Category: South West

The Ikeja Local Government has terminated the concession agreement entered with Masters Reality International Concepts Limited for the redevelopment of the popular Alade Market in Ikeja.

In a letter obtained by The Nation dated September 24. 2021 signed by the Council Manager Saheed Azeez, the council cited breach of the terms of the agreement as a reason for the termination.

“I have been directed by the Finance and General Purposes Committee of Ikeja Local Government to inform you that the concession agreement between your company and the Ikeja Local Government is hereby terminated with immediate effect,” the letter reads in part.

According to the council, the firm failed to complete the redevelopment of Alade Retail Market within the time frame provided in the agreement, adding that “upon the subsequent reduction of the original size of the concession site, your refusal to make a presentation on a new drawing before the council for necessary approval in line with Articles 1 (1) & (7) of the concession agreement..”

The council said it would upon a proper assessment of the agreement make known to the firm, the quantum of compensation due to it.

It would be recalled that there had been a crisis between the council and the firm over the delay in the delivery of the project.

The firm had alleged that the council failed to make money available for periodic maintenance of the temporary site of the market.

But the council Chairman, Hon. Mojeed Balogun, described the claims as unfounded.

According to him, the N9 million agreed by the parties on the temporary site had been paid.

Balogun stated that since the relocation of the traders to the temporary site in 2016, the concessionaire has been foot-dragging on the re-building of the main Alade market.

“Mind you, the contract for the project was signed in 2010. The traders were moved to the temporary site in 2016. Since then, nothing concrete has been done on the rebuilding of the main market. The firm only informed us last month (June 2020) that he wanted to commence the building of the main market and we told him that we need to revisit the project. The concept he sent to us was different from the one that was agreed upon in 2010. The Exco met and we wrote him on the need to review the project.

“Afterwards, we saw a video by the concessionaire advertising the sales of the shops that are yet to be built. The firm did not inform the council. You cannot ask people to start paying for a project we are yet to agree on the modalities. We must be on the same page before you proceed,” he said.

Many groups in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State have rejected a committee set up by ex-governor Adebayo Alao-Akala led Elders Advisory Committee to zone party offices ahead of the October 16 state congress of the party.

The groups are Unity Forum, Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Bayo Adelabu Group, Joseph Tegbe Group forming the bulk of the Ajimobi Legacy Forum and the Niyi Akintola Group.

The bodies rose from a four-hour meeting in Ibadan on Wednesday to deliberate on the purported constitution of a zoning committee by former governor Alao-Akala and his controversial Elders Advisory Committee.

In a communiqué by representatives of the groups, released by Alhaji Abu Gbadamosi, who presided over the meeting, it was resolved that: “The constitution of the committee on zoning by the so-called Advisory Committee is alien to the constitution and practice of the APC.

“The so-called Advisory Elders Advisory Committee is itself illegal because it is unknown to the constitution of the party. Moreso, the attempt by stakeholders of the party to establish one on September 20, 2020 ended in a stalemate.

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“The constitution of the zoning committee was undertaken without due consultation with stakeholders in the party.

“The path to a rancour-free state congress in the state is the truthful, honest and sincere engagement of stakeholders without a clandestine design to foist any group or candidate on the party.

“We implore leaders in the party to live up to the expectations of the exalted positions they are holding in the party and government.

“We restate our loyalty and commitment to the party under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.”

The signatories to the communiqué are: Sen. Ayoade Adeseun, Sen. Olufemi Lanlehin, Sen. Adesoji Akanbi, Alhaji Abdulraman Adebayo Shittu, former minister for Communications; Chief Adebayo Adelabu, APC governorship candidate in 2019 election, among others.

A big tree, believed to be about 100 years old, has risen after it was brought down by rainstorm in the ancient town of Oyo, Oyo State.

The tree fell on Monday during a heavy rain, killing four people and injuring others at Idi-Odan, Sabo, Oyo town.

A report quoted a resident of the area as saying that the tree was about 100 years old.

The source said the tree rose on Tuesday evening after youths had cut off its branches and roots, to clear the area of obstruction.

Confirming the incident, Mr. Bode Durojaye, spokesman for Alaafin of Oyo Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, said the tree rose on Tuesday evening.

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He said the monarch also visited the scene of the incident on Wednesday and commiserated with the bereaved families.

He said Oba Adeyemi was surprised at the incident, but did not comment on the mystery.

Police spokesman Adewale Osifeso said four people were killed when the tree fell on those who sought refuge under its shed during the heavy rain.

He said policemen were deployed in the area to forestall breakdown of law and order.

Several victims were said to have been rescued by sympathisers from the fallen tree on Monday.

Ogun State Government has inaugurated a Steering Committee on Social Protection, towards uplifting the poor and the vulnerable.

Inaugurating the committee at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta the Commissioner for Finance and Chief Economic Adviser, Mr. Dapo Okubadejo, said economic interventions had been carried out by the Governor Dapo Abiodun administration  through agencies, including Ministries of Women Affairs and Social Development, Health, Agriculture, Special Duties and Inter-governmental Affairs, Justice, among others.

He added: “These have been coordinated through a mechanism for proper data and better reach.”

Okubadejo urged the committee to undertake their responsibilities painstakingly and efficiently for the benefit of the people, saying their commitment would assist the government to put in place policies that would empower the vulnerable to become significant economic agent.

He said the committee was expected to identify the vulnerable groups in the society, measure the impact and coordinate interventions in the state, among other things.

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The committee Chairman, who is also the Commissioner for Budget and Planning, Mr. Olaolu Olabimtan, said the government is determined to achieve eight of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through social protection intervention, noting that the step becomes imperative as the government, in partnership with donor agencies, is working towards improving people’s living standard.

‘’The state government is willing to ensure that people do not fall into the poverty line. While much is being done to uplift the vulnerable in the society, there is no formidable and significant mechanism to drive the impact of the interventions in guaranteeing social protection for the people,” Olabimtan said.

His counterpart in the Women Affairs and Social Development ministry, who is also the committee Co-Chairman, Mrs. Funmilayo Efuape, gave update on the social intervention programmes by the government for women, orphans, widows and the destitute.

She said impactful empowerment programmes had been carried out for women and widows, as well as approval for the building of a home for the destitute and search centre towards their welfare.

The committee members comprise Commissioner for Health Dr. Tomi Coker, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice Mr. Akingbolahan Adeniran, Statistician-General Mr. Alao David, among others.

Lagos State House of Assembly has read for the second time, a legislation set to back the Training Institute of Law Enforcement Personnel.

This is to enhance the quality and effectiveness of security outfits.

The Bill titled: “Lagos State Law Enforcement Training Institute Bill, 2021”, seeks to train, re-train and employ Lagos State security personnel such as the Lagos Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), LASEMA Response Unit (LRU) and other affiliated national security personnel.

Speaker Mudashiru Obasa said an institution to model the functions of security agencies, no doubt, needs attention, especially on functions of duties, qualifications of personnel and establishment of governing board.

Committing the Bill to the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC to report its findings in two weeks, Obasa urged the chairman to take proper and adequate observation of the members’ deliberation in its outcome.

The Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Victor Akande, said that the LNSC and other security outfits deserved proper training during their duties and the Bill, if passed, would meet the yearnings of the personnel.

Bisi Yusuff said that the institute would mould security personnel to suit the mode of operation and enable the officials behave in a civilised manner, which would impact the society.

He added that the proactiveness of the House on the legislation would encourage other states to follow suit.

Highlighting that Lagos State is a mega city and an economic parameter in Nigeria with challenges that border on insecurity; Rotimi Olowo said the training institute would cover the challenges faced by the security agencies, using modern day technologies.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, Setonji David, hailed the responsiveness of the state government on the realisation that the security agencies need training.

Osun State Security Network code-named Amotekun and Odua Peoples Congress (OPC) yesterday traded blame, as a father of one, Koyum Omikunle, was shot dead, while another man sustained injuries.

The Nation learnt that the incident occurred in Ikire, the headquarters of Irewole Local Government, on Monday evening when Amotekun operatives stormed a spot near Ori-Eru to arrest suspected Indian hemp smokers.

It was gathered that Amotekun operatives clashed with the smokers at the joint, which resulted in shooting. During the clash, one person was killed, while one other sustained bullet injuries.

However, one of the victims of the shootout, who is a zonal coordinator of OPC in Ikire, Sodiq Aderonbi, alleged that the attack was premeditated by the Amotekun Corps operatives, as they shot dead one of his members, Koyum Omikunle, while he (Aderonbi) was shot in his lap and back.

The Commander of Amotekun, Gen. Bashir Adewinbi, denied the allegation that his men attacked OPC members.

He said: “We raided Indian hemp joints in Ikire, which have been contributing to insecurity.

“We can never wage war against the OPC; we are waging war against criminals. Some of our men are members of the OPC. We didn’t have any issue at any OPC office.”

Spokesperson for the police command, Yemisi Opalola, confirmed that one person was killed during the clash, while one sustained injury.

By Emmanuel Oladesu, Deputy Editor

Ikorodu monarchs yesterday urged All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to run for president in 2023.

They made this known when the Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi, hosted Southwest Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA’23), a volunteer group, with other traditional rulers and community leaders.

It was the third day of the group’s tour of Lagos State, ahead of the launching of its Lagos chapter today.

The monarchs said: “Now is the time for Tinubu to prepare himself for the higher challenge of leadership.”

SWAGA’23 leader Prince Dayo Adeyeye said the nation would benefit from Tinubu’s patriotic and visionary leadership.

Oba Shotobi, represented by Oba Ajibade Bakare Agoro of Imota kingdom, led over 15 Obas to the parley.

He said Tinubu is a bridge builder, adding that his magnanimity cuts across all tribes in the country.

Oba Agoro praised the national leader of the APC for the role he played when the Lagos State allocation was withheld by the Federal Government for creating more local governments.

“Now it’s pay-back time for him. We will go all out to support him,” the traditional ruler said.

The Chairman, Council of Obas in Epe, who is also the Oloja of Epe, Oba Kamourdeen Ishola Animasaun, the Alara of Ilara, Oba Olufolarin Olukayode Ogunsanwo and about 13 monarchs described Asiwaju Tinubu as a detrabilised leader and a man whose time has come.