Category: City Beats

WHAT are the challenges in tackling floods in Lagos State? They are human attitude and dumping of refuse in drainage, says Ministry of the Enviornment Permanent Secretry Ayodeji Adenekan.

Adenekan told reporters in Alausa, Ikeja. That the government is opening up new drainage channels and dredging canals to ensure easy flow of water in areas that are flood prone.

 He said: “The greatest challenge is refuse in the drain. If we don’t have refuse in the drain and it is only water that is there, the water will flow because we will only have silt in the drain. If the water is moving it will carry sand.

 “Flood is basically water and sand when the flood moves, the sand stays, so silting is something that you normally have in any drainage. If it is only sand, it will not be as bad, but we now compound it with pure water sachets, nylon and others, so that is the greatest challenge that we have.”

 Ogun state have agreed on the method of releasing water from Oyan Dam in order to prevent flooding.

 “We have been partnering with them, that is why you have not had flood after the one that happened last time. We have agreed with them on the modalities of releasing water from the Oyan Dam.

 “If you dam a river, the water keeps rising and it will get to a point that if you don’t release part of the water, the dam will break; so it is necessary for Ogun to release part of the water so that it will not destroy the dam. We have related with them well, we have agreed on how to release the water gradually so that it will not lead to flood and the collaboration is ongoing.

  “When the rain is very heavy it stays for long, the water will be much, immediately the rain stops, the water starts reducing. The rate at which the flood goes is what we are trying to attack because the bigger the drainage, the quicker the rate at which the flood goes.

“We are constantly trying to desist the drain so that we can have smooth flow but as we are doing this, some people are dumping refuse.”

 The ministry, he said, had worked on some canals in Badagry, adding that it would look at the most critical ones in the area and dredge them.

“We are also collaborating with LG officials. Recently we met with the medical officers and engineers of local governments on how to be more effective in helping to monitor the drainage”, Adenekan said.

Justice C. J. Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday sentenced a Pakistani, Iftikhar Muhammad Arslan to 18 months imprisonment for importing 25.400kg of high heroin worth N22-million.

The convict was charged with unlawful importation of 25.400kg of heroin contrary to and punishable under Section 11(a) of the NDLEA Act Cap N30, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The convict claimed to be a medical student. He initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea midway in to his trial.

Iftikhar also pleaded for leniency. The prosecutor, Mr Owens Fingere, opposed his plea, urging the court to consider the value of the drugs and the fact of the case in sentencing him.

Justice Aneke held that heroin is a dangerous drug that would have caused serious harm to the country.

He said the court would be lenient with the convict because “he is a first time offender and is remorseful over his action.” The judge added that as a student, the convict deserves a second chance to correct his mistakes.

Iftikhar was arrested by National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) official at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMA) in Ikeja, Lagos on April 5, last year, during the inward screening of passengers on a Qatar Airways flight on his way from Doha, Qatar.

The brownish substance that tested positive for heroin was packed in 25 parcels hidden in a smaller bag inside his luggage. “I am a student of Punjab College and I am in Nigeria as a tourist because my friend told me that Victoria Island and Ikoyi are beautiful tourist centres.

“Unfortunately, when I arrived at the Lagos Airport, the heroin was found in my luggage. This is my first time of coming to Nigeria and I had intended to spend a week or two,” Iftikihar reportedly told investigators during his arrest.

I thought I was doing my clothier a favour when I decided to take her as my second wife; I never knew or perceived the mess I was getting myself into until we started living as a couple.” These were the words of a 44-year-old butcher, Adam Yusuf, who yesterday urged the Lagos Island Customary Court to dissolve his eight-year-old marriage to Aminat.

He accused her of disrespecting him and his first wife.

“She sold cloths to me at abattoir and when I got to know she was chased out of previous husband’s house because she had no child, I told her I was going to assist her by impregnating her,” he said.

The petitioner, who lives at 12, Enuowa Street in Lagos, said he rented a two-bedroom flat for her but she insisted she wanted to live with him and his family.

He said: “ She was always at loggerheads with tenants. Almost everyone in fear avoided her trouble in the neighbourhood.”

The petitioner said she moved in to his house without notice, adding that he was forced to give her a room to avoid her trouble.

“I was sad because my first wife wasn’t expecting such incident to happen. We built where we live with our hard earned money,” he said

Yusuf said the respondent once beat him and his wife up.

“I left my house seven months ago due to lack of peace. I sneak to the house I built whenever I want to see my family. It is that bad, “ he said.

He said he was no longer interested in her.

“Recently, I got to know the reason her husband chased her was because of her attitude. Even when I complained to her family, they asked me to keep enduring. The last time I slept with her was last year. I thought I was doing her a favour. I am in serious mess. I need assistance and I don’t want my first wife to die of heart attack,” he added.

The court’s President, Chief Awos Awosola, ordered the respondent to appear in court and adjourned the case till July 13.