The Nation Newspaper

Category: City Beats

  • Fashola tasks professionals on building collapse

    Tribunal of Inquiry submit report

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) yesterday urged professionals in the construction sector to stem the tide of building collapse.

    Fashola spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja when members of the tribunal that looked into incidents of collapsed buildings in the state led by its Chairman Abimbola Ajayi, submitted its report.

    The governor called on professional bodies to ensure that any of its members indicted in cases of collapsed building are sanctioned.

    Praising the committee, Fashola said his administration would implement its report, saying quacks will take over the jobs of professional if they abdicate their responsibilities.

    He said: “The White Paper will be released very soon to ensure that cases of collapsed building are mitigated. The construction sector of our economy is where there are specialised professionals. And I believe that many of the challenges facing the country are created by people and if professionals do more, we can solve the problems.

    “There are usually mild challenges and they can be solved by men and women especially people who have the right skill. From your report, it showed that after the white paper is issued, the state ministry of justice, police, professionals and all those involve in building activities will have role to play in ending collapsed building.

    “It is the responsibility of the government to ensure that no life is lost in circumstances that can be avoidable. For us, human life is very important and it is the most important gift that we have. And we will do everything within our capacity to protect and nurture it to its fullest capacity”.

    “The solution to end collapsed building required everyone to stand up. And I hope that the professional bodies in the sector will play their own part in the issue”.

    “If a building collapses, why should the builder keep his license without showing that he actually did everything that should have been done? Why shouldn’t everyone involve shouldn’t be questioned by the associations. The inability of the police to prosecute them isn’t enough. The associations should also do their own part”.

    Fashola said he apprehended a contractor three weeks ago at Ogudu axis, who wanted to start building on a weekend because he was not building what was approved on the land.

    “They had gotten certificate of occupancy which reads that the place would be used for residential purpose but somehow, they had defeated our system and obtained C of O to build a hotel of six-storey building. We are looking inward to know who issued the permit”.

    “But they are building at night when visibility will be poor. This is the only one I saw. What about the ones many of you were privileged to witness but you didn’t report”.

    Ajayi said the tribunal’s report was in eight volumes.

     

  • Estate agent jailed 15 years for N29.8m fraud

    An estate agent, Michael Kayode Olabameji, 42 years, was yesterday sentenced to 15 years imprisonment for defrauding about 100 prospective tenants of N29.8 million.

    Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Ikeja High found Olabameji guilty of the 99-count charge of obtaining money by false pretences preferred against him by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    Onigbanjo sentenced him to 15 years imprisonment on each count.

    The sentence is to run concurrently beginning from February 1, 2010, when he was remanded in prison.

    The EFCC told the court that Olabameji defrauded the prospective tenants between January and July 2008.

    The EFCC prosecutor, Mrs Olubunmi Bosede, said the convict collected tenancy and agreement fees for a 16-apartment building located at No. 2, Amuda St., Kirikiri, Lagos.

    In his judgment, Justice Onigbanjo said the convict had inflicted untold hardship on the victims and deprived them of their hard-earned money.

    “It is immaterial that he had the mind to refund the money to the victims as he had claimed in his confessional statement to the EFCC.

    “The convict will be sentenced adequately to deter others,” he added.

    He said the property used by the convict to perpetuate the fraud was actually owned by another person who had leased it to him from 2010 to 2025.

    Onigbanjo said the property should, henceforth be managed by the EFCC till the expiration of the lease while proceeds from the rent should be paid to the victims as restitution.

     

  • Monarch hails Ogun on road expanstion

    A Traditional ruler in Ogun State, Oba Adedayo Shyllon Sogbulu, has said the ongoing expansion on the link road from Sango to Berger will boost economic activities.

    He pleaded with residents to support the initiative, adding that it is part of Governor Ibikunle Amosun’s plan to fast-track development in the area.

    Speaking to reporters in his palace at the weekend, Oba Sogbulu said residents would experience a short-term pain, adding that the long-term gain to communities in Ifo Local Government Area (LGA) will be unquantifiable.

    He said: “I am always in support of good programmes of the state government such as the ongoing road expansion to connect Sango to Berger. I believe this will bring development to our area because that road is the major gateway linking Ogun to Lagos.”

    Some houses have been demolished for the road expansion, which the government has invested billion of naira.

    Oba Shyllon who praised Amosun for the initiative, said it was the second time an elected governor in the state would bring development to the community.

     

  • Lawyer held for ‘defrauding’ friend

    A lawyer and car dealer has been arrested by operatives of the Special Fraud Unit (SFU)in Lagos for allegedly defrauding his course mate in the university.

    It was gathered that the suspect converted to personal use the money he got from his colleague to buy a car for him.

    In a petition sent to the officer in charge of the SFU, commissioner of Police (CP) Tunde Ogunsakin, the petitioner alleged that in May in Abuja he met the suspect, who told him he was into car dealership.

    “He told me he can assist me to get a good car and since we had known for long, I trusted him and gave him money to get one for me”, he said.

    The complainant said he gave the suspect N1,035,000 out of N1.2million agreed upon for a Mercedes Benz ML 320 Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), with an understanding that the balance will be paid when the vehicle is delivered.

    The petitioner said the suspect prevailed him to sell the only car he had to complete the money for the SUV.

    After collecting the money, he said, the suspect stopped picking his calls.

    The Nation learnt that following the petition, detectives swung into action and arrested the suspect. On interrogation, he allegedly confessed to crime.

    Police said the 40-year old suspect from Edo State is licensed to import vehicles.

    SFU spokesperson Ngozi Isintume-Agu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), said the suspect admitted that he used the complainant’s money to solve his personal financial needs. He claimed to have deposited N180, 000 for the vehicle in a car shop in Cotonou, Benin Republic.

    The suspect told investigators that he had financial challenges following the seizure of two of his vehicles by the Customs, adding that he used the petitioner’s money to solve his problems.

    He admitted that he treated the complainant shabbily, adding that he scanned pictures of the said vehicle with colour and chassis number to deceive him. The suspect said he did all this to buy time and to know if he can get money to complete payment for the car which is still in Cotonou.

    Isintume-Agu said investigation showed that the suspect intended to defraud the complainant from the onset since the money he collected was diverted to other use.

    “He also forged some vehicle documents and purportedly issued a fake number plate “DGL 724 CC” for the said vehicle just to deceive the complainant”, she said.

    Investigation, she said, is ongoing, adding that the suspect will soon be arraigned in court.

  • Afolabi rues poor skilled manpower

    Former Head of Service of the Federation Prof Oladapo Afolabi has identified poor skilled manpower as a challenge to the nation’s economy growth.

    He spoke while unveiling Ibadan Business School (IBS) in Bodija, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

    Afolabi, who is the Board Chairman of IBS, said it was unfortunate that the capacity needs of public sector organisations which are major drivers of economies in developing nations, especially Nigeria and other Sub Saharan countries, have not enjoyed the deserved priority.

    He added that individuals in public and private sector organisations are not emotionally and psychologically invested in their jobs, thereby resulting in sub-optimal productivity.

    “The result of lack of employee engagement is $11 billion in lost revenues annually in US alone. If the figures are bad in US despite its development, one can only imagine the situation here in Nigeria.

     

  • Lagos distribute free gas cylinders to residents

    Lagos distribute free gas cylinders to residents

    There was excitement yesterday on the faces of many residents of Ginti Ewu Elepe’ in Ikorodu, Lagos State.

    They will no longer cook with firewood and kerosine stoves courtesy of Governor Babatunde fashola, who gave them 3 kg gas cylunders.

    It was all at the launch of the 33,000 Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Skid Plant in Ikorodu. Fashola said the development was part of the government’s effort in phasing out kerosene stove in the state.

    The governor who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, reiterated government’s commitment to shoreing up gas infrastructure in the state, saying this would ensure that large percentage of Nigerians use cooking gas.

    He said Nigeria is the highest producer of Liquefied Natural Gas in Africa yet the lowest when it comes to per capital consumption.

    Fashola explained that cooking gas represents clean and efficient burning of fuel, adding that the state is partnering with Oando and Banner Gas to ensure that the 3kilogram gas cylinders are made available to all residents in all the 57 local governments and local council development areas.

    He noted that with the flag-off, residents of the area can now buy cooking gas for as low as N100, adding that cooking gas is not as dangerous as many have portrayed it. It promotes cleaner environment, he said.

    The governor called on businessmen who may be interested in investing to look at possibilities of setting similar plants which could be in smaller capacity across the state.

    Earlier, Managing Director Banner Gas, Mr. Nuhu Yakubu, said the project was the second in the series of projects outlined by the state for October, which has been classified as Energy Month.

    He said the Lagos state government pioneered the use of gas to light up selected streets through the Lagos State Electricity Distribution Board.

    The Skid Plant is fitted with automated dispensing meter, a 33,000 tank and other accessories.

  • ‘Why terrorism persists‘

    Stakeholders and experts in the maritime sector have explained why terrorism, pirate attacks and kidnapping have continued.

    Speaking at a seminar entitled: “Preventing Terrorism and Insurgency in Nigeria’s Maritime Domain”, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Maritime Affairs, Leke Oyewole, said companies operating in the nation’s waters were guilty of illegal acts which encourage violence in the maritime sector.

    He said oil companies operating in the country often pollute the waters and neglect their host communities, adding that as a result, youths in these communities attack the companies and their infrastructure in the maritime domain.

    President of Crisis Control Foundation, Dr. Kingsley Ezeatakwulu-Osakwe, stressed that negligence in the nation’s security framework and the unwillingness of the people to cooperate with government was responsible for the high level of insecurity in the country and the maritime sector.

    He blamed the current methodology employed by government in tackling the menace, describing it as completely inadequate as certain vital ingredients are still not added to the operational system of the entire security structure.

    The Customs Area Comptroller, Apapa Area 1 Command, Comptroller Charles Edike stated that operatives of the service had recovered several caches of arms and ammunition across the nation’s numerous land borders, sea and airports in the past few months.

  • Glo launches Vigicom to boost security

    Globacom has launched a new communication package that will assist members of the Vigilance Group of Nigeria (VGN) to effectively perform their duty.

    Specially conceived to support vigilance groups across the country, the package, called Vigicom, will in addition allow members of the group to communicate with their families at no cost.

    Speaking at the launch of the product in Abuja at the weekend, Commander General of the Vigilance Group of Nigeria (VGN), Alhaji Ali Sokoto, said Vigicom will help in effective local policing of remote areas and also assist in gathering necessary intelligence about criminals. He endorsed the Vigicom product and thanked Globacom for coming out with such a wonderful service.

    Globacom’s Head of Public Sector, Mr. Tunde Amunikoro said, “communication is key to security and that was why Glo launched the package to assist local vigilance groups to become more effective in discharging their duties.

    “The essence of Vigicom therefore is to enable security men to send or receive alerts and reach out to critical stakeholders, particularly in distress, without being encumbered by the non-availability of recharge cards even in the remotest part of the country,” he said.

    “Take for instance armed security men deployed on the highway from Mokwa to Bida to secure travellers against robbers. How would they be able to communicate with each other as well as their headquarters and families in case of emergencies without having to recharge; considering that recharge cards are not in the remote highways? With Vigicom, that challenge is over,” Amunikoro said.

  • Lagos shuts 80 health facilities

    Lagos State Health Facilities Monitoring and Accreditation Agency (HEMAFAA) has shut down 80 substandard hospitals for non-registration, dirty environment, lack of medical equipment and engagement of quack doctors.

    The Special Adviser to the governor on Public Health, Dr. Yewande Adeshina, broke the news during a press briefing on the activities of the board within the last one year.

    Adeshina, who was represented by Dr Tayo Bello, said this has become imperative as the administration of Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN ensures that quackery is totally eradicated in the health sector.

    She averred that as government that cares about the health and wellbeing of its citizens, it will not allow any substandard or un-registered health facility to operate in the state.This is why certain conditions and standards have been put in place for private facilities to be met before being registered and given certificate to operate within the state.

    The Special Adviser revealed that among health facilities shut down were Chisom Hospital at no1 Taiwo street off Opere street orile-Iganmu, Peculiar Clinic at no 62, Coker Road, orile Iganmu and El-shadai at Olanipekun Alli, all in Orile-Coker area of the state.

    Adeshina said the agency is the only one empowered by the government to register all health facilities both private and state owned and has up to date registered over 3000 health facilities, it also recognize both orthodox and traditional medicine.

    Said she” HEFAMAA as an agency is set up to ensure improvement in the quality and efficiency of healthcare delivery in the state, thereby securing the safety of lives of its citizenry whilst being expose to healthcare delivery. This made the agency to visit and monitor all registered health facilities at least twice a year in order to forestall any act of illegality coming from the operation of these facilities.

    Adeshina, however, urged all private health facilities operating or wanting to operate within the state to make sure they follow due process in their quest for registration and ensure that the minimum set standards are maintained.

  • Dad kidnaps son to raise money for girlfriend

    Dad kidnaps son to raise money for girlfriend

    A Lagos Vulcanizer has told operatives of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) how he kidnapped his only son to raise his financial status.

    Samson Adebayo was arrested by the Lagos office of the DSS, following a tip-off.

    Adebayo was arrested with his partner, Kehinde Alonge, his girlfriend, who allegedly gave him the idea of kidnapping his son for money.

    According to the Lagos State Director of DSS, Mr. Victor Olayi, on Octobe 7, his command received a report from Adebayo that on October 3,his nine-year old son, Emmanuel Adebayo, was kidnapped in his house at no 2, Solomon Street, Ilu-Nla, Aradagun, in Badagry Local Government Area.

    The command swung into action with the aim of rescuing the victim and arresting the culprits.

    “Preliminary investigation confirmed the kidnap of Emmanuel Adebayo by one Kehinde Alonge who had demanded for a ransom of N350, 000 for the release of the boy.She said the money should be paid into UBA account number 2050908899, which was later discovered to be owned by one Taiwo Faloye.

    “After series of tactical planning, Taiwo Faloye, the owner of the account and Kehinde Alonge, the kidnap suspect, were arrested at Ilesha.

    “During interrogation, Alonge confessed to kidnapping the boy, saying she was lured to doing so by her boyfriend, Samson Adebayo who pleaded with her to abduct his son on October 3 while she was at Adebayo’s residence in Badagry and on October4, Adebayo gave her N3, 000 to enable her transport herself and the victim to Ilesa.

    She disclosed that Adebayo asked if she had an account for the expected ransom. Although she did not have one, she contacted one Taiwo Faloye who agreed to send his account number without inquiring about the purpose.

    “Following the confession of Alonge, Adebayo was arrested on October 17. Adebayo confessed using Alonge to abduct his son to Ilesa, Osun State, with a view to using the incident to extort money from sympathisers and friends. He disclosed that he reported the case to the police and the command in order to create a credible story to the unsuspecting sympathisers. He also stated that he was able to raise about N230, 000 through this dubious means.” the DSS boss said.

    Adebayo said: “Kehinde brought the idea; she said she would be able to arrange it perfectly; so I supported it. We started with N350, 000.00 target, and then we reduced it to N200, 000.00. If we had succeeded, I would have had N100, 000 as my share while she would collected N250, 000; that was our agreement.

    “To raise the cash, I went to some of my friends. They were contributing money; some gave me N5, 000, while others brought N2, 000. I met my church member who gave me N150, 000 and another person gave me N60, 000.”