The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State

  • LASG urges residents on illegal billing, borehole closure

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti, has urged residents to report to the ministry, any illegal billing or borehole closure in their areas.

    Durosinmi-Etti, gave the advice in a statement he issued at the end of a meeting with the Head of the Lagos State Water Regulatory Commission, Mr Kabir Abdullahi and Head of the Lagos Water Corporation, Mr Munir Badmus.

    He said that the government would not authorise the closure of any borehole, except where such was found to be contaminated and unfit for domestic use.

    The commissioner said that the government introduced some measures of control for commercial use of water because water is a resource that must be protected.

    According to him, regulation, control and monitoring of all state water resources is to take inventory of the sources, quality of water produced and consumed by citizens.

    He said the regulation, control and monitoring of state water resources also identified any known source of pollution of the underground water.

    Durosinmi-Etti dissociated the ministry from the water rate crisis currently causing disaffection between residents and the management of the Mayfair Gardens Estate, located along Lekki-Epe Expressway.

    According to him, Mayfair Gardens is a private residential estate, built and maintained by HFP Engineering.

    ”Being a private estate, HFP Engineering has been responsible for servicing the estate with social amenities such as water.

    ”This is an indication that the estate is not being serviced by the Lagos Water Corporation and as such could not have received bills from the water agency,” he said.

    Durosinmi-Etti said that for selling water to its residents, the estate could be categorised as a commercial user of water, which could have attracted charges, to promote responsible commercial usage of water in Lagos State.

    The commissioner said the government was not unaware of the hardship that the misunderstanding between the management and residents of the estate had caused.

    He said that government would intervene to help the two parties to resolve the issue.

    NAN

  • Court: Housekeeper in for allegedly stealing employer’s £16,750

    A housekeeper, Benson Rosemary, who allegedly stole her employer’s 16,750 pounds, ( N8. 5 million ) was on Tuesday brought before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    Rosemary, 26, who resides with her employer at Taiwo Ishola St., Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and stealing.

    The Prosecutor, Benson Emuerhi, told the court that the accused committed the offence with some other persons, who are now at large on Feb. 18, at her employer’s resident.

    Emuerhi said the accused stole the money belonging to Dr Adekunle Desalu from his bedroom.

    “The accused, who had been working for the complainant for over a period of years, broke into his room, stole the money and disappeared.

    Read Also: Court remands two for colleague’s death

    “She was apprehended by the police after the complainant reported the case at the station,” he said.

    The offences contravene Sections 287, and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. If convicted, she faces a three year jail term.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    After arraignment, the Magistrate, Mrs O. Amzat, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two responsible sureties in like sum.

    Amzat ordered that one of the sureties must be a relation of the accused and both sureties should show evidence of two years tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    She adjourned the case until May 28 for mention.

    NAN

  • Two men in court for alleged gang rape of girl in bush

    Two men, Peter Ugbe, 32, and Hamed Alao, 25, appeared in an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court for alleged gang rape of a 20-year-old girl inside the bush.

    Ugbe and Alao, who reside in Iju-Ishaga Area of Lagos, had pleaded not guilty to a three-count charge of rape, conspiracy and assault.

    The Prosecutor, Insp. Victor Eruada, told the court that the accused persons and one other still at large, committed the offence on March 18, at Cele Bus-Stop, Iju-Ishaga, a Lagos Suburb.

    Eruada said that the accused and his accomplice accosted the girl, assaulted her with a cutlass and forced her to the bush and gang raped her.

    Read Also: Court remands man for alleged robbery

    “It was a passer-by who heard her shouting for help from the bush and alerted other people. Ugbe and Alao were apprehended, ” Eruada told the court.

    He said that the offence contravened sections 260, 411 and 171 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The News men reports that Section 260 prescribes life imprisonment for offenders upon conviction.

    The Magistrate, Mrs Dan Oni, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N50,000 each with two sureties in like sum. Oni adjourned the case until April 23, for trial.

    NAN

  • Lagos govt. releases N1.24 bn to pay pensioners

    The Lagos State Government says it has released N1.24 billion to pay its retirees for March.

    A statement by Mrs Folashade Onanuga, the Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission ( LASPEC ), said the money was released to pay 183 retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme ( CPS ).

    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, at the 49th Benefit Bond Certificate Presentation (BBCP) on April 4, reiterated his commitment to pay pensioners in the state promptly.

    Ambode, represented by the Commissioner of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr Akintola Oke at the presentation, said 8, 731 retirees had received Accrued Rights of over N35 billion.

    The governor confirmed that the N35 billion Accrued Rights from inception of the administration till date had been paid into the Retired Savings Account (RSA) of the pensioners.

    He said that despite the high funding obligations of the state, it had been consistent in paying retirees.

    “Our commitment stems from the understanding that the greatest asset a state has are the employees. Their well-being in and outside the job is our priority.

    “We urge retirees to take informed decision of the choice of either Programme Withdrawal or Annuity Plan.”

    NAN

  • Lagos waste wars end as Visionscape, PSPs agree on working arrangement

    The court-ordered negotiation between Visionscape Sanitation Solutions and private sector participant (PSP) operators has ended as both parties shake hands and agree on terms of operations. The waste wars which resulted from disagreements over the Cleaner Lagos Initiative (CLI) saw PSP operators discontinuing residential waste collection in Lagos State. This led to gaps in service delivery making a mutually beneficial resolution imperative.

    This resolution comes after months of negotiations, and barely a week after the PSP operators opted to partner with Visionscape Sanitation Solutions to clear up the backlog of waste in the State.

    Speaking with the media after the exercise on Thursday, a representative from a contributing waste collection operator, Mr. Hafis Kasumu said: “We have decided to support the government in the initiative to get rid of the waste. And also, to partner with Visionscape. So, it is a partnership and we are doing it together.”

    The resolution will see the PSP operators, now referred to as waste collection operators (WCO), continue residential waste collection, while Visionscape Sanitation Solution deepens its work to develop the infrastructure needed to facilitate an effective integrated waste management system. One of these is the critical construction of engineered landfills across the state to prevent environmental disasters like the recent Olusosun dumpsite fire.

    Also highlighted in the new agreement is that Visionscape will serve as the central processing hub of municipal solid waste within Lagos State. The company will engage PSPs on long-term service arrangements and will pay them for their service.

    carry out any intervention required to fill service gaps in public areas.

    This new direction will ensure that all arms of the CLI is able to deliver optimal results that will raise Lagos State’s waste management process to globally acceptable standards.

    With countries like Rwanda already exploring e-waste management facility and commercial composting, it is essential that the State accelerates the development of its waste management infrastructure, which Visionscape has concession of. The company has reaffirmed its commitment to leading the concerted effort towards an environmentally sustainable Lagos State.

    This partnership is expected to start yielding visible results over the next few weeks.

    Read Also: Lagos, PSP operators, Visionscape resolve differences

  • Ex-police chief calls for formation of committee to reform police

    Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, a former Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, has called for the formation of a committee to reposition the Nigeria Police Force ( NPF ) in order to regain its lost glory and provide improved service delivery.

    Tsav told the News men on Wednesday in Makurdi that such a committee would comprise of the former police officers of reputable character drawn across the cadre.

    According to him, its formation will not be restricted to only the retired Inspector Generals since most of them are responsible for the rot in the system.

    He expressed sadness that discipline had deteriorated in the system such that merit no longer counted.

    The ex-police chief recalled the old days, where physical checks were carried out on men to determine their suitability for assignments and advised that unless discipline was restored, efficiency, proficiency and professionalism would remain a dream.

    Read Also: Police seize 188 guns,others in Lagos

    He also regretted that promotions were not done in the police on merit but on account of favoritism.

    Tsav said people got postings not on account of their professional expertise, but because they were in good relationship with their superior officers.

    He bemoaned the rot perpetuated by officers posted on highway patrols, saying: “you often hear them begging – your boys are here, they are hungry, they need pure water, these things are regrettable”.

    Tsav said the breakdown of discipline in the NPF was partly because the force had been politicised and the formation of such a committee would tackle the mess it had degenerated into.

    NAN

  • Police recover over 200 firearms in Lagos

    The Lagos State Police Command on Tuesday said it had recovered more than 200 illegally acquired firearms from individuals and suspected hoodlums in the last seven months.

    The State Commissioner of Police, Mr Edgal Imohimi, made the disclosure at a news conference in Lagos.

    Imohimi said that the firearms were recovered from suspected hoodlums and those that embraced the 21 days grace period given by the Inspector-General of Police to submit their illegally possessed firearms.

    The News men reports that the recovered arms and ammunition were taken to the Lagos State Police Command armoury.

    The police chief added that the recovery covered a period of seven months, starting from September, 2017 when he assumed duty in the command.

    Read Also: Police nab drivers for allegedly defiling, robbing passenger

    Giving statistics of recovery, he said that the firearms consisted of 38 pump action rifle, six AK-47 rifles, 12 double barrel rifles, 11 single barrel rifles and 70 single barrel locally made cut to size shot-guns.

    Others are 18 locally made revolver pistol, three Beretta pistol, 220 cartridges and 60 7.62mm AK-47 ammunition.

    “As you can see on display, the firearms mop up exercise yielded positive result in the command.

    “I’m also using this opportunity to call on citizens to take advantage of the grace period and return voluntarily, prohibited firearms.

    “Failure to do so will lead to lawful search of buildings and property that we have credible information on which will eventually lead to arrest and prosecution. I hope it won’t come to that,” he said.

    NAN

  • Obanikoro commends Ambode for sustaining indigenous culture

    Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, a former Minister of State for Defence, has commended Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode’s drive in sustaining and upholding indigenous cultures, traditions and norms of Lagos State.
    Obanikoro who served as a Senator representing Lagos West Senatorial District from 2003 to 2007, gave the commendation while speaking with the News men in Lagos on Tuesday.
    The senator who later served as Nigeria’s High Commissioner to Ghana said that the increase in technological advancement was a challenge to cultural growth in the country.
    “Modernisation is taking over the world and our youths want to follow the trend. “Our youths have been carried away by Western culture, which is not encouraging.

    Read Also: Ambode connects Ogun with 21 roads, two bridges

    “I appreciate Gov. Ambode’s drive in reviving some of the old cultures and traditions that include: the boat regatta, the `Lagos Street Carnival’, `One Lagos fiesta’ and others.
    “This shows the administration’s interest and passion for upholding the state’s rich culture and traditions, ‘’ he said.
    Obanikoro said that the development of these cultural heritages would expose the city to international visitors.
    “It will also attract local and foreign visitors as well as investors to the state, ‘’ he said.
    He also lauded the state government for investing more in culture, tourism and entertainment in order to prevent them from being eroded by western influence.
    Obanikoro said that culture was a way of exhibiting a community’s ways of life and traditions and they should be preserved by their custodians.

    NAN

  • Police arrest two suspected cultists in Lagos

    The police in Lagos State, on Friday, said they had arrested two suspected cultists, simply identified as Kanmi, ( also known as Father) and Alami Samuel.

    The spokesman of the command, SP Chike Oti confirmed the arrest to newsmen, stressing that they were nabbed on Thursday while trying to attack a rival gang member at Illasamaja area of Lagos.

    Oti said the first suspect was arrested based on credible intelligence report as he had been on a wanted list for long over many violent crimes, including cultism.
    He said the Commissioner of Police, Mr Imohimi Edgar, directed the Divisional Police Officer of Ilasamaja to bring to an end the reign of Kanmi the Father who had terrorised the Community for long.

    “His activities had become worse since he came back from the prison. At exactly 5:p.m. on Thursday, Kanmi arrived the community with his gang unknown to him that his rank had been infiltrated by the underground operatives of the Command.

    “The DPO and his team who were on standby for him and his gang, sighted the suspect at Hassan Street, Ilasamaja with two others of his criminal associates in a fight with a young man suspected to be a member of a rival confraternity.

    “He had lifted his machete to cut his rival before he was challenged by the police team.

    “He immediately took to his heels and was pursued and arrested by the police.

    “He was frisked and a locally made pistol loaded with two cartridges was recovered from him.

    “Also arrested was one Alami Samuel, 22, years an associate of Kanmi the Father,”Oti said.

    The spokesman warned all those who belonged to these clandestine societies to renounce their membership or be arrested and dealt with according to the law.

    NAN

  • I’m grateful to those investing in Nigeria – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday expressed appreciation to foreign and local investors that agreed to commit their investment into Nigeria, aimed at boosting the country’s economy.

    Buhari, who unveiled a plaque to commemorate his visit to the Eko Atlantic City project, expressed his appreciation to investors after being shown round the project by Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State.

    He said that their investment had helped to provide employment for Nigerians, reducing the rate of unemployment in the country.

    “I am extremely grateful to those that agreed to invest so much in our country.

    “I have just gone round to see the Eko Atlantic City. I am extremely impressed with the potentiality of this project and the amount of jobs and its effect on the economy and what it is capable of bringing,’’ Buhari said.

    The President, while expressing his satisfaction with the ocean reclamation embarked upon by the state government and its partners, said that the investment had impacted on the country’s economy.

    Earlier, Ambode said that the project was an example of what the private sector could do to the nation’s economy.

    Ambode, who said the project was initiated by the Bola Tinubu administration, noted that it had actually saved the whole of Victoria Island from potential danger.

    He said that the project, which would spread over 750 square kilometres, upon completion, would eventually be bigger than Victoria Island.

    In an interview with newsmen, Tinubu, who accompanied the President on the tour, described the Eko Atlantic City project as a solution to a potentially dangerous liability.

    According to Tinubu, the ocean surge at the Ahmadu Bello end could have wiped out the whole of Lagos Island.

    He, however, advised the Federal Government to replicate the project on the nation’s coastline.

    The inspection marked the end of Buhari’s two-day visit to the state.

    Read Also: Buhari, Tinubu say they are on rescue mission

    NAN