The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ikeja

  • Ikeja Electric launches power lines monitoring for safety

    Ikeja Electric launches power lines monitoring for safety

    To boost safety measures for lives and properties, Ikeja Electric has launched a novel network safety monitoring initiative.

    This initiative allows for round-the-clock electrical asset surveillance across its network by special teams, specifically set up for this purpose. The teams made up of safety specialists and technicians, divided into monitoring units, patrol the entire network armed with multimedia gadgets which enables them to capture damaged assets and imminently dangerous connections in real time.

    The data captured is relayed to a central control unit from where it is passed on to the nearest Undertaking where the Network Operations log the information and ensures resolution within the shortest possible time.

    Speaking on the initiative, the company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue, stated that safety in a high risk sector, such as the electricity industry cannot be over-emphasized because if the safety standards are compromised, the resultant effect could be disastrous leading to damage to property and even loss of human lives.

    Ofulue said: “Ikeja Electric will not compromise on safety. It is a high risk environment and coupled with the rains and high winds of this season, we have to continue the campaign of safety across our network. We are also aware that by putting forward these initiatives we are raising the bar of safety across the entire company with other industry players also raising their own standards of safety. In the end if we are able to keep people safe, we will be justified.”

    He noted that in consonance with the company’s health and safety mandate, it has issued series of weather alerts, calling public attention to common dangers associated with the inclement weather and these public alerts are put out in order that consumers may be more aware of their surroundings and adopt better and higher safety precautions in order to remain safe.

    “The monitoring team is a roving one, constantly on the move, scouting for unsafe and damaged assets: he said, while pointing out that managing the assets of the company was integral to the company’s ability to deliver safe supply of energy to homes and businesses.

    “The management solicits the support of the public in ensuring that the initiative is a success by urging residents who notice any dangerous asset, such as leaning poles, snapped or low hanging cables to take pictures and send to HSE@ikejaelectric.com, carefully noting the location of the asset with possible landmarks if necessary. Others can simply call our customer care lines, 01-448-3900, 0700-022-5543, 01-7000-250.”

    Ofulue also cautioned against conducting commercial activities under power lines, warning of the imminent danger associated with sustained activities underneath cables that may be under stress from strong winds and rains.

    Ikeja Electric was awarded the prize for Company with the Best Health and Safety Initiatives, 2015/16 at the Nigerian Risk Award -Economic and Social Risk Summit. This award follows an earlier recognition at the 2015 Nigeria Safety Award for Excellence, Hall of Fame (9jaSAFE AWARDS), where the company also bagged the Award for Company with the best HSE Practices in the Power sector, he added.

  • Man beat up policeman for preventing him from killing his fiancée

    Man beat up policeman for preventing him from killing his fiancée

    A 26-year-old trader, Uchenna Okeke, on Tuesday appeared in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for allegedly beating up a policeman.

    Okeke, a resident of Oluwalimu Street, Ikeja, Lagos, is being tried for breach of peace and assault.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. George Nwosu, told the court that the accused committed the offences on June 11 at Ikeja, Lagos.

    He said the accused unlawfully assaulted a policeman in uniform attached to MAN Centre Police station for preventing Okeke from killing his lover.

    “The accused beat up the complainant and also caused injury to his head,’’ he said.

    Nwosu said that the complainant while performing his official duty sighted the accused beating up a woman and dragging her on the ground.

    “The police corporal saw the accused beating his girlfriend and dragging her on the ground, he rushed to the scene to prevent the accused from committing murder.

    “When he wanted to stop the accused from beating his lover, the accused transferred his aggression to him for preventing him from dealing with his fiancée.

    “He beat him up and hit him with a stone on his head which resulted to bleeding,’’ he said.

    The offences, said Nwosu, contravened Sections 166 and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011, which on conviction attracts three-year imprisonment.

    The accused pleaded innocence of the offences and was granted bail in the sum of N100,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    The Magistrate, Mr A.A Adesanya, adjourned the case till July 6 for mention.

  • Two Chinese nationals arrested over attempt to smuggle out elephant tusks

    Two Chinese nationals arrested over attempt to smuggle out elephant tusks

    ………..Hand over 678 pieces of elephant tusks to NSREA

    ……..381 kilogrammes  of Pangolin

     

    The Murtala Muhammed International Airport ( MMIA), Command of Nigerian Customs Service ( NCS), Ikeja , Lagos on friday arrested two Chinese nationals over attempt to smuggle out prohibited items on the export list consisting 678 pieces of Elephant tusks and eight sacks of Pangolin weighing over 381 kilogrammes.

    The attempt by the Chinese nationals contravenes Schedule 6 of the Nigerian Exports Prohibition List, which prescribes as illegal any attempt to export wild animals and endangered species.

    The Chinese nationals according to the Customs Area Comptroller of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) Command,  Frank Nduka Allannah  have been remanded in the custody of the Nigerian Customs at the Lagos Airport pending further investigation.

    The impounded items:  consisting scales of Pangolin , the most trafficked endangered animal that eats it own flesh was meant for export where it would have been used for Chinese medicine.

    According to  Allannah, the impounded items will be handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency ( NESREA).

    Allannah  said eagled-eyed Customs officials at the Export Shed of the MMIA, intercepted the prohibited items while they were being taken out of the country by the Chinese who claimed ownership of the items.

    He said upon physical examination of prohibited item, the Chinese were subsequently arrested and are still being held in custody.

    He said the Elephant tusks were in two compartments of 387 unprocessed pieces , while 271 had been processed into combs and hand bangles.

    The Customs boss, however, did not give the street value of the prohibited items, saying Customs personnel in the relevant units were already carrying out the monetary assessment to ascertain the value.

    On further steps to be taken he said: “ We do not intend to give the names of the Chinese nationals yet. They have been arrested and are in Customs custody. They will be handed over to the relevant security agencies.

    ‘” The prohibited items will be handed over to the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency  for further action on the prohibited item.”

     

  • Oshodi transformation’ll depict new face of Lagos – Ambode

    Oshodi transformation’ll depict new face of Lagos – Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Tuesday said the plan of his administration to transform Oshodi into a world class transport interchange in the next 13 to 16 months would go a long way to depict the regeneration plan of the State, just as he said that the project would also totally remove all notorious activities associated with the area.

    Governor Ambode, who spoke at the Lagos House, Ikeja during a meeting with key stakeholders on the planned transport interchange, said by the time the project is delivered, the fear of insecurity must have been totally removed from the area, while Lagosians would be treated to the best of facilities compared to any other where in the world.

    The meeting, which was a follow up to an earlier forum organized by the State Government through the Office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Urban Development to sensitize stakeholders on the project, was attended by leaders of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), market associations and community leaders.

    While pleading with the stakeholders to support the project which is billed to take off on June 1, 2016, Governor Ambode said the interest of market men and women and transporters have been taken care of, as they would make more money compared to what they are currently making.

    He said: “I am so happy that we are working together on this project. What we are doing today is what we have been planning for long and our plan is to transform some notorious areas in the State to places like Victoria Island. Oshodi is known for all kinds of notorious activities and we want to totally do away with that belief and the best way to go about it is to give the people world class facility and make them to live better lives.

    “We want the people in Oshodi to be identified with good and not bad things all the time and that was what made us to decide that the kind of development going on in Victoria Island, Lekki and other places should take place in Oshodi as well. I mean, I find it very disturbing that our children in Oshodi would have to travel to Lekki or Ikeja to have access to good shopping mall. So, what we have decided is to regenerate Oshodi.

    “Now, if we say there are 13 Bus parks all scattered in Oshodi. Can we put these Bus parks in the same place? You know it is not possible for me to bring the drivers or the buses to Oshodi. It would still be the people who are currently operating there. But the plan is that those who are operating there now, we can make life more comfortable for them and they would still be the ones operating the buses.

    “The issue is that when we transform the terminals, what kind of buses should fit into the new look and that is why we are engaging all the stakeholders, especially the transport people. We can take away all these yellow buses and put these other buses but you will be the operators, and all we are only doing is to provide you with world class terminals that you would even be asking is this happening in my lifetime. So, instead of scattering ourselves all over, let all of us be in one very well organized and secured place,” Governor Ambode said.

    Among other plans, according to the Governor, is the provision of about 800 modern buses which would run 24/7 and would convey Lagosians to all parts of the State in a more comfortable arrangement.

    Speaking on the market, Governor Ambode said the new transport interchange would accommodate world class containerized shopping mall with recreation and entertainment facilities, while the existing market men and women in Oshodi would be the same people to be allocated with the shops.

    “I plead for your tolerance because eventually this whole thing is coming back to you but we must have achieved so much. You see, Oshodi is the entrance point from the international Airport and it create the image of where we want to go and once we are able to create that image, nobody will ever remember Oshodi in their head for anything bad. The only thing that would be left is for us to ensure that the road from Oshodi to international Airport meets international standard and by that, we would have regenerated that part of Lagos for good,” Governor Ambode said.

    Responding, Lagos State NURTW Chairman, Mr. Tajudeen Agbede commended the Governor for the initiative, and expressed the readiness of his members to support the government to make the project a reality.

    Also, a market leader in the area, Mr. Lateef Tajudeen thanked Governor Ambode for the concretized Brown Street in Oshodi, but pleaded that their members should be carried along in the allocation of the shops in the shopping mall.

    On his part, Managing Director of Planet Projects Limited, the contractor partnering with government to deliver the interchange, Mr. Biodun Otunola assured that the firm will meet up with the scheduled time.

    He said the project would gulp about $70 million, adding that several financial institutions have expressed interest to be part of the project.

  • Peak Milk takes ‘Art of Milk’ to schools in Ikeja

    Ahead of World Milk Day on June 1, Nigeria’s’ premium dairy brand, Peak Milk, has taken its “Art of Milk” initiative to some secondary schools in Ikeja and its environs.

    It was creativity galore when the brand team of Peak Milk visited Cayley College, Agidingbi and Wellsprings College, Omole Phase II. Pupils of both schools showed amazing talents, giving their presentations of prepared meals of breakfast, lunch and dinner by using milk as the main food item.

    Besides the brand team, also present at the event were star actress, Mrs. Sola Sobowale and head chef/ Managing Director, We Are Food Limited, Mr. Adeniyi Williams.

    They were members of the panel of judges.

    The organisers said the initiative was meant to showcase ingenuity by using milk in unconventional cooking practices.

    Sobowale said: “Over the years, we have been eating the same kind of food. Milk is one of the essential foods we need. It is not just for Quaker Oats, pap or cornflakes. We have a lot of things we can do with milk. That is why I love the fact that Peak is making us use milk wisely.”

    Williams said the “Art of Milk” initiative was close to his heart, adding that he believed everyone should get involved.

    He said: “There is so much fun in the kitchen. I believe if you let these kids start cooking at 10, 11 years; by the time they are 18 to 20, I do not see why they can’t be the best in Africa.”

    As a food enthusiast, Williams added that milk was important for all and sundry.

    “I still drink milk and I am 28. It is a good source of Vitamin D’ phosphorus, calcium and so on. Coming from the point of Western cooking, there are amazing things you can do with milk when cooking and baking – and that is what Peak is showing,” he said.

    The competition helped the pupils and their teachers to try out unbelievable recipes.

    Mrs. Deborah Oladimeji, the Food and Nutrition teacher of Wellsprings College, said it was an exciting challenge.

    She said: “We went through some recipes and tried to create our own taking into cognisance the period of the meals”, she explained.

    Their presentation was Sweet potato pancake (made with milk) and beef kebabs (for breakfast); chicken egusi soup with vegetable and milk semovita (lunch) and milk rice with crayfish and pepper for dinner.

    To enter the competition, schools in Lagos would enter in recipes using milk to peakmilkng@gmail.com. Ten finalists will be chosen from which the winning school would emerge on June 1st.

    The grand prize is a branded LED screen while the second and third prizes would be air-conditioning units for six and three classrooms.

    Friesland Campina WAMCO Nigeria produces Peak evaporated and powdered milk, which contains essential vitamins and minerals. The range now includes evaporated (liquid) milk in sachets and smaller pocket-friendly sachets.

     

  • Ikeja Electric warns against cash payment

    Ikeja Electric warns against cash payment

    Ikeja Electric has cautioned customers against making cash payments to its workers.

    In a statement, the company’s Head of Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue, said the company’s linesmen, engineers and technicians are not commissioned to receive cash payments of any kind.

    “Basically, our linesmen should not collect reconnection fees, neither are our Energy Sales Representatives (ESR) permitted to receive bill payments on behalf of customers.

    “We have, therefore, embarked on an aggressive “Name & Shame” campaign where parties who engage in this fraudulent act will face prosecution,” he said.

    Ofulu urged all customers to resist efforts by any worker to extort them and report them to the management.

    “Customers can now make payments and purchase tokens seamlessly by using scratch card vouchers, which are sold by vendors and agents across its networks.”

    The other payment channels include Pawakad, a mobile app payment system which is managed by strategically located agents; Baxibox, commonly known as ‘Baba-Ijebu’; Point-of-Sales terminals as well as through Direct Bank Teller in any Zenith Bank branch.

  • Ikeja Electric repositions

    Ikeja Electric repositions

    Ikeja Electric has embarked on strategic steps to reposition its business and reinforce its vision to be the provider of choice.

    In the last few months, the electricity distribution company has scaled up its metering programme to meet the expectations of its customers and further reduce the agitation on estimated billing.

    It has also achieved significant strides in human capital development, which is critical to the repositioning programme, the Head, Corporate Communications, Felix Ofulue, said.

    As part of the strategic initiative, the company also embarked on a re-engineering exercise focused on aligning the company’s structure with its operating model and optimising human capital capacity for better efficiency.

    “One of the key objectives of Ikeja Electric is to create a high performing organisation, which satisfies the needs of all of our stakeholders, especially our customers, as we reposition for growth.

    ‘’We wish to assure all our customers that the organisation has put in place processes to ensure excellent delivery of quality service to our customers in 2016 and beyond,”  he added

  • Ikeja Electric unveils new tariff

    Ikeja Electric has said the implementation of its new tariff structure, which started on February 1, will boost service delivery.

    Its Head of Commercial, Mrs. Folake Soetan, said the cost-reflective tariff would boost the capacity of distribution firms, strengthen the power value chain and improve the quality of service to customers across the nation.

    She said the tariff would further drive Ikeja Electric’s investments and plans to ensure sustained excellent service delivery to all customers within its network.

    “At Ikeja Electric, the new tariff represents another opportunity for us to demonstrate our commitment to transparent, equitable and reliable power distribution to our esteemed customers. We are passionate about service excellence and will continue to work closely with our customers to achieve our ultimate goal which is: let there be light for all Ikeja Electric customers,” she said.

    The new payment structure will be implemented across five major categories including residential, commercial, industrial, special and street lights. Soetan said the company would engage all classes of customers to explain the implication of the new tariff on billing going forward as well as reinforce how customers can take advantage of Ikeja Electric’s various payment channels for convenient, reliable and secure bill settlement.

    “Integrity, professionalism and transparency are some of the values that drive our operations at Ikeja Electric. We will embark on multi-stakeholder engagements that will address all enquiries regarding the new tariff to ensure full understanding by our customers. Our customers can rest assured that the process will be transparent,” she added.

    She noted that in addition to the engagements, Ikeja Electric would attend to customer queries on the new tariff via its contact centre helplines, walk-in customer care centers (IE Serve), dedicated email service, Facebook, Twitter and the company’s corporate website.

    She said: “Ikeja Electric is passionate about powering homes, communities, lives and businesses across its network. We are confident that the new tariff as well as our ongoing metering, customer enumeration and technical audit projects will enhance the quality of our service. We appeal for the support of our customers by way of prompt bill payment and exposure of energy thieves and vandals that attack our equipment and installations. This will make more power available to bonafide Ikeja Electric customers”

  • Photo: Lagos light up project in progress

    Photo: Lagos light up project in progress

    Illuminated College road, Ogba with Street Lights courtesy of the Light Up Lagos Project, an initiative of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Administration, on January 16, 2016.
    Illuminated College road, Ogba with Street Lights courtesy of the Light Up Lagos Project, an initiative of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Administration, on January 16, 2016.

     

    Illuminated College road, Ogba with Street Lights courtesy of the Light Up Lagos Project, an initiative of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Administration, on January 16, 2016.
    Illuminated College road, Ogba with Street Lights courtesy of the Light Up Lagos Project, an initiative of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Administration, on January 16, 2016.

     

    Illuminated WEMPCO road, Ogba with Street Lights courtesy of the Light Up Lagos Project, an initiative of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Administration, on January 16, 2016.
    Illuminated WEMPCO road, Ogba with Street Lights courtesy of the Light Up Lagos Project, an initiative of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Administration, on January 16, 2016.
    Illuminated WEMPCO road, Ogba with Street Lights courtesy of the Light Up Lagos Project, an initiative of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Administration, on January 16, 2016.
    Illuminated WEMPCO road, Ogba with Street Lights courtesy of the Light Up Lagos Project, an initiative of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Administration, on January 16, 2016.

     

    Illuminated Agidingbi road, Ikeja with Street Lights courtesy of the Light Up Lagos Project, an initiative of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Administration, on January 16, 2016.
    Illuminated Agidingbi road, Ikeja with Street Lights courtesy of the Light Up Lagos Project, an initiative of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Administration, on January 16, 2016.

     

    Illuminated Agidingbi road, Ikeja with Street Lights courtesy of the Light Up Lagos Project, an initiative of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Administration, on January 16, 2016.
    Illuminated Agidingbi road, Ikeja with Street Lights courtesy of the Light Up Lagos Project, an initiative of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Administration, on January 16, 2016.
  • Monarch seeks LASU VC from Badagry, Ikeja

    Monarch seeks LASU VC from Badagry, Ikeja

    Monarch of Iba Kingdom, Oba Goriola Oseni, has praised Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for inaugurating the Governing Council of the Lagos State University (LASU) with membership spreading across the state’ six divisions.

    He said such fairness displayed by Ambode not only in LASU, but in councils of other tertiary institutions owned by Lagos State, would likely put paid to incessant crises in the institutions.

    Speaking with The Nation ahead of activities to mark his 40th anniversary on the throne, Oba Oseni, whose jurisdiction hosts LASU, said this is the first time such Council with membership would be so constituted.

    “We have been shouting that each time they constitute a Council, none of our sons and daughters from Badagry division would be there. We now have representatives across the six divisions in Lagos.  If government could do this, I can assure you there would be no problem in LASU. We are more likely to witness tranquility if things are done geographically, “he added.

    However, he also appealed to the governor to consider qualified sons of Epe and Ikeja divisions for the top job at LASU.

    “I am appealing to him (Ambode) to consider Badagry Division and Ikeja Division in the appointment of the next vice chancellor of LASU. From the look of things, the two divisions had never enjoyed such privilege,” Oseni pleaded.

    Oba Oseni is also happy that Iba community now enjoys students’ cooperation unlike about a decade ago when bad eggs from the university held the community hostage.

    “I recall the students’ excesses reached the peak about 10 years ago.  But I don’t think any LASU student can perpetrate any atrocity within this community again. Those here are law abiding. The Awori in general love strangers and accommodate them,” he said.