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Tag: Lagos govt

  • Family urges Lagos govt to intervene in land dispute

    THE Igbaro Oteshade Royal Family of Oko Addo Village in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State has called on the Lagos State government to intervene in a land dispute between it and a Lagos- based businessman called Emeka in the interest of peace and justice.

    In a release signed on behalf of the family by Prince Malik Oteshade, the Secretary of the family, Emeka, was accused of trespassing “a parcel of land which was fully excised in favour of the family in September 2015 vide a publication by the Lands Bureau pursuant to the family’s application for excision in File No KL 10255.”

    The release said: “The family petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Lands Bureau and the Office of the Surveyor-General, Lagos State, wherein the family’s title to the land was affirmed.

    “The report of the investigation activities from the Office of the Surveyor -General dated 24th January, 2018 showed that plans with nos. LS/D/LA1412A; LS/D/LA3849 and LS/D/LA3806 dated 18th December, 2003, 29th January, 2016 and 22nd September, 2015 respectively in favour of the Oteshade family were approved plans from the Office of the Surveyor- General.

    “The area covered by the four Survey Plans aforementioned and said to belong to Emeka largely falls within the excised twenty hectares in favour of the Oteshade family as shown in plan Nos. LS/D/LA1412A; LS/D/LA3849 and LS/D/LA/3806 dated 18th December, 2003, 29th January, 2016 and 22nd September, 2015.

    “We reiterate that the Oteshade Family will never negotiate its land title with anybody. We advise Emeka to stop parading defective and incompetent certificates of occupancy. A certificate of occupancy issued on a duly excised land will never stand.”

    In his reaction, Emeka said “the land in question belongs to me”.

    He said he bought it and claimed that he could prove his ownership of it through genuine documents.

    He further said he won all cases relating to the land in courts.

    “As at now, a petition on the issue is before the Lagos State House of Assembly,” he said.

     

  • Tricyclists ask Lagos govt to resolve crisis with drivers

    The Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) has called on Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to address the disruptions of its operations.

    Those accused include the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and its affiliate, Tricycle Owners and Operators Association of Nigeria (TOOAN); Road Transport Employees Association (RTEAN), and the Tricycle Owners and Drivers Association of Lagos (TODAL).

    TOAN, a registered trade union organisation, argued that it has had a running battle with members of the NURTW because of its decision to operate independently, and continually had its operations disrupted even with a judgment ruled in its favour by the National Industrial Court (NIC).

    The Acting Chairman, Lagos State Council of TOAN, Tunji Oyeniyi, in a statement, said the bodies in collaboration with some government officials, ministries and with the assistance of the Police and other security agencies, have taken over all its parks and operational bases in the state through invasion, attacks, brutalisation and threats to  members’ lives.

    He said not granting TOAN the autonomy to co-exist with other unions peacefully was a threat to industrial harmony and growth of the state.

    Oyeniyi, who said several efforts had been made to convince the Ministry of Transportation, and Ministry of Establishments and Training to re-issue a ‘Letter of Recognition and Approval’ earlier granted on January 13, last year, but withdrawn for no reason within three weeks by the Ministry of Transportation.

    TOAN called on the governor to wade into the injustice and investigate its present challenges caused by the ministry as well as punish offenders accordingly.

    Its Chairman said: “The dehumanisation and loss of means of livelihood through the unjustified illegal actions carried out by these groups on us was an abuse of our fundamental right to carry out our economic activities.

    “We wish to reinstate that those past and recent activities of the law enforcement agencies where cases of threats and brutalisation were reported and actions not taken were confirmation to our claim.

    “Insiders’ accounts revealed that there is a serious conspiracy going on against us. What else can we say, if a judgment has been given and we have our certificate of registration yet cannot operate.”

     

     

  • Lagos govt partners foreign firm on light rail project

    The Lagos State government has signed a major agreement for the state’s Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) with an experienced global railway systems aggregator and rolling stocks manufacturer, Alstom SA of France.

    The project is part of efforts to rev up the multi-modal transport system to ease traffic congestion in the state.

    After a comprehensive review of the rail project, which is supposed to have begun passenger operation but for unforeseen challenges, the state government said the Marina to Mile 2 section of the project, known as the Blue Line Rail, would be ready for passenger operation in 2022.

    The state government had engaged consultants to carry out a technical review and due diligence on the implementation of the project.

    This substantially focused on civil works.

    The consultants reported back to the government that the operation of the first phase may only begin in 2022.

    Alstom SA France, a firm with over 100 years of railway experience covering 60 countries, was subsequently engaged to review the report of the consultants.

    In its report, the firm agreed that the first phase of the project could only become operational in 2022, based on proposed funding pattern.

    At the signing of the agreement with Alstom SA, the Managing Director of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), Mr. Abiodun Dabiri, who signed on behalf of the state government, said the partnership was the result of the commitment of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode towards the transformation of public transportation in the state.

    The LAMATA chief said a consortium of experts the state government engaged to undertake a technical due diligence on the LRMT Blue Line Project (Mile 2 – Marina) had developed a roadmap, which was accepted by the state government to bring the railway project into operations.

    In its final report, Dabiri said, the consortium outlined its findings and proposed a roadmap to complete the civil infrastructure works as well as the Operation & Maintenance (O&M) infrastructure, which will be needed for the commencement of passenger operation.

    He said: “Based on the final report submitted, the consortium of Alstom Transport SA France has been engaged for the procurement, engineering, construction, installation of the O and M moveable infrastructure and commissioning of railway systems towards the commencement of passenger operations for LRMT Blue Line project from Marina to Mile 2.”

    Highlighting the extent of work to be carried out by the consortium, Dabiri noted that for ease of implementation, the work plan had been divided into two phases: phase one for demonstrating the non-public operation of the existing rolling stock before end of second quarter of 2019.

    He added: “For this purpose, a track length of about 3.0 kilometres from Iganmu Station to the National Theatre will be electrified. This operation would be done with the rolling stocks already supplied for the Blue Line project.”

    The LAMATA chief said the current efforts of the Ambode administration on the rail project was to bring to fruition the state government’s commitment to deliver a multi-modal transport system and transform the public transportation landscape with a view to moving it closer to the achievement of the first integrated and multi-modal transport system in Nigeria.

    A Director of Alstom SA, Mr. Guy Jean-Pierre, thanked the state government for the confidence reposed in the firm and the opportunity given to partner with the state on the Blue Line Rail project.

  • VIS to truck owners: partner Lagos govt to reduce carnage

    The Director of Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Afiz Toriola, has appealed to  stakeholders in the transport sector to partner the Lagos State government to reduce carnage on the roads.

    Toriola spoke at a forum organised by the Lagos State Computerised Vehicle Inspection Service (LACVIS) for stakeholders in the logistics and haulage industry.

    He said with the establishment of LACVIS, the state have stopped the manual inspection of vehicles and replaced them with computerised inspection, which is at par with international standards.

    LACVIS General Manager Mr. Segun Ogunnaike said computerised testing would reduce carnage as it has reduced human errors.

    He however urged owners and operators to partner the government by ensuring that regular and voluntary checks were carried out on vehicles, including articulated tankers and trucks in the state.

    He led other LACVIS and VIS workers in unveiling the centre at the event.

    Ogunnaike said 10 vehicle centres had been established across the state with the plan to increase them to 57 in the next three years.

    The representative of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Ms Mosumola Samuel, emphasised that road accidents would reduce if the stakeholders complied with stipulated standards.

    Mr. Soji Oni, who represented the Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA) president, expressed the readiness of insurers to partner the stakeholders to reduce risks.

    VIS Driving Institute Director, Mr. Akin-George Fashola, called on the stakeholders to embrace the state Driving Institute, adding that it has the enough facilities to train drivers.

    He appealed to the stakeholders to ensure that their members obtained genuine licences and documentations from approved centres.

    During the interactive session, stakeholders commended the  government for establishing the  inspection centres. They urged it to expedite action in the establishment of more centres.

    They called on the government to ensure that articulated vehicles  from other states were inspected.

    The stakeholders asked other regulatory agencies to ensure that the importers of substandard spare parts were prosecuted.

  • Lagos restricts movement for Pen Cinema flyover

    The Lagos State Government on Friday imposed further restriction on vehicular movement at the Agege Intersection between Railway crossing and Church Street along Agunbiade Street in Agege area of the state.

    This, according to the State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, is to ensure that the Pen Cinema Flyover is delivered on time.

    Under the new arrangement, vehicles coming from Ipaja road towards Ogba will no longer be able to turn left at Oke-Koto, but will be required to head straight towards Agege Motor Road and turn left  to connect the alternative route beside Agege Post Office to link Moshalashi Alhaji.

    Similarly, motorists from Old Abeokuta Motor Road (Abule Egba) towards Oke-Koto/Alfa Nla Roads are to turn right at Abattoir into Oko-Oba Road to link Orile Road and further their journey to NITEL into Orile Road and then turn into Fagbola/Adejobi Street to navigate into Agege Motor Road via Kasumu Street, Off Agunbiade Road.

    The state government regretted the inconveniences the restriction would cause motorists and residents, but appealed for calm and cooperation with traffic and security personnel deployed to ease their movement.

     

  • Lagos govt slashes Land Use Charge

    THE RATES AFTER REVIEW

    •Commercial property 50%
    •Owner-occupied/tenant 25%
    •Purely residential 15%
    •General relief 40%
    •Persons above 70 10%
    •PLWD above 25 years 10%

    The Lagos State government yesterday announced a 50 per cent downward review for commercial properties and other waivers on the Land Use Charge (LUC) it introduced last month.

    This followed the public outcry against the law.

    Commissioner for Finance Akinyemi Ashade announced the reduction at a media briefing in Alausa, Ikeja, the state capital.

    He said the review of the amended LUC Law 2018, which was received with mixed feelings, followed widespread dialogue with stakeholders, such as the organised private sector (OPS), the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), real estate investors and developers, landlords and residents’ associations, community development associations, civil society organisations (CSOs), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries (LCCI), Nigeria Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers as well as several other professional groups.

    Ashade said: “As a government that is committed to the welfare of its citizens and which understands the importance of continuously engaging the populace, the Lagos State government took this important decision for the good of the people.”

    Giving a breakdown of the review, the commissioner said commercial property owners would be granted 50 per cent discount.

    This means a commercial property valued at N20 million, which was earlier billed N91,200, will attract N45,600 per annum.

    For properties occupied by the owner and a third party, and properties used for industrial and manufacturing purposes, a 25 per cent discount applies.

    This means a N20 million property, which was expected to pay N30,720 before the review, will pay N23,040 per annum.

    Also, owner-occupied properties will now enjoy 15 per cent discount; meaning that a N20 million property, which was previously charged N9,120, will now pay N7,752 per annum.

    Ashade said the penalty regime for late payment of LUC had been removed, hinting that the new relief also accommodates flexible payment by instalments to reduce the burden of taxation on residents.

    The commissioner said other rates and reliefs would remain unchanged and be implemented as stipulated in the law.

    These include the 40 per cent general relief; 10 per cent discount for persons of 70 years and above; 10 per cent for properties owned by persons living with disability and 10 per cent for properties that are 25 years old.

    Ashade said due to the new measures, those who have paid the original amount will be awarded tax credits to the extent of the excess amount paid and carried to next year.

    Ashade said: “We appreciate you for trusting the current administration with the responsibility of investing the revenue from LUC in infrastructure renewal and overall development of our state. We promise we will continue to make your tax work for you.”

    The Executive Director of the Centre for Public Accountability (CPA), Femi Lawson, hailed the Akinwunmi Ambode administration for listening to the people.

    He said: “This review shows a government that shares in the pains and concerns of the citizens of this state. Not only did they listen to our agitations but also took action to allay our fears and worries by bringing the LUC rates down and introducing some other tax burden relief measures. This is surely a pro-people government.”

    A real estate investor, Thomas Aderinola said the downward review of the amended LUC was an indication that the state government listens.

    He praised the government for introducing some other waivers, such as payment by instalment and the newly set up “People’s Tribunal” to resolve LUC payment cases.

    Aderinola added: “With developments like these, we will be happy to show our commitment to the growth of Lagos by paying our taxes as at when due.”

    Lagos State Sports Council Director-General Babatunde Bank-Anthony urged Lagosians to be wary of people hoping to score a cheap political point with the Land Use Charge.

    At a meeting of the Strike Team at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Bank-Anthony said anyone above 65 years is not expected to pay the Land Use Charge.

    He added: “The Land Use Charge is not for anybody above 65 years – landlord or tenant. It is for those who have commercial property. Don’t let anybody deceive you.”

     

  • Lagos govt targets 20,000 houses by 2020

    The Lagos State government has said it targets 20,000 housing units by 2020 as part of its multifaceted approach to confront the 3 million housing deficit in the state.

    The Commissioner for Housing, Mr Gbolahan Lawal, spoke yesterday during an inspection tour of Odo-Onosa/Odo Ayandelu Housing project at Agbowa, near Ikorodu.

    The commissioner said a recent survey indicated that the state’s youth population was about 65 per cent, hence the need for government to expedite action on its affordable mass home ownership drive.

    He said: “Our target is to bridge the housing deficit by working with the private sector.

    “We have a focus and an initiative that we call the Lagos Affordable Public Housing to achieve 20,000 housing units by the Year 2020. We are working with the private sector to achieve this.”

    Lawal said under the scheme, the state government had created the enabling environment and provided land, as part of its equity contributions.

    He added: “We are presently working with 10 private developers. They have started 4,404 housing units, and more developers are still coming.

    “We want to see how we can close the existing 3 million gap. As we are taking care of the supply side, we are also focusing on the demand side, looking at the housing finance system.

    “There are so many models that we are working with that can make many Lagosians have shelter they can call their own.”

    According to him, the Odo-Onosa/Odo Ayandelu Housing Scheme, under the state’s Rent-to-Own Scheme, has 660 housing units in one, two and three bedroom apartments and was 65 per cent completed.

    Lawal said over 70 per cent of the materials used for the construction were locally sourced with 34 local contractors engaged in the project.

    He said: “Our concern for the contractors is for them to move to sites quickly. We still have to pay some of them. We will find a way of expediting their payment.

    “The percentage completion is between 60 and 65. All other things being equal, we should target completion before the beginning of the fourth quarter, which is between October and December 2018.”

    The commissioner instructed the ministry officials to pay off the debts owed to contractors who showed commitment and dedication to complete the project.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Lagos State government, through the Ministry of Housing, launched the Rent-To-Own and Rental Housing Policy on December 8, 2016.

    The scheme targets the low and medium income earners in the formal and informal sectors.

    Under the arrangement, payment for the housing units are staggered and tenants are allowed to occupy the property while paying towards ownership at a fixed rent within 10 years.

     

  • Lagos govt pays N33.9b to 8,409 retirees

    Lagos govt pays N33.9b to 8,409 retirees

    THE Lagos State Government has paid N33,943 billion as accrued pension rights to 8,409 retirees in the last 30 months.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode made this known at the 47th Retirement Benefit Bond Certificate Presentation in Lagos.

    He said 149 retirees of the state Public  Service were paid N723 million as their accrued pension rights. The cash was paid into their Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs).

    He stated his interest in the well-being of retirees had been the driving force behind the regular funding of pension obligations.

    Ambode, represented by Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions Dr. Akintola Benson, said

    “This is aside the regular monthly contributions into the Retirement Savings Account of active workers,”the governor said,  adding: “We have been able to clear the backlog of outstanding pension obligations we met at the inception of this administration, and we are forging ahead to ensure that fresh liabilities arising from recent retirements are systematically cleared.

    “We assure all retirees that their labour in the state shall not go unrewarded and they will not retire into penury.”

    Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) Director-General, Mrs. Folashade Onanuga said the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) is the best thing democracy has bequeathed to Nigerian workers, because it makes employers fulfil their obligations to workers, ensure commitment on the part of the various tiers of government and does not give room for stressful verification exercise as is being experienced with the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

    She advised retirees not to succumb to any pressure in the choice of annuity, or programmed withdrawal benefit options for receipt of monthly pension.

    She urged them to carefully go through the document that the state government provided through LASPEC on the features of the two benefit options and make an informed decision.

    Mrs. Onanuga said the government was looking at some welfare programmes to give them comfort in retirement, advising them to be wary of scammers, who are out there and may want to sell their ‘make quick’ money advice to them.

    One of the retirees, Mrs. Mary Obisanya, thanked the Governor for his efforts in ensuring that retirees in Lagos State  receive their entitlements.

    She also thanked LASPEC for the courteous manner in which the staff attended to them and wished that other parastatals could emulate and imbibe the culture of qualitative service delivery.

  • Lagos sets up monitoring team for distribution of Lake Rice

    Lagos sets up monitoring team for distribution of Lake Rice

    The Lagos State Government on Friday constituted a monitoring team to ensure a hitch-free distribution of LAKE Rice to the citizens.

    A statement issued by Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Ministry of Agriculture, Mr. Tunbosun Ogunbanwo, said the committee comprised some members of the state Executive Council and top officials of the Ministry of Agriculture

    In the statement, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. Olayiwole Onasanya, said arrangements had been put in place to ensure hitch-free distribution of LAKE Rice during the yuletide.

    He said Governor Akinwunmi Ambode set up the monitoring team, following a partnership agreement signed recently with major rice distributors in the state.

    Onasanya said: “You will recall that the state government recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with major rice distributors from Daleko, Mile 12 and Iddo markets on transporting, distributing and marketing of LAKE Rice.

    “The monitoring team, which consists of top government officials, will conduct regular monitoring visits to distribution outlets and centres to ascertain the capacity and effectiveness of the rice distributors.’’

    Onasanya also said the team would ensure that the distributors, who were engaged for transporting and marketing of Lake Rice, engaged in equitable distribution of the product, while eschewing hoarding and other sharp practices.

    NAN

  • FG hands over old Presidential lodge to Lagos Govt

    FG hands over old Presidential lodge to Lagos Govt

    The Federal Government has officially handed over ownership of the old Presidential lodge located in Marina, Lagos to the Lagos State Government.

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, who spoke at the signing of handling over document, on Monday, in Abuja said the presidential lodge will be beneficial to the state government.

    Fashola noted that it will also be useful to the people and the country at large.

    He described the gesture as fulfilment of the commitment and promise made by President Muhammad Buhari aimed at the completing various projects across the country.

    Fashola said: “This is a long journey that has come to an end, the journey that has taken almost two decades when the Lagos state begin to ask for this property for reasons made difficult to understand but it did not happen, but the President of change, the promise keeper has made this happen.

    “So whilst the Lagos State Government has already taken possession being handed over by the Presidency, we are here to formally sign and exchange documents that will make the state government have right to the property.

    “I hereby congratulate the people and government of Lagos state and hope that it will be of utmost benefit to them.”

    Read Also: Lagos govt restates support for investors

    The Minister further gave assurances of the government towards completing ongoing projects across the country.

    “This is consistent with Mr. President promise to respond to major projects that has been left undone such as the bodo-bonny bridge and mambilla hydro project which are almost completed,” he added.

    The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode who expressed gratitude to the President and major stakeholders that took part in the process said the asset will be beneficial to the people of Lagos state.

    He said it will be a national monument that will equally improve the economy of the state.

    “We are delighted to be here based on the intention of Mr.President to bring positive change to Lagos state and we thank Mr. President and all stakeholders that has made this a success.

    “We know that this is a sign of greater collaboration between the lagos state government and the federal government. We believe that this singular gesture will improve the economy of Lagos state because our intention is to turn that particular asset to a national monument where we can Christian it a national heritage center for leadership and also a tourist center to bring Nigerians and foreigners together whilst improving also the economy of Lagos state,” Ambode said.