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Tag: Lagos State

  • Don’t spare traffic offenders, Sanwo-Olu tells LASTMA

    The Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu has told officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Agency (LASTMA)  not to spare violators of  traffic laws, even if they were  members of his cabinet or relations, stressing that if his brother were to break  traffic law, he should be arrested.

    The governor said this when he visited the headquarters of the agency in Oshodi, on Friday.

    He said: “I can assure you, because we are in this together, I am going to tell members of my cabinet if you are caught violating traffic rules, you must pay fines for offence committed, there is nobody to call, nobody is going to be above the law.”

    According to him, there would be no sacred cows in the enforcement of the law, saying that if anyone broke traffic law and was arrested and the person said he knew the governor, “tell him to call the governor to pay the money for the offence.”

    Read Also: Food vendors salute Sanwo-Olu

    The governor  promised LASTMA officers that he was going to provide all the necessary materials and equipment for them to do their work effectively and efficiently and that he was also going to look at issues concerning their welfare, promising that their allowance was going to be doubled from the end of July.

    He however told them that to whom much is given much is expected and that since he was going to be using the tax payers money to better their lot, Lagosians also expect to see a new reformed, ready-to-go, better equipped LASTMA officials going forward.

    “Lagosians have told me that they want a corrupt-free LASTMA officials, offficials that are humble, courteous, respectful and decent officials that are not lazy or lackadaisical, so stop collecting bribes”, adding that they must be punctual to work.

  • Navy destroys 2,829 firearms surrendered by ex-Ondo militants, others

    The Nigerian Navy (NN) on Thursday started the manual destruction of 2,829 firearms recovered from participants in Ondo State Amnesty Programme and unserviceable weapons belonging to the service.

    The Nation reports that 475 of the firearms were service rifles of the Navy which were no longer useable, while 2,281 others were recovered last year from repentant militants in Ondo State.

    The exercise, which was organised by the Naval Ordinance Depot (NOD), Ojo, Lagos State, following an approval by the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, was the first since the depot’s establishment in 1966.

    According to the Admiral Superintendent NOD, Rear Admiral Abdul Adamu, the weapons comprises of 2,108 single-barrelled rifles, 57 units of double-barrelled rifles, 189 short guns, 187 FN (Fabrique Nationale) rifles, 215 SIG (Schweitzerische Industrie-Gasellschaft) rifles and 73 SMGs (sub-machine guns).

    “The depot was established in 1966 as a strategic naval establishment primarily responsible for the storage and issuance of arms and ammunition to NN fleet and establishments.

    “Its overtime roles expanded to include installation, servicing and on-demand maintenance of arms on board NN ships. The depot also caters for sister services in storing their ordinances from time to time.

    “The naval headquarters recently authorized the depot to destroy the unserviceable weapons, which comprised weapons seized from repentant militants by the Ondo State Amnesty Programme and unserviceable NN weapons. These consist of 2,108 single barrel rifles, 57 units of double-barrelled rifles, 189 short guns, 187 FN rifles, 215 SIG rifles and 73 SMGs, which are earmarked for destruction during this exercise.

    “It is also significant to state that the exercise will be conducted for two days to ensure that the weapons are rendered unusable. This would involve cutting of the barrels into tiny unusable pieces and finally burying the pieced weapons in a dug hole at the depot.

    “It is believed that this approach will permanently deny criminals and miscreants access to the seized weapons, which could pose security threats to the society.

    “Solving the problem of firearms proliferation is not for security agencies alone. These criminals are subsets of the society. Thankfully, the President has signed into law a bill that prohibits bearing of arms. The police are doing well in arresting and parading the local manufacturers as we usually see in the media.

    Read Also: Navy arrests boats carrying 170 ‘smuggled’ turkeys

    “What the Navy has done with this exercise is another great step to stop the weapons from finding their way back into the society. So, I recommend that sister security services with such arms in their armouries or inventory should destroy them so that bad eggs within the system do not recycle these firearms back into the society and put them in the hands of these criminals.

    “In the custody of the Navy today, this is all we have to destroy. As you know, security is dynamic and these criminals keep evolving. But we are not sleeping also. Definitely, as we arrest them in future, I am sure the Navy will also approve their destruction.”

    The CNS, who was represented by Director of Arms Naval Headquarters, Rear Admiral Danjuma Dongoyaru, decried the proliferation of firearms.

    He noted that the destruction was part of measures to curb the menace.

    Acknowledging there were other use the metals could be put to, he said the navy didn’t want to take chances that could make the weapons land in the hands of criminals again.

    “There are other uses for the metals but we do not want to take chances. We do not want a situation whereby they will get into wrong hands and are fabricated again.

    “Moreover, in the process of disarmament, after you have seized the weapons you must destroy them even if they are brand new.

    “We see daily seizures by the security agencies. A lot of weapons are being displayed but I can tell you that is just a tip of the iceberg. Destroying these weapons is a means to curb firearms proliferation.

    “Allowing them find their way back into the society will amount to fetching water with a basket. What we expect is for other security services with such arms in their custody to also destroy them,” he said.

  • Council boss seals shrine over dispute on festival

    The Chairman of Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, Monsurudeen Oloyede Bello, on Thursday closed the Ejigbo Town’s shrine over a controversy that trailed the proposed Omagbo Festival.

    The Nation learnt that the once-in-five-year festival has pitted the town’s monarch, Oba Moruf Adekunle Ojoola, the Ojon of Ejigbo, against a community leader, Prince Jelili Akinfunmi.

    The festival, which was supposed to begin on Thursday, if allowed to go on, Bello said, will lead to a breakdown of law and order.

    “As a government, we will not sit by and allow a peaceful community to turn into a crisis area. That is the reason for suspending the festival pending the time the parties involved would resolve their matter,” he said.

    According to Bello, a former Lagos State Commissioner intimated the council about an impending crisis in the community on April 15.

    He said: “Immediately, we called the parties involved for a meeting but the monarch requested it tbe shifted to the following week. The meeting was eventually held on April 23. We were on the verge of reaching a settlement when a chief in the palace uttered a derogatory statement. This made the parties involved postponed the meeting to another date.

    “Before that date, I received a call from the police over a petition on the matter and the need to make some arrests. I told the police that we were on the verge of settling the matter but the police insisted that the council should allow them to do their work, which I obliged. After their investigations, the matter was taken to court.

    “Justice M.O. Tanimola ruled that a “Status quo” be maintained. While both parties were claiming that the ruling favours them, the council applied to the court for the interpretation of the ruling and sealed the shrine on May 3 pending the response from the court.”

    Read Also: 20 inmates rescued as Oyo police raid shrine

    The council chief expressed annoyance that two chiefs in the community went to break up the padlock and entered the shrine on Monday.

    He vowed to ensure they face the law for daring the government.

    He lamented the audacity of one of the parties to announce the commencement of the festival on Radio, warning that such should not repeat itself.

    “We understand that the king is the custodian of the tradition, but when exercising such tradition will lead to chaos in the community, the government must wade in to forestall it. This is what we have done and we have written to the state government on the actions taken so far,” he said.

    He warned that on no account should anybody try to unseal the shrine, noting that the security operatives will be parading the area to arrest whoever tries to flout the order.

    “We’ll re-seal the shrine and urged the police to arrest anyone that came close to the place. We urged you all to keep a distance from the shrine. Anybody that is arrested will be prosecuted. I am an indigene of this town and Omagbo Festival is an age long festival identified with peace and tranquillity. We won’t allow anyone to truncate the peaceful nature of this town. Ejigbo must develop,” he said.

  • I’ll keep fighting for recognition of Lagos’ 37 local govts, says Adeola

    The senator representing Lagos West, Solomon Adeola, said on Wednesday that he will keep fighting for the recognition of the 37 Local Government Areas created in Lagos State.

    Adeola, in a statement by his media adviser, Chief Kayode Odunaro, said he would work for the national interest in the Ninth Senate.

    The senator, who spoke at an inauguration dinner organised to celebrate his second term in the Senate, seconded the nomination of Senator Ahmad Lawan for Senate Presidency and stood in as Lawan’s agent in the tensioned soaked election on Tuesday.

    Adeola noted that while he did his best to represent his people in the Eighth Senate in spite of the leadership challenges of that session, the coast was now clear for him to continue effective representation and putting issues of his constituents’ welfare and interest of Nigeria in the front burner of the Ninth Senate.

    He said: “I once again restate my resolve to represent you and not represent myself in the Senate. I state clearly that I will continue with all my personal projects like public toilets, boreholes and transformers for my constituents in addition to constituency projects I am able to attract.

    “I hereby restate my legislative agenda to include the continuation of the struggle to get constitutional recognition for our legally and constitutionally created 37 Local Government Councils; continue the agitation for a “special status” and funding for Lagos State as the former Federal Capital Territory and economic capital of Nigeria and pursuit of a new Revenue Allocation Formula that gives more funds to states and local government councils.

    “I have also committed myself to media welfare bill passage as well as support for any water provision related bills in the 9th Senate.”

    Read Also: Lagos prepared for recapitalisation, says DG

    The senator added that as the country moves to “Next Level” administration, his constituents should still “count on him to defend democracy and its institutions from any dictatorial tendencies and work in tandem with the programmes of our party, APC and administration of President Muhamadu Buhari”.

    Dignitaries that attended the dinner include Cardinal James Odumbaku and Pa Tajudeen Olusi both members of the Lagos State Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC); HRM Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, the Olu of Ilaro and Paramount Ruler of Yewaland; Chief (Mrs.) Kemi Nelson, APC National Women Leader (South West) and Alhaji Tunde Balogun, APC Chairman, Lagos State.

    Others include Simbi Wabote, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board(NCDMB); , one-time Lagos State Commissioner Wale Edun; Alhaji Enilolobo Abdullahi, Lagos APC State  Organising Secretary; Otunba Akeem Ade Adigun (SOCOPAO), President of Yewa City Club; the Eze Ndigbo of Lagos State HRN. Eze Christian Uchechukwu Nwanchukwu; 28 LGA/LCDAs APC and Council chairperson as well as other top APC political leaders from Lagos and Ogun States.

  • Sanwo-Olu, Hamzat, Oba Akiolu for MKO Abiola Cup final

    Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat are some of the dignitaries expected to grace the final of the late MKO Abiola Cup slated for Campos Mini Stadium Lagos Island on Wednesday.

    The competition organized by AFO Football Association in commemoration of National Democracy Day, is aimed at celebrating the sporting legacies of the late business mogul and sports philanthropist, late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, who gave his best supporting Nigerian sports until his demise in 1998.

    Read Also: Hoodlums invade MKO Abiola’s property

    The Chief Organiser Afolabi Olalekan Onanaike said the championship has received the blessing and support of the Lagos FA, the Lagos State government as well as the family of late Chief Abiola, with one of the late businessman’s son, Alhaji Olalekan Abiola full of praises for the organisers behind the Under 20 cup in honour of their late father Chief MKO Abiola.

    Activities of the day begins at 12 noon with a friendly match Damilola Tailor Academy and Sunshine Football Academy. This will be followed by the 3rd place match that will see De Golden Ages All Stars take on All Star Bombata by 3pm and will immediately followed by the final match between Lagos Island East and Lagos Island West.

    Onanaike told newsmen that other guests expected at the final also include the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; Iyaloja General of Nigeria, Chief Mrs Folashade Tinubu Ojo; Executive Chairman Lagos Island East, Hon. Jamal Bashua and Executive Chairman Lagos Island West, Hon.Tijani Adetoyese Olusi.

  • Police: men mobbed in Lagos in mistaken identity

    The Lagos State Police Command has warned the residents against jungle justice.

    This followed a mob attack on two suspected to be ritualists at Lawanson, Mushin, last Thursday around 1 p.m.

    In a video that went viral on the social media, the mob accused a man, Joseph Agugom, of trying to use his wife, Justina Emmanuel of 10 Bishop Okogie Street, Ago, Palace Way in Isolo, Lagos, and her one and a half-year-old daughter, Munachisom, for rituals.

    They were allegedly acting on the alarm raised by Justina, who is said to be mentally-ill, that her husband wanted to use her and her daughter for ritual.

    Justina was said to have told the crowd that her husband had used their two other children for rituals.

    The mob descended on Joseph and Paul Agugom, inflicting injuries on their bodies.

    The two men were rescued by the Anti-Crime patrol team led, by the Itire Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Odey Ogah, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).

    The police recovered a Honda CRV with registration number (Lagos) FST587BU, one LG handset, one iPhone, one bag containing two flasks, three pieces of rope, one black para-military belt and a green beret.

    Police spokesman Bala Elkana, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said preliminary investigation revealed that the woman is suffering from mental illness and that she was being taken to the hospital when she raised the alarm and some peopleblic stopped the car and descended on the men.

    Elkana said: “Members of the suspects’ and victims’ families came to the police station and made statements to the effect that the victim is suffering from mental illness and was actually being transported to a hospital.

    “The other two children of the victim with her husband were brought to the station, contrary to the allegations of the victim that they were killed by the husband for money ritual. The victim (woman) was taken to the hospital by the police for medical examination.”

    Read Also: Police arrest two over alleged murder in Enugu

    The spokesman said command had launched a manhunt for those who mobbed the two men to bring them to justice.

    “Members of the public are strongly advised to be more careful not to jump into conclusion on the alarm raised by anybody. Innocent persons have suffered death or bodily harm and inhuman treatment through jungle justice.

    “Members of the public have the powers to arrest anybody suspected to have committed a crime but the law provides that such persons arrested should be handed over to the police immediately.

    “It is only investigating police officers that can determine the truthfulness or otherwise of the allegations. And our laws presume the accused person to be innocent until proven guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction,” he said.

     

  • Third Republic’s Rep urges Fed Govt to reward ex-lawmakers

    The Oniworo of Iworo Kingdom in Lagos State, Oba Idris Oladele Kosoko, has urged the Federal Government to recognise members of the National Assembly who were affected by the annulment of the poll said to have been won by Chief M. K. O Abiola.

    The monarch and Third Republic House of Representative member for Badagry hailed the Federal Government for its magnanimous gesture to the man strongly believed to have sacrificed so much for Nigeria’s democratic struggle.

    But he saw loopholes in the arrangement that excluded other instruments of the democracy institution.

    “I commend the manner in which President Muhammadu Buhari handled the issue of June 12. He magnanimously approved the election of Bashorun M. K. O. Abiola as the President-elect and recognised the position of Vice-President Babagana Kingibe as rightfully elected.

    Read Also: ‘Fed Govt will paying N30,000 minimum wage’

    “To me, it is a good thing because that’s what Nigerians are looking forward to. The election was adjudged to be free and fair with all other apparatuses of democratic institutions duly elected as well.

    “If that be the case, legislators who were serving in the Third Republic – and I was one of them – should be remembered and given their allowances. If June 12 is now officially recognised as Democracy Day with allowances granted to the families of the President and Vice-President, then all those instruments or products of June 12, comprising the Third Republic senators and House of Representatives members should also be recognised.

    “These groups made a huge sacrifice and kept faith to sustain Nigeria’s democracy then before it was disrupted by the annulment,” he said.

     

  • CYCDI congratulates Sanwo-Olu

    Nigeria’s United Nations Action Award winner for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in 2018, the Creative Youth Community Development Initiative (CYCDI), has congratulated the newly sworn-in executive governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on his assumption of office.

    In a statement issued in Basel, Switzerland, CYCDI CEO/Project Director, Foluke Michael, indicated that of all states in Nigeria, Lagos still possesses the biggest potential to give expression to the values of the United Nations SDGs solution, majorly deriving from its ever-growing population and the focus of earlier administrations in the state towards achieving a sustainable mega city status.

    ”We at CYCDI are indeed very happy that Lagos State has a new governor, who among other qualities possessed, is a believer in the SDGs cause which means that creative solutions to curb and eliminate world problems as proposed by the United Nations would receive fair attention and better implementation under his administration,” she said.

    Read Also: Photo: Sanwo-Olu visits Tinubu in Abuja

    To further drive the initiative, CYCDI has partnered one of Nigeria’s leading strategic management outfits, CITC, to help expand on the offerings of her creative product, Solution17, which earned her the award and has put the organization on the world map as one of the frontline campaigners of the goals.

    Managing Consultant of CITC, Tayo Orekoya, equally extended congratulations to the new governor. He stated that being an integral part of the brains behind the state’s development blueprint, Governor Sanwo-Olu is well primed and positioned to deliver on the demands of the UN SDGs objective for the state.

     

  • IPOD sit-at-home order: Aba residents count losses

    To commemorate the death of soldiers who died fighting for Biafra during the Nigeria Civil War, the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOD), a group that agitates self-determination ordered a sit-at-home action on May 30 in order to remember Biafra’s fallen heroes. SUNNY NWANKWO reports that residents of Aba have been brooding over economic losses incurred while observing the order.

    Apart from Lagos State, Abia is one of the states in the country where many analysts believe can run its economy through the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) it raked from markets and other commercial and economic transactions without necessarily depending on the monthly allocations from the Federal Government for the running of the state.

    Recall that since the inception of the Okezie Ikpeazu-led administration, there has been massive campaign on Aba-made leather and garment wears. The government has equally gone ahead to woo international investors to and invest in the state, a step that even spurred the Federal Government to endorse the proposed Enyimba Economic City to be sited in three local government areas of Ugwunagbo, Ukwa East and Ukwa West.

    However, while these and other efforts were being made by both the federal and state governments, the economy of the commercial town was, on May 30, shutdown following the sit-at-home order by the IPOB. The day was used to observe and remember those who died during the Nigeria Civil War.

    Heads of various security agencies, including Abia State Commissioner of Police, Eneh Okon had promised watertight security in Aba and other major towns. They urged people to go about their legitimate businesses as security agencies would treat anyone threatening the existing peace as terrorists. Despite this assurance, residents, including operators of various educational and commercial institutions stayed away from their business premises. Government workers also didn’t go to work that day.

    The usual hustling and bustling that Aba is known for suddenly disappeared on May 30. The usual gridlock on major roads, including Aba-Owerri Expressway, Aba-Ikot Ekpene Expressway, Okigwe, Faulks and Azikiwe, among other roads that host various articulated vehicles were devoid of deafening honking from cars.

    For the security agents, they did all they could to ensure that the state was peaceful and lives and properties were not destroyed. They were happy that they were able to put IPOB and their adherents in check.

    But far from the thinking of the police and other security agencies, the agitators were happy that despite the efforts of the security agencies to prevent the day’s event, it eventually held.

    Our reporter, who monitored the compliance of Abians to the IPOB sit-at-home order in Aba and Umuahia, the state capital observed that while residents of Umuahia observed the orders of the IPOB partially, there was total compliance to the order in Aba.

    While gates of major entrances to Ariaria International Market, Aba was open for traders and their prospective customers, shop owners and their customers ignored the assurances by security agencies in Abia State. They stayed away from the market.

    Further checks, however, show that gates of other markets, including Cemetery, Ahia Ohuru, Shopping Centre, among others were locked.

    Operatives of various security agencies were spotted at strategic locations, including Azikiwe Road by Asa, Bata Junction, Umuele by Faulks Road in the two cities to forestall any breach of peace by any person or group of people who may wish to cash in on the situation to cause breakdown of law and order.

    Some eateries, financial institutions, including public and private along Aba-Owerri Road, Ikot Ekpene Expressway, Okigwe Road, among others were carrying out skeletal services, while the roads known for their bustling and hustling were devoid of human and vehicular traffic.

    A student of Abia State Polytechnic, Aba who identified himself as Godwin told our reporter that the institution had to shift their examinations which they were supposed to begin penultimate Thursday to a future date.

    Speaking on the sit-at-home order and compliance by Abians, a member of IPOB who identified himself as Bright said: “The compliance to the sit-at-home by residents of Aba was a clear indication that the people of the commercial city were behind the struggle towards the emancipation of the people of the Old Eastern Region.

    “By June 12, there is going to be a public holiday for one man and nothing is being done to remember and immortalise over one million lives that died while struggling for their emancipation.

    “Look at Rwanda today; they have come to a roundtable to discuss. They have put their past behind and have resolved to move ahead. Why does the Federal Government refuse the call for referendum where we will discuss issues bordering on unity and oneness of Nigeria and how to move forward as a people?

    “We must agree to stay together or go our separate ways. No man should stay in his house to detect for us what we should do. What are they afraid of and why are they afraid of it? It simply means that they have something that they don’t want people to know about. Why did they stop teaching of history in schools? It is a means that they used to stop the younger ones from knowing their history.

    “The realisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra is a struggle that only God can stop. No amount of propaganda by the Federal Government or its agents would dissuade our struggle for the emancipation of our people.”

    A security agent who spoke to our reporter said they were all out to ensure that there was peace and that no one capitalises on the sit-at-home directive to make the state uncomfortable and unconducive to residents and visitors.

    However, beyond the statement from the leadership of IPOB and security agents, analysts have expressed worries over the economic loss the state recorded as a result of the sit-at-home action.

    According to Sam Offor, an economist, the economic loss suffered by government and private organisation is unquantifiable, stressing that the worst hit is the Small and Medium Scale industry.

    Some of the traders equally lamented the huge loss they suffered as a result of their compliance to the sit-at-home directive.

    Speaking to our reporter, Josiah Umekwe, a businessman, who said he makes an average of N500, 000 daily said the economic loss suffered by the state government and private individuals amounts to millions of naira.

    He said: “I would have gone to open my shop that morning but for the fear of the unknown. When I later sent my boys to attend to a customer who came from Cameroun without the knowledge of the sit-at-home order, they came back with about N300, 000.

    “By and large, the IPOB sit-at-home was a big loss to the Aba business community.”

    For a member of staff of a commercial bank in Aba that spoke in confidence for security reasons, the sit-at-home order is something that government at federal and state levels should do everything to stop because it does more harm than good to their businesses.

    “Umuahia, the state capital, is more of civil servant-dominated area. But Aba is the economic base of the state. Our economic loss on that particular action of the IPOB cannot be recovered.

    “Even though we asked some customers to go to Umuahia where there was full scale operation, yet, our branch in Umuahia couldn’t make one-quarter of what we made. So, the economic loss is huge.”

  • Sanwo-Olu’s wife hails religious leaders for ensuring peace in Lagos 

    Lagos State Governor Dr. (Mrs.) Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu has hailed religious leaders for their efforts and contributions towards enduring peace in the state.

    She urged them to continue along that line and even do more to make the state a peaceful abode for everyone.

    Mrs. Sanwo-Olu thanked them for their support that ensured victory for her husband in the last elections, saying they should keep on with the support.

    She gave the commendation on Thursday in her welcome address at the 2019 Eid-el-Fitri celebrations to mark the end of Ramadan on the open field of Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

    Mrs. Sanwo-Olu said the lessons to learn from the Ramadan season include the virtues of sacrifice, self-denial, piety, love and generosity among others.

    She said: “Through the Ramadan, we are taught to seek spiritual advancement and closeness to God, by stepping away from our comfort zone, where we indulge in various acts that please us as human beings but which are not acceptable to God.”

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu: let’s unite under God’s love

    According to her, Ramadan teaches selflessness and love, requiring thinking less about one’s self and more about the welfare of less privileged people.

    “We are expected to give, help, put smiles on the faces of people and to be a source of blessing to many; in all, it teaches us to emulate the sterling qualities of the Holy Prophet Muhammed (S.A.W).

    “What is far more important, however, is to keep our new form by not returning to those old things and old ways”, adding that this is the greatest lesson of Ramadan and if they achieve this, then they have achieved the lesson of the season.

    In his keynote remarks, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu said his government “is for all”. “Join us to work. Let’s us have a continuous collaborative engagement.

    “We shall continue to ask you to work with us so that we can deliver to Lagosians, help us in ensuring zero tolerance for potholes, indiscriminate disposal of refuse and driving,” the governor said.

    Part of the activities at the celebration were prayers for the first family, deputy governor and his family, the state, Qur’an recitation/quiz competition and presentation of gifts.