Ogun State

Premier Local Government in Nigeria

Chairman: Prince Adeyanju Lipede

INTRODUCTION 

It is usually referred to as the Premier Local Government in Nigeria, owing to its historic eminence, as the traditional seat of the Local or Native authority in Egba, since 1898 as well as the seat of the Government of Ogun State that came to existence in 1976. Abeokuta South came into existence as a result of the splitting of the then Abeokuta Local Government into two by the former Head of State, General Ibrahim Badamosi Babanginda in 1991.

PEOPLE AND OCCUPATION

Abeokuta is inhabited largely by the Yoruba people and is mainly inhibited by the Egba Ake stock made up of Egba Eku, Egba Aarin and Egba Agbeyin. The occupations of the indigenes of this area are pottery, tie and dye, farming, trading, artisan works amongst others.

LOCATION

The local government is located on the southwestern Nigeria, bounded by Odeda Local Government on its North frontier, Obafemi/Owode Local Government on the Eastern while Abeokuta North Local Government lies on the Southern parts respectively. Abeokuta South Local government occupies an area of 57.35sq Kilometer with an estimated population of 250,278 according to the 2006 population Census.

POLITICAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS

At present the local government is divided into One Federal Constituency, two State Constituencies and Fifteen political wards as follows: Ake-Eruwon, Aregba-Asero, Adatan-Lantoro, Keesi-Emere, Ijemo, Itoko, Ijaiye-Idi/Aba, Erunbe-Oke Ejigbo, Ijeun Titun, Iporo-Sodeke/ Isale Ijeun, Kemta-Itoku, Isabo-Imo/Igbein, Igbore-Itori, Onikolobo-Oloke, Ibara-Ijeja. Area offices are located at the following: Ibara, Asero, Isale-Ijeun and Ijeun-Titun.

TOURISM & ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES 

Abeokuta South Local Government with its rich cultural heritage had the first contact with Europeans and Western religion. Sites to behold include: the First Church in Nigeria (Cathedral Church of St. Peter's, Ake), S.S. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Alake's Palace (Idi-Ere & the 1^st Bible to be presented to the Alake of Egbaland in 1904), Yam Festival, Ijaiye Pottery, Itoku Tie & Dye.

Identifiable Economic activities in the area includes Markets, Petrol Station, Banks, Insurance firms, Eateries, Stadia, Hotels, Garages such as Oba Lipede Market, NNPC Mega Station, MKO Abiola Stadium, Wema Bank Plc, Big Treat, Sweet Sensation, Mr. Biggs, Continental Suites, Wenby Suites, Kuto Garage to mention but few.

TRADITIONAL RULERS & VOCATIONS

The Local Government is blessed with two royal fathers, the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland Oba (Dr) Michael Adedotun Gbadebo, Okukenu IV- who is presently the Chairman of Obas Council in Ogun State and Oba Jacob Olufemi Omolade, the Olubara of Ibara. Traditional vocations observed annually by the people are: LISABI Day and New Yam Festival. Indigenes from far and near come home every year to celebrate these festivals at it affects their communities and the people.

Christianity came in with education to Abeokuta, January 1843 by Henry Townsend. Orthodox religion, Christianity and Islam are practiced with traditional religion. There is the belief in Egungun, Erinle, Ogun, Obatala, Sango, Gelede, Oro, Omolu, Obaluaye & Osun to mention few.

STAFF STRENGTH

Abeokuta South Local Government like other local government area is a recognized third-tier Government in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Its total staff strength of 701 is made up of 277 Senior and 424 Junior Staff. As in practice in all the Local Governments in Ogun State, the LG has the Executive Council, Legislators and also other political functionaries totaling 40.

REVENUE GENERATION

After seven months of intensive enumeration for tenement rates, we were satisfied that we can’t rely entirely on the statutory allocation from the Federation Accounts (because of capital projects) hence our internal revenue drive is a plus.

ADMINISTRATION

The administration of Abeokuta South Local Governmnet is headed by the Executive Chairman, Prince Adeyanju Lipede. The Executive arm was constituted on January, 2008 and was divided into eight departments such as Community Development, Culture, Tourism & Employment Generation, Water Resources and Environmental Sanitation, Information/Education & Sports, Primary Health, Works & Housing, Agriculture & Natural Resources, Planning, Research & Strategy, Finance & Supply and General Service & Administration. The administration is not unaware of the fact that no efficiency can be achieved by any government if its personnel is not catered for hence, payment of staff salaries and allowances occupy a paramount position in the heart of this administration. Debts owed by past administrations have been paid with the assistance of our Amiable Governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel. The relationship between the political functionaries and career office holders remain very cordial.

THE JOURNEY SO FAR

Immediately Prince Yanju Lipede was sworn-in, this dynamic and resourceful leader swung into action by implementing laudable programmes being his electioneering campaign to the people.

EDUCATION 

According to Prince Yanju Lipede "Education is the best legacy a man can give to his children and we here in Abeokuta South LG want to ensure that our children get the best of education." Education to the present administration is the bedrock of Development in any society. For instance within a year in office, this administration has been able to cushion the effect of increasing expenditure on education. There are 49 primary Schools, 20 public secondary Schools, 7 private secondary schools and 1 Technical College.

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• Distribution of free English textbook to Primaries 1 to 6 for 24,474 Pupils

• Distribution of free Mathematics textbook to all Primaries 1 to 6 for 24,474 Pupils

• Distribution of Six free Exercise books per Pupil for 24,474 Pupils

• Free Teacher's Guide for all the 1,103 Primary School Teachers

• Provision of Scholarship to Best Outstanding students in all Secondary Schools in all the 20 Junior and Senior Secondary schools in Abeokuta South Local Government

 

 WORKS AND HOUSING

The Department has undertaken a number ofprojects and programmes  that have direct bearing upon the lives of the people. These include:

•     Provision of a Block of 2 Classrooms at St. Joseph's R.C.M Pry School, Oke-Bode, Isabo

•     Provision of a Block of 2 Classrooms at St. Peters Anglican Pry School, Ake

•     Provision of a Block of 2 Classrooms at St. Peter's R.C.M Pry School, Oke-Efon

•     Provision of a Block of 2 Classrooms at St. Paul's Pry School, Igbore

•       Re-construction of Blocks of 2-Storey Classrooms at Baptist Pry School, Idi-Aba

•       Construction of an Legislative Complex within the LG Secretariat, Ake

•       Construction of a Hospital/Maternity Centre at OGD Workers Estate, Laderin

•       Foundation laying of a 198 Housing Estate known as Premier Estate, Asero

•       Grading of township roads

AGRICULTURE

The Local Government render services to farmers through seminars and workshops, provision of farmers' needs in form of assistance viz; NPK broad fertilizer, farming equipments, tractors, provision of seeds and seedlings etc.

Poultry: breeding of 2000 broiler chicken to be sold to the people at a reduced rate but with some revenue accruing to the Local government.

Poultry farm has been rehabilitated and re-stocked to boost animal protein production.

HEALTH

Number of Health Centers:

•        Local Government Health Centers ---- 15

•        Ogun State General Hospital  ---- 1

•        Federal Medical Centre ---- 1

To boost the healthcare service delivery system in the local government, the administration has vigorously done the following:

• Addition of Eight Health posts/centers against the existing seven in eight wards of the Local Government and provision of Medical Equipments for Health Centers at Ake, Itoko, Kuto, Igbore etc.

• Renovation and Procurement of Equipment at Ijaye Health Centre

• Regular immunization exercises in line with WHO regulation

• Procurement of Equipment for Tuberculosis and Leprosy at Oke-Ilewo Health Centre

• Procurement of Storage Tanks to all the Health Centers

• Conversion of Omida Health Post to an X-Ray Unit

• Procurement of reagents and chemicals to all our Local Government's Health Centers

• Installation of Solar Freezers at the Health Centers at Oke-Ilewo and Kugba

• New Maternity Centre at OGD's Workers Estate, Laderin

ENVIRONMENT

To ensure that the Council area enjoys a clean environment, this administration has done the following:

• Employed over 410 able body indigenes to its Ogidi - Afolumo programme (Environmental Sanitation Scheme) who take charge of sweeping the major streets/roads on daily basis.

• Provision of a Motorized Sweeper Ka'acher Equipment to clean highbrow streets/roads

• Monthly evacuation/silting of conduit master drainages at Itoku, Sapon,  Idi-Aba, Sam Ewang Estate, Adatan, Ago-Oba, Kuto, Isale - Ijeun among others to stop the perennial flooding.

INFORMATION AND SPORTS

• Provision of state of the art equipments such as Sony HDV Handycam, (2) Tovaste Public Address Systems

• Upgrading the department with latest office equipments such as HP Printer, DVD-Sound Surround System Player and a Compatible Television

• Provision of Sponsorship for Sport Competitions to various Schools such as National Board for Technical Education/Nigerian Polytechnic Senior Staff Games Association

  Three sponsored programmes on Radio airtime

EMPOWERMENTS

• Distributions of 100 motorcycles to the 15 wards of the Local Govt. Area

• Donation of a Brand new Bus to the Local Govt. Baales

• Provision of Grinding Machines, Deep Freezers, Television, Cash Gifts, Generators, a itsubishi Car and Motorcycles

SECURITY

  Relationships with the police and other security agencies have been very cordial. Repaired vehicles at the three Police Divisions and provided necessary logistics for their smooth operations. Civil Defense corps are also around to assist the police.

AWARDS

• The Best Local Government in Nigeria on Environmental Waste Management by the Association of Waste Managers of Nigeria, 2008.

• Achiever Award Presented to Prince Yanju Lipede by N.C.N.S to the growth of NCWS and women in Ogun State 2007.

• Award as patron by the Ogun WASSI (Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists)

• Award of Honour as a Pace-Seter by Nawar-Ud-Deen Nursery and Primary on the 60th Founder's Day Anniversary Celebration, 2008.

• Conferment of National Award to Prince Yanju Lipede by National Association of Primary Schools Games and Sports Teachers (NASPSGAST), 2008.

• Best Ogun State Outstanding Local Government Award by the National Association of Ogun State Students, Federal College of Education Abeokuta Chapter 2008.

• Award  from Institute of Security Study, Abuja

PROPOSED PROJECTS

The pride of any government is the welfare of its people. Therefore, Abeokuta South LG plans to embark on more projects that will continue to have direct impact on the people. These include:

• Provision of Coldroom

• Production of Ice-blocks in large quantity

• Rearing of rams and layers for egg production

• Tarring of roads

• Provision of 10 long buses for school pupils as free shuttle

• Provision of water tanks and overhead tanks for various communities

• Provision of 10 mobile toilets into primary schools of the LG

• Construction of 198 housing units at Asero

• Construction of new cemetery and mortuary

• Provision of viewing centre

• Establishing a radio-diagnostic centre which will include ECG and scanning

• Provision of Ambulance

• Provision of equipment at Maternity Centre

• Provision of Information Van for public enlightenment

COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE

•          I will like to commend the efforts of the Chairman and his team. What they have done today to our children is exceptional, exemplary and visionary. This is a Local Government to be reckoned with. May the good Lord continue to strengthened the leadership of this local government - Yeye Olufunke Daniel, Wife of the Executive Governor, Ogun State

•          The delegates are very hopeful of indeed positive change in the affairs of the local government -         Gateway Television Delegate

•          It is a great honour for me to meet the great men who make things happen in  Abeokuta South   Local Govt. May Abeokuta grow from strength to strength - Tunde Kelani (Mainframe Production)