The Oyo State government has waded into the boundary crisis that culminated into the 10-year closure of 23 schools in Afijio, Oyo East and Oyo West local government areas of the state.
This is coming barely two weeks after a report by the Nigerian Tribune spotlighting advocacy efforts towards resolving the crisis and reopening the schools.
Following the report, Nigerian Tribune learnt that the Oyo State government has called for a stakeholders meeting to fashion out “means and manners” of resolving the age-long land dispute.
The meeting will be presided over by the deputy governor of the state, Mr Bayo Lawal, who doubles as the chairman of the State Boundary Committee.
The letter of invitation for the meeting, which was signed by the Director (Special Services), Mr N. O. Ogungbile, on behalf of the Permanent Secretary (C & SS), was entitled ‘Invitation for a Mediation Meeting on the Boundary Issues in Oyo Federal Constituency of the State.’
The letter, with reference number SEC.546/20c/T³/22 and dated January 19, 2024, which was addressed to the president of Oyo Global Forum, a non-partisan group of professionals from the four LGAs that constitute the Oyo federal constituency, noted that the meeting will be held on Thursday, February 1, at the office of head of service.
The letter reads in part: “I have the directive to invite you to a crucial meeting to be presided by the Deputy Governor, Barrister Bayo Lawal, who also doubles as the Chairman, State Boundary Committee to fashion out means and manners of resolving the agelong land dispute that has resulted to the closing down of 23 schools in Oyo West, Oyo East and Afijio Local Government Areas of Oyo State.”
Nigerian Tribune reports that the affected schools include Community Basic School Obananko, Oyo; Community Basic School Laagbe, Oyo; Pinnock Memorial Bapt School Aba Epo Oluwatedo, Oyo; Bapt Basic School Oluwatedo, Oyo; St. Luke Anglican Bada Idiyalode, Oyo; L.A. Basic School Ago Oyo; Community Basic School Igbo Olose, Oyo in Oyo West LG.
Others are Community Basic School Adebimpe, Oyo; Community Basic School Obasere, Oyo; St. Thomas Anglican School Alabi Olorunda, Oyo; St. Michael RCM Apaara Village, Oyo; Methodist Primary School Ajagba, Oyo; Bapt Central School Oniyanrin, Oyo; Bapt Primary School Aguo, Oyo; ADS Primary School Baba Elesin, Oyo in Oyo East LG.
Also affected are L.A. School Lannite, Oyo; L.A. Primary School Gudugbu Orile, Oyo; L.A. Primary School Gudugbu, Oyo; ADS Primary School Aba Olori, Oyo; ADS Primary Abujakan, Oyo; L.A. Basic School Alagbon, Oyo and L.A. Basic School Imeleke, Oyo also in Oyo East LG.
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