Falae’s kidnap experience won’t recur in Oyo, says Governor Makinde

Govt plans N36b dry port, silos
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has assured that the experience of former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and Afenifere leader, Chief Olu Falae, in the hands of bandits at his farm in Ondo State would not repeat in the state.

The governor was speaking in Ibadan yesterday following calls for better security measures to tackle the spate of kidnappings across the country, especially in the Southwest.

Addressing members of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other stakeholders at the state secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan, during a peaceful march to draw attention to kidnappings and banditry in Nigeria.

The event tagged ‘Walk to Stop the Kidnapping Now’ took off from Mapo Hall and terminated at the Agodi State Secretariat.

The journalists used the occasion to present a letter to the governor on their demand for a secured Yorubaland and stoppage of violence against women as well as the implementation of the Child Right Law in the state.

While receiving the protesters, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Bisi Ilaka, assured that the security of lives and property in Oyo remains paramount in his mind.

The state government has echoed its readiness to embark on a $99 million (about N36 billion) Inland Dry Port and Silos Construction projects.

This was revealed after a closed-door meeting it had with officials of two federal government agencies: Nigeria Shippers Council (NSC) and Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) in the Governor’s Office.

Director-general/CEO, ICRC in the presidency, Chidi Izuwah, told newsmen that the federal government would work with the state government to develop the state, which is part of the Next Level agenda.”