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Tag: Lagos State

  • Badagry LG boss reiterates commitment to tree planting

    THE chairman of the Badagry local government, Hon Olusegun Onilude, has reiterated his commitment towards the realisation of the  dream of Lagos State government towards the creation and sustenance of a clean and green environment in the state.

    He gave this assurance during this year’s tree planting exercise in the state which took place in Ajara, Badagry.

    The chairman ,who spoke through his vice chairman, Hon Andrew Akotomeh, said it was the responsibility of the residents in the local government area to fully support the efforts of the state government towards enhancing a clean and green environment in the council areas.

    “As a government at the grassroot, we shall continually partner the state government to rid our communities of all refuse and illegal dumpsites .All trees planted today shall be well monitored till they are fully grown.

    Read Also: Buhari, Sanwo-Olu meet on Lekki, Badagry ports, others

    “As individuals, we should endeavour to keep our environment clean at all times. It is our responsibility not only to desist from unnecessary felling of trees, but also to plant  and nurture trees around our environment,”he said.

    Onilude charged residents and members of the Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Ajara where the tree planting exercise took place to ensure the survival of the trees planted in their communities .

    He said: “The fully grown trees will not only preserve your environment from erosion, they will also beautify your communities as well.”

    In his own goodwill message on the occasion, the former chairman of the local government, Hon. Moses Owolabani, enjoined residents, especially landlords in Ajara, to plant a tree each and nurture them till they are fully grown .

    He said not only would the trees beautify their communities, they would enhance their healthy living through the natural oxygen, emanating from the trees.

  • Two held for allegedly kidnapping teenager

    The Lagos State Police Command has arrested a man and his son for allegedly kidnapping a teenager, Mathew Chukwuebuka.

    The suspects, Alhaji Muhibudeen Akorede and Thoa Akorede, were said to have held their 19-year-old victim, who was rescued from their custody, hostage for nine days without food.

    A statement on Wednesday by police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said the suspects were arrested in Ibadan, Oyo State, by operatives of the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB), who trailed them there with support from the Technical Intelligence Unit (TIU).

    He said the command on July 4 received a directive to follow up a petition sent to the Force Headquarters, Abuja.

    Elkana said the suspects had demanded N30million ransom, which they told the victim’s family to pay into his (the victim’s) account so they could withdraw same since the boy was with them.

    He said the teenager told the police that he did not know how he got to Ibadan, adding that it all happened after he received a call on his phone.

    Read Also: Gunmen kidnap chief of staff’s sister-in-law

    “The boy said on arrival in Ibadan, he was given something from a black pot to eat and he lost his senses. He said they ordered him to surrender his phone to them and the phone was programmed to reject incoming calls, except the only line they were demanding ransom through.

    “That they collected the money in his possession and demanded more. He said he was taken to an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) point where they withdrew N10,000 from his account.

    “They demanded N30million to be paid into the victim’s bank’s account as ransom. The victim has since been reunited with his family,” Elkana said.

    Asked where the suspects were, Elkana said they had been charged to court and were remanded in prison custody.

     

  • Lagos gives owners of illegal structures removal notice

    The Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit (Task Force) has served a seven-day removal notice on owners illegal structures on Badagry Expressway.

    Operators of commercial activities were not spared.

    Addressing the affected people on Tuesday during a visit, the Chairman, Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Chief Superintendent of Police, ordered them to vacate road setbacks and walkways within the stipulated period.

    He said illegal structures on road setbacks and walkways from Eric Moore to Trade Fair should be removed, adding that traders and others should remove kiosks, containarised shops, etc on road setbacks and walkways on or before July 23.

    Egbeyemi said the removal notice became imperative to prepare for the beginning of work on the road along that corridor and dislodge criminals robbing motorists and others of their belongings.

    Read Also: Lagos to fulfill promises to housing sector

    He said: “It is an eyesore seeing owners of these illegal structures occupy road setbacks and walkways, causing flood whenever it rains.

    “Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s newly-signed ‘Executive Order’ on traffic and sanitation has declared zero tolerance for environmental abuse, illegal and indiscriminate dumping of refuse and defacement of the environment.”

    The task force chairman urged miscreants who have turned under pedestrian bridges, shanties and abandoned vehicles, including containerized shops, to their abode to vacate them, “as anyone caught will be seriously dealt with in accordance with the law.”

     

  • Govt to begin clean-up of Lagos- Badagry, Oshodi-Abule Egba roads

    Lagos State Government will from next Tuesday embark on clean-up of Lagos-Badagry Expressway and Oshodi-Abule Egba Road.

    The aim is to rid the roads of illegal activities by traders, oil barons, gangs, commercial drivers as well as indiscriminate dumping of refuse on BRT corridor.

    Transportation Ministry Permanent Secretary Dr. Olufemi Taiwo Salaam, who addressed a news conference on Wednesday at Alausa, Ikeja, said the purpose was to clean up the roads and recover the right of way for road users. He added that the government also intended to regenerate the environment, which had been taken over by shanties, refuse and vegetal nuisances.

    Salaam said an Ad-hoc Inter-ministerial Committee drawn from all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on the implementation of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Executive Order on traffic management and environment had been put in place.

    He said: “It is disheartening that the condition of the roads is appalling. Lawlessness has taken over through the activities of traders, who have converted BRT corridors to trading centres. There are illegal activities of oil barons and gangs, especially at Eric Moore, who are using the corridor as their base. There is indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the BRT corridors. Motorists, motorcyclists and other road users experience traffic jam due to the activities of some transport unions domiciled in these corridors. There is breakdown of traffic laws.”

    The permanent secretary said the corridors had become nuisances and eyesores, with stench constituting health hazard to the people.

    He enjoined market men and women, members of road transport unions and road users to desist from abuse of the roads, right of way as well as road setbacks.

    “Traders are implored to relocate from the roads and remove illegal structures, while transport union members are advised to find alternative operational bases.

    Read Also: Ogoni people express worry over clean-up

    “You will agree with me that the plan to open the BRT corridors on the already completed segments of the roads will improve public transportation on the corridors,” Salaam said.

    He assured Lagosians that the plan to upgrade the roads would boost trade and commerce, enhance tourism and generate jobs.

    “Also, the people’s social lives will improve, while traffic-induced crimes will reduce to the barest minimum, if not totally eliminated. Stress-provoked health challenges will equally scale down. Properties along the corridor will attract commensurate value,” he said.

    The permanent secretary appealed to stakeholders to cooperate with the MDAs that would work on the roads, in the interest of all.

    He hailed the military and para-military formations, especially Ojo Military Cantonment, Department of State Security, Naval Officers Wives Association and the Nigeria Police for their cooperation, saying: “Together we will restore sanity to the road and win back our place in the comity of nations.”

    The Ad-hoc Inter-ministerial Committee is drawn from the ministries of Transportation, Environment, Works and Infrastructure. Members are also from the Task Force on Miscellaneous Offences, Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK), Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA) and Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC).

    It was constituted towards the implementation of the governor’s Executive Order issued on May 30.

    The MDAs’ heads present at the briefing included the General Manager, Lagos State Transport Management Agency (LASTMA), Mr. Wale Musa, LAWMA Managing Director Mr. Ola Oresanya, General Manager Drainage Services Lekan Shodeinde, an engineer, Permanent Secretary Ministry of the Environment Mr. Abiodun Bamgboye, Task Force Chairman Yinka Egbeyemi and LAGESC Corps Marshal Daniel Isiofia.

  • FRSC: accidents claim 49 lives in Lagos

    THE Lagos State Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said 49 people died and 430 others were injured in 264 Road Traffic Crashes (RTC) between January and June.

    Corps Sector Commander Mr. Hyginus Omeje told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday that 2,214 persons were involved in the 264 traffic accidents within the period under review.

    He said 25,344 offenders were arrested for 27,970 offences ranging from seat belt violations to driving without valid driver’s licence, tyre default, broken windscreen and overloading.

    “Other offences that attracted the Corps’ attention include driving against traffic, wrong overtaking, drunk-driving, among others, “ Omeje said.

    He assured Lagosians that FRSC would not relent in its resolve to reduce carnage on the road.

    Read Also: FRSC boss proffers solution to Lagos gridlock

    According to him, no effort will be spared in bringing sanity to the roads.

    “We are intensifying our operations in this next half of the year to reduce accidents to the barest minimum.”

    “We have embarked on `Operation Show Your Driver’s Licence’ to ensure only certified drivers are on the road, while those not qualified are removed.

    “Also, the Corps nationwide has started `Operation Safe-To- Load’ to restore sanity to the operations of tankers and trailers,’’ Omeje said.

    He urged road users to be extra careful on the roads and ensure adherence to traffic rules and regulations.

     

  • 185,000 JSS3 pupils write BECE

    Over 185,000 JSS3 pupils are writing the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) in public and private schools across the six education districts of Lagos State.

    Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Mrs Olatokunboh Adeleye expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the examination, which began on Monday and would end on July 27.

    She said the results would be released on time to enable those who pass resume in SS1 classes when the 2019/2020 academic session begins in September.

    The pupils, she said, would be tested in 10 subjects.

    “JS3 students writing the BECE Examinations will be tested in nine compulsory subjects and one optional subject (Arabic). The subjects include English Studies, Mathematics, Basic Science and Technology, Religion and National Value, French Language, Business Studies, Cultural &Creative Arts, National Languages (Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa) and Pre Vocational Studies,” she said.

  • Lagos to fulfill promises to housing sector

    The Lagos State government has renewed its vow to deliver on its promises in the housing sector, not withstanding setbacks by vandalisation of some ongoing housing projects in the state.

    A statement by the Public Affairs Director, Lagos State Ministry of Housing, Adeola Salako, quoted the Permanent Secretary Akewusola, who during an inspection of ongoing housing schemes in Ibeshe, Igbogbo, Agbowa, OdoOnosa and Ayandelu, said the state was committed  to meeting the housing needs of the people.  He promised to forge ahead in delivering on the mandate in spite of setbacks, “especially the looting of some of the projects by miscreants”.

    He also called on community leaders and residents of adjourning properties to assist in securing government’s investment in some of the ongoing housing projects in the state, adding that the security of the housing schemes, constructed with taxpayers’ money, should be a joint venture between the people and the government.

    He stressed  that the  policing of these housing schemes is best done by the immediate communities because of proximity and superior knowledge of the terrain of the area.

    Akewusola decried the situation whereby uncompleted houses were vandalised, electricity transformers cannibalised and electric poles removed in some schemes.”

    Read Also: Lagos to fulfill promises to housing sector

    ‘’It is sad that some unscrupulous individuals would vandalise or loot projects initiated for public good,’’ he said.

    Akewusola further revealed that some criminals have embarked upon illegal sand mining activities in some ongoing projects around Ikorodu thereby endangering the land structure of the area.

    ‘’Extensive illegal sand digging activities are being perpetrated by some people in Igbogbo 2B Scheme thereby damaging the land,’’ he disclosed.

    He lamented the economic loss to be incurred from these untoward actions of the miscreants and the setbacks that would result from their activities.

    “The replacement of these items and restoration where applicable will definitely have huge financial implications and result in delaying the delivery of those homes to their prospective owners,’’ he said.

    He enjoined community leaders and residents to take interest in being vigilant over these schemes by offering information to security agents, pleading immediate report of any suspicious persons or unlawful incident to the police or any government security agents.

    The Permanent Secretary also confirmed government’s readiness to deliver on its mandate in providing high quality shelter for the people in spite of setbacks.

    ‘’The commitment of the state government in meeting the shelter demands of the people is unwavering, hence we are working out strategies to keep vandals and hoodlums out of the ongoing schemes. We will also step up our monitoring activities to ensure that nefarious activities are completely eradicated,” he said.

  • Mrs. Fayemi receives Zik Prize award

    Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC) has held the Zik Prize 2018 at the Civic Centre on Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, Lagos State, OLATUNDE ODEBIYI writes.

    It was a gathering of the high and the mighty at the 2018 Zik Prize Award night organised by the Public Policy Research and Analysis Centre (PPRAC) to celebrate distinguished individuals in Nigeria and Africa who had made immense contributions towards the development of their society.

    The hall in Civic Centre on Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island, where the event held was decorated in green and white. Beautiful male and female ushers led guests to their reserved seats.

    The award recipients stood tall among the crowd as they mounted the podium to receive the awards amid screeches, claps and showers of encomiums.

    One of the most outstanding recipients of the award that night was the wife of Ekiti State Governor and Co-founder, African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF), Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi. She was honoured with the Year 2018 Zik Prize for Humanitarian Service Award.

    Others were former Governor of Niger State, Abubakar Sani-Lulu Bello, who recieved the Year 2018 Zik Prize in Good Governance Award; former National Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, who was honoured with the Year 2018 Zik Prize in Political Leadership for his contributions to the growth of democracy in Nigeria; and former Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu who got the Year 2018 Zik Prize in Public Service Award.

    Former Director-General, Nigerian Television Authority, Elder Shyngle Wigwe was honoured with the Year 2018 Zik Prize in Public Service; Chairman Forte Oil Plc, ‘Femi Otedola was the recipient of the Year 2018 Zik Prize in  Business Leadership; former Vice-Chancellor, the University of Lagos, Prof. Oye Ibidapo-Obe was the recipient of the Year 2018 Zik Prize in Professional Leadership; Chairman NOVA Merchant Bank Limited, Mr. Phillip Oduoza was honoured with the Year 2018 Zik Prize in Professional Leadership while the Chairman/Founder, Air Peace Airline, Allen Onyema was the recipient of the Year 2018 Zik Prize in Entrepreneurial Leadership.

    The hall became thrilled when Mrs. Fayemi was called to the podium to receive her award.

    She looked resplendent in her glittering gold skirt and blouse with head gear to match. Supporters sang her praises and later joined her on the podium as she held the horse tail-signifying dignity-and danced with them to the rhythms of their cultural songs.

    Speaking on behalf of the award recipients, Mrs. Fayemi thanked PPRAC for the awards, saying it was a call to do more.

    “On behalf of all the award recipients, I thank the organisers of this award and for considering us worthy of the prestigious award. There are many people that you could have chosen to give these awards to, but you have singled us out for the honour such as this. The only way we can say thank you to the organisers is to do more hard work and live up to what is expected of us.

    “There is a lot that is wrong with our country and a lot that needs to be fixed; and since we have no other country than Nigeria, we have to figure out a way to put it back to shape.

    “On behalf of all other recipients, we are grateful to be counted and the struggle continues. We will be worthy ambassadors of this significant award and we look forward to working with you all to put our country back to the shape it deserves for generations to come.

    “That we have received this award and have been recognised is not the end of work. We have to continue working to make the society a better place to live in. On my own behalf, I thank the Governor of Ekiti State, I thank PPRAC and I thank you all,” she said.

    Former Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba congratulated the award recipients, saying they have received the award because of the quality of services to humanity they have rendered.

    “This organisation has rightly selected the recipients and I urge them to keep the standard going, while the award recipients should continue in their good deeds.”

    Wabara said the annual event was in honour of a truly great Nigerian, the Rt Hon. Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who was not just a Nigerian hero, but also a great Pan-Africanist and an eminent citizen of the world.

    “His vision of Nigeria and Africa’s greatness inspired a generation of African men and women to dream great dreams of their various countries and our continent. The pioneering roles of Dr. Azikiwe and his fellow nationalists, especially Sir Ahmadu Bello and Chief Obafemi Awolowo, gave birth to the independence of our great country, Nigeria,” he said.

    Continuing, he said: “The Zik Prize in Leadership was set up in honour of Dr Azikiwe.

    “This year, the Advisory Board has, as usual, selected a worldwide list of eminent leaders. They represent some of the best and brightest of our country and continent. We have no doubt that Dr. Azikiwe himself would have been immensely proud of them.

    He congratulated the award recipients and urged them to remain worthy ambassadors of the highly esteemed honour.

    He noted that the need for committed and honourable leadership in the country and Africa at large has become more urgent now than at any other time in history.

    “The challenges of good governance and sustainable development have become more taxing. Growing populations, economic challenges, youth unemployment, socio-political restiveness and spread of violence has created greater challenges for African leaders. There is an urgent need for leaders at various levels of governance process to provide effective leadership that would find answers and workable solutions to these myriad of problems.,” Wabara said.

    He, therefore, urged the leaders to continue to work hard to realise the potential of the country.

    “It is only in unity that Nigeria’s greatness can be realised and to achieve the unity, we must pursue the course of justice, equity and fairness.

  • ‘Land grabbers are after our lives’

    MEMBERS of the Ogunde family, Agbowa-Ikosi, in Ejirin, Epe, Lagos State, have fled their homes, following attacks on them by suspected land grabbers.

    They said their land was encroached on and their bid to retrieve it led to attacks on them.

    At a news briefing over the weekend, the family said they fled their ancestral homes to avoid being killed.

    The family comprising Pa David Ogunde, Chief Nurudeen Odumeru Ogunde, Mr. Lateef Ogunde, Mr. Bankole Oke, among others, appealed to security agencies and the government to rescue them from land grabbers, who had allegedly turned them to internally displaced persons.

    A spokesperson for the family, Nurudeen Ogunde, said after years of legal battle, the High Court of Lagos in the Ikorodu Judicial Division on May 20, ruled in their favour.

    He said despite the ruling affirming the Ogunde royal family as owners of the land called Atere farmland in Agbowa-Ikosi, measuring approximately 389.498 hectares, the land grabbers disobeyed the court.

    Ogunde urged the relevant authorities to enforce the judgment, which declared them owners of the property, saying the land grabbers had been acting with impunity because they were being backed by some ‘powerful people’.

    “They have been selling our land. They vowed never to allow us get our land despite the judgment. We appeal to the government and security agencies to rescue us from these usurpers who have been wreaking havoc,” he said.

    In a petition signed by their lawyer, Bayo Omoniyi & Co., sent to the coordinator of the task force and copied to the office of Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, the family alleged a take-over of their land at Atere by a suspected land grabber, assisted by an Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) leader.

    Read Also: We won’t allow Benin take oil-rich Tongeji Island – Abiodun

    “That sometime in 2005, the land grabber invaded the town and forcibly ejected our clients, who fled to adjoining towns and villages because their homeland had been turned into a theatre of war.

    “That because our clients cannot challenge them because of the cache of arms in their possession, our clients had to go to court by instituting an action against their principals at the Ikorodu Division of the Lagos High Court in suit No. IKJ/54/13, Pa David B. Odumeru Ogunde & four others vs Mr. Nojeem Oduyero Ojupon & 16 others,” the petition reads.

    The petitioners alleged further that despite a court order delivered on May 20, which gave a perpetual injunction against the invaders and in favour of his clients, the OPC leader and the land grabber brought more hoodlums to the land to ensure the plaintiffs never return to the land.

    “It is so bad that they went after all of us, looking for us to kill us after invading the land with weapons and threatening our wives and children after we (the fathers) ran away for our dear lives. Up till now, the situation persists, as the land grabber has since stationed hoodlums working on their behalf on our land,” Ogunde added.

  • RRS nabs suspected pickpocket

    Operatives of the Lagos State Rapid Response Squad (RRS) have arrested a suspected pickpocket said to have confessed to earning N18,000 daily.

    Lawal Daodu, 31, the police said, snatched bags, stole phones, money and valuable items in Ikeja and on Lagos Island.

    He was reportedly arrested around 5pm last Friday after an unsuccessful attempt to steal a phone from a victim at Ikeja Under Bridge.

    According to the police, the suspect had stolen two Android phones from two victims and was on the third mission when he was caught.

    The third phone he was attempting to steal was said to have fallen and that drew the owner’s attention, who informed RRS operatives attached to an Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) stationed nearby.

    Read Also: Two policemen killed as robbers make away with cash, rifles

    “While the suspect was explaining the source of the phones in his possession, one of his victims, who was trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening, saw his phone in the suspect’s hand,” the police said.

    Daodu confessed to the police that he usually operated at the Computer Village, Ikeja and Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island.

    He said: “On Friday, I was at the Computer Village as usual. I had stolen two phones in the morning, which I sold to my customers at the Computer Village. In the afternoon, I resumed to steal phones.

    “I was stealing the third one when the owner shouted, which attracted RRS officers’ attention. They arrested me and unfortunately, as I was trying to prove my innocence, one of my victims saw his phone in my hand.

    “I don’t operate every time. I go out twice in a week. Sometimes I make at least N18,000 from pickpocketing. There are times I make more than that, especially when I steal expensive phones.

    “I started pickpocketing in 2017 and I have never been arrested until now. I buy and sell clothes at the Computer Village. I steal occasionally.

    “I sell stolen phones to Afeez and Lanre. They are street guys at the Computer Village. I was trained by Bello. I have not seen him recently.”

    Police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said the suspect was assisting detectives to arrest buyers of the stolen phones.