The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • N7m properties lost in Oshodi market inferno

    N7m properties lost in Oshodi market inferno

    Afijalo market in Oshodi, Lagos went up in flames last Wednesday six months after a similar incident in which properties worth N7 million were destroyed.

      Twelve shops were razed in the fire which began around midnight after a deadly power surge.

    According to the Iyaloja of Afijalo, Mrs Bolanle Oseni, who lives close to the market, the surge also affected electrical appliances in her house.

    She said: “Recently, the light has been toyed with in our area. I went to ease myself when I saw smoke from my toilet. I told my brother to ask the viligante in our neighbourhood what the problem was. Immediately, I informed neighbours who could assist us in putting out the fire. It took us three hours to put out the fire. Even when the fire service men arrived, their engine malfunctioned. It is a painful incident. They lost properties worth N7million to the fire. It is a pathetic incident.”

     Mrs Oseni called on the local government to come to the trders’ aid.

    The market’s secretary Gabriel Okonkwo, said if not for residents, it would have been worst.

    “Knowing the same section has burnt again saddens my heart because it is their means of livelihood. They need assistance. I advise people to always put off electrical appliances after their daily activities to avoid situations like this,” he said.

    He said there was no casualty.

    Oshodi-Isolo Local Government Executive Secretary Adeola Olajobi, who visited the scene with other members of the transition committee and the Council Manager, expressed concern on the incessant fire at the market.

    Olajobi sympathised with  shop owners whose goods were burnt. He promised to assist them.

    Olajobi called for a meeting of the market executives where crucial matters  would be discussed.

  • Boat mishaps: Senator to provide 500 life jackets

    THE senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District Solomon Adeola has promised to provide 500 life jackets for waterways users.

    He spoke against the background of recurrent boat mishaps in his senatorial district, the most recent being at Ojo where six teenagers died.

    Adeola commiserated with the bereaved families, noting that such losses are more painful because the parents were investing in the lives and future of their offspring for the good of the society.

    “While the unforeseen can sometimes occur in accidents like this, it is our duty to ensure that losses and fatalities are minimised to the barest minimum through precautionary and safety measures that are strictly enforced by regulatory authorities. But this can only take place when safety gadgets like life jackets and helmets are available for people to use and their use strictly enforced,” he said.

    The senator said his donation is to complement similar efforts of the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Waterways Authority, LASWA in providing life jackets for boat operators to ensure safety on our waterways, adding that he is sure that the Lagos State House of Assembly will look at the regulatory laws for the waterways in their ongoing investigations of the latest accident.

    Adeola said Lagos as a riverine state with serious road traffic congestion, must develop and utilise its marine transport system, adding that what is required is enforcement of regulatory laws to ensure standard and safety for public transport on Lagos waterways.

  • NURTW seeks review of Okada restriction in Lagos

    NURTW seeks review of Okada restriction in Lagos

    Lagos State chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) Tajudeen Agbede has appealed to the government to review the restriction of commercial motorcyclists (Okada) on some roads.

    He said the state council has done everything within its power through public enlightenment to ensure Okada riders complied with the directive.

    He warned that the Okada riders wing of the NURTW will not hesitate to disown anybody found flouting the restriction on the expressway and highway.

    “At our level, we have embarked on public education to educate them on the dangers of riding Okada on the highways and expressway and from our findings; they (Okada riders) have been complying with the instruction. In fact any commercial motorcyclist found on the expressway and major highway will be arrested and handed over to the police.

    The NURTW boss however urged government to lift the restriction on roads not risky for Okada riders

    For instance, Agbede, said government should lift the restriction on some link roads because they in the state. These link roads, he said are not risky for Okada riders.

    Agbede said the Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State (MOALS), an affiliate of NURTW, has done a comprehensive report on those link roads, adding that the report on those link roads to be exempted from the restriction have been compiled and forwarded to the government.

    “I would like to appeal to state government to lift the restriction on some of these routes to make life easy for both the Okada riders and the residents of those areas who depend on okada as a means of transportation. Some of the people riding these Okadas are graduates from various universities who took to riding Okada due to the acute unemployment in the country,” he said.

  • Two charged with N1.9m theft

    Two employees of a drug firm, Emmaunel Okelike and Stephen Ukpal, have been arraigned before an Oshodi Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing goods worth N1.9 million.

    Okelike, 35, of Peter Oduntan Street, Abule-Egba and Ukpal, 46, of Chidi Orjiede Street, Alagbado, Lagos, are being tried for fraud and stealing, according to the prosecution.

    Police prosecutor Kehinde Olatunde told the court that the accused committed the offence between 2013 and 2014 at Town Planning Way, Ilupeju, Lagos.

    He said the accused fraudulently obtained goods worth N1.9 million belonging to Orange Drugs Company, with the pretext of selling the goods and remitting the money into the company’s account as sales representatives.

    Olatunde, a corporal, said the duo were employed in 2013 as sales representatives, adding that after six months of employment; they ran away with the company’s money to unknown destination.

    Okelike was accused of stealing N978, 650 and Ukpal N874, 939.

    He said efforts to locate or recover the stolen money proved unsuccessful until they were arrested last month.

    “They relocated from their places of residence and their phone numbers were not reachable until they were apprehended,” the prosecutor told the court.

    The offence, Olatunde said, contravened the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011 and attracted a 15-year jail term.

    The accused were granted N100, 000 bail with one surety each in the like sum.

    Magistrate Akeem Fashola adjourned the case to July 13.

  • Motorists hail council chief

    Residents, motorists and others have hailed Oshodi/Isolo Local Government Executive Secretary Adeola Dawood Olajobi for the construction of Fasasi Ayinde road in Mafoluku.

    The road, which was hitherto in deplorable condition, has caused users untold hardship.

    While inspecting the road, Olajobi said it was constructed in fulfilment of one of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s cardinal programmes.

    According to him, Ambode enjoined the council bosses to construct at least one road monthly.

    Some motorists hailed the council boss, saying they are now relieved plying the road.

    A motorist, Mrs Yemi Agbolade urged Olajobi to continue the good job.

    The council has also desilted some blocked drainage to avert flood in the area.

    The desilted drainage included Alimi Oke link road, Owoseni Street, Ayo Ni garage in Mafoluku, St. Paul Street, Airport road by 7 and 8 junction lanes.

  • Canoe mishap: six bodies recovered

    Canoe mishap: six bodies recovered

    The bodies of six school children declared missing after Wednesday’s canoe mishap in Ojo, Lagos, were yesterday recovered by rescuers. Among the victims are four siblings.

    They are Patience Ajigbo, Josephine Ajigbo, Nelson Fiaku, Jonathan Fiaku, Imonina Bridget and Kayode Nathaniel.

    The canoe carrying 15 persons, including the paddler, was said to have capsized around 8am after a fibre boat, ran into it. The operator of the boat named Ola Mother has been arrested, it was learnt yesterday.

    Rescuers said the children aged between 13 and 17 were on their way to school when the mishap occurred.

    While nine passengers were rescued, the six others could not be found by emergency workers at the close of operation.

    The Nation gathered that three of the bodies were recovered on Wednesday night; and the other three were found around 9am yesterday.

    According to the community leader, Idris Momoh, four of the dead are siblings. He said such a misfortune had never befallen the community.

    “Four of the affected teenagers are of the same family. All six have been buried. They were very respectful children. This is the first time such a thing is happening in our community. If they had life jackets, they would have survived. I am appealing to the government to provide life jackets for those school boats that carry our children.The water is the only means of accessing the other community where there is a school. We do not have a bridge,” Momoh said.

    Briefing reporters yesterday at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre at Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) Director Yinka Marinho, said that government would no longer tolerate boat operators that do not use of life jackets.

    Marinho explained that the paddler was trying to restart his engine when his canoe inched close to the channel where it eventually collided with the speed boat.

    “The incident happened while the canoe operator was trying to restart his engine because he felt something got into his propeller and stop it from moving unknown to him that he has moved towards the speed boat channel and the boat coming towards him hit him directly,” he said.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna also confirmed that 12 children and an adult were on board the boat.

    Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), General Manager Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu said their response was prompt, adding that the victims rescued on Wednesday were treated on the spot. Five, he said, were transferred to Igando General Hospital.

    He blamed the accident on the passengers’ failure to use life jackets, recalling that the agency distributed free life jackets in the area when a similar incident happened in 2012.

    Oke- Osanyintolu Said:”We distributed life jackets  in that area after the incident that happened around that area in 2012, we distributed 80 life jackets. All these life jackets were distributed to forestall cases like this. But unfortunately people don’t like using them. As a government we will continue to distribute and sensitise people on the danger of not using them.”

    Ojo Local Government Executive Secretary Mr. Lawal Sakiru Adewale said he had already led a delegation to condole with the bereaved families.

    At the Lagos State House of Assembly, Lanre Ogunyemi (Ojo II) called on his colleagues to rise up to the occasion as the tragedy has become recurrent.

    In a motion, Ogunyemi said the 14-seater canoe capsized when an oncoming boat allegedly “belonging to bunkerers sped recklessly causing confusion”.

    The lawmaker said four children died in the mishap.

    Commiserating with the bereaved families, the Chief Whip, Rotimi Abiru urged his colleagues to call on LASWA, the regulatory body charged with monitoring waterways activities, to rise up to the occasion.

    Majority Leader Sanai Agunbiade urged the lawmakers to stop such disasters.

    He said: “This particular incident has reinforced the need to use the defaulters of waterways regulations as scapegoat. By doing this we would have sent a strong signal to the operators at the waterways.”

    Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa 2) said the sizes of the safety jackets must be considered in asking the operators to maintain safety standards.

    He said the life jackets provided for the children were oversized, noting that it would have amounted to nothing even if the children wore the jackets.

    Ibrahim Layode (Badagry 1) urged his colleagues to do a self-appraisal to determine the degree of enforcement of the law passed by the House on waterways regulation.

    He said: “The Assembly should rise up to its responsibility, the law has been passed in this House since 2008. How far have we been able to ensure that the provisions of the law are complied with.”

  • Tanker driver gets N250, 000 bail

    Tanker driver gets N250, 000 bail

    A Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court yesterday in Lagos granted N250,000 bail and two sureties in the like sum to a tanker driver, Olamilekan Kareem, charged with manslaughter.

    Chief Magistrate A.A. Oshoniyi, said the sureties should provide evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government as part of the bail conditions.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Oshoniyi stood in for the Magistrate, Mrs A.F. Adeeyo, who has been handling the case.

    Kareem, 34, who lives at No. 24, Akinloye St., Ibadan, Oyo State, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Jimah Iseghede told the court that the tanker driver, who allegedly drove recklessly, lost control and knocked down a man, Rasheed Ashimiyu.

    According to him, the 38-year-old Ashimiyu from Opoyeosa Street, Ibadan, was a bus conductor.

    He said the accused committed the offence at Onile Bus Stop on Lagos-Badagry Expressway at about 1.30 p.m. on June 30.

    Iseghede noted that the offence contravened Section 20 of the Road Traffic Laws of Lagos State.

    The case was adjourned to July 31 for mention.

  • Love scam: EFCC returns 10,000 Euros to French victim

    Love scam: EFCC returns 10,000 Euros to French victim

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said on Thursday it has recovered and returned the sum of 10,000 Euros (about N2.25million), to F. Mercade, a French citizen, who was victim of internet love scam.

    According to a statement issued by the Head of Media and Publicity of the commission, Mr. Wilson Uwujaren, the fund was wired to the victim through his account in France on the recommendation of the French Embassy in Nigeria.

    The statement said Roger Balima, French Police Liaison Officer who confirmed the receipt of the funds by the victim, thanked the EFCC “for the good job.”

    The EFCC said Mercade was duped by two internet fraudsters – Omodara Adedapo Oluseye and Adesuyi Ayodeji Adedapo after he was deceived into a phantom relationship that was supposedly alter-bound.

    The statement said: “The scam was reported to the Commission via a petition from the French Consulate in Lagos, on behalf of Mercade.

    “The petitioner alleged that he met a Nigerian beauty by name, ‘Kate Williams’ on the internet sometime in 2009 and they developed a relationship which was to culminate in marriage. ‘Williams’ was to relocate to join Mercade in France to consummate the relationship.

    “While Mercade planned the logistics of the relocation, ‘Williams’ who purportedly did some jobs for an unnamed company in Nigeria, came up with a story that the company refused to pay ‘her’ for job done. ‘She’ sought the assistance of Mercade and the ‘couple’ contacted a lawyer named ‘James Robert’, to procure traveling documents and also help her claim money from the company owing her.

    “Mercade parted with the sum of 25,000.00 Euros, through Western Union, in processing his brides’ passage with no bride in sight. Eventually, it dawned on him that he had been scammed.

    “Investigations into the matter by the Commission revealed that ‘Kate Williams’ is the pseudonym of Omodara Adedapo Oluseye, a male student of the College of Agriculture, Akure, who, however, resides in Ibadan Oyo state.

    “Omodara’s accomplice, Adesuyi Ayodeji Adedapo, assisted in collecting the money transferred by the victim from the Akure, Ondo State branch of a new generation bank, using forged drivers’ license

    The two scammers were prosecuted on a two count charge of conspiracy and obtaining money by false pretences before a Federal High Court ,Lagos, convicted and sentenced on 13th June 2011, to one year imprisonment each without an option of fine.”

     

  • 10 get vocational training in Lagos

    10 get vocational training in Lagos

    UNEMPLOYED youths have been advised to acquire vocational skills to enable them become self-employed.

    Promoters of Administrative Continuity Team (ACT), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), gave the advice at the graduation of the second set of its vocational trainees.

    Ten beneficiaries underwent training in fashion designing, shoe making and hair dressing, among others. They were presented with working tools and a startup capital. They were also offered tips on branding and account keeping that could help them sustain their businesses.

    ACT is a socio-political group in Eti-Osa local government area of Lagos State. It was founded by members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and it is dedicated to bringing dividends of democracy to the grassroots.

     “ACT is involved in activities towards the improvement and sustainability of a better quality of life to community members; so, skill acquisition is taken very seriously. The team is fully committed to ensuring its continuity in its service to the state,” said ACT clerk Obafemi George.

    At the graduation held at Beach Gate Hotel near Jakande Roundabout in Eti Osa, George said the group would continue to empower youths and encourage economic growth.

    Bimbo Ajilara, a fashion designer, who trained prospective fashion designers, lamented the growing number of unemployed youths. He described the empowerment scheme as ACT’s modest way of reducing unemployment.

    He said: “I hope the graduating students use the materials given to them for good and not a waste.”

    The group’s speaker, Ojomo Owoyemi, congratulated the graduands and called on individuals and corporate bodies to assist ACT to do more. Ojomo said the group would sustain the programme, adding: “It is one thing to begin an initiative; it is another thing to make it a reality. What we have started in ACT shall continue.”

    Iru-Victoria Island Local Council Development Area (LCDA) Executive Secretary Abayomi Daramola said ACT installed street light on First Unity Road in Badore Eti-Osa and conducted medical outreaches at Jakande Estate, Ikota, among others

    One of the beneficiaries, Aminat Badru, who learned fashion designs, thanked ACT for teaching them how to fish saying:  “I decided to learn a skill while awaiting admission. I knew I had to look for a means to provide for my needs. So, I was very happy when I learned about ACT training school from my mother. While in school, I was also made the governor of the class.

    “I learned a lot from sewing, measuring, cutting and customer service. The only problem that came to my mind was how I would raise money to buy a machine but ACT has provided us with machines and capital to start off,” she said.

    Ahmed Sukura and Lucky Johnson, who were trained as fashion designer and shoe maker also shared their experiences.

    “I had always been interested in fashion designs,” said Sukura, adding: “Before ACT came, I had been looking for how to learn fashion (designing) but there was no opportunity. I am an orphan; I have no one except my guardian but I also need to try to learn something myself to earn a living.

    “Until this time, the challenge I had was how to combine fashion designs with going to school, but I have now been able to resolve that with planning. I was also thinking of how to buy a sewing machine before, but ACT gave us a sewing machine and a startup capital.”

    Johnson said: “I already had experience in sandals and other shoes, but not in shoe making. I learnt that from one of our facilitators at the training, Mr Tope Agbelusi. He was really nice to us. He taught us how to identify real and fake leather, how to design and sew manually and with a machine.

    Others in attendance included a former chairman of Eti-Osa LCDA, Prince Anofiu Elegushi; Agbelusi and ACT deputy publicity director Francis Tinubu.

  • Woman accused of N35,500 theft

    A 46-year-old woman, Olayemi Abiodun was yesterday arrainged before a Tinubu Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly stealing N35,500 from a woman’s purse.

    Abiodun, who resides in Oke-Afa in Badagry, Lagos, pleaded not guilty.

    The prosecutor, Inspector Ignatius Okeke, said the accused committed the offence at 10, John Street, Idumota on Lagos Island on June 30 about 7.30a.m.

    Okeke said the complainant, Ayobami Awotoye, reported the case at the police station.

    According to him, the accused picked the woman’s purse while she was buying some items at the market.

    “The complainant had put her purse somewhere in her shop; the accused, who posed as a customer, took the purse and removed the money. Some women at the market caught Abiodun in the act and alerted the complainant, who got her arrested.’’

    The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The accused, who pleaded innocence, however, said she felt ashamed of her action.

    She appealed to the complainant to forgive her and begged the court for leniency.

     Magistrate L.A. Owolabi granted the accused N50, 000 bail, with one surety in the like sum and adjourned the case till today.