The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lagos State

  • “Thoughts about my country”

    “Thoughts about my country”

    I have been thinking about our country and what we need to do.

    For a start, let me say categorically that I do not share the view that has been canvassed, that this is a horrible place in which to be or to live. However, I am convinced that this is not the best that we can have.

    Indeed, in the way that the assessment of some as this being one of the very bad places is relative, so will the measurement of what our best is, be relative.

    Therefore the race to be the best of what we can be will be a never ending one.

    However, in order to gauge the feelings and sentiments of our people, I chose the assessment of our country and my own dreams for our country as the subject of this piece.

    I started by asking the following questions:

    1.      Are we satisfied with the way our country is?

    2.      Is this the best we can do as a people?

    3.      Do we believe that we (all of us sitting here) and not any government are the people who could change our country?

    The answers to the first two questions were overwhelmingly in the negative, while the majority ‘surprisingly’ answered in the affirmative to the third question.

    I say “surprisingly” because, the rhetoric out there is that “our leaders have failed us” and it seems the definition of leadership in these challenging times has been limited ONLY to those we have given responsibility to in the public sector.

    Indeed, I have argued that a country that has built the successes that we can point to in the private sector, from telecoms, to oil and gas, banking and manufacturing in spite of the sub-optimal nature of the operational conditions does not have a dearth of leadership resource.

    What it probably suffers from is the inappropriate deployment of that leadership resource to its most compelling areas of need, which is the public service.

    Based on the response of my audience, I proceeded with the remainder of my remarks and this is what I said:-

    ”How many of us have looked in the mirror and asked ourselves if we have done the best that we can?”

    If we want things to change for the better, I think that we have to accept that we must ourselves change.

    Sometimes, really and honestly I struggle to understand where we want to go.  But in spite of those struggles, I am very clear in my mind what kind of society I want to live in, and grow old in and die in.  For example, in all my forty-nine years, whether as Electricity Corporation of Nigeria (E. C. N.); National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) or as Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria (PHCN), I cannot remember a sustained period of any measure in the homes that I lived in, where power supply has been uninterrupted.

    In my life time, I want to see reliable and efficient electricity power in Nigeria.  We must stop praying about it, it is not prayer time.  It requires us to do something about it.

    Now, there is an Electricity Power Reform Project by the Federal Government.  It is a very welcome initiative and the sooner it is all completed and we can all participate, the better we would be.

    But while we wait for that to happen, in the area where we can intervene and as I have shared with you before, we have started making transformers ready, so that when power ultimately comes, we would not have to import transformers to get electricity to your houses.

    In the places where we can intervene, we have started ring fenced power, and one of them is the IPP on the Lagos Island.

    We designed it simply as a health care and justice solution when we started, to provide electricity to the Island Maternity and the General Hospital and also to power the Magistrate Court and the High Court.

    But it has since extended beyond that, it has reached City Hall, it has reached Freedom Park, it has reached the E-learning Centre in Odunlami.

    In 2013, our Oba’s Palace, Zone Two Police Headquarters right across the Island Club, Dolphin Waterworks (for uninterrupted power supply to the waterworks and therefore the production of water in that Estate) will be our priority projects.

    I have also been persuaded and I have agreed to also extend the uninterrupted power to the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, the Yoruba Tennis Club and the Island Club.

    I assure you, it is very reliable power because for the last 15 months that we’ve connected all these facilities that I have mentioned – the General Hospital, the Island Maternity, the Magistrate Court and all the 26 (Twenty Six) Streets on Lagos Island up to Simpson Street, the power has remained at least, 99.8 percent constant.

    All those facilities have not used public power for the last 15 months.  We have removed most of the generators in those facilities.  The ones that remain there are just backups for emergency situations like operating theatres.

    But the interesting thing about it is that I have monitored how much we pay on the State House, Marina, before and how much we pay now.  It is 40 percent cheaper and the power is more efficient.

    But while we are increasing public power, for street lights and security, some people are cutting the cables for the copper and there is a ready market to receive them.

    This is the leadership question and role we all have to play.

    Even if we get all the power, I do not know of any nation that can deliver steady power if people cut the cables, refuse to pay bills or make illegal connections.

    No leader can do that for us. We must stop it by ourselves.

    In my life time too, I want to see first class hospitals and medical personnel because I expect to live very long and I am sure all of you expect to live very long.

    But you know, as you get older the wear and tear comes.

    We also have converted the Gbagada General Hospital into an Annex of our Teaching Hospital in Ikeja.

    This year, we expect to open to the public a fitting Cardiac Centre, a Kidney Centre and a fitting Burns Unit in Lagos.

    In my own life time, I also want to see reliable rail transport network in Lagos.  We lost the momentous opportunity in 1984, but those dreams are beginning to show signs of possibility because the construction of the Blue Line, the first of the seven Lagos Light Rail systems is now underway from Eric Moore to Okokomaiko and will take off this year.

    I want to see Policemen that belong to everybody and not those we assign to a few elite.

    I also want to see well equipped, well paid and well rewarded Policemen and women in my lifetime.  I want to stop living in fear.

    We have not changed the Policemen in Lagos State, but they have become the relative standard for law enforcement in this country simply because we set up a Security Trust Fund.

    There is nothing that they have that we do not have. If anything, whether it is oil or people, we have more than Dubai.

    I cannot conclude without talking about law and order.

    Can we achieve our dreams if we do not live by Order?  Even the Scriptures tell us that Order is the first Law in heaven.

    On Christmas eve last year, traffic was partly compounded by so many things:  All of us moving hampers, moving goods, queuing for fuel, indeed buying fuel that we did not only need immediately, to go and store it at home and put ourselves at risk.

    But what is more, the traffic was partly compounded that somewhere on Ikorodu Road some people were selling Chicken on the road and de-feathering them there; and citizens were parking to buy. The same citizens now complain that there was traffic on the road.

    Now you would probably ask, why shouldn’t government remove the people selling Chicken on the road? But there is also a strong question on the other side: Why can’t we resist the temptation of buying Chicken by the road side?  That is because if we all do, there will be no traffic.  There are other places where we can buy chicken.

    You will see therefore that it is all too easy to point fingers and trade blames, but I think we can replace this with individual, family, community, State and national action. We must agree to abide by the rules.

    I have told people before that apart from the fact that I do not like the noise of the siren, that I have chosen to do what I ask others to do and not to do what I ask others not to do.

    It is also tempting to use the siren and drive past you but I tell myself, you have given me a free car, you paid for my fuel so that I can manage that traffic.

    The reason we cannot do what we like when we go to other places is because people there do not do what they like.

    You cannot dump refuse where you like, you cannot shop in traffic. You cannot build without permit, you cannot drive against traffic in those places.

    Law and order must be our gold standard. No revolution will bring a better life to us either, because I have heard all sorts of calls for a revolution. The revolution that we actually need is in our hearts.

    No leader can also force us to do that unless we are persuaded that it is necessary; I am persuaded that it is necessary. So, you have to make those choices.

    Let us ask ourselves, are we ready to give up money that we did not earn legitimately. Are we ready to surrender titles and honours that we did not earn but which we have? Are we ready to disclose all the properties and assets that we keep under false names and false companies and do not pay taxes on? Are we ready to go into a contest, like an election accepting that we may lose but ready to work very hard to win?

    I think that our problems lie more with us and with the values choices that we have made and not with our form of Government or the constitution that we have. I think that with the right values, we can succeed even with the worst constitution.

    We make the constitution, the constitution does not make us, therefore it can only be as good as what we put inside it.

    If I have offended any sensibilities here, I apologise. But truly I mean no harm, I only wish my country the very best because I believe that our promise of greatness is nearer us than we think it is; but we have to do something to reach out in purity, restraint and humility to claim that promise.”

  • Lagos seeks NAPIMS’ partnership in oil and gas

    The Lagos State government is prepared to enhance its oil and gas sector by seeking partnership with the National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS) to exploit the enormous opportunities in the sector.

    The state Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Taofiq Tijani, disclosed this during a visit to the management of NAPIMS.

    He said the state had made effort, through its numerous development policies to make its lofty oil and gas aspirations a reality.

    Tijani noted that the state believes that with the collaboration of stakeholders such as NAPIMS, it would be possible for Lagos to realise its vision of becoming a global economic and financial hub through the development of a sustainable energy strategy and safe exploitation of its hydrocarbon resources.

    The partnership, according to him, is to boost such areas as the power project, especially the NNPC/Chevron Agura IPP, gas delivery to power plants, possible marginal oil and gas field development as well as the corporate social responsibility by the NNPC subsidiary.

    He said the state through the ministry was prepared to encourage and support the development and production of oil and gas fields within onshore and offshore as indicated by the various exploratory works being carried out by some operators.

    While disclosing plans by the state to establish an oil and gas corporation to represent the interest of the state in all the industry opportunities, Tijani noted that effort would be intensified toward ensuring that the bill for the establishment of the corporation now before the legislature receives approval on time.

    Responding, the Group General Manager, Morris Fiddi said the company is impressed by the state’s exploits in oil and gas development promising to ensure that the partnership works so that achievements made in that sector can be boosted.

    He described the visit as home coming for the commissioner who had spent 15 years out of his 30 years meritorious service in NAPIMS. He added that being a thorough bred professional transforming the state’s oil and gas sector with his wealth of experience would definitely be within the realm of possibility.

    He promised that NAPIMS would continue to do much more than what it is currentlydoing in its corporate responsibility drive to ensure that communities get what is due to them in return for exploitation activities.

    “What most people dont realise is that we have been doing a lot in terms of corporate social responsibility. In fact, a lot of people do not know that anytime any of our joint venture partners carry out any CSR activities we play a major part in this exercise. The truth is that we contribute 60 per cent while the joint venture partner contributes 40 per cent. But it is the effort of our joint venture partners that is always feasible. This notwithstanding, we would continue to do our part and support whatever is going to make the society better. As for the state’s energy project, we promise we would there as expected,” he added.

    He said the company was also ready to provide clues on curbing the menace of cable theft that has become the lot of power infrastructure in the state.

  • Lagos gives nod for 581 building plan applications

    Lagos State Government has re-engineered its planning authority to be more responsive to public demands.

    The Commissioner for Physical Planning & Urban Development Toyin Ayinde, said the ministry has restructured the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) to deliver on its mandate by ensuring that building approval plans are approved on time.

    He said the agency has subsequently approved a backlog of  581 building plan applications in just five  days. Emphasising the importance of obtaining approval before construction, he said it is critical to the quality  of life in terms of urban planning and development and the ability of the government to provide services  conveniently to well-planned areas with approved buildings.

    He appealed to members of the public who may have submitted their building plans for approval to check in the District Offices in the next few days.

    The Commissioner charged other officers to brace to respond to the expectations of citizens and continue to render selfless service to the public.

    Ayinde warned that the government would not tolerate illegal developments, obstruction of road setbacks as well as building on drainage channels.

    According to him, the state government is desirous of bequeathing sustainable living environment to the present and future generations and will, henceforth, vigorously protect the use of common paths and public highways for pedestrians use.

    He advised the public to submit their plans for approval through the appropriate channels and refrain from seeking short cuts, adding that the ministry was better positioned to process building plan applications for approval.

    He urged the public to engage professionals in the design and construction of their buildings.

  • Lagos in a book

    Lagos in a book

    Lagos Book of Facts, authored by Barr. Anthony Aladekomo and published in 2012 by Almighty God Ventures, tells all about itself from the very title- Its history, geography, politics, economy, social life, tourism and who-is-who.

    This is a book born out of good mind. As expressed by the author himself, the book is meant to ‘showcase the good in my country in the midst of pervading tendency’ to the contrary. Following two previous work which the author has successfully published, he turned to Lagos state, inspired by the good work being executed by the Lagos state government under the leadership of Mr Babatunde Fashola, the governor of the state.

    This 400 plus pages book is a compendium of all that Lagos State represents. Starting with the historical details, the author situates Lagos within the larger historical context of Nigeria. It narrates, very briefly but clearly, those events that shaped Lagos State; events such as the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and its abolition, the coming of Islam and Christianity into Lagos, the colonial rule in Lagos, Lagos as the Capital of Nigeria at Independence, etc.

    The book also conveys those facts that Lagosians must be well abreast with; its creation, appellations, political divisions, and the various administrations that have run Lagos State.

    An interesting aspect of Lagos that is not left out is its social and religious life. The author exposes every dimension of these, making it possible for a would-be inquirer to understand what Lagos is to details. It is interesting to read of those slangs, manner of greetings, pattern of dressing, religious activities and the like that make Lagos what it is. Lagos State is an amalgam of ethnic mixture having witnessed the absorption of ethnic groups from the entire nation and has become a peculiar home of people from all other States in Nigeria. Similarly is the religious diversity of Lagos State. The Muslims, Christians, Traditionalists and other religious sects co-habit in the State without rancour unlike what is being witnessed today some parts of Nigeria. These qualities of tolerance, brotherliness and acceptance of one another are some of the secrets that make for the thriving of Lagos State. Those turbulent states in Nigeria need to learn from this that development is only possible in an atmosphere of peace and tolerance.

    The author also exposes those features that characterize the modern Lagos State; especially, the recent developments that are taking place in transport system, Lekki Free Trade Zone, Eko Atlantic City and the proposed Energy City. Those information about institutions, professional bodies, embassies and who is who, etc. in Lagos State serve the purpose of good reference material.

    The book is wrapped up with the highlights of those problems or challenges, to use the author’s language, that are confronting Lagos. The author equally suggested solutions to those challenges.

    While many of the facts contained in this book are not different from those that we can glean from encyclopaedia, atlases, historical books and books of who-is-who, the unique thing about it is its specificity to Lagos State and the updates it contains. The author went the whole hog, touching all aspects of Lagos life thus presenting to us a good corpus of Lagos. I doubt if there is any other single book that contains what this book contains.

    However, the book, like everyone of its kind, is not without its imperfections. Some of the historical details about the origin of Lagos might be contested, depending on who is reading it. The book, while showcasing the good about Lagos and its administrations (exactly what it set out to do), keeps mute about the various shortcomings in its governance. Of course we can’t say that all the administrations that have governed Lagos State have been at their best. Besides, there are also a few typographical, page planning and pagination errors, as well as some faded portions in the text.

    The above nonetheless do not undermine the value that this book carries. Lagos Book of Facts is actually a window into the world of Lagos State. It is not a book that preaches, it’s a book that informs. Here is a book that every true Lagosian must take interest in. As a matter of fact, this book is a must read for a would-be governor, commissioner, representative, or anybody seeking political office in Lagos State. Besides, anyone genuinely seeking to make contribution to the growth of Lagos State will desire to read a book of this nature. It will be a good treasure to our students in secondary schools and tertiary institutions to understand their roots, in order to know where they are heading to.

    This book has provided another opportunity to us all, using the words of Abraham Lincoln, to increase our capacity and taste for reading which will give us access to whatever has already been discovered by others. I therefore recommend this book to everyone resident in Lagos State, and especially to those who see themselves as stakeholders in moving this State forward. And as Austin Phelps puts it: ‘Wear the old coat and buy the new book’, Lagos Book of Facts.

    I use this medium to congratulate the author for this great job. No doubt he has walked through closed doors going by the experience that surrounds the publishing of this book. Seeing this book through is evidently a product of passion, commitment, determination and diligence. Congratulations once again.

     

    •Oyero is of the Department of Mass Communication, Covenant University, Ota

    Title: Lagos Book of Facts

     

    Author: Anthony S. Aladekomo LL.B.,BL

     

    Reviewer: Dr Olusola Oyero

     

    Pages: 403

  • Lagos challenges youths on leadership

    Lagos State government has challenged youths in the state on the need to take up leadership responsibility by participating in decision-making.

    Special Adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola on Youth and Social Development, Dr. Dolapo Badru gave the charge at a forum organised to mark 2012 International Youth Day in the state.

    Badru said the country needs to go back to the basics by restoring values in young people if it wants to effectively tackle the challenges affecting youth development.

    “The problem of unemployment among youths is something that all of us will tackle. I am challenging all of you to ensure that in the next election, we will vote in a government that is passionate about youth development.” he said.

    The Special Adviser informed them that a special event was arranged by the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in February, 2012 on breaking new grounds, partnership for better job for young people.

    He lamented the alarming trend of youth unemployment, saying that all hands must be on deck to safeguard the future of young people who are our future promises, our innovators, academicians, entrepreneurs and political leaders.

    “The future rests squarely on their shoulders. It will be through their agency and their vision that we will successfully emerge from wrenching economic crisis we are now experiencing.

    “We need to offer them hope and more importantly we need to offer them solutions” he said.

    While stating that the yearly celebration of youth day is geared towards highlighting the many ways the United Nations (UN) member states, the private sector and stakeholders can partner with youths with a focus on the five thematic areas.

    “Youth are transformative force, they are creative, resourceful and enthusiastic agents of change; be it in public square or cyberspace.

    “We need to listen to and engage with young people. We need to establish more and stronger mechanism for youth participation,” he said.

    The guest lecturer, Dr Uwemedimo Esiet challenged the youth on measures that will help address issues that affected them collectively.

    Permanent Secretary, Office of Youth and Social Development, Mr. Abiodun Junaid said the fast-growing population in the state called for synergy of all stakeholders to build a better society for the youth.

    “The role of stakeholders cannot be over-emphasised as they remain the pivot of developmental activities in any nation of the world,” he said. He advised them to use the knowledge gained at the forum to better their lives.

  • Lagos market to cost N1.5b

    The Lagos State government plans to rebuild the Sandgrouse Market at N1.5 billion.

    The market will be upgraded into a mix-use ultra-modern affair through a two-year Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) arrangement with DHB Construction Limited.

    The firm’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Alabo Bakare, said the project is very vital to the economy of Lagos. “We are embarking on the development of the Sandgrouse Market to key into the desire of Governor Babatunde Fashola to make Lagos a model city and the mega city that it is presently. To have such an edifice will complement the effort of the state government,” he said.

    The market would be developed into an ultra-modern market and, first of its kind in Lagos State, said Bakare, at the weekend.

    The development arrangement, he said is “between D.H.B Construction, Lagos Island Local Government and the Lagos State government, which has a build-operate and transfer (BoT) arrangement for a period of 25 years after which the project will revert to the government.”

    He explained the role of the local council in the PPP arrangement, saying all markets in the state are administered by the local government. “Sandgrouse Market is situated in the Lagos Island Local Government and that is why the local government is the one signing it off on behalf of the state government.”

    Bakare said the existing tenants in the market have no need to fear displacement.

    “Like what we have done in our previous assignment at Gbaja Mall is that they will be right of first choice and we are not displacing anybody. We are going to make adequate arrangement to have a place where we will put them temporarily until we finish construction.”

    He said the market would be developed in phases and that it would be completed in 18 months. “When we finish the phase which the present occupants belong to, we will restore them to their former positions. We will try as much as possible to make mortgage available to them as well as ease their purchasing power.”

    The developer said the spaces in the new market are on sale at N500,000 per square metres and the sizes range from five square metres to 10 metres in addition to open spaces for outright purchase for 25 years and renewable.

    He said: “The new Sandgrouse Market would be very secure, a police station would be built there as part of his company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

    The government has done so well by awarding contract for the reconstruction of the road from Holly- end to Gbagbose end and this will complement our construction effort.”

    The market, he also revealed will be  segmented  for every line of business from the corporate to the everyday trader, especially for the lawyers  because of the proximity of the market to the High Court.

    The market would be built on a total land area of 14,236.974 square metres, Bakere disclosed that the  and the  market will be built on an 5,8224square metres.

    On electricity he promised that the place will be lighted according to him “We will take advantage of the Independent Power Project on Marina to serve the market since it is located within its vicinity.”

  • 15-month-old baby needs N2.5m to live

    15-month-old baby needs N2.5m to live

    With his birth came the usual excitement. People gathered, ate, drank and made merry. He was a little bundle of joy in his parents’ arms. His birth further strengthened family bonds. He was even named Israel, with the biblical notion that he would be the apple of God’s eyes as His first gift to the family.

    That was the picture at the home of Mr and Mrs Akin Toriola in Ejigbo, Lagos State. Mr Toriola, his father, is a local electrician. His home was blessed with a baby boy, little Ayoola Israel, on May 23, 2011.

    The Toriolas were understandably eager to see their first child grow up well and healthy, with the prospect of becoming a responsible member of the society. Against all expectations, this bundle of joy has become a source of agony for the Toriolas. And it was neither the fault of the little Israel nor that of his parents. Israel, born 15 months ago has not shown any sign of “growing up well and healthy.”

    Mr and Mrs Toriola noticed that their son who was full of life at birth,“was not breathing well, wasn’t eating well, and did not cry normally.”

    That problem has continued. Even when he cries, the breathing remains very abnormal. He also continues to lose weight.

    Not comfortable with the unwholesome situation of their son, The Toriolas started making medical enquiries on little Israel. They told Newsextra that “when the baby was three months old, we were asked to go and do some chest X-ray on the baby. That we did at Isolo General Hospital.

    “We also went to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi-Araba Lagos where one Dr Okoromah referred us to Clinique De-Mercy & Services Limited at Gbagada, Lagos for echocardiogram and electrocardiogram (ECG) tests. These are medical tests that measure and record electrical activity of the heart. Results of the tests showed that little Israel has a hole in his heart which manifests in his physical appearance that suggests a case of Down Syndrome.”

    A medical report on little Toriola which was signed by Dr B. A. Animasahun, Consultant Paediatrician/Paediatric Cardiologist, on August 17, 2012 reads:

    Medical Report of Ayoola Toriola Age 15 months:

    “The above-named presented with history of breathlessness noticed since birth, associated with recurrent respiratory tract infections necessitating hospital admissions. There is history of excessive sweating and he has been failing to thrive. No history of squatting but bluish discoloration of the lips.

    “Examination revealed a small for age child, with prominent heart sound on the right hemithorax, tarchycardic, cyanosed, with SPO2 in room air of 73%. He has a grade 2/6 ejection systolic murmur maximal at the right upper sterna border with a grade 3/6 diastolic murmur maximal at the right sterna border.

    “A diagnosis of dextrocardia with a cyanotic congenital heart disease (CCHD) was made. Echocardiography confirmed, Dextrocardia, Double outlet right ventricle, large posterior upper muscular ventricular septal defect L-R and severe pulmonary artery hypertension.

    “He has been tablet furosemide and syrup captopril. He requires surgical intervention abroad.

    “…Patient and mother will also require a return ticket, international passport, some amount as pocket money.”

    Based on the tests carried out at Clinique De-Mercy &Services Limited at Gbagada Lagos, the hospital recommended a heart surgery to be carried out in a hospital in India. The sum of N2.5m is required to effect the heart surgery (all expenses included) which the cardiologist said must be carried out as quickly as possible to save the life of little Israel. This sum of money is too hard for his parents to afford.

    Therefore, Mr and Mrs Toriola Akin are crying to kind-hearted Nigerians, people who treasure the future of our children, Nigerians who appreciate that children are precious gifts from God Almighty, Nigerians who can imagine the pangs of labour that a woman goes through during child birth and the pains a mother or father could go through in the event of losing a child to death and Nigerians who can cheerfully choose to be Simon of Cyrene who helped Jesus Christ to carry His cross on the way to Golgotha.

    The word cross is symbolic here. Whenever and at whatever point in time you help in reducing the burden or pains of a fellow mankind, it will be on record that you clothed, fed and gave water to Jesus Christ and the Prophets to drink. History and destiny would certainly smile at you.

    A little help and sacrifice towards ensuring that a dying little soul survives will surely make a lot of difference.

    Hear Mrs Toriola, a petty trader and mother of little Israel: “In tears, I beg fellow Nigerians to help in seeing that my child lives normal life again. When I remember the pangs and pains of labour, I wish I could have provided the money a day after the discovery of this defect in my child’s heart. But since my husband and I could not afford the huge amount of money required in exchange of my son’s life, I run and cry to you my fellow Nigerians to help in ensuring that this little Nigerian lives to be useful to himself and the country. I am confused.”

    It is not inappropriate for Mrs Toriola to feel disappointed and be confused at one point in time or the other when she feels that the days of her only child are numbered if nothing is done fast.

    For more information, the following telephone lines could be contacted: 08026306066 and 08032069949.

    Payments can be made into the following bank account details: TORIOLA AYOOLA ISRAEL 0063147567 ECOBANK.

    Since little Toriola’s health deteriorates daily, the Toriolas appeal to Lagos State governor Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), public-spirited Nigerians and corporate organisations to provide financial help to enable them to take little Israel to India for the surgery as soon as possible so that the life of this Nigerian would be saved.

  • Community head accuses businessman of threatening the peace

    Community head accuses businessman of threatening the peace

    The traditional head of Oko-Olomi community, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, Oba Tajudeen Elemoro, has accused a businessman, Oluwafemi Bakare, of engaging in acts capable of threatening public peace.
    The accusation is contained in Elemoro’s counter affidavit to a fundamental rights enforcement application filed by Bakare and others before the High Court, Lagos. He averred, in a supporting affidavit, that as against the businessman’s claim, he was a victim of Bakare’s alleged violent activities.
    Bakare, the head of Eleku family, Tajudeen Mojeed Eleku and four others had sued Chief Shamba Elemoro, Ola Olowu, Semsi Elemoro and Molikiu Raji and accused them of instigating men of the Nigeria Police against them
    The plaintiffs accused Elemoro and others of petitioning the police and seeking their arrest for alleged violent conduct.
    They urged the court to restrain the police and their agents from inviting, arresting and detaining them in respect of the petition purportedly written by the defendants.
     Elemoro averred that contrary to Bakare’s deposition that he and others have been exercising unhindered right of ownership over a disputed piece of land at Oko-Olomi village, Olowu who is the Baale of the village (and one of the defendants) was the victim of the violent activities of the applicants.
    Insisting that the disputed land belonged to his family, Elemoro stated that the said land was excised to their family by the state government.
    Elemoro further averred that the state government acquired all the land from Moaroko to Epe in 1981 and repeated the acquisition in 1993 but in 2007 the government vide a Gazzete dated 22 February, 2007 returned some of the land acquired from his family to them.
    “It is not, therefore, true that when Oba Tajudeen Olowu became the Oba he planned to take over the land belonging to the applicants by using the police. Rather, the police were carrying out their lawful duties after a petition was written to the Inspector General of Police, complaining of the applicant’s violent activities.
    “The real intention of the applicants in filing this suit is to obtain an order of the court with which they can forcefully enter the defendants’ family land granted them through excision in the Gazette of 2007,” he stated.
    He further averred that Bakare was never arrested as claimed. He stated that Bakare  was only invited by the Area Commander of Area J Police Station. He stated that after the businessman was interviewed by the police,  it became clear that he is not a member of the Okunnu Eleku family and that the respondents have always reported his activities to the police.
    Justice A. Oluwafemi while adjourning the case to September 25 ordered that status quo be maintained.
  • Lekki: The making of tourism zone

    Lekki: The making of tourism zone

    Lagos State, with more  than 180 kilometers of lush white sandy beachfront, myriads of islands some inhabited  and others lying fallow, probably boasts of the highest tourism credential in West Africa. Hitherto, not much has been done in the area of maximally harnessing these gifts of nature and turning them into real value-for-money tourism assets that could lure tourist traffic from far and near.
    One council development area has, however, decided to take the gauntlet  and use tourism as a tool for socio-economic transformation, and, in the process, put the area on the tourism map of Africa. The place is the Lekki Local Council Development Area (LCDA). Before, to the knowledgeable, the LCDA, with its tourism asset, was just a huge waste of God’s gift.
    Lekki’s foray into tourism goes back more than 100 years.The colonialist saw the potential of the zone as a tourism haven. That was why they decided to build a chalet where they could go and unwind and generally have a qualitative leisure time. That gave birth to the place that was later made more famous  as the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s detention camp in the 60s.
    Aside the centre, there was no major high profile tourism project by the government  until in the 90s when the then military governor of the  state, Colonel Buba Marwa, developed the Eko Tourist Beach Resort, Akodo in Lekki. A private sector initiative was also put in place by Otunba Wanle Akinboboye  when he opened the luxurious La Campagne Beach Resort, Ikegun in the early 90s.
    Currently, it is as if the scale has been removed and everybody can now see that this part of the state is a tourism gold mine. A free trade zone will soon be operational. There is also a 27-hole golf course being built. For the Lekki area, the future is looking bright.
    One would then ask: What in the area of natural tourism asset does the Lekki area have to offer? It is mind-bungling. It has history.  Scattered on the beachfront of the area is the slave baraccon used during the slave trade, the Refugee Island, the Freedom Flag, the Awo Detention Centre, some colonial relics at Orimedu and many others. Of course, there is the close to 30 kilometres of white sandy beach, including the famous Eleko Beach. The council also boasts of about 16 lakes plus the lagoon areas and smaller islands.
    It is in the light of this that the  LCDA chair, Barrister Mukandaisi Ogidan, decided to turn the area into a tourism  zone. He is the first LCDA chair in Nigeria to do so. It is history and this is also to his credit as an administrator.
    Asked why the declaration of the area as a tourism zone, Ogidan said with the declaration, the council will welcome investors in the area of tourism and will be given all the necessarily co-operation to put projects in place and  have returns on their  investments.
    On hand as the special guest of honour at the declaration ceremony was the president of the World Council of Mayors from the United States of America who came with his entourage, Mr. James Walls. Others were  a former commissioner in Lagos State, Dr  Tola Kasali; World Council of  Mayors Tourism Ambassador to Nigeria, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye; traditional rulers from the council and other notable individuals.
    In his speech, Ogidan said he envisaged the ceremony as a catalyst for  the transformation of the area. His words:“We  see this kind of transformation as the only way we can bring  about the economic potential of this local government development area. Just like Awo said in the 60s that this place would be the best in terms of development.
    “Thank God, this is coming true while we are still here and while our former leaders are still present. We have seen our brother, Mayor James Walls. Their coming here today is good. It is also to secure  the assurance that when they come here to invest, you will be prepared. We will give them every co-operation required for the transformation of  the  LCDA.”
    The President of the World Council of Mayors spoke on why he decided to be part of the history.
     His words: “It is truly an honour to be here for the declaration of the Lekki Tourism Zone. Ambassador Wanle Akinboboye called me on the phone and said Mayor, I need you to be in Nigeria next week. And I said to the ambassador, are you crazy? I am in the middle of an election, trying to re-elect our president, Barack Obama, and you want me to stop what I am doing and travel to Nigeria, and the ambassador said yes, and I replied okay.
    “And before you know it, I am here in Nigeria. I came to Nigeria because this is something very  important. Prior to becoming the president of the World Council of Mayors, I served as the vice president for tourism and asAmbassador Akinboboye told you, my first experience of the motherland was right here in Nigeria and right here in Lekki. Since 2008, I have had the opportunity to visit the motherland and here in Nigeria over 30 times.
    “So, when you talk about tourism, it is very important because men and women and brothers and sisters of African descent need to reconnect with the motherland. I believe it  is through projects like this that will give African-Americans, Africans in  Europe and others an opportunity  not only  to come back and reconnect but come back and reinvest in mother Africa. So, today, this tourism zone is an opportunity for Africans to come back and re-establish their ground and reinvest in our community and I will leave you with this: This is our day, truly it is. This is our hour, and, as Africans, we shall make sure we do not miss our time.”
    Dr Kasali went down  the memory lane to talk of the efforts of the leaders of the area to open up the place in the past.
     “When you talk about the economy of an area, you talk about commerce, industry and tourism. We thank God we now have the Lekki Free Trade Zone in this area. At the beginning of this free trade zone, it was like a tug of war because we needed enlightenment and a lot of talking to let our people know that this is the future that we have been talking about.
    “Once we have the free trade zone, we are opening the place  for commerce and industry and then when we have the tourism project, then we are opening up the place for the whole world. I believe and I am so passionate about it, that we haven’t seen anything yet,”Dr Kasali said.
    Otunba Akinboboye, who is also the owner of the La Campagne Beach Resort, said the status of the council is a welcomed development and promised to work with the council to develop the area.
    Lekki is about an hour drive from the city of  Lagos, off the Lagos-Epe Expressway on the right.

  • Lagos holds book expo 

    Lagos State Commissioner for Education Mrs Olayinka Oladunjoye has opened the 5th Lagos Book Expo aimed at broadening the horizon of Nigerian youth through reading.

    The book fair, organised by Lagos Television at its Combo Hall in Ikeja, was attended by former Governor Lateef Jakande, students and  stakeholders in the education sector.

    Mrs Oladunjoye, represented by the Director of Administration and Finance in the Ministry, Mrs Ebun Oladimeji, said the development was necessary to help revive the dwindling reading culture in the country.

    Permanent Secretary, Lagos Television, Lekan Ogunbanwo said the fair was meant to widen the horizon of youths and others to reading.

    ”Without books, we cannot acquire knowledge and we will not know new areas of discoveries. We believe we need to contribute our quota to this book fair. The theme is ‘Read to Widen your Horizon. The fair will be an opportunity to buy new books for you library,” he said.

    In her keynote address on Eradicating Examination Malpractice in Nigeria, the Director, Dansol Schools, Mrs Adunola Akinyemiju decried the high rate of examination malpractice in the country.

    ”In the Nigerian situation, it has become a serious problem in our educational system which is so painful to me as a person and makes me weep because of the negative effect it has on this generation.

    “Examination malpractice in Nigeria is a phenomenon which has eaten deep as a canker worm that needs to be treated,” she said, adding that urgent step must be taken to address the malaise.

    Akinyemiju listed the causes of examination malpractice to include overcrowding in classrooms, lack of teaching aid, laboratory equipment, libraries to expose students to proper learning; inadequate teachers, love of money by teachers and invigilators and the Nigerian factor.

    She added that examination malpractice would bring guilt, destroy the next generation, leads to armed robbery/cultism, wastage, stealing, disacreditation of Nigerian certificates abroad and depletion of the workforce.

    According to her, examination malpractice could be eradicated by ensuring discipline; encouraging teachers, invigilators and others to maintain integrity; changing public examination system into internet-based tests; career counseling, the fear of God, among others.

    “Religious leaders should look seriously into this problem by interviewing some of the children in their churches and mosques to find out how they got their certificates.

    It will surprise them to know that 70 per cent of those testimonies were as a result of cheating. There is no religion that supports falsehood, cheating and stealing.

    ”On finding out, it should be dealt with through preaching, counseling and ensuring that it stops. Those that did it need restoration and on-coming ones can still be helped,” she stated.