The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Clerics salute Nigerians on successful poll

    The Council of Ulama of Nigeria has congratulated Nigerians on the conduct of what it calls one of the most successful elections in the country’s history.

    This, the clerics attributed to the way people came out enmasse to vote, and the orderly manner in which they conducted themselves.

    A statement by its Secretary General, Dr Muhammad Sadiq Al-Kafawy praised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for its doggedness, transparency and thoroughness.

    The Council appealed to Nigerians to extend similar support to INEC in Saturday’s governorship and House of Assembly elections.

    The council hailed President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat even before the final collation.

    It urged president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari to extend a hand of fellowship to the oppositions.

    The council condoled with the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdul Mumuni Kabir Usman, his family and the police on the passage of Alhaji Muhammadu Dikko Yusufu, a former Inspector General of Police.

    “The great statesman had served the country in different capacities up to the time of his death. The council Of Ulama calls all Muslims to remember him in their prayers; we pray Allah to give his (Yusufu’s) soul an eternal bliss,” the statement reads.

  • Pastor held for ‘stealing’

    Pastor held for ‘stealing’

    A pastor is in police net for allegedly stealing from churches in Lagos.

    Pastor Tope Kolawole (45) was said to have broken into churches, carting away music instruments, wall clocks, offering and tithe.

    One Alausa, who allegedly buys the stolen goods from him, is at large.

    Lagos State Command’s spokesman Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the pastor was arrested when he attempted to rob a church at Iyana Ipaja in Lagos on March 31 around 3:30am.

    He allegedly packed the stolen one amplifier, two music mixers, one keyboard, one stabiliser, two DVD players and one Samsung plasma 32 inches television together and went to look for a taxi to convey them.

    A Good Samaritan was said to have alerted the Police Commissioner, Kayode Aderanti, on noticing what was happening.

    Operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad led by their leader, Abba Kyari, a superintendent of Police (SP), was said to have arrested the pastor.

    The pastor allegedly confessed that he once spent one month in Kirikiri prison for breaking into churches.

    Kolawole said: “I specialise in stealing from churches. I steal music instruments. I have a receiver and buyer known as Alausa. Without him, I would not have gone to churches to steal. When he heard that I have been arrested, he went into hiding. I steal in the churches I worship to avoid suspicion. I have been succeeding except this one.

    “I was remanded in Kirikiri prison by Task Force from Alausa for hawking on the highway. I am a qualified pastor because I went to theological school and was ordained pastor in 2008 at Ile-Ife by Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) but I worship at Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) at any of their parishes. It is the devil that caused my frustration that made me to steal in the house of God.

    “My wife Bunmi is a nurse with children. I live in Sango and go to Lagos to operate because Ogun is good for hiding after operation. It was what the Task Force did to me that made me to become a thief because they made me lose everything I had got in 10 years.

    “I used to gather items at about 10:30pm and by 5am, I go to nearby road to look for taxi to take me to Oshodi. Where the taxi driver is in doubt, I call Alausa who claims to be the General Overseer of a particular church I once stole from. He is the one that pays the taxi driver once I deliver the goods.”

    Kolawole claimed to have repented, saying: “I am now a born again; if I am released, I will open a church and appoint those suspects elders of my church. We will not rob again but work for God.”

  • Police not incompetent, says spokesman

    Police not incompetent, says spokesman

    The Lagos State Police Command yesterday reassured residents of its resolve to detect and prevent crime.

    Speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Kenneth Nwosu, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP) said, the command had been proactive in crime investigations.

    Lagosians, he said, should disregard any report describing the police as incompetent.

    “For any crime that is committed, we are to do investigation, nobody tells us how or when to do this. Our duty as police officers mandates us to do so and as a command that is very proactive to issues like this, we do that,” Nwosu said.

    He noted that it was the police responsibility to prevent or detect crime, adding: “We are to do investigations on every crime committed either detected by the police or reported by the public.

    “It is one of our paramount duties according to Section 4 of the Police Act. We try to prevent crime, if we cannot prevent it, we detect and it is during investigation that we detect.” he said.

  • Presidential poll: Group demands detained APC members’ release

    A non-governmental organisation, Coalition for Change and Good Governance, has demanded the release or prosecution of four All Progressives Congress (APC) members allegedly arrested before the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections.

    In a statement yesterday by its coordinator, Rasaq Olasunkanmi, the group listed those allegedly arrested as Ismail Abiodun, Sakiru Abiola, Olalekan Akin Taiwo and Yemi Taiwo.

    It alleged that they were arrested about three days to the elections, adding that they are being detained at the State Security Service (SSS) facility in Shangisha, Lagos.

    Olasunkanmi said more than a week after the elections, the APC members had neither been released nor charged to court.

    He claimed that they are being denied access to their family members, adding: “Their continued detention has put their families in psychological and emotional turmoil.”

    The statement reads: “By this token and in the spirit of national healing, we call on the security agents that arrested these APC members in Bariga area of Somolu Local Government during the build up to the March 28, 2015 election to release them immediately.

    “We also call on the President to prevail on the SSS to effect the release of these people immediately as their only offence is choosing to support a particular candidate. We implore the leadership of APC not to abandon these people to their fate but to engage the relevant agencies to facilitate their freedom.

    “Democracy goes beyond voting. Deepening our democracy is not limited to change of political baton but include all pre-and-post election best practices. Hence, releasing the arrested persons for supporting some candidates or party will put our democracy on the path of greatness.”

  • FRSC takes safety campaign to churches, mosques

    FRSC takes safety campaign to churches, mosques

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) yesterday in Lagos urged motorists to adhere to safety rules to reduce the high accident rate.

    Its Unit Commander in Ikotun-Egbe, Lagos, Mrs Chiwendu Iwuoha, made the appeal during a church service at SS Timothy and Titus Catholic Church in Isheri-Oshun.

    She called for attitudinal change by motorists on the roads, saying that taking safety campaigns to churches and mosques were part of the strategic measures to meet the Corps’ 2015 target of reducing road accidents.

    The irreparability of human lives, she said, made it compulsory for Nigerians to take road safety serious and be ambassadors of the crusade.

    “Nobody can pay for a life as no amount of compensation can bring back lives lost to road crashes.

    “When you visit hospitals and mortuaries, you will see what disobedience to traffic rules has made many Nigerians to become.

    “This issue calls for total commitment of everyone as road safety is a joint responsibility of all,” she said.

  • Traders: why we shun insurance

    Traders: why we shun insurance

    •Say operators not sincere

    Traders are averse to insuring their properties despite suffering heavy losses in fires in Lagos in the past one month, it has been learnt.

    Traders, according to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), lost goods worth billions of naira to fires which gutted five markets.

    According to NAN, many of the traders said they would not insure their businesses because the insurers were not sincere.

    Mr Lekan Oguntunde, the market leader of Oluwagbemi Market on Lagos Island, said most insurance companies did not pay claims in time whenever tragedy occurred.

    He said: “The experience of few of our members that registered with them is unpleasant. These insurance companies are diligent in collecting premiums but when it is time for compensation, they will start demanding for unnecessary things.

    “One of our members was asked to bring receipts for goods bought many years before the fire that gutted his shop.’’

    A fire victim at Ereko Market on Lagos Island, Mrs Remix Bakinson, said Nigerians lacked confidence in insurance companies.

    Bakinson said she stopped insuring her business five years ago because she did not see the need for it.

    “All that insurance people are concerned about is the collection of premiums, after that, nothing else. At least, they should be able to tell us what happens to the money if no losses are recorded after a period of time,” he said.

    She said she regretted not insuring her business, adding that she lost goods worth billions of naira to the fire.

    Mr Silva Okereke, leader of fabric sellers at the market, said he distrusted insurance companies because of their high premiums, especially, for comprehensive insurance.

    According to Okereke, the companies demand up to N500,000 yearly on businesses valued at N5 million.

    He said: “This is just too high; some of us collected loans from the bank to float our businesses and we are still repaying with interest. We pay almost five million naira per annum as rent on our shops; this is apart from other expenses.

    “So, it will be good if insurance companies can bring down the premium they demand.”

    Mr Olanrewaju Onigemo, Secretary-General of Electronics Market Traders Association at Alaba, Lagos, said the traders had not thought of insuring the market.

    Onigemo said insurance operators had not been visiting them regularly.

    “The last insurance company that was here came five years ago and we introduced the company to our members, afterwards we did not see them again.

    “Our members lack enlightenment; they find it hard to inculcate other things into their business apart from buying and selling.

    “Also, Insurance operators ask too many questions and are not sincere; so they can hardly get five out of 100 persons selling here at Alaba, to buy their policies.

    “We learnt our lessons from people who took comprehensive insurance, if an insured car is involved in an accident today, the compensation will be paid after three  years,’’ Onigemo said.

    He advised insurance companies to mobilise and penetrate the markets.

    Mr Mohammed Abdul, Secretary-General of Perishable Food Sellers Association at Mile 12 market, said it was wrong to force people to take an insurance policy.

    Abdul said some traders had not taken up any policy because of their religious beliefs.

    He recalled that some companies had come to the market to sell their products but most traders were not interested.

    Reacting, President of the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA) Mr Godwin Wiggle said it had taken measures to encourage people to accept its policies, especially in micro-businesses.

    “We have developed robust micro insurance products that will address the needs of market people.

    “We have strategised and sensitised our members to enter Nigerian markets in full force,’’ Wiggle said.

    The association, he said, would continue to improve on its enlightenment to reach people.

    Mr Ayodapo Shoderu, President, Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB), said the council was working hard to promote high ethical standards among its members.

    Shoderu said anything short of this was unacceptable, adding that the council will not defend any member that violates insurance broking operation standards.

    “Let me reiterate the call for compulsory insurance for all Nigerian markets and public edifices, as enshrined in the legal provision under Insurance Act 2003 (section 64 and 65) of insurance of public buildings”, he said.

  • NDLEA arrests 11 at Seme border

    NDLEA arrests 11 at Seme border

    The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arrested 11 persons at the Seme Border for alllegedly importing 53.41 kilograms of canabis sativa, a banned narcotic, from Ghana.

    Its commander at the border, Mr Udotong Essien, said $23,915 US (N4.7million) cash was seized from the suspects.

    Essien, who spoke in his office in Badagry, Lagos, said the suspects were arrested between January 23 and last Monday.

    According to him, the command would intensify effort to rid the country of banned narcotics, warning perpetrators that there is no hiding place for them.

    Essien said: “This command will construct a wall too high for them (drug traffickers) to climb. The drug war under me must be won because our intelligence network  spreads across our boundaries, so there is no hiding place for them.’’

    He said three of the suspects have been tried and jailed; the others have been charged. He added that five drug dependent persons (addicts) were counselled on the dangers of substance abuse and trafficking.

    Essien attributed his command’s success to the leadership of NDLEA chairman Alhaji Ahmadu Giade; his officers’ commitment, the cooperation of traditional rulers in the border area and collaboration with other agencies, such as, the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) and the West African Joint Operation (WAJO).

    According to him, Nigeria, which used to be rated as one of Africa’s drug trafficking nations, is now known for its leading role against the menace.

    The command’s officer-in-charge of operations, Muhammed Aminu, said some of the drugs were concealed in Golden Penny Noodles cartoons, Dangote Cement sacks, school and polythene bags, detergent packs and brown envelopes.

  • Fire guts plaza, hairdressing salon

    Fire guts plaza, hairdressing salon

    Fire yesterday gutted a three-storey building and a hairdressing salon in Lagos.

    Over 10 shops were raized in the three-storey Great Favour Plaza at 47, Imam Ligali Street on Lagos Island; the haridressing salon is at 10, Dabara Street, Lagos Island.

    According to an eyewitness, the fire began around 8am. The building would have been razed but for the quick intervention of fire fighters.

    The Nation learnt that electrical surge was the likely cause of the fire.

    A trader, Chidi, said: “We have been warned to switch off electrical appliances after we close from work. Task Force officials locked one of the shops three days ago when they saw that power was on. We saved few goods from other shops but we couldn’t bring out anything from where the fire started because the owner was unavailable. The fire service men came almost immediately they were informed if not it could have affected the whole building,” he said.

    Chika, who trades in men’s wear, said he stocked his shop three days ago for Easter.

    Chika said: “I learnt the fire started from my shop. I had not returned to business since I offloaded. I didn’t know electrical power was on. I doubt if I can sell the little I saved because no one will patronise me. It is a great loss.”

    The Dabara fire was said to have started from a hairdressing salon on the ground floor of a building.

    It was gathered that petroleum products were being sold on the other side of the shop.

    A resident, Jumobi, said there was petrol spill and fire engulfed the whole place after a woman, who was trying to fry puff puff, lit a match.

    She said: “The fire was put out by residents before the fire fighters were informed. The two occupants were rushed to a nearby clinic because they were injured.”

    Director of Fire Service Rasak Fadipe said his men arrived on the scene immediately they were alerted.

  • Fire at Balogun market again

    Fire at Balogun market again

    Foods worth millions of Naira were destroyed in an early morning fire at Balogun market yesterday.

    It was the second time in three months that the market would be razed by fire.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the fire which affected lock-up shops, was first noticedat the back of a commercial bank building.

    Quick response from the Lagos State Fire Service prevented the spread of the fire. Goods destroyed included lace materials, cosmetics, ladies wears, body cream, hair attachments, underwear accessories and refrigerators.

    Some traders, who spoke to NAN, praised the firemen for their timely response, which prevented the fire from spreading.

    Mr Cletus Onyema said he lost a huge amount of money and goods.

    “When I got a call that there was fire in the shops around this area, I did not know what to expect. I thank God that the situation was not that bad. I lost some goods but I praise the fire service for work well done,’’ he said.

    Mrs Ronke Adebayo told NAN that she had just stocked her shop for Easter.

    “I thank God that I was able to save some of my goods. I have a truckload of lace materials parked out there but I was able to save the goods. I lost some goods but it would have been painful if all of them were consumed by the fire,’’ she said.

    Mrs Adebayo said the cause of the fire was still unknown, noting that the fire service came on time to put out the fire.

    Director of Lagos State Fire Service Mr Fadipe Rasaq said firemen from Onikan Fire Station responded distress call within four minutes.

    He said the fire razed a storey building which top floor collapsed and destroyed eight lock up shops.

    The cause of the fire, he said, was still being investigated.

    Fadipe advised traders to organise themselves to buy centralised generators that would be stationed outside the shops instead of using many small generators.

  • Monarch advises Gani Adams to ‘tread softly’

    Monarch advises Gani Adams to ‘tread softly’

    Oba Rilwan Oluwalambe of Ojokoro in Lagos has described Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) factional leader Otunba Gani Adams as a traitor for allegedly staging a road show in which people were injured and properties destroyed.

    Oba Oluwalambe condemned some OPC members for invading Oshodi last week.

    He said Adams’ political activities were reprehensible adding: “Gani Adams has become a traitor to the Yoruba people, and by his recent pronouncements, he is on the path of self-destruction.”

    Adams could not be reached last night for his comment.

    The monarch urged supporters of Ojokoro Local Council Development Area (LCDA) chairmanship aspirant Dr Dipo Okeyomi, a.k.a. Carry Go, to be peaceful in their conduct, adding that Okeyomi has what it takes for the job.

    Earlier, Okeyomi praised the monarch for the peace and security in his domain, promising to bring development to the community if elected.

    He said he was motivated to run to transform the area, especially in the areas of employment, security, roads, hospitals and education, adding that as a security expert, he would work with all the security agencies, including Police and State Security Service (SSS) for sustenance of peace.