The Nation Newspaper

Category: Southwest

  • FRSC chief advises military, others on traffic rules

    Badagry Unit Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Assistant Corps Commander Fatai Adesina Bakare, has decried the high rate at which the military and paramilitary officers violate road traffic rules.

    Commander Bakare spoke at a public enlightenment organised by the Command for officers and men of the Nigerian Army, 243 Recce Battalion Ibereko, Badagry in Lagos State.

    He said it was pathetic that uniformed men break the law because of their professions, adding that their conduct did not portray them as good citizens.

    He said law enforcement officers were expected to show good example in the society, especially while driving, instead of using the uniform to harass or intimidate other road users.

    Commander Bakare said there was no immunity for officers on the road, adding that everybody, irrespective of the professions or status was expected to obey the supremacy of traffic laws.

    He accused uniformed men of driving on the road with worn-out tyres, invalid drivers’ licence and against traffic anytime they encounter traffic snarl, instead of assisting to control it.

    The FRSC chief said many military men drive in the night without headlights, adding that some of them do not use helmets while riding their motorcycles.

    Commander Bakare appealed to the leadership of various enforcement agencies to call their men to order in order to stop engaging in any act that constitute hazard to other road users.

    He said: “The road is expected to be used in accordance with the rules and regulations. Every road user should be disciplined, careful and be considerate to others to ensure safer roads. Safety on the roads is everybody’s business.’’

    He urged motorists not to drive on the road, especially in the night, without headlights or faulty lights; neither should they obstruct any section of the road with vehicles or in any other way that may affect free flow of traffic.

    He appealed to motorists to ensure that their vehicles have good wipers that could enable them to have clear visibility of the windscreen as we are in the rainy season. He said vehicle owners are expected to have good tyres that would grip well whenever the brakes were applied during the wet season. He stressed that traffic pointers, head lights and brakes were also important and therefore should be in good conditions.

    Bakare warned motorists against driving during the wet season without good wipers and tyres, urging them to park when they felt they could not move well due to heavy rains than to continue driving as this could be risky.

  • Expert advises medics on stress management

    Medical doctors and health professionals must pay adequate attention to their health and take more than a passing interest in their health if they must stay alive and cope with the pressures of their jobs, the Medical Director of Alimosho General Hospital, Dr Ademuyiwa Benjamin Eniayewu has said.

    Stressing that a healthy workforce is the asset of the government, Eniayewu said he would always be at the forefront of ensuring that workers keep fit, adding that the regular physical activities embarked upon by the hospital’s workforce is part of the designs to build a virile and physically-fit workforce that can withstand any stress.

    He spoke at the hospital’s sporting ground, where a cross section of workers from all departments in the hospital gathered to participate in the sporting activities lined up to commemorate Lagos State’s 50th year anniversary.

    He said the advice became imperative because medical personnel, despite their know-how, have been known to take the least interest in their personal health matters, due to pressures at work.

    He said he had instituted the monthly fitness activity immediately he assumed office as the Medical Director of the hospital, pointing out that the hospital is proud to be dedicating this month’s exercise to the state’s 50th year anniversary.

    Eniayewu said Lagos at 50 has continued to be the template for good governance in the federation, a reason, he said, made the occasion worth celebrating.

    “Lagos is a success story. The state has continued to be the envy of other states across the country and a place of pride for every black race,” he said.

    Inaugurating the football competition between the Red Team and Blue Team, Eniayewu pledged N20, 000 for the winner of the competition.

    He also promised that support for the aspirations of the female football team of the hospital would continue. Workers were engaged in light aerobics and physical exercises, track race (100 metres male and female) and Tug of War, which was won by the Red Team.

    Some of the workers praised the strides of the state government in improving on infrastructural development across all sections of the state.

    Mrs Salihu Adebola-Abimbola said the workers were happy to engage in the keep-fit exercises which she said are symbolic, adding that they constitute healthy workforce that can be an asset to any government.

     

  • Lagos in the next 50 years

    Lagos in the next 50 years

    The last week of April and all of May, this year, was season of prayers in Lagos. People of diverse origin, faith, interest, and class-including even the atheists-, were united in entreaty to God Almighty, to guide and quicken the drive to a Greater Lagos, a Smart City that will rival the best in the Planet.

    Prayers were offered in churches, mosques and shrines, at club houses, social functions, homes and meetings. Prayers soared on the wings of songs, drums, dance, drama and fanfare, exalting the Almighty for His blessings and favours that put Lagos in pole position in the country, kindling hope of improved humanity, affirming durability of concord among groups, showcasing the beauty of multi-ethnic cultural heritage, propagating messages of care and love and restating our determination and commitment to confront present and future challenges.

    During the colourful celebration of 50 years of peaceful co-existence and unprecedented socio-economic progress in the state, Lagosions earnestly requested for more of the same in the journey to Smart city of collective aspirations. Indeed, Lagosians love God.

    God loves Lagosians-this is the bedrock of the people’s faith, imbuing hope, courage and confidence to focus on collective dreams and pursue them with religiousness until they become reality.

    The question is not whether our supplications will be answered, but that the Smart City destiny of Lagos is assured.

    Some skeptics might say western nations have achieved development with little emphasis on religion. While this is a fallacy, as will soon be pointed out, the definition of development will not be complete when the spiritual needs of the people are downplayed or ignored.

    Those who had travelled to nations in the Western World, before September 11, 2001, when the World Trade Centre was attacked, could easily come to the conclusion that people there were living in paradise, as they enjoyed state-of-the-art infrastructural facilities, unequalled social and economic advancement, uninterrupted power supply, comprehensive health insurance scheme, superb social safety net, fantastic integrated transportation system, near zero-unemployment level, stable democracy, predictable conveniences, comprehensive health and medical scheme, high level of safety and security and  unfettered freedom and liberty.

    It is thus easy for one to conclude that, these nations must have evolved enduring development templates that other developing nations in quest of progress and good living must adopt to succeed.

    Definitely, these are not models that Lagos should adopt unconditionally. Paying appropriate attention to religious issues and prayers are crucial in the overall state’s development thrust. Religion is not a problem, but a big asset that is being strategically combined with other variables to produce best results.

    In the past 50 years of the existence of Lagos, we have not witnessed any major religious conflict, despite that Lagos, with a population of more than 20 million, harbours far more faith-based groups of varying denominations and far more ethnic groups than anywhere else in the country.

    Indeed, religion and prayers are working for us in Lagos. Religion and government travel in different but parallel tracks. They are most successful and most effective when they protect and encourage one another… (And) too much secularism can lead to moral decadence not good for society,” says Elder Wilfred W. Anderson.

    Something ubiquitous can easily be taken for granted such as air, water, sand and sunshine, yet our Planet Earth cannot sustain lives in the absence of one of them. So, it is becoming a reality with religion.

    From the beginning of human creation, religion has been there with us. From cradle to grave, we are immense in religious rites and experiences, that it has become part of our souls. Hardly can we write the history of a nation or group of people on earth without mentioning their religious experiences; it has become part of human existence and ways of life, and the fact that we have some few people who are atheists, does not diminish the significance of religion and prayer.

    The principle of Strategic Approach is that attention must be given to all variables, which must be combined in systematic manner to produce desired results and outcomes.

    For Lagos to continue to excel and transmit models for other states in the country and beyond, it must continue to benefit from the best of what are available around the globe, and marry them with the best in our clime, to produce results that are appropriate and comprehensive enough to accommodate all the citizens’ needs and aspirations, without destroying our ways, values and cultures.

    Lagosians are religious people. Overwhelmingly, we are either Christians or Muslims; we have some other Lagosians who are traditionalists and some atheists, whose interests have always been factored in development thrusts.

    Lagos State Government has been working hard to protect all religious groups, without preference for one. You cannot see a worship centre within the State Secretariat complex, but across the road, there is a mosque and a church, constructed by the state, but each overseen by a governing council, who may not necessarily be public servants, to take care of spiritual needs of more than 95 per cent of workforce, residents and visitors in Alausa and its environs.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, as are his predecessors, appreciates the importance of religion and prayer in pursuit of avowed objective of Greater Lagos. He has been protecting religious freedom without favouring any group over the others.

    Through the Ministry of Home Affairs, he has been able to sustain harmonious relationship among all faith-based organisations. He has fostered durable peace in the state, and his peace initiative promises to become more comprehensive and self-sustaining when Nigeria Inter-Religious Council (NIREC), State chapter, is decentralised for ownership at the grassroots.

    In the two consecutive years of Ambode’s administration, Lagos was adjudged as the best in the country in pilgrimage operation to the Holy Lands of Mecca and Jerusalem, with expressed approval and satisfaction of pilgrims.

    The state will continue in that manner to satisfy the spiritual yearnings of its citizens. Kidnapping, which is threatening harmonious existence, is foreign to the state and is being robustly addressed. It will soon become history when more security measures, such as deployment of commissionaires trained by Nigerian Legion (Lagos chapter), construction of watch tower and installation of close-circuit televisions come to fruition in education institutions.

    That Ambode’s administration has been outstanding is because he has been implementing a Lagos Template, which has all the beautiful components of the western version, with important local components that will transform the state from a Mega City to a Smart City.

    Lagosians have faith in the destiny of their state, and confident in the ability of the present government to transform the state to a true Smart City of prosperous and happy citizens. Ambode has his heart set on the task at hands, and will not be distracted.

     

    • Lookman Seriki is Head Public Affairs Lagos Ministry of Home Affairs

     

     

  • FRSC chief advises military, others on traffic rules

    Badagry Unit Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Assistant Corps Commander Fatai Adesina Bakare, has decried the high rate at which the military and paramilitary officers violate road traffic rules.

    Commander Bakare spoke at a public enlightenment organised by the Command for officers and men of the Nigerian Army, 243 Recce Battalion Ibereko, Badagry in Lagos State.

    He said it was pathetic that uniformed men break the law because of their professions, adding that their conduct did not portray them as good citizens.

    He said law enforcement officers were expected to show good example in the society, especially while driving, instead of using the uniform to harass or intimidate other road users.

    Commander Bakare said there was no immunity for officers on the road, adding that everybody, irrespective of the professions or status was expected to obey the supremacy of traffic laws.

    He accused uniformed men of driving on the road with worn-out tyres, invalid drivers’ licence and against traffic anytime they encounter traffic snarl, instead of assisting to control it.

    The FRSC chief said many military men drive in the night without headlights, adding that some of them do not use helmets while riding their motorcycles.

    Commander Bakare appealed to the leadership of various enforcement agencies to call their men to order in order to stop engaging in any act that constitute hazard to other road users.

    He said: “The road is expected to be used in accordance with the rules and regulations. Every road user should be disciplined, careful and be considerate to others to ensure safer roads. Safety on the roads is everybody’s business.’’

    He urged motorists not to drive on the road, especially in the night, without headlights or faulty lights; neither should they obstruct any section of the road with vehicles or in any other way that may affect free flow of traffic.

    He appealed to motorists to ensure that their vehicles have good wipers that could enable them to have clear visibility of the windscreen as we are in the rainy season. He said vehicle owners are expected to have good tyres that would grip well whenever the brakes were applied during the wet season. He stressed that traffic pointers, head lights and brakes were also important and therefore should be in good conditions.

    Bakare warned motorists against driving during the wet season without good wipers and tyres, urging them to park when they felt they could not move well due to heavy rains than to continue driving as this could be risky.

  • Fuel: Fayose’s order causes hardship for residents

    Fuel: Fayose’s order causes hardship for residents

    A popular adage says when two elephants clash, it is the grass that suffers and this axiom best explains the clash between Governor Ayo Fayose and petrol marketers in Ekiti State who shut their outlets against consumers over their alleged victimisation by the state chief executive. The face-off assumed a violent dimension with the attack on some filling stations by suspected hoodlums. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

    The past three weeks have been quite taxing for residents of Ekiti State who had suffered indescribable hardship as a result of scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol and other petroleum products.

    The development was sparked by a face-off between Governor Ayo Fayose and petrol marketers who closed down their stations in obedience to the order of the national leadership of Independent Petrol Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and Petrol Tanker Drivers (PTD).

    The seed of the discord was sown by the decision of the state government to demolish petrol stations located in residential areas on the heels of a January 8 fire incident that razed a filling station owned by Strive Energy Limited in Ijigbo, Ado-Ekiti which spread to 25 other buildings.

    Petrol stations under construction in areas government believe are illegal and contrary to existing law were demolished and the leadership of the above-named bodies engaged government in a dialogue and it was resolved that work should stop on stations being constructed in unauthorised places while peace process continues.

    But government’s decision to take some marketers to court after the peace meeting was the immediate cause of the latest imbroglio which did not go down well with the national unions of the oil-based bodies.

    A marketer in Igede-Ekiti and six of his supporters who resisted government agents’ attempt to bulldoze a filling station under construction were arraigned in court and are now remanded in prison in Ado-Ekiti.

    The national bodies of the unions ordered stoppage of fuel supply to Ekiti and directed marketers to shut their stations “until further notice.” The unions believe that Fayose’s action was contrary to truce reached at the peace meeting held with him.

    Residents, including civil servants, students, farmers, market women, taxi drivers, commercial motorcycle riders had terrible stories to tell since supplies of fuel to the state were stopped.

    They travelled to neighbouring states such as Ondo, Osun, Kwara and Kogi to purchase petrol. Black marketers cashed in on the situation and sold the commodity at outrageous prices.

    In many towns and villages, economic and social activities were paralysed as prices of goods and services go beyond the reach of the common man.

    The crisis assumed a violent dimension on Tuesday, May 23 when suspected thugs swooped on some filling stations in Ado Ekiti and destroyed property worth several millions of Naira.

    Commercial drivers and artisans also staged public protests warning owners of the petrol stations to open their business offices to the public or “face the consequences of their stubbornness.”

    The attack began at NIPCO Filling Station owned by the Secretary of the Petrol Dealers’ Association of Nigeria (PEDAN) Ekiti State chapter, Alhaji Sulaiman Akinbami, whom the thugs accused of collecting N50 million from a political party. They also accused Akinbami of being the mastermind of ongoing fuel dealers’ strike.

    The thugs overturned refrigerators and smashed bottles of soft drinks and poured engine oil on the floor. They chased away members of staff in the filling station; causing panic in the neighbourhood.

    Two filling stations operated by Tetra Abby Company along Adebayo Road and Dallimore Street were also vandalised by the hoodlums.

    A worker at NIPCO said: “The thugs came in three vehicles. One Hilux van with government’s number plate and two mini buses, popularly called ‘Akoto’. They chanted war songs and chased everybody away; thereby disrupting traffic. They hurled missiles at anything in sight.

    “They were armed with dangerous weapons. We had to escape by scaling the fence at the back of the building because they were determined to kill whoever dared to challenge them.

    “All the six dispensing machines at the filling station were vandalised. Windows and doors of the building housing its supermarket and lubricant were smashed.”

    The governor, on Thursday, May 25, gave the marketers a 24-hour ultimatum to open their filling stations to members of the public or have their Certificates of Occupancy (C of Os) revoked but the marketers defied the order.

    Southwest Report learnt that many of the owners of the petrol stations had gone underground and remained incommunicado following the attack by hoodlums who destroyed property worth millions of Naira on three filling stations on Tuesday.

    An Islamic body, Muslim Rights Congress (MURIC) has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to stop those it referred to as “Governor Fayose’s thugs” from carrying out further attacks on homes and business premises of Muslims and other  law-abiding residents of Ekiti State.

    MURIC Director, Prof. Ishaq Akintola, in an online press statement made available to our reporter on penultimate Friday, described the attacks on filling stations of a prominent Muslim businessman, Alhaji Sulaiman Akinbami and other marketers as “flagrant abuse of power to threaten law-abiding and peaceful citizens.”

    Akintola said: “MURIC strongly condemns this impunity; we call on the Inspector-General of Police to quickly intervene and restore law and order. We demand adequate protection for Alhaji Akinbami and his property.

    An All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant in Ekiti State, Mr. Isola Fapohunda, has also criticised Governor Fayose’s crackdown on petrol marketers which has brought the state to its knees in the past two weeks.

    While addressing a press conference in Ado-Ekiti, Fapohunda condemned destruction of some petrol stations by suspected thugs.

    He said: “We need to advise government at this stage that there are several ways to skin a chicken. Tact and diplomacy in governance are attributes that must be embraced for the peace and prosperity.

    “The marketers have been unjustifiably treated by someone who should know better, but who has chosen to ignore wise counsels. But still, I want to appeal to petrol dealers to kindly consider all these and re-open their stations for the sale of fuel.”

    Meanwhile, the Ekiti Council of Elders has called for the extension of the ultimatum issued by Fayose to oil marketers to allow for intervention in the two-week faceoff.

    The council, at its emergency meeting on May 25 in Ado-Ekiti expressed concern with the development which they described as “worrisome.”

    In a statement issued at the end of the meeting signed by the council’s Chairman, Prof. Joseph Oluwasanmi and General-Secretary, Mr. Niyi Ajibulu appealed to marketers to commence sales of the commodity to the public.

    The statement reads: “The Ekiti Council of Elders, at an emergency meeting on May 25, noted with concern the worrisome development in the fuel crisis in Ekiti State.

    “We appeal for calm from all stakeholders, the government, the petroleum dealers, the drivers and the governor for the extension of the ultimatum in order to give the Council the opportunity to intervene towards an equitable settlement of the impasse.

    But the state government condemned the role of the national leadership of IPMAN, NUPENG and PTD in the hardship unleashed on the citizens by the scarcity of fuel.

    The Chairman of Petroleum Products Consumer Protection Agency (PPCPA), Elder Adeyemi Adebayo, who claimed that only four filling stations had started dispensing the commodity said government’s decision to sanitise the sector was in the overall interest of the masses.

    Adebayo said: “About four of the filling stations have started selling fuel, pulled out of the marketers’ union’s decision.

    “They said the tanker drivers’ union are not allowing their fuel to come into the state, and that those drivers are diverting the petrol trailers to neighbouring states.

    “When I spoke to the chairman of the tanker drivers in Ekiti, he explained that the directive to prevent petroleum tankers from coming to the state was from the national body of the oil marketers. He added that his team in Abuja were having meeting with the oil marketers concerning the development.

    “The genesis of this crisis was the aftermath of a petrol station, Strive Energy in Ijigbo area of Ado-Ekiti which caught fire and destroyed property worth millions of Naira.

    Many shops owners and some landlords whose property were affected had cried to state government to assist them get compensation from the owner of Strive Energy who, at first, was evading them.

    “The incident led to many unhealthy under-dealings that were exposed. The government discovered that the petrol station in particular and many others in the state do not have insurance to cover damage incurred during such fire incidents.

     

     

     

     

     

  • We’re grateful to Ambode, say Ndigbo

    Pleased with the success recorded at the just-held solidarity celebration of Lagos at 50 by the Igbo Community in Lagos State, the member representing Oshodi/Isolo 11 State Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Jude Emeka Idimogu (KSM) has expressed his unalloyed gratitude to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for identifying with Ndigbo.

    Addressing journalists at a joint press conference he organised in conjunction with the Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State, Christian Uchechukwu Nwachukwu (JP) on Sunday to appraise the success of Lagos at 50 celebrations organised by Ndigbo

    in Lagos at the Lagos State Igbo Community Centre, Okota Lagos, Hon. Idimogu noted that for the Lagos State government to be present at the event was a “huge way of telling the Igbo resident in Lagos that the government identifies with you and is ready to support you in anything positive that you do.”

    “For Governor Ambode to send a high-profile representative in the person of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG) Mr Tunji Bello indicates that he means well for Ndigbo and other ethnic groups that are not indigenous to the state. It also demonstrates that the state and its indigenes regard Ndigbo as partners in progress.”

    Hon. Idimogu was also grateful to the Deputy Governor, Dr Idiat Oluranti Adebule for identifying with the Igbo in Lagos. He paid special tribute and expressed unreserved gratitude to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa whom he described as “the speaking Speaker, Speaker of Speakers” for honouring Ndigbo invitation.

    He also thanked Principal officers of the House and other members of the Lagos State House of Assembly for their love and friendship.

    The lawmaker revealed that Ndigbo in Lagos are known for their enterprise and hard work, even as he said their cosmopolitan nature gives them an edge over others in areas of adventure and investment.

    “The Igbo race regards all parts of the country as their second home. But the way they do business and invest wholeheartedly in Lagos State shows they regard the state as their home, not even a second home. This is cheery in the sense that their contributions to the growth and development of the state are being recognized and appreciated by their wonderful and friendly host communities.

    “As stated previously, Ndigbo held the solidarity session of Lagos at 50 in order to wish the government and people of Lagos State well. We are happy with them for attaining 50 years as a geographical entity. We also wish to show our solidarity with them for being a good host,” he said.

    He pledged that Ndigbo will continue to be law-abiding, show respect to constituted authority and continue to contribute immensely to the socio-economic and political development of the state that has been favourable to them.

    Contributing, Eze Nwachukwu also thanked the government and people of Lagos State for their love and good relationship they have exhibited towards Ndigbo.

    Speaking glowingly about the achievements of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, Eze Nwachukwu noted that Governor Ambode has shown love for Ndigbo by identifying with them by sending an influential representative to represent the state. That shows that he loves Ndigbo as he loves all resident in the state.

    He praised him for all his development strides that have made Lagos true-life Centre of Excellence and economic capital of West Africa.

    “Ambode’s strides since he assumed office have been tremendous. He has made development get to the grassroots, even as he has taken Lagos State to a higher level. Ndigbo in Lagos are happy to identify with him and the entire people of Lagos State.

    “The relationship built over the years by our forebears over five decades ago should be sustained. That was why we decided to hold a solidarity session to commemorate 50 years of the creation of Lagos State. Ndigbo are happy with the people and government of Lagos State for accommodating our people all these years and provided for them enabling environment conducive enough to carry out their legitimate businesses,” he said.

     

  • Way forward for Lagos VIO

    Way forward for Lagos VIO

    On May 8, news had filtered in from several quarters that the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode had ordered officers of the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) to permanently vacate the roads. Many Lagosians could not hide their joy for what they considered a great step by the governor.

    Putting the uncertainty to rest, governor Ambode, during the inauguration of the Ojodu Berger Pedestrian Bridges, Laybys and Slip Road said he had directed the VIOs to stay off Lagos roads permanently.

    That announcement finally put the nail to the coffin on the activities of the VIO officers on the roads.

     

    Core responsibilities

     

    The promulgation of Road Traffic Act, on January 1, 1949, resulted in the establishment of Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) in all the regions. With the creation of states in 1967, each state’s Ministry of Works established VIO Departments under the Directorate of Mechanical Engineering.

    In Lagos, the VIO Department was established under the state Ministry of Transportation and headed by the Chief VIO. Its core responsibilities include ensuring that all vehicles are properly inspected and certified before registration or renewal of vehicle particulars; public education and advocacy; effective patrols on roads and highway to carry out routine checks and enforce compliance; effective enforcement through vehicle impoundment and payment of fines to ensure compliance, among others.

    Others are ensuring that all vehicles are properly inspected and certified before registration or renewal of vehicle particulars, ensuring that vehicle inspection plazas are well distributed for easy access within the metropolis, collaborating with companies with large fleet for onsite vehicle inspection to ensure compliance using mobile vehicle inspection units and periodic training, retraining seminars and conferences for officers towards achievement of mastery in motor vehicle administration.

    Carrying out these oversight functions has not come without a price, particularly with some bad elements in the system that have consistently given the agency and the state bad name.

     

    Residents’ reaction

     

    Although quite a large number of residents are excited about government’s decision that men on white-and-black should vacate the roads, a real estate expert, Mr. Emeka Maduabuchi, who recalled his encounter with the officers, sometime last year, said his experience was one he will never forget in a hurry.

    “I was on my way to Victoria Island to meet with a client who was interested in a property, when I was stopped by VIO officers at Alausa. In the first instance, I did not sense any trouble because I had my entire vehicle papers complete and I was not hesitant to give them all my papers to peruse.”

    After nearly 20 minutes of thoroughly scrutinising his papers, the officers eventually picked on a small dent on his rear light and before Maduabuchi could explain himself, he had been handed a ticket for a fine of N20, 000 for driving with a broken rear light.

    Like Maduabuchi, Mr. Rotimi summed up the phenomenon that had characterised the activities of the VIOs on Lagos roads when he said that “the fear of the men in black-and-white is the beginning of wisdom for all Lagos motorists.

     

    Another resident Mr Paul Ipeazu, said in spite of the many short comings of the officers, their activities have assisted in checkmating many that flout the traffic regulations

    “I have not had any particular issues with VIO but from my observation, the activities of these officers have really helped to phase out rickety vehicles off the street.”

     

    Charting a new path

     

    Already, Ambode has challenged the VIOs to come up with new modes of operation. This has thrown up a number of questions, which some VIOs said, would help them think creatively and evolve new strategies to track registered vehicles and their owners for non-compliance.

    An enforcement official said the new directive implies that the responsibilities of VIOs will be more of administrative than enforcement. It also implies working out new ways of enforcing and operating in line with international best practices.

    The official, thus, said the VIO operatives “are educated. The least educated among us have OND. We have a good number of people with first and second degrees.  So, we are capable of devising new mode of operation in line with the governor’s directive.”

    However, another VIO operative exercised apprehension on the fate of the enforcement officials that were newly employed. With the new directive, he asked, what will be the fate of some operatives who are employed to patrol strategic roads and enforce compliance? Besides, will the state government guarantee their engagement?

    Acting Commissioner for Transportation Mr. Olanrewaju Elegushi, who clarified the situation, said the government has put in place intensive training for the officials so as to prepare them on their new mode of operation.

    He said: “Right now, the VIS officials are undergoing training on how they will improve their services on Lagos roads.

    “It‘s a month-long event for the officials where they will undergo intensive training so that they will be able to deliver quality and better services across the state.

    “We all believe that VIOs need to perform their functions in a more civilised way and be technologically driven”.

    On his part, the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, explained that government’s order to the VIOs to vacate the roads was to pave way for its reforms.

    “There is an ongoing reform as to how the VIS carries out its operations, which might require that the inspection officers are off the streets at this point,” Ayorinde said.

  • ‘Right foods good for children’s growth’

    Toyin Onigbajo is the founder of August Secrets Nigeria which is about giving the child the right foods. She reveals that the aim was to provide healthy recipe from locally made foods for the Nigerian children from six months to five years. In this interview with OLATUNDE ODEBIYI, she said the major target was busy mothers who wish to feed their children healthy foods but do not have the time. The recipes have broken it down to make the foods half-made. Excerpts:

    What kind of foods are you looking at?

    Our foods are made from guinea corn, yellow corn, soya and potatoes. We have a way of mixing them into cereals and we have five of them which include crayfish, fish, nutty meal which contains soya and groundnut. We have maize and grains which contain rice and potatoes, we have vegebeans which is blended with vegetables. If you look at all of these, you would realise that the key things mothers need to feed their children are these. But a mother is already tired when she gets home, so having to do all of these to feed their children is not possible, So, they end up having to give their children adult food which is not good.  We formulated all of these for the children.

    Our foods have so many health benefits, because a growing child needs iron the most and vitamins. But they also need everything in the right proportion and they also need all of these foods to be well prepared. But most mothers are confused; they put beans on fire not knowing that they are meant to peel it. When you don’t peel the beans, all the things from the insecticide would go into the food which is not good for the baby. That is what August Secrets does. All our foods have the complete nutrients; just add one or two things, including oil, crayfish and fish.

     

    Are all your products locally made?

     

    Yes we have 98 per cent of our raw materials locally sourced for; it is only the plastics that are imported.

    Most developed world that we copy always encourage that all our foods, the closer the foods are to you, where it is grown, the healthier, if guinea corn, soya and groundnut is grown here in Nigeria, it is the best for us. A lot of people are looking inward and realising that locally-made food is the best.

    The only thing I need from government is to give me a factory and I will pay back in three months. Give us a factory to produce, give us clusters, the cost of setting up a standard factory is expensive, just give me the factory and I will provide the raw materials.

     

    What is your business model?

     

    Our business model is to reproduce. We rent a factory to produce, we package into manual, we pour into container and label. Once we are done, we have an online platform and we have been able to make headway.

    We encourage people to pay first, and this makes it less likely for our distributors to be attacked. The risks are not too much for us because we deal with women.

     

    Unique selling point

     

    It is our creativity. If you see the food, you will want to eat it. If you see how it is prepared, it looks nice and beautiful.

     

    How did you start?

     

    I started alone.

     

    What is the growth stage like?

     

    We have five members of staff and 11 distributors in Nigeria, one in Ghana, one in the United Kingdom (UK) and one in US. We have indirect employment, delivery men, we have about 11 from the headquarters and we have delivery men in all the states.

     

    Did you grow the business?

     

    There is the God factor, hard work and quality. If you insist on quality, your brand will sell. Hard work means research, openness to learning and good accounting skills.

     

    About the book launch

     

    The book is a document of all our recipes, for children who do not eat well, mothers who are worried about what their children are going to eat, we have lots of recipes contained in the book, which is like a keep safe for the children. It is a complete guide for the Nigerian mother to save her children of food.

    We made them short and it comes with pictures. Some mothers may be confused and not know what recipe to mix. This has been explained in the book and it is detailed. People call us for consultation. The book is to answer the many questions people may ask.

    From six months to five years, you don’t need to bother on what your child would eat, adults can also take it, even beyond five years.

     

    Your message to the Nigerian youths

     

    Learn to work harder and be more productive. We say government, if  you can think of what to do or the value you can add to people, you will earn from it. Don’t sit looking for job. Do something and you will be able to live your life.

     

  • Abattoir opens in Ibadan

    Abattoir opens in Ibadan

    After years of construction and perfecting administrative procedures, another landmark project is set to grace the Nigerian health and economic landscape from the stable of the Oyo State government. A multi-billion naira abattoir, which is the largest in Nigeria, is set to open in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. BISI OLADELE writes on the project that will bring world-class standard to meat processing and transform the economy of the city.

    Four billion Naira and 10 hectares of land are involved. It took one year of construction. All these and many more went into the emergence of Ibadan Central Abattoir which is, perhaps, the largest abattoir in West Africa.

    The sprawling modern structure, which is situated along Ibadan-Oyo Expressway in Akinyele Local Government Area, holds the key to hygienically-produced meat, job opportunities, revenue generation for the government as well as protection of public interest.

    By the time Governor Abiola Ajimobi inaugurated its operation by the end of the year, meat processing will move up to the standard of the World Health Organisation (WHO), with no fewer than 200 traders, including meat retailers and those trading in ancillary products and services, opening shop at the market complex and the in-built motor park thereby injecting life into the small community.

    With a police station, clinic, commercial bank and other social services incorporated in the abattoir complex, Ajimobi’s name will go down in the history of Oyo State as a governor whose tenure witnessed massive economic rebound and urban renewal. After inauguration, the abattoir will create an economic cluster and mini-town with potential for growth and development based in meat and allied products from the slaughtering and processing centre.

     

    The project

     

    The Ibadan Central Abattoir is a Private-Public-Partnership (PPP) project undertaken by C and E Limited, a local construction company that specialises in PPP ventures. The abattoir project was conceived and initiated in 2009 during the tenure of former governor, Adebayo Alao-Akala. It was conceived as a build-operate-transfer (BOT) project for 30 years.

    His successor, Abiola Ajimobi, continued with the arrangement though with a minor amendment in the shareholding and tenure structure. Currently, the tenure stands at 25 years with the government earning 30 per cent of the abattoir’s total annual revenue.

    The abattoir offers both modern and traditional slaughtering methods, rapid turn-around time and excellent hygienic conditions as against the current informal structure that leaves room for unhygienic slaughtering and meat distribution.

    The project has the capacity for 1,000 heads of animals (cow, sheep/goats and pigs) per day and is expandable to 5,000 heads per day with excellent ancillary facilities.

     

    Manual slaughter slabs

     

    The abattoir has two manual slaughter slabs with average area of 1,500 m2 each and well-furnished to accommodate over 200 butchers slaughtering cows, pigs, goats and sheep simultaneously.

     

    Mechanical slaughter slab

     

    The mechanical slaughter slab which is used in all developed countries was installed in the abattoir. It has the capacity to slaughter 500 cows per day, which is expandable to 2,000 per day.

     

    Lairage

     

    The lairage comprises the veterinary doctors’ office, health officers’ office, modern aboratory and three concrete paved holding pens for animals before slaughtering. The holding pens are approximately 12, 000 m2 in size.

    Arrangement for offices for veterinary doctors and health officers makes the environment conducive to the discharge of their duties. Since animals are brought into the abattoir in large quantity, the doctors and health officers will find it more convenient to offer services in a centralised place thereby ensuring that all animals pass health test before they are slaughtered and passed on to the public for consumption. Their services will also be enhanced with the provision of the modern laboratory.

    The holding pens offer a comfortable place for the animals to stay for minimum of 24 hours before they are slaughtered. This enables the animals to be stable after a long journey from the northern part of the country before they are slaughtered. The pen for the cattle is different from the sheep’s and pigs’.

     

    Security and storage

     

    The abattoir has two large cold rooms with 24-hour electricity supply and a modern red brick incinerator. It also has three gate houses and a police station for security purposes.

     

    Administration/hospitality

     

    Within the large complex lies an administrative block comprising offices for staff of the firm and related workers. The block also houses Butchers Co-operative Building, a commercial bank, a canteen and a clinic to cater for ailing butchers, members of staff of abattoir and customers.

     

    Market and shops 

     

    There are currently 224 shops for grabs by meat sellers and other traders in the abattoir.

     

    External services

     

    The abattoir contains five conveniences, good road network with asphaltic pavement and concrete drains as well as external electrification, including solar-powered street lights.

    As part of the agreement reached by the government and the firm, all other abattoirs in the 11 local government areas in Ibadan are to move to the central abattoir to undertake hygienic slaughtering of animals. The idea is to ensure standardisation of the meat being processed in the city for the health of consumers.

    Other smaller informal abattoirs in the city have already been declared illegal by the government with the expectation that butchers will move to the central abattoir to begin operation before the end of the year.

    The firm and government representatives have held series of meeting with the butchers’ association to educate them on the importance and gains of the central abattoir to their business and the health of members of the public. The association, in a December 10, 2014 letter to Ajimobi, also expressed their preparedness to move to the new abattoir.

    Government has also written to all other abattoirs in the city to move to the new modern abattoir for further activities.

    When the government finally enforces the order by December, activities in the central abattoir will be in full swing, bringing fulfilment to all stakeholders, including residents in the community.

    It is estimated that the project will generate about 2,000 jobs with coordinated revenue to the government and protection of the health of the public.

    Much more than the government and members of the public, veterinary doctors practising in the state are very excited at the project.

    Speaking on the abattoir, the Chairman of the Oyo State branch of the Association of Veterinary Doctors, Dr Musbau Ibrahim, said the association would be the happiest to witness its launch

    According to him, the association had been in the forefront of agitation for a modern abattoir given the dangers inherent in informal abattoirs which he described as unfit.

    Dr Ibrahim said a modern abattoir is central to the health of the public; given the fact that Nigerians consume a lot of meat.

    He further explained that the new project will ensure that all necessary ante-mortem and post-mortem tests are conducted on all the animals before they are passed onto the public for consumption.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Police avert crisis in community

    TO prevent the breakdown of law and order in the ancient town of Igboye land in Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State, the police have stopped the annual sacrifice to the ancestors of the primordial town till further notice.

    Last Thursday, some persons (names withheld) suspected to be sympathetic to the embattled traditional ruler of the town, Michael Onakoya, had attempted to offer sacrifices to the ancestors (Osi Ilu) of the town at the shrine, claiming to be acting on divination by an oracle.

    It was gathered that these persons cleared the bush surrounding the shrine and hired tents, chairs and bought a goat with which to make the sacrifice.

    The attempt to make the sacrifice came days after the monarch returned to the community following reprieve granted him by the Lagos State government last month.

    The monarch, who came back to the community as “an ordinary citizen”, it was learnt, has since kept a low profile as part of the conditions laid down by the government for his return, pending final determination of various cases in court.

    The Lagos State government, had earlier on May 17, last year, banished Oba Onakoya from Igboye, following two judgments by Justice Habib Abiru in October, 2008 and Justice Iyabo Kasali in April last year deposing Onakoya as the Orijeru of Igboye land.

    The deposition letter signed by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Sanuth J.A.B., ordered the monarch to stop parading himself “as the Orijeru of Igboye with immediate effect until another judgment setting the two aside is obtained.

    “I am to also advise you to stay away from the community in order to prevent any breakdown of law and order until the situation is reversed.”

    However, before the sacrifice could commence, youths of the community, in retaliation, were said to have swooped on the shrine, stopped the ceremony and chased away the people they met there.

    It was gathered that they insisted that no sacrifice would be allowed to take place at the shrine until there is a substantive king on the throne, more so that the community has not selected and installed a new Olisa after the death of Chief Fatai Mustapha.

    Investigation, however, revealed that those sympathetic to the monarch had earlier in March, this year, prevented some members of the community from celebrating Kilajolu Festival spear-headed by one of the ruling houses and during which they normally make offerings to their ancestors.

    It was learnt that a breakdown of law and order was prevented in the community following the intervention of Alara of Ilara, Oba A.A. Adesanya and the police.

    As a result of the new development, one Alhaji Rasaki Azeez and the youths’ leader (Olori Odo), Mr Toyin Sangosanya, leading some of the youth of the community, lodged a formal complaint at the office of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) and the Divisional Police Station at Oke Oyinbo, Epe.

    During an eventual meeting with the Divisional Crime Officer (DCO), Mrs Akinbo, the monarch reportedly insisted on having nothing to do with the attempt to offer sacrifices in the community.

    The DCO, thereafter, ordered that no sacrifice, under any guise, should hold in the community unless it has the support and approval of all the four ruling houses and until after the Muslim fasting season.

    Oba Onakoya did not pick his phone when contacted on his GSM line for comment on the matter.

    Head of the ruling houses (Olori Ebi Gbogbogbo) and also Head of Osikadewa Ruling House, Chief Safiriyu Bakare, who also confirmed the development, insisted that there is a reigning king in the town.

    Chief Bakare said the monarch left the town a year ago to allow peace to reign.

    He insisted that the monarch has nothing to do with the attempt to offer sacrifice to their ancestors at the shrine but that a new date would be fixed after the Ramadan for the conduct of the sacrifice.

    Acting Head of the Ewade Ruling House and Baba Adinni of Igboye and Odoyangusen, Alhaji Mikhail Kadiri confirmed the events in the town. He alleged that those sympathetic to the embattled monarch breached agreement reached at the police station in March that no family should make any sacrifice until there is a king on the throne.

    “If at all it must hold in the future, it must be subject to the agreement of the four ruling houses on equal terms”, he said, adding “any meeting to which Ewade Ruling House, for instance, is not validly invited on equal terms cannot be in the interest of Igboye land and would not be acceptable”.

    When contacted for comment on the matter, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr Ajimuda Olatunji also said   the issue in Igboye land is being handled at the level of the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja.