The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos Island

  • Lagos school collapse: rescue operation ongoing -LASG

    Search and rescue operation is currently ongoing at Ita-faji,  Lagos Island, where over 100 pupils were reportedly feared dead, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency has said.

    According to Adebayo Kehinde, spokesperson to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, “the search and rescue operation is presently ongoing with so many victims rescued alive from the collapsed building through combined efforts of LASEMA and other emergency responders such as the Lagos State Ambulance Service, Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Federal Fire Service.

    Others include National Emergency Management Agency, Nigeria Police Force, Rapid Response Squad, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps. Nigeria Red Cross Society, Lagos State Neighborhood and Safety Corps. The exercise is being coordinated by the General Manager Lagos State Emergency Management Agency Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu with the deployment of heavy and light rescue equipment from LASEMA and its stakeholders.”

     

     

  • Photos/video: Ongoing rescue operations in Lagos school collapse

    Following the collapse of a three storey building at Ita-faji,  Lagos Island, where over 100 pupils were reportedly feared dead, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency have mobilised officials to the scene.

  • Update: 18 dead, 38 injured in Lagos school collapse

    A three storey building that occupies Ohen Nursery / Primary School Lagos Island collapsed in the early hours of Wednesday and some pupils and staff of the school were trapped in the rubbles.
    No fewer than 18 persons have been confirmed dead, while 38 injured.

    The school situated at Itafaji Street, near Adeniji Adele was said to have caved in around 10:20am on Wednesday.

    The cause of the collapse was yet to be ascertained but The Nation gathered emergency responders have moved to the scene and were evacuating trapped victims.

  • Indigenous Lagosians endorse Sanwo-Olu

    The Committee of Indigenous Associations of Lagos State, an umbrella body of all indigenes of  Lagos, has set an agenda for the state’s All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

    If he is elected in the next month’s general election, the Lagos indigenes want the APC candidate to restore the prestige of the state by pushing for a special status for Lagos. They also called for restoration of Lagos environment and incorporation of indigenes in the governance of the state.

    At a consultative meeting held at the Awori House in Oregun, the association, which comprises leaders from all the five divisions of the state, endorsed the candidacy of Sanwo-Olu, with the agreement that he would get a special status for Lagos. They promised to stand behind the APC candidate in his effort to take the state to another level in development.

    Describing the Awori, the indigenous Ikorodu, the Epe inhabitants as well as the people of Isale Eko extraction as “original stakeholders” in the Lagos project, Sanwo-Olu said his intention to govern the state was not to fulfil an agenda against any ethnic group making up the state.

    He said the meeting was necessary to listen to the concerns of the indigenes.

    The APC candidate said his reason for running for the Lagos top seat was not for personal aggrandizement, but to deploy his three-decade of professional expertise spanning both public and private sectors to elevate the fortunes of the Lagos for the benefit of residents and indigenes of the state.

    He said: “Since I declared my intention to run for the governorship seat of our state, I have consulted widely with various interest groups and stakeholders in the Lagos project. I believe my consultation would not be complete without meeting with the indigenes of the state. I’ve come to listen to your concerns as indigenes of Lagos.

    “I am also a son of the soil. My lineage is a full-fledge Lagos. My father and grandfather are indigenes of Okepopo area of Lagos Island. In fact my great grandfather’s house is still seating in Omididun in Lagos Island. My mother is of the Cole family of Lagos Island. I’m also married to a Lagosian, who has Brazilian and Yoruba ancestries. However, I am not seeking to become the governor of Okepopo or Lagos Island.

    I’m not fulfilling any agenda against any ethnic group whose people are part of indigenous people of Lagos. I will be the governor of all.”

    Sanwo-Olu allayed the fears of the Awori indigenes of Lagos, noting that his government, if elected, would address all their grievances.

    Beyond the quality of his academic qualifications and professional experience, the APC candidate said the most valued credential he would bring to governance is his integrity. He promised not to betray the trust bestowed on him by the amalgamation of the indigenous Lagosians.

    He said: “Integrity is my greatest qualification I am putting at stake in this race to govern Lagos. My five-point programmes contained in my manifesto are carefully designed to take Lagos to a new level of development. Everybody will be part of our government and no discriminatory agenda will be initiated against anyone, irrespective of ethnic group or status.”

    Responding to some of the concerns raised by the Lagos indigenes, the APC candidate promised that his government would review the physical planning and environmental laws of the state, with the aim to restore sanity and improve the mega city status of the state.

    He also said his administration would prioritise the provision of quality education that would be driven by technology. Under him, Sanwo-Olu said the state would revive its agriculture and improve transportation system.

    On the much-talked about Agboyi-Ketu Bridge, Sanwo-Olu promised that it will be constructed and delivered by his administration if elected.

    Sanwo-Olu dismissed the concern raised by Alhaja Aishatu Onitiri Kuye, that his choice of running mate was a discrimination against womenfolk. The APC candidate said he had always enjoyed working with women because of their efficiency and result-oriented, promising that women would be the driver of his government.

    Prof. Rasheed Ojikutu, one of the leaders of Awori extraction, and chairman of the coalition  described the meeting as family affair, saying it was the first time the Awori people would be united to meet and support a candidate they believed in.

    He urged members of the association to support the candidate, noting that Sanwo-Olu had the habit of fulfilling promises.

     

  • Reward for hard work, commitment

    The Education District 111 comprising Epe, Eti-Osa, Ibeju-Lekki and the Lagos Island zones has rewarded teachers, cleaners and drivers for hard work.

    Many smiled home with gifts ranging from deep freezers, fridges, fans, television sets and grinding machines, among others.

    The award categories include best senior school, best junior school, best senior student, best junior student, best senior school principal, best junior school principal, best senior school vice-principal, best junior school vice-principal, best senior school teacher, best junior school teacher, best non-teaching staff, senior category, best non-teaching staff, junior category, best cleaner category, best security guard category, best district driver, tutor- general/permanent secretary special award for inclusive school, best student, senior school, tutor-general/permanent secretary special award for inclusive school best student junior school, among others.

    Member representing Epe Constituency in the House of Representatives, who was an award recipient, Wale Raji, said the award was in appreciation of his contribution to education in the district.

    The House member donated text books to various secondary schools in the district, preparatory to the last West African Examinations Council.

    He also organised an 8-week intensive coaching classes for students that sat for the last West African Examinations.

    Raji promised he would use his position as a member representing the constituency to give special support to the outstanding students in the district in terms of scholarship/bursary so as to serve as an encouragement to others, adding that the details will be unveiled soon.

    While commending the head of the district, including the tutor-general, teachers, principals, management and members of staff for work well did which, according to him, had reflected in the performance of the students. He, however, encouraged them to do more.

    “I want to encourage other districts to emulate the good work the education district 111 is doing in the state”, he added.

    According to him, it is not that schools in the rural areas lacked good teachers, government had not recruited teachers to the communities, adding that people posted to the rural areas do not want to remain there, and those that were recruited and posted to the rural areas do find their way out, but package of incentives can keep them there at least for a long time.

    The Permanent Secretary, Teachers’ Establishment and Pensions Office, Mrs. Olatokunbo Adeleye, who spoke on behalf of the Deputy Governor, Lagos State, Dr. Idiat Adebule, said apart from good welfare packages given to teachers, prompt payment of salaries, promotion rewards, training and retraining of members of staff and management for competency, the state government also recognised good service delivery of some of the teachers by showcasing their efforts for others to emulate.

    She re-assured of government’s commitment to continue to recognise and appreciate the teachers’ hard work and showcase their motivations to do more for the people.

    Also speaking, Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary of the district, Margret Solarin admitted the district had recorded greater performance particularly in the result of examinations, including the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), and the junior school examinations.

    “We are recording excellence, the district is moving higher. That’s why I believe that these teachers, principals, these non-teaching staff and students should be recognised and that’s what we are doing here today,” she said.

    Solarin, who spoke during the Annual Merit Awards and Honours Ceremony with the theme: “Soaring Higher in Excellent Performance” further stated that this year’s award was outstanding because the district had produced the student that won the ‘Spelling B’ competition, who according to her will become a one-day governor at a particular date to be fixed,” she said.

    She said: “We are recognising hardworking officers, and we reward them accordingly because it’s good to encourage and reward them when they do put in their best good, it’s a sort of motivation to our teachers, principals, students even cleaners and drivers, the tutor general said.

    “When you do your work diligently and honestly, you will be rewarded, you would be recognised one day, and that’s what we are doing to let others learn from these ones and do more; believing that one day we will be recognised.

    “The reward for hard work is more work. There’s nothing bad in recognising one if one does one’s work diligently. ‘Don’t relent, continue to impact positively on the lives of the students’.”

    Mrs. Atobatela Zainab from King Ado Senior High School, who teaches English language and Literature in English, received the award as the third best teacher in senior school category.

    “This is just to show that my efforts in the little corner of the world are being appreciated. I feel glad. I feel happy,”she said.

  • Police deploy additional 500 men to tackle crime, traffic on Lagos Island

    In a renewed effort to curtail criminal activities and minimise gridlock, the Lagos State Police Command has deployed additional five hundred policemen to various routes on the Lagos Island with special focus on Apogbon, TBS, Eko Hotels and environs.

    The Command, in a statement signed by its Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), Chike Oti, on Friday, said the deployment was done to boost the number of personnel already at various points in the area.

    The deployment, according to Oti, was necessitated by the series of events coming up on the Island including the Adekunle Gold Concert.

    Also factored in the strategy are people who would be embarking on religious pilgrimage to RCCG Holy Ghost Congress at the Redemption Camp and Shiloh at the Winners’ Chapel.

    He said, expectedly, the events would lead to a surge in vehicular and human traffic thereby mounting additional pressure on the already strained traffic situation in Lagos.

    To ameliorate the foreseen situation, Otti said the State Commissioner of Police (CP) Edgal Imohimi, directed that 500 policemen be posted to Lagos Island to boost the number of officers on duty and thus prevent crime and ensure smooth flow of traffic.

    The CP warned criminals who might want to take advantage of the upcoming events to stay away from the Island and indeed the State as anyone caught would be summarily dealt with.

  • Rotary Club of Lagos Island installs Kumar Gulati as 3rd President

    The Rotary Club of Lagos Island has installed Rotarian Kumar Gulati as its third President, to lead the affairs of the club for the period 2018-2019.

    Giving his address, the Immediate Past President, Rotarian PHF Sanjeev Tandon commended the District Governor and members for all the support he got as the pioneer leader.

    Tandon listed some of the projects executed in 2017/18 to include: Membership development; development of Rotary Foundation with a target contribution of $10,000; Mission for Vision support through which so many people benefitted from; clean water project (providing water for a minimum of 5 schools); setting up of free medical checkup camps and blood donation camps support among others.

    New District Governor, Rotary Club 9110, Rotarian Kola Sodipo who was the special guest of honour at the installation ceremony, congratulated Rotarian Tandon and his board members for a very successful 2017 – 2018 Rotary year and the newly elected Rotarian Kumar Gulati.

    “I urge you Rotarian Gulati, to continue from where your predecessor has stopped as you lead Rotary Club of Lagos Island through a new phase. I have already seen the energy, enthusiasm, and commitment in you”, he said.

     

     

    Speaking on the theme for 2018 – 2019 Rotary year, ‘Be the Inspiration’ Sodipo pointed out that members can only be the inspiration when they touch the lives of the millions of people that are faced with various social afflictions.

    The New President PHF Rotarian Raj Kumar Gulati in his speech assured the members that the Rotary Club of Lagos Island (RCLI) will have as its three top priorities the support and strengthening of the club, focus & increase in humanitarian services and enhancing Rotary’s public image & awareness.

    Gulati highlighted some of the projects to be executed in the new year to include: Blood donations in 6 camps; Vocational Trainings for 200 persons; Provision of Artificial limbs to more than 1000 indigent persons; Cataracts eye surgeries to be carried out in Kano and Lagos State, among others

    Rotary Club of Lagos Island, which is a Mega Club in District 9110 which covers Lagos and Ogun State, is one of the vibrant clubs.

     

  • Lagos Island and flooding menace

    One main issue facing Lagos today is environmental degradation. This is partly as a result of Lagos status as the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria and, indeed, West Africa. With a population of about 24 million people, Lagos, no doubt, deserves a significant provision for a hygienic and flood free environment. Lagos naturally runs the risk of environmental hazard as its continuous increase in population exposes it to several environmental hazards.

    The rains are again here and Lagos, Nigeria’s city of aquatic splendour, runs the risk of being in the firm but cold embrace of flood. Whenever it rains, flooding is usually a nightmarish experience for many Lagos residents.

    Added to the Lagos flooding concern is the peculiar nature of the state’s landscape which is basically made up of low-lying terrain up to 0.4 per cent below the sea level. Obviously, this poses serious drainage challenge for the state, thereby making it vulnerable to flooding. In Lagos, the water from the Lagoon goes into the Atlantic Ocean. Once the Atlantic Ocean is full, the water from the Lagos Lagoon cannot get into it. Consequently, the excess water from the Lagos Lagoon naturally leads to flooding.

    It is, thus, very important for Lagosians to desist from all human activities that could further aggravate the flooding situation in the state. Therefore, actions such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse in unauthorised places like drains and canals, trading on drainage channels, illegal building of structures on drainage alignments, road setbacks and verges, among others, should be shunned by the people.

    Lagosians must, at all times, embrace positive attitude towards the environment.  As earlier stated, Lagos currently has a population in excess of 24 million people and it is still increasing. The implication of that on our environment is increased tons of waste generation. If this trend of environmental abuse, especially indiscriminate waste disposal, persists, it may spell greater doom than what we have experienced in the past, in terms of flooding.

    The only exemptions to such ugly scenes of flooding after rains in Lagos are, perhaps, the Government Reserved Areas and private estates in the metropolis where the elite reside, as they are usually kept free of indiscriminate dumping of refuse. Lagos is bedevilled by the result of partial collection of their waste. Most importantly, the city has not succeeded in cultivating the communities in terms of sustainable waste disposal methods, and ownership of such projects in terms of income generating activities for the communities’ members.

    Although it cannot be denied that the current administration in the state has shown efforts and commitment towards ensuring a hygienic and safe environment, but more still has to be done as nothing can be too much to be done in securing the lives and properties of the people.  Lagos Island is often the worst hit when it comes to flooding in the state.

    Areas in Lagos Island such as Ojo Giwa Street, Oba Adeyinka Oyekan Road, Oroyinyin Street, Ido Oluwo Street, Shademi Street and environs are often flooded beyond imagination in the aftermath of heavy downpour. These areas have suffered the most from the downpour within the last few days. Lagosians residing within these areas have lodged complaints several times on this condition, uploaded several videos on social media on the impact of the flooding but all to no avail. People in the areas have lost their valuables and incurred record expenses.

    As previously stated, the current administration in the state is doing its best to address quite a number of environmental hazards in the state, despite lean resources and other competing needs. However, we implore the government to see this as a clarion call from the people of Lagos Island to pay special attention to the almost unbearable challenges of flooding in the area.

    On our part as residents of Lagos Island, we are communicating to the people to embrace attitudinal changes that would impact positively on the environment so that whenever it rains the damaging effects of flooding can be mitigated. We will not rest on our oars until our people stop all flooding induced habits.  Now that the rains are fully here, we will do all things that are within our reach as a people to reduce its negative effects on us. But there is, indeed, an urgent need for the state government to quickly come in and do the needful for the sake of protecting human lives and properties.

    • Eshilokun writes in from Lagos Island

     

  • Lagos Island Parents’ Forum narrative

    As it is, Lagos Island is surrounded by water and ironically most of her schools and colleges are surrounded by businesses and markets. This scenario has impacted negatively on some of the students which make them get involved in violence, crime and cultism. However, the Lagos Island Parents’ Forum is changing that narrative by embarking on goal-settings based on the challenges identified, using teamwork approach for strategic implementation. Though Lagos Island schools are particularly blessed with dedicated and resourceful teachers, a programme to enlighten and educate parents on how best to monitor their children against indiscipline and crime in schools has been put in place. By this, it is trying to make students to be useful for themselves and be good ambassadors of Lagos Island, the state and Nigeria at large.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode should be commended for doing great in promoting education. It’s trite to say education is the bedrock of industrial and economic development in any civilised society, but indiscipline in schools which include non-compliance of students with school rules and regulations, thereby making the students deviants.

    One can’t but agree with a senior principal who said the aim of secondary education in Nigeria to prepare individuals for useful living within the society; a preparation for higher education; for the opportunity to contribute maximally towards socio-economic and political development of the nation which he/she belongs. It’s also aimed at acquiring relevant skills, values, attitude and competencies. To achieve all these, discipline must be inculcated; it is paramount to learning and very essential for peace and harmony in any learning environment.

    Parents should immediately rebuke or correct students when they commit serious offences. Also, absenteeism and lateness to school should be considered as indiscipline. Students should be discouraged from following bad gang, while parents shouldn’t abandon their children while pursuing wealth.

    So, the target of the Lagos Island Parents Forum which is to produce and present learners that are well cultured with good manners to fit into academic and social life.

     

    • By Andy Evbuomwan,

    Lagos.

  • Police arrest underage ‘cultists’, others 

    The Lagos State Police Command Monday said it arrested seven underage and 13 others suspected to be cultists in raids conducted at Ikorodu and Lagos Island.

    Police Commissioner Imohimi Edgal disclosed this during a briefing at the command headquarters in Ikeja, expressing concerns about the membership of children and teenagers in various cult groups, adding that they were usually lured by friends who invited them for parties.

    Edgal said Hassan Olaniyi, 20, Afolabi Muiz, 18,  alleged kingpin Wahab Moshood, 26, and Ajenifuja Damola were arrested by the Officer in Charge of Anti-Cultism unit, Godwin Agbegbe, a Superintendent of Police (SP) following distress call that members of Eiye cult group were terrorising residents of Ejinirin-Iworo.

    He said the police recovered three cutlasses and two sharp knives from the suspects.

    “Similarly, Lekan David, 24, Eko John, 19, Kudus Idris, 17, Shakiru Ademode, Ibrahim Waheed, 17, Adebowale Uthman, 17,

    Yusuf Wale, 17, Abimbola Gbadamosi, 17,  Rahman Adepoju, 18, Alabi Abidemi, 18, Seun Giwa, 23, Ganiyu Babatunde, 16 and Liyasu Azeez, 16, were arrested by a team led by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) Igbogbo, Isa Lawan, a Chief Superintendent  (CSP).

    “The command received information that a cult group would gather at Bayeku in Igbogbo to initiate new members. An undercover team was mobilised to the location and the suspects arrested.

    “Also, the command arrested a notorious cult leader, Lukman Agboola, 35, alias Baggo, for  threatening people with a gun at New Garage, Bariga. Police received information and tracked him to Yaba. He was trailed from there to Ogooluwa Street, Bariga, where he was arrested.

    “Investigation revealed that he caused the death of one Philip Adegoke alias Major on August 21, last year. On that day, he was in the company of other deadly cultists, Rainbow, Aranze, Segun AKA  Gbodon, Adekunle,  Asumo,  Ade and Agbara.

    “The late Adegoke was stabbed to death by the aforementioned members of Eiye confraternity led by Agboola. This case would be transferred to the homicide section, State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID).

    The Nation gathered that Agboola had stabbed Adegoke to death following a disagreement over N20,000 given them by a politician. It was learnt that another cult leader had snatched the money from the politician’s hands, which caused a scuffle, and then a fight.

    The police also arrested Ilesanmi Owodubi, 37 and Michael Juwon for cult related activities at Akoka and Bariga.

    Gbadamosi and Waheed denied being cultists, adding that they were invited for a birthday party by their friend, John Eko.

    Gbadamosi said: “On our way to the party, we saw policemen who were on patrol and they stopped us. They searched us and they did not find anything with us. Then they took us to their station. I never knew John was a cult member. My mum is not even aware I wanted to go for a party. She thought I was going to work because I sell cosmetics for someone.”

    Read Also: Court remands policeman for impregnating teenager