Ekiti Archives - Citybuzz News

Ekiti Deploys CNG Buses to Cut Transport Fares by 50%

October 2, 2026 by Maria Adeleke

The Ekiti State Government has commenced the deployment of Compressed Natural Gas buses as part of efforts to reduce transport fares by 50 per cent and ease the rising cost of transportation for residents. Governor Biodun Oyebanji announced the initiative on Thursday during the flag-off of 15 CNG buses at the premises of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency in Ado-Ekiti. The deployment, which coincided with Nigeria’s Independence Day and the 30th anniversary of Ekiti State, is aimed at providing more affordable and accessible public transportation in line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Oyebanji, who was accompanied by Senate Leader, Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, said the 15 buses donated to the state by the Federal Government represented the pilot phase of the initiative. He added that the state would expand the fleet to enable more residents to benefit. According to the governor, reducing transportation costs is crucial to easing the economic burden on citizens. He said the initiative was part of efforts to respond to the President’s directive to state governors to reduce transport costs. “The President charged all state Governors that by October first, we should find a way of reducing transportation cost because most of the implications we are witnessing, transportation contributes a lot to it and what we have done today is just the pilot: 15 CNG buses, which are going to be distributed to the unions, and the agency will manage it,” Oyebanji said. He therefore urged transport unions to ensure that the savings from the CNG buses translated into lower fares for commuters. “My appeal is to the Unions; they should allow the gains to translate to the commuters because this will reduce transportation cost by 50 percent,” he said. The governor also thanked President Tinubu for providing the buses, saying the intervention would help reduce the transportation burden on Ekiti residents. He added that Federal Government policies had created opportunities for state governments to implement programmes that directly improve the lives of citizens. “No matter how visionary a leader is, if there are no resources to work with, it will just stay in the realm of a vision,” Oyebanji said. “But the President has been helping and supporting us not only in Ekiti State but in all the states in the country to translate our vision into action and impacts for the people.” Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Ekiti State Transportation Agency, Tajudeen Akingbolu, said routes had already been mapped out for the buses. He disclosed that the CNG buses would operate on routes connecting Ado-Ekiti with Lagos, Ibadan, Onitsha and Abuja, providing residents with more affordable and reliable interstate transportation. The state government said it would continue to explore measures to reduce transportation costs and improve access to affordable public transport across Ekiti State.

Gunmen Kill Pastor, Kidnap Worshippers in Ekiti Church Attack

April 29, 2026 by admin

Gunmen on Tuesday night stormed a Christ Apostolic Church in Eda Oniyo Ekiti, located in Ilejemeje Local Government Area of Ekiti State, killing a pastor and abducting an unspecified number of worshippers. The attack, which occurred around 8.30 pm during a church programme, has thrown the community into panic, with residents expressing fears over rising insecurity in the area. Sources in the community said the assailants, who were armed and arrived in numbers, stormed the church located on the outskirts of the town, shot the pastor dead and whisked away several worshippers into a nearby forest. One of the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, said efforts were ongoing to determine the exact number of abducted victims. “The invaders were many. They killed the pastor and took away some worshippers. We cannot say the number yet. Moves to collate those who are missing have begun. The community is in a panic mode for now,” the source said. Confirming the incident on Wednesday, the Ekiti State Police Command said it had launched a rescue operation to secure the release of the abducted victims. The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Sunday Abutu, said the Commissioner of Police, Michael Falade, had ordered a thorough investigation and a manhunt for the perpetrators. “The Police in collaboration with the Nigerian Army, the Amotekun Corps, the Agro Marshal, the Vigilantes and the local hunters have commenced an aggressive bush combing operations and a serious manhunt on the perpetrators in order to ensure the rescue of the victims and the arrest and prosecution of the culprits,” Abutu said. He added that the police were working to ensure the safe rescue of the victims and the arrest of those responsible. “The commissioner of Police calls for calm as necessary steps are currently being taken to salvage the situation and forestall recurrence. “Members of the public are charged to be security conscious, vigilant and promptly report any suspicious person or group of persons found within their environments to the police and other security agencies for necessary proactive actions,” he added. Abutu also advised religious leaders to notify the police before organising late-night gatherings to enable adequate security arrangements.

Ekiti Gov Assures Resumption Of Ado-Ijan Road Construction

August 17, 2025 by admin

Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, has said that the state, in collaboration with the Federal Government, has resolved all issues that led to the temporary abandonment of the Ado-Ijan-Aisegba road project by the contractor in charge. Oyebanji assured residents and road users that work would soon resume on the road following the resolution of the issue that caused abandonment. The governor, who spoke at Aisegba Ekiti on Saturday during the burial service of the late Chief Mathew Fatoba, the father of his Aide-de-Camp, said, “I assure you that I see the road leading here from Ado Ekiti. It is part of our efforts. “The Federal Government has awarded the road, and the contractor has moved to the site, but they left for one reason or another. “But by His grace, the Lord has helped us to settle it; very soon, the contractor will go back to the site,” the governor said. Oyebanji commended President Bola Tinubu for his support for the state, saying, “The president’s policies have helped in addressing infrastructure gaps as well as promoting economic development and welfare of citizens.” This was as the state government over the weekend, listed alternative routes to the state capital, “while the federal and Ekiti State governments work out lasting solutions to some bad portions of roads leading to the state”. The alternative routes, as contained in a travel advisory to ease your journey into Ado Ekiti, are: “From Lagos/Ibadan: Iwaraja – Efon – Ipole – Ikogosi – Erijinyan – Ilawe – Ado Ekiti. From Akure: Akure – Igbara Oke – Igbara Odo – Ilawe – Ado Ekiti, and from Abuja: Kabba – Irun Akoko – Iro Ekiti – Isinbode – Ikole – Igbemo – Ekiti Ring Road – Ado Ekiti.” The advisory stated, “The state government will continue to invest in road infrastructure, while also working collaboratively with the Federal Government to ensure the remaining two federal roads, that are yet to be awarded, are fixed”. A public service announcement by the State Ministry of Works stated that “currently, the Ado-Ikere-Akure Road has been awarded, and work is ongoing; the Ado-Ijan Ekiti Road has also been awarded, with work in progress” on the two federal roads. Punch

Man Bags Life Jail For Setting Ex-Boss Ablaze In Ekiti

April 2, 2025 by admin

An Ekiti State High Court sitting in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a 41-year-old man, Olasunkanmi Kareem, to life imprisonment for attempting to murder his former boss by setting him ablaze. Kareem was arraigned on November 18, 2024, on a one-count charge of attempted murder, contrary to Section 241 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021. According to the charge sheet, “The defendant, on August 11, 2024, at Ifaki Ekiti, attempted to murder one Omoboriwo Bashiru by setting him ablaze.” Narrating his ordeal before the court, the victim said, “The defendant was once my apprentice at my mechanic workshop. Even after he graduated, I continued to assist him whenever he had issues with customers’ cars. “On that day, he called me around 8pm, asking about a carburetor I had helped him repair. When I told him I didn’t see it, he became abusive and threatened to set me ablaze wherever he found me. I thought he was joking. Later, I called him, and he told me where he was. “We met at a vulcanizer’s workshop, and an argument ensued. Unknown to me, he had a gallon of petrol in his hand. Since it was dark, I didn’t see it until he poured it on me. When I realized it was petrol, I tried to run, but my body was already on fire. I fell into a drainage before some passersby rescued me and put out the fire. I suffered severe burns and was rushed to the hospital,” Bashiru recounted. The prosecution, led by Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, presented four witnesses and tendered Kareem’s statements, pictures of the victim, and a medical report as evidence. The defendant testified in his own defense but did not call any witnesses. Delivering judgment, Justice Jibril Aladejana held that Kareem had lured the victim to a location, ambushed him behind an electric pole, and doused him with petrol before setting him on fire. “The facts before the court show that the defendant deliberately set out to harm the victim. But for the intervention of passersby, the victim would have died. This intentional act of causing grievous bodily harm amounts to attempted murder,” the judge ruled. “In my view, the defendant does not deserve leniency. He should face the full wrath of the law,” Aladejana added before sentencing Kareem to life imprisonment.

Ekiti Constructs 90 Toilets, Bathrooms At NYSC Camp

October 4, 2024 by admin

Ekiti State Government has completed the construction of nine public conveniences, comprising five toilets and five bathrooms each, at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Orientation Camp in Ise-Emure. This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Youth Development, Mr Adesola Gold Adedayo, during an inspection of the project. He noted that the construction was in its final stages and would be fully ready before the next batch of Corps members began orientation. Mr Adedayo expressed gratitude to Senator Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Youth Development, for his significant support in enhancing the camp’s facilities. He also revealed that, in collaboration with the Senate Committee, the state had installed 30 solar-powered poles to improve lighting at the camp. This project marks the first phase of a broader effort to revamp the camp, following Governor Biodun Oyebanji’s directive to conduct integrity tests on all structures within the facility. The governor remains committed to ensuring a conducive environment for the orientation of Corps members. “This is the first phase of the Governor’s intervention to give this camp a facelift,” Mr Adedayo said. “We deeply appreciate His Excellency, our youth-loving governor, for his swift response. After the unfortunate incident here, the governor approved the construction of the toilets and the integrity test on all the buildings. There are more interventions on the way.” The Commissioner highlighted that this is the most significant development the camp has seen since its inception, noting that it addresses long-standing challenges that had previously been overlooked. “This is the first time since the establishment of this camp that we’ve received such a comprehensive intervention,” he added. “We are grateful to Governor Oyebanji for addressing these issues head-on.” The State Commissioner for Information, Rt. Hon. Taiwo Olatunbosun reiterated the government’s commitment to transforming the Permanent Orientation Camp into a vibrant hub with safe and comfortable accommodation and clean and hygienic facilities. He assured that the state would continue prioritising the welfare of indigenes and non-indigenes residing temporarily or permanently in Ekiti. Other officials present during the inspection included the Special Adviser, Independent Project Monitoring Office (IPMO), Mr Olufemi Ajayi; the Director General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mr James Folorunso; and the Director General of the Office of Transformation and Service Delivery (OTSD), Engr. (Dr.) John Ekundayo.

Ekiti Constructs 90 Toilets, Bathrooms At NYSC Camp

October 4, 2024 by admin

Ekiti Deploys CNG Buses to Cut Transport Fares by 50%

Gunmen Kill Pastor, Kidnap Worshippers in Ekiti Church Attack

Ekiti Gov Assures Resumption Of Ado-Ijan Road Construction

Man Bags Life Jail For Setting Ex-Boss Ablaze In Ekiti

Ekiti Constructs 90 Toilets, Bathrooms At NYSC Camp

Ekiti Constructs 90 Toilets, Bathrooms At NYSC Camp

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