The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Community Development Associations (CDAs)

  • Edo anti-CDA taskforce orders arrest of Odionwere of Ohonre Community

    Edo anti-CDA taskforce orders arrest of Odionwere of Ohonre Community

    Standing firm on its resolve to curtail illegal activities of Community Development Associations (CDAs), Edo State Government has ordered the arrest of the Odionwere of Ohonre, Mr. Victor Ugiagbe, over his refusal to honour invitations by the Taskforce on Private Property Protection.

    The Vice Chairman of the Taskforce on Private Property Protection, Chief Osaro Idah, disclosed this on Monday, warning against the antics of CDA members who still perpetuate illegal activities in the state.

    He said that Mr. Ugiagbe, who hails from Ohonre Community in Ovia North East Local Government Area of the state, was reported to have claimed ownership and destroyed the perimeter fence of a landed property belonging to one Mr. Oviasuyi Brown.

    He added that when the task force invited Mr. Ugiagbe to make his case, he refused to honour the taskforce’s invitation on the allegations leveled against him.

    Chief Idah said the committee would further seek legal advice from the Edo State Ministry of Justice to ascertain the final steps to be taken in the court case filed by Mr. Victor Ugiagbe against the taskforce’s order.

    The taskforce’s Public Relations Officer, Hon. Osaro Obazee, said the committee has presided over and resolved about one hundred cases since its inauguration.

    He noted that some cases were resolved by the warring factions in communities that have been sensitised on the consequences of disregarding the PPP Law.

    According to him, “Some communities that know the implications of the law have resolved land disputes amicably. The task force only waded into those that weren’t making headway.”

  • Edo to set up Specialised Court for property offenses

    Edo to set up Specialised Court for property offenses

    The Edo State Government has revealed plans to set up a specialised court across the state as part of its ongoing efforts to attract more investors in the property development sector.

    This much was disclosed by former Inspector General of Police, IGP, and Chairman, Edo State Private Property Protection Task Force, Dr. Solomon Arase, at the Government House in Benin City, during a chat with journalists on the state’s efforts at creating the enabling environment for investors in property development.

    “The state governor has promised to speed up the process to create specialised courts which will enable us prosecute individuals and groups involved in illegal land allocation which stifles economic development,” Arase said.

    The thinking in Edo State government circle is that the specialised courts will assist in the speedy and timely dispensation of property-related legal matters which is a basic requirement in attracting investors into the state’ property sector.

    Investors are believed to be discouraged from investing in the state because of the activities of the outlawed Community Development Associations (CDAs).

    Dr. Arase further said that the state is also making efforts to rehabilitate members of the outlawed CDAs through the setting up of farms and technical institutions across the state to provide the youths who were members of the CDAs with skills and better means of livelihood.

    The former IGP stated also that the taskforce is also collaborating with traditional institutions to sanitise the process of allocating landed property to developers.

    The chairman commended the synergy between the state governor and the Oba of Benin in creating the legal framework to address the chaotic and illegal activities of the CDAs which worked against the growth of the state in the past.

  • Ramadan: Why we are hosting Muslims in 20 Centres – Ambode

    Ramadan: Why we are hosting Muslims in 20 Centres – Ambode

     

    …Urges Monarchs, Religious, Community Leaders, Others to Participate

     

    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday explained the rationale behind the decision of his administration to host Muslims in twenty centres across the State for the Eid-el-fitri celebration, saying that it was part of the strategy to bring about bonding among the people and enhance community participation in governance.

    Speaking at Lagos House when he received members of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs on a courtesy visit, Governor Ambode said it had been observed overtime that people travel from far and near to celebrate with the first family in the State during festivities, and that the decision to host Muslims in various centres across the State was basically to address such trend on one hand, and also to give greater number of people the sense of participation in governance on the other hand.

    He said: “Like you are aware, we intend to celebrate the Ramadan in the various communities and I need to make some explanation here. Before now, anytime we are having festivities maybe Ramadan, Christmas, New Year and so on, people normally converge at the State House to come and greet the first family and so you see people coming all the way from Badagry or coming all the way from Igbogbo or Epe and then they come to celebrate with us.

    “I find out that sometimes, they might even spend N3,000 to get here and go home with maybe N500 and so in my own little wisdom, I think if I make them remain in their communities and they celebrate there, there is likely a position for us to start to practice government of inclusion so that everybody feels government everywhere.

    “Instead of somebody coming from Badagry, the Local Government, the Community Development Associations (CDAs), the traditional rulers, the Chief Imams and every other person will celebrate the Ramadan and recital of Quran in their communities and so there is a sense of belonging and so instead of 2,000 people coming to Ikeja, I am likely to have one million people across the State doing the same thing at the same time and in doing that, they will get the sense of involvement. So, we must practice community governance using our different platforms to celebrate ourselves,” Governor Ambode explained.

    He said the same strategy was adopted during the Community Day Celebration and it worked perfectly well, adding that with the initiative, government would evolve community participation in governance and enhance the bonding among the people.

    The Governor said on his part, he would also make appearance in some of the centres to celebrate with the people, and urged the traditional rulers, community leaders, religious leaders among others to also join in the celebration.

    Governor Ambode also thanked the monarchs for pledging to support the moves by government to maintain peace, law and order, especially the pledge to do so during the forthcoming Local Government election in the State.

    Responding to a request to intervene in the crisis rocking the Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), Governor Ambode said it was gratifying to announce that academic activities would resume in the institution immediately after the Eid-el-fitri holiday.

     

  • Lagos threatens to dethrone traditional rulers conniving with kidnappers

    The Lagos State Government on Friday threathened to dethrone any traditional ruler found harbouring and aiding kidnappers in the state.

    The state’s Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Alhaji Muslim Folami, gave the warning at the ongoing ministerial briefing in commemoration of Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s second year in office.

    “Intelligence reveals that some of these Baales, particularly from Ikorodu and Ishawo collaborate with the miscreants to kidnapp innocent souls.

    “Yesterday, I told them to their faces this might lead to dethroning and we will do just that if investigations reveal that you are part of the criminality,” Folami said.

    He said that the State Government had acquired five hectares of land for the permanent settlement of the security operatives in Igbodu community in Epe to check the incessant attack by kidnappers.

    “The land has been cleared and ready for development,” he said.

    He urged residents to partner with the government in fighting kidnapping and also advised them to be more vigilant.

    Folami said that the establishment of a virile and vibrant system of community associations had over the years enabled the government to partner with communities, sensitise them on its priorities and receive feedback on public policies.

    He said that the total number of Community Development Associations (CDAs) across the state as at March was 3,400, up from 3,292 recorded last year.

    Folami said that many of the CDAs held monthly meetings to address matters of security, conflict resolution and also tasked themselves to ensure protection of lives and property.

    “Community development is one of the primary goals of this administration, it is an established fact that development cannot take place without peace and harmony,” Folami said.

    On the targets of the ministry before the end of the year, the commissioner said that initiatives would be expanded and improved to further create positive synergy between the State Government and the communities.

    He said such initiatives include the market branding and community media campaign.

    Folami said that there would be improvement of the 402 markets across the state through the provision of necessary facilities to include clinics, toilets, fencing and electrification and crèche for babies.

    The commissioner said that the first phase of the community radio would take-off in five locations of the state.

    According to him, the stations are expected to be data driven internet radio, with a view to taking advantage of the high penetration of mobile application users in the state.

     

  • Timely information crucial to tackling kidnapping, other crimes – Ambode

    Timely information crucial to tackling kidnapping, other crimes – Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday urged royal fathers, traditional chiefs, Community Development Associations (CDAs), market men and women and other stakeholders in all the communities across the State to cultivate the habit of timely reportage of suspicious movement around them to security agencies to nip in the bud any potential security threats in their neigbourhood.

    The Governor, who spoke through his representatives in twenty different locations during the ongoing commissioning of 114 roads newly constructed in all the 20 Local Government Areas (LGA) and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the State, said there was great need for community leaders to assist security agencies to address the menace of cultism, kidnapping, miscreants, vandalism and hoodlums by providing timely information.

    Speaking through the State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Lola Akande at the commissioning of some of the newly built roads in Egbe-Idimu LCDA, Governor Ambode said the 114 roads initiative was in fulfillment of the social pact which he signed with the people during the electioneering and his inaugural speech of running a system in which the “greatest good shall reach the greater majority of the people.”

    He said the new roads aside improving the easy movement of goods and services across the various local governments; it would facilitate prompt and efficient response of security and emergency operations.

    In Egbe-Idimu LCDA, Governor Ambode commissioned 633 meters Council Street Road through Akande, while the Chief Imam of Alausa Secretariat Mosque, Alhaji Babatunde Kassim represented him at the commissioning of 667meters Community Road in Agodo.

    Also, the Sole Administrator of Egbe-Idimu LCDA, Mr. Doyin Salam, said he was extremely delighted about the development happening during his time, saying that ever since coming on board, Governor Ambode has proven himself to be passionately committed about grassroot development.

    In Mushin Local Government, the Governor who was represented Special Adviser on Education, Obafela bank-Olemoh at the inauguration of Aborishade Road, Lawanson, said the next set of 114 roads would commence before the end of the year.

    He said in another one year, projects that will impact the community and new sets of roads, two in each local government and local council development area will emerge.

    Adding his voice, member of the House of Assembly, Hon. Kazeem Adewale who commissioned Martins Street also in Mushin LGA, on behalf of Governor Ambode, urged residents to take ownership of the infrastructure.

    At the commissioning of Alhaji Oseni and Kola Ogunkoya Streets both in Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, the Governor was represented by a member of the Federal House of Representatives representing Ikorodu Constituency Hon. Jimi Benson and Community Development Council (CDC) Chairman in Ikorodu, Mr. Rotimi Owolabi Ayoku.

    Speaking through his representatives, Governor Ambode restated his commitment to making life easy for all residents of the State, just as he urged them not to fail in their own civic responsibilities of paying their taxes regularly.

    On her part, the Sole Administrator of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Mrs. Bolanle Bashorun, thanked the Governor for keeping to his promise, saying the two roads would improve infrastructural development, which in turn would increase economic activities within the community.

    Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa who represented Governor Akinwumi Ambode, alongside House of Representatives member, Taofeek Adaranijo at the commissioning of Ogundele and Fashola Streets at Orile-Agege LCDA, pleaded for more support for the present administration and the All Progressive Congress (APC) to be able to enjoy more dividends of democracy.

    The Sole Administrator of Orile-Agege LCDA, Mr. Olufemi Agboola, said the roads are major link roads, which would ease traffic gridlock, reduce travel time, especially the 0.61 kilometres Ogundele road to connect Oja Oba on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway.

    In Ifelodun LCDA, Hon. Jide Jimoh a member of the House of Representatives and the CDC Chairman of Ikosi-Ejirin (Epe) Prince Diran Ajijedidun commissioned Iludun Street, Pako and another in Awope Itire Street, off Alaba Road on behalf of the Governor.

    Governor Ambode at the commissioning of Federal Low Cost Bypass in Ikorodu North LCDA assured that at least 456 inner city roads would have been commissioned before the end of his administration in 2019.

    Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Community Affairs, Alhaji Tajudeen Quadri, Ambode said that another set of 114 roads were being identified and would be delivered next year.

    In Surulere LGA, Governor Ambode inaugurated Micheal Ogun/Durojaiye Street Aralile/Adedayo Streets where he was represented by Alhaja Lateefat Gbajabiamila and Hon. Rotimi Olowo, a member of the House of Assembly.

    Governor Ambode also inaugurated Ogbe/Iragunshin/Odogbawojo Road and Church Street, Odo-Egiri in Eredo LCDA, and was represented HRH Oba Aladegunshebi of Noforija and Mr. Wale Oluwo, the State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources.

    Similarly, the Governor also commissioned Iworo Road to Epe Jetty and Mogboro-Joseph Road both in Olorunda LCDA, where he was represented by the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Akinyemi Ashade and a member of the House of Representatives. Hon. Joseph Bamgbose.