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Tag: Lagos residents

  • Lagos residents claim legal right over Ajah land

    Lagos residents claim legal right over Ajah land

    Over 400 landowners and residents in the Okun Ajah area of Lagos State, have said they acquired their properties and titles legally from the Lagos State Government.

    They lamented that they were being harassed and intimidated with forceful take-over of their properties by officials of the Federal Ministry of Works despite that their titles to the properties obtained since 2006, have not been revoked by the state government,while those who actually encroached on the coastal road are being spared.

    “That is a clear injustice. We have taken the matter to court but we are still appealing to Mr. President to come to our rescue.”

    Addressing a press conference in Lagos, the residents and landowners, appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in the encroachment on their properties by the realignment of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project.

     Addressing a press conference in Lagos, the residents and landowners who had last month, filed separate suits against the Works Minister, Dave Umahi, the Ministry of Works, Hi-Tech Construction Company Ltd, Lagos State Governor and Attorney-General of Lagos State, also urged the President to call the Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, to order over the continued encroachment on their land.

    They stated that it is unjust for Umahi and his ministry to illegally encroach on their properties under the guise of realignment of the coastal road. 

    Alhaji Abimbola Oshilaja  who addressed newsmen on behalf of other land owners and residents, condemned what he described as the brazen attempt by the minister and the Ministry of Works to forcefully take over their properties which they legally acquired and derived their respective titles from the Lagos State government.

    Read Also: Train crushes man, 50, to death in Lagos

    “It is disheartening that many of us who have proper titles to our property are the ones being harassed and intimidated with forceful takeover of our properties whereas the powerful people who encroached on the coastal road are being spared.

    “That is a clear injustice. We have taken the matter to court but we are still appealing to Mr. President to come to our aide.”

    Oshilaja said himself and others like Etisalat Staff Co-operative Multipurpose Society Ltd, and Mr Olufemi Omoola Fasehun who had sued the minister, were never issued any notice of revocation of their titles by the Lagos State Government to date.

    He said they were also not offered any compensation before the Federal Ministry of Works suddenly re-routed the coastal road project into their properties. 

    Oshilaja said that the over 400 house owners and the residents of the community are living in fear not knowing when the Ministry of Works officials would  suddenly come and pull down their houses.

    He insisted that Umahi and his ministry’s action is in breach of Section 28 of the Land Use Act, which requires notice of revocation, hearing, and fair compensation before the government can acquire land from its owner.

    Also speaking on the issue, Mr Adeyemi Tajudeen, counsel to some of the aggrieved residents and landowners, stated that the minister’s action is a clear abuse of office.

     He said: “In 2006, under the hand of then Governor Bola Tinubu now President of Nigeria, an excision was granted to the Okun Ajah community, and a global certificate of occupancy was issued to them under his hand. Before this could be done, due process was carried out by the Lagos State Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning that the entire land of Okun did not fall within the coastal road project. 

    “Subsequently, our clients who had purchased their land from the community have since been enjoying peaceful possession until suddenly when Umahi and his ministry decided to realign the coastal road project to please some powerful individuals who had built and encroached on the original alignment of the coastal road.

    “We believe that what Umahi is doing on our clients’ land is in total contravention of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It is a total breach of relevant sections of the Land Use Act, particularly Section 28 of the Land Use Act which states that before any land of a Nigerian could be acquired at all, there must be notice of revocation, proper hearing, and the owner of the property must be given a fair hearing.

    “We were not even heard talk less of giving any fair hearing at all. No notice of revocation and no payment of compensation was offered to any of our clients. 

    “What the minister is doing with the realignment of the coastal road is to punish the people who have both equitable rights and legal rights. In fact what is happening in Okun Ajah is an absolute display of coercive powers by the Minister of Works, Umahi.

     “We have filed the necessary action before the court to restrain Umahi, the Ministry of Works, Hi-Tech Construction Company Ltd and other parties from further encroaching on our clients’ land and we believe that Justice will prevail. We are, however, using this opportunity to appeal to Mr. President to call Umahi to order. 

    “It is not too late for Umahi to do the right thing, so we are appealing to Mr President who we know as an advocate of the rule of law, to prevail on the minister to do what is right. The President is known for the rule of law. And as a result of that, it has become the policy of the Lagos State Government since around 2006, that anybody that buys property on a coastal road alignment, they don’t issue the title.

    “We want to stress further that our clients have their titles to their properties. I want Mr. President to intervene and save the souls of our clients by telling the Honorable Minister of Works to go back to the original coastal road alignment.”

  • Lagos residents seek end to fire outbreak

    Residents of Magodo in Lagos have vowed to reduce to the barest minimum cases of fire outbreak that have rocked the community in the last few months.

    To this end, a fire safety seminar has been organised by Magodo Phase 2 Muslim Association to acquaint the residents with tips and practices to prevent fire outbreaks or any domestic disaster.

    Chairman of the Muslim Association, Alhaji Abdulraheem Musah said the association was concerned about the incessant fire outbreaks and decided to put up the seminar to prevent and equip residents on the prevention and management of fire or other domestic accidents.

    The seminar focused on Strategic Fire Safety and Emergency Response Management; Home Accident and Response Management and Prevention of Property Destruction by Fire.

    In attendance were religious bodies within and outside the estate as well as other government estates like Marwa Garden, Magodo Brooks, among others.

    Lagos State Fire Service Acting Director Mr. Rasaki Musibau and Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) General Manager Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu urged the residents to cultivate safety habits in their respective houses.

    The fire service chief, who was represented by Adesina Semiu Akanji, urged the residents to see fire safety as their responsibility, saying they should have the right fire installations.

    He said another means of preventing destruction by fire is not to block the emergency exit in case of fire, advising them to put in place automatic fire detection alarm system.

    The fire official also took the residents through practical fire-fighting demonstration using different fire-fighting equipment.

    On his part, the LASEMA GM represented by the Director of Operations, Mr. Femi Giwa, enjoined the Magodo residents to form Community Response Unit (CRU) to enable them respond to any unforeseen emergency.

    He, however, said the response time of LASEMA for emergency has reduced from between 10 and 20 minutes to five to 10 minutes because of the decentralisation of the LASEMA Response Units (LRU).

    But the LASEMA boss said the agency would support any community with the right manpower development to set up a community response unit to minimise the destruction occasioned by fire disaster.

  • Lagos residents view voters’ register

    •INEC begins display

    Registered voters in Lagos State trickled in yesterday to check their details at polling units as the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) began the display of the voters’ register.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the display is being done in the 8,462 polling units (PUs) in the 20 local government areas of the state.

    The display, scheduled to hold between November 6 and November 12, is meant to clean up the voters’ register ahead of next year’s general elections.

    Eligible voters are expected to crosscheck their details on the register and raise objections, where necessary, within the stipulated period.

    Voters are also expected to report any incorrect information or observation of irregularities in the names on the register, especially as regards those who are not supposed to be there.

    NAN correspondent, who monitored the exercise in some polling units in Alimosho and Lagos Mainland local government areas, observed the presence of only few persons at the polling units to check the register.

    In PUs 009, 010 and 011 of Ward 10 Pleasure/Oke-Odo area of Alimosho Local Government Area, only two eligible voters were sighted checking the register at noon.

    A party agent at the PU 009 of Ward 10, which is located in the Alaguntan Primary School, Alimosho, Mr Sunday Alao, told NAN that he was still expecting people to come out and check the register.

    Also, at PU 008, Ajayi Bembe Street and 012, Oyediran Estate/Abule Oja in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area at St. Agnes Primary School, only two women were seen checking the register when NAN correspondent was there.

    One of the two, who spoke to NAN on condition of anonymity, said she was only checking the register to see the name of her children.

    Also, the National Commissioner of INEC in charge of Lagos, Ogun and Ondo, Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, who addressed reporters after monitoring some polling units, expressed satisfaction with the display of voters’ register in the state.

    Ogunmola urged eligible voters in Lagos to check their names in the register, saying the purpose of the exercise is to ensure that all necessary omissions are taken into consideration.

    “At the end of the day, we are going to have a near perfect register of voters.

    “I want to implore the public to ensure that they seize this opportunity to check their names and check the correctness of their information.

    “It will afford people the opportunity of making necessary corrections on the data they submitted ton avoid having problems with their registration (during elections).

    “The display of register of voters is a way of crossing the ‘Ts’ and doting the ‘Is’ of the register,” Ogunmola said.

    According to him, the exercise is part of the steps to give Nigerians a very credible register of voters in next year’s general elections.

    Speaking to NAN in his office, the Public Relations Officers (PRO) of INEC in the state, Mr Femi Akinbiyi, expressed optimism that more people would take advantage of the display as the exercise progresses.

    He said: “Our electoral officers worked throughout the night to paste these voters’ register because of the proposed strike of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to fulfil our constitutional obligations.

    “We urge all registered voters to visit their polling units to see their names and raise objections on any issue pertaining to the register, where necessary.

    “This exercise is meant to clean up our voters register.

    “We want to remove names of dead persons, underage and foreigners, as well as others that are not supposed to be in the register.

    “If any person notices anybody in these categories on the register, that person can raise the alarm at INEC office, either at the local government level or state level.”

    Akinbiyi urged eligible voters to also seize the opportunity of the voters’ register display to pick up their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at the ward level.

     

  • Lagos residents advised on proper sanitation

    Bagging will stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse, the National President, Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria, Dr Samuel Akingbehimi, has said.

    Akingbehimi  spoke this at the awards for the West Africa Health Examination Board (WAHEB) Registrar, Mrs. Gladys Nchelem Ihunda in Lagos.

    The awards were given by the National Association of Kwara State Students; Environmental Health Officers Tutors Set 2013; and All African Students Union (AASU).

    Akingbehimi said the government had been holding meetings with stakeholders to ensure a cleaner Lagos.

    “Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has been working and modifying  models to tackle the plethora of dirt across the state.

    “The mountainous heaps of refuse are being cleared, bringing about reduction of dirt. Series of meetings with environmental professionals have forged a strategy to get the dirt out of the streets. In fact, Governor Ambode has evaluated the situation, and given a directive that the streets must be ridden of the refuse and dirt.

    Akingbehimi said the implication of non-refuse disposal include outbreak of communicable diseases, “dirt bacteria may cause gastrointestinal, wound, skin, and respiratory tract diseases. Proliferation of vectors can also happen. These are rodents that are vector of communicable diseases. If refuse is not properly handled,  they have a hidden place to live, and increase in the society’’.

    He called on teachers to double up their efforts to their students by teaching them excellently. “This is because when they are half-baked, they would not be able to solve any problem in the society. This would boil down to what they imbibed in school. Sanitarians across the state are good, and they are up and doing,” said Akingbehimi, adding: “Mrs Ihunda’s tenure has really been impactful on both the tutors and the students as she brought about pragmatic changes in WAHEB. She is the first female, and sixth Registrar of WAHEB, her tenure recorded high scores”.

    The recipient, Mrs Ihunda said she was happy that she had brought some standards to the board.

    “I was never a tutor and my appointment was kicked against by them. That I am receiving an award from them represents that indeed I have performed.

    “My challenge to the tutors is simple – train the students very well. These students are being trained to manage environmental health sector, not only in Nigeria, but in the five Anglophone African countries in West Africa -The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, and the most populous African country Nigeria – as well as a part of Cameroon, that are separated by Francophone countries, South Sudan, and a large continuous area in Southern Africa and the African Great Lakes.

    ‘’So, this Board cannot afford to push put ill-trained people because it is the health of the larger society that will be affected. There was ‘no garbage in, garbage out’, at all under my leadership.

    “I demanded that quality training should be given to the students so that the lives of our people can be enhanced, or else everybody’s health will be in jeopardy. With a good footing in sound training by the students, everybody can be rest assured that despite the emerging environmental issues we face in the west coast, we are able to surmount same.

    “People have tried to cut corners, they failed. WAHEB is now dynamic. Sanitarians are urged to train without compromise. I appreciate all the awards as I did not even know the donors,” said the awardee.

     

  • Lagos residents get Real Deal Experience

    In a continuation of its taking concerts to the people, Lagos residents on Saturday were treated to a fun time as the Lagos edition of the Real Deal Experience held at the Abesan mini stadium, Abesan Estate, Ipaja, Lagos.

    Attendees were treated to musical performances, comedy, games, role play as co-host Ifu Ennada and comedian De Don kept them engaged throughout the night.

    Street kings Mr Real and Slimcase thrilled the music lovers as they left the crowd asking for more via separate performances. Their energetic stage performances were deafening, the audience began an unending sing-along from Mr Real’s LEGBEGBE to Slimcase’s OTUMBA LAMBA. Performances from other musical artists and rib cracking comedy placed the icing on the cake.

    The legendary ‘taste, tell and win’, a competition where in a blind taste test, particpants are made to tell the difference between the taste of Legend Extra Stout and other stout brands, also held. Winners went home with exciting prizes like flat screen TVs, generators and refrigerators, among other household items.

    Speaking on the event, Portfolio Manager Mainstream Lager and Stout brands NB Plc. Emmanuel Agu, said this edition was about giving back.

    “I am excited that another “confam” experience has hit the city of Lagos,” Agu said.

    “It’s another promise delivered, fans and lovers of entertainment were brought closer to their celebrities.”

    The Real Deal Experience show is conceived by Legend Extra Stout which launched into the Nigerian market by Nigerian Breweries in 1992.

  • Free health care for 40,000 Lagos residents

    For five days, the lawmaker representing Alimosho 1 State Constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adebisi Yusuf provided free health care services for his constituents. OZIEGBE OKOEKI reports that no fewer than 40, 000 people received free medical treatments for various illnesses.

    •250 surgeries carried out

    They have been suffering from various ailments, even as they had no money to access quality health care. They thought there was no hope. Suddenly, there was rumour that there would be a five-day free medical mission to be organised by a lawmaker. They doubted the veracity of the rumour. They have waited for the opportunity when they would receive medical attention for their various ailments.

    When the rumour turned out to be true penultimate week as this year’s edition of the free health mission provided by Hon. Adebisi Yusuf, the lawmaker representing Alimosho 1 State Constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly began, hope replaced their uncertainties.

    Over 40,000 residents of Alimosho and its environs who had been suffering from various ailments benefited from the free medical treatment. The event lasted five days and over 250 out of the total beneficiaries had surgical operations.

    The free health mission was conducted at Mosan Okunola, Agbado-Oke Odo, Alimosho, Egbe-Idimu and Igando-Ikotun local council development areas simultaneously.

    However, the surgical operations were performed at Ipaja-Ayobo Mini-stadium, Lagos where patients were referred to from the four other centres. Referrals were sent to the hospitals for illnesses that were beyond the scope of the mission.

    Many local and international medical personnel were on ground to attend to the patients. The medics ranged from medical doctors, nurses, matrons, laboratory technologists, pharmacists, and opticians, among others. Twenty-five medical personnel from the United States of America (USA) joined others from Nigeria for the free medical mission.

    The free health mission, organised by Prince of Hope Turns to Reality Foundation (PHTRF), an initiative of Hon. Adebisi Yusuf, the lawmaker representing Alimosho 1 State Constituency at the Lagos State House of Assembly, brought succour to many who had given up hope of ever living a healthy life because of financial constraints.

    Apart from ailments such as malaria, typhoid, eye-related issues for which free eye glasses were provided, tests for high blood pressure, HIV and Hepatitis B were carried out. Also minor surgical treatments were carried out for ailments such as hernia, lumpectomy, ganglion and keloid, among others.

    Among the medical personnel was Dr.  Peju Emmanuel. He said: “It was good; it has been very successful. A lot of people have benefitted from Hon. Bisi Yusuf’s gesture. Every one of us knows the socio-economic situation in the country. Many people are suffering from different ailments that require medical attention.

    “Medical care in the country is not rewarding. Hundreds have benefitted from the free medical mission. I was here last year and at a time we were closing many people were yet to be attended to.

    “Government should collaborate with the lawmaker in funding the programme. Not everybody is entitled to the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) which the government initiated. We’ve seen people losing their lives just because of minor ailments.

    “We have been doing lumps on tissues. Keloids could be regarded as lumps as well. Cases of hernias are numerous; both in men and women.”

    Some of beneficiaries interviewed expressed delight over the lawmaker’s gesture over the years, describing him as an exceptional politician.

    Mr Seyi Oladele, 18 year-old student who underwent surgical operation to take out keloid said he has been suffering from the ailment for four years. He commended the lawmaker for the free surgery.

    He said: “I have made several efforts to be free from this mess by visiting hospitals but my mummy does not have enough money to finance the bill for surgery which they said was the only solution.”

    17-year-old Master Jeremiah Amaechi, a student who also has been suffering from keloids for eight years had the disease removed through surgery as well; he also thanked the lawmaker for the gesture.

    Mr. Hafeez Onilude, who had a massive keloid removed from his body in last year’s edition of the programme, shared his testimony, even as he thanked the lawmaker for the free surgery which would have cost him over N200, 000.

    A woman whose son lives in Ora, Kwara State, revealed that her son was suffering from hernia and that she could not afford the money to take him to any hospital.

    She had to bring him for treatment at the venue. She thanked the lawmaker for providing the free medical treatment for the people, describing it as a great project that saves lives of the less-privileged people.

    Morufat Ashekunlowo, another woman who brought her son for treatment said: “My son Ahmed had been suffering from scrotal pain from infant but she could not afford the medical bill in hospitals, a reason she brought him for the treatment; having been informed that it was free. We have spent a lot of money in the hands of alternative medicine practitioners, yet he was not cured.”

    Mr. Ayanwale Alani of 18, Aloba Street, Ipaja who was also suffering from hernia, stated that he had been treated but was asked to come back for checkups.

    Alani revealed that he had been suffering from the ailment for eight years as he could not afford the bills to carry out the surgical operation at the private or public hospitals.

    Mr. Adeyemi Emmanuel, who underwent eye treatment and received free eye glasses, described Yusuf’s intervention as a divine call which others should emulate.

    Emmanuel, who noted that he had been having eye issues for about three years, commended the lawmaker for constantly investing in health care.

    Speaking with reporters, President of PHTRF, Hon. Yusuf revealed that he is in partnership with both local and international partners such as the Vitamin A agent of US “and our brothers who are also in US who organised medical instruments/equipment and drugs for me to make the programme a success.

    He added that he was motivated to invest in people’s health because God has given him sound health, even as he said his parents placed high premium on health.

    “God has been very gracious to me and because of that, I thought it fit that we can also emulate the attributes of God and extend it to other humanity. I am doing this also because of the passion my mother had for me and my health while growing up. I am committed to the healthy living of people because health is wealth.

    “I have the inspiration that we should not concentrate only on close families. We must extend health services to neighbours. We have improved on last year’s edition where over 30,000 residents of this Federal Constituency and beyond benefitted from. We captured more people. The crowd here is massive.

    “The people have been living in agonies for several years without money to access medical attention. Government at all levels and well-meaning individuals must rise up and provide affordable and quality health care services for the people. Those that we couldn’t attend to because of the severity of the conditions were referred to government hospitals. The exercise had been very tedious but every operation was successful,” he said.

    He appealed to government to do more in the area of health care delivery. It goes beyond routine checkups. We discovered Hepatitis B which is very dangerous and even HIV positive persons.

    “Lagos State government should take over this venture. If they can’t help me, they should help these people. I will brief Mr. Speaker on what I’ve observed here; something will have to be done.

    “It is going to outlive me. I have instructed my children that this is a foundation and they should take it up after my death,” the lawmaker promised.

    Also speaking with reporters, Chairman of Ipaja-Ayobo Local Council Development Area, Mr. Sakiru Adisa commended Yusuf’s large heart for the common man and the less-privileged persons.

    “He has been giving back to the people that elected him. Hon. Yusuf has been representing the people very well and had not only invested in health care but also in other sectors such as education.

    “We are proud of him because he is selfless and want happiness for the greatest number of people. He has been able to sustain this gesture and so many people, including those from Ogun and neighbouring states have been beneficiaries,” the council chief said.

  • Lagos residents laud LG boss over road project

    Residents and road users in Shitta roundabout, Surulere, can now heave a sigh of relief with the complete renovation and formal launch of that portion of road. For years, the spot had been a source of constant headache for both residents and passers bye due to the spoilt drainage system causing sewage water to overrun the road and its environ.

    The Surulere Local Government team led by its chairman, Hon. Tajudeen Ajide, during the inauguration yesterday, said it is another promise kept. He said:  “it was part of the promise that we made before assuming office to fix this popular spot which had become a sore point in Surulere. We are happy to have delivered the job for the benefit of our people.”

    Surrounded by LG commissioners, party leaders, councillors and community leaders, the chief Imam of Surulere, Abdulahi Jatto, was on hand to cut the tape and declare the road for public use. Some residents and business owners in the areas were of the opinion that they no longer experience foul smell and logjam occasioned by the bad drainage. “We now live in a clean environment. Motorists drive smoothly and we are generally happy,” Mrs Musiliu Ajayi, a fruit retailer, said.

     

     

  • Taxation: what reduced Land Use Charge means for Lagos residents

    The Lagos Land Use Charge, which was reduced yesterday, was created to get more properties into the tax net and increase revenue available for development. It was also meant to standardise property valuation on which charges are calculated and improve property enumeration across the state. After several debates, the Lagos State Government cut the rate payable for commercial properties by 50 per cent. COLLINS NWEZE writes that the gesture is significant and commendable.

    Taxation is at the heart of development in most great economies. Lagos State Government has been in the eye of storm ever since it commenced distribution of demand notices for the payment of Land Use Charge for 2018.

    Many property owners expressed surprise at the figures they saw in their bills. According to reports, many property owners were shocked to find increases of up to 400 per cent on the bills they paid only a year ago.

    Speaking on the development, an economist and tax expert, Osebumere Odia, said the Organised Private Sector (OPS), the segment most hit by the increases immediately went on air to vehemently protest these increases. “Anyone who was present at the Town Hall Meeting organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry could not have missed the passion with which the representative of the OPS criticized the new land use charge regime. “Any increase above a hundred per cent,” he stated very forcefully, “is unacceptable,” he said.

    But nowhere was the “war” as violent as cyberspace. Across various chat-groups, different people gave their own interpretations to the developments. Odia said it was the gross misinformation on cyberspace more than anything else that befuddled the arguments of the government making the communication process increasingly arduous.

    Government through its operatives including the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwunmi Ambode, had argued that the increases in land use charge had actually been sequel to the repeal of the 2001 Law and passage of a new Land Use Charge law by the state house of assembly. The review, it said, had been predicated on a need to bring obsolete charges up-to-date, standardize the practice of property valuation upon which charges are calculated, as well as ramp up property enumeration across the state and in the process bring more properties into the tax net.

    Government had also explained that the taxation approach being employed was progressive one, wherein the poor are less affected than the rich. In fact it added that the majority of properties, comprising some 75 per cent, were actually valued below N10 million implying that all they would need to pay would be N5,000 annually equivalent to some N417 per month.

    It had further stated that among the other 30 per cent, majority of properties were valued under N20 million, in which case tax liability was actually relatively low. It further demonstrated that for a property valued at N20 million for instance, an owner-occupier would not need to pay more than some N9,120 on an annual basis.

    Opposition to the new charges, however, remained very vehement, waning slightly with better education. According to Odia, agitation against the increased land use charge was not without basis. Many young people argued that the increases would merely provide a convenient cover for landlords to arbitrarily hike their rents.

    Members of the OPS also lamented that the taxes could cripple the operations of their members already reeling from the difficulties in the operating environment. It is instructive that despite its good intentions which it laboured to explain to Lagosians, the Ambode led administration still listened to the agitations and has lately made concessions. Ambode, while addressing a high caliber meeting of the OPS last week had hinted that government “was ready for dialogue” in response to the wave of criticism that had greeted the dissemination of demand notices for land use charge.

    Before then, he had explained the rationale for the increases especially against the backdrop of the infrastructure challenges that Lagos is beset with in the face of its rapidly growing population. The infrastructure gap in Lagos, Ambode explained, is in the region of $50 billion. To put this in context, he explained that even if the entire 2018 budget for Lagos were to be deployed to infrastructure alone, it would take another 15 years of such regular investment for the infrastructure in Lagos to get up to speed (assuming of course, that the population growth is stagnated).

    He also explained that the tax regime was actually very pro-poor, highlighting the fact that it was imperative to deploy tax revenues gotten from such progressive taxation, to creating job opportunities for the poor to enhance social security.

    The popular view, however, appeared to be that the taxes were on the high side and it is commendable that rather than refuse to bend, Ambode has chosen to engage the critics and give in to an extent, to their demands. Accordingly, Land Use Charge payable for properties which are devoted to commercial activities has been reduced by half. This is very significant and should considerably reduce the antagonism from real estate professionals. What this translates to for instance is that for a property valued at N20 million, which is used for commercial activity, instead of about N92,000 or so originally payable, such property would now only need to pay about N46,000 annually.

    Another sore point was that the demand notices left a very short window for property owners to make payment. Those who were able to make payment during this short window would enjoy an additional discount of 15 per cent. But not much longer thereafter, penalties of up to 200 per cent would apply. Some Lagosians felt this was unfair especially as the majority only earn salaries monthly. There should at least be an opportunity for staggered payments, many canvassed. The new concessions granted by Ambode indicate that indeed, property owners will now be able to pay their Land Use Charge in installments if they so desire. Of course, this concession also means that the penalties for late payments have now been waived.

    Another category of property is those that are dedicated to manufacturing or industrial activity. Such properties now have their land use charge further reduced by 25 per cent. While those in which the owner-occupier also has part of his property deployed to commercial activity will also enjoy a similar discount of 25 per cent.

    The owner-occupier category is not left out and enjoys a further 15 per cent discount on his land use charge payment, according to the revised land use charge law proposals. It is hoped however, that these revisions will take effect after they have been properly analysed and agreed to by the law makers who passed the law in the first place.

    It is a mark of civilized governance and kudos to our growing democracy that Ambode has chosen to listen to the people over whom he presides and accede to their request. As some discerning commentators have observed, he showed considerable moral courage to implement a tax increase barely a year to the next gubernatorial elections.

    That act demonstrates that his motivation may indeed have been more about helping to actualise his vision for Lagos, a vision which he passionately advocated while addressing the business community last week. It takes a statesman to subordinate his personal ambitions in preference for the common good, in the manner he did.

    It is hoped that the various opposition groups including the Nigerian Employers Consultative Assembly, the real estate practitioners and others will positively appraise this move by the Lagos Government, sheathe their swords and help create the right environment for the state to move forward with implementation of these taxes.

  • Register for national ID card, governor tells Lagos residents

    Register for national ID card, governor tells Lagos residents

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has urged residents to register for the national identity card.

    The governor said it was important for residents to register for the scheme because it would scale up data planning and financial planning as well as boost delivery of democratic dividends to the people.

    Ambode spoke yesterday at Lagos House in Ikeja, the capital, after registering for the scheme.

    He said: “I have just finished registering myself as a very proud Nigerian. I am very proud to hold this identity card. I also urge all Lagosians to do the same. We are proudly Lagosians and we are very proud Nigerians.

    “I urge every Lagosian to come out and get their national identity cards. It is in our best interest; it is also good for data planning and financial planning for all the things that we are trying to deliver to our people.

    “So, I urge everyone to come out and register.”

    NIMC’s Regional Coordinator for Lagos, Mr Kayode Adegoke, hailed Ambode for leading the registration and for his administration’s massive infrastructural development across the state.

    Adegoke, who presented the transaction slip confirming the governor’s enrolment into the national identity database, said the NIMC was proud to be associated with the state government to deliver on the scheme.

     

  • Lagos residents groan with pain over water tariff

    Lagos residents groan with pain over water tariff

    The Lagos State Water Corporation has introduced a pre-paid metering system for subscribers. Though an optimal means of curbing wastage and monitoring water supplies, residents are, however, groaning under the new pricing regime, describing it as an exploitative burden on the downtrodden. HANNAH OJO and IBRAHIM ADEYEMI report.

    At 14, Ayilara Street, Surulere Lagos, a food vendor attends to hungry customers by the roadside, a pepper and tomatoes seller displayed her wares at a vantage point to catch the attention of would-be buyers. Few meters away, a shop owner selling soft drinks fries puff-puff, a local snack with a micro gas.

    All three women are united by a common utility: their businesses strive on availability of clean water. Having failed to recharge the pre-paid meter installed by the Lagos State Water Corporation in the compound, the women are forced to depend on water vendors, popularly called mai ruwa for their water needs. With 50 liters selling for N50 or N100 as the case may be sometimes, it’s hard to imagine that these women won’t have to compromise hygiene in order to save cost on water.

    “We paid N9, 000 the last time and it didn’t last for more than two weeks. This is a house with one and two rooms’ apartment. So, it is very difficult to monitor how people use water. Each household within the compound now source water from Mai ruwa and you can imagine the effect of having to manage water on sanitation and well-being”, Mrs Arabambi, the caretaker of the house said.

    At the Ijora area of Lagos, where incidentally the headquarters of the water corporation is located residents have expressed dissatisfaction over the new metering system. Findings by our reporter at Oke-Oja, an area in Badia, Ijora, revealed how some residents prefer to install boreholes in order to avoid erratic water supply.

    Mr. Abdul Rahuf, a resident of Olodan Street in Badia said: “Water supply from the Water Corporation is not stable. Besides, it’s costly. So, most of us resort to use of borehole water system.”

    For other residents who cannot afford borehole water system, they are left to engage the services of water vendors who get water from the Water Corporation directly and resell to people. Modupe Bamidele, a middle-aged woman is a water vender at Ijora Oloye; she also shared an unsavoury experience about the new metering system.

    “The metering system is really not affordable. The previous means of payment was far better since I usually pay N3, 000 monthly. But now that usage is calculated with a metering system, I pay N20, 000. Of course, it is what we buy that we sell,” she said.

    Her stance is corroborated by Aasiatu Adepegba, another water vendor who also patronises the Lagos State Water Corporation.

    “We do not just have choice, if we do, we would have explored other means legally. The system evolved by the water corporation is not reliable. In fact, this new metering system is just too costly; thus most people prefer to use borehole water”, she said.

    In an encounter which predates the installation of the pre-paid water meters, the Managing Director of the Lagos State Water Corporation, Mr Mumuni Badmus told The Nation that the new metering system, which is part of a public-private partnership (PPP) model adopted by the state, is based on the recommendation of the World Bank as a model for sustainable water supply.

    “We are losing more revenue through water waste because we have been charging flat rates and people don’t see the value in that.  So, we are introducing metering systems so that we would be able to account for water we are sending to the public. We are also installing nodal meters in the intersections of every street so that we would be able to account for every drop of water we produce.”

     

    Also speaking, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Lagos State Water Corporation, Mr. Feranmi Akinmuleya denied the allegation of exploitation, urging that Lagosians need to imbibe the culture of water conservation. Insisting that every meter comes with N1, 700 free credits, he said those who are against the metering system are doing so because they want to continue to enjoy free water.

    “We introduced pre-paid metering system for customers to have value for their money and only pay for the quantity of water they used. We charge N200 per cubic meter in high density areas, N260 in low density areas and N350 for commercial water usage.

    “Water is now regular and many mini-waterworks have been rehabilitated.  The challenge with some subscribers is that they believe they may pay more, as it may not be possible for them to waste water as this will reflect on their credit.

    “Lagosians need to imbibe the culture of water conservation. Some other customers are commending us for the initiative,” he said.

    However, the development has not gone down well with many of the water subscribers who insist that the new metering system is an anti-people policy which tends towards exploitation. Mrs. Tinu Oyenuga, a school owner in the Surulere area of Lagos flayed the new metering system on the basis of higher rates.

    “With disciplined usage, a bill is three times more than the former price. It is too expensive and I see it as another form of oppression. Add this to the cost of energy, tax, land use and refuse disposal. Government should reason with us”, she said.

    The Lagos State Water Corporation is responsible for water supply across the state. Bedeviled by continuous population increase, poor infrastructure, failed public-private partnerships, inadequate budget allocation, poor labour practices and unstable power supply, the corporation falls short. Lagos State needs about 700 million gallons a day (MGD) for 22 million residents. With the water corporation producing a little over 250 MGD, there is a gap of over 400 MGD.

     

    The Environmental Rights Action (ERA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) said only 10 per cent of the population has access to water supplied by the Lagos State Water Corporation (LSWC).

    A report by ERA states that despite the number of water works, water supply remains abysmal due to some dysfunctional water works.

    The Lagos State Water Corporation will need $3.5 billion to execute a Water Master Plan. This includes the construction of additional large water schemes by 2020 to cover the water needs of the populace which is estimated to have increased to 733 MGD by then.

    • Reporting done as part of BudgIT2017 Media Fellowship