The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Apapa mall hosts children’s today

    Apapa Mall will host children to a funfair to celebrate today’s Children’s Day.

    Top Services Limited, the developer of the mall, said the day is an opportunity to put smiles on the faces of children, particularly orphans.

    Its Assistant General, Manager Finance and Business Development, Celestine Jeremiah, said: “It is our first celebration with children since we entered the shopping industry in Nigeria and we are inviting children from an orphanage home and pupils from nursery and primary schools within Apapa and its environment.”

    The highpoint of the event, he said, would be the cake-cutting.

    Shoprite’s Azubuike Nwankwoala said the event is part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

     

  • Firm donates to students

    To celebrate the 2015 World Environmental Day, Ecologistics Integrated Services Limited yesterday donated over 300 textbooks to Opebi Senior Grammar School in Ikeja, Lagos on ‘Sustainable Consumption and Production’. At the event held on the school premises, it also sensitised pupils on sustainable environment.

    The books are on science, literature, music and mathematics.

    According to the firm’s president, Dr Paul Abolo, the gesture is a way to give back to the society because the company is more interested in the future.

    ‘’We are giving out books as part of the environmental programme, reinforcing the concept of reuse, recycle and at the same time we are also reinforcing the concept of giving; the children need to understand that they need to use the books and what soever book that is given to them, they have to use it well.

    ‘’Book is something that students cherish most and we notice that the reading culture is declining in our environment, so giving out these books is our way of trying to revive the reading culture.’’

    Vice president, Ecologistics Integrated Services Limited, Mrs Seyi Abolo said the books given out are meant to sustain the environment, adding: “Knowledge is power and the only way to acquire knowledge is to read; if you do not read, you will not know what is happening in the world.’’

    She encouraged the students to make use of the books, adding that there is no point donating the books to them if not well used.

    The school’s Vice Principal, Mrs Olufunmilola Fadare described the gesture as kind. She said the donations would go a long way in improving the reading culture of the school and the reading habit of the students.

    ‘’We now know that the world environment day goes beyond planting of trees and beautifying the environment, but we can also give back to the environment and be environment-friendly. We can do things to our environment just like we are doing things for our neighbour,’’ she said.

  • How we battle fuel scarcity, blackout by schools, mothers

    How we battle fuel scarcity, blackout by schools, mothers

    How have homes and schools been coping with fuel scarcity and blackout?

    It has been terrible, many said yesterday as they relived their experiences.

    Taking the children to schools and  back has not been easy, some mothers told The Nation.

    A teacher, Hajia Sherifah Yusuf-Ajibade, said she could not go and pick her children from their school in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, for midterm holiday yesterday because she had no fuel in her car.

    She hopes to get fuel today for the trip.

    “We can’t pick my children from school for midterm break. The vehicle expected to go to Vanguards Academy in Ijebu-Ode could not get fuel. The driver had been on the queue since 8am. Now, as at now (3pm), the queue has not been dismantled, no thanks to the unscrupulous motorists who couldn’t demonstrate civility for once. He was quite close to the entrance when the queue got disorganised. I have been looking forward to having the children today (yesterday) but nay, I hope and pray we will have a different story tomorrow Insha Allah,” she posted on Change Monitor, a WhatsApp group chat.

    Hajia Yusuf-Ajibade, who teaches at As-Siddiq Schools in Ketu, Lagos, said the pupils shouted Allahu Akbar (God is the Greatest) when light came up after the school got fuel for its generator.

    “For some time now, we have not had electricity from the distribution company. Thank God female factor got us 50 litres of fuel at N87 today (yesterday) at Conoil filling Station opposite Centre for Management Development (CMD), Shangisha. Two of my colleagues went there with two 25-litre gallons and explained to the officers coordinating the crowd that the school needs fuel, after lamenting the ordeal the kids in the Creche and classes are facing because the generator has no fuel, they sold for them and under one hour they were back in the school. The neighbours who informed us of the availability of fuel in the station were left on the queue. When they returned and put on the generating set, the children in the classes shouted Allahu Akbar (God is the Greatest) and within a few minutes, the ones at the Creche slept off. The school management and staff felt relieved,” she said.

    Mrs Lydia Omotosho, who lives on College Road, Ogba, Lagos, said her children have been going to school late because of fuel scarcity and blackout.

    According to her, she has not been able to pump water at home because of the blackout.

    She said she had been going to the frozen foods shop on her street with others on the neighbourhood to fetch water.

    Mrs Kikelomo Amusa, who also lives in Ogba, said: “Thank God my children’s school, Solid Gate Montessori School, College Road, is not too far from the house, so since there is no longer fuel and light, we trek together to school. It is very stressful because I have three children; two are going to the school, while the last one is still a baby. I have to wake up earlier than usual and look for water to bathe them.

    “We all trek to their school and I back the baby because I cannot leave my baby at home alone; my husband would have gone to work.”

    Mr Samuel Ojo, the Administrator of Claridge Schools, Ifako Ijaye, Lagos said fuel scarcity did not hit the school too hard because it got petrol from the black market at a higher price.

    The school, he said, shifted mid-term break, initially scheduled for next week to this week.

    Mrs Wunmi Rajh-Label said her three children could not go to school, because they could not  have their bathe, adding that her family’s two cars are at home with no fuel to run them.

    Mrs Uju Ifeakor, Headteacher of Hallmark Nursery and Primary School at Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos, said her school’s close ties with a filling station enabled them to get petrol at the normal price. The school buses, she said, operated without hitch, adding that academic activities went on smoothly. But, the school recorded scanty turn out of parents at its open day yesterday.

    A parent at the open day, Mrs Uche Okoye, said she had confined her car to taking her children to school to manage fuel.

    She lamented the high cost of petrol at the black market which she patronises to preserve her foodstuff.

    Headmistress of Right Choice Divine Schools, Ogba Mrs Nike Peters said the school recorded low turnout of pupils this week, because it could not fuel its bus.

    “We had to call parents on Sunday to apologise to them that our school bus would not be available to pick them in the morning, so they should bring their children to school themselves. Those that stay close to school were able to make it but most pupils were not able to come to school. The school is very scanty and uncomfortable because we were not able to power the generator to put on fan and air conditioner for them. And we had to buy at the black market to fuel our generating set to pump water,” Mrs Peters said.

    At Al-Wasi Schools in Mushin, the story was not different. “Our school bus did not work due to unavailability of fuel,” said Hajia Zaynab Ahmad-Taiwo, the Headteacher.

    Academic activities, she said, were partially affected because teachers came late.

     

  • Soldiers sack filling station over attack on colleague

    Soldiers yesterday stormed a filling station on Ikorodu Road, Lagos, following the stabbing of their female colleague by some black market operators.

    It all  happened at Mobil Filling Station, Onipanu Bus Stop, where people scrambled to buy fuel with jerry cans.

    The soldiers stormed the station, beating up people. The station was temporarily shut by the soldiers who wielded swords, cudgels and horsewhips.

    They chased away the station attendants; beat up people indiscriminately on the adjoining Kayode Street, through where it was learnt, the hoodlums escaped. Traders on the street hurriedly closed shops and ran for dear lives.

    An eyewitness, who simply gave his name as Samson, said the injured soldier was trying to ensure order at the station when the hoodlums attacked her.

    Samson said: “The soldier was on the queue for fuel when the boys arrived with jerry cans and disrupted the queue. The soldier cautioned them to be orderly and volunteered to ensure all the people who came with jerry cans got fuel.

    “But because the boys were in a hurry to get fuel, they interrupted the orderliness at the filling station. The soldier was punched by one of the boys and this led to a free-for-all.”

    In the ensuing confusion, The Nation gathered that the soldier was stabbed by the hoodlums, who fled the scene immediately.

    Her colleagues numbering about 10, arrived in a Volkswagen Gulf car marked BQ 49 FKJ and commercial motorcycles. They also crossed over to Forte Oil Filling Station on the other side of the road and chased away people who came to buy fuel with plastic containers.

    Policemen attached to the nearby Onipanu Divisional Station,  stood, watching the soldiers. A man identified as Alfa, was hit on his left eye with a club by one of the soldiers.

    The Nation watched as the soldiers drove into Forte Oil to fill the jerry cans in their vehicle. Normalcy has returned to the area.

     

  • Mile 12 market elects officers

    The Arewa Perishable Foodstuff Association at Mile 12 Market in Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State, yesterday, elected officers to pilot its affairs.

    The election was held 40 years after the market moved to Mile 12 from Iddo.

    Alhaji Haruna Mohammed polled 174 votes to beat Alhaji Tsoso Babangida with 15 votes to emerge chairman.

    Other officers were elected unopposed. They are  Alhaji Sahabi Sokoto – Vice chairman, Mohammed Abdul  – General Secretary, Shehu Usman Jibril – Financial Secretary, Abdulahi Namowa – Assistant General Secretary, Aminu Madobi – Auditor, Shuaibu Badamasi – Public Relations Officer, Adamu Danhegeja – Welfare Secretary, and Mohammed Guri – Treasurer.

    Alhaji Haruna thanked God, the government and security operatives for the peaceful election.

    “We also appreciate the love and support of our Iyaloja General, Alhaja Folashade Tinubu-Ojo. We assure them of our unalloyed cooperation. We have by this election, instituted democracy in the market and never again shall there be any leadership tussle among us. On behalf of this team, I want to assure our people that their welfare will be our priority.

    “We would intensify our efforts in making sure that the market is kept always clean and not relent on our efforts in riding the area of traffic. We therefore appeal to the state government to help us complete the pedestrian bridge as soon as possible and also provide micro credit scheme for our members to enhance their businesses.”

     

  • Man charged with unlawful sexual affair

    A 26-year-old man, Imonite John, yesterday appeared before an Ebute Meta Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos for alleged rape of a 19-year-old girl.

    The accused is facing a charge of forceful sexual intercourse with the girl, Yetunde Olaniran.

    The prosecutor, Etim Nkankuk, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 11 at Vantage Restaurant, Lekki, a Lagos suburb.

    Nkankuk said the mother of the accused had sent him to go and check for the exchange rate of the dollar to naira.

    The accused, instead of carrying out his mother’s assignment, allegedly used his mother’s car to perpetrate the act of forcefully having sexual intercourse with a girl, he said.

    The prosecutor said the accused invited Yetunde on a date and asked her for sex which the teenager had bluntly refused.

    Nkankuk said the accused allegedly squeezed his victim’s neck to overpower her before forcefully having carnal knowledge of her inside his mother’s Honda Civic Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) marked JJJ 603 AV.

    The accused pleaded not guilty.

    Chief Magistrate Olatunbosun Abolarinwa granted him N250, 000 bail  with two sureties in the like sum. He adjourned the case till June 18.

     

  • Teenage girl docked for attempted murder

    A teenage girl, Chidima Sunday, was yesterday charged before an Ojo Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, for ‘attempting’ to stab a man, Francis Ikemefuna, to death.

    The prosecutor, Godwin Eze, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) told the court that the accused had on May 6 at Hyacinth Madueke, Abule-Ado in Ojo, Lagos, committed the offence.

    “The accused had on the said date attempted to kill Francis Ikemefuna by stabbing him with a kitchen knife. Similarly, Chidima assaulted Ikemefuna, thereby causing him serious injuries on his left leg with intent to kill him,” he said.

    The teenager pleaded not guilty.

    Magistrate Teslimi Shomade granted her N50, 000 bail with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned till June 26.

     

  • Fashola, Solomon hail hospital promoters

    Fashola, Solomon hail hospital promoters

    Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola has praised promoters of First Heritage Hospital (FHH), a private primary health care facility in Mushin.

    According to him, health facilities in the state are overburdened, hence people in Mushin and environs can now access healthcare at affordable price.

    Fashola, represented by his Special Assistant on Public Health, Dr Yewande Adeshina, said there was need for private investors to help government in providing such facilities.

    The hospital, he said, would handle patients and engage in disease prevention through health education and screening, adding: “This is necessary because our people do not go to the hospital until they are dying.”

    Senator Ganiyu Solomon thanked the hospital management for the initiative, which he described as a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by Reddington Hospital because some people could have built the facility elsewhere for financial gains.

    He said having the centre in the area is a good omen because lives will no longer be lost to preventable deaths.

    Reddington Hospital Chief Executive Officer, Dr Yemi Onabowale said the facility, which also has a diagnostic centre, is supported by his organisation.

    He said Reddington started from the same facility years ago, stressing that the hospital has been reconstructed to meet international standard.

    Onabowale said his organisation is collaborating with the hospital in technology transfer, training and referrals, among others.

    Treatment, he said, would be affordable and accessible, adding that people should take advantage of the facility.

     

     

  • Educationist for burial Friday

    Educationist for burial Friday

    The final burial arrangements for the departed Iyalaje of Egbe Akomolede Yoruba, Kogi State Chapter, Chief (Mrs) Christiana Amusitan Akande, begins on Thursday with a wake-keep at her Owode Quarters, Ogidi-Ijumu, Kogi State home at 8pm.

    A statement jointly signed by Maji Akande Family and her children, Dele Akande, Deji Akande, Tubosun Akande, Mrs Tinuola Omonayin and Banjo Akande, said the late cultural crusader was 69.

    Following a thanksgiving service at Saint Thomas Catholic Church, Ogidi-Ijumu at 10 am on Friday, the remains of the late Mrs Akande, also a retired Education Secretary at Ijumu Local Government, Kogi State, will be interred.

    Reception follows immediately also at the church’s premises.

     

  • Man, 19, faces N1.3m ‘theft’

    Man, 19, faces N1.3m ‘theft’

    A 19-year-old man, Ibrahim Wasiu, yesterday appeared before an Ikeja Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, for allegedly robbing a motorist of N1.3million in traffic.

    Prosecuting Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Eranus Nnamonu told the court that the offence was committed on March 4 at 9p.m., on the Ojo Expressway, Lagos.

    He said the accused attacked Mr Stanley Meziem, who was driving.

    “The defendant at knife point, forced out Meziem through his car window, assaulted him and obtained his digital camera, Ipad and N1.3m cash”, Nnamonu said.