The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Deputy Governor greets Muslims

    Deputy Governor greets Muslims

    Lagos State Deputy Governor Dr Idiat Adebule yesterday wished Muslims a spiritually fulfilling, joyful and peaceful Sallah.

    Adebule urged Lagosians to emulate Prophet Muhammed by spreading the message of love and peaceful coexistence.

    “Lagosians and indeed Nigerians should shun violence and rededicate themselves to building a new Nigeria as promised by President Muhammadu Buhari,” she said.

    Lagos, she said, will continue to grow from strength to strength “with the purposeful leadership of our hardworking Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode who appreciates the support his administration has enjoyed from the good people of the state.”

  • Four feared missing in building collapse

    Four feared missing in building collapse

    •LASEMA: nobody died

    Four persons were feared missing yesterday after a two-storey building collapsed in Lekki, Lagos.

    The building was one of three structures being erected at 37 Agungi Ajiran Road opposite Obafemi Olatunji Street in Lekki.

    It was gathered that six labourers were working on the building, when it fell at 6.45a.m., but two of them were rescued.

    The Nation learnt that the two sustained minor injuries.

    It was learnt that emergency agencies did not learn of the mishap till about 8:20am. They also had difficulty getting to the scene early because of traffic gridlock.

    The place was cordoned off by operatives of Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) led by the commander, Tunji Disu, an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), and the Area Commander of Ajah, ACP Kayode Samuel.

    [ad id=”403656″]At the time of filing this report, no one could give account of the four other persons in the building.

    However, after excavating the debris for about eight hours with no sign of anyone trapped underneath, the rescue workers led by Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), General Manager Michael Akindele closed the operation.

    “We have concluded rescue operation. I do not know where the people got the information that six people were in the building.

    “As I talk with you, no one was found in the building except the two people earlier rescued who sustained minor injuries and were treated and discharged.

    “I can confirm to you that no life was lost. The operation has ended and the building agency will commence investigation as to the cause of the collapse,” said Akindele.

     

  • How DVC, son, four others died in road crash

    How DVC, son, four others died in road crash

    FATHER and son parted ways in Lagos on Sunday, with plans of reuniting in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, for the Eid-El-Kabir celebrations.

    But it turned out to be the last time that AbdulAzeez would see his father, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor-designate of Fountain University, Osogbo, Prof. Abdul Hakeem Mobolaji alive.

    The professor of Econometrics died in an accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Express way, with his 14-year-old son, Muhammad.

    He left for Ibadan after a meeting in Ijeshatedo, Lagos on Sunday.

    With him in his black Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) were his sons – the late Muhammad and Abdul-Hafiz – and a friend, Mr Abdul-Rasheed Attah, a lawyer.

    A passenger bus rammed into the late Mobolaji’s SUV after overtaking another vehicle on the narrow road. The road had been partitioned by the contractor working on it.

    [ad id=”403656″]The late Mobolaji, who drove, and Muhammad died on the spot. Attah and the late Mobolaji’s second son, AbdulHafiz were injured.

    Attah immediately called a relative and gave his phone to a woman to inform the person of the accident.

    Shortly after, he and Abdul Hafiz went into a coma.

    The Nation learnt that four persons, including the bus driver also died. Many passengers broke their legs.

    The late Mobolaji and his son were on Monday buried in Akinyele Local Government Area, Oyo State.

    Thousands of people attended the funeral.

    Abdul Azeez described his father as the bread winner of the family.

    He said: “Who will take care of us now that he is late? I was expecting to link up with him at Fountain University today (Monday). I was calling his phone on Sunday when I didn’t hear from him whether he has reached Ibadan where he was expected to pick other family members but he wasn’t picking his calls. I called him severally up to 30 times but no one is picking the call. I called the MD of Al Barakah Microfinance Bank to tell him that I have been calling my father but he was not picking his call that he should help me call him but later he came back with some people to announce his death that Allah has taken him back. I pray to Almighty Allah to grant the family the fortitude to bear the loss because he was the bread winner of the family and no one else.”

    The late Mobolaji was said to have delivered a lecture at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), on Saturday, and came to Lagos for a meeting. He hailed from Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and joined Fountain University from the University of Ilorin, where he was a Senior Lecturer and Postgraduate Coordinator.

    Described as a respected teacher, the late Mobolaji was a consultant to the 7th National Assembly and several other institutions including the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on economics matters.

  • Agency busts human trafficking syndicate

    Agency busts human trafficking syndicate

    •Dubai-based traffickers paraded

    THE National Agency for the Prohibition Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) has bust an human trafficking syndicate.

    Five members of the gang were paraded in Lagos yesterday by NAPTIP officials.

    They are Homuere Terry Smooth, Priscilla Effiong Bassey, Precious Ejiro Owoh, Blessing Gabriel and Rose Gabriel.

    The agency said the syndicate specialised in luring young ladies into prostitution overseas. Two girls were lured into prostitution in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE), it claimed.

    NAPTIP Head of Press and Public Relations Mr Josiah Emerole said the suspects were arrested in collaboration with local and international law enforcement agencies after videos, which showed the naked victims swearing to an oath, went viral on the social media.

    One of the victims, identified as Ann, was rescued by the agency and brought back home to re-unite with her family. Emerole said the other victim whose name was given as Chisom was out of the traffickers’ reach adding that efforts were on to track other members of the syndicate still at large.

    Ann was allegedly recruited into prostitution in Dubai by Precious, a Lagos-based make-up artist.

    Emerole said: “The process of preparing Ann for the Dubai trip was coordinated by Rose, an elder sister to the UAE-based Blessing. The suspects attempted to force the victim to a shrine for oath of secrecy. On arrival in Dubai, the oath of secrecy, which could not be administered in Nigeria, was forcefully administered on Ann and recorded.

    “The recording was later released on YouTube, a video-sharing website, after Ann escaped from her exploiters in Dubai, where she was forced into prostitution contrary to the initial promise of being given a job at a hairdressing saloon.”

    Terry, the agency said, rented a seven-bedroom duplex house in Lekki Phase 1 area of Lagos, where she harboured young girls for prostitution. Emerole said the girls paid N10,500 weekly to Terry as commission for fixing them up in sex work.”

    He added: “Terry used the building, where she paid N3.2 million yearly, to harbour all kinds of girls from within and outside Nigeria and charges them N10,500 each weekly. It was in the house that Chisom met Priscilla Bassey Effiong, who claimed to be a businesswoman. Priscilla recruited Chisom for a Dubai-based Ebony Fegor, who has been in trafficking business since 2011.”

    In an interview with reporters, the suspects gave contradictory accounts of their roles in the syndicate. But, Priscilla, an indigene of Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River State, confessed to the crime.

    Terry, who hails from Bayelsa State, maintained that she helped the girls to get jobs in Dubai.

    Eromole said the suspects’ activities violated the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015.

    He added: “The suspects would be arraigned in court soon, while efforts are being intensified at the diplomatic level to track all other members of this syndicate who are still in Dubai.”

     

  • Lagos gridlock will ease in 48 hours, say truck owners

    Lagos gridlock will ease in 48 hours, say truck owners

    The traffic gridlock in some parts of Lagos will ease in 48 hours, truck owners promised yesterday.

    Association of Maritime Truck Owners National President Mr Remi Ogungbemi, said stakeholders and men of the Nigerian Customs Service had been working to clear backlog of trucks at the ports to allow vehicles to manoeuvre.

    “Since the Lagos State Government relaxed the restriction of trucks to start moving in the day, accessing the ports had been difficult, due to trucks trapped by the law.

    “Trucks in the ports have to go out for incoming ones, the Nigeria Customs Service have to clear the ones in the ports, hence the backlogs that locked down Lagos.

    “I hope it will get better within 48 hours as stakeholders are working tirelessly to ensure free flow of traffic and we are sorry for the inconveniences,” he said.

    Mr Hyginus Omeje, Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), told NAN that the gridlock was a deliberate action by truck and trailer owners.

    “The whole trucks and trailers that were supposed to go into the ports are lined up on the road in Apapa and other roads in the state.

    “We have positioned our men in strategic places so that they do not take over the whole part of the road; they are lined up on one part of the road,” Omeje said.

    A senior officer of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), who pleaded anonymity, also told NAN that LASTMA was disappointed over the gridlock.

    “We have held several meetings with them on their operations not affecting other road users but they would not comply, the stakeholders should help talk to their people.

    “Our men have been positioned at strategic places to work with other traffic agents to put the situation under control before the end of the day,” the LASTMA officer said.

    A driver of one of the articulated vehicles, Mr Akeem Olaosebikan, said that the gridlock was as a result of the law restricting the movement of the vehicles.

    “ We have been on this queue since Saturday trying to get inside the port. I think the situation is because some trucks inside the port are unable to come out due to the time.

    “Since the State Government has relaxed their order, I think some trucks will be finding their way out so that the gridlock will reduce,’’ Olaosebikan said.

    Another truck driver, Mr Teslim Adekunle, urged government to rehabilitate alternative roads leading to the port to reduce congestion on the Apapa-Orile road.

    “There are other roads leading to the Wharf but due to the bad state of the roads most trucks drivers concentrate on the Apapa-Orile axis.

    “If government can repair Mile 2-Tin Can road, I think it will be better because it will reduce traffic on the Apapa route,’’ Teslim said.

    But a commuter, Mr James Oduteliwo, appealed to the Lagos State Government to intervene quickly to end the gridlock, noting that transport fares had sky-rocketed, due to the gridlock.

    “I spent close to three hours on the road before getting to the office, government should do something about this current situation,’’ Oduteliwo said.

     

  • Fire at Revenue Service office

    Fire at Revenue Service office

    Fire yesterday gutted the office of the Director of Finance of Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Sources said the fire began from the director’s office on the second floor of the Good Shepherd Building housing LIRS around 8.30am. It is believed that the fire was caused by power surge.

    The fire destroyed some documents in the office and was put out before it spread.

    Workers, who scampered to safety, have since returned to their offices following the quelling of the fire.

    A statement by Ministry of Information and Strategy Permanent Secretary Fola Adeyemi thanked the Lagos State Fire Services for their prompt response.

    Adeyemi said the fire was caused by a default in the capacitor of an air conditioner.

    According to him, the immediate response of the fire fighters contained the fire to a room without loss of any vital document.

    “Similarly the quick response of the fire services and fire drills training put in place by the state government led to quick evacuation of staff.

    The only affected area was the newly renovated office which has not been allocated to any staff; the total span affected by the fire was not more than two metres in the entire office,” he said.

     

  • Booking of traffic offenders begins

    Booking of traffic offenders begins

    A new era in traffic management has begun in Lagos State. The Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Friday introduced the booking of offender as advocated by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    In the past, erring motorists were arrested and their vehicles impounded.

    But, booking allows the offending drivers to go with their vehicles.  They are expected to pay their fines and answer other charges within seven days.

    Four vehicles which violated the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane were arrested when the new traffic control regime began in Ojota.

    The Vehicles included two commercial buses marked AGL  109 XA and JJJ 7775 XJ, a black Honda – FST 914AX belonging to one Nike Elegbede and a blue Toyota Camry car marked EJ 54 KIJ driven by one Adamu Danladi. The car owners provides valid vehicle documents on the spot, but the commercial bus drivers could not.

    [ad id=”403656″]LASTMA General Manager Bashir Braimah, who led his men to the field, said the exercise was in line with the governor’s directive.

    Braimah said there would be no hiding place for traffic violators as they are expected to pay their fine within seven days and present their tickets at LASTMA offices.

    Offender, he said, would be arrested if they did not pay after the expiration of the seven day grace.

    “To those without valid documents or not registered in the state, there is a working synergy between the agency and other sister agencies across the federation, therefore no traffic offender will go unpunished. It’s in their own interest to either fall in or fall out with this new method,” he said.

    Braimah said the state is gradually turning into a traffic bottleneck because of the excesses of motorists, particularly commercial and truck drivers, who, he said, were fond of flouting traffic rules.

    According to him, LASTMA can’t fold its hands and allow impunity to continue on Lagos roads, hence the enforcement.

    Danladi claimed that he was directed by his boss to ply the BRT lane, thinking that there is no more enforcement in the state.

  • Six die, eight injured in multiple road crash

    Six die, eight injured in multiple road crash

    Six persons were feared dead yesterday and eight others injured in a multiple road accident in Lekki, Lagos.

    The accident occurred at Marwa Roundabout at about 1pm, causing heavy traffic on the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

    An eyewitness posted on social media that “a commercial cab rammed into a car causing another car to join in the unfortunate incident.

    “The Lagos Ambulance Service was yet to show up as at the time of filing in this report but well-meaning individuals alongside policemen are taking the injured to the hospital.”

    A motorist, Kelechi Duru, who posted the picture of the scene on his Twitter account, @iamfatdon, said the accident claimed six lives.

    But a source at the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) said three persons died. Eight others, he added, were injured.

    The source said over speeding was responsible for the mishap.

    “I really do not have much information on it but I overheard a colleague who said three people died and eight injured. He also said it happened just by the bridge at Lekki second roundabout and involved three vehicles. He also said the accident was caused by overspeeding. That is all I know,” he said.

    LASTMA spokesperson Bola Ajao could not be reached for official statement as her telephone number was not reachable as at press time.

  • Doctors, others resist psychiatric hospital’s MD’s retention

    Doctors, others resist psychiatric hospital’s MD’s retention

    DOCTORS yesterday vowed to resist the reappointment of Dr Rahman Lawal as Medical Director (MD) of the Federal Neuro Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, Lagos. But, Lawal dismissed his colleagues’ protest, saying he was asked by the Ministry of Health to remain in office until a substantive MD is appointed.

    Lagos State Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) Chairman Dr Tope Ojo said Lawal has passed the mandatory retirement age of 60 as stipulated in the civil service rule, stressing that his continued stay in office is condemnable.

    Ojo, who spoke on NMA’s resolution urged Lawal to step down to make way for the appointment of a new medical director for the hospital.

    He said the MD, whose tenure ended on August 28, turned 60 on January 3, adding that as such, he should vacate the post as required by civil service rule.

    The MD’s continued stay has caused a lot of commotion with staff crippling activities in the hospital by embarking on indefinite strike, Ojo said.

    Besides, he was allowed to complete his term in August despite turning 60 in January, Ojo added.

    “The current imbroglio of all health workers under the umbrella of the Joint Health Sector Union (JOHESU) and Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), is particularly made worse by the fact that similar contention as above preceded the exit of the former MD of the hospital, Dr Harry Taiwo Ladapo, some years ago for which Dr Lawal led a revolt that led to his removal from office before he (Dr Lawal) assumed the position,” he said.

    Ojo said the workers strike was to ensure the termination of Lawal’s tenure, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to prevail on the Ministry of Health to remove the MD because his retention constituted an illegality, which does not conform with the change agenda.

    MDCAN chairman in the hospital Dr Grace Ijarogbe said the MD’s action was inexplicable.

    According to her, MDCAN is the body responsible for producing MDs for the hospital but “we are saying no to him because he has not performed well and he has brought us nothing but disgrace among the unions in the hospital”.

    She continued: “He is responsible for the various crises in the hospital. We have been praying for him to vacate the post since he mounted the saddle four years ago. When his tenure lapsed, we did not expect him to come back. He told us he would go to Abuja to solicit for another four-year term but we will not allow that.”

    Ijarogbe said Lawal’s continued stay as MD violates public service rule.

    “This is our fight and we will resist him from wreaking havoc on the hospital. He is 60 and should respect the law of the land. If he is allowed to continue it will be a bad trait. It will even mottle the name of our union.

    “We have written to the Federal Ministry of Health but there was no response. We even carried the letters through courier but as at today nothing has been heard,” she said.

    Ijarogbe said to MDCAN, the post of MD at the hospital is vacant, adding: “We will not be part of any illegality.”

    A senior consultant, who did not want his name mentioned, said Lawal called a meeting to read a purported recommendation letter from the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health to the staff.

    The source said the letter was a personal letter by the Perm Sec to him and not for tenure elongation.

    No worker will go back to the hospital until a new person is appointed MD, said the source.

    Lawal said he resigned his civil service appointment in 2011 when he became MD.

    “But, the rule allows me to complete my tenure. And the Ministry of Health says I should continue to act as MD through a circular it sent to the hospital,” he said.

    He said the ministry set up a committee to look into the issues.

    “I am not working contrary to the civil service rule. I was asked to continue in acting capacity pending when a decision will be reached,” Lawal said.

    He said only the ministry that can determine if he should continue as MD or not.

    “I do not know why the workers are on strike despite the circular from the ministry. I didn’t force myself on the hospital,” he said.

     

  • Suspected pick pockets caught sharing loot

    Suspected pick pockets caught sharing loot

    Three persons have been arrested by Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) operatives for alleged phone theft.

    They are Ebuka Ekujere, Monsuru Onanuga, and Segun Alao.

    The suspects were caught about 1:20pm on Friday, around Eko Hotel on Victoria Island, after they allegedly snatched a phone belonging to a passenger in a tricycle.

    It was learnt that Ekujere who boarded the same tricycle with the passenger, removed the phone from the owner’s pocket and hid it on the seat.

    Onanuga and Alao were said to have seen him, but they kept mum and later collected N3,000 from Ekujere for not giving him out.

    According to the police, Ekujere, who lives on Ezeagu Street in Ajegunle, said the other two suspects knew he was a thief. The police quoted him as saying that he usually settled them whenever they caught him in the act.

    The suspects were caught, while arguing on how to share the loot.

    In his statement, Ekujere said: “I boarded a tricycle at Eko Hotel roundabout to Obalende and in front of Eko Hotel gate, I removed a handset from a passenger’s pocket and dropped it on the seat.

    “Not knowing that his phone has been stolen, the passenger alighted by the hotel.

    “But Alao and Onanuga who saw me when I picked the handset, joined me in the tricycle.

    “Both of them demanded for settlement and I gave them N3,000 but Onanuga further attempted to collect the phone and my money.

    “Then, I engaged them in a verbal confrontation and this attracted the tricycle rider.

    “Having explained what transpired to him, he held me and handed me over to RRS operatives stationed in front of Eko Hotel.”

    Other suspects denied knowing Ekujere is a thief, but admitted that they collected N3,000 from him.

    Onanuga, who claimed that he is a member of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Jakande Branch, said he was on assignment at Eko Hotel round about to regulate traffic.

    He denied knowing Ekujere before the incident, adding that he was not his accomplice.

    “I was at my duty post when I sighted a man later identified as Ekujere pick a handset on a seat inside a tricycle. I and Alao challenged him to know if he is the owner but he said he was not.

    “He promised to give us N3,000 which he did.  Having collected the money, we parted ways.

    “Later he came back and asked us to give him N1,000 out of the money which we did. We later saw Ekujere and a tricycle rider dragging themselves.

    “We went there to ascertain what was happening, in the process, Ekujere pointed at us to the Police that we are his accomplices. That was how the RRS team arrested us.”

    Alao admitted that they demanded for settlement from the prime suspect after he stole the handset.

    “I did not know it’s a crime to aid and abet criminal act. We promised never to do that again. We were only looking for daily bread,” he said.

    Police spokesman, Joe Offor, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), warned residents against aiding and abetting crime.