The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Agege

  • Lagos to demolish Agege shanties

    Lagos to demolish Agege shanties

    Lagos State has issued quit notice to squatters, beggars and illegal traders on the rail tracks along the Agege corridor ahead of a planned demolition.

    Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pension Afolabi Ayantayo gave the order at an enlarged stakeholders meeting with the Hausa community and other illegal occupants in the area.

    According to him, government would give no notice for the enforcement.

    He said: “We know that various criminal activities happen along that rail corridor; the shanties harbor criminals who attack passers-by and residents at night.

    “Government has invested a lot in the rail project and we don’t want anybody to sabotage and deface the infrastructure, that’s why we are educating and warning the people involved to vacate the area before enforcement begins.”

    Read Also: Health minister, perm sec get 72 hours to explain unaccounted $300m anti-malaria funds

    The commissioner also appealed to the community and market leaders to enlighten their residents and other traders to shun trading on the railways tracks to avoid being arrested.

    “Joint enforcement will begin and anybody arrested will face the wrath of the law, he added.”

    Speaker of the House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa said he has been to the rail corridor to sensitise residents on proper sanitation and pleas to stop trading on the tracks.

    Obasa, who was represented by the lawmaker representing Agege II in the House, Jubril AbdulKareem, said government would come with full force to demolish shanties after the stakeholders meeting.

  • Agege inaugurates 275-capacity JAMB centre

    Agege inaugurates 275-capacity JAMB centre

    The Chairman of Agege Local Government, Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi, has inaugurated a 275-capacity Joint Admissions Matriculation Board (JAMB)Computer-Based Test (CBT) Centre in the community.

    Egunjobi said the centre would  be of benefit to students.

    He said the centre would save those intending to sit for  the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) in the area the stress of travelling long distances to take the examination.

    “This is part of our efforts to develop education in the council area.

    Read Also: Philanthropist buys JAMB forms for pupils

    “This facility will boost the morale of our students and aid their performance in the examination.

    “We have 275–capacity hall, with brand new 100 KVA Mikano generator and eight units 2hp split Air Conditioners.

    “The CBT centre is equipped with all the standard facilities required,” he said.

    The council boss said the centre had been approved by JAMB and that Agege was the first council to provide such in the state.

    Egunjobi urged residents to take ownership of the facility and ensure it was put to good use.

    “We use this medium to call on the good people of the council area to embrace this centre  and  ensure their children and wards ,intending to sit for UTME, use the facility for registration with ease and comfort,” he said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CBT hall is situated at Agege Local Government Area Office C.

  • Baptist boys rally against cultism, drug abuse

    Baptist boys within 10-35 years last week staged a walk against cultism, drug abuse and other social vices among youths in Lagos.

    The rally organised by the Royal Ambassadors of Lagos West Baptist Conference coincided with the nation’s 59th independence celebration.

    Tagged the 2019 anti-social vices campaign, the walk took off from Union Baptist Church, Agege taking them to Ipaja road navigating through Orile-Agege to Papa Amoo from where they linked Oko-Oba.

    The boys, dressed in the blue uniform of the organisation, impressed passers-by with their band music.

    They waited at popular junctions to deliver punchy messages on the dangers of cultism, drug abuse, urging youths to desist from them.

    The Royal Ambassadors also distributed fliers, tracts and other materials against the vices, warning they have the potential to destroy destiny of youths.

    At the kick-off of the rally with the theme cultism: glory destroyer,  the Conference Director, Olumide ‘Seyi Ajayi, challenged youths not to engage in acts capable of tarnishing their image in the society.

    “We need to make the youth understand that cultism is a glory destroyer and cannot be of benefit to any nation.

    “Our youths are enjoined to desist from every act of violence and channel their energy towards nation building.

    “By doing so, the future of our dear country – Nigeria, is bright,” he said.

    Conference Assistant Director, Adesakin Aderibigbe and Anti-Social Vices Club coordinator, Kehinde Omoniru, also charged the youths to be role models in their various communities.

    As they stopped at intervals, they interacted with members of the communities, urging them to embrace peace.

  • Agege council chief backs LG autonomy

    Executive chairman of Agege Local Government, Hon AbdulGaniyu Egunjobi, has thrown his weight behind the demand for local government autonomy in the country.

    He said that only council autonomy can guarantee genuine development of rural areas in the country.

    “In all honesty, it is high time the legislative arms across the country did what is right and grant the local governments the full autonomy they deserve. The local government is the closest to the grassroots and we cannot wish away this and the fact this current situation in which the finances of the councils are under the states are a disservice to developments in our communities. No doubt, the 1999 Constitution bequeathed to us this problem of partial autonomy. It recognises the local government as the third tier of government but restricts its independence. Constitution as we all know is a work in progress.

    “The 8th National Assembly has done its bit by passing the local government autonomy bill and President Muhammadu Buhari’s favourable disposition towards it is well documented; all it requires to change the narrative is for two-third of the state assemblies to endorse it.

    ‘’If it comes into force, grassroots will witness tremendous developments in the area of infrastructures and human capital developments and the whole country would be the better for it. The local government is the bedrock for sustainable development in nation building and this constitutional encumbrance is inimical to effective local government administration. Without fear of contradiction, there is no alternative to local government autonomy if we want to develop as a country. Local government is in fact, a safety net for struggling families in the grassroots.

    Egunjobi expressed optimism that the Lagos State House of Assembly would soon endorse the agitation for council autonomy.

    The council chief noted that divergent views expressed by different stakeholders would not in any way affect the agitation for local government autonomy.

  • Golden Jubilee to college graduates

    It was joyful moments for the Ahmadiyya College, Agege (formerly Anwar-Ul-Islam Model College Agege) Old Students Association (ACAOSA) 64/68 sets when it celebrated its 50th anniversary at Eko Club in Surulere, Lagos State. OLATUNDE ODEBIYI writes.

    Most of the old boys clad in white traditional attires with uniform yellow and blue striped caps. They converged at Eko Club in Surulere, Lagos State to celebrate 50 years after school.

    They are the old boys of Ahmadiyya College, Agege (formerly Anwar-Ul-Islam Model College Agege) Old Students Association (ACAOSA) 64/68 sets. They were joined by families, friends and other sets of the college.

    They could not hide the joy of seeing each other; they exchanged pleasantries, shook hands and hugged with all smiles.

    The ceremony began with Muslim prayers and citation of the ACAOSA anthem.

    Guests were introduced and the then college principal, Alhaji Jimoh Gbadamosi was recognised. A minute silence was observed for late members.

    ACAOSA 64/68 sets President, Babatunde Grillo said the gathering was to thank God.

    “We are gathering here today to give thanks to God for sparing our lives. We left school 50 years ago and we are still alive. Some of us are dead, for those of us alive; we have every reason to thank God because it is not by our making that we are standing today.

    “This gathering is also to meet ourselves again as some of us have not seen in a while.”

    He said the association is set out to be of help to members while also giving back to its alma mater.

    “We are all products of this great school which has made us who we are today, we owe it a responsibility to give back to the school in all the ways we can. We have given somethings and plans are ongoing to give more,” he said.

    The Secretary, Ganiyu Ajala, added that the club has made them who they are today.

    “We are all graduates from the school and we cut across different profession in life, including medicine, engineering, accounting, pharmacy, law, teaching and even politics.

    “ACAOSA members in one way or the other have influence in all sectors of the economy. It is therefore worthwhile for our set to celebrate and thank God for keeping us alive since we left school 50 years ago,” he said.

    ACAOSA President General, Lawal Pedro SAN, said the 50 years anniversary signifies good tidings for the association.

    “That we have a set celebrating its golden jubilee this year is a source of joy, happiness and accomplishment in life.

    50 years ago, they were together in the school and they are still bonding together till today. This is a source of glory to the Almighty God and to them.

    “If the Association was not on ground, it would have been difficult for them to relate with themselves as they may not recognise each other if they meet on the streets.

    “We have good functional sets in Nigeria and the 64/68 sets is one of the old generational sets which I am here to felicitate with.”

    Pedro said ACAOSA as a body is set out to give back to the alma mater, the school that made them.

    “It is from this school that we cultivated our knowledge and developed character in all state of affairs. The school has done well to all of us in all areas and that is why we always come together to give back to the school that has given us so much.

    Read also: ‘We are churning out graduates with high employability’

    “ACAOSA stands for networking, developing, helping one another when the need arises and giving back to the Alma Mater.”

    He urged all members to always give the best, noting that ACAOSA has achieved so mush over the years.

    “From my tenure as President and President General, we have achieved so much and improved on what predecessors have done. We are now a legal entity that is registered with CAC, we now have a purpose built mosque for the school and we hope to complete it with all necessary facility before the year runs out. We have revitalised the sport Arena to make it a useful pitch, we have an ICT and we have started a new project of uninterrupted power supply to the school; we also have model clinic for the school.”

    He added: “This is the first Muslim college in West Africa. These are some of the things ACAOSA has done, not only by ACAOSA in Nigeria, but combined efforts of ACAOSA in the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK).”

    Pedro said that in few months’ time, they would have ACAOSA USA reunion, which aims to bring all the ACAOSA members in the USA together. ”The UK ACAOSA will also have a reunion celebration this year. What we have in Nigeria is sets but in USA and UK is Chapter,” he said.

  • LAFROGRAMS celebrates at 50

    Lagos African Church Grammar School, Ifako, Agege (now Ifako Ijaiye), (LAFROGRAMS), is celebrating the golden jubilee.

    The school, established in 1969 by the African Church, is rolling out the drums to rejoice at 50.

    LAFROGRAMS was a force to reckon with in sports, especially in football, in the 70s. The school performed well in the Principals’ Cup, a football competition among government approved secondary schools in those days. Its coach, Kashimawo Laloko, aka Ameh, later became a prominent coach in Nigerian football. LAFROGRAMS also shone brightly in athletics and other sports.

    Read also: FG flags off 2019 school census

    In the academic world, the school was and is still known for excellence. The foundation laid by the first head teacher, the late Babatunde Bankole Majekodunmi and consolidated by his successor, the late Oke Osanyintolu, is still being maintained. Since LAFROGRAMS presented its first set of students for the West African School Certificate Examination in 1973, it has been performing well in external examinations.

    The National President of Lagos African Church Grammar School Old Students Association (LAFROSA), Moses Paul, said: “We the old students of LAFROGRAMS are happy to celebrate our alma mater. On Thursday, there will be an anniversary lecture, to be followed the next day by a novelty match/cultural day. The celebration will be rounded off on Sunday with a thanksgiving service at the African Church Cathedral, Ifako, from 10am.”

  • Two injured in Agege inferno

    A woman and a young boy on Tuesday sustained injuries after electricity surge sparked inferno at Orile-Agege in Lagos.

    The fire, which started at about 6am, was said to have raged for several hours destroying shops, houses and wares.

    It was gathered a high tension cable fell on a residential building where cooking gas was on and it escalated the fire.

    Lamenting their losses, victims said fire service officials told them they did not have water when they called them to contain the inferno.

    A woman, Iya Mariam, who said she visited her mother, told The Nation said a lot would have been salvaged if the agency responded in good time.

    She said: “My mum grinds pepper in that compound where fire broke out. I came to visit my mum there.

    “I woke up in the morning to get my child set for school and the next thing I heard people screaming that a room was on fire.

    “In no time, it escalated to other rooms. They went to call fire service but those ones said they do not have water, how can that happen?

    “Majority of our things are gone. Few people sustained injuries. We do not want the compound to be taken from us, the government should help us by building a better one.”

    Mrs. Sherifat Aderigbigbe, a pepper grinder, blamed fire service for not doing their job well, saying they have been made to suffer and rendered homeless.

    A trader, Bolanle Babatunde, said he ensured he evacuated his children while they kept calling and waiting on the fire service.

    Mallam Abdullahi, an Imam, said he was praying when the fire started, adding that he lost most of his goods.

    According to the President, President Arewa United (Consultative Forum), Alhaji Shuaibu Ado, said the fire spread from room to room as soon as the cable fell, adding that people fled abandoning their valuables.

    Read Also: Fire razes building in Kano

    “People started shouting fire, fire and they ran leaving their goods and properties inside. No life was lost but we are pained now because we have lost millions of properties and money to the fire outbreak.

    “We are appealing to the government to come to our aid and give the Hausa boys shelter. They are now stranded. Everything they worked for has gone down the drain.

    “Now that there is no alternative for them tonight, they would all sleep on the road.

    “Those who live here are those who are financially not upright, so they cannot even go out to rent an apartment.”

    Seriki Hausa Alhaji Aminu confirmed no life was lost in the incident, blaming the outbreak on electrical surge.

    “I received a distress call early this morning that when light came on, it sparked and affected a shop. In the process of putting out the fire, the whole thing escalated and affected other areas.

    “Two persons sustained injury, a woman and a young boy and have been rushed to the General Hospital Agege. No life was lost.

    “Due to the damage caused already, we are considering giving the place to a developer to develop. We allowed the Hausa boys to sleep here, we built rooms for the Hausa boys so the ‘omo onile’ people will not tamper with the land.

    “Most of the Hausa boys are workers here. A lot of agencies came to our rescue, the police, fire service, Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) and Civil Defence. They all collaborated to ensure the situation was brought down to a minimal level,” he said.

     

  • Old students plan foundation for indigent

    The 64/68 set of Ahmadiyya College, Agege (Now Anwar-Ul-Islam Model College Agege) Old Students Association (ACAOSA), ) has announced plans to establish a foundation geared towards providing scholarships to indigent students of its alma mater.

    Its President, Babatunde Grillo, who spoke in Eko Club, Surulere, Lagos, during a meeting ahead of the association’s 50th anniversary, slated for March 17, said the event would feature donations of furniture for the school’s hall.

    He said: “When we were students of the same school, we sometimes had no money to pay our fees, but our principal then, would give us grace for about three months, before we were sent back home for not paying; we do not want students of today to experience the same,  and that was why we thought it worthy to have a plan to help those who cannot afford to pay.

    “We will work with the school principal, who will let us know those students, who cannot pay their school fess, so that we will come in and be of help to then.”

    He said the sponsorship is mainly for students of the school, adding that it is their own way to give back to the society.

    He said the 50th anniversary is aimed at showing appreciation to God. “The anniversary is to give thanks to Almighty Allah for sparing our lives. Exactly 10 years ago, we celebrated our 40 years anniversary here, but we are reducing, because some of our members are dead, but most of us are still alive, hence the need for us to give thanks.”

    He said the association in its determination to give back to its alma mater will also be donating furniture for the school hall.  “This is our way to give back to the school that made us. We pray Allah spare our lives to witness the 60th anniversary.”

    He added that the anniversary will also be a day for the old students’ reunion. “We also have plans outside this anniversary celebration to visit some orphanages, to donate things to them. All our plans will be effective after our anniversary. As an association, we are out to help,  improve and assist the college in terms of infrastructure and to encourage the students. We have donated other things in the past and we hope to do more.”

    The Association’s General Secretary, Alhaji Babatunde Ajala, said the anniversary will begin on March 15 with Jumat prayer to hold at the school premises in Agege by 1pm.

    “On  Sunday, March 17 we,  the alumni, will have a social get together to celebrate ourselves with friends and families.”

  • Train derails in Lagos

    A mass transit shuttle train yesterday derailed at Ashade railway crossing in Agege, Lagos, with hundreds of passengers trapped for hours.

    Some of the passengers were injured in the accident, which happend around 7.15am.

    Security operatives, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported, cordoned off the area, and facilitated the evacuation of the injured to hospitals.

    Acting Lagos District Manager of Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC) Mr. Augustine Arisa said nobody died.

    He said: “The derailment occurred when the Apapa-bound mass transit train skidded off its tracks at the Ashade Railway Crossing at Agege, on the Ikeja Corridor.

    “The shuttle train was going from Ijoko in Ogun State to Apapa in Lagos.

    Read also: CAN mourns as Atilade dies at 76

    “The situation is now under control. We learnt that nobody died, but some of the passengers had minor injuries.

    “Everything is now under control and we are trying to put the train back on the tracks.’’

    He said an injured passenger was recuperating at the NRC Hospital in Ebute Meta.

    The derailment caused traffic jam on Capitol Road, Agege, which extended to Mosalasi Alhaja towards Mangoro.

    Last November 16, a passenger train derailed around abattoir in Agege and on June 20, a commercial bus rammed into a moving train along the Agege corridor.

     

  • Man breaks into shop, steals N180,000 goods

    A 28-year-old man, John Ekemini, who allegedly broke into a shop and stole goods worth N180,000, was on Wednesday arraigned at an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    Ekemini, whose address was not provided, was docked for shop-breaking and stealing.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Mike Unah, told the court that Ekemini committed the offence on Aug. 5 by 06:00a.m, at No. 1, Jonathan Coker Road, New Oko-Oba, Agege in Lagos.

    Unah said that the defendant broke into the shop of the complainant, Mrs Kehinde Fasasi, in the early hours of the same day to steal the goods.

    “Ekemini stole an LG plasma television valued at N65,000, three gas cylinders valued at N30,000 and some cloths valued at N90,000.

    The prosecutor said that the defendant was caught while trying to escape with the stolen items by the vigilance team in the Area.

    Ekemini, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge when it was read to him.

    The offence contravened Sections 287 and 309 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 (Revised).

    Read Also: 93, 788 PVCs uncollected in Plateau – INEC

    The Section 287 stipulates a seven-year jail term for offenders, while Section 309 provides three years for shop-breaking.

    The Magistrate, Mr A. A. Fashola, admitted him to a N50,000 bail with two sureties in like sum.

    Fashola said that the surety should be gainfully employed, with evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos state government.

    The magistrate adjourned the case until Sept. 12, for hearing.