The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • Surulere celebrates Lagos at 50

    Lagos State was agog at the weekend when its residents trooped out in their thousands to celebrate its golden jubilee.

    The event featured several activities in one centre within the 20 Local Government Areas rather than the 57 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).

    Three local governments – Surulere, Coker-Aguda and  Ikate Itire – gathered at the Teslim Balogun Stadium to celebrate the day also named Community day.

    Coker-Aguda LCDA Sole Administrator Temitope Yusuff, his Surulere colleague Sheriff Balogun and Ikate Itire counterparts Agboola Dabiri.

    In his goodwill message, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode praised the people of the three old Surulere LGs for their support. He enjoined them to pay their taxes and rates to enable the government give them more dividends of democracy at the grass roots.

    Yusuff praised the founding fathers of the state for their vision and foresight, adding that the state had grown beyond their imaginations in view of its cosmopolitan nature. He urged the people to cooperate with the Ambode government in his vision to take the higher. He said in the past two years the state government has witnessed giant strides in development.

    The historic event was spiced with march past, traditional dances and masquarade display, aamong others. Many of the people wore the uniform specially designed for the occasion with the inscription: Enhancing Lagos heritage.

  • Ikorodu killings: Police after family for raising false alarm

    Ikorodu killings: Police after family for raising false alarm

    Mr Fatai Owoseni, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, said on Saturday that the police were  on the trail of a  family which  allegedly raised the false alarm that resulted  in the  killing  of four persons in Ikorodu.

    Owoseni told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)  in Lagos  that the family already declared wanted had a fight with another family over an undisclosed matter, stressing that  it   raised a false alarm that the victims  were members of the notorious Badoo  cult.

    “The police are  after the family that raised the false alarm. We are investigating the case,’’ Owoseni said.

    Sources had earlier told NAN that four persons,  who were branded to be members of the notorious Badoo cult group in Adamo area of Ikorodu,  were on Friday lynched by residents.

    NAN gathered that members of the public, however, later discovered that the slain persons  were not members of the notorious cult group but land speculators.

    NAN further learnt  that three houses, two vehicles and motorcycles were set ablaze in a reprisal attack by colleagues of the slain persons.

    An unnamed person was said to have  started a building project on  Thursday in Araro area of Adamo in Ikorodu.

    Some land speculators from Agunfoye area reportedly invaded the building site and demanded for royalty from the owner of the building.

    A source told NAN that the man refused to give the men the money and they went away with a threat that they were coming back

    ” True to their threat,  they mobilised and returned on Friday but unknown to them, the owner of the building had also mobilised some youths in the area,” the source said.

    NAN further gathered that a clash was said to have ensued between the land speculators and the residents,  forcing them to flee from the site of the building project.

    The land speculators were escaping when  residents raised the alarm that they were members of the Badoo cult group.

    It was also gathered that the residents had lied that the slain land speculators had earlier in the day killed a family of four people.

    “More residents were mobilised and they reportedly chased the land speculators to where they were caught and beaten to stupor, with four of them eventually dying.

    “The death of the land speculators sparked instant crisis as hoodlums from Agunfoye mobilised themselves and invaded Adamo  where three houses were burnt.

    “The Agungoye thugs, who were armed with assorted dangerous weapons including guns, matches and broken bottles,  attacked residents of Araro, injuring some of them in the process.

    “ It took the intervention of policemen from the RRS and local divisions in Ikorodu before the angry hoodlums were dispersed,” a source told NAN.

    Meanwhile, many residents of Araro have started relocating from the community following fears that the police might  arrest them.

    Some of them also expressed  fears   that the hoodlums from Agunfoye might return to avenge the death of the slain four people.

  • Another set of 258 Nigerians return from Libya

    Another set of 258 Nigerians return from Libya

    No fewer than 258 more Nigerian returnees from Libya arrived the country on Thursday aboard a chartered Airbus A330-200 with registration mark 5A-LAT operated by Libya Airlines.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the aircraft landed about 9:43pm at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

    The 258 voluntary returnees,  who  include four children and one infant. were made up of of 233 males, 25 females..

    Their return was facilitated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and the Nigerian embassy in Libya.

    They were received at the Hajj Camp area of the airport by officers of the Nigerian Immigration Service (NIS), the National Agency for the Protection of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Police.

    Addressing newsmen, Ms Julie Okah-Donli, the newly appointed Director-General of NAPTIP, said the agency was particularly interested in those that were trafficked.

    “After the profiling have been done, for those that have been trafficked, we will take them away to our shelters,” she said.

    According to her, the agency is working with the international community to clamp down on the trafficking syndicate.

    “They are doing their investigation and very soon we will be able to come out with effective results,” she said.

    Also, Dr Onimode Bandele, Director, Search and Rescue, NEMA, said some of the returnees had medical issues.

    He said some of them were suffering from depression and malnutrition, while one person sustained gun injury.

  • Tinubu Praises Lagos Speaker Obasa

    Tinubu Praises Lagos Speaker Obasa

    All Progressives Congress (APC), stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinunu has praised Hon. Mudashiru Obasa for his exemplary role as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

    Tinubu gave this commendation at the Stakeholders’ Meeting of the Lagos State APC, which took place at the party secretariat.

    The party leader, who addressed party faithful on the proposed local government elections in the state, praised the Speaker for his maturity and purposeful leadership, which led to the defection of six lawmakers from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.

    Tinubu commended Obasa for ensuring peace and tranquility in the House, which has engendered smooth relationship with the Executive arm of government, which has led to the massive development and growth of the state.

    “Our Speaker, Obasa is doing a fantastic job. He’s performing really well. He’s doing well and his performance has been fantastic,” he said.

     

  • Lagos acquires N4b printing machines

    Lagos State Government has invested over N4billion in its printing corporation, with the acquisition of new Hi-tech printing machines, Governor Akinwummi Ambode said.

    This is to ensure the corporation’s effective performance, Ambode said at the commissioning of the equipment.

    Ambode, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said the facility would enable the corporation to take its rightful place among contemporary printing outfits on the continent.

    “We have repositioned the Lagos State Printing Corporation with the goal of joining the league of well-respected national and global players in the printing industry,” he said.

    The governor urged the agency to justify the huge investment by carving out a niche through innovation and dynamic performance.

    “You have at your disposal, a facility that will guarantee top quality output, you are to deploy the appropriate human capital in terms of skills, attitude and professionalism,” he said.

    The corporation’s General Manager, Mr Sakiru Odusanya, described the machines as the best in the country, saying there is no aspect of printing job that the corporation cannot handle, hence forth.

    Odusanya urged ministries, departments, agencies and corporate organisations to make the outfit their first choice in printing, stressing that the era when the corporation could only handle selected printing works was over.

  • Lagos moves to criminalise power theft, vandalism

    Lagos moves to criminalise power theft, vandalism

    •Lights up 500-km road in one year

    HARD  times await those     emgaing in power theft and vandalism of electric poles and cables, the Lagos State government warned yesterday.

    The government promised to threat such people as criminals. It said criminalising  power theft will go a long way in tackling the menace headlong.

    The Commissioner for Energy & Mineral Resources, Olawale Oluwo, said the government was worried that its efforts at ensuring that the streets in the Centre of Excellence are well lit was frustrated by cable thieve and vandals.

    Oluwo spoke at his ministry’s news conference as part of activities commemorating the second year in office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

    He said the government had noticed a trend where some electricity infrastructures are damaged by hit and run motorists, saying that such was detrimental to the quest of the state to light up  every nook and cranny of the state.

    He, however, assured that the government would soon come up  with a law under its Embedded Power Initiative to protect public lighting infrastructures from such destruction and vandalism

    He said: “We have noticed this vandalisation in three ways. The first one is that by weekends, between Friday and Sunday, we see a lot of vehicles knock down our electricity poles and we suffer the consequences.

    “So, we make sure that each time we apprehend them we make them to pay fines because we cannot prosecute them under a law that is not existing. So, the Embedded Power Programme would come with its own Power Theft Law and we would try to embed this street lighting protection under it. So, until the law, we cannot prosecute them, we can only continue to fine them to pay for the street light poles they knock down.”

    The commissioner also restated government’s commitment to meet the electricity needs of residents and ensure regular power supply not only for industrial clusters, but also to residential apartments.

    He said that beyond powering its own public facilities with the established Independent Power Plants (IPP) delivering a combined 47.5 MW, the state government plans to stimulate investment through this initiative with the generation of 3000MW of power through accelerated deployment of embedded, or distributed power plants in strategic locations within three to five years to drive the economy and bring additional electricity to millions of homes and businesses.

    Oluwo said: “The state government is therefore in partnership with major international and local industry key players in the power sector to provide a platform for uninterrupted power supply to its citizenry. The Lagos State government, in collaboration with the private sector, is using the strength of its balance sheet to guarantee the deployment of off-grid modular plants of between 20MW to 100MW strategically spread within clusters close to reliable sustainable sources of electricity and power evacuation substation for the exclusive benefit of Lagos residents.

    “Solar energy project is another initiative by the Lagos State Government, focused on implementing power solutions for public facilities. This project aim at delivering a total of 4.59 MV of sustainable power to rural, riverine and public boarding secondary schools, 172 of them and 11 primary health centres located within the rural areas in Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe and Ibeju-Lekki,” he said.

    He said in the year under review, the government through its “Light up Lagos Initiative”, achieved 500-km of streetlight installations in its bid to light up the nooks and crannies of the state, while over 100-km length of street lighting installations are on-going at various locations.

    Oluwo said: “In a bold step, the government has taken over and adopted the management of all street lights within Lagos irrespective of legacy ownership. In this instance, street lights, hitherto controlled by local government areas, Ministry of Works & Infrastructures, LAMATA and those of Federal Agencies like FERMA and FAAN are now under the management of the state government.

    “The essence is to ensure uniformity of standard, excellent service delivery and provision of a more holistic and sustainable approach to monitoring and maintaining of the installations.

    “It is gratifying to mention that in a bid to save cost, the Lagos State government has been able to connect some of the street lights to the Alausa, Mainland, Island and Lekki Independent Power Plants; while efforts are on to connect others to the Independent Power Plants.”

  • Lagos ‘didn’t ban VIOs’

    The Lagos State Government has not banned vehicle inspection service (VIS) Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde and Acting Commissioner for Transportation Prince Olanrewaju Elegushi clarified yesterday.
    Elegushi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that VIS officials only went for training to improve their services in line with global best practices.
    On May 4, Governor Akinwumi Ambode ordered the Vehicle Inspection Officials (VIOs) to keep off the roads, following motorists’ complaints on how they were doing their job.
    Elegushi said: “Nobody is banning VIOs from the roads; there is no directive to that effect from the governor of Lagos State.
    “Right now, the VIS officials in the state are undergoing training on how they will improve their services on Lagos roads.
    “It is a month long event for the officials where they will undergo intensive training so that they will be able to deliver quality and better service across the state.
    “We all believe that VIOs need to perform their functions in a more civilised way and be technologically driven.”
    Ayorinde told NAN that government’s order to the VIOs to vacate the roads was to pave the way for reforms.
    It is also to come up with improved service delivery in the state, the commissioner said.
    “There is an ongoing reform as to how the VIOs carries out its operations, which might require that the inspection officers are off the streets at this point.
    “The government is keen to have their operations more streamlined and technologically-driven in order to serve the good people of Lagos better,” Ayorinde said.

  • Lagos at 50: UK celebrations gather momentum

    Lagos at 50: UK celebrations gather momentum

    Preparatory  to the celebrations of 50 years of Lagos State creation on May 29, Nigerians in the Diaspora have shown great interest in participating in the great event. For instance, Nigerians living in the United Kingdom (UK) have began preparations to celebrate the Golden Jubilee anniversary of Lagos State at 50.

    The world-class celebration; Lagos at 50 London Carnival and Recognition Dinner is a two-day event  that will celebrate individuals and corporate organisations in Lagos and in the Diaspora who have made contributions to the development of Lagos culturally and economically.

    This first-of-its-kind event will bring together Lagosians who have different success stories to share in a colourful and relaxed environment.

    Scheduled to hold at the popular Hyde Park and the prestigious Cumberland Hotel in August, Lagos at 50 London Carnival and Recognition Dinner is bound to revitalise the bond and rekindle the flame and passion for a prosperous Lagos in the minds of Lagosians in the Diaspora.

    The event, which is powered by InstinctWave, a full spectrum publishing, B2B event management, business and media solutions company, in conjunction with the present administration of Lagos State.

    There will be exclusive showcase of investment opportunities that Lagos State offers to European investors in key sectors, while the special recognition dinner will celebrate individuals and corporate brands that have excelled in the vibrant business climate of Lagos.

    Lagosians in the Diaspora will engage with Lagos State Governor and senior government executives to share the vision of the state. Other side attractions include colourful display of culture, music and various cultural mingling.

    According to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of InstintWave, United Kingdom, Mr Akin Naphtal, the company has, over the years, with its understanding of local and global environment and the needed competitive edge, brought to life premium events in the UK and Africa.

    “We will create a remarkable event that will linger in the memories of Lagosians for years to come. This is a special time for Lagosians in the Diaspora and London is the best place to do this. We all know that there are many Nigerians and, especially Lagosians in London.”

    He added that Lagos and London have many things in common, hence the reason for situating the celebrations in London.

    London is the multi-cultural melting point in Europe. It is the European gateway. Like Lagos, it is a city of dreams, possibilities and endless adventure. The population of Nigerians in London is the highest in any city abroad. For decades, Nigerians are easily at home in London. Also, Lagosians in Europe can easily connect to London and be part of the event.

    “Brands interested in sponsorship can visit our website www.lagos@50ukcarnival for more enquiries, he added.

  • Lagos lament hoodlums’ takeover of abandoned houses

    Lagos lament hoodlums’ takeover of abandoned houses

    OVER 60 Federal Government abandoned properties at Lagos Island Central Business District (CBD) have become hideout for miscreants, a governor’s aide said yesterday.
    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s Special Adviser on CBD, Agboola Dabiri, who said most of the abandoned buildings had been converted to criminal dens.
    Some of the abandoned buildings, he explained, harboured as many as 100 hoodlums, adding that these building are located at Tinubu Square, Marina, among others.
    Dabiri said the government would dislodge criminals from the buildings.
    He said one of the biggest challenges of the CBD was over-population, which arose from the state’s thriving economy.
    “Lagos State is the only thriving state in Nigeria; people come here to sell their goods around 5.00am and by 8:30am, they are gone. The crowd there is too much; we are talking about human traffic.
    “Managing human traffic is not easy. When you have large number of people coming to the CBD, it comes with waste challenges. On the Island CBD, about N3 billion exchanges hands on daily basis in terms of transaction,” he said.
    However, the special adviser said all illegal structures and shanties around Idumota pedestrian bridge were demolished for the first time in over 15 years, providing opportunity for people to use it.
    “Until the state government, through the CBD embarked on the demolition late last year, hoodlums and miscreants had turned the place to a safe haven to perpetrate evil and commit vices. Pedestrians in large numbers, irrespective of state of origin have been commending the government for saving them the stress of crossing the road and freedom from the antics of undesirable elements, who hibernate around the area,” he said.
    Dabiri said the agency had dismissed some workers whose actions undermined its objectives.
    “For the records, four monitoring officers and some volunteers were recently dismissed for dereliction of duty. The present administration has equally organised series of trainings, meetings and seminars geared at re-orientating and awakening a renewed mind set of staff, monitoring officers as well as volunteer corps,” he said.

  • Bridging housing deficit in Lagos

    Globally, housing deficit is huge with a wide gap in demand and supply in the sector leading to homelessness, rise in slums and squatter settlements which usually result in low level of health due to poor living condition and lack of basic services. Nigeria’s housing deficit was estimated at 17 million as at August 2012 by the National Bureau of Statistic (NBS).

    In Lagos State, adequate housing has always been a challenge in view of rapid urbanisation which has led to tremendous increase in population. Home to over 23 million inhabitants with an estimated 86 people relocating to the state every hour, housing deficit in Lagos is a real issue with affordability worsening because more people are chasing a limited supply of real estate. It is, however, cheering that a government with a toga of inclusive governance is striving hard to proffer solutions to the various challenges confronting housing in the state.

    Blessed with government that has been able to cushion the effects of the nation’s economic recession with prudent management of resources and expenditure on capital projects, residents of Lagos, no doubt have much more to celebrate at this period of its 50 years anniversary with the proposed plan of the Akinwunmi Ambode administration to construct 20,000 additional housing units in the next five years under the Lagos Affordable Public Housing (LAPH) programme.

    Policy-making process in a responsible and responsive democratic setting start from problem recognition and followed by agenda setting. Lagos State government has identified shortfall of 2.5 million housing deficits in the state and has set out with a futuristic policy of Lagos Affordable Public Housing programme to address the problem through direct and Public Private Partnership.

    With a burning desire to put taxpayer’s money into judicious use and improve the living standard of Lagosians, the government has already mobilized six developers to sites for construction to commence on the scheme planned to be christened Jubilee Housing Estates in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the state. As a form of redistributive policy,  Ijora Badiya, Imota, Ayobo , Idale (Badagry), Ilamoye-Isolo , Abijo, Tolu (Ajegunle) , Abule Ado, Ikota , Ibeshe, Owutu and Igbogbo have been listed as areas where the Jubilee Housing Estates would to be sited.

    Under the Ambode administration, government has dedicated a total of 5008 housing units in 12 housing estates spread over the three Senatorial Districts of the state. Lagosians could recall that in December, 2016, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode launched the Rent-To-Own and Rental housing Policies aimed at ensuring that all Lagosians irrespective of status, income and affiliations have access to decent shelter in order to improve their quality of life.

    Prior to this time, the mortgage option under the Lagos Home Ownership Mortgage Scheme (Lagos HOMS) was the cheapest means of becoming a Lagos State housing unit owner. This entails a deposit of 30% as equity contribution while payment of the balance in monthly instalments is spread over a period of 10 years. However, it was observed that many of the young adults and low income earners were unable to come up with the deposit.

    Meanwhile, under the new Rent-To-Own policy, individuals are required to pay only 5% of the cost of the housing unit as the commitment fee and the balance is spread over a period of 10 years. This policy allows allottees to live in the property while paying towards ownership at a fixed rent over the 10 year period. The Rent-To-Own policy is for every resident of the state irrespective of state of origin, profession, gender, religion and status.

    Contrary to views and comments gathered on the streets and across some online media platforms which revealed that some Lagosians are skeptical on the credibility and sincerity of the process and allocation system that would produce the winners of these houses, the fact and the truth is that one does not need to know anybody in government before one could benefit from the programme.

    All that is required for eligibility is for prospective allottee to  possess a LASRRA Card, reside in Lagos State, be above 21 years, have a steady source of income, be a taxpayer as well as a guarantee that 33% of monthly income covers the monthly repayment.

    Interestingly, the initiative is not just about making people home owners but giving them homes in a clean, safe and live-able environment. All the schemes are developed in serene and beautiful gated communi­ties with facilities such as wa­ter treatment plants, adequate parking space, health care centre, estate management of­fice, street lights, recreational area and a police post for se­curity.

    As part of moves to demonstrate the sincerity of the administration on promise made and kept, keys were handed over to the first set of allottees comprising 100 people on Monday February  20. Since then, the second batch comprising 200 allottees and the third batch also comprising 200 allottees received keys on  March 31 and April 20 respectively. This implies that within the last few days, a total of 500 proud home owners have been produced by this policy. By extension, not less than 2500 people have been provided shelter if calculated at an average of five persons per family.

    The Rent-To-Own policy is not just about provision of shelter; it is also about economic stimulation and empowerment. The new homes provided will require furniture and home gadgets such as electrical/ electronic appliances etc. The increase in demand for these items is expected to stimulate production and consequently economic growth.

    Artisans and technicians such as auto mechanics, panel beaters etc. are not left out as their market share will be boosted by the influx of people into the communities where the estates are located. The same is also applicable to food vendors as well as market men and women. In short, the policy will stimulate the GDP of the state. The state’s Ministry of Housing has also taken over all abandoned estates in the state and working towards their completion so as to meet the need of the Rent-To-Own Policy.

    The state government has equally continued to intervene in real estate transaction matters including tenancy and rent through the Lagos State Real Estate Transaction Department (LASRETRAD) established in 2012 under the Office of Special Adviser on Housing.

    Government intention with this is that residents are protected in the course of real estate transactions and that all players comply with Lagos State Tenancy Law, Criminal Law and other legislations on landed property transactions.

     

    • Musbau is Features Unit, Lagos State Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.