By Sodiq Adelakun

The National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), has relocated thousands of registered corps members from Batch ‘A’ to the upcoming Batch ‘B’ Stream I.

This decision, communicated through a statement on Monday by Eddy Megwa, the Director of Press and Public Relations for the scheme, underscores the commitment to maintaining optimal conditions for the Orientation Exercise.

Prospective corps members who have completed registration but won’t participate in the 2024 Batch ‘A’ stream Two exercise can anticipate receiving their call-up letters for the June 2024 orientation exercise.

The statement reads, “The Management of National Youth Service Corps wishes to inform the general public especially the Prospective Corps Members that the 2024 Batch ‘A’ Stream Two Orientation Course will commence nationwide on Wednesday, 17th April, 2024. A total of One Hundred and Three Thousand (103,000) PCMs successfully registered and ready for mobilisation.

“In keeping with best practices and ensuring a modest and conducive environment for the smooth running of the Orientation Exercise, and also looking at the number of registered PCMs, the various Orientation Camp capacity cannot accommodate the large number of registered PCMs at the same time, hence, the utmost need to mobilize them in Batches and Streams.

“The Scheme strongly believes that mobilising PCMs in Batches will not only decongest the camps, but also maintain optimal health conditions in the Orientation Camps.

“Management therefore wishes to inform the Prospective Corps Members who have registered and will not be call-up for the 2024 Batch ‘A’ stream Two exercise to expect their call up letters for June 2024 Orientation Exercise.

“The Director General of NYSC, Brigadier General YD Ahmed wishes all Prospective Corps Members a safe trip to their respective Orientation Camps across the country.

“All information regarding the Orientation Course will be posted on the NYSC Social Media Handles and other traditional media.”

In a bid to streamline urban development and promote regulatory compliance, the Lagos State Government has announced an amnesty window for property owners to obtain or perfect planning permits on completed buildings.

The initiative, scheduled to run from May 2 to July 30, 2024, offers property owners a unique opportunity to regularize their structures without incurring statutory penalties.

The disclosure was made in a statement issued by Engr. Oluwole Sotire, the Permanent Secretary of the Office of Physical Planning, on Monday, April 15.

Sotire emphasised that property owners and developers of existing completed developments without approvals can secure their planning permits, also known as building plan approvals, during the designated period.

During the amnesty window, which entails a three-month suspension of penalties, property owners are encouraged to submit their applications for assessment.

He said that the process will be facilitated through the District Offices of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) located across the 57 local government areas and local council development areas of Lagos State.

Additionally, applicants can utilise the Electronic Planning Permit (EPP) office at the LASPPPA headquarters in Ikeja.

To participate in the amnesty program, applicants must provide essential documentation, including title deeds or proof of ownership, survey plans, as-built architectural drawings, and structural, electrical, and mechanical drawings where applicable.

Additional documents required for assessment include a non-destructive integrity test report (if applicable), a structural stability and indemnity letter (if applicable), a land use planning analysis report, proof of tax compliance, and any other relevant supporting documents.

Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, has commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for keeping the peace in the state.

Governor Makinde stated this on Monday, when he received the 46th General Officer Commanding of the 2 Mechanised Division, Odogbo Barracks, Ibadan, Major-General Obinna Onubogu, at the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Ibadan.

The Governor, who seized the occasion to throw light on the invasion of the Government Secretariat last Saturday by suspected Yoruba Nation agitators, explained how the effective security system in the state was able to bring the aggressors to their knees in no time.

Makinde commended security agencies in the state for the roles they played in stopping the invaders and apprehending them, stating that the emergency security response system was activated and that it worked perfectly to arrest the situation on time.

He thanked the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their swift response in arresting the agitators, noting that though there were security gaps, what the miscreants met was beyond their imagination.

“On what happened on Saturday, the Emergency Security Response was activated and it actually worked. The response was quick, timely and I believe the hoodlums and miscreants met something that was beyond their imagination. Within one hour, everything was under control.

“Let me use this opportunity to thank you and other security agencies in the state. Everybody responded timely and we are grateful for the timely response.

“Concerning the unfortunate incident, what I can say is that we must win the war but we must also win peace. It is a challenging period.

“Anybody in the position of authority in this country, whether military, political or governmental positions, even people leading in our communities are challenged at this time because, as a leader, if people you are leading are hungry and angry, we have to put heads together and see how we can minimise some of those causative agents of this type of situation.”

The Governor called on the new GOC to sustain the cordial relationship between the 2 Mechanised Division and the government on the one hand and between the Division and the people of the state on the other.

He added that his administration would spare no expense in securing the state and that it would continue to do everything to secure Oyo State by working effectively with the Army and other security agencies in the state.

According to the Governor, his vision of developing the state through the four pillars of education, health, security and economic expansion through agribusiness, tourism and solid mineral development cannot be achieved in an atmosphere of insecurity.

“The relationship between the government, the people of Oyo State and the Division, has translated to a relatively secure Oyo State. Please, I don’t want you to relent.”

He added, “We must not think only in the aspect of responding kinetically to the situation we have found ourselves but we must also think of things we have to do to win peace.”

“So, I welcome you to your state and I will meet with you on a working level so that we can see all the lapses and look into the few of the recommendations we have and implement.”

Speaking earlier, Major-General Onubogu stated that the warm reception accorded him showed the cordial relationship that had always existed between the Oyo State government and the Nigerian Army.

Onubogu, who appreciated Governor Makinde for his tremendous support to the Division over the years, assured the government and residents of the state that the Army would continue to collaborate with sister security agencies to secure Oyo State and its people.

He said, “We are indeed in a period of security challenges and I want to commiserate with you and the good people of Oyo State over the invasion of the Secretariat by some self-acclaimed, irredentists on the 13th of April, 2024.

“This incident is unfortunate as it shows that despite the peace that exists in Oyo State, there are still sons and daughters of South-West Nigeria who are bent on challenging Oyo State, the entire South-West as well as Nigeria as a whole.

“I have taken note of some of the gaps that preceded this incident and I want to assure you that under my watch, we will play our part to ensure that such a situation does not arise again.

“As our adversaries have made their intentions known, it will be foolhardy for us not to refocus and ensure the people of Oyo remain safe.”

In attendance at the reception were the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Olanike Adeyemo; Chief of Staff to the governor, Hon. Segun Ogunwuyi; Special Adviser on Security to the governor, CP Fatai Owoseni (retd); DG of Operation Burst, Col. James Ajibola (retd) and the DG, Amotekun Corps, Col. Olayinka Olayanju (retd).

The GOC was accompanied by the top echelon of the 2 Mechanised Divisions.