence Headquarters Nigeria,” Instagram at @defenceheadquarters and its WhatsApp Channel, Defence Headquarters Nigeria for reliable information.
At least seven workers were killed and 13 injured following a landslide that sent water and debris gushing into a tunnel under construction in north India, officials said Friday.
The incident occurred late Thursday in the Himalayan state of Uttarakhand, where workers were constructing a tunnel for a state-run hydropower project.
At least three workers are still missing, while 19 were rescued from the Tehri Hydro Development Corporation site, the State Disaster Management Authority said in a statement.
Videos shared by local authorities showed rescue workers equipped with head-mounted torches using makeshift rafts to reach the flooded section of the tunnel.
Uttarakhand has been battered by heavy monsoon rains in recent days.
Accidents on large construction sites are common in India, but ecologists say excessive development projects have led to more disasters in the fragile Himalayan areas.
Last month, 20 people working in a tunnel for another state-run hydroelectric project were killed in the remote northeastern state of Sikkim.
In 2023, 41 workers were rescued after being trapped for 17 days inside a tunnel that collapsed in Uttarakhand.
Hundreds of people have been killed in floods and landslides across the country since the start of the annual monsoon season in June.
Experts say climate change, coupled with poorly planned development, is increasing the frequency, severity, and impact of the disasters.
The Radio, Television, Theatre and Arts Workers Union has honoured the Director-General of the Department of State Services, Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, with the ‘Golden Era Pillar of Critical and Strategic Intelligence for National Development Award’, as part of activities marking its 50th anniversary
RATTAWU conferred the award on Ajayi on Thursday at his office, when the National President of the group, Emeka Kalu, led members to a media/security-critical engagement and strategic partnership meeting for national development in Abuja.
Kalu praised the appointment of Ajayi in 2024 by President Bola Tinubu, describing it as putting “a round peg in a round hole.”
He added that the award was an initiative of the union designed to recognise individuals and institutions that had made outstanding contributions to national development, security, democracy, culture and the growth of Nigeria.
He said, “Your appointment by Mr President demonstrates the importance of placing capable Nigerians with integrity and professional competence in strategic positions of national responsibility.
“The role of the DSS in protecting Nigeria’s national interests, gathering critical intelligence and supporting national security cannot be overemphasised.
“Particularly now that this country is confronted with complex security and emerging technological challenges, appointments like yours are the best ever done by Mr President.
“That is why this union decided to honour you with the Golden Era Pillar of Critical and Strategic Intelligence for National Development Award.”
Responding, the DSS Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi, expressed appreciation to the leadership of RATTAWU for the honour.
Ajayi described the recognition as a significant gesture that would further encourage him and the service to remain committed to their responsibilities to the nation.
