The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • Lagos coastal erosion will threaten national security, FG told

    THE president of Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF), Philip Asiodu (CON), has warned the federal government that coastal erosion problem in Lagos State is the nation’s “most urgent environmental challenge.”

    He said this at the 4th annual Walk for Nature event, organised by the NCF in collaboration with the Lagos State Government to raise awareness about environmental issues through a short walk around Lagos Island.

    Though, “sustainable energy for all” was the theme of this year’s commemoration, the urgency of coastal erosion and the threat it portends imposed a detour on Asiodu, who called on the federal government to take “timely bold preventive action” to prevent “this extremely dangerous threat.”

    In recent weeks, flood has caused tremendous damage in some Nigerian states, raising fears of food scarcity as major link roads between the northern and southern parts of the country became inaccessible. But while the flooding still takes its toll on internally displaced people, Asiodu said the entire nation’s economy risks paralysis with the impending threat posed by coastal erosion.

  • ‘Lagos committed to raising literacy level’

    ‘Lagos committed to raising literacy level’

    Lagos State Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, has urged Lagosians to take advantage of the resolve of the government to raise the literacy level by making use of the newly-built Dr. Muiz Banire Hybrid Public Library in Mushin.

    Mrs. Oladunjoye, who inaugurated the library last Saturday, said the Fashola administration is committed to educational advancement.

    The Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Mr. Olatunde Babatunde Adepitan, said: “This library project was conceived by my administration in 2010 to serve as a catalyst for sustainable growth and development in Mushin Local Government.

    “As I said in the speech I delivered on September 20 during the Public Private Partnership Roundtable on this library project, youths must deliberately, through concerted efforts, be lured away from unproductive ventures.

    “Through our investigation as a government, we have come to realise that if the minds of our people are not developed, the infrastructural facilities provided will be destroyed.

    ‘We sought the assistance of individuals and organisations to equip the library because we don’t have enough resources to provide the needed items for a modern library, which must be IT-compliant.

    “The world has become a global village. This is what we intend to achieve with this library project. Through E-learning, a lot can be achieved. This is what this library is meant for.

    “The library is called hybrid because a part of it will be a conventional library with books, while the other part will be digital. A hall is dedicated for conference and seminars. Another hall is for professionals such as lawyers, doctors, pharmacists, accountants, bankers, journalists, engineers and others.

    He said the edifice is named after one of the illustrious sons of the council who is one of the longest serving public officials in Lagos State. He added that apart from his contributions to the state, he initiated the idea of the library. The person is Dr. Muiz Adeyemi Banire.

  • Lagos urged to collaborate with Fed Govt, Ogun on mega city

    •Town planners seek relocation of Okobaba saw millers to Agbowa

    Town Planners in Lagos have called on the state government to reactivate and reexamine the immediate and long-term impact of the moribund Lagos City Development Authority.

    They urged the state on the need to collaborate with the Federal and Ogun State governments on physical developments to align with the planned mega city project.

    They stated this at their Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Ikeja.

    Chairman, Nigeria Institute of Town Planning (NITP) Lagos, Mr Makinde Ogunleye, frowned at a situation where the government and, sometimes, the commissioner are involved in the approval of certain level of planning documents.

    He called for the development and implementation of local plans by the local planning authority in line with the provisions of the existing laws and regulations.

    On the spate of illegal developments, Ogunleye said: “To arrest the spate of illegal development in the state, government should revert to the operation 30/30templates and allow the issuance of development permit by the state agency in charge of planning matters, the district and the local planning office.

    “The governor has no business in the development permit process except on special cases when such proposal was not contemplated in the prevailing approved physical development plan.”

    He stressed that if the advice is heeded, the existing bottleneck in the building plan approval process would be removed and means of doing business in the state enhanced.

    On excised villages, he called for stronger efforts towards the preparation and award of local plans, particularly layouts and development guide plans for the villages.

    The NITP boss stressed that except that is done, the government would be indirectly encouraging the growth of slums and blighted areas in the metropolis, saying the land owners need professional guide to keep the sanity of their communities and surrounding towns.

    Speaking on the long standing controversy on Okobaba saw millers and their relocation, he asked that they should be urgently relocated to Agbowa to aid them to thrive in a conducive environment.

    He made a case for a quick release of the state Geographic information System (GIS) to the public, noting that if this is not done as soon as possible, the GIS may be out of date for any meaningful reference and use by the people.

    In the same vein, he called for a drainage master plan for the state based on expected use, especially in these days of heavy rain.

  • Lagos ACN to appeal ruling on council poll

    The Lagos State chapter of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has restated its decision to appeal the judgment of the Lagos State Local Government Election Petitions Tribunal on the Ikoyi/Obalende Local Council Development Area (LCDA).

    It assured its members and supporters that there was no cause for alarm. Last week, the Justice Dolapo Akinsanya-led tribunal nullified the election of Mr. Adewale Adeniji of the ACN on the grounds that the election result in some units were not collated and declared Mr. Babajide Obanikoro of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) winner.

    In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, ACN said its lawyers are studying the judgment in readiness for an appeal.

    The party said even though it does not accept the judgment, it has exposed the hypocrisy of those who claimed there was no council election in Lagos.

    ACN said the judgment is “no big deal”.

    It said: “In a democratic dispensation, it is natural for disputes to arise after elections, and that is why the judiciary is there to sieve the grains from the chaff.

    “In the case of Ikoyi/Obalende LCDA, we saw the desperate efforts to claim the LCDA by every means possible. We expected to contest against other parties and as such, we expected to either win or lose elections.

    “After what we believe was a free and fair election, our opponents, who had planned another strategy, knowing their strength, went on an extensive campaign to tarnish the election and went to the extent of mobilising thugs to cause breach of the peace in Lagos. They denied that any election took place and in another breath claimed they won the election.

    “While we felt the election was free and fair, we advised those who felt otherwise to approach the court. Thank God they did so after seeing the futility of resorting to self help and thank God that the judgment they are now celebrating was gotten through the same system they desperately tried to rubbish.

    “Thank God what they presented as obtained in the same election they were desperately trying to deny is the basis of the present judgment, but we seriously object to this.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    “We are pleased that the process in Lagos is giving room for the opposition to canvass for and win local councils, contrary to what obtains in PDP states, where the party merely awards itself all available local council seats in the name of election and where the courts have been made annexes of PDP head offices and approve whatever the party desires.

    “We have no doubt about the capacity of Lagos to midwife a free and fair democratic process in the face of the deliberate efforts of the PDP to rubbish the local councils and its electoral system for its selfish benefits.

    “The present judgment, even in its flawed nature, is proof of the credibility of the electoral system in Lagos. We had 60 cases arising from the election and, so far, we have won 46 and lost six, including two ordered re-runs. We have won one of the re-runs and are awaiting the other.

    “Lagos ACN has appealed the cases we lost at the tribunal, so it is an on going process that has not been concluded. We challenge the PDP and its allies to allow for such credible process in the states they govern.

    “A situation where it is only in Lagos that a different party from the one that controls the state can lay claim to victory and go to the tribunal to have such claim affirmed should worry the PDP, which delights in closing the democratic space in all states it control through foul means and striving to employ all means to control local government councils in states it does not control.

    “We want them to learn immensely from the Lagos State process and give other parties a fair chance of contesting and winning elections in the states they control. We equally believe that the margin of victory in the Lagos council elections should worry the PDP, which delights to award 99.9 per cent of registered voters to itself, as we saw in the 2011 presidential election.

    “Our lawyers are studying the judgment in readiness for appeal at the Appeal Tribunal, so we urge our members and supporters to remain calm and law abiding as the judicial system runs its full course.

    “We want them to know that this is a democratic contest and we entered into it to win or lose. We acknowledge that we may not win it all and that if we eventually lose the case at the appeal, it is no big deal to lose one of 57 LCDAs. We urge our members to remain firm and steadfast in their support for our great party.”

     

  • Lagos applauds Red Star Express Cooperative

    Lagos applauds Red Star Express Cooperative

    The Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperative has adjudged Red Star Express Cooperative Society as the most outstanding cooperative society in Lagos, applauding it for its numerous grassroot-oriented and impactful projects and schemes, including the Red Star Estate.

    Commenting on the development, Red Star Express, Marketing Manager, Ngozi Ochokwu expressed gratitude for the commendation from the state government.  She said, ‘over the years, the society has embarked on minor and major projects to benefit its members, such as the sale of electronics, bulk purchase of food items and the Magboro Estate Development named the “Red Star Express Estate.’

    Red Star Express Cooperative Multipurpose Society was founded in 1997 and was registered as FedEx Red Star Express Co-Operative Thrift and Credit Society (RSE CTCS). The cooperative society has 483 members and is still thriving to reach its goal by embarking on other housing projects.

    One of its flagship projects, Red Star Express Estate, was established in 2006, accommodating 40 houses and 20 occupants.  The estate has elicited commendation from notable organisations including the River State Co-operative Federation and Lagos State Government.

    Currently, Red Star Express Cooperative Multipurpose Society has membership strength of 483 and is still thriving to reach its goal by embarking on other housing projects. Red Star Express Cooperative Multipurpose Society was founded in 1997 and was registered as FedEx Red Star Express Co-Operative Thrift and Credit Society (RSE CTCS).

    Red Star Cooperative is an arm of Red Star Express Plc, licensee of the globally acclaimed Federal Express (FEDEX) and a foremost one-stop logistics firm in Nigeria.

     

  • Lagos Assembly summons commissioner

    Lagos Assembly summons commissioner

    The Lagos State House of Assembly yesterday summoned the Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Olayinka Oladunjoye, over the plan to introduce the study of the Chinese Language, Mandarin, in public schools.

    Mr. Abdoulbaq Balogun (Ajeromi/Ifelodun 2) said the introduction of Chinese Language in public schools would have no relevance on the state’s economy.

    Mr. Rotimi Olowo (Somolu 2) said: “Our children are yet to understand our local languages and we are planning to introduce another language.”

    Mrs. Lola Akande (Ikeja 2) said there was nothing wrong in introducing Chinese Language to schools.

    Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji said: “In most of the countries I have visited, people from age 15 speak three or more languages. I think it is good for us to learn more languages.”

     

     

  • Okada accounts for 25% of crimes in Lagos

    Okada accounts for 25% of crimes in Lagos

    About 25 per cent of crimes committed in State were aided by commercial motorcycle operators otherwise called okada riders.

    The Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaiye, stated this in Lagos at a stakeholders’ forum on the new traffic law organised for local government officials.

    Represented by Mr Olanrewaju Akinsola, Ipaiye said the figure was the outcome of a recent research conducted by the Ministry of Health.

    He said no responsible government would continue to watch the rising spate of robbery and havoc being caused by the reckless okada operators.

    Ipaiye said the state government was concerned about the situation, hence the enactment of the traffic law.

    According to him, this is meant to regulate the commercial motorcycle business and also to sanitise the public transportation system in the state.

    He noted that the traffic law was not entirely new, recalling that it was first enacted in 1949 to serve only about 300, 000 people.

    Ipaiye said the state’s population currently stands at 18 million.

    The commissioner stressed that the old traffic law, having been amended six times, needed to be fine-tuned in line with the current situation.

    “When a law has been amended several times, there are bound to be issues of ambiguity,” he said.

    Beside security, he said the new law would also address specifically the issues of standard, safety and sanity.

    He also spoke on the use of motorcycles by courier service companies and other dispatch riders adding only only approved motorbikes, with 200cc engines, would be allowed, just as he added that the riders must use the right number plate, attach the mail cabin and carry no passengers.

    “You will also apply to the commissioner for a permit,” he said.

    The commissioner explained that the 200cc engine was approved based on the recommendation of experts that it is the minimum engine capacity for commuting.

    Although he said that the state government did not outlaw the operation of commercial motorcycles, he warned that the business must be done in accordance with the law.

    Ipaiye also said that no branding of commercial vehicles operating in the state would be allowed outside the approved state colour.

    Rearing of animals on the road, hawking in traffic, begging and washing of vehicles is now forbidden, he said.

    Selling of alcoholic drinks and herbal concortion would no longer be allowed within 100 metres of any bus stops and motor parks, the commissioner said.

     

  • Qatar Air aircraft in emergency landing at MMIA

    Qatar Air aircraft in emergency landing at MMIA

    A burst tyre forced a Qatar Air aircraft with 248 passengers on board to resort to emergency landing on Saturday at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) in Lagos.

    The aircraft was guided to land on the runway close to the cargo shed, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

    Mr Ibraheem Farinloye, the South-West Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the National Emergency Management Authority , (NEMA), confirmed the emergency landing to journalists.

    The airbus 332 was said to have flew into Lagos from Doha.

    Farinloye said that NEMA received an alert from FAAN between 12. 55 p.m. and 1.00 p.m. that the aircraft with registration number A7AEE had landing challenges.

    “We are happy to inform you now that it had landed safely with the assistance of the various security and other agencies, such as the FAAN fire fighters, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the police , Julius Berger officials and men of the Lagos State Fire Service.

    A source said that the pilot had suspected the problem and informed the control tower at MMIA to prepare emergency landing facilities for the jet liner.

    NAN observed that the aircraft was towed to the international air-side of the airport where the passengers on board disembarked.

    Eyewitnesses around the airport cargo shed said that the airbus plane roved in the air for about an hour before it finally landed. (NAN)

  • Fashola receives sports festival’s torch

    Fashola receives sports festival’s torch

    All is set for the commencement of the National sport festival as President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday handed the festival touch to Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State.

    Lagos State is hosting the 18th edition of the bi-annual event tagged “Eko 2012.”

    The sport festival starts on November 27.

    Jonathan, who is in New York for the 67th session of United Nation General Assembly, was represented by Vice President Namadi Sambo who handed the torch over to Governor Fashola.

    The ceremony which lasted about 15 minutes was held at the forecourt of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Tele Ikuru brought the torch to the State House and handed it over to the Director- General of the National Sports Commission, Dr. Patrick Ekeji who in turn handed it over to the Minister of Sports, Bolaji Abdullahi.

    Abdullahi gave the torch to vice president Sambo who later handed it over to Governor Fashola.

    In his short remark, Sambo congratulated the last host of the festival, Rivers State, for the successful hosting and expressed the hope that Lagos State would surpass the feat achieved during the last edition.

    On receiving the torch, Fashola promised that his state would host a championship befitting the proud heritage and history of the festival.

    He said, “Let me say on behalf of the people and government of Lagos State that not only do we commend the people and government of Rivers State for a wonderful show, we are challenged by the privilege of being the host immediately after them.

    “We assure all stakeholders that we will host a championship befitting of the very proud heritage and history of the National Sports Festival and perhaps more importantly to say that as I receive this torch of unity and as it begins its journey round this country, it will serve the purpose for which it was inaugurated in the very first place: to unify and bring closer our people through sports.”

    Speaking to journalists at the end of the ceremony, Fashola that his state was prepared to meet the timeline set by the organising committee for the facilities meant for the event to be ready.

    He said the state was poised to host a championship that would meet all the objectives of the festival not only in terms unifying Nigerians but also in terms of achieving talent development in sports and bringing harmony into the sector.

     

  • ‘441 Lagos commercial drivers tested positive to cocaine, marijuana’

    ‘441 Lagos commercial drivers tested positive to cocaine, marijuana’

    The Lagos State Government on Tuesday said 441 commercial bus drivers tested positive to cocaine and marijuana in a recent medical screening exercise conducted in some parks in Iyana Ipaja axis of the state.

    The state Commissioner for Health Dr. Jide Idris and his counterpart in Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, who disclosed this at a press conference in Alausa, Ikeja.

    They said the government will prosecute any motorists found to be driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

    Idris said the government has constantly educated the drivers on dangers associated with consumption of alcohol while on the wheels.

    He said, “So far we have screened 2,002 drivers with the following results obtained. 781 were found to be driving under the influence of alcohol, while 601 were found to be hypertensive.

    “441 tested positive to psychotropic drugs, especially cocaine and marijuana. 940 were screened for visual impairment and 13 percent had to be given special glasses.”

    The commissioner said given the grave consequences of driving under such influences, the state government had no option than to invoke section 21, subsection 1 of the state traffic law which prescribes a conviction fine of N100, 000 or two years imprisonment or both on the offenders.

    Idris lamented that road accidents has become one major cause of deaths in the country, noting that the state government cannot achieve the desired health indices if it ignore the menace of deaths by road accidents.

    “ Alcohol and substance abuse have been documented as a cause of road traffic accidents and several studies have shown that an intoxicated driver is a danger to himself , his passengers and other road users,” the commissioner noted.

    Idirs said a major breakthrough was recently recorded in the sensitization campaigns in the motor parks against irresponsible driving with a Memorandum of Understanding signed with Guinness Nigeria Plc.

    Opeifa in his presentation explained that government is focusing on motor parks to make the awareness campaign effective because of its involvement in mass transportation of people to various destinations within and outside the state.