The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State

  • Lagos raises housing loan to N100m

    Lagos State has increased the budgetary provision for housing loans from N50 million to N100 million to improve workers’ welfare, Head of Service (HoS) Mrs Folashade Adesoye has said.

    She spoke yesterday at the on-going briefing by ministries to mark the third anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    Mrs Adesoye said the Staff Housing Board had so far given out N95,033,564 loans to about 280 public servants.

    She said: “I am delighted to inform you that the budgetary provision for housing loan has increased from N50 million to N100 million, laying credence to government’s commitment to staff welfare.’’

    The HoS there were 40 buses in the fleet of the centralised staff buses, promising that they would soon be increased because of the high number of workers.

    “However, owing to the increasing number of staff and the opening up of new residential areas, there is a conspicuous deficit in the number of buses. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has promised to re-fleet the scheme with new buses.

     

     

     

  • Ubong King Foundation woos youths with tourney

     

    Corporate bodies and individuals have been enjoined to support the Lagos State government to ensure that youths are positively engaged to curtail youth restiveness.

    The founder of Ubong King Foundation, Ubong Thompson King, who made the plea, however, said this became necessary following the rate of drug abuse among youths.

    In a chat with NationSport during the presentation of trophies for the ongoing first Under 15 Ubong King Cup 2018 to Lagos State Grassroot Soccer Association in Lagos, Ubong King said sponsoring such competition is to catch them young at the grassroots.

    The final of the competition which comes up Sunday, 27th May, 2018 (Children’s Day) at the Legacy Pitch of the National Stadium, Surulere in Lagos, will see the overall winner going home with a trophy and the sum of N400,000, while the second placed team will get a trophy and the sum of N300,000 and the third and fourth placed team will be rewarded with the sum of N200,000 and N100,000 respectively.

    “Nigeria’s population is estimated at 180 million according to last censors. 75 percent of that are youths and if you do the mathematics that is 135 million. The presidential committee report on job creation says that 40 percent of this people cannot be employed. That means 62.5 million people cannot be employed. So when you have 62.5 million people that are scattered on the road, you will wonder why we have criminality and social vices.

    “Till Lagos State Soccer Association comes up with such an initiative, it is worthy to look at so that it take people, not only off the streets, but to be able to draw people with talents. When you look at people that are 15 years of age and below in Lagos State, you have at least 10 million people. If 10 million people in Lagos state are under 15 years and you don’t give them direction, anarchy is inevitable.

    “Now the rate at which these young boys use drugs is alarming. If they can’t get Indian hemp, they go for codeine and all these drugs are now affecting them. So you now have children who now instead of buying cigarettes, will go and buy codeine and mix it with coke. Now they get a lot of drugs because they are expose.“We need to come out and be part of competition like this so that they can be responsible and reasonable tomorrow,” Ubong King said.

  • Buhari, Atiku supporters clash over calls for Privatization of refineries

    Supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar are currently engaged in a war of words over calls by the former Vice President for the privatization of some aspect of the nation’s oil and gas sector.

    While supporters of the President under the auspices of the Buhari Media Organisation described Atiku’s call for the privatization of the oil and gas sector, especially the refineries as callous and anti-people, the All-Atiku Support Group the criticism was a display of poor knowledge about modern economic management.

    The former Vice President who is one of the front runners for the PDP presidential ticket was quoted as saying that he would embark on privatization of the oil and gas sector if he is elected President in the 2019 elections.

    In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja and signed by Coordinator Austin Braimoh, and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, the group says it finds unpalatable “the texture of this proposal at this point in the development trajectory of our country.”

    The group says it is “rather simplistic for any presidential contender with avowed love of the mass of the Nigerian people to join the advocacy for the sell-off of our national assets, especially the ones that most impact the standard of living of the huge population of Nigeria’s poor and struggling middle class.”

    The Buhari Media office said it was amazed that “an eminent Nigerian in the class of Alhaji Atiku would propose the privatisation of the oil and gas sector, inclusive of the refineries, when it is obvious that the privatisation of the refineries directly translates to increased price of petroleum products, especially the widely-used Premum Motor Spirit (PMS) with dire consequences on high transport cost aggregating in high inflation rates with massive decline in the standard of living of the people.

    According to them, it was obvious that Alhaji Atiku is merely amplifying the long condemned International Monetary Funds (IMF) recommendation for commercial pricing of petroleum products when, in fact, it is established that such products must be socially priced.”

    BMO says Nigerians have resisted “and will continue to resist the IMF and any of the Bretton Woods institutions’ intervention in policy reforms of the national economic template in the understanding that these policies are anti-people in orientation and outlook.

    “Our position is that any private entity that desires to own and operate companies in the oil and gas sector, especially in the refinery subsector, should go ahead and secure license and establish their own refineries. Businessman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has shown example in this regard with his 650 thousand barrels a day refinery in Lekki, Lagos State.

    “It is appropriate to question, at this point, the going status of the many public corporations sold off at highly undervalued rates to cronies and fronts of high government officials between 2002 and 2007 when Alhaji Atiku was the nation’s Vice President. Status reports on the various operations of these corporations indicate vastly diminished operations and viability.

    “Thankfully, we are already experiencing a revival in the oil and gas sector under the disciplined superintendent of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. The refineries are recording increased refining capacity while gas supplies to electricity generating companies have increased by more than 100 percent over the last 12 months.”

    But the Coordinator, Mr. Oladimeji Fabiyi All-Atiku Support Group described the criticism as a display of poor knowledge about modern economic management.

    Fabiyi said “What the BMO has done by its criticism of Atiku’s proposal is to further expose its lack of knowledge in the ways modern economies are run. As it is today, the NNPC is unprofitable, unwieldy and not accountable. Compared to its contemporaries like Petronas of Malaysia and Petrobras of Brazil which have since liberalized and modernized its operations, the NNPC still riddles in inefficiency and obvious lack of capacity.

    “There are clearly good examples of how liberalization of some sectors of the economy had benefitted Nigerians such as in the telecommunications industry and the banking industry. If the Obasanjo/Atiku administration had held on to NITEL, we wouldn’t have had the GSM revolution.

    “If our commercial banks were not recapitalized, we still would be having failed banks. It is important to note that similar groups to the BMO had opposed the banking consolidation and telecoms revolution as anti-people, but history has shown that they were wrong.

    “The trend the world over is for countries to liberalize the downstream sub-sector of the oil sector to improve efficiency and ensure product availability at all times. We are surprised that the BMO is ignorant of Saudi Arabia’s celebrated decision to privatize Aramco and raise needed cash to fund its social and economic services.

    “We know exactly who the masquerades are: they are the very people who feed fat on the misfortune that has befallen the refineries – largely as a result of the inaction of the government.

    “What will happen when the NNPC is liberalized is that the company will be more transparent and accountable and Nigerians can actually buy into the shares of the NNPC. Maybe, by that time too, we could have energy revolution.

    “Tying the proposal for the liberalization of NNPC to ‘amplifying the long condemned IMF recommendation’ smacks of illiteracy and a poor attempt to hoodwink Nigerians about the shadiness in the operations of the NNPC.

    “For an administration that campaigned heavily about jettisoning subsidy regime and ‘stabilizing global oil prices’ coming out to criticize a workable idea to liberalize the country’s oil and gas sector is unfortunate to say the least.

    “Today, this administration pays over N1.4 Trillion annually on subsidy on fuel consumption in Nigeria, a staggering 386% when compared to the figure of N774 million daily given in March this year. Till this day, ordinary Nigerians have no idea how much revenue the NNPC makes in crude sales and the NNPC continues to drench in corruption without transparency and accountability.

    “The contradiction inherent in the position of President Buhari on subsidy is evident for Nigerians to see.  After saying there was no subsidy, to making Nigerians buy fuel at the highest price in the history of this country without palliative or cushioning effects to Nigerians and now paying over 1 trillion naira on subsidy. This same contradiction attendant upon by shallow understanding of economics is what leaves Nigeria with a jumbled compassless economy devoid of defined ideology. The world has moved beyond indecision.

    “You can’t be going to the US to negotiate free market deals in the name of wooing investors while coming home to frustrate any genuine attempt to free the economy.  The most fundamental question is what has the Buhari administration done to the refineries? Three years down the line, Nigeria still imports fuel. And some people want us stuck to a past that does not work.  We need a present that can make Nigeria work again.”

  • Auto mechanic steals customer’s radiator

    An auto mechanic, Ibikunle Ibidapo, was on Tuesday charged with stealing a car radiator worth N21,000 at a Badagry Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos State.

    The accused, who resides at No. 4, Segla Way in Topo, Badagry, is facing a charge of stealing.

    Insp. Akpan Ikem, the Police Prosecutor, told the court that the accused committed the office on May 10 at his workshop located at Ajara area of Badagry.

    Ikem alleged that the accused stole the radiator of Mr Adesina Akinde’s car which he gave to him to repair.

    “The mechanic collected the car to service it, instead he stole the radiator of the car and sold it.

    “He was later caught after dodging the police,” he said.

    The offence contravened Section 285 of the Criminal law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and was granted bail in the sum of N50,000 with a surety in like sum.

    Chief Magistrate Jimoh Adefioye, who gave the ruling, adjourned the case until June 18 for further hearing.

  • Experts laud synergy between Lagos and security agencies

    Security experts on Friday lauded the existing synergy between law enforcement agencies in Lagos State, saying the partnership had helped in curtailing crime in the state.

    In separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, the security experts said the collaboration among the agencies was evident in the joint operations and crime fighting emergencies.

    The experts noted that besides common crimes such as cult activities, traffic robbery, domestic violence and rape, Lagos did not experience serious crimes such as armed or bank robbery in recent time due to the initiative.

    They were, however, united in their view that Lagos remained vulnerable to attacks from the waterways through which hoodlums from neighbouring states sailed in to perpetrate heinous crimes.

    The experts, therefore, called for joint marine patrols of Lagos numerous waterways and more security synergy with adjoining Ogun and Ondo states.

    Mr Dipo Kehinde, a security expert, noted the high level of intelligence sharing among security operatives in Lagos, resulting in joint operations and raiding of criminals’ hideouts whenever the need arose.

    “From what we can see on the ground, I think a good relationship exists between security agencies and it is manifesting in the success being recorded in crime fighting in Lagos State.

    “The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Edgar Imohimi, has been very proactive and he showed right from the start that he wanted to partner with all stakeholders.

    “He collaborated with the Oadua Peoples Congress (OPC) and other vigilance groups to end the Badoo cult menace in Ikorodu,” Kehinde said.

    He noted that the community policing initiative of the present Police High Command was also enhanced by the involvement of vigilante and neighbourhood watchers in the security apparatus of the state.

    “The vigilance groups are playing major role in community policing in Lagos, particularly OPC and the newly-inaugurated Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps.

    “There is Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) in every area and division of the state. The PCRC usually holds meetings with police Area Commanders and Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) where they share intelligence reports.

    “There is also regular information from members of the public to security agents as part of police community relations.

    “Information from the public to security agents, particularly police and the Department of State Services (DSS) is treated with utmost confidentiality. They always accept intelligence reports, analyse and use them accordingly.

    The expert also said that the Police, the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were accepting intelligence information from civilians in Lagos State, unlike in the past when people were afraid to give such information.

    “But with the introduction of special emergency numbers in the state, no one cares who gives any intelligence reports. For instance, many Badoo boys were arrested based on information received from the public.

    “The emergency toll-free numbers introduced by the police, fire service, and the State Government also made it easy for the public to reach those concerned when there was an emergency,” he added.

    Another security expert, Olawale Oletu, however, blamed the increasing insecurity across the country on the nation’s porous borders, lack of trust in security agents and lack of synergy among security agencies.

    He said that the police, which should be the first contact whenever crime was committed, was also understaffed and not well-funded.

    “I have said it times without number that there is need to do something about our borders. People just come in and go out without any form of documentation.

    “Even when some obviously illegal immigrants are spotted in the country, we fail to inform the necessary authority which I will also blame on lack of trust by the people in security agents.

    He, however, suggested that security agents should undergo periodic training with focus on how to relate with operatives of other security agencies.

    Oletu also suggested that security agencies should be more funded and recruitment should be consistent so that the society could be adequately policed and the borders more secure.

    Mr Mike Sullivan, another expert, also blamed the present insecurity in the country on the porous borders and advised that security agencies utilised locals and build trust with the people to get tangible information.

    “Security agencies should either recruit more hands or utilise the local vigilante in maintenance of law and order in the country,” Sullivan said.

    He, however, commended the Commissioner of Police in the state, Edgal Imohimi, for bridging the gap between the people and the police through community policing.

    He said that police in Lagos, especially the Rapid Response Squad (RRS), should also be commended for fostering synergy with other security agencies whenever there was an emergency.

    NAN reports that Lagos State has 130 police divisions and 35 Area Commands. The state is also home to 81 Division of the Nigerian Army, the Western Naval Command and the Nigerian Air Force Logistics Command.

    Among other security breaches experienced in Lagos, the experts said, were violation of traffic laws by motorists, especially commercial drivers, causing gridlocks at bus stops.

    Closely related to this is the menace of Agberos (road transport workers) who constitute nuisance to commuters, they said.

    MR Jide Ogungbe, Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), said that the agency had robust relationship with sister security agencies.

    Ogungbe, a Superintendent of Immigration, said the command had recently organised a capacity building programme for all the divisional immigration officers where officials of the Federal Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, served as resource persons.

    Rotimi Oladokun, Public Relations Officer, Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), Lagos State Command, said there was excellent synergy between the service and sister security agencies in the state.

    Oladokun said that the synergy had brought about a regular monthly interaction between the Controller of Prisons in the state, Tunde Ladipo and the heads of other security agencies in the state.

  • Lagos to complete largest rice mill in Sub-Saharan Africa early 2019

    …revs up New Mile 12 Market, Agbowa Timberville Sawmill, others

     

    The Lagos State Government on Wednesday said all hands are on deck to complete the largest rice mill in Sub-Saharan Africa currently ongoing in Imota Local Council Development Area of the State within the first quarter of 2019.

    Apart from ensuring availability of rice in the market, the mill which is of 32 metric tons per hour production capacity, is projected to facilitate the creation of over 200,000 jobs across the agricultural value chain, while it will also bring about the cultivation of 32,000 hectares of farm land to produce rice paddy, equating to an estimated 130million Kg of processed rice per year (an equivalent of 2.6milion 50kg bags of rice).

    Speaking during an extensive inspection tour of major projects in Ikorodu, Imota and Agbowa axis by members of the Lagos State Executive Council, the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode said the project would be completed by January 2019, while the initial production would commence by February of the year.

    The Governor, who was represented by Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr Adebowale Akinsanya, said the project was part of the grand policy of his administration to ensure food security, and as well give a quantum leap to economic integration of the Southwest region as the land to be cultivated and rice paddy for the mill would be supplied largely by farmers from the region.

    Briefing journalists alongside other Exco members after being taken round the level of work done so far by Project Engineer, Gboyega Odunlami, Governor Ambode said it was gratifying to note that the project was progressing steadily and would be delivered on schedule.

    “The key take away from here is that the construction of the rice mill and the industrial park among other complementing facilities are going on as planned. The administrative building, the restaurant, fire station, power station and other facilities needed to support the park and the rice mill are all ongoing concurrently.

    “The mill is part of the food security strategy of this administration as well as Southwest integration efforts. It will be the largest rice mill not just in Nigeria but in Sub Saharan Africa.

    “Already, we have commitment from the contractors working on the project that it would be delivered by January 2019 and the rice mill that would be the food engine of the Southwest will be in production by February,” the Governor said.

    At the Imota Regional Food Stuff Market where the present Mile 12 Market and other markets within the axis would be relocated, the Governor said the first phase of the project which would accommodate about 1500 shops was already at 75 per cent completion stage, while the second phase, among other facilities such as concretized roads, fire stations, drainages, sewage system, power stations, sewage treatment, 1000 capacity Car Park, over 100 capacity Trailer Park, bus layby, among others would all be delivered before the end of the year.

    The Governor said adequate provisions have been made in the new market to avoid the challenges which the present Mile 12 Market and other markets in the area constituted to the environment, saying at least 70 meters of buffer zone had been created between the proposed Ikorodu-Itoikin-Epe road expansion project and the market to prevent interface.

    “We have seen what is going on as to our commitment to make this place a regional market. The first phase is 75 per cent completed. The major challenge has been accomplished though we still have some things to sort out but we are over the hurdle.

    “What remains is to keep going, speed up and with the commitment of this government, we should be able to complete this project by September and hopefully by the end of the year, all the different markets in Mile 12 will be able to move here and it will be a one shop centre for everybody,” he said.

    While inspecting the 2.7kilometre Agbowa-Timberville Road under construction and the Agbowa Timberville Sawmill where the present day Okobaba Sawmill in Ebute Metta would be relocated, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Rotimi Ogunleye said the project was at the final completion stage with few outstanding facilities.

    “The main project of the Agbowa Timberville Sawmill is about 250 shops out of which over 200 have been completed and the project is sitting on 150 hectares. The various infrastructure – the road networks, the shops, sheds and all that have been put in place.

    “The two outstanding areas for us to move the traders from Okobaba to this place are the short road that leads to the Timberville from Agbowa which is swampy in some areas and we have to do decompile and then the second outstanding area is the boom area which is the place where the timber merchant will anchor their logs.

    “We have spoken with the traders and they are very much ready to come here. Apart from the shops, we have the halls for them to do their meetings; we have conveniences, cafeteria, 24/7 power supply, among others so that they can do their business in a more conducive and friendly environment, and then we can  have the opportunity of regenerating the present Okobaba which is within the city,” he said.

    Also, while conducting members of the State Executive Council round the Odo Onosa/Ayandelu Housing Scheme, Commissioner for Housing, Mr Gbolahan Lawal said the project had already been incorporated into the rent-to-own housing policy of the present administration where people would just pay five per cent of the total amount and spread the rest over ten years.

    He said the scheme is one of the 17 estates spread across the State with a total of 5008 units, and that interested residents need not know any government official to apply for the scheme.

    Responding on behalf of the community, Oba of Odo Ayandelu Kingdom in Ikosi-Ejirin, Oba Ganiu Aderibigbe recalled how he approached the Governor during a town hall meeting held at Ajelogo on the need to revisit the project, saying the work done so far was a practical example of the fact that the Governor was a listening Governor, adding that the project would boost economic activities in the axis.

    “To us, we see this project as our own company in the sense that it would create a lot of jobs for our people. I also want to commend the Governor for not increasing the price. When the project commenced under the administration of Governor Babatunde Fashola, cement was sold for N2,600 and the price of the house remain the same till date which means Governor Ambode has cushioned the gap in between,” the monarch said.

  • Fume from my neighbour’s generator’s killing me, widow cries out

    A widow, Mrs. Stella Ikwunne, 52, has appealed to the Lagos State Government to save her and her children from fumes emanating from a neighbour’s locomotive generator.

    Mrs. Ikwunne, who doctors said was battling pneumonia caused by inhalation of smoke, said she has been in and out of the hospital since 2016 that the neighbour, Christian Anyanwu mounted the generator beside her shop.

    Ikwunne and Anyanwu are both tenants at 3, Rafiu Ipaye Street, Ijesha, where they run beer parlour businesses.

    A medical report from Itire-Ikate Primary Health Centre (PHC), with reference number IILCDA/PHC/VOLII/043 indicated that the sound of the victim’s chest was dull and there was poor air entrance to her lungs.

    Signed by Dr. Nkechi Nani, the report said: “The patient presented complaint of bilateral chest pains, catarrh and weakness. Pains are said to be internal in the lungs and causes difficulty in breathing. History notes the inhaling of generator fumes/smokes from a neighbour’s mounted generator.

    “She had previously been treated several times for the same complaints in a private hospital. Chest sounds are dull and there is poor air entrance to lungs. The diagnoses of pneumonia secondary to smoke inhalation was made and treated was initiated.”

    Another doctor’s report from Uwemedimo Hospital dated July 11, 2017, confirmed the woman was on May 29, 2016, managed for complaints of chest pain and difficulty in breathing.

    “This resulted from exposure to smoke generated from a lister at her shop on the same day,” said Dr. Somtochukwu Ejimbe, who signed the report.

    Sobbing helplessly, Mrs. Ikwunne told our Correspondent that a recent scan conducted on her 16-year-old daughter, Jennifer, showed she was suffering from chest, lung diseases and had been warned to stay away from fumes.

    Ikwunne, a mother of seven, said she had repeatedly met Anyanwu over the issue and also reported to the police without success, insisting that he was doing it to either kill or frustrate her out of the premises.

    Ikwunne, who said she had gone to the Office of the Public Defender  (OPD), Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Ijesha Police Station as well as reported to the landlady and caretaker of the property, said the man rebuffed all entreaties to relocate the generator.

    She said: “In the past three years I have been in and out of the hospital. I am always having chest pain and difficulty breathing. It was at the hospital that they told me my problem was caused by generator fume.

    “Since then, I have told Mr. Anyanwu to remove the generator but he refused. He has enough space on the other side, why can’t he take it there?  Each time he sees customers in my shop, he would turn on the generator and they would leave immediately because of the fume and noise.

    “When I could not take it anymore, I went to the police and they came and saw it. The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) then told him what he was doing was bad, he claimed it was the generators that he repairs that used to cause the fume.

    “They tried to resolve the matter and he was asked to connect an exhaust pipe so that the fumes would not be coming to my shop, but still the issue is worst. Now, my daughter fell sick and when they did scan on her, they said there was stain in her heart, caused by generator fume and that she should stay away from smoke.

    “I took the matter before our caretaker and landlady and he told them he would remove the generator in two weeks. But that was before Easter. He still has not moved it. He is bragging that worst case scenario would be for the landlady to give us quit notice and we would leave the premises. He said he would leave and go to his own house but that I will not have anywhere to do business.

    “Many people have spoken to him that what he was doing was bad but he doesn’t want to do the right thing. The last person that spoke to him was one of my customers and he told the man that I must write an apology or an undertaking to him. Why should I write an undertaking? Is he not the one to apologise for all the harm he has caused me and my children?

    “I am begging the governor and those in authority to come and see things for themselves and take action against him. His generator is killing my children and I slowly.

    “I was advised to go to Crime Victims Foundation (CRIVIFON) because the man wrote a petition alleging that I was threatening his life and I was arrested. But the police looked into the matter and told him what he did was wrong and that he should relocate the generator but he still has not. My life and those of my children are at risk and my business, which is my only source of livelihood is being threatened.”

    The Executive Director, CRIVIFON, Mrs. Gloria Egbuji told our Correspondent her agency would petition the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC) and the Commissioner of Police on the issue to avoid further health hazards for the victims and prevent a likely breach of peace.

    Contacted, the landlady of the property, Mrs. Makinde Ipaye confirmed that Anyanwu was asked to relocate hus generator within two weeks.

    She said: “Yes, the matter was brought before me. I went and Inspected the place and I told Anyanwu to relocate the generator to his other shop. But he later called me that Mrs. Ikwunne reported him to OPD.

    “I am tired of the matter. I am not happy he did not listen to my advice. I support that higher authorities should come into the matter and resolve it or I will have to give both of them quit notice.”

    When our Correspondent visited the area, Anyanwu denied the allegations insisting that he had been in the shop for over two decades before Mrs.  Ikwunne came.

    He said the generator was kept there because that was his shop where he does generator repairs.

    Anyanwu denied the locomotive generator that was emitting fumes, insisting that he also had to connect an exhaust pipe for peace to reign.

    He said: “Before she moved into this place, I have been here. This is the shop where I repair generators and engines. I repair big generators here and I have been doing that before he moved in. We were staying here peacefully until about three years ago when we had an issue.

    “It was from that issue that she started comaining that my generator was disturbing her. Then, it was a smaller one. I changed to this big one because I got more freezers and the smaller one could not carry them.

    “This woman has carried me everywhere. She has taken me to the police seven times and has reported me to different places. Even when we went to the landlady, I agreed to relocate the generator within two weeks but she went to OPD to report me again. That is why I left the generator there for OPD to finish their investigation.”

  • Disclose health status, NYSC DG urges corps members

    The Director General, National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC ), Brigadier General Suleiman Kazaure, has urged corps members to disclose their health status so they could be well taken care of.

    He spoke while responding to questions at the closing of the orientation course for 2018 Batch A corps members at the NYSC Iyana Ipaja camp, Lagos Wednesday.

    Kazaure assured the corps members that disclosure of any health challenge would not lead to their expulsion from camp.

    “When you disclose your health status; when you are sick, it is not that you will be expelled from camp but for you to be moved closer to your doctors.  Please help us appeal to corps members to always disclose their health status,” he said.

    Responding to questions on quality of food served corps members on camp, the DG praised state coordinators for making the most of the N650 daily allowance they are given to feed each corps member.

    “I think the state coordinators are trying.  How much are they paid? As at last year, it was N500 per day but now they have increased it to N650 per day – maybe divided into N200, N200 and N250 per meal.  What kind of food will you cook with N200? I think the state coordinators have been trying,” he said.

    In his speech, the Lagos State NYSC Coordinator, Prince Mohammed Momoh, praised the corsp members for their discipline while in camp.

    He however appealed to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to expedite action on the construction of a new camp on the land he allocated to the NYSC in Agbowa, Ikorodu, saying the Iyana Ipaja camp was too congested for the 2,794 corps members it hosted.

    Read Also: NYSC DG warns corps members against traveling, night parties

    “We are indeed very grateful for the allocation of land at Agbowa for the construction of a befitting orientation camp and it is our fervent hope that the construction of the camp be urgently looked into as the present facility is grossly inadequate considering the number of corps members deployed to the Centre of Excellence,” he said.

    Attesting to the inadequacy of the camp, Jennifer Obi, who won the most outstanding corps member award, said the overcrowding of the camp was one of the few issues she had during the three-week programme.

    “I enjoyed the camp.  It gave me an opportunity to learn a lot about things outside the classroom.  The camp officials were like our parents.  We were able to network, tap into our talents.  But the feeding wasn’t too good; the stew was watery.  Also the accommodation was not good.  We were 32 in a room and ventilation was an issue,” the graduate of Geography from the Obafemi Awolowo University said.

    In his speech, Governor Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Oluseye Oladejo, urged employers of labour to accept corps members posted to their organisations.

  • Ex-Naval officer charged with wife assault

    A retired naval officer, Olufemi Ibitoye, who allegedly assaulted his estranged wife, Mrs Olumide, on Wednesday docked before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Ibitoye, who has been separated from his wife for over a year, was arraigned on a two-count charge of assault and unlawful possession of firearms before Chief Magistrate Folashade Botoku.

    Prosecuting counsel Dr Jide Martins alleged that the defendant committed the offences between June 30 and July, 21, 2017, about 1:55pm, at No. 28A, Adeyemi Lawson St., Ikoyi, Lagos.

    He said Ibitoye threw a six-inch block at his wife. The court also heard that Ibitoye was found in unlawful possession of a 9mm Browning Pistol with 107 live ammunitions.

    According to Martins, the offences contravened Section 27 ( 1 ) ( a ) of the Firearms  Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria ( LFN ), 2010 and Section 172 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    Ibitoye pleaded not guilty. His counsel, Mr. M. J. Onigbanjo ( SAN ), urged the court to grant him bail on self-recognisance or on liberal terms.

    Read Also: Alleged abduction plot: Kashamu urges Supreme Court to enforce his rights

    Onigbanjo said: “This is a matter arising from a breakdown of a marriage. The defendant and the victim have lived apart for over a year and he has demonstrated that he will not interfere with the investigations by submitting himself to the police whenever needed.

    “The defendant is a former naval officer with the intelligence unit; that explains why he was in possession of ammunition. I urge the court to grant bail to the accused on liberal terms.”

    Although Martins did not oppose the application, he prayed the court to order the defendant to cease any contact – direct or indirect – with the victim, as part of his bail terms.

    He added: “The victim is the defendant’s wife and we at the domestic violence unit want the safety of the woman.” In a Bench Ruling, Chief Magistrate Botoku granted him bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in the like sum.

    She ordered Ibitoye to not have any contact with the complainant and adjourned till May 30 for trial.

  • Ambode advocates inclusive governance, true federalism

     Says he would choose UNILAG again

    If he were to choose a school to attend again, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State said he would choose the University of Lagos.

    Returning 34 years after he graduated from its department of Accountancy as the convocation lecturer on Tuesday, Ambode also urged Nigerians to choose to run an inclusive society devoid of ethnicity and religious bigotry for national progress.

    This was as he called for a reduction of power at the centre to allow states and local governments to fulfil their constitutional roles properly in the lecture titled: “Inclusion: Path to a new Nation”

    Ambode, the first alumnus of the university to become Lagos State governor, said the policy of inclusion had helped Lagos develop and advocated same for other states.

    He said: “Here, I offer Lagos State as an example of what is possible for all Nigeria and Nigerians when we practice the governance of inclusion instead of the old, malign ways of exclusion.

    “What makes you truly Lagosian has little to do with where you were born, the origin of your surname or which Holy Book, if any, you read.

    “If you do not mind if a person of a different group or religion prospers so long as you too have the fair chance to do the same, then you are Lagosian at heart.

    “It is in this spirit that we build Lagos anew.  It is in this spirit that we can build a new Nation.

    “Inclusion is a principle by which we put to constructive use the full industry and skill of the people; rich and poor, old and young, men and women, boys and girls.

    “It is my unyielding belief that the principle of inclusion which has served Lagos so well can be employed in other states with similar effect.  In effect, our dear nation, Nigeria.”

    To practice true federalism, Ambode called for reallocation of power between states and the Federal government “by amending the list of exclusive and concurrent powers and duties of these governments to reflect the current realities in the nation.”

    Earlier in his speech, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council, Dr Wale Babalakin, appealed to Ambode, as an alumnus, to support the university’s projects, including one to expand its landmass.

    “We require help to sandfill part of our lands.  We also call on you to pick one of our projects and in association with your friends implement for us.  We are not asking you to bring state funds but with the help of friends in the right places, implement for us,” he said.

    The programme also featured the investiture of Prof Toyin Ogundipe as the 12th vice-chancellor of the university.

    Ogundipe, who was appointed last November, said part of his vision to promote UNILAG as a distinguished research-based university, included the establishment of a modular refinery and securement of a mining license to boost the practical training of its students.

    Dignitaries at the event included Prof Anya O. Anya, who chaired the occasion; Senator Oluremi Tinubu; Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos, Prof Rahamon Bello and Prof Ibidapo Obe, former vice-chancellors of the university; among other vice-chancellors, government functionaries, administrators and others.