Category: South West

Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said he is aspiring to deliver 7,000 homes to Lagosians before marking his third anniversary in office.

He made this known yesterday when he opened the 480 Housing Unit LagosHOMS at Ibeshe (Phase I), Ikorodu.

The governor described the estate as a modern residential estate dedicated to the well-being of Lagosians.

He renamed it B. O. Benson Housing Estate.

Sanwo-Olu, who also performed the ground breaking of LagosHOMS Ibeshe Phase II, said his administration has created 17,000 direct jobs and 18,000 indirect jobs through the housing schemes.

He added that the housing projects have direct economic engagement for consultants, contractors and artisans.

According to the governor, a decent home enhances the quality of life and promotes a general sense of well-being.

“These have a ripple effect on other areas of life by adding meaning and essence to living. It is in acknowledgement of this fact that our administration considers housing development to be a priority on its agenda,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu added: “Provision of housing remains one of the mandates of this administration, and the opening of this estate is a clear testimony and an indication of fulfilment of electoral promises.”

 

Ogun State House of Assembly yesterday approved the appointment of Mr. Oluwasina Ogungbade as the Commissioner for Justice.

The approval followed his screening by the lawmakers on Wednesday and subsequent adoption of the report of the Committee of the Whole House, chaired by Speaker Olakunle Oluomo and report presentation by his deputy, Akeem Balogun.

Balogun moved the motion for its adoption, which was seconded by Ganiyu Oyedeji.

The confirmation of the nominee was thereafter done through a motion moved by the Majority Leader, Yusuf Sherif, seconded by Abdul Bashir Oladunjoye and supported by the whole house through a voice vote.

The assembly had on Wednesday screened the nominee during a meeting of the Committee of the Whole House chaired by Speaker Oluomo, who urged him to ensure the implementation of the state Law Reform Commission, 2021 passed earlier in the year.

The speaker, in company with other lawmakers, said that the law was targeted at retaining the state in its pride of place through review of the state’s operational laws, in line with societal realities and global best practices.

Read Also: Ondo Assembly suspends Ifedore council boss

The legislators urged the nominee to ensure that reforms were put in place to strengthen justice administration through seamless access to justice by the people, with a view to further decongesting correctional facilities in the state.

Ogungbade said he was determined to ensure that every common man in the society had access to justice, adding that he would explore legal and administrative mechanisms, including plea bargain, to aid justice dispensation.

The speaker has hailed the police command for curbing crimes, especially its recent breakthrough leading to the arrest of a five-man gang terrorising communities in Ewekoro Local Government.

He called for sustained efforts in ridding the state of criminals.

The speaker gave the commendation while responding to the submission of the member representing Ijebu North 2 State Constituency, Dare Kadiri, who reported a case of recent kidnapping of a student in his constituency and the bad conditions of some of the roads in his constituency.

He asked the Ministry of Works to ensure application of palliatives on the bad portions of some of the roads in the state.

 

 

Residents of Ikare-Akoko in Akoko Northeast Local Government of Ondo State yesterday defied Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu’s 24-hour curfew and razed a bank building.

The building belongs to the traditional ruler of the town, the Owa-Ale of Ikare.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akeredolu imposed the curfew on Tuesday as a result of mayhem in the town, which began on Saturday and claimed lives.

Eyewitnesses said people had been moving around despite the curfew and were surprised that the arsonists set the bank building ablaze.

One of the eyewitnesses told NAN that the arsonists earlier broke windows and door of the bank building before torching it.

Read Also: Bayelsa imposes dusk-to-dawn curfew on waterways

He said the damage had been done before the police arrived on the scene.

The Divisional Police Officer in Ikare refused to comment, but directed NAN to speak with the police spokesperson in Akure, DSP Funmilayo Odunlami.

Odunlami, in turn, did not respond to enquiries made by NAN for police reaction.

Ikare-Akoko has been embroiled in supremacy claims between the two monarchs in the town- the Olukare and the Owa-Ale over decades.

The claim and counter-claims have also degenerated to the fractionalisation of the town, with one part banning residents of the other part from venturing into their part of the town.

 

Ex-Osun Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Chief Sola Akinwumi has settled with the Southwest governors over the dissolution of the Odu’a Investment Company (OIC) board.

Akinwumi, who was the chairman of the board, said in a statement yesterday that following the dissolution of the board by Southwest governors, he approached the court in suit no: NICN/IB/113/2020 and sought five reliefs.

He said he approached the court to redeem his image, following the dissolution of the board during a virtual meeting chaired by Ondo State Governor Rotimi Akeredolu without giving any reason on April 6, 2020.

“I was not satisfied with the way the dissolution was effected, because I believed I should have been put on notice. I approached and sought the legal services of Yusuf Ali, SAN & Co and instructed him to file the necessary claims before the court, challenging the dissolution as it affects me personally as the chairman of the company (OIC).

“The defendant opted for settlement out of court. The highlights of the Terms of Settlement, which could be inferred from the pronouncement of court in July 2021, include the fact that the termination of my appointment as the chairman of OIC was done prematurely and is, therefore, null and void. The company (OIC) as a defendant also wrote a letter of appreciation to me in line with the terms of settlement.”

 

Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun, Ogun State (TASUED) has produced 50 first-class graduates out of the 3,885 graduates at the 12th convocation.

The acting Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwole Banjo, disclosed this yesterday to reporters ahead of the convocation slated for Sunday.

He said that the 16-year-old specialised University of Education would use the occasion to award honorary doctoral degrees to two paramount rulers in the state; the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and the Akarigbo and Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi.

Banjo added that the Chief Executive Officer of Airtel Communications PLC, Segun Ogunsanya, would also get the university’s honorary award.

He said the event will be attended by the Visitor, Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun.

Listing the grades, the acting VC said 1,409 full time students got second class upper, 2,159, second class lower, 266 students got third class, while one student got pass grade.

 

Activities marking the first anniversary of the death of Pastor Josiah Owodunni of the Celestial Church of Christ (CCC), Oluwaseyi International Headquarters, Ijeshatedo, Lagos, will begin at 10am on Saturday at the church auditorium, with Amissa (memorial) service.

Choristers from cathedrals and parishes will thereafter entertain guests and members to melodious songs.

A memorial lecture is expected to start at 3pm to round off the celebration, also on Saturday, at the church auditorium.

Most Superior Evangelist Moses Oyegbami, shepherd of CCC Horeb Cathedral, Ikeja 2, Lagos, is the guest lecturer. 

 

 

 

Lagos State Government says it has developed an electricity policy and strategic framework that is expected to drive development toward a future of secured and sustainable of electricity supply.

The Head of Power Department, Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Hafeez Momoh, made this known yesterday at a two-day Nordic- Nigeria Connect conference in Lagos.

He said that the electricity policy would encourage investments and improve the living conditions of residents.

“To make Lagos a 21st century economy, a key component of this administration’s agenda is aimed at growing critical sectors in the state, which is only possible with reliable access to electricity.”

 

 

“Energy supply is currently the single biggest infrastructure and development challenge in the state because Lagos depends on Nigeria’s national grid for its electricity supply, as does the rest of the country,” Momoh said.

He said that the state could enjoy environmental and economic benefits if there was access and an increase in green energy supply.

The Head, Geocycle, Lafarge Africa, Daniel Adedokun, said that in order to make Lagos a smart city, problems needed to be addressed, including waste management.

Adedokun, who spoke about smart cities and promoting green energy, said that indiscriminate burning affecting the climate and wastes leading to incessant flooding needed to be addressed.

During a panel session on Green Energy, Mr. Julien Peter, Project Developer, Scatec Solar, said that the size of Nigeria’s market was captivating.

 

 

 

Ose Brain Quest Foundation, organiser of the annual Smart Competition, has said its target is an African continent with zero level of examination malpractices.

The Executive Director, Aiwanose Aidanmwosa, said that the dream of the foundation, through its intelligence competitions, was an Africa where academic competencies and excellence would be given appropriate recognition and well celebrated.

She said this year’s edition of Smart Competition billed for Saturday in Lagos will, as usual, stimulate the creative and logical capacities of participants.

Aidanmwosa said: “It is a programme we have been organising for the past seven years. The activities include Spelling-In-Figures for the primary category, Fastest Finger in Dictionary Word Search for the junior high school and Mathematics Quiz for the senior high school.”

Owing to COVID-19 pandemic and its restrictions, she said the programme has been named Online Smart Competition.

Aidanmwosa said participating schools are St Jude’s Private Secondary School, Festac Senior College, Tender Touch College, Life Top International School, King’s High School, Command Day Secondary School, Ojo, St Margaret Comprehensive College, Redeemer’s Floodgates College, Whitefield High School, Radiance High School, Holy Mary Academy, Asaba, and others.

Athens Schools, St Mary College, Faith Academy, Ekpoma, Edo State, Cozem Primary School, Gabange Memorial Montessori School, High Hope Academy, Tender Touch Primary School, Glodavies International School, De-victory Primary School, God’s Time College, Makoyo Junior High School and the Bharat Scouts and Guides, Aurangabad Bihar, India.

 

Land grabbers are on the prowl at Magodo Government Reservation Area (GRA) Phase I, damaging a portion of the Gateway Estate and harassing landlords and residents.

The landlords, mostly eminent Nigerians from diverse fields of endeavours, said that the land grabbers had compromised the security of the estate.

They urged Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to save them.

They also urged the police to arrest and prosecute them, to act as a deterrent to others.

The landlords sought police protection to enable them rebuild their demolished wall and live in safety.

Magodo GRA Phase 1 is located on the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, close to the border between Lagos and Ogun states; and bordered by Ikosi-Ketu and Ojodu Berger.

It is occupied by petty and big traders, civil servants and other elite.

Although Magodo Phase 1, Gateway Zone CDA, a Lagos State Government Scheme, has enjoyed relative peace and good security, individuals known as ‘Omo-onile’ have invaded and infiltrated into the estate under the guise that the land initially belongs to them.

The Gateway Zone Community Development Association, Magodo GRA Phase 1, said that the unwholesome invasion by suspected land grabbers was worrisome.

The Chairman, Bode Ojomu, lamented that despite that the association had drawn the attention of relevant government parastatals to the plight of the residents; no concrete action had been taken.

Read Also: Save us from landgrabbers, Ikorodu community begs Sanwo-Olu

He said: “The ugly incident reoccurred on November 8 when the suspected land grabbers, with deception and impersonation, forcefully gained access to the estate. They brought an excavator-bulldozer and moved the equipment with which they feigned to use for the completion of the ongoing road construction by the Lagos State Government at Ogunsona Street, to the perimeter fence at the end of Ayo Fasugba Road.

“They demolished the wall, claiming the part demolished as the access or road to the gorge.

“However, a simulated gate was erected by the suspected land grabbers on October 8, right behind the part demolished, just to make anyone seeing it to believe that a gate existed there in the past. We took their pictures and did video recording when the construction was going on.

“Efforts to stop the bulldozer from further demolition by the residents proved abortive, as about 30 hoodlums came in through the gorge and chased residents with weapons such as knives, cutlasses and bracelet charms. They harassed residents.

“We alerted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), who responded swiftly to salvage the situation. The excavator operator and one of the leaders of suspected land grabbers were arrested. Others escaped.

“Petitions were written to the Commissioner of Police, NTDA, Lands and other government agencies to register our displeasure, disdain and protests against an unlawful act of wilful damage by land grabbers, who invaded our estate on November 8.

“We made a distress call to the police, who responded promptly and on arrival dispersed the hoodlums, who later re- grouped in the evening to challenge our re-securing the porous border.

“Those who invaded our estate in large numbers, breaching estate security rules to pull down the wall of our secure border at the end of Ayo Fasugba Road, are not members/residents of our community, but ‘Omo-onile’, in connivance with some hoodlums, who have continued to trespass and cause mayhem in our community.

“In order not to resort to self-help, we have tried to dissuade the ‘Omo-onile’ with the help of the Divisional Police Office, Isheri, but to no avail.

“We believe that the Monday illegal demolition of our border wall is tantamount to malicious damage, which is a gross infraction of the Criminal Law of Lagos State.”