The Nation Newspaper

Tag: lagos

  • Man in court for defiling neighbour’s daughter

    A 28-year-oldman, Victor Onyekamuo, who allegedly defiled his neighbour’s under- aged daughter, was on Wednesday arraigned in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos.

    The defendant, a trader, who resides at Bankole Street, Oregun, Ikeja is being tried for defilement.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Clifford Ogu, told the court that the offence was committed on Feb. 21 at the defendant’s residence.

    Ogu said that the accused sent the girl on an errand and on her arrival shut the door and defiled her.

    The offence contravened Section 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

    The accused, however, entered a “not guilty” plea.

    The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Taiwo Akanni, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum.

    Akanni adjourned the case till May 8 for mention.

  • Lagos: we’ll soon take action on 202 condemned prisoners

    Lagos: we’ll soon take action on 202 condemned prisoners

    Lagos State will soon take action on 202 condemned prisoners, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Adeniji Kazeem has said.
    He spoke yesterday while briefing reporters at the launch of the yearly ministerial press conference.
    The commissioner said the government would look at the issue as some convicts on death row were demanding certain rights, since they felt that no action would be taken against them.
    There are 202 condemned prisoners in solitary confinement in Lagos prisons as at April 5.
    The General Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Rev. Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, popularly called Reverend King, who is in one of the prisons in the Northeast, is one of the 202 condemned prisoners.
    He was moved from Abuja owing to incessant visits by his followers.
    The Supreme Court on February 26 affirmed the death sentence passed on him by Justice Joseph Oyewole of Lagos State High Court (now Justice of the Court of Appeal) on January 11, 2007, for the murder of one of his church’s members, Ann Uzoh.
    Dissatisfied, Ezeugo challenged the decision of the Lagos High Court at the Court of Appeal, Lagos, which affirmed the decision of the lower court.
    Reverend King was said to have poured petrol on Uzor and five others before setting them ablaze.
    Uzoh died on August 2, 2006 – 11 days after the incident.
    The commissioner said: “This government is very strong on law and order. And the case is one of those that are under review. Like him, many others are on death row. And very soon, residents of Lagos will see the action of the government on it.
    “There are lots of people on death row. There are some states that have been active in enforcing the judgement. I know that many had zeroed on Rev. King. I discussed his issue actively with the prison authority during my recent prison visit and it was on the instruction of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
    “That showed that it is a sensitive issue.
    “I have given you indication that we are moving towards that direction. The previous governors have not signed any of those death sentences. But the prison authority informed that some of the convicts on death row are beginning to think they have some rights. We are going to move in that direction. You will hear from me.”
    The commissioner added that the government has re-opened the case of Hamzat Al Mustapha, who was allegedly implicated in the murder of the late Mrs. Kudirat Abiola.
    He said the government would ensure justice was done on the matter.
    Kazeem said the ministry, through its directorate of legislative drafting and the law reform commission, has been involved in the drafting, amendment and reforms of laws and regulations sponsored in collaboration with the House of Assembly and other ministries departments and agencies.
    He said 14 bills were passed into law while 12 are undergoing processing.
    Kazeem  listed some of those laws enacted that have  impacted positively in the lives of residents, as including the Lagos State Employment Trust Fund Law 2016, kidnapping Law 2016, State Environmental Protection and Management Law 2017 among others.
    He added that 750,000 newly introduced criminal suspect forms was handed over to the state police command last month to ease justice delivery, help record keeping and intelligence gathering.
    The commissioner said the government is working on the establishment of a DNA forensic centre.
    He added that the centre will enhance proper investigation, prosecution of crimes, adjudication and the administration of justice.
    According to Kazeem, the ministry obtained judgment in defilement matters, ranging from seven years, 10 years and 15 years imprisonment.

  • How I set up first administration in Lagos, by Johnson

    How I set up first administration in Lagos, by Johnson

    Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson (rtd) was the first military governor of Lagos State. In this interview with Group Political Editor EMMANUEL OLADESU and MUSA ODOSHIMOKHE, he explains how he set up the first administration in the state and the challenges that confronted his government.

    Lagos is celebrating 50 years. Has the goal of the founding fathers been achieved?
    There were agitations that Lagos State should be created. And don’t forget that Lagos used to be the Federal Capital of Nigeria. So, it was getting congested and it was becoming difficult administratively to govern it. It was resolved there should be a Lagos State government. That was why Lagos State was created. So, when General Yakubu Gowon was creating other states, he created Lagos State and the others. That was how Lagos State came into being, Lagos being the capital of the country and being the Centre of Excellence as it is called, there should be another administration for Lagos State apart from being the Federal Capital. Lagos State from the Carter Bridge was congested and in order to give it a new lease, I became the military governor of the state. You can find the details of the creation of Lagos in my book.
    What are the challenges you faced as the pioneer governor of the state?
    Lagos State, being a new state, was faced with the problem of congestion. Right from the Cater Bridge to Isale Eko, means of decongesting the state were being devised and other administrative methods were being devised to make the state work. The state had to do something to sustain the fishing life of the people, who occupied some parts of the state, while the Ikeja area was transformed into an industrial area. The white cap chiefs and the Oba of Lagos were given their proper place with the symbol of authority in the Oba’s hand.
    When you became governor, how did you set up the administration?
    We look at all the indices that would facilitate a better administration. There are some people who were already in the federal civil service, who thought they should have their own state. So, when the state was created, we asked them to transfer their service to Lagos State. We equally took some people who were in the western administration to be part of the Lagos State government. These are the people whose origin was in Lagos State. I want to refer you to my book, which recorded what transpired then.
    Why were those in the west against the creation of Lagos State?
    I don’t think they were opposed to it. There were some officers working in the west then, who knew that Lagos was their root. That whoever comes to Lagos should remain with the west. Some of them came back to Lagos and believed equally they should be part of the West.
    Can you reflect on your first budget as governor of Lagos?
    My book shed more light on my first budget.
    As a former federal capital, is Lagos getting its dues from the Federal Government?
    Lagos State is like other states and we are asking the Federal Government for entitlement as a state? I think I am unable to find the answer to your question. Detail about Lagos is in my book.
    What is your opinion on the agitation for special status for Lagos?
    There is no question of special status for Lagos other than it was a Federal Capital of the nation. Now that we have Abuja, it should be given allowances to look after it, having served as capital of Nigeria and the centre of excellence.
    Don’t you think Lagos has been shortchanged, wherein Kano and Jigawa states have 84 local governments whereas Lagos 20 LCDA and 16 LGA?
    The area called Lagos State, when it was created, was comprised of Lagos Island and the Mainland. We had divisions which were Ikeja, Badagry Ikorodu and Epe divisions. I believed that we should spread development to other parts of the state.
    What are those things you wanted to do, but the military coup of 1975 deprived you of the opportunities…
    The things I wanted to do that I could not do have been highlighted in my book. We created the divisions in Lagos which included those I had mentioned.
    Your administration wanted to build the third mainland bridge, but it could not…
    We were not planning third Mainland Bridge as such. But, it was suggested for Lagos Island Division. It was the belief that it will link the Lagos Island with the Mainland and up to Ikeja Division.
    Why did you join the army?
    You find the reason in my book as well. It was an inspiration from my father. My father was a soldier during the Second World War. My father had his photograph on the wall of our sitting room when he was in uniform. I used to look at the photograph and said one day I would wear a uniform too. That was how the inspiration came to me to be in the uniform. That was it. I can boldly you tell you that my father was my inspirer. So, I used to admire the uniform he wore as a military officer. And his own parent too when he was younger, used to be very strict on him. He used to be very strict on us. We were all boys and only one girl. My mother too was a disciplinarian.
    How did you feel when General Yakubu Gowon appointed you as the governor?
    He appointed me as administrator and later it was changed to governor to administer Lagos. However, it was just a question of semantic or terminology after all. When states were created, it was decided that governor should oversee them. Lagos being the capital of Nigeria, it was obvious that two seats of power were imperative.
    How did you select your cabinet comprised of politicians?
    Some of the credentials of the people we selected were high. People like Alhaji Adewale (the boy is good), Ogunsanya in Ikorodu and Hundeyin from Badagry were selected from the credentials they paraded. We called them to join us to form the state government. Don’t forget that Ikorodu too was part of Lagos State. When I was appointing commissioners, I had to look through the whole state to select my cabinet from the divisions that made up Lagos.
    How did you resolve the housing crisis of those days that warranted the late Ayinla Omowura to wax a record in that respect?
    My book dwelled on the issue. Go and read my book.
    Can you reflect on the circumstances that led to your retirement from the army in 1975?
    Don’t forget that I join the military as a soldier and I went to Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. I was trained to prepare all the time for eventualities. Most of the activities then were narrated in my book.
    What is your advice to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode?
    As it is now, you can look at the state and see areas of new development. I can see that he is taking the bull by the horns. He has taken the challenges of developing the state as the Centre of Excellence. He is doing well and has taken the challenge to reposition the state to match the Centre of Excellence.
    What were the legacies you left behind?
    It is the people that will talk of the legacy that I left behind in the governance of Lagos. Lagos that I know is the former capital of Nigeria and the centre of excellence. I had done my part. History will adjudge me.
    As we celebrate 50 years of Lagos, what is your advice to Lagosians?
    I want to say 50 years is not a small number. But, you can see that since the creation of the state, Lagos was very accommodating. It allows people to come in. They live and work in Lagos and it went beyond that and development came up like the Third Mainland Bridge and other achievements. We have lots of things that we can point our fingers to in Lagos that you cannot find in other parts of this country. My advice to Lagos is to keep the spirit of accommodation and work toward the progress of the state.

  • Lagos to sign death warrant on Rev King, others

    Lagos to sign death warrant on Rev King, others

    The Lagos State Government has said it is working on the death warrant for the execution of the General-Overseer of the Christian Praying Assembly, Rev. Chukwuemeka Ezeugo, popularly called Reverend King, as well as other condemned prisoners.
    Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem, broke the news yesterday while addressing reporters at the kick-off of the yearly ministerial press conference.
    He said it was necessary for the government to examine the issue because some convicts on death row were beginning to ask for certain rights, since they felt no action would be taken against them.
    Over 202 condemned prisoners were in solitary confinement in Lagos prisons as at April 5.
    It was learnt that Rev King was moved from Abuja to the Northeast to forestall incessant visits by his die-hard followers.
    The Supreme Court, on February 26, affirmed the death sentence passed on Rev King by Justice Joseph Oyewole of High Court of Lagos State (now Justice of the Court of Appeal) on January 11, 2007, for the murder of one of his church members, Ann Uzoh.
    Ezeugo challenged the verdict at the Court of Appeal in Lagos, which also affirmed the decision of the lower court.
    The cleric was said to have poured petrol on Uzor and five others before setting them ablaze. Uzoh died on August 2, 2006, 11 days after the incident.
    Kazeem said: “This government is very strong on law and order. The case is one of those under review. Like him (Rev King), many others are on death row. Very soon, residents of Lagos will see the action of the government on it.
    “There are lots of people on death row. There are some states that have been active in enforcing the judgment. I know that many had zeroed in on Rev. King. I discussed his issues actively with the prison authority during my recent prison visit and it was on the instruction of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. That showed that it is a sensitive issue.
    “I have given you an indication that we are moving towards that direction. The previous governors did not sign (papers) on any of those death sentences. But the prison authority has informed that some of the convicts on death row are beginning to think they have some rights. We are going to move in that direction, you will hear from me.”

  • Court grants N7m bail to lovers for allegedly defiling 2 sisters

    Catherine Edet, 29, and her male lover, Chinedu Nwobodo, 30, were on Tuesday granted N7 million bail by an Ebute-Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos for allegedly defiling two sisters.

    . The trial judge, Mr A. T. Elias, admitted Nwobodo to a N5 million bail with two sureties, who are to deposit the sum of N250,000 each into the account of the court.

    Edet was, however, admitted to a bail of N2 million with two sureties each in like sum.

    The duo are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, defilement and failing to provide necessary care and endangering the health of the children in their custody.

    They both, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them.

    Earlier, the prosecutor, Sgt. Kehinde Omisakin, had told the court that the accused had committed the offences sometimes in December 2016 at Ikota Housing Estate, Ajah, Lagos.

    Omisakin alleged that Nwobodo, Edet’s boyfriend, was fond of defiling his lover’s two daughters, aged 9 and 12, whenever he visited.

    “When he had realised that his lover was fast sleep after she must have drunk to stupor, he would have intercourse with the two girls,” she said.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the offences contravened Sections 137, 245 and 411 of the Criminal law of Lagos State, 2015 as amended.

    The court adjourned the case until May 10.

  • Lagos counts its blessings at 50

    Lagos counts its blessings at 50

    Lagos State will clock 50 on May 27.  The state has over the years become the template for others and the Federal government in economic planning, revenue generation and budget performance. Assistant Editor LEKE SALAUDEEN writes.

    Lagos is in a celebration mood. The state government has lined up a 50-day programme to celebrate its 50th anniversary. The state, which was created on May 27, 1967, by the military administration of General Yakubu Gowon, when Nigeria was carved into a federation of 12 states, has remained intact 50 years after. It was formally part of the defunct Western Region, one of the four regions then.
    Lagos was annexed as a British Colony in 1861. When the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria were established in 1914, Lagos was declared its capital and it continued to serve in that capacity until December 12, 1991, when it was moved to Abuja.
    Justifying the golden jubilee celebration, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said it is a milestone that should to be documented for prosperity. He said: “Indeed, it has to be big because Lagos does not do things half measures. Three key reasons should explain why Lagos deserves a ball. One, it is a landmark anniversary. The golden jubilee anniversary of a person or an institution should not go unnoticed ordinarily. For Lagos, the need for celebration is even more pertinent. Of all the 12 states created in 1967 by General Yakubu Gowon, only Lagos State has remained indivisible. Nothing has touched it; no state has been carved out of it. It has never been severed. Its map has remained the same as it was 50 years ago.
    “Secondly, Lagos State deserves to count its blessings. This is a blessed state. Politically, and economically, it has proven to be the power house and nerve centre of the country. Other states come here to learn the art of modern and accountable governance and many are humble enough to admit and acknowledge it. Continuity is a word that finds home in Lagos.
    Ayorinde added: “Each time the Federal Government wishes to get it right, it usually relies on the ideas, support and manpower from Lagos. On the business and economy front, Lagos also holds the ace. This is a state that does not rely on oil to prosper; yet the Creator finds her worthy to be counted among the oil-producing states. The internally generated revenue (IGR) in Lagos alone is bigger than those of 32 states of the federation put together, while its gross domestic product (GDP) is bigger than those of Kenya and Ghana combined. If it were to be a country, Lagos would be Africa’s fifth largest economy.
    “This is Nigeria’s and West Africa’s commercial and creative hub. And equally important, if you look at the giant strides that the state has made in the last two years under Governor Akinwumi Ambode, with all the legacy and iconic projects that are lined up for commissioning throughout April and May, the need to have a grand ball becomes very evident.”
    Indeed, Lagos has become a pace setter in public sector financial management, rapid infrastructure development and good governance. Successive civilian administrations have continued to increase its IGR base. When the first civilian governor, Alhaji Lateef Jakande, assumed office in October 1979 the first thing he did was to review the state’s revenue generation. This is because he knew that the government’s programmes cannot be executed without money. Jakande examined the area of ground rents for government lands in Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Ebute-Meta, Ikeja and other key areas of the state.
    Since then, Lagos has remained one of the richest states in the country. His successors have continued to deepen the sources of revenue for the state. During the administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, the state called the buff of the Federal Government, when former President Olusegun Obasanjo seized part of the allocation of the state on the pretext that the state government created additional local councils. For more than a year that the Obasanjo administration withheld the allocation, Lagos State government was able to fund the 20 local governments, as well as the 37 newly-created Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs), to pay staff salaries and to execute capital projects.
    Through creative and innovative financial re-engineering, Tinubu took Lagos from a yearly IGR of N14.6 billion in 1999 to N60.31 billion in 2006. By March 2007, the state had achieved a monthly IGR of N8.2 billion. Under Tinubu, Lagos had become financially viable and autonomous of the federal government. Lives and properties had become more secure; public infrastructure was being aggressively expanded and modernised; there was dramatic improvement in the quality and efficiency public healthcare, education, the environment, water supply and public transportation. Lagos was attracting new investment in diverse sectors on a daily basis despite the depressing national economic climate.
    The Tinubu administration grew the budget size of Lagos State from N14.2 billion in 1999 to N240.8 billion in 2007. It is significant to mention that at no time under Tinubu that budget performance fell below 60 per cent. His administration had consistently maintained an annual budgetary ratio of at least 60-40 per cent in favour of capital over recurrent expenditure, to ensure rapid infrastructure development.
    In September 2002, Lagos was the first government in Nigeria to raise funds from the capital market for infrastructure development. This was in recognition of the fact that long-term funds were necessary for long-term projects. As a result, the state raised a N15 billion Floating Rate Redeemable to prosecute such development projects such as roads construction, millennium housing estates for the people, water works, construction and rehabilitation of courts, waste management projects and millennium classrooms among other things. The bond has since been fully redeemed and other states and even the Federal Government has copied the Lagos State model.
    In 2007, Tinubu handed over power to Mr. Babatunde Fashola to continue from where he stopped. Under Fashola, the state’s IGR leaped from N20 billion 2013 to N23 billion in 2014. The increase in revenue generation was one of the things that has kept the state working. The former Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning under Fashola,  Mr Ben Akabueze,  premised the administration’s  achievements on  the foundation laid by Tinubu. He recalled that Tinubu had, as a governor embarked on several socio-political strategies and policy initiatives that had ensured the transformation of Lagos from a cluster of slums to a model mega city. But, for the solid socio-economic foundation laid by Tinubu, the successes recorded by Fashola would have been impossible.
    Akabueze added: “There were many challenges that the government had to confront in its bid to make Lagos work. These include poor resource profiles, huge infrastructural gap, high crime rate, growing unemployment, inadequate infrastructural capacity, influx of immigrants from neighbouring states, prevalent poverty and socio-economic problems. All of these constituted disincentives to investments and threat to perceived opportunities.
    “Lagos State government under Fashola made a budget projection of about $50 billion to be spent within a period of 10 years. A breakdown indicated that water development would gulp $3 billion; road and drainage $20 billion; power $10 billion; information and communication technology (ICT) $5 billion; transportation, $9.3 billion and water and sewage $2.7 billion. In order to achieve all these, the government had to promptly deploy certain strategies.
    “These include: revenue diversification and deepening; enhanced transparency and accountability; efficient allocation of resources across sectors; tighter operating expenditure control; quarterly review of budget performance; more effective project monitoring; as well as pegging of capital and recurrent expenditure ratio at 60:40.”
    Akabueze said the success of the budgets had always been in the all sectors. For instance, in the ‘public order and safety’ sector, Fashola administration contributed immensely to the decline in crime rates in the state. He recalled that the state government established the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), purchased two helicopters for security  and emergency management, embarked on central security  surveillance (CSS), purchased 500 patrol vehicles, 18 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC) as well as arms and ammunition for the police command.”
    So far, the two-year old administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has changed the face of Lagos. The performance of the governor was put this way by Ayorinde: “The governor’s sterling first two years in office has become a demonstrable evidence of what to expect in the next two years and beyond. It is a very bright future for the state and we are grateful that we have a cerebral accountant who understands how to manage men and resources as governor of these trying times. He has been committed to the Lagos State Development Plan, paying great attention to all the four pillars of development as they affect the economy, security and the environment.”
    Ayorinde said Lagos is now blessed as an oil-producing state, but the state is not distracted by it. He added: “The aim of the governor is to ensure that in the next two to three years, the state’s IGR will account for 100 per cent of its revenue, so that we will hardly depend on the allocations from Abuja. In our strategic plan, this feat will provide the basis for our desire to grow the economy of the state to become Africa’s third largest in about three to four years. That’s our own Vision: 2020.
    “This is an administration that is running a government of inclusiveness, making sure no aspect of the state is neglected in its developmental strides. This is an administration that is convinced that the arts, entertainment and tourism as well as sports are veritable areas for job creation and youth engagement and is investing heavily in those sectors. This is an administration that pays high premium on security and is not only supporting the federal security apparatus but has blazed the trail in community security through the recently launched Neighbourhood Safety Corps,
    “This is an administration that is moving from a mega city to a smart city where technology will drive development, innovations and security. So when you hear the governor speaks about channelising the water ways and expanding the jetties and our capacity for more ferries; opening a new BRT corridor along Abule-Egba and Marina; proposing a 10-lane super highway from Oshodi to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport; working towards 3,000 mega watts of electricity through an embedded power generation and distribution programme for the state and approving the creation of a smart city project within the Ibeju-Lekki area with a new airport, because a state with 21 million people desires to be a tourism hub cannot run only on one international airport, you know that he is speaking about Lagos of the future.”
    Ayorinde is of the view that the future that Governor Ambode, like the founding fathers of modern Lagos desires is here already.
    Analysts say Lagos has cause to celebrate 50 years of excellence in pragmatic planning and execution, prudent management of resources, transparency in governance and the visionary leaders that have worked tirelessly to make Lagos a referral point point of good governance in the country.

  • ‘Lagos to provide potable water in all homes’

    ‘Lagos to provide potable water in all homes’

    Lagos State government is working to ensure every home is connected to potable water, the Managing Director of Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), Mr. Mumini Badmus, has said.
    Badmus, an engineer, who spoke at the headquarters of the corporation in Ijora, Lagos, said the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration is determined to provide potable water for residents, in conformity with the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.
    He said the government would inaugurate Imeke-Iworo, Surulere, Ishasi and Abule-Egba mini waterworks to commemorate the golden jubilee anniversary of the state.
    Badmus added: “Lagos Water Corporation has employed a pragmatic approach by developing Lagos Water Supply Master Plan (2000-2020) as a road map to solving the problem of water demand gap, and ensuring Lagos is water crisis free in future. For the corporation to achieve this, projects have been embarked on to increase the production and expansion of reticulation across the state.
    “The Adiyan waterworks is supplying 70 Million Gallons Per Day (MGD), and as part of expansion programmes, the government has embarked on the construction of Adiyan Phase 2 of 70MGD. When the reticulation is completed, it will serve three million residents.
    “The rehabilitation and expansion projects going on in parts of Lagos involve replacement of pipes and mains expansion to boost water supply. Some of the benefiting communities include Surulere, Itire, Yaba/Ebute-Meta, Iwaya, Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki.
    “The population of Lagos is over 20 million, and it is projected to hit 29 million by 2020. At present, water demand is 540MGD and supply is 210MGD, creating a gap of 330mgd.”
    He said the projected production based on installed capacity by 2020 would be 745MGD, when the demand would be 733MGD, noting that this would give excess of 12MGD.
    The managing director said as part of the present administration’s efforts to keep pace with the growth demand, Mosan-Okunola mini waterworks (2MGD) has been inaugurated, Ishasi waterworks has been upgraded to produce 4MGD and Otta-Ikosi regional water scheme of 4MGD capacity is supplying over 10 communities in Agbowa/Ikorodu.
    According to him, LWC has completed arrangement to embark on rehabilitation of 48 mini waterworks across the state to increase production and boost water supply.
    “Some of them are Surulere, Onikan, Lekki, Badore, Ajangbadi, Ikeja, Ikate, Ikorodu, Epe, Victoria Island Annex, Bariga, Oworonshoki, Ijora-Badia, Apapa, Iponri, Oshodi and Ikoyi. When completed, they will boost water supply. Rehabilitation is ongoing at our major waterworks in Iju, Adiyan and Akute for efficient service delivery.”
    Badmus said the corporation embarked on the installation of pre-paid meters in Lekki and Ikeja, adding that 15,000 units would be deployed in Surulere, Itire, Yaba/Ebute-Meta, Iwaya, Victoria Island, Victoria Island Annex and Lekki.
    “We have also deployed Nodal meters in our distribution networks for efficiency and management of water supply in parts of Lagos. These meters will be fitted with telemetry devices for time remote monitoring and management.”

  • ‘Lagos to provide potable water in all homes’

    ‘Lagos to provide potable water in all homes’

    Lagos State government is working to ensure every home is connected to potable water, the Managing Director of Lagos Water Corporation (LWC), Mr. Mumini Badmus, has said.

    Badmus, an engineer, who spoke at the headquarters of the corporation in Ijora, Lagos, said the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode administration is determined to provide potable water for residents, in conformity with the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.

    He said the government would inaugurate Imeke-Iworo, Surulere, Ishasi and Abule-Egba mini waterworks to commemorate the golden jubilee anniversary of the state.

    Badmus added: “Lagos Water Corporation has employed a pragmatic approach by developing Lagos Water Supply Master Plan (2000-2020) as a road map to solving the problem of water demand gap, and ensuring Lagos is water crisis free in future. For the corporation to achieve this, projects have been embarked on to increase the production and expansion of reticulation across the state.

    “The Adiyan waterworks is supplying 70 Million Gallons Per Day (MGD), and as part of expansion programmes, the government has embarked on the construction of Adiyan Phase 2 of 70MGD. When the reticulation is completed, it will serve three million residents.

    “The rehabilitation and expansion projects going on in parts of Lagos involve replacement of pipes and mains expansion to boost water supply. Some of the benefiting communities include Surulere, Itire, Yaba/Ebute-Meta, Iwaya, Victoria Island, Ikoyi and Lekki.

    “The population of Lagos is over 20 million, and it is projected to hit 29 million by 2020. At present, water demand is 540MGD and supply is 210MGD, creating a gap of 330mgd.”

    He said the projected production based on installed capacity by 2020 would be 745MGD, when the demand would be 733MGD, noting that this would give excess of 12MGD.

    The managing director said as part of the present administration’s efforts to keep pace with the growth demand, Mosan-Okunola mini waterworks (2MGD) has been inaugurated, Ishasi waterworks has been upgraded to produce 4MGD and Otta-Ikosi regional water scheme of 4MGD capacity is supplying over 10 communities in Agbowa/Ikorodu.

    According to him, LWC has completed arrangement to embark on rehabilitation of 48 mini waterworks across the state to increase production and boost water supply.

    “Some of them are Surulere, Onikan, Lekki, Badore, Ajangbadi, Ikeja, Ikate, Ikorodu, Epe, Victoria Island Annex, Bariga, Oworonshoki, Ijora-Badia, Apapa, Iponri, Oshodi and Ikoyi. When completed, they will boost water supply. Rehabilitation is ongoing at our major waterworks in Iju, Adiyan and Akute for efficient service delivery.”

    Badmus said the corporation embarked on the installation of pre-paid meters in Lekki and Ikeja, adding that 15,000 units would be deployed in Surulere, Itire, Yaba/Ebute-Meta, Iwaya, Victoria Island, Victoria Island Annex and Lekki.

    “We have also deployed Nodal meters in our distribution networks for efficiency and management of water supply in parts of Lagos. These meters will be fitted with telemetry devices for time remote monitoring and management.”

  • $43million recovered in Lagos not mine, says Amaechi

    $43million recovered in Lagos not mine, says Amaechi

    The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi has dismissed claims by the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike that the $43million found in a luxury apartment in Ikoyi area of Lagos belongs to him.
    Ameachi in a statement in Abuja on Saturday by his media office said he is not the owner of the $43million and the Ikoyi apartment in which the money was recovered does not belong to him.

    The minister also challenged Wike to charge him to court if he has any shred of evidence that the money belongs to Rivers State and was kept in the Ikoyi apartment by Amaechi.
    According to the statement: “Wike has stolen Rivers State dry. Wike and his gang have frittered billions and billions of Naira of Rivers people money away. Rivers State is perpetually in crisis, the state in a mess as Wike has made a total mess of governance in the State. That child who sits there as governor is confused, he doesn’t know what to do. Wike’s only solution is to attack Amaechi.”

    “Since he became governor, Wike sleeps and wakes up everyday, with a sole, one-point agenda to attack and denigrate Rotimi Amaechi, no matter how ridiculous and silly he sounds.

    “Everyday in Rivers State, there is one frivolous, false story of what Amaechi did or didn’t do. Same pattern, the same blatant lies with no proof, same old concocted stories of corruption allegations against Amaechi told with different flavours.

    “At this rate, if Wike is unable to perform his spousal duties, he will blame it on Amaechi. Yes, that’s how despicably low he can go in his consuming fixation to throw mud at Amaechi.”

    “This latest outburst by Wike is typical of him. We are aware that Wike first tried to float the fake news of Amaechi’s ownership of the recovered $43million and the Ikoyi house in the social media using his minions and lackeys, spending huge sums of Rivers money on the failed project.

    The statement further reads: “His minions and lackeys were calling journalists, bloggers and media organizations to run the fake story with promises of almost irresistible mouth-watering compensation for using the fake story.

    “When that failed and the story didn’t gain traction that was when Wike decided to hurriedly hold the press conference Friday night, to rant and spew his outright lies, yet again without providing any proof of Amaechi’s ownership of both the property and the money.”

    “For clarity and emphasis, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is not the owner of the $43million and the Ikoyi apartment in which the money was recovered from. Amaechi has no business, link or connection to the money or property. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi does not know who owns the money or Ikoyi apartment.”

    “Wike’s malicious allegation of corruption against Amaechi in the sale of the Gas Turbines is not new. This false claim has been punctured repeatedly with facts and evidence of the transfer payments for the power plants into Rivers State government accounts by Sahara Energy.

    “The records of how the funds were spent and what it was spent on are in the records of the State government. Amaechi has absolutely no business or any interest whatsoever in Sahara Energy. The company was already a thriving business concern before Amaechi’s emergence as governor of Rivers State in 2007.

    “We urge all right-thinking members of the public to completely disregard all the false, politically motivated no-proof claims by Nyesom Wike and his minions as it concerns Amaechi and the $43million and Ikoyi property.

    For clarity and emphasis, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi is not the owner of the $43million and the Ikoyi apartment in which the money was recovered from. Amaechi has no business, link or connection to the money or property. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi does not know who owns the money or Ikoyi apartment.”

    “Wike’s malicious allegation of corruption against Amaechi in the sale of the Gas Turbines is not new. This false claim has been punctured repeatedly with facts and evidence of the transfer payments for the power plants into Rivers State government accounts by Sahara Energy. The records of how the funds were spent and what it was spent on are in the records of the State government. Amaechi has absolutely no business or any interest whatsoever in Sahara Energy. The company was already a thriving business concern before Amaechi’s emergence as governor of Rivers State in 2007.

    “We urge all right-thinking members of the public to completely disregard all the false, politically motivated no-proof claims by Nyesom Wike and his minions as it concerns Amaechi and the $43million and Ikoyi property. The false accusations by Wike is purely diversionary, a political smear campaign against Amaechi by Wike, while he steals Rivers State blind. The fake claims is a figment of the imagination of Nyesom Wike, an ignoble fellow who’s so reckless, irresponsible, and disgraceful, and has debased the high office he holds in trust for the people. Wike is a rabble-rouser and should not be taken seriously. He has made several false claims like this in the recent past and never went the whole length to prove it because he had no proof. Many would recall how Wike was screaming all over national television stations just before the Rivers State legislative Rerun elections that he had an explosive video, containing earth-shaking revelations and he would show the video on national TV. Till date, no video, just talk talk and talk, telling more and more lies.”

    “Yet again, we challenge Wike to charge Amaechi to court if he has any shred of evidence that the money belongs to Rivers State and was kept in the Ikoyi apartment by Amaechi. But like his numerous frivolous accusations in the past, we know he won’t go to court. He has nothing to substantiate his blatant lies. This Wike’s recent tale like his previous ones is a big sham, a disgraceful political drama, and a campaign of calumny to defame and destroy the sterling reputation of Rotimi Amaechi. This is now Wike’s sole life ambition.”
    “The false accusations by Wike is purely diversionary, a political smear campaign against Amaechi by Wike, while he steals Rivers State blind. The fake claims is a figment of the imagination of Nyesom Wike, an ignoble fellow who’s so reckless, irresponsible, and disgraceful, and has debased the high office he holds in trust for the people.

    “Wike is a rabble-rouser and should not be taken seriously. He has made several false claims like this in the recent past and never went the whole length to prove it because he had no proof. Many would recall how Wike was screaming all over national television stations just before the Rivers State legislative Rerun elections that he had an explosive video, containing earth-shaking revelations and he would show the video on national TV. Till date, no video, just talk talk and talk, telling more and more lies.”

    “Yet again, we challenge Wike to charge Amaechi to court if he has any shred of evidence that the money belongs to Rivers State and was kept in the Ikoyi apartment by Amaechi. But like his numerous frivolous accusations in the past, we know he won’t go to court. He has nothing to substantiate his blatant lies.

    “This Wike’s recent tale like his previous ones is a big sham, a disgraceful political drama, and a campaign of calumny to defame and destroy the sterling reputation of Rotimi Amaechi. This is now Wike’s sole life ambition.”

    “Finally, we want Nigerians to note that Wike’s reckless, irresponsible and fictitious tirade against the President Buhari administration at his media briefing of Friday is a declaration of war against the Federal Government.

    “This has been his regular past time in recent times, making false allegations against the Federal government and threatening the President Buhari administration with fire and brimstone,” Amaechi stated.

  • 50 women get free gas cylinders in Lagos

    The Liquefied Petroleum Group (LPG), Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), on Friday in Lagos, donated 50 8.3kg gas cylinders free to women in Surulere area of the state.

    The donation was made in collaboration with Quaint Agencies Limited, an engineering firm and Our Saviours Anglican church, Surulere.

    Speaking, the Managing Director, Quaint Agencies Limited, Mr Bambu Ademiluyi, said that the project was a social responsibility programme.

    “This is a social responsibility programme which was borne out of the fact that Gov. Babatunde Fashola gave out some cylinders free to Lagosians.

    “The LPG group of the LCCI was the group that supplied all the 20,000; out of the profit that the group made, we decided to give out 1,500 cylinders free to Lagosians.

    “So, we decided to give out the cylinders in churches and mosques; we had given to the first set of beneficiaries at a mosque in Lagos on April 7.

    “We intend to continue this project to about eight other locations of the state including Mushin, Ikeja, Lekki areas of the state, “ he said.

    The managing director said that the essence of the programme was to create the awareness that LPG was safe to use through the women to their various communities.

    “The women are the main beneficiaries; it will affect their health positively and stretch their budget for fuel and LPG is cheaper and lasts longer, “ he said.

    Ademiluyi urged people to avoid close contact with gas and ensure safe use of gas, saying “once you do not allow any LPG to be trapped in any environment it is safe.

    “Once it escapes into the air and it can be diluted, it is okay; It is safe for as long as you manage it as it is supposed to be managed,” he said.

    Also speaking, the Vicar, Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Surulere, Ven. Folarin Shobo, urged well-meaning Lagosians to have compassion and reach out to people directly in need.

    Shobo said, “There are a lot of people in the state that are very poor; pensions are not coming up, salaries are not being paid.

    “Well-meaning Nigerians should go out of their comfort zone to ensure that the very poor in the society are supported so that activities can pick up and people can make a living.

    “What people need is to feed, have roof over their heads and take care of their children,” he said.

    Two beneficiaries of the programme, who expressed gratitude, said that they would ensure that they make effective use of the LPG.

    A beneficiary, Mrs Fatimah Saheed, said that she used kerosene to do most of her cooking and that her new gift would make cooking easier and faster for her.

    “I am grateful, because cooking used to be very tedious using kerosene, but now I can make my cooking easier and faster.

    Another beneficiary, a trader, Mrs Remilekun Idris said that the cooking gas would make cooking more hygienic.

    Idris said, “Cooking with my stove used to be very untidy and I spend a lot on kerosene; I learnt that using LPG is cheaper and now I will take advantage of