OGUN TAKES STEPS TO REDUCE ACCIDENTS ON THE ROADS

Dr Olaokun Soyinka.

The Ogun state Government has embarked on major restructuring of its
ambulance service (O.G.S.A.S) and form a Road Safety Coalition Committee
as part of measures to reduce and prevent the rate of accidents on the
roads in the State. 
  

Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka who disclosed this at
the stakeholders’ forum for the restructuring of O.G.S.A.S held in
Abeokuta stated that the objective of the restructuring and the
formation of the committee were to curb road accidents, improve
emergency level and enhance road safety.
   

Dr. Soyinka explained that to achieve this aim, the State government
had already purchased four new ambulances, and provide adequate
requisite trainings for the personnel to handle them, just as the
State is joining in the global decade of action on road safety.
   

According to him, the Committee which have its members drawn from the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), the Police, Bureau of Transportation (BOT), Red Cross and the State Traffic Compliance and
Enforcement Corps (TRACE) “is not a standing committee or legal entity but an agreement to cooperate between stakeholders which aims to align our activities through better communication.”
   

The Commissioner further stated that adequate road safety campaign would be put in place through all media of communication in order to ensure that the road safety campaign gets to the nooks and crannies of
the State.

Earlier in his address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health Matters, Dr. Rotimi Ogungbe stated that as part of the five cardinal programmes of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun led administration, the
State Ministry of Health has swung into action towards providing sustainable and efficient health care delivery system.
   

 “Government has resolved to key into the United Nation’s goal of reducing morbidity and mortality from advanced life support ambulances with the training of all ambulance crews in basic life support and
advance cardiac life support.”
   

In their respective remarks, the Sector Commander of FRSC in the State, Commander Ayobami Omiyale and the Corp Commander of TRACE, Commander Ayodele Sangofadeji promised the readiness of their agencies to respond to emergencies and accidents promptly in order to reduce
deaths resulting from road accidents in the State.

AMOSUN UNDERSCORES NEED FOR INVESTORS TO EMBARK ON CSR PROJECTS

Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun has tasked investors in
the State to always plough back into the system, part of their profits
by embarking on sustainable Corporate Social Responsibility (C.S.R)
projects to develop the socio-economic life and well being of their
host communities.
   

Senator Amosun gave the charge in Abeokuta when the Managing
Director of Procter and Gamble, Mr. Manij Kumar paid him a courtesy
call in his office.
   

The Governor also underscored the need for such investors to pay their taxes and other levies appropriately into the coffers of the Government, pointing out that this would further boost government’s
ability to provide necessary infrastructural facilities for their use.
   

 He said the present administration would continue to partner with genuine investors with the aim of developing the State and creating wealth for the people.
   

Speaking earlier, the Managing Director of Procter and Gamble, Mr.Kumar said the company which had been operating since 75 years ago had already purchased 40 hectares of land in Agbara with $250 million to
be injected into the business expected to generate 750 jobs and create 300 Small and Medium Enterprises.
   

Mr. Kumar said that the company intended to further collaborate with the State government and the nation at large in the area of human capital development, describing the State as a comfortable and
progressive place to do business.

REASONS FOR THE RECONSTRUCTION OF ITA-EKO-SOKORI ROAD HIGHLIGHTED

The reconstruction of Ita-Eko-Sokori-Totoro road in Abeokuta,Ogun State, was carried out because of the need to upgrade the road to have necessary infrastructural facilities and development a befitting  State capital.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Kayode Ademolake made this disclosure in Abeokuta while presenting a paper titled “How Ita-Eko-Sokori-Totoro Road Was Made” during the monthly meeting of the State chapter of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE)

Engr. Ademolake observed that prior to the reconstruction, the road was characterized by vehicular logjam and “not-too vibrant” commercial activities, but added that the story has now changed having being widened to six lanes and provided with other features of a modern road.

He noted that the road will have the first ever pedestrian and flyover bridge in Abeokuta, both of which are currently being constructed, adding that on completion, the two bridges would make crossing safer and enhance free flow of traffic.

The Permanent Secretary therefore advised indigenous engineers to take a cue and avail themselves of the opportunity of the different construction works being done on the road, saying that the need to keep themselves abreast of new trends, changes and modern innovations in the engineering profession cannot be over-emphasized.

Responding on behalf of other members, Chairman of the State branch of NSE, Engr. Tunde Awolana called for collaboration between the ministries of Works and Infrastructure and Environment to guard against environmental challenges like erosion so that the road project would stand the test of time.

 He also called on house owners along the road whose houses had been partially demolished to pull them down totally before embarking on fresh construction so as to prevent building collapse and ensure safety of life and property.

Ogun set to engage 800 new medical staffers

About 800 new staffs are about to be engaged by the Ogun state government in its health sector.

These include 334 Medical Personnel and 448 others in various fields.

The State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Olaokun Soyinka, who disclosed this in Abeokuta, assured that government was committed to employing competent and qualified hands to man various positions in the health sector in the state.

He assured that the appointments would be based strictly on merit and not favoritism.

Dr. Soyinka explained that healthcare delivery forms a major aspect of the five cardinal points of the Senator Ibikunle Amosun led-government as such would not relent in rendering qualitative healthcare services to the people.

Over 6000 unemployed people applied for the jobs.

The latest employment drive is the Governments answer to the yearning of the people of the state that competent medical personnel be appointed to man the various health facilities in the state.

SENSITIZE MEMBERS ON TRAFFIC LAWS, TRACE BOSS CHARGES UNION LEADERS

Transport union leaders in Ogun State have been advised to sensitize their members on the need to obey traffic rules and regulations at all times in order to ensure free flow of traffic and reduce carnage as well as accidents on the roads.

 The Corp Commander of the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Corp (TRACE), Commander Ayodele Sangofadeji gave this advice in Abeokuta at a quarterly stakeholders meeting with leaders of the unions.

Commander Sangofadeji expressed deep concern about the high rate of mishaps on the roads, saying more often than not; accidents were caused by flagrant disobedience of traffic rules.

 He lamented that some drivers had cultivated the uncharitable habit of over-speeding, overloading of goods and passengers and offloading passengers at awkward points, saying that all these and others that negate traffic rules constitute bottlenecks to smooth motoring on the roads.

The TRACE boss cautioned the drivers to desist from all acts that disturb other road users and enjoined the unions to take sustainable measures that could bring erring drivers to book to serve as a deterrent to others.

 Responding on behalf of other union leaders, Chairman of the First Nigeria Tipper Lorry Drivers Association, Alhaji Fadipe Kasali underscored the need for a synergy between officials of TRACE and the Ministry of Works on the proper erection of road signs along the roads.

 According to him, this will go a long way in creating awareness among the drivers and reduce accidents on the roads to the barest minimum.

FILLING OF OGHMB VACANCIES TO BE ON MERIT-S.A. HEALTH

Dr. Rotimi Ogungbe

Appointments to fill vacant posts as announced by the Ogun State Hospitals Management Board will be based strictly on merit and not favouritism.

 The Special Adviser to the State Governor on Health, Dr. Rotimi Ogungbe who gave this assurance during an interview with pressmen at the on-going recruitment exercise in Abeokuta, pointed out that the need to give equal opportunities and provide a level playing ground informed the decision to invite the over 6,000 applicants for the interview.

Giving a breakdown of the vacancies to be filled, the Special Adviser disclosed that a total of 1,276 would be employed by the Board, adding that 40 Medical Officers, 20 Consultants, 170 Nurses among others are to be employed.

The Special Adviser noted that different cadres are scheduled for different dates, recalling that the exercise which began on Monday June 11^th featured those who applied as Consultants, Medical Officers, Dental Officers, pharmacists, optometrist, physiotherapist, Nutritionists, Dietician, Scientific officers, Prosthetic Technicians, Medical Record Technicians, Catering Officers, Nurses and Pharmacy Technicians.

According to him, applicants interviewed on Wednesday include Higher Store Officers, Medical Laboratory Scientists, Medical Laboratory Technicians while it will be the turn of Data Processing Officers, Health and laboratory Attendants among others to be interviewed on Thursday.

He submitted that the exercise will be rounded off on Friday, June 15th, when applicants for the posts of X-Ray Technicians, Cooks, Gardeners and washmen would be interviewed.

Dr. Ogungbe enthused that when the exercise is completed, competent hands would be employed to make use of various state-of-the-art equipment already procured by the State Government to offer qualitative healthcare services to the people.

Also speaking, Mr. Adelaja Babalola who applied as a Medical laboratory Scientist commended the State Government for the opportunity given to all applicants to test their abilities, he however advised the applicants to be orderly in their conduct so that lesser time would be wasted organizing them.