The Nation Newspaper

Tag: COMMUNITY

  • JCI Nigeria fetes Asia business community

    The Junior Chamber International Nigeria (JCIN) has concluded plans to host a business forum – ‘Let’s go to Asia’ on Setember 27 at the Intercontinental Hotel, Lagos. Let’s go to Asia is a prelude to the Centenary anniversary of the JCI holding in Kanazawa Japan. The forum is a platform of opportunities to promote business relationships between young Nigerian business leaders and Asian companies.

    On the initiative, JCIN National President, Mr Seun Osikalu, said: “Our members invest a lot of resources on their various travels around the world for JCI programmes and conferences. These events provide enormous opportunities for our members to establish lifelong relationships and we want our members and interested members of the public to take deliberate advantage of such opportunities. We have partnered with Asian trade and commercial missions in Nigeria to come sell their countries and they are excited at the prospects that the forum offers.”

    Also, the National Director of Business Affairs, Mr Jide Benson said: “We reckon that since a large delegation of our members will be attending the week-long world congress in Kanazawa Japan, which will be an opportunity for direct interaction with business organisations and people in the Asiatic regions – Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Singapore, Phillipines, Malaysia, Japan and others – so we thought it fit to be equipped with the right information and knowledge before departure. The region being the hub for manufacturing and production has a lot to offer discerning business people.”

    The event is a fee for interested persons and is open to members and non members seeking opportunities to be tapped in Asia and JCI Nigeria is proud to see the need and take the lead.

    The Junior Chamber International is a world federation of young (community and business) leaders that provide development opportunities for active citizens to create positive change.

    Entrepreneurship is one of the ideals that the organisation promotes sand the LTGA is geared towards this area.

     

  • Millions lost as militants hit community

    •Homes razed

    Armed militants yesterday attacked Odimodi community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

    They destroyed several homes and other property worth millions of naira.

    The casualty figure, if any, was unkown at last night.

    But it was gathered that some of the embattled residents of the oil-rich community, who ran into the bush, had not returned.

    The homes of the interim chairman of the local government, Chief Alex Pukon, and another community leader, Chief Sunny Gbegha, were among the five the hoodlums reportedly torched.

    The attackers were believed to be members of a gang, the Red Beret.

    Gbegha, who confirmed the report in a telephone chat with our reporter, accused a key player in the community’s leadership crisis as the mastermind of the attack.

    A terse short messaging service (SMS) from Gbegha sent to our reporter at 3:03am, reads: “Militants, led by (the suspected mastermind) just burnt my house and Chief Alex Pukon’s house at Odimodi.”

    Some community leaders, who spoke in confidence, confirmed the report.

    They accused the military, especially the Navy at the nearby Forcados Crude Oil Export Terminal, of ignoring early warnings and the message sent by the community during the invasion.

    A highly respected leader of the community said: “When the shooting and burning started, we contacted the Commanding Officer (Lt.-Col. Bassey Ekong) of the Army (3 Battalion) but he said he could not take action without the governor giving directive.”

    Although the claim could not be independently verified, another source accused the Navy of compromise.

    The source alleged that top officials of the force were on the payroll of the mastermind of the attack.

    There was an uneasy calm in the community yesterday, following the deployment of soldiers in the area.

    The soldiers chased away the hoodlums, although it was not clear if security operatives made any arrest.

  • Community Supported Agriculture: Connecting consumers, farms

    Community Supported Agriculture: Connecting consumers, farms

    With rural farmers facing the challenge of accessing profitable markets, experts say Community Supported Agriculture (CSA), an arrangement in which members pay for produce upfront at the beginning of the farming season, should be adopted. CSA provides needed fund for farmers and ensures affordable fresh food for consumers, DANIEL ESSIET reports.

    Some farmers have started  tapping into the growing demand for fresh produce to make money.

    In Lagos and other cities, the increasing demand for fresh produce, such as vegetables, mushrooms, tomatoes, water melon and others, by supermarket chains has increased. For example, farmers in Lagos have been making steady income by supplying outlets such as Shoprite and  Eko  Farmers  Mart.

    Spotting a lucrative opportunity, many farmers have agreed to sell their produce using the thriving market platforms. For instance, it is a daily ritual for workers at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, to stroll into Eko  Farmers Marts to buy fresh fruits, eggs and vegetables. Such markets are celebrated for providing fresh produce, such as eggs and fruits.

    The Eko Farmers Mart has, undoubtedly, increased farmers  income. Under the arrangement, the  Lagos  Agric  Youth Empowerment Scheme  works with young  farmers to  produce  crops and  poultry  products, which  are  distributed through  the marts.

    At a forum, the  Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Dr Olajide Basorun, said the markets offer quality, freshness, hygiene and reasonable prices.

    He said the government would play a pivotal role in supporting the local industry by assisting farmers to sell their ever-increasing volumes of fresh farm produce.

    Across Lagos, Eko  Farmers Marts and supermarket chains  have revolutionised food distribution in the short span. The megastores are popular with customers for their lower prices, choice and convenience.

    The marts, according to Basorun, provide added value with healthier food in an environment that fosters social interactions. Producers or farmers keying into the system sell a wide variety of fruits, vegetables and poultry products. The benefits are manyas they provide jobs, generate less waste, bring fresh wholesome food, and connect one to their source.

    Through Eko Farmers Marts Basorun said local  producers are  being  integrated  into a food distribution system recognised for its  potential to boost  economic  development  through  agriculture. The  system, he  noted,  has  created  a market channel  for people to  bring fresh  produce  into the city and  new opportunities for families, who live in rural Lagos.

    He said the marts, located  in  various  parts of the  state, offer cheap fresh foods to members of their host communities and encourage farmers to increase output.

    While these types of markets are on the rise in the cities, the same is not obtained in rural areas. Consequently, many small farmers in rural areas do not have access to such markets unlike their  medium and large growers, with more money and marketing savvy

    For example, farmers outside Lagos struggle to take their produce to the  market. They have to transport the produce to far  places by trucks.  As such, the  produce do not arrive their destinations fresh. They are also of limited variety and are expensive with costs rising between 50 to 100 per cent  in centrally located urban areas.

    Its feeble attempts to sell to major supermarkets in the town illustrate how the odds are stacked against small farmers. Those  produce may be sold in small shops and open-air markets, but the value of supermarket purchases  in places  such  as Eko  farmers marts and Shoprite have soared.

    Stiff competition from big urban and industrial growers is also real. To supply the supermarkets is a big challenge in terms of requirements.  Even though sales are there in the rural areas, the local markets accounts for less than 10 percent of sales.

    For   watchers, local food systems are pillars of rural economic development together with agriculture. The  expansion of cities and their increasing demands should be  paired with the challenges of improving rural livelihoods.

    Consequently, there   is a clear need for small scale farmers to find an alternative to formal market that is mainly dominated by big -businesses. One possible solution is the Community Supported Agriculture ( CSA) model.

    In CSA, members buy a share at the beginning of the growing season. That provides farmers with up-front capital to grow and manage the farm. In exchange, consumers receive a weekly delivery of fresh, seasonal produce. They also take on the risk of a poor harvest. Ideally, the model builds community and personal connections around food.

    Speaking  with  The Nation, The Project Director, Cassava Adding to Africa (CAVA), Prof Kola Adebayo said  CSA refers to an arrangement where consumers purchase a share of a local farm’s harvest prior to the growing season. Sometimes known as subscription farming, CSA is based on an annual market agreement between a farm and local individuals or households. In return for the up-front cash and commitment to the whole growing season, consumers get a weekly variety of farm-fresh produce.

    He  said  farmers  in the  rural  areas  will benefit if  they  adopt   CSA  arrangement  with  consumers  within local and  urban  communities. Apart from  having  access  to  markets, they  will  be  able  to  grow the local economies, expand their businesses and get more income for their produce.

    Interestingly,  CSA  is a membership farming scheme. Members of the farm communities commit themselves to buying a share of the farm’s harvest for 12-months at a time. This approach allows the farm to invest in the year ahead knowing that it has the support to continue and that the produce will be eaten as they can grow to meet the demand. This system is very beneficial for the farm because it allows the growers to concentrate on what they love, growing food, rather than worry about marketing, processing, branding among others.

    As community supported market farms, members, both farmers and consumers feel connected to where their food is coming from and how it is produced.

    According to Adebayo, CSA is a relatively new way of farming involving a partnership between food producers and the local community.

    CSA, according to him, brings farmers and their customers together to  share responsibility for the land where their food is grown and how their food is produced.  The farmers and consumers participate in marketing system where seasonal produce are sold weekly. The aim is to provide sustainable and growing market for farmers and give customers access to fresh produce with less food miles and at competitive prices.

    The system ensures that fresh produce is available year round for producers, their families, and local communities.

    Unlike conventional agriculture, where farmers bear the risks of weather, pests, and the marketplace alone, in community supported agriculture the entire community shares the bounty and scarcity.

    He said CSA would work  when  farmers  are committed to buying from a producer, or group of producers. A key point is that the consumers are committed to buying on a regular basis and at least, for a whole growing season.

    Community supported agriculture is, in fact, a big name for a simple idea. Communities of any size make a financial pledge to support a local farm. This helps them to connect directly with their local farmers and provides benefits for both parties.

    The farmer benefits financially from having a secure market of committed customers and the ‘members’ of the CSA often contribute additional labour and a range of skills.

    President, Federated FADAMA Community Association, Lagos State, Alhaji Abiodun Oyenekan said strong links to markets for poor rural producers are essential for increasing agricultural production, generating economic growth in rural areas and reducing hunger and poverty.

    Oyenekan said better access by small producers to domestic and international markets means that they can reliably sell more produce at higher prices. This, in turn, encourages farmers to invest in their businesses and increase the quantity, quality and diversity of the goods they produce.

    To him, belonging to an organised group,  allows small farmers to bulk produce, reduce costs through economies of scale and, perhaps most importantly, to strengthen their bargaining power with powerful private-sector actors.

    With increasing challenges of accessing markets,  Oyenekan said  it becomes necessary to support farmers to organise themselves into groups such as cooperatives that give them needed capacity to negotiate for better prices.

    He said such cooperatives   improve farmers’ access to markets, increase their earnings, and improve the livelihood and well-being of their families. Apart from addressing the real need in the agriculture value chain of ensuring that farmers have access to necessary inputs to raise their productivity,  they are facilitated to increase their overall earnings from agriculture.

    He said cooperatives    enable farmers to work together, reducing competition and making it easier to take care of tasks such as marketing. By combining forces, they can also supply larger users such as restaurants and other businesses, and may be able to hire people to work out the distribution while they focus on farming.

     

  • Ogun community protests land loss to grabbers

    Sympathisers who heard the ordeal of Toke Odusile and Rokibat Oyetunji could not help burst into tears, asking why the authorities had left the community at the mercy of land grabbers, notoriously called Omo Oniles.

    Five-year-old Toke and her neighbour, Rokibat, 3, were both living peacefully with their parents in a sleepy community called Ipetoro/Lowa in the Sagamu Local Government Area of Ogun State until December 3, this year when they were faced with forcible eviction from their home.

    Both Rokibat and Toke’s were sent on an errand when suddenly they started hearing gun shots in their community, followed by unusual sounds and they were left with no other choice than to scamper for safety.

    Toko turned back; unfortunately for her, she headed towards a wrong direction where she ran into a group of hoodlums preparing bonfire and this heightened her fears.

    Miraculously, both children escaped the attack but ran into the fire and were partially burnt; they were hospitalised for months.

    Toke and Rokibat were not the only ones who have witnessed the menace of suspected land grabbers at such a tender age. Four-year-old Aliat Sobajo also encountered this dastardly act. She was unlucky as she was killed by her assailants in the presence of her parents.

    Biodun Ore, 45, was not left out as he became a victim of forcible eviction when his wife needed him most. The expectant woman was in labour and preparing for hospital when the hoodlums struck.

    The husband escaped through the window with his wife but did not get to the hospital before both ran into the enemies. The woman was kidnapped but Biodun escaped.

    She was later released and delivered near a neighbouring community where she now resides. Strangely, her husband saw the baby for the first time on August 10.

    Those were some of the gory scenes in the Ipetoro/Lowa town that has produced dignitaries such as former Ayangburen of Ikorodu land, Oba Samusideen Oyefusi; Oba of Ikorodu Kabiru Shotobi and a Professor of Geological Sciences with the Federal University of Technology Kure (FUTA), among others.

    According to history, this community owned by Ipetoro/Lowa family was of three branches namely the Isanmolus, Orelades and Oluwatos and all had enjoyed peaceful co- existence until Wednesday, December 3, this year when suddenly there was invasion of suspected land grabbers and people began to run helter skelter.

    At the end of the day, many of them, including children and women, were forced to relocate to “nowhere” for the past eight months.

    Many, it was gathered, had died while others have resigned to fate. A good example is their traditional head that is currently undergoing treatment due to the shock of the incident; having understood that his subjects and residents were scattered all over based on circumstances beyond their control.

    On penultimate Monday, several months after, some of the displaced residents returned to the community only to discover that most of their properties had been encroached upon and vandalised by the assailants.

    Same day, some of the victims protested the activities of the land grabbers on their father’s land, urging both the Ogun State and the Federal Governments to bail them out.

    The protesters included men, women and children and all were with placards on which several inscriptions were written. They sang solidarity songs and their case is akin to those of victims of Boko Haram who became strangers in their own land.

    Also penultimate Monday, Biodun Ore, was able to reunite with his baby who was christened in his absence.

    The residents claimed the suspected land grabbers were led by a member of the zone’s O’odua Peoples’ Congress Dauda Olawale popularly called ‘’Authority’’ and since that day, the land had been under turmoil but Olawale dismissed the allegation, saying he had no portion in Ipetoro/Lowa land:

    ‘’Ipetoro/Lowa is in Gagamu while I hail from Oshun State. How come I am taking possession of another person’s land when I am not in the position to do so? ‘’ he queried.

    Spokesperson for Ipetoro/Lowa family, Jamiu Bamgbelu, said he gathered the assailants had been sending threat messages to the displaced victims during their eight months’ in exile.

    According to him, some unknown faces stormed the community on that fateful Wednesday with dangerous weapons and forced residents out of their land.

    ‘’Our case is peculiar in the sense that there were no internal crises because many of us are learned. Only God knows where the land grabbers came from. The most painful aspect of this incident is that our children have not attended school for the past eight months while the artisans among us have their jobs put on hold and the family has taken to begging as a way of survival simply because of lawlessness in Nigeria,” he said.

    He claimed that all efforts made to register their plight with the police in both Lagos and Ogun states failed as the leader of the suspected land grabbers have allegedly bought them over.

    On Tuesday last week, the assailants reportedly stormed the town again, killing three and injuring six others.

    Jamiu appealed to the Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase and Governor Ibikunle Amosun to come to their aid.

    “How long can we continue like this? Our Baale has lost his health and is unwilling to come home as a result of the activities of the land grabbers. We appeal to our governor Ibikunle Amosun and IGP to help us. Both can do their findings about us and hold us responsible in case we are culpable. All we want is peace for the sake of our children,” he pleaded.

    The Vice-Chairman of the Ipetoro Community Development Association (CDA), Mr Fred Okorowo said the place had been peaceful until the crisis of December 3, last year and since then; things had not been the same.

    The Ogun State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Muyiwa Olujobi, denied knowledge of Tuesday incident, but added that the force was not unaware of the lingering crisis. He assured that the police were doing everything possible to end it soon.

     

  • Suspected hoodlums spark fear in Ogun community

    Suspected hoodlums spark fear in Ogun community

    There is fresh apprehension   in Ijoko  community, Ogun State, following what residents call the return of some hoodlums who were arrested a few months ago.

    The suspected hoodlums were  arrested in connection with the  mayhem which engulfed the  community on December 23, 2014 during which many vehicles and  buildings including the palace of a traditional ruler  were razed.

    Nine persons were arrested  at the  time.

    T he police also recovered assorted guns, cutlasses and charms said to belong to the suspects were recovered from their  alleged base at  Alasia area of  the community.

    Two groups, Ijoko Youth Forum and Concerned Citizens of Ijoko,want the state government to save residents from the suspects alleged to  have  been harassing residents  since their return.

    In a petition to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, spokesmen for the groups  Musbau Olatidoye and Kafayat Shokunbi, said the men  “have been harassing, molesting, killing, looting and destroying innocent people’s property. They have been using an uncompleted building at Alasia area of Ijoko which serves as their armoury.

    “Sometime last year, some anti-riot policemen came to the same uncompleted building and 12 locally made   guns, two pump action guns,191 cartridges, two cutlasses, one axe, charms and masquerade clothing among others were recovered but surprisingly they secured their freedom in the court. Since they returned and resumed their hostility in Ijoko, all of us have been living in fear.”

    The groups said the situation might escalate if the men are not called to order immediately.

    The petitioners added: “No fewer than 13 people have been killed by the hoodlums since they started terrorizing the community. We want to urge the police, Department of State Security Service (DSS) and other law enforcement agencies to come to our rescue from the grip of the heartless thugs.”

    A community leader who simply identified himself as Elder Lande said: “We have been living in fear since the boys returned from detention. They would drink and smoke cannabis and beat up people with impunity.They should be checked  in the interest of  peace in this community.”

  • Community seeks intervention on road

    Community seeks intervention on road

    MOTORISTS and residents have appealed to government to repair the Ndiwu Itumbuzo in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State.

    The road is described as a death trap characterised by large potholes and gullies.

    It leads to Itunmbanuzo in Akwa Ibom State which was last repaired many years ago.

    The road was built in the 70s by the government of late Chief Sam Mbakwe under the old Imo state government and currently those using this road are doing so at the risk of their lives with its attendant potholes which are big enough to swallow a car.

    This 7km rural road infrastructure has never been touched by subsequent administrations after it was built years ago, even as the road has economic value with the area being a food basket from the state

    A trip from Itzumbuzo to Bende the headquarters of the local government area which usually take less than thirty minutes has now become a journey of one hour due to the poor state of the road and the people need government attention urgently to survive.

    Over the years due to lack of maintenance the road has become a pitiable one and intervention from government was not forth coming and need urgent repairs, while cocoa which is abundant from the area has been left to the economic benefit of the people of a neighbouring

    state.

    Gullies and sizeable potholes have taken over the roads, motorists and okada rider have to meander and manoeuver in order to make their journey and a trip from Itumbuzo to Bende local government area or any other part of the state.

    The people are therefore calling on the government to come and help them and mobilise a quick intervention to repair at least the damaged portions of the roads for now because the suffering is becoming unbearable.

    One of the motorists who gave his name as Sampson Ibe said that the last they saw a caterpillar in the area was in the 70s when the road was built, “I’m sure that if not for people who travel to the city, some of them may not have seen a caterpillar in their lives”.

    Ibe said that government should come to their aid if they want them to have a sense of belonging and save them from untimely deaths because of the poor standard of the road over the years.

    An indigene of the place, Abel Kalu decried the poor nature of the road, saying that it has cost them revenue which they would have got from cocoa merchants who have stopped coming to buy from them because of the bad road.

    Kalu said that they have waited to no avail for government assistance and intervention on their rural roads, which has taken over twenty years and have  decided to embark on a make shift repair and maintenance of the roads.

    He said that women and men are made to fill empty cement bags with sands; the girls bring stones while the young men do the road repairs by dumping the materials at the gully part of the road to make the road motor able.

    A woman from the area, Mrs Ori Kalu said that government should come to their aid, as many of their people have died because of lack of good road to access health care facility outside the community and called for urgent attention on the road.

    Mrs Kalu said that their farm produce are being consumed by them as people who normally come to their place to buy food have stopped coming, “Making us to consume whatever we produce instead of selling them for us to make money”.

  • Host community shuts gas plant over alleged neglect

    Angry residents of Otorogun, Ughelli South Local Government Area of Delta State yesterday shut down the town’s gas plant for alleged neglect by the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC).

    Host communities of oil mining licences (OML) 30, 34 and 65 in Urhobo parts of the state had protested the alleged neglect for some time.

    This led to the June 30 agreement with the NPDC, which the protesters claimed the company had not honoured.

    The leadership of host communities of producing oil and gas (HOSTCOM) had issued a seven-day ultimatum to NPDC management to resolve outstanding issues with them.

    Chairman of Urhobo HOSTCOM, Comrade Efe Okowvurie, who led the protest, said: “Following the expiration of the seven-day ultimatum given to NPDC to implement the resolution earlier reached with HOSTCOM, the host communities decided to shut down the Otorogun gas plant.”

    Okowvurie added: “NPDC and HOSTCOM had an agreement on June 30 in which NPDC agreed to pay all the outstanding salaries of community workers in OMLs 30, 34 and 65, which are in arrears of between six to nine months. But till this moment, the NPDC has refused to pay the workers and the contractor.”

    The spokesman urged the Federal Government to compel NPDC to implement the resolution it signed with HOSTCOM on June 30.

    He said the host communities would not reopen the shut facilities until NPDC implements the resolution.

    The protesters warned NPDC not to reduce the 20 per cent mark-up attached to contracts being handled by indigenous contractors to 15 per cent.

    They noted that such STEP would cause a crisis in the host communities and create more troubles for NPDC.

     

  • Five die in gully at Akwa Ibom community

    •Youths attack contractor

    •Houses submerged in Ikpa town

    •Families, contractor seek Emmanuel’s help

    Five persons have been reported dead in Ikpa town, Esit Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. They were said to have been submerged by a gully in Adeng, Ikpa Village.

    The erosion also rendered homeless scores of other residents.

    Angry youths from the community, at the weekend, revolted against O. J. Osubob and Company Limited, the contractor handling the erosion site.

    The company was said to have been awarded the contract to provide drainage for the area since 2013.

    The aggrieved youths were said to have attacked the home of the company’s Managing Director, Princce Osubob.

    They accused him of abandoning the contract after the government had mobilised him in 2013, thereby causing the death of the five residents.

    Among the deceased is Mr. Etim Jonah, a worker of the Union Technical College, Ikpa.

    He reportedly slipped and got submerged in the gully while going to work.

    Others are: Idorenyin Edoho Ntekim, Monday Harry and two minors.

    The youth, who wielded machetes and other weapons, demanded compensation from Prince Osubob to assuage the families of the deceased and take care of their children and wards.

    They said if the contractor did not divert the contract’s funds and had executed the job, the deaths and property losses would not have occurred.

    Addressing reporters, spokesman for the youth, Okon Bassey Inyang said: “O. J. Osubob and Company must pay for the loss of those lives and property. The company must compensate the families of the deceased so that they can take care of the training of their children and other dependants; nothing more.

    “This contract was awarded to tackle erosion menace in this village since in 2013. But he abandoned the job, thereby worsening the situation which led to the death of five residents, who slipped and got submerged in the gully. He has to pay for the death of those persons.”

    The company chief was said to have fled his home before the angry youths got there.

    The town’s elders begged the youth not to torch Osubob’s home.

    But the company chief denied collecting mobilisation fee for the contract.

    He said: “It is true that the administration of former Governor Godswill Akpabio awarded my company, O. J. Osubob and Company Limited, the contract on erosion control and road diversion. But the contract was stalled due to non-release of funds by the government.

    “I have followed the processes leading to the award of the contract and even moved my equipment to site. Unfortunately, no fund was released by the government for me to execute the job.

    “Since I had moved equipment to the site, I went and secured bank facilities and started the job to ameliorate the situation, with the hope that the government would pay me as agreed. But after exhausting the money I obtained from banks and government did not release any money to me till date, I couldn’t push the work further.

    “I have incurred a lot of debts as a result of this contract. The banks that gave the loans to commence the job are on my neck. Now, suspicious and angry youths have attacked my house and, perhaps, a worse harm could have been done, if they met anybody in the house when they came.

    “So, as it is now, I am appealing to Governor Udom Emmanuel to come to my rescue by revalidating the contract and releasing the fund for the job to be done. That way, I can redeem my reputation before the people of lkpa Village and reconcile with the banks that gave me the facilities to start the job.”

    Also, Ime, one of the siblings of the late Harry, urge the government to relocate the family to another community.

    He said their compound was at the verge of being submerged by the gully erosion.

    Ikpa Youths Leader, Solomon Sunday, urged Emmanuel to release funds for the contractor to rescue the community from being consumed by the erosion.

  • Community appeals for installation of transformer

    Residents of Agbado/Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) have appealed to Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) for the installation of a 500KVA transformer.

    The residents under Temidire Community Development Association (CDA) said the transformer was given to the community by the council.

    Its chairman Alhaji Oladipupo Taiwo, said the community has been on the neck of IKEDC for four years for the installation.

    “It is over four years today that we have being appealing but all we get is we are coming to do it. The appropriate department in Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company came here for inspection of the site and location where the transformer will be placed severally and since then, we have not seen any action.

    “The current transformer located at Alhaji Oremeji/Adenipoko junction has been serving us for a long time and has been over loaded due to the high populated environment,” Taiwo said.

  • Community pledges to fight crime

    The Ogunbiyi Community Development Association, owners of Computer Village, Ikeja has pledged to fight crime in the electronic business community.

    Its chairman Niyi Olasoji made the pledge when the group visited the new Commissioner of Police (CP) Fatai Owoseni.

    Olasoji said the association would embark on projects that would promote peaceful coexistence, noting that business can only thrive when the environment is conducive.

    He said the members would ensure that government rules and regulation on business operations are strictly observed.

    “We have resolved to support the Lagos State Government in ensuring the security of the environment. We have ensured the electrification of the streets in the village and empowerment of the youth within the community. We are equally going to fight noise pollution and ensure the closure of markets at the appropriate time in compliance with government directives,” he said.