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Tag: decries

  • Oshiomhole decries encroachment on govt land

    Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole has condemned the encroachment on government land by the St Andrews Anglican Church, Ekpoma.

    A church was said to have been built on the land, with a wall fencing off the Ukpughele Primary School.

    Oshiomhole, who spoke at a meeting with the Archbishop of Bendel Province, Rev Friday Imaekhai and other church leaders, said the church was not in conflict with the government but with the pupils, who are also the children of parishioners.

    The governor, who was at the school to inspect the fence, which was pulled down by officials of the Ministry of Lands, said: “The issue is whether this is school land or government land.”

    He said: “The Church operates on the basis of rules and regulations and I think the Anglican Church is an organised church, governed by rules and procedures, nobody can just go and set up an Anglican Church without permission from the appropriate authority.

    “By the same logic, Edo State is governed by law, and there is a government, a government that is accountable and the trustee of the people.

    “Now the laws are clear. You do not erect anything without previous authorisation. You are obliged by law to design and present your documents to the Ministry of Land for clearance; whether the land belongs to you or not.”

    Oshiomhole maintained that the leadership of the church acted in error. He dismissed the argument by Rev Imaekhai that the school belonged to the church and that the church property were destroyed by the pupils.

    He said the government in the 1970s took over mission schools and that the land on which the church erected a new building and a fence belongs to the government.

    The governor maintained that the law does not respect anyone and ordered that documents relating to the new building should be submitted to the ministry for verification.

  • NGF decries continued Boko Haram killings

    Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) yesterday challenged security agencies to end the killing of defenceless citizens in the region by the extremist group, Boko Haram.

    The forum called on security agencies to halt the incessant clashes between Fulani herdsmen and farmers.

    Chairman of the forum and Niger State Governor Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu spoke yesterday on the murder of 18 persons in some farming communities around Maiduguri.

    He said the NSGF was concerned about the renewed attacks on innocent citizens, especially in the Northeast.

    A statement by Aliyu’s Chief Press Secretary, Malam Danladi Ndayebo, said: “The forum is alarmed that the killing of 18 persons in Njaba, Mude, Kwaljiri and Kaya villages in Borno followed the pattern as previous midnight attacks on towns and villages in the region.”

    The forum described the attacks as horrendous, callous and inhuman, adding that the continued senseless killing of innocent people by members of the fundamentalist group since it launched its bloody campaign in 2009 must come to an end.

    It commiserated with the families of the victims and prayed God to grant eternal rest to the deceased and quick recovery to the injured.

    The forum called on security agencies to do more to protect citizens and ensure that those perpetrating violence in the region are brought to justice.

    The governors reiterated their pledge to continue to work with other tiers of government to bring an end to security challenges confronting the nation.

  • APC decries harassment

    APC decries harassment

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday condemned alleged harassment of its Deputy National Secretary, Malam Nasir El-Rufai, by the Department of State Security (DSS).

    It described the storming of his residence in Abuja by armed DSS operatives yesterday without producing any arrest warrant as shameful overkill.

    Interim National Publicity Secretaryof the party, Alhaji Lai Mohammed,speaking for the APC, expressed shock that the DSS was seeking to arrest El-Rufai for “merely exercising his constitutional right of free speech.”

    The party said “there was nothing inciting or extraordinary in the statement credited to Malam El-Rufai that there might be violence if the 2015 general elections were not free and fair.

    ”What our Deputy National Secretary said is a statement of fact and should not warrant any harassment, unless of course the DSS is saying that the 2015 general elections will not be free and fair,” APC said.

    ”The statement is a matter of cause and effect and amounts to a patriotic call for the 2015 general elections to be free, fair and credible. If this statement now rankles the DSS, then the department has a lot of explanation to do to convince Nigerians that it was not engaging in a witch-hunt, considering the case instituted by Malam El-Rufai against it (DSS) over his illegal detention in a hotel in Akwa during the Anambra governorship poll last November.”

    The APC wondered why the DSS “ suddenly found its agility, after playing dead when people like Chief Edwin Clark, Asari Dokubo and Chukwuemeka Ezeife issued a direct threat to Nigeria’s continued existence over President Goodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition.

    ”The DSS is free to join the police in becoming a partisan and compromised national institution, but it should weigh the consequences of such action on its long-term credibility.”

  • APC decries Jonathan’s indifference to Rivers crisis

    APC decries Jonathan’s indifference to Rivers crisis

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has warned of the impending anarchy in Rivers State.

    The party noted that events unfolding in the state could have “far-reaching consequences beyond the state”, unless President Goodluck Jonathan reins in his supporters.

    It alleged that with the connivance of “gross partisan police”, the President’s supporters have resorted to bringing in ex-militants from neighbouring states to attack innocent people in Rivers.

    In a statement in Abuja by its Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the APC said: “Having lost confidence in the ability of the police to protect them and keenly aware of the President’s deliberate refusal to allow peace to reign in their state, the patience of the people of Rivers is wearing thin, and there is a possibility that they may resort to self-help.

    “Because we abhor anarchy, which is the antithesis of democracy, we call on President Jonathan to stop the looming anarchy in Rivers.”

    APC also warned that the decision of the desperate pro-Jonathan politicians and their supporters in Rivers to resort to ferrying in ex-militants from Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom states to cause mayhem in Rivers and make it ungovernable will have far-reaching consequences.

    The party noted that the most serious of these is that it would “revive militancy, not only in Rivers but also in the entire Southsouth.”

    “The ex-militants, who are being hired daily by the anarchists in Rivers today, will turn against them and the people tomorrow when, one way or the other, the situation is resolved. The outcome will be a resurgence of insecurity, including hostage taking and attacks on oil and other infrastructure. This is why we are warning those who believe they are having a free rein today to retrace their steps,” it said.

    APC expressed shock that a President, who has been widely quoted as saying his political ambition is not worth the blood of any citizen, is now standing by, pretending to be oblivious of the happenings around him, as the same citizens’ blood is being used to water his ambition to have a second term in office.

    It said: “This President has refused to listen to the calls by individuals and organisations, including the opposition parties, labour unions and the National Assembly, to allow peace to reign in Rivers. He has egged on the police to champion the worsening impunity in the state and thumbed his nose at the Constitution, while the Police Service Commission (PSC) has suddenly lost its steam and is defending the arrowhead of the anarchy in Rivers.

    “It is instructive that while the police have stood by and allowed hired ex-militants to attack innocent citizens, whose only offence is that they are exercising their rights of freedom of association, movement and speech, the same police have been protecting pro-Jonathan and anti-Amaechi elements, who have turned the state into a battle ground.

    “Twice in eight days, peaceful rallies, organised by the Save Rivers Movement, have been brutally broken up by police-backed hoodlums, who shot at innocent citizens, including women and children; a serving senator has been shot and is now being treated in a foreign hospital and, as we write this statement, hoodlums from Bayelsa and Akwa Ibom have gathered in Port Harcourt to protest any attempt to remove Police Commissioner Mbu Joseph Mbu, the man using the police against the same people they are paid to protect.”

    The party also chronicled the series of impunity that has prepared the ground for the looming anarchy in Rivers.

    •Mbu provided the needed backing for a group of hired thugs and ex-militants with dangerous weapons to unlawfully and forcefully invade the House of Assembly to terrorise its members, sack them and other management staff from the complex and prevent the exercise of legislative functions.

    •A caretaker committee set up for Obi/Akpor Local Government Area was prevented from delivering governance to the people due to the sealing of the local government’s secretariat by police operatives acting under Mr. Mbu’s directive.

    •Security detail were withdrawn from the principal members of the state government, including but not limited to the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the attorney-general and principal judicial officers of the state.

    •Mbu provided cover for a sponsored protest by over 5,000 ex-militants and other criminal elements brandishing dangerous weapons to take over and parade the streets of Port Harcourt, thereby creating fear and an atmosphere reminiscent of pre-amnesty siege in the minds of right-thinking residents.

    •Mbu almost engineered an unnecessary but deadly riot by directing his men to restrain over 500 people – including traditional rulers – from the Orashi communities of Rivers State, from paying a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House in Port Harcourt.

    •A potential bloodbath at Bonny was averted only by the maturity exhibited by the young members of the Rivers Leadership Advancement Foundation in the face of provocation by the Rivers State Police Command

    •When five colleagues of Governor Chibuike Amaechi – who felt they were exercising their rights of free movement and association – had the temerity to pay him a visit in Port Harcourt, they were molested and humiliated at the Port Harcourt Airport by hired thugs under the protection of Mr Mbu.

    •Police operatives used tear gas to cause a potentially deadly stampede through the dispersal of 13,201 new teachers, who had gathered at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt for the final round of their training, orientation, mobilisation and deployment to primary and secondary schools.

    •The Rivers State Command, acting on the orders of Mbu, blockaded a road leading to the Government House in Port Harcourt, forcing the governor’s convoy to turn back and take another route to his official residence.

    * The police prevented a plane chartered by the governor from taking off, ostensibly because it was carrying a lawmaker said to be wanted by the police. When the lawmaker was not found on the plane, no apology was issued to the governor.

    “We have decided to remind Nigerians how the situation in Rivers State got to the present level, even as calls by the nation’s lawmakers, labour unions and other well-meaning Nigerians for the redeployment of Mbu have fallen on deaf ears.

    “Our party has also intervened many times to warn the nation that President Jonathan is using Rivers as a testing ground for fascism, especially ahead of the 2015 elections, seemingly to no avail as the crisis has worsened, instead of abating.

    “It is in this light that we reiterate our fears of a looming anarchy, which is the outcome of months of impunity, as the man who swore to an oath to ensure the welfare and security of citizens – the raison d’etre for any government – has now become the quiet sponsor of violence against the same citizens. It is time to stop the madness in Rivers!” APC said.

  • LCCI decries delay in budget passage

    The President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, (LCCI),Alhaji Remi Bello has urged the Federal Government to expedite action on the process of approving budgets, saying delays in the implementation of its capital projects component usually cuase challenges for the private sector.

    In it’s economy and business review for 2013, Bello urged the government to work on accelerating budget approval and implementation so as not to cripple.

    He said: “In an economy where government accounts for a major component of expenditure, early passage and proper implementation of budgets are very crucial. Going into 2014, we hope to see a more responsive budget approval processes and improved implementation at both the states and the Federal Government’s levels.”

    Bello said the gross domestic prouct (GDP) growth in 2013 was strong at over six per cent and in line with the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) projections and Federal Government’s estimates.

    “The concern, however, is the increasing disconnect between the impressive growth numbers, productivity, quality of life and employment. This reality is reflected in the country’s performance in some major global rankings released in 2013. Whereas Nigeria’s GDP ranking by the IMF was 37th out of 187 economies profiled; global competiveness ranking by the World Economic Forum was 137th out of 183 economies reported; while the Human Development Ranking by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) was 153 out of 187 countries profiled.

    He said in 2013, the year-on-year inflation rate trended at single digit until October 2013 with an inflation rate of 7.8 per cent. This is very impressive and in line with the CBN’s aspiration of a modest price level in the country. We hope that this trend is sustained in 2014 because stability of the price level remains a key factor for doing business. How much the exit of the current governor of the CBN, Mallam Lamido Sanusi come 2014 will affect the prevailing macroeconomic stability in the country remains to be seen.”

    Acoording to the president, Business Confidence Index (BCI), the indicator that measures investment sentiment of business operators in the country moderated to 17 per cent towards the end of 2013. The index had maintained a steady improvement over the first three quarters of the year (10.5 per cent in Q1, 16.5 per cent in Q2 and 24per cent in Q3).

    The moderation of the BCI score in Q4-2013 suggests that business leaders are likely going to be softer towards expanding their investments in the early months of 2014.

    Bello said small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the manufacturing sector remain the most troubled sector as evidenced by the negative investment sentiments expressed by the operators during the year under review.

    He highlighted the most disturbing factors affecting business as infrastructure limitations, unabated influx of imported and substandard products, poor access to credit, high cost of doing business, and the inhibitive activities of government regulatory and monitoring agencies in the country.

  • Lai Mohammed decries fraud in electing leaders

    Lai Mohammed decries fraud in electing leaders

    The Interim National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has decried the fraudulent process of electing political office holders in the country.

    He said the development was responsible for the poor leadership quality in Nigeria.

    Mohammed spoke at the weekend in Osogbo, the Osun State capital. He was the guest lecturer at the Awolowo Centre for Philosophy, Ideology and Good Governance.

    The occasion was the third anniversary of the Rauf Aregbesola administration.

    The APC publicist said no government could achieve good governance and development if the leaders are not focused.

    Mohammed described the Federal Government’s policies as arbitrary and accused the Goodluck Jonathan administration of widespread corruption and abuse of power.

    He warned the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Federal Government to stop harassing new APC governors and National Assembly members.

    Mohammed said: “The PDP period of nemesis has come. When Governors Yisa Yaguda (Bauchi), Theodore Orji (Abia), Ikedi Ohakim (formerly of Imo), Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe (former Works Minister) and others defected to the PDP, their seats were not declared vacant. But now that events have pushed the PDP into minority in the National Assembly, the party is planning to unseat the new APC members. Let me say that this will never be possible.”

    The APC chieftain said the party now has 16 governors, 55 senators and 217 House of Representatives members.

    Mohammed condemned the harassment of the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, who, he said, were dispersed with tear gas by the police to prevent them from sitting.

    Governor Rauf Aregbesola expressed gratitude to the Director-General of the Awolowo Centre for Philosophy, Ideology and Good Governance, Prof. Moses Akinola Makinde, for his love for the late Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, and his thoughts.

    Makinde hailed Aregbesola for bringing Awolowo’s legacy into his administration and style of governance in Osun.

    He said: “The view that Aregbesola is an Awolowo re-incarnate is justified by several passages from Awolowo’s writings and his ascetic way of life. This involves self-mortification of the highest order.”

    Aregbesola said: “Prof. Makinde is an amazing person, who is God-sent for the establishment of the Awolowo Centre for Philosophy, Ideology and Good Governance in the State Osun. ”

    The governor decried the missing $4.98 billion from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), saying the Federal Government would soon cripple the economy, if the situation persisted.

    The governor said if the missing fund was shared equally among the 36 states, in line with 26 per cent allocation formula to the states, Osun would get N57 billion.

    He said: “If I get this money in this state, I will just ask my people to be laughing for one week because there will be so much to achieve with the money. Unfortunately, this is the money they declared missing.”

    A former vice chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Prof. Wale Omole, who was the Chairman of the occasion, said he was proud of the Aregbesola administration’s transformation programmes in the last three years.

    Mohammed also warned the President to be wary of Obasanjo.

    He said: “A few days ago, Obasanjo wrote a controversial letter to Jonathan wherein he raised some allegations against him. Surprisingly, I heard that they both had breakfast together in Kenya a few days ago and felt sorry for Jonathan. The breakfast meeting is a signal of the danger ahead for Jonathan. I felt sorry because he could not understand that dining with Obasanjo comes with trouble.

    “In 2003, when he had a similar lunch with former Governor Olusegun Osoba of Ogun State on the day of election, he had surreptitiously planned to rig him out of office without Osoba knowing.

    “A few years ago, Obasanjo took former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Chairman Audu Ogbeh on a lunch date. Yet, he had already orchestrated his removal from office.

    “All these say much about the character of Obasanjo and his penchant for pulling a fast one on people he no longer wants around him after a meal date. Therefore, Jonathan should be careful flirting with Obasanjo.”

    Mohammed said there would be a power shift in 2015 with the emergence of APC.

    He said: “We are the party to beat in 2015. We are in the majority in the National Assembly. Our members have outnumbered the PDP’s in the House of Representatives and the Senate.”

  • Sage decries high opex, legislation, others

    Leading provider of business and human resource management software to companies in the small medium enterprises (SMEs) to upper mid-market, Sage Africa, has identified high operating expenditure (Opex), complex legislation, language barrier and local skills development as some challenges confronting investors in the country.

    Its Chief Executive Officer, Australia, Middle East and Asia (AAMEA), Ivan Epstein who made this dsclosure in Lagos when the firm formally opened an office in the country, said investors will however always be driven by retuns on invetsment (RoI).

    Epstein said Sage has solid market share in South Africa and will continue to explore the many exciting business opportunities that exist in Africa. He said: “There will always be challenges to overcome, such as high travel and operational costs, complex legislation, language barriers and local skills development, but the return on investment remains substantial. Key to investing in Africa is thorough research of the prospective market and I am confident that our team is prepared and will continue to offer our clients solutions that effectively address their specific needs.”

    Acording to him, Sage is already an established brand with a strong presence in Africa, adding that establishing another local office, in addition to that of Kenya, is an important step in the firm’s growth strategy at establishing global footprint.

    He said the newly established office comprise Sage ERP, Sage HR Africa and Sage Pastel Accounting, adding that though each product has a very specific focus, ensuring for a diversified client-focused product map, the team will actively work together to ensure for an even stronger collective position on the continent.

    Speaking at the event, Managing Director, Sage ERP Africa, Jeremy Waterman said the African landscape typically comprises businesses that are no larger than upper mid-market in size as measured by global criteria.

  • Amosun decries delay in federal allocation

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun has berated the Federal Government on the “continuous delay” in the release of states’ allocation from the Federation Account.

    He said the delay could cause untold hardship for Nigerians.

    The governor spoke at the inauguration of the men’s wing of the Mission to Rebuild Ogun State (MITROS) at the MKO Abiola Stadium in Abeokuta, the state capital.

    He said the allocation meant for states and local governments were not fully released to them.

    Amosun said: “The situation became critical last month. As I speak, we are yet to collect anything from Abuja. Salaries have not been paid in several states because many states rely on federal allocation to pay their workers. You will agree with me that this is causing untold hardship for Nigerians.”

    Explaining that Ogun workers had been paid last month’s salary, he said: “I must attribute this feat to the cooperation of the good people of Ogun, who paid their taxes promptly. We are one of the few states that have paid August salary. I thank every one of you that has been paying your tax and levies promptly. I enjoin individuals and companies that are not yet paying their taxes to fulfil this patriotic duty.

    “We will use the money judiciously. You are already seeing what we are doing with your money. We are building roads, bridges and providing free education and security.”

    Amosun praised his wife, Olufunso, for initiating the MITROS project, adding that the group was not funded by the government.

    Mrs. Amosun thanked local government coordinators of MITROS for making the day possible.

    Also yesterday, the governor approved the promotion of 3,272 teaching and non-teaching workers in public secondary schools.

    They were successful in last year’s promotion examination and interview conducted by the State Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM).

    TESCOM Chairman Ms Olubukunola Onabanjo, in a statement, said of the 3,272 promoted, 743 are on Grade Levels 12–17, 1,604 on Grade Levels 07–10 and 926 in the junior cadre.

  • NSCIA decries massacre in Egypt

    NSCIA decries massacre in Egypt

    The Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) yesterday condemned the massacre of innocent citizens in Egypt.

    It also faulted the alleged lukewarm attitude of a section of the international community to the killings.

    It demanded the unconditional release of the elected President of Egypt, Mohammed Mursi.

    The council, which made its position known in a statement by its Secretary-General, Prof. Is-haq Oloyede, urged the United Nations to intervene and find a solution to the crisis.

    NSCIA’s statement reads: “The NSCIA is saddened by the massive waste of human lives and reckless maiming of protesting citizens of Egypt. The brutal murder of hundreds of harmless civilians in the course of their legitimate right to protest is despicable and indefensible.

    “The violation of the sanctity of the mosque in which some of the persons were mauled is a very dangerous precedent, the consequence of which is too grievous to imagine.

    “The tacit support of the serial murder and the incoherent condemnation of the callous massacre in Egypt by a section of the international community are not only heartless and inhuman, but are also sacrilegious and demonic. Humanity stands to progress if brutality and impunity are totally eschewed.

    “The wanton destruction of lives portrays the assailants and their collaborators as wicked and lawless. Creed, race and nationality of the victims are irrelevant in the condemnation of the abomination.”

    The NSCIA hails Nigeria and other “right-thinking nations” for their principled positions on the crises and urges concerted efforts towards the actualisation of justice and the rule of law in Egypt.

    “Similarly, NSCIA enjoins nations of conscience to prevail on the United Nations to intervene and find an instant, amicable, just and sustainable solution to the unfolding unfortunate episode in Egypt.

    “It is unfortunate that the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC) have lost an independent voice to be positively helpful to Egypt at this point when truth, impartiality and frankness are required of the international community.”

    The council demanded the unconditional release of President Mursi.

    The statement added: “The NSCIA calls for cessation of hostilities; unconditional release of the elected President Mursi and other political detainees; constitution of an independent electoral agency under the supervision of the United Nations; and a truly representative national dialogue. An all-inclusive electoral process devoid of Mob ‘democracy’ and anarchy should also be instituted as an alternative to despotism and poor governance in certain parts of the world.

    “The NSCIA sends its heartfelt condolences to the relations, families and friends of the victims of the unwarranted genocide and requests constructive dialogue towards the quick resolution of the logjam in Egypt. The ICC needs no invitation to initiate the process of investigating and bringing to justice the culprits of this impunity.

    “While wishing the injured a quick recovery, NSCIA reiterates its call on the authorities in Egypt to halt the assault and explore reasonable dialogue to avert a civil war and its devastating consequences on Egypt in particular and the Arab world in general.”

  • Community decries environment degradation

    For residents of Ilupeju-Titun in Orile-Agege Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, death comes by installment. The old, young, male and female are up against one enemy- thick black smoke  emanating from illicit  activities of hoodlums who daily burn used tyres at the Gotan Kowa dumpsite in its neighbourhood.

    The activity of these hoodlums had left many residents with various degrees of tract infections, ranging from asthma, bronchitis, and throat and lung cancer. Both young and old have become out patient at the nearby General Hospitals at Orile-Agege and Ikeja, while several private hospitals have their hands full dealing with cases of residents who suffer from respiratory infections.

    Most houses around the area are blackened with smoke arising from the burning activity at the dumpsite. No resident could afford to put washed clothes and apparels out in the sun to dry. This is because such clothing material would be blackened by soot.

    Opening up windows in the area for ventilation was a rarity, as such attempt is noted to be an invitation for one’s room to be invaded by smoke and open oneself to hazard.

    About 10 streets that made up the Ilupeju Titun community have borne this dilemma for close to three years, but the case got worse over the last 16 months, as they alleged the hoodlums scaled up their trade and turned the dumpsite into a major depot for used tyres which were usually laid by and burnt for the purpose of extracting copper wire from them, a badly needed component in the electrical sector.

    Among streets badly affected by this activity are: Soretire, Kabiawu, Oguntade, Olagoke and Ogundele. Others are Irepodun, Egbatedo, Oyatogun, Adeniji Eleru and Alexander Estate.

    Most of those who spoke with this Correspondent when he visited the area have the same wish list: ‘flush out these hoodlums before we all perish.”

    Olawale Kazeem, 38, said he and members of his family have been battling with respiratory ailment since February. Kazeem, a mechanic, said his wife and three year-old-child Olawale Jr have been in and out of the hospital for more times than he can remember. He added that it was when a doctor asked whether his child was usually exposed to any dust or smoke that it crossed his mind that the fume that envelopes their house daily is a potential health hazard.

    Another community leader Chief Jamiu A. Jimoh said the community is becoming more helpless as none of those they have appealed to for help to curb the excesses of these hoodlums have risen to their aid.

    He said: “We have written series of petitions to the Chairman Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), the Ministry of Environment and the state governor to help address the issue but the case seem to have defied any solution.

    “We are left with the impression that these people are above the law and that we did not matter. The only thing close to any government’s interest was when a LASEPA official led an inspection team to the dumpsite. They came, saw the loads of used tyres ready to be burnt and took notes, but that is the end we ever got from them. They never got back to us and everybody has since gone back as if nothing was wrong.”

    Jimoh continued: “The community has come short of resulting to physically confronting these hoodlums because of the need to preserve peace and security. But our youths are becoming restless and could resort to self help if government refuses to come to our aid soon. Everyone is coming down with respiratory sickness and we are all dying by installment. We have a right to life and we might take this right to the door steps of the dumpsite if we got no succour from the government.”

    Jimoh said members of the community have found out that the men had been melting the tyres in order to extract copper wires which were later sold.

    Another resident Otunba Adetola Odubela also expressed his frustration over the deadly fumes.

    “When I moved into this neighbourhood, it was a quiet, peaceful and easily accessible place. We started experiencing this sad thing over three years ago. Then, it wasn’t this bad, but over the years, particularly since 2011, it began to get worse and right now, has become unbearable. The floor of my house are covered with thick black smoke, the paintings have been defaced by black smoke and I do not open my windows again because of the smoke.

    “Few months ago, one of my neighbours had to travel out of the country to have throat surgery. Many of us are already carrying loads of carbon that are harmful in our system, yet the government seems not to bother. We have written series of protest letters. We are getting tired of waiting for a response,” Otunba Odebela said.

    The Chairman of Ilupeju Titun Community Development Association Alhaji Yisa Ejalonibu said the community had invited the lawmaker representing the constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly Hon. Yinka Ogundimu to come and see things for himself.

    “When he came here last year, he went round the place, took pictures which he promised to take to his colleagues at the Lagos House of Assembly. He promised that something would be done about this menace. Sadly, nothing has been done till date.

    “The fact is that we don’t even know what is going on anymore. Nobody seems to be interested in coming to our aid, which is why we decided to invite the media to help put our case again before the government. Our lives are being threatened by the activities of a few, whose economic activity is leaving a hail of health hazard on its immediate community.