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Tag: Ikeja

  • Council launches ‘Operation clean up Ikeja’

    Ikeja Local Government Area has launched ‘Operation clean-up Ikeja’.

    During the exercise, Lagos State Environment Commissioner Babatunde Adejare said the government would overhaul waste management.

    Within the next two years, the government would reform waste management, he said.

    “We are going to have more than enough compactors that will go into every nook and corner of the state. We are going to use waste for recycle, generate energy and turn waste into money, “Adejare said.

    He urged Lagosians to take good care of the environment, manage their waste properly and refrain  from throwing waste into drainage.

    The council’s Sole Administrator, Abiodun Taiwo, noted that the initiative was borne out of the challenge of dirty and flooding in the communities.

    According to him, ‘Operation clean up Ikeja’ aims at re-orientating and educating the people on right environment habits and effective clearing of waste.

    He said the council will soon demolish of shanties and illegal structures on the drainages.

    “We have bought 250 shovels, 250 rakes, 250 brooms, 250 cutlasses, 250 boots, 250 mask and many other safety tools. We also have 10 fumigation items and a tipping tricycle,

  • SERAP’s Ikeja office burgled

    SERAP’s Ikeja office burgled

    The office of the of Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) at 4, Akintoye Shogunle Street, off John Olugbo Street, off Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja was on Tuesday burgled.

    This was contained in a statement issued on Wednesday and signed by a senior staff attorney in the organization, Mr. Timothy Adewale.

    The burglars who beat security personnel before gaining entrance into the office, went away with files, some cash and damaged computers and cabinets in the office.

    On completion of their operation, the burglars left behind a note which reads, “Not our target. We will be back”.

    The statement stated in part: “On the night of October 3, 2016, unknown people broke into the offices of Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) at Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria. The intruders somehow escaped security gates surrounding the street, before gaining access to the office building and cutting open the iron bars protecting the locked office front door.

    “Some of the computers and cabinets were damaged. The intruders broke into the office safe, taking away some petty cash and files.

    “The offices were thoroughly ransacked and a TV screen on the wall at the reception was dropped on the floor. The intruders also dropped a threat note on the table at the reception, which reads “Not our target. We will be back.”

    “The matter has been reported at the Area “F” Police Station, Ikeja, Lagos. The matter is now a subject of police investigation.

    “The staff who resumed early morning on October 4, 2016 took several photos of the incident. We are assessing the situation to find out what else might be missing from the office”, the statement added.

    SERAP is a non-governmental organization dedicated to strengthening the socio-economic welfare of Nigerians by combating corruption and promoting transparency and accountability.

    SERAP received the Wole Soyinka Anti-Corruption Defender Award in 2014.

    It has also been nominated for the UN Civil Society Award and Ford Foundation’s Jubilee Transparency Award.

    SERAP serves as one of two Sub-Saharan African civil society representatives on the UNCAC Coalition, a global anti-corruption network of over 310 civil society organizations (CSOs) in over 100 countries.

  • First female president for Ikeja Rotary

    Plans have been concluded for the investiture of the 50th President of Rotary Club of Ikeja, Rotarian Olaitan Ojuroye and the induction of the Board of Directors for the 2016/2017 Rotary Year.

    In a press statement, the Directorate of Public Relations, Rotary Club of Ikeja, District 9110 Nigeria, also announced that the event is important because the new president doubles as both the first female president and the 50th president of the club.

    The event, which will have Sir Festus Oluremi Omotoso, Chairman, Standard Chartered Bank Limited as guest speaker will hold on Sunday by 2: 00 p.m.  at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Mobolaji-Bank Anthony Way, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Other special guests include Mrs. Olufunke Iyabo Osibodu, Managing Director, Benin Electricity Distribution Plc. as mother of the day and His Royal Majesty (HRM) Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, Karunwi III, Oranmiyan Osile of Oke-Ona, Egba will be the royal father of the day.

    The Chairman, Investiture Planning Committee, Rotarian Goke Olayinka said: “The entire Rotary family is excited about this event. This is because the investiture is remarkable in the history of Rotary Club of Ikeja, District 9110. Rotarian Ojuroye will be our first female president and also the 50th President of the District.

    “We are also happy that touching lives runs in her blood. Her father was one-time president of Rotary Club. Her younger brother was also a past president of the Club.”

    In line with its promise to continually offer humanitarian services and advance goodwill around the world, Rotary Club of Ikeja, District 9110, had donated gift and relief materials worth one million naira to special Nigerians.

    The beneficiaries of the gesture included the Nigerian Air Force Officers Wives’ Association, (NAFOWA), six artisans and one disabled person.

    Expressing gratitude at the maiden visit of the District Governor, Rotarian Pat Ikheloa, to the Rotary Club of Ikeja, the beneficiaries praised the club for its gesture. Some of the items donated to beneficiaries included sewing machines, shoe making/maintenance equipment and grinding machines.

    The beneficiaries included Amaechi John who came to the event on crutches. He got the shoe-making equipment. He  appealed to other special people not to go to the streets begging. Admas Aina received grinding machine, Temitope Akinduyite received vocational materials and equipment on behalf of NAFOWA, among others.

    According to the Acting President of the District, Rotarian Olaitan Ojuroye, the club will continue to execute programmes designed to touch lives positively.

     

  • Man, 56, two others remanded for ‘cocaine trafficking’

    Man, 56, two others remanded for ‘cocaine trafficking’

    Justice Babs Kuewumi of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Monday remanded Ezeanya Emeka Paul, 56, and two other persons in prison for alleged cocaine trafficking.

    The two others are Obi Chukwukwnene Edwin, and a woman, AbdulRasheed Rashidat Olanike.

    First defendant Paul is standing trial on a count of cocaine trafficking, second defendant Edwin on a count of heroin trafficking, while Olanike is facing two counts of cocaine and heroin smuggling.

    The charges were preferred against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

    During Paul’s arraignment, State prosecutor, Mr. Austin Nwagu, informed the court that the first defendant was arrested by the NDLEA after he was found in possession of 1.47 kilograms of cocaine at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos.

    He said the defendant had been a passenger on a plane from Brazil to Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), which made an emergency landing in Ikeja.

    For the second defendant, State prosecutor, Mrs. Juliana Emabo, alleged that Obi was arrested with 1.575 kilograms of heroin, at the Murtala Muhammad International Airport, last May 3, on his arrival from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania..

    Mr. Abu Ibrahim, state prosecutor, informed the court that Olanike was arrested at the same airport, last May 18, with 970 grammes of heroin, and 155 grammes of cocaine, during an outward clearance of passengers on an Ethiopian Airline Flight to Guangzhou, China, through Addis-Ababa.

    The defendants denied the charge.

    Justice Kuewumi found the oral bail applications of defence counsel, Mr. B. O. Aikhegbe and E. U. Okenji, without merit and granted the prosecutors’ application for remand.

    Ezeanya was remanded till his trial date of September 29, while Olanike and Obi will be in prison custody till their trials begin on September 28, and October 19, respectively.

  • We’re on course to transform education sector – Ambode

    We’re on course to transform education sector – Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Friday expressed delight at the winning of the annual Spelling Bee Competition by students of public schools in the State, saying that the development was an eloquent testimony that his administration is on the right path to transform the education sector.

    Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja while hosting the 16th One-day Governor, Master Olaseinde Olufemi Joshua and members of his cabinet, said the fact that winners of the competition emerged from public schools in inner communities was a clear indication that public schools in the State are now becoming exemplary citadel of learning.

    He said: “I must say that I am impressed about the mixture of the people that we are now celebrating. I can personally say that I did watch the school debate on television and I am very excited that the schools from which the winners emerged are from our inner communities in Shasha in Alimosho, Badagry, Ilupeju and also in Mushin.

    “That in itself shows that we are on the right path. We must be able to show that our public schools are exemplary citadel of learning that we can also use to showcase the fact that the future of Lagos is brighter than what we have now,” Governor Ambode said.

    While congratulating the winners of the competition for doing the State proud, Governor Ambode said the competition was one of the ways of encouraging younger ones to venture into position of leadership, adding that development would also go a long way in preparing the students for position of leadership in the future.

    He added: “We want to say that the six winners we are celebrating today are worthy to be celebrated and we will indeed celebrate them and use them as examples to encourage other younger ones to reach out so that we can be proud that in another twenty years, these ones will take over from us and we would be proud that we really did the State proud.”

    Besides, the Governor congratulated the State’s Ministry of Education and other stakeholders for sustaining the initiative which started about 16 years ago, and called for the scaling up of the initiative to accommodate more younger students.

    Earlier, the One-day Governor, Master Olaseinde Olufemi Joshua, a student of Shasha Community Senior High School saluted the vision of the wife of former Lagos State Governor, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who was the pioneer of the Spelling Bee competition, saying that the competition had helped students in the State to be more dedicated to their studies and strive for excellence.

    He added that the competition would not have been possible without the free education policy of the Lagos State Government over the years, which is being sustained by the present administration.

    Speaking on Governor Ambode’s administration, Master Joshua said: “Barely a year after taking over the reign of power as the Governor of the State, Lagosians have witnessed a rapid transformation of infrastructural facilities and integrated lighting system. There is no gainsaying that Lagosians’ dream of becoming Africa’s model megacity is becoming into reality through your hard work and dedication.

    “This is evident in your meticulous implementation of various developmental programmes. I can easily predict that our visionary Governor Ambode will take Lagos State to the promise land within his first tenure in office,” he said.

    Master Joshua, who said his father could not make it to the event due to health challenges, however, urged the Governor to consider donating a school bus, a well-equipped E-library to his school and the rehabilitation of drainage systems as well as the roads leading to his school.

    Responding, Governor Ambode granted the request for a school bus in Joshua’s school and all other requests in respect of the other schools of the winners.

    He also ordered that Joshua’s father be treated at the health facilities of the State Government.

    Other winners are One-day Deputy Governor, Komolafe Kehinde of Immaculate Heart Senior High School, Maryland; One-day Speaker, Okinbaloye Rashidat of Ilupeju Senior Grammar School; One-day Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Ogunfowora Islamiyat of Badagry Senior Grammar School; One-day Commissioner for Education, Abdulkarim Asiyat of Atunrase Senior High School and One-day Commissioner for Science and Technology, Ahwanyinu Sesinu of Kakon Senior Secondary School.

  • Update: Ex-presidential aspirant Shinkafi dies in London

    Update: Ex-presidential aspirant Shinkafi dies in London

    Former presidential aspirant, Alh. Umaru Aliyu Shinkafi on Wednesday died in London after being in and out of the hospital for more than six months.

    Shinkafi, who was a former Director-General of the Nigerian Security Organization (NSO), now Department of State Security Service ( DSS) from October 1979 to November 1983, was flown abroad in January after a health relapse.

    According to sources, the late Marafan Sokoto had initially received treatment at both St. Nicholas Hospital and Reddington Hospital, Ikeja in Lagos before the referral to London became necessary.

    A top source, who spoke in confidence, said: “We lost Shinkafi in London at about 4pm where he was flown to in January with some members of his immediate family and three medical doctors.

    “In the last six months, he had been battling with his health. But it has pleased Allah to call him home. From Allah we came and unto Him we shall return.

    “Arrangements are being made to bring his corpse to Nigeria for burial on or before Friday because of flight logistics.”

    He is survived by three wives and five children including the present First Ladies in Kebbi and Zamfara states.

    Shinkafi, who opted for a career in the Nigeria Police Force in 1959, was also a graduate of the University of Lagos where he bagged his LLB degree in Law in 1973.

    Respected for his specialization in intelligence gathering, Shinkafi was appointed a former Minister of Internal Affairs( now Interior Ministry) in 1975 before he was made the DG of NSO between October 1979 and November 1983 when he resigned from office.

    But as the DG NSO, he ran into storm over the deportation of a former Majority Leader of the Borno State, Alhaji Abdurrahman Shugaba Darman in 1981.

    Shugaba, who was of the defunct Great Nigeria Peoples Party (GNPP)  was accused of alleged “assassination plot against tex-President Shehu Shagari, who was then of the ruling National Party of Nigeria(NPN).

    Shugaba was later confirmed to be a Nigerian by a High Court after his aged mother succeeded in identifying his voice in a testimony which shaped the nation’s legal history.

    His foray into politics almost overshadowed his police cum secret service career.

    He was a leading presidential aspirant under the defunct National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1992 before the the Military regime of ex-President Ibrahim Babangida aborted the primaries.

    He however succeeded in being the vice-presidential candidate of Olu Falae in the APP/AD alliance in 1999.

    The alliance was defeated at the poll in 1999 by the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) which fielded Olusegun Obasanjo/Atiku Abubakar for the presidential race.

  • ‘Cocaine-high’ Chinese woman held for alleged arson

    ‘Cocaine-high’ Chinese woman held for alleged arson

    The police in Lagos have arrested a Chinese woman who was allegedly high on cocaine for setting a hotel on fire.

    The woman identified as Zhen Zhen was arrested yesterday after the management of Ernest Hotel, Ikeja reported that properties valued about N24 million were destroyed as a result of her action.

    It was gathered that the woman who lodged in the hotel with her lover, one Jian Feng, after snuffing the hard drug, set the hotel abalze, damaging properties.

    The Nation gathered that the inferno started at about 2am in the hotel located at 28, Bamishile Street, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja.

    Confirming her arrest, the command’s spokesperson, Dolapo Badmos, a Superintendent of Police  (SP) the matter was being investigated.

  • Alade market: Why we support relocation – Iyaloja

    The Iyaloja of Alade Market at Allen Avenue, Ikeja, Chief (Mrs) Aina Adenuga has appreciated the Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwumi Ambode as well as the Ikeja Sole Administrator Engr. Abiodun Taiwo for the systematic, people friendly approach to the relocation of the market to their new site. According to her, ‘we are happy that government first provided a better, bigger and more conducive place for us before asking us to relocate. We are happy to be coming to the new Alade Market which we see as a movement to our ‘Promised land.

    Speaking while on a visit to The Sole Administrator of Ikeja Local Government Area, Engr Abiodun Taiwo in his Council office, The Iyaloja told the administrator that out of the 299 present bona-fide allottees in the old Alade market, a total of 250 have collected their allocation papers to the new Alade market after paying the allocation fee of N150, 000. On the issues of a few traders in the old market who are protesting the relocation of the market, the market leader noted that most of them are squatters and those who over the years have erected shanties and illegal shops within the market. ‘I can’t understand why a few people who do not have legitimate papers in the market will want to frustrate the good intentions of the government at relocating us to a better and secured place where even our customers will have enough parking space’, she added. According to Chief (Mrs) Adenuga, the traders are already putting final touch to their respective shop in preparation to the July 18th official opening of the new Alade Market.

    Responding, the Sole Administrator, Engr Taiwo said that his administration is ready to listen to anyone who has a genuine case regarding the movement of the market especially if such persons are allottees of the old Alade market. “The good thing is that we have more than enough shops to go around both the old alottees whom we are obliged to give back their shops in the new location as well as another over 200 shops to sell to new prospects.”

    He therefore called on any one who’s genuinely interested in having a shop in the market to approach his office for necessary actions. According to him, ‘it will be totally unfair for any group to play down government good intentions of relocating the old Alade market which has turned into a nuisance around the ever busy Allen Avenue and environs., Engr Taiwo added.

    Explaining the reasons behind government’s determination to relocate the market to the new site, the Sole Administrator noted that ‘with the mega status of Ikeja, the old Alade market can no longer stand the test of time. Coupled with that, most of the structures in the market failed integrity test hence need to have them pulled down”. The Sole Administrator also cited the lack of necessary facilities in modern market in the market which he noted have been provided for in the new site.  ‘’I wonder how a market like Alade in the heart of Ikeja can function without a car park and having just two units of toilet’’

    Ikeja Local Government had already inaugurated a 6 man committee to oversee the smooth allocation and movement all original allottees to the new market. The committee is headed by the immediate past Executive Secretary of Ikeja Local Government Council, Alhaji Adekunle Dally-Adeokun, while other members drawn from among various stakeholders in the New Alade market project include the Iyaloja of Alade Market, Chief (Mrs) Elizabeth Aina Adenuga and the market developer and Managing Director of Masters Reality Int’l Concept, Egnr. Lai Omotola. Others are HoD, Environment of Ikeja Local Government Area, Mr Kazeem Kolawole, Mr Wole Ogunlolu. The Local Council legal officer, Barr, Rabiu Kazeem Dare will act as the committee’s Secretary.

    The new Alade market which is located about 150 metres away from the old one, off Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja seats on 2.5 hectares of land. The market which has been described as one of the most modern of all markets so far in Lagos has 504 lock up shops, 200 units of open stalls, 20 toilets, 350kva and 150kva generators, crèche, 3 boreholes as well as an ample car park that can take up to 350 cars at a time among others.

     

     

  • It’s time for an Oba in Ikeja, say kingmakers

    Kingmakers in Ikeja community of Lagos State have renewed their appeal to the state governor, Mr. Akinwumi Ambode, to expedite action on the appointment of a new monarch, the Olu, for the community.

    Their appeal came on the heels of last week’s press statement by the community’s youths, the Orile Ikeja Indigenes Association, in which the body alleged that a cabal was trying to make the governor appoint an Oba for Ikeja without the input of kingmakers.

    The Ikeja kingmakers had since December 2014 forwarded the name of Prince Samsondeen Adeleye as Olu-elect of Ikeja, to the Ikeja Local Council, in expectation of approval from the state government.

    Speaking with our correspondent yesterday  in his Seriki Aro, Ikeja residence, Chief Olufemi Titi-Thomas, Secretary to the Ikeja traditional council and to the Body of Afobajes (kingmakers) of Ikeja, said the kingmakers were pleading with the Lagos State Government “to expedite action towards the emergence of a new Olu of Ikejaland.”

    Titi-Thomas, who is the Asipa of Ikeja, noted that the absence of a traditional ruler in the community for over three years had been generating various disaffections, “whereas we are noted for peace in Ikeja.”

    Complementing him, another kingmaker, Chief Morufu Balogun, the Eletu of Ikejaland, stressed that the government would benefit more with the presence of a traditional ruler in the state’s capital, “as all will look up to him for peace and development.”

    In a letter dated December 20, 2014, five kingmakers led by a former deputy governor of Lagos State, the late Chief Rafiu Jafojo, who was Ajiroba of Ikeja, had forwarded the name of Samsondeen Adeleye to the Ikeja Local Council as the Oba-elect.

    Other members of the kingmakers’ body include, Princess Folashade Illo (Iyalode of Ikejaland); Madam Alaba Adelemo (Iya-Oba of Ikejaland); Balogun and Titi-Thomas.

    The letter was duly acknowledged by the Ikeja local council, dated December 29, 2014.

    Only on Wednesday, however, the Orile Ikeja Indigenes Association warned that any attempt by the government to appoint a traditional ruler for the community without the input of kingmakers will be an open invitation to crisis.

     

  • Ikeja youths to govt: don’t subvert kingmakers’ choice

    Ikeja youths in Lagos State, under the aegis of Orile Ikeja Indigenes Association, have urged the Lagos State government to appoint the choice of the kingmakers as the Oba of Ikeja.

    The group, in a statement by its coordinator, Alhaji Adeshina Balogun, and secretary, Mr. Olushola Alade, said it had got wind of a plan to set aside the kingmakers’ decision.

    The kingmakers, then led by the late Chief Rafiu Jafojo, a former deputy governor of Lagos State, had in December 2014 forwarded the name of Prince Shamshedeen Adeleye as the new Oba-elect of Ikeja.

    The youths accused a cabal of working to subvert the people’s will.

    The statement read: “Some unauthorised persons want the government to set aside the kingmakers’ earlier recommendation in which Prince Shamshedeen Adeleye had been picked and instead appoint its choice candidate as the Olu of Ikejaland.It is noteworthy that the Oba-elect was not just chosen, but was picked after due screening of all the princes.”