By David Owei,Bayelsa

The Bayelsa State Government has resolved the long-standing operational disagreement among its revenue-generating ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) operating in Yenagoa, the state capital.

The resolution was reached at a meeting between the feuding MDAs and the Deputy Governor, Dr Peter Akpe, in Government House, Yenagoa, following the formal submission of a report by the Mr. Ikobho Howells-led “Committee on Resolution of Conflicting Functions of Environmental Health Officers in the Yenagoa Capital City,” on Tuesday.

Speaking after receiving the report, Dr. Akpe noted that the adoption of the recommendations in the report had laid to rest the protracted operational conflict among officials of the state Environmental Sanitation Authority, the Ministries of Health and Environment, as well as the Yenagoa Local Government Council.

According to him, the state capital has been demarcated into four operational zones, with each of the MDAs being assigned to a zone with a view to permanently forestalling the recurring clash of interest among them in the collection of revenue.

The Deputy Governor, while admonishing the MDAs to recognize the fact that they all belong to Bayelsa and working on behalf of government, urged them to hit the internally generated revenue (IGR) target assigned to them in their respective catchment areas of operation.

A breakdown of the report shows that Zone A which covers Amarata, Onopa, Yenagoa, Ovom, Azikoro, Agbura, Swali, and Famgbe axis, is assigned to the Bayelsa State Ministry of Health.

Zone B, covering Ekeki, Okaka, Yenizue-Epie, Okaka, Kpansia, Anyama Ijaw, Igeibiri and Obogoro, has been assigned to Ministry of Environment.

According to the report, Zone C has Yenizuegene, Biogbolo, Opolo, Okutukutu, Etegwe, Imiringi and Emeyal as its catchment and is assigned to the Yenagoa Local Government Council.

While Zone D which covers Edepie, Akenpai, Agudama-Epie, Akenfa, Yenegwe, Igbogene, Okolobiri, Obunugha, Tombia and Amassoma, is exclusively preserved for Bayelsa State Environmental Sanitation Authority for its revenue drive.

Further classification of the operational module for the MDAs include the use of hand bands of different colours, with Yenagoa Local Government Council officials to wear brown hand-bands; Environmental Sanitation Authority to be clad with Blue hand-bands, while operatives from Ministries of Health and Environment are to wear Yellow and green hand-bands.

Responding on behalf of the parties, the Chairman of Yenagoa Local Government Council, Mr. Bulodisiye Ndiwari, thanked the State Government for its intervention and expressed satisfaction with the new operational arrangements marshalled out for the four government institutions.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after the meeting, the Head of Service, Dr. Wisdom Ebiye-Sawyer, pointed out that the MDAs had been engulfed in an operational stand-off for more than four years, leading to the intervention of the State Government.

Dr. Ebiye Sawyer, who appreciated government for taking the bull by the horn to resolve the impasse once for all, expressed optimism that the MDAs having been assigned clear-cut area of operation, would be better focused on their IGR targets without the usual inter-agency bickerings in and off the field.

By Our Correspondent

In a bid to encourage business growth in the Federal Capital Territory and align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, FCT Minister Nyesom Wike has issued 26,272 Certificates of Occupancy since the current administration took over.

That figure far outpaces the 8,697 land titles that were processed and approved between 2010 and 2023 combined.

During the 5½-year tenure of President Goodluck Jonathan, 5,500 Certificates of Occupancy were issued.During President Muhammadu Buhari’s 8-year tenure, 3,197 were issued.

Many of the 26,272 beneficiaries under Wike’s leadership at the FCT Administration had actually received their land allocations over a decade ago but were yet to get their official documents.

Certificate of Occupancy serves as credible security for bank loans, home mortgages, and capital needed to expand businesses.
The struggle to obtain C-of-Os on time has long been a bottleneck for small and medium enterprises, cutting them off from financing.

According to a press statement issued by Lere Olayinka, Senior Special Assistant to the FCT Minister on Public Communications and Social Media, the Tinubu-led FCT Administration has now fast-tracked the process. In a statement released on Sunday, he said landowners can now receive their documents within 14 days of making full payment.

“The moment required payments are completed, land allottees can pick up their C-of-O within two weeks,” Olayinka stated.

He added that an automated alert system has also been rolled out so applicants get notified as soon as their papers are ready for pickup.
Olayinka blamed past delays on bureaucratic bottlenecks that discouraged people from completing payments.

Beyond the C-of-Os, the Wike-led FCT Administration has also approved 2,521 Consents to Assign and 177 Consents to Mortgage in the last three years of President Tinubu’s government.

By comparison: Jonathan’s administration granted 753 Consents to Assign and 180 Consents to Mortgage. Buhari’s 8-year government granted 684 Consents to Assign and 164 Consents to Mortgage.

A Consent to Assign is the legal clearance needed to transfer or sell a property, or to transfer loan obligations.
A Consent to Mortgage is the official approval required before a property can be pledged as loan collateral.

By Our Correspondent

Presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2027 election, Mr Peter Obi, has congratulated Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, on his re-election, describing the outcome as a significant victory for democracy and a reaffirmation of the power of the electorate.

Obi, in a statement titled “Osun: When the People Stand, Democracy Wins,” said the people of Osun had spoken “with courage and clarity,” stressing that the authority to choose leaders ultimately resides with the people.

He attributed Adeleke’s renewed mandate to what he described as the governor’s commitment to the people, compassion for their needs and the achievements recorded by his administration.

The former Anambra State governor also commended youths in Osun for what he described as their peaceful and courageous defence of their democratic mandate.

According to Obi, the vigilance and determination displayed by the youths demonstrated that when citizens unite to protect their votes, “the forces of good can overcome the forces of darkness.”

He said the major lesson from the Osun election was that democracy thrives when citizens remain vigilant, understand their civic responsibilities and insist that their votes count.

Obi maintained that every legitimate vote must be respected and every lawful electoral mandate protected, urging Nigerians to draw lessons from the Osun experience ahead of the 2027 general elections.

He called on Nigerians to remain informed, participate actively in the electoral process, vote and, most importantly, protect their votes.

The NDC presidential candidate noted that Nigerians are the ones bearing the brunt of hunger, insecurity, deprivation and economic hardship, and therefore possess the power through their votes to demand the leadership and change required to address the challenges confronting the country.

He also appealed to political actors to put national interest above partisan considerations and embrace peace, unity and the rule of law.

According to him, elections should not be treated as battles to be won through violence, but as contests of ideas, competence, character and service to the people.

Obi expressed optimism that the Osun experience would renew Nigerians’ confidence in the democratic process and encourage citizens across the country to remain vigilant and committed to building a just, secure, prosperous and people-centred nation.