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Tag: Ikorodu

  • Worshippers protest lockout by police

    Worshippers protest lockout by police

    MEMBERS of Embrace International Church in Erunwon, Ikorodu, Lagos, were on Sunday locked out by the police.

    The  church was shut  because of a face-off between their pastor, Reverend Isaac Adeyemi, and authorities of Foursquare Gospel Church. Adeyemi was a priest in Foursquare before he left for the church.

    The worshippers protested against what they called the  ‘’illegal’’ closure of their church, accusing Foursquare of using the police to intimidate their pastor.

    But, Foursquare denied the allegation, saying it was only trying to stop Adeyemi and his supporters from gaining access to its property.

    Carrying placards with  inscriptions, such as ‘’Foursquare, leave our church alone,” “Freedom of worship threatened by police,” “Embrace International Church is different from Foursquare Church,’’ “Foursquare, say the truth, stop lying,’’ the worshippers lined the road to the church, protesting.

    They said the matter was in the Court of Appeal and wondered why the police were in such a hurry to act.

    Our correspondent, who was at the church, sighted a detachment of men of Ikorodu Police Division at its entrance.   Another team of policemen from the Lagos State Police Command was inside the church building.

    The Ikorodu policemen  left  on sighting reporters.

    The protesters’ spokesman, Mr Samuel Turoti, condemned Foursquare for allegedly instigating the police to seal off the church when the matter is in court.

    He said the injunction Foursquare was wielding  was not against their church, but  Adeyemi.

    Adeyemi, he said, was until a few years ago the pastor of a nearby Foursquare parish before he was suspended. Adeyemi then  became the pastor of their church, Turoti added.

    He said: ‘’ What we saw on Thursday was uncalled for because the police came here at about noon to lock out members of this church and seal off the church building as a result of a court injunction they wanted to enforce on a member of the church, of which the said injunction is not against the entire church.

    ‘’This injunction has been appealed and all the parties involved in the suit were duly served including the plaintiff (Foursquare Gospel Church). Once an injunction is appealed, those involved in the suit must stop further actions until the appeal is heard or determined.  Now, the appeal has not been determined, yet police have come to lock up our church, so that is where the problem lies and what the police did was illegal.

    “I don’t know the grouse Foursquare Church has against Revd Adeyemi, all I know is that they claimed he has been suspended and that he should leave the church. But you can’t take what you don’t actually own; the major problem is that Foursquare Church wants to lay claim to our church building. Unfortunately for Foursquare, the document of the land on which the church was built does not confer ownership on them as they did not contribute a dime to the acquisition of the property and construction of the building on it’’.

    Reacting,  National Secretary of Foursquare Gospel Church the Reverend Ikechuku Ugbaja said the protesters were not saying the truth.

    Ugbaja, who spoke with The Nation on phone,  said Adeyemi was suspended for alleged gross misconduct and taken to court when he continued to misbehave  even after apologising to  the church.

    He said: “In Foursquare Gospel Church, all the ministers are temporarily employed; they can be transferred, disciplined and fired. He (Adeyemi) refused to answer his last official query and was transferred to another church but he refused to go. He began to remove things that have resemblance to our church and was converting our church to his own property.

    ‘’He was therefore dismissed and it (disclaimer notice) was published in the newspapers. He was taken to court and the court gave a restraining order restricting him, his agents and cohorts from entering the church building. He refused to obey the court order until we went back to the court following which court bailiffs were accompanied by policemen to lock up the place.”

  • Christ Fire World Evangelism Ministries holds international prophetic night

    The Christ Fire World Evangelism Ministries, aka City of God, will hold its yearly international prophetic night on Friday, February 9, 2018 at the Church Auditorium located at 3/5, Christ Fire Street, behind Asela Bus Stop, Igbe, Ikorodu, Lagos.

    According to a statement issued by the General Overseer of the Church, Prophet Dr. Israel Owonibi, the prophetic night programme brings to an end the forty days prayer and fasting undertaken by the church to herald year 2018. Prophet Owonibi assured that 2018 will be a better year for the country because “the lost glory of the nation will be restored in manifolds as the glory and favour of the Lord is already shining forth in the spiritual realm”.

    He urged both members and non-members alike to avail themselves of the opportunity presented by the international prophetic night as the sick will be healed, the lame will walk and other diverse kinds of miracle will be wrought by the power of the Holy Spirit.

  • Cleaner Lagos Initiative: LNSC arrests over 200 refuse carters

    Cleaner Lagos Initiative: LNSC arrests over 200 refuse carters

    The Lagos State Neighborhood Agency (LSNA) has arrested over 200 refuse carters across the state.

    The suspects including residents and commercial cart pushers were caught carting refuse from various outlets to road medians, open drainages and highways among other unauthorised points of disposal at Badagry, Lagos Island East local government, Ikorodu, Imota, Amuwo Odofin, Ifelodun, Olorunda, Ibeju Lekki, and Ikeja and other areas.

    Items including carts and trucks were been impounded.

    Their arrests were offshoot of the LNSC partnership with the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) to deepen enforcement of sanitation regulations.

    More effort has been channeled towards the “Cleaner Lagos Initiative” launched by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, two weeks ago in the  wake of indiscriminate refuse disposal  resurfacing across the state.

    Parading the suspects at its Oshodi headquarters, the LNSA Board Chairman, Rtd. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Israel Ajao said the operation began last Friday to reinforce the fight against environmental insanitary.

    He said the agency decided to complement LAGESC  based on its widespread presence in all the fifty Local Governments and LGAs.

    Read Also: Lagos charged to embrace public solution to water crisis

    “After a meeting between LAGESC and LNSC, officers of the LNSC embarked on monitoring, identification and arrest of truck pushers who aid residence to dump refuse on road median, drainages and highways. The state government in its special programme tagged Cleaner Lagos Initiative has committed huge resources to the disposal of refuse and waste in different part of the state and in order to ensure its success, all those involved in indiscriminate dumping of refuse are being arrested for violating the state environmental laws and we have handed them over to LAGESC for prosecution,” he said.

    He encouraged Lagosians to into the state project, saying: “Residents are hereby advised to make use of facilities provided by government to dispose their refuse while our efforts continue to arrest offenders, in order to ensure a cleaner healthier, and sustainable environment.”

    According to LAGESC Executive Chairman, Idowu Mohammed, the suspects will be charged to court and made to face sanctions ranging from N20,000 fine to N50,000, community service or jail term.

  • Badoo: IG sets up riot police base in Ikorodu

    The police yesterday inaugurated the Squadron 63 Mobile Police Base in Igbogbo Baiyeku, Lagos outskirts to curb criminal activities in Ikorodu and environs.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the Squadron 63 Police Mobile Force (PMF), headed by a superintendent of police, was equipped with dozens of combat-ready anti-riot policemen.

    Inspector-General of Police Ibrahim Idris said that Ikorodu had over the years grown to become one of the fastest developing Lagos suburbs with thriving commercial and social activities of emerging cities.

    “Ritual killings, murders, kidnappings, armed robbery and others have become features of Ikorodu and this experience brings the urgent need to strengthen security around Ikorodu and the environs,” the IGP said.

    Represented by Mr Folusho Adebanjo, a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, (DIG), Idris urged the community to collaborate and support the security unit by providing useful information to curtail insecurity in the area.

    Commissioner of Police Imohimi Edgal said the establishment of the PMF squadron base in Ikorodu would help in reducing crime rate in the area.

    “Community policing and safety partnership is working and I can promise that the year 2018 is going to be more of action and less talk.

    “Squadron 63 is here, in the next one week you will see their deployment and of course crime rate will reduce drastically,” Edgal said.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said that PMF Squadron 63 was established in Igbogbo-Baiyeku to address the security challenges in Ikorodu.

    “Universally, the primary responsibility of government is to ensure the safety and security of its citizenry. No meaningful development can be achieved in an atmosphere of chaos, fear and uncertainty about safety of lives and property,” he said.

    Represented by Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Tunji Bello, Ambode commended the IGP for his partnership with the state and prompt approval of the base to ensure that criminals do not have a safe haven in any part of the state.

    Chairman, Igbogbo Baiyeku Local Council Development Area Mr Sesan Daini, praised the police and the state government for establishing the security unit.

    He assured that the community would synergise with the security agency.

  • NNPC deploys 50-fuel-laden trucks in Lagos to end queues at filling stations

    NNPC deploys 50-fuel-laden trucks in Lagos to end queues at filling stations

    The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on Monday appealed to motorists in Lagos State not to embark on panic buying of petrol because it had increased the fuel-laden trucks supplying fuel  to the city/state by 50 trucks

    Mr Ndu Ughamadu, the Corporation’s Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, told the  the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the queues at filling stations would soon vanish with the new development.

    He said that the members of the public should not indulge in storing petrol in their homes because additional 50 trucks of petrol had been released to Lagos.

    Read Also: NNPC ‘releases 250 trucks of petrol’

    “About 250 trucks have begun to discharge petrol to Lagos compared to less than 200 trucks allocated to Lagos at the weekend.

    “Motorists are advised to avoid hoarding and panic buying of petrol as the NNPC has sufficient product in stock that will last several days,” he said.

    Ughamadu  attributed the sudden scarcity of petrol being experienced to a slight change in the distribution network in Lagos.

    According to him, Lagos is currently being supplied by members of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN).

    The NNPC spokesperson also acknowledged that there was a slight hitch at the Port Harcourt Refinery which he said was caused by power problem.

    “The Port Harcourt Refinery is slightly down for now, pending when the problem will be rectified,” he said.

    Meanwhile, NAN reports that hawkers had begun to capitalise on the situation to sell petrol to the public at exorbitant prices.

    The hawkers had been selling the commodity for  between N200 and N300 per litre.

    At Fadeyi on Ikorodu Road, a hawker sold a five-litre gallon of petrol for N1,500 instead of the official price of N725.

    Also, commercial transport operators had increased their fares by about 50 per cent.

    A trip to Oshodi from Costain now goes for N150 from its former N100 while Oshodi to Sango Ota in Ogun attracts N300 as against the former N200.

    NAN

  • Guard beats suspected thief to death in Ikorodu

    Guard beats suspected thief to death in Ikorodu

    A 33-year-old guard Suleiman Sanni, was yesterday arraigned before an Ikeja High Court for allegedly beating a man to death over a stolen motorcycle.

    Justice Josephine Oyefeso orderd that he be remanded in Kirikiri Prison   and adjourned the case till March 13.

    The lead prosecutor, Mrs C. K. Tunji-Carrena, told the court that the defendant committed the offence at 2a.m. on October 8, 2015 at Otunbor Street, Isawo–Owode, Ikorodu, Lagos.

    “The defendant, who was the guard of the street caught the 24-year-old deceased, Moses Uche, with a motorcycle which he (Sanni) claimed was stolen.

    “Sanni alongside others who are at large beat the deceased with a plank till he was unconscious.

    “Uche, after he was taken to hospital for treatment, succumbed to his injuries the next day,” Tunji-Carrena said.

  • Lagos initiates new waste management reforms – LAWMA

    Lagos initiates new waste management reforms – LAWMA

    Mr Segun Adeniji, General Manager, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), says the waste management challenges facing the Lagos metropolis will soon be over when the state government’s reforms take effect.

    Adeniji gave the assurance on Friday in an interview in Lagos.

    He said that the new waste management reforms were aimed at ensuring a cleaner environment in the state.

    “Our waste management sector is currently undergoing a major reform. In March last year, a new bill was signed into law on the waste management sector, producing a single legislation that covers the entire environment sector in the state.

    “That same law has made LAWMA a regulatory body, as against the time when LAWMA was only carrying out 90 per cent operations and 10 per cent regulations.

    “From this year henceforth, all operations will be carried out by a competent body called Visionscape International, and the agency will handle all waste and refuse issues,” he said.

    Read also: LAWMA: We are not owing sweepers salaries

    Adeniji said that 35 per cent of the equipment required for the onset of waste evacuation in the Lagos metropolis had arrived.

    According to him, the company will commence the clearing of waste in a fortnight with the available equipment.

    “We will soon start living under the conditions of a new programme called the `Cleaner Lagos Initiative’ ( CLI ) in the next few weeks when the equipment rolls out.

    “The little challenges we are facing now are due to the withdrawal of services by the Private Sector Participation ( PSP ) operators, who had issues with the state government because of the new reform about to take place, which made them stop collecting the waste.

    “The residents, too, were not cooperating by paying their dues for refuse collection services but I assure the residents that pockets of refuse seen here and there will be a thing of the past once the CLI becomes operational very soon.

    “There will be a little pain for us to get a greater joy,” he added.

    Adeniji said that dumpsites were being prepared for the new reform programme, while reconstruction works were underway at the Epe dumpsite.

    “In the next few months, two dumpsites will be constructed in Ikorodu and Badagry for effective waste disposal services,” he said.

    He called on Lagos residents to exercise more patience, as intervention trucks had started going round to evacuate the waste which was generated during the recent festive period.

    NAN

  • Suspected ritualists kill three family members at Ikorodu

    Suspected ritualists kill three family members at Ikorodu

    A man, Musibau Aro, his 14-year-old son Tobi, and a female visitor were on Friday found dead at Ibeshe, Ikorodu.

    The man’s wife, Modinatu was said to have been recovered unconscious at their 7, Fidelis Alex Street, Awori Phase II, Ibeshe residence and rushed to Ikorodu General Hospital.

    The victims, said to be natives of Iwo in Osun State, were murdered in their sleep by suspected ritualists who accessed their home through the window.According to neigubours, they were last seen on Monday night, an indication that they might have been killed at the wee hours of Tuesday.

    It was gathered that the bodies of the deceased were already swollen, decomposing when they werw discovered Thursday morning.
    A neighbour, who hinted on the incident told The Nation that the man led a secluded life and rarely interacted with other community members.

    The source said: “But his wife and son were lovely people. His wife was found unconscious. She was rushed to the hospital. They smashed their heads. Blood was all over the place. It seems the man struggled with his killers.

    “The family live in a room and parlour bungalow. The compound only has a low fence at the back. There’s no fence in front. The attackers broke the glass at the back window of their home. There was no burglary proof. They entered through that window.

    “For how long will these killings continue? Why do these murderers keep targeting non-Ikorodu indigenes? Is that not enough suspicion for the police to know the people to investigate?

    “We have comolained several times about the absence of security in Ibeshe. We are vulnerable here. Is it when these criminals have wiped us out completely that something would be done about it? This is just too much.

    “Governor Akinwunmi Ambode should know rhat we are not safe. The police here are not protecting us. They are busy harassing and extorting innocent people daily. Non-natives of Ibeshe are in danger. We need urgent help to stop these ritualists.”

    According to a police source, there were obvious signs of struggle and blood stains from the room to the parlour, which suggested that the murderers might have dragged a body from to the parlour.

    He said: “The man was found alone on the bed in one room with blood all over the place. There was also blood stain from the room to the parlour suggesting that one body was dragged or the victim struggled to exit and died later at the parlour.

    “There was visible injury to the heads of two of the victims especially the males. The bodies were bloated. Officials from Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) collaborated with us in evacuating the bodies.”
    Contacted, the General Manager LASEMA, Adesina Tiamiyu declined comments on the incident and advised our Correspondent to contact the police.

  • 2019: Obanikoro eyes Senate

    2019: Obanikoro eyes Senate

    •Ikorodu agitates for senator

    Former Minister of State for Defence Senator Musiliu Obanikoro is among the gladiators warming up for the 2019 senatorial race in Lagos West District, it was learnt yesterday.

    The former Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana has started consultation and mobilisation in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of next general elections.

    Also, some Ikorodu political leaders have kicked off their agitation to produce the next senator from Lagos East. The seat is currently occupied by Senator Barewu Ashafa, who was first elected in 2011. The senator is from Ibeju/Lekki axis.

    A source said those eyeing the seat include Apena Kaoli Olusanya, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Hon. Abiru of the Lagos State House of Assembly. However, former Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Commissioner Ademorin Kuye, who is from Somolu and Chief Lanre Rasaq from Epe, also eyeing the slot.

    An APC leader from Ikorodu confirmed that some senatorial aspirants are campaigning on the platform of Ikorodu, despite the fact that there is no consensus on what he described as “senatorial power shift” to Ikorodu.

    He said: “They are individuals. But, they want a collective support and push for the senatorial slot. There is division. Some of us believe that Ashafa has tried his best and he can re-contest. He is mature and he relates with us well.”

    Obanikoro represented Lagos Central in the Senate on the platform of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) between 2003 and 2007, after resigning as Lagos State Commissioner for Home Affairs. He later defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), contested for the governorship twice and served as minister in the Jonathan administration. He was also the Chairman of the National Social Insurant Trust Fund (NSITF). Before the advent of the Fourth Republic, he had served as Chairman of Lagos Town Council.

    Obanikoro, who defected to the APC last month, has traced his roots to the Iba/Ojo sub-division and he may likely adopt as his new political base.

    A party elder, who spoke on a condition of anonymity, disclosed that Obanikoro’s ambition is legitimate, although it may polarize the party in Lagos West at the initial stage. Ironically, Obanikoro’s senatorial bid in 2003 led to Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi’s migration from Lagos Central to Lagos West.

    “Obanikoro is a strong politician. But, he cannot get the ticket in Lagos Central because the impressive record of Senator Oluremi Tinubu may make the party elders, led by Prince Oluyole Olusi, to extend her tenure in the Senate. She is a fantastic senator who has done the Lagos Central proud. She is the best senator Lagos Central ever had.

    “I am aware that Obanikoro wants to be senator. If he has the opportunity, he will like to be governor. But, the coast is not clear. I learnt that he has started consulting and tracing his roots to Lagos West. The understanding is that, if Senator Olamilekan Adeola is bent on becoming the governor of Ogun State, the senatorial seat of Lagos West will be vacant in 2019.”

    According to the source, there are indications that former Deputy Governor Joke Orelope-Adefulire, Chief Demola Seriki and Senator Ganiyu Solomon are also interested in the senatorial race.

    He added: “We are still trying to confirm whether Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola is also going to contest. He is from Alimoso sub-zone. He is their leader there. But, we had that his camp is divided over the issue.”

    Few months ago, Obanikoro had peeped into the future and traced his background to Aworiland. He said that his progenitor, Obanikoro of Lagos, was not from Bini Kingdom, Edo State. He clarified that the legendary Obanikoro was an Awori from Idiluwo-Ile in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos.

    The former minister said the account of the eminent Lagosian and former Works Minister Chief Femi Okunnu that Obanikoro was from Benin was wrong. He said while he personally had a link with Benin City through his paternal great grandmother, who was from Eletu-Odibo family, the first Obanikoro was not from Benin.

    Obanikoro said the descendants of Chief Obanikoro, including Ajayi-Bembe, Ogunlana Arewa, Abisawo Otun, Osadeko, Aregbe and Oyerokun, were conscious of their Awori root.

    He stressed: “Chief Okunnu said Obanikoro was from Benin. We are not from Benin. We are from Aworiland. We are from Idiluwo-Ile in Ojo local government. Personally, I have Bini blood. My paternal great grandmother was from Eletu-Odibo family. Eletu-Odibo came with the Oba of Benin to lagos. She was the daughter of Ogabi Eletu-Odibo. But, Obanikoro was not a Bini man. He was an Awori.”

     

  • Fed Govt okays N3b for Ikorodu lighter terminal 

    Fed Govt okays N3b for Ikorodu lighter terminal 

    THE Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved N3 billion for the Ikorodu lighter terminal project.

    Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi announced this at the end of FEC meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The N3 billion for rehabilitation of the lighter terminal, he said, will aid the purchase of patrol boats for security.

    He added that the council approved $500 million for purchase of locomotives for completion of Lagos-Ibadan and Itakpe and Warri rail projects.

    On when the coaches will be delivered, the minister said: “We just awarded the contract today and you are talking about expectation. All I can tell you is that they will be available on the completion of the construction of the rail tracks and we are aiming to complete construction 2018 December.

    “It is a big risk that I am taking by insisting it must be completed by 2018 December. I have said it to the public, the contract is actually for three years but we think they should complete it in 2018 December.

    “Reason, in China,  they do a thousand kilometres per a year. So, why can’t they do one hundred and eighty something kilometres in one year, six months or one year six months in Nigeria. So, before they complete in December, we will have the coaches, wagons,  locomotives and spares for maintenance.”

    He said the contractors are Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM)- Dalian a Chinese company and CCECC Contractor.

    He cautioned that the railway projects should not be politicised, but should be seen as an economic driver.

    “It drives even oil because if you import fuel, liquid cargo, we transport by rail.

    “The railway project in Warri was 34 years ago and it starts from Itakpe and it hasn’t even gotten to Warri town. It stops at Aladja. So, we should be carrying placards.  We must stick Nigeria first, that is what we should do and stop putting unnecessary pressure based on our ethnic sentiments.

    “Let’s deal with the issues as they come, whether you are from North or from South or from East or West or anywhere, let’s deal with the issues as they come.

    “Now we are currently negotiating with so many contractors on the best terms for the loans, that is what we are doing, if we get the right loan terms that the country can take, we will go back to cabinet and ask for approval, that is what we are doing.

    “If you come to the Ministry of Transport, you will see that everyday I am meeting with the Chinese because that appears to be the only place where they have funds.

    “I will go back to touch things you may not like, which I have said several times. Under Obasanjo, he saved between $65-68 billion, not even in foreign reserve, Excess Crude Account and we require about $36 billion to complete all these rail works in all the state capitals.

    “All of us seated here are journalists, when Obasanjo was President,  Obasanjo left that money and President Goodluck Jonathan became President and that money was in that account. So,  why couldn’t we have spent $36 billion building rails all over the country?

    “You didn’t ask President Goodluck Jonathan that question, nobody asked. I was a governor then. There was no agitation for rail, there was no construction going on. Instead of using that money, we borrowed $500 million to construct Kaduna/Abuja.

    “So, I will please plead with everybody to be patient with this government and be patient with my ministry, let us find money because there is no money.

    The Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said the FEC approved security measures for University of Maiduguri, Borno State.

    Stressing that a new draft bill on mining will soon be forwarded to the National Assembly, he said that some contracts were awarded for Zaria, Gusau and Sokoto road.