The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State

  • I didn’t snub Ooni, says Akiolu

    I didn’t snub Ooni, says Akiolu

    OBA of Lagos Rilwan Akiolu yesterday cleared the air on the video in the social media being misconstrued for the monarch’s snubbing the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi at a public function in Lagos.

    One of the white cap chiefs, Lateef Aderibigbe Ajose, Opeluwa Onido of Lagos, said the Lagos Monarch did not ignore Ooni of Ife at the public function as being misconceived by people.

    The video in which Oba Akiolu allegedly refused to return the greetings of the Ooni at a function went viral on Wednesday, drawing outrage in the social media.

    But chief Ajose said noting of such happened According to him, what the people misconstrued as snubbing is the culturally acclaimed way of greeting by a monarch in Lagos.

    He said the Lagos monarch has been trying to revive the culture and tradition of ancient Lagos, which is peculiar to the state.

    The Opeluwa Onidi said: “Other tribes also have their peculiar ways of greeting. The sign by Oba Akiolu signifies, ‘inu mi, inu e’, the culture of greeting in Lagos. If Oba Akiolu wanted to ignore, he would have turned his face away from Ooni. There is no misunderstanding between both highly revered Monarchs in Yoruba Land”.

    According to him, the relationship between both Yoruba kings is peaceful and mutual.

    He said: “Oba Akiolu was well represented at the coronation of Ooni of Ife, which attested to the fact that he does not disregard the office of Ooni Adeyeye.

    Chief Ajose said Oba Akiolu had waited till this time to react to the issue because he had to meet with other chiefs in the palace and meet minds before addressing the public on the matter.

    “There is no sentiment in the culture of Lagos. As we met it that is the way we are doing it. Kabiyesi Oba Akiolu is trying to bring back the old pattern, the old culture we have left behind.

    “What happened that day was wrongly speculated by the social media to disrupt peace and order and misinterpret Oba Akiolu’s action.

    “We just want to appeal to the social media to stop spreading wrong information. They should try and understand the reason behind every action carried out most especially by traditional rulers. Yoruba has a very rich culture. There is no quarrel between the Oba of Lagos and Ooni of Ife.”

    A spokesman at the Ooni’s palace in Ile-Ife, Osun State, said that Oba Ogunwusi will never be disrespect to the Oba Akiolu.

    The statement restated Oba Ogunwusi’s commitment to unity among royal fathers in Yorubaland.

    Also yesterday, the Obi of Onitsha, Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe took exception to a request for his comment on what transpired between the two foremost roray fathers.

    He urged reporters against dabbling into issues involving the royalty.

    “You are very rude to ask me such a question.” the Igwe told The Nation reporter on the sideline of an event in Lagos yesterday.

     

     

  • Ambode reads riot act against chiefs colluding with criminals

    Ambode reads riot act against chiefs colluding with criminals

    Any Bale or chief found to be collaborating with militants and other criminals to destabilize Lagos State would have their title revoked, dethroned and prosecuted, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode said on Thursday.

    “Once you (the chiefs) are identified, you are gone,” he said.

    Reading the riot act to hundreds of these Bales and chiefs at the Adeyemi Bero Hall, Ambode said the government would not fold its arms while some unscrupulous elements collude with hoodlums to make the state ungovernable.

    He spoke through the Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs Mr Muslim Folami.

    Folami said the meeting with all the Part II and Part III Bales and chiefs was sequel to the one organised at the palace of the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi last weekend where the Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni disclosed that security reports had indicted some of the chiefs of aiding and abetting the militants in causing mayhem in the division.

    The discovery according to Folami made the government to resolve to henceforth apply the full weights of the law against any Bale or chiefs caught colluding with any criminal in the state.

    “To show you how serious we were, the governor directed that we summon all of you from all the five divisions of the state to inform you of our resolve as a government to protect lives and properties of all Lagosians and in doing this, we would deal decisively with anyone found to colluding with criminals to disturb the peace-loving people of Lagos.”

    Early this month, militants had stormed the riverine community of Ishawo, in Ikorodu, killing a military captain, five other policemen and dozens of residents.

    Only last week, ruval cult gangs had over run some streets in Mushin causing mayhem, killing and destroying properties.

    He said the government would continue to invest in the security architecture of the state wuth a view to be responsive to the safety needs of the people.

    “The Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps, which we just established is another initiative by the government to secure all neighbourhood from attacks from kidnappers, cultists, militants, vandals and other criminals threatening the peace of the state.”

    He charged all chiefs and Bales to be fully committed to helping the government to nip the spate of violence in the state and not join hands with undesirable elements to destroy the state.

    Folami also addressed the issue of land grabbing; urging these chiefs community leaders to eschew greed, adding that anyone caught fermenting trouble in any part of the state would no longer be spared.

    In their response, the Bales and chiefs urged the government not to hesitate to flush out undesirable elements.

    One of Bales the Alakan of Imota Chief Abudu Sani, also called for transparency in the war against crime, alleging that some unscrupulous elements within the Police Force also collude with criminals to destabilise the lead of their various communities.

    He said the Bales and chiefs would continue to collaborate with the government to sanitize the state.

     

  • Ambode tasks FG, States to scale up capital expenditure

    Ambode tasks FG, States to scale up capital expenditure

    As Nigeria gradually makes its way out of economic recession, the House of Representatives on Wednesday commended the Lagos State Government’s role, saying that the success story of the State was not only benefitting residents, but helping to get the nation’s economy back on track.

    Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Economic Recession, Hon. Olabode Ayorinde who said this when he led members of the Committee on a courtesy visit to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode  at the Lagos House in Ikeja, said the State currently dictates the pace of the economy in Nigeria.

    While congratulating the Governor on his developmental strides in the last two years, Ayorinde said other States could learn from the template Lagos deployed to tackle the economic recession.

    He said: “We take legislative notice of the serious development that is going on in Lagos State and with your permission, we don’t mind interacting with those that are in charge perhaps there are one or two things that we can recommend to other states in the nation because in togetherness we can only move this nation forward.

    “Talking seriously, the economic power of Lagos State also dictates the pace of the economy in Nigeria. Some of the steps that Lagos is taking now, some other States that have not been able to pay salaries may not be able to take such steps. We are looking at this nationally; for example, if an industry is working in Lagos that is employing about 5000 persons I am sure that the company will not employ only citizens of Lagos State. So, it is to the benefit of Nigeria and if the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country increases, it is not a factor of where it comes from, wherever the economy has been improved, it is national income and Nigeria will be better for it.”

    Earlier, Ayorinde said he was in Lagos with his team to inspect some of the moribund industries in the State, with a view to coming up with appropriate legislations that would help them get back in business.

    Responding, Governor Ambode said his administration intensified its capital expenditure to reflate the State’s economy, noting that 60 percent of its budget last year was ploughed towards infrastructural projects in all parts of the State to tackle recession.

    He said such projects contributed significantly to keep the State’s economy afloat with low income earners engaged, adding that it was important for government at all levels to keep spending on infrastructure.

    “Every contract or construction that you see in the nooks and crannies of Lagos, there is a bricklayer that is employed; there is a driver that is driving lorry load of sand; there is that food seller that is given the workers some food and a minimum of N5,000 in every household has a multiplier effect on the economy.

    “So, that is the sure way that we have done this and we have not kept that development in one area, we have replicated it in all the senatorial zones so that those living in Badagry can earn income in Badagry and actually improve on the economy. This is what we think should be replicated by other States in the country and even at the national level. You need to spend your way out of recession and that is why it appears there is nothing like recession in the city of Lagos,” Governor Ambode said.

    The Governor also said that his administration invested massively on security and reviving a 24/7 economy for the State through the Light Up Lagos project, saying that such was important for the economy to thrive.

    Besides, Governor Ambode called for convergence between fiscal and monetary policies to tackle recession, while also urging lawmakers to come up with legislations that would take people out of poverty.

    “I want to enjoin our legislative house that we need to fast-track some of our legislations that are really people-driven and also back us in terms of the executive decisions that will take us out of recession,” he said.

     

     

  • ‘1.4m PVCs yet to be collected in Lagos’

    ‘1.4m PVCs yet to be collected in Lagos’

    The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Lagos State says there are 1, 425, 282 Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) yet to be collected in the state.

    The new Administrative Secretary of INEC in the state, Dr Mudashiru Mustapha disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    He spoke on the sideline of the commission’s Stakeholders’ Meeting with political parties on Tuesday.

    NAN reports that the event, which had no fewer than 20 state chairmen of different political parties in attendance, was organized by INEC to seek support for the Continuous Voters Registration (CVR).

    The CVR exercise, scheduled to be flagged-off by the commission on April 27 nationwide, will also provide avenue for people who were yet to collect their PVCs to do so.

    Mustapha said: “There are so many PVCs yet to be claimed by their owners in Lagos State. We want residents to go to INEC offices in each of the 20 Local Governments in the state.

    “We want to canvass for the support of leaders of political parties for mobilization of eligible residents for the forthcoming nationwide Continuous Voters Registration exercise.

    “The commission needs your understanding, support and cooperation to mobilize residents for this continuous voter’s registration, even though we have done the needful in awareness campaign.

    “There is no way we can achieve success without leaders of political parties, we want to solicit your support because you are closer to the people and live among them.

    “Voter card is the power people have to elect their representatives, they must be encouraged to come out en masse and get registered. Help us sensitize and mobilize the people.”

    Earlier, Mustapha assured the party representatives that the commission had put necessary measures to ensure a hitch free exercise.

    Mrs Seye Soriyan, the Head of Department, ICT/Voters’ Registry, also highlighted the eligibility and procedures for the fresh registration, transfer and distribution of PVCs.

    Soriyan said that the exercise would be from Monday to Friday every week between 9 a.m. and 3.p.m. at the INEC office in each of the 20 local government areas of the state.

    According to her, each of the local governments will have five Registration Area Officers who will register eligible residents and distribute PVCs ready for collection.

    Soriyan said eligible persons for registration include those who turned 18 years after the last exercise in 2015 and those who did not register before.

    She added that those who want to transfer their voting centers were also free to register during the exercise.

    Soriyan explained that those registered would be given temporary Voter Cards, before their PVCs became ready after six months.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that party leaders at the meeting had urged the commission to make the exercise less stressful by decentralizing it to the ward level.

    Political parties represented at the meeting include All Progressives Congress, Peoples Democratic Party, Accord Party, All Progressives Grand Alliance, KOWA Party, Labor Party, and Young Democratic Party (YDP) among others.

     

  • Kidnapped Edo Chief found in Lagos

    Kidnapped Ihama of Udo, a top chief of Udo Community in Ovia South West local government, Chief Francis Ihama, has been freed and found in Lagos State.

    Chief Ihama was found around Lekki area after spending 12 days with his abductors.

    He was snatched at his residence at Udo by five gun men dressed in Nigerian Army uniform.

    The gunmen were said to have taken him to Ovia River and put him on a speed boat.

    His kinsmen were said to have brought him from Lagos at the weekend.

  • Ambode expresses shock over Adeleke’s death

    Ambode expresses shock over Adeleke’s death

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Monday expressed sadness over the death of the first civilian governor of Osun, Sen. Isiaka Adeleke.

    Ambode, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna, said Adeleke’s death was a huge loss to the entire South-West zone and the Yoruba race.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Senator Adeleke died in Osun on Sunday at the age of 62.

    “I was deeply shocked to learn of his death. Only last month, he was in Lagos to join us celebrate our Party Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    “He made his mark first as the first civilian governor of Osun and then as a Senator; he was one of the most prominent lawmakers who did not shy away from issues that affected Nigerians in general.

    “He was very passionate about Nigeria’s progress and contributed immensely to the expansion of progressive politics, especially in the South-West”.

    Ambode described Adeleke as a loving man, a peace maker, a grassroots politician and a detribalised Nigerian who was well loved by his people.

    The governor prayed for the peaceful repose of his soul and urged his family to draw strength from the fact that he made meaningful impact during his life time.

    Ambode also commiserated with the people of Osun, especially the people of Osun West Senatorial Zone and the State Governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, over the irreparable loss.

    “On behalf of my family and the good people of Lagos State, I want to express our heartfelt condolence to the family of Sen. Isiaka Adeleke, the people of South-West Nigeria and Nigerians in general on this great and irreparable loss.

    “He will be sorely missed,” he said.

    Late Adeleke was a three-term Senator representing Osun West Senatorial district having won the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in 2015.

    Adeleke died Sunday at Bikets Hospital in Osogbo, the Osun state capital, after a heart attack according to family sources.

    Adeleke, the first civilian governor of Osun state dumped the Peoples Democratic Party in 2014.

    While leading his supporters to defect to APC, Adeleke he and his followers were no longer safe in the party after an alleged assault on him by the then Minister of Police Affairs, Jelili Adesiyan, and candidate of the PDP, Iyiola Omisore‎,.

    The former governor claimed he was called upon by the leaders of the PDP to contest the governorship seat in Osun having realised that Omisore stood no chance against the incumbent governor, Rauf Aregbesola, but he later betrayed and hounded.

    “I was asked to come and vie for governorship that Omisore is not capable, I accepted, but a day to the congress I got to the hotel in Osogbo.

    “The people I sent there were on the floor with guns pointed at their heads and I told the police that they were members of our party‎ from Ede.

    “I then moved towards the room where I met Sogo Agboola, Jelili Adesiyan, Iyiola Omisore, Gani Olaoluwa and others.

    “As I was about explaining what happened outside to the minister, he descended on me with blows. So also was Omisore and others.

    “They are a party breeding thugs. How can a whole minister of the Federal Republic be boxing?

    “I have nothing against PDP, but I don’t see myself working for a criminal. I can’t support a violent person to go to the Government House.”

  • Nigeria yet to harvest dividends of ICT revolution – NCC

    Nigeria yet to harvest dividends of ICT revolution – NCC

    Prof. Umar Danbatta, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), says Nigeria has yet to acquire the full dividends of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) revolution.

    Danbatta made this known during the 8th Edition of Beacon of Information and Communication Technology (BoICT) Lecture and Awards in Lagos.

    Represented by the Executive Commissioner, Stakeholders Management, NCC, Mr Sunday Dare, he said that the ICT revolution had no barriers or frontiers.

    “Nigeria, though already plugged into the ICT ecosystem, is yet to harvest fully the dividends of the ICT revolution sweeping across the world.

    “While our youth have fully embraced ICT, our government, institutions both public and private are still in the process of adopting ICT in their operations and activities. Yet, the future lies in ICT.

    “Nigeria must make deliberate policies that will accelerate ICT penetration.

    “Our educational curricular must integrate ICT at all levels of education and our systems and institutions must be brought into compliance by training and re-training our people,” Danbatta said.

    He said that though government had made some commendable strides in adopting ICT in various aspects of its operations, more systematic and accelerated approach was still needed.

    Danbatta said that ICT had become a one-stop shop for modern tools of development, innovation, employment opportunities and for a smarter world.

    He said that as the world moved towards the Fifth Generation (5G) revolution and the Internet of Things (IoT), Nigeria must embrace fully the opportunities offered by the ICT.

    He said that Nigeria’s ICT initiatives must focus on cyber crimes, cyber security, indigenous software development, digital multimedia platforms, amongst others.

    The convener of BoICT, Mr Ken Nwogbo, said that the lecture aimed at charting the way forward for the ICT sector and put the country on the global ICT map.

    Nwogbo said that the awards were to reward best practices and recognise outstanding contributions to the growth of the sector.

    He said that the awards were given based on merit and designed to reward individuals and firms that had helped make life better for Nigerians.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NCC won the awards of ”Regulator of the Year” and ”Best Use of Social Media”, while it’s Public Affairs Director, Mr Tony Ojobo, won the ”Spokesman of the Year” award.

     

  • Teenager docked over assault, malicious damage

    A young man, Chidiebere Nnadozie, 17, who allegedly damaged a woman’s blouse worth N6, 500 was on Friday docked at a Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Nnadozie, resident at 12, Sesan Moyegun St., Ijeshatedo, Lagos is charged with assault and malicious damage.

    The prosecutor, Sgt. Anthonia Osayande, told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 3, at about 9.30 p.m at 12, Sesan Moyegun St., Ijeshatedo area of Lagos.

    She said that the accused assaulted Ogechi Thompson, a 32-year-old woman who resides in the same compound with Nnadozie.

    According to the prosecutor, the accused attacked Ogechi, giving her several fist-blows on her face and mouth over a misunderstanding.

    She also alleged that the accused maliciously tore the woman’s blouse, valued at N6, 500.

    Osayande told the court that the offences contravened sections 173 and 350 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

    The accused pleaded innocence to the charges.

    The Senior Chief Magistrate, Mrs Ipaye Nwachukwu, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N50, 000, with one surety in like sum.

    She ordered that the surety must be gainfully employed and should provide evidence of tax payment and have his address verified.

    The court adjourned the case until May 5.

     

  • Lagos communities decry poor power supply by Ikeja Electric

    Electricity consumers in some suburbs of Lagos State on Friday decried poor electricity supply by Ikeja Electric (IE) in the last one month in spite of proclaimed improvement in power generation.

    The consumers expressed their feelings in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Those in Okota, Alaguntan and Gowon Estate areas the hours in which electricity was supplied daily had reduced drastically.

    They also said that contrary to their expectations, the reduction in supply was not accompanied by reduction in monthly billing by the company.

    Mr Godfrey Okoro, a resident of Okota, said the inconsistent power supply in the area had become “dehumanising.“

    Okoro further said the power supply to Okota had reduced considerably, compared to the estimated billing being brought by IE representatives, resulting in unnecessary confrontation between the consumers and the IE staff.

    “What is our sin in this area that IE always gives us electricity for just one hour? To make matters worse, this light comes in the middle of the night when we are usually asleep.

    “The company will not even consider the shortfall at the end of the month while distributing bills for the previous month.

    “This is injustice, we hope that the privatisation of power in Nigeria will provide results to the lingering power supply problems, but it is even worse now,’’ Okoro said.

    Another consumer from Gowon Estate, Mr Joseph Folorunsho, said energy supply to the area had reduced in the last two months for reasons IE could not explain.

    Folorunsho said, “It is unfortunate that we are experiencing this blackout; we pay our bills regularly, yet there is no value for the money we pay for electricity.

    “I thought the new government will bring us out of the doldrums but it appears we are being plunged deeper into darkness by the DISCOs.

    “It is so bad that you cannot buy food items in bulk to store in the freezer to save cost in this harsh economy, this is terrible.’’

    Mr Abiodun Yusuf, a resident of Alaguntan in Alimosho Local Government Area, said that the transformer supplying energy to the community had been faulty since February, causing irregular power supply with no solution in sight.

    Yusuf appealed to the company to replace the old transformer, adding that the outage had domestic and economic repercussions for the community.

    When contacted, Mr Felix Ofulue, the Head, IE Corporate Communications Unit, said the shortfall in power supply to consumers was due to the reduction in the supply received from the National Grid (NG).

    According to Ofulue, it is what IE gets from the national grid that it shares equitably among its customers.

    “Some may seem to get more than the others because of a combination of technical and commercial factors.

    “From Okota to Ikotun, cases of vandalism are very rampant and this is contributory to reduction in power supply to consumers in those areas.

    “In the last three months, we have witnessed more than 10 cases of vandalism in these areas,’’ the IE official said.

    Ofulue, assured the residents of Alaguntan that another transformer would be provided for the community soon.

    For Iyanapaja and Gowon Estate residents, he said the irregular power supply being experienced in the two areas were as a result of collapsed towers at Shagari Estate.

    “The collapsed towers at Shagari Estate have affected the Agege and Ipaja injection, and disrupted power to many areas within that environment.

    “However, we are on top of the situation as repairs are ongoing on the towers, it should be completed by the end of May.’’

    He apologised for the inconveniences caused by irregular power supply to all the areas, saying that the company was concerned and working to normalise the situation.

     

  • LASTMA declares zero tolerance on violation of traffic laws

    LASTMA declares zero tolerance on violation of traffic laws

    …Urges voluntary compliance by motorists   

    The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on Thursday urged motorists to voluntarily comply with the relevant traffic laws operating in the State, vowing to deal decisively with violators in accordance with the law.

    LASTMA’s General Manager, Mr Olawale Musa, who stated this after meeting with the Zonal Heads and Commanders at the agency’s headquarters in Oshodi, said the agency was appalled with recent action of some motorists who had formed the habit of flouting traffic laws and disregarding directives of traffic personnel on the roads.

    According to him, such road indiscipline and lawlessness were capable of returning chaos and disorderliness to the roads, warning that LASTMA would not condone it and any motorist caught would be dealt with accordingly.

    He said the agency had been inundated with calls and complaints from spirited members of the public to act decisively on violators of traffic laws, but that it was not uncommon to see motorists disregarding traffic lights, zebra signs and repairing faulty vehicles on main carriage ways.

    Musa assured members of the public that LASTMA had heeded their calls, and sanity would be maintained, as the agency would not allow a few disgruntled motorists to truncate the existing sanity, safety, peace and orderliness being enjoyed on the roads by commuters and members of the public.

    He said contrary to opinions being peddled in some quarters, LASTMA has never relented or relaxed in performing its statutory responsibilities, but only observed a re-engineering process that gave birth to the new approach to traffic law enforcement in Lagos State.

    “With this rebirth, traffic officials are now to function on the principles of civility, respect for motorists’ rights, officers’ discipline and zero tolerance for corruption,” Musa said.

    He regretted that despite various efforts to manage and enforce traffic laws in line with the best global practices, many motorists are flouting the laws.

    Musa said while the agency will intensify enforcement, traffic officials have been instructed to operate within the ambit of laws, and be humane in dealing with motorists.

    He, therefore, urged motorists to imbibe and demonstrate the culture of voluntary compliance with traffic laws on the road.

    The agency has also commenced imposing strict sanctions on recalcitrant drivers especially in Ojodu Berger and other parts of the state who have converted the newly constructed lay-bys into motor parks.