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Tag: lagos

  • Lagos warns against illegal dredging

    Lagos warns against illegal dredging

    Lagos State Ministry of Waterfront Infrastructure Development has warned dredgers against unauthorised dredging, saying it is inimical to the mode of operation leading to irreparable damage to the environment.

    It said the impact of uncontrolled dredging has constituted huge crisis along the coastline and has, therefore, prompted stringent rules to check unwholesome operations.

    State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Adebowale Akinsanya, who spoke during a stakeholders meeting in Alausa, Ikeja at the weekend, said the government has concluded plans to halt the issuance of dredging licences in certain areas of the state  to ensure regeneration and re-assessment of such places.

    He lamented that unapproved extension of properties into the lagoon without appropriate consultation has led to adverse effects of flooding and erosion.

    He said: “Henceforth, an internet based information system will become operational soon, where all requirements for each category will be available and a two-step process will be adopted in getting approvals for operation in the state. First, all applicants will get approval from the Lagos State government and then go to National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) for concurrent approval for all categories of permits. Temporary permits will no longer be entertained.”

    On the impact of human activities and its effect, an environmentalist, Dr. Regina Folorunsho blamed deterioration of natural habitat and the eco-system on activities such as sand mining, dredging, subsidence, negative land use, deforestation, dams including a host of others.

    She explained that while dams reduce the influx of sand into the state, dredging on the hand amounts to unevenness in the depth of the lagoon. She further condemned arbitrary creation of islands by individuals for commercial purposes, noting that it constricts the lagoon water flow.

    According to her, the coastal geosyncline along the entire Lagos coastal areas is composed of young sediments still undergoing the natural processes of dewatering and compaction. Such processes result in subsidence and ultimate lowering of the already low-lying coastal topography.

    She said: “The state should strengthen capacity for implementing integration area management plan; develop human and infrastructural capacity for checkmating erosion, flooding and salt water intrusion and develop capacity for modeling, evaluating and designing physical structures.”

    Area Manager, NIWA, Mu’Azu Sambo urged operators to observe the cardinal requirement of dredging operating tariff and see the collaboration with the state government in positive light in order to maintain a sustainable environment for businesses to thrive. “The need to carry out dredging in a way that would preserve water navigation and ecosystem is an essential consideration and has been a motivating factor in our collaboration with the state government in its plan for safe and secure dredging,” he said.

  • Lagos and changing face of BRT scheme

    SIR: With a population of about 18 million people, smallest state in Nigeria (357,700 hectares ) but the most populous, Lagos State is the hub of the nation’s economic activities. Forty-five percent of the country’s manpower resides in Lagos and as being experienced by emerging megacities worldwide, the issue of effective public transportation is one that residents have to daily contend with.

    It is in a bid to change the face of public transportation in Lagos state that the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) was introduced in 2008. The system operates on the concept of utilizing dedicated lanes in areas where competition with highway traffic would be greatest while it makes use of existing highways and roads in areas that are less congested in order to reduce cost. Since the implementation of the BRT scheme, it has become a reference point for other cities and countries.

    It has been the toast of commuters in Lagos because it is faster, safer, more reliable, more comfortable and cheaper. More importantly, it has also led to the reduction of accidents. In order to enhance service delivery of the BRT scheme, the Ambode administration recently launched over 400 air-conditioned buses on the ever busy Ikorodu road from Ikorodu roundabout to CMS. This is quite remarkable. It is now the in-thing for residents of this area to board these buses which now make their journey more predictable.

    One innovation that comes with the new buses is the introduction of the e-purse card that enables commuter buys their boarding tickets by loading their cards with preferable amount of money, as it applies to GSM phones. This makes boarding easier as owners of these cards do not have to queue for tickets. In addition, the BRT buses now work for 24 hours from Ikorodu to CMS, in order to further boost the socio-economic lives of the people.

    But in spite of the giant strides made by the state government in ameliorating the sufferings of the residents as far as transportation is concerned, there are some factors serving as clog in the wheel of progress in the sector. The first is the menace of ‘Okada’ (commercial motorcycle) riders who flout the state’s traffic law at will.  Another is lack of proper passenger flow control in BRT terminals. It is not uncommon to watch free boxing bouts at these terminals daily, a fall out of some passengers trying to play fast ones on others, either in an attempt to hurriedly purchase tickets or board the buses.

    On the whole, to address some of the challenges being encountered in the operation of the BRT scheme and to ensure a smooth ride for all Lagosians, the State Traffic Laws banning commercial motorcycle operators on major roads must be enforced to the letter. Equally, all non designated vehicles that pass through BRT lanes must be made to face the music. Also, proper crowd control must be ensured at all BRT terminals by employing more personnel for enforcement. In the same vein, traffic officers must be stationed at BRT bus stops to assist passengers in crossing the road by stopping on-coming vehicles that often choose to ignore the Zebra crossing signs.

    Also, the BRT scheme could be planned to include commuting within short distances within a particular local government or location. For instance, people commuting within Apapa, Ikeja, Island, Alimosho, Yaba etc could rely on BRT buses within the locations for their daily and routine movement. Once this is done and the operation of BRT in these locations becomes reliable, effective and efficient, more commuters would opt to leave their cars at home and would willingly embrace the BRT alternative. For the system to become more reliable, effective arrangements must be made for constant repair and refurbishment of buses in the BRT fleet. A well planned culture of maintenance must be embraced and strictly adhered to. The sorry state of some of the busses in the BRT fleet, before the recent government intervention, really makes this quite imperative.  

    • Adenike Ademola

    Lekki, Lagos.

  • ‘1.1m air arrivals processed last year in Lagos’

    Atotal of 1, 097,250 arrivals (inbound aircraft passengers) were processed, with 214 refused, last year by the Murtala Muhammed Airport Command of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

    The command’s Comptroller, Mrs. Chizoba Dibi, gave the figure at the weekend while briefing the Minister for Interior, Gen. Bello Dambazzau.

    Mrs. Dibi said the command also recorded 1,239,969 departures, adding that 424 people were refused exit.

    She said those denied departure included persons under watch list by the Federal Government as well as those who didn’t meet the requirements.

    The NIS comptroller added that the command received 4,938 regular deportees, 884 special deportees and 2,176 Nigerian returnees.

    According to her, five foreigners were repatriated through the command and one stowaway case was recorded.

    On the financial state of the command, Mrs. Dibi said $1.02 million was generated and $1.30 million was owed by airlines.

    The command, she added, owed the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) N61.3 million.

    She listed the challenges of the command as inability to recover debts from airlines, power failure, training, funding and others.

  • The awaiting glory of Lagos

    By the year 2025, it is projected that about 40 million people will be living in Lagos, Nigeria’s foremost mega society, the economic hub of West Africa and the most populated African community. Lagos is undoubtedly Nigeria’s second in terms of administrative complexities. It is often said that any Governor who can manage the city successfully can obviously manage the entire country.

    Towards the close of 7th Assembly, the former Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babatunde Fashola (SAN) addressed the Assembly in a special session to present clear situation of economic challenges based on dwindling financial situation as orchestrated by the federal government under former President Goodluck Jonathan as a result of sharp decline on federal allocations and refusal of the federal government to reimburse Lagos State on project executed on its behalf.

    Lagos with strong economic base and opportunities does not come without challenges especially managing a steadily rising population which has continued to put pressures on facilities, making big efforts from the government to translate into little impacts in the eyes of the populace.

    The emergence of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, a seasoned career accountant as Governor is a blessing to Lagos State at this critical economic relapse. A great money saver, prudent financial manager, astute believer in planning and steady approach to sustainable human development, Mr Ambode is an antidote against a financially staggered Lagos in a time like this. He comes with high profile in managing special financial situation as evident in the roles previously played in salvaging the state against gagging by the federal government under former ruling party, the PDP and precisely the Obasanjo administration when Lagos created 37 additional Local Governments. Then, Mr Ambode was the Accountant General of the state.

    The present picture is crystal clear that States’ revenues are fast decreasing. The fall in global price of crude oil coupled with excessive looting of national treasury has adversely affected our federal revenue and obviously its reflective impacts on the States. Our country has been put into a comatose that every State needs a genius as Governor to survive this trying time.

    If I am not sure of any other thing about Mr Governor, I am confident that he possesses the passion, coupled with skills and professionalism to turn our Lagos around for better. In few months of Akinwunmi Ambode administration, the Governor has made frantic moves that suggest Lagosians need not panic about the future.

    First, you see a Governor that is swift and very responsive to issues affecting his State. In addition, you see a Governor that is steady; he studies situations before coming out with policies. Governor Ambode took adequate time to review all administrative matters on his table before he started acting. As far as my knowledge of governance can take me, I believe there is no better way to ensure smooth transition from one administrator to another without hitch. Since then, every step taken by him is a pointer to governance that is inclusive, engaging and people oriented.

    Good governance is primarily about sound policy; whether it has immediate impact is another issue entirely. Governor Ambode hits the ground running by tackling headlong the security challenges in the State. The impact was immediate and effective. He began overhauling of the traffic management system and on the way to rolling out a traffic system suitable for addressing challenges posed by over two million vehicles that ply Lagos metropolis daily. The Governor recently reviewed partnership with transport union on LAGBUS and BRT in order to bring sanity and ensure decent, ideal conveyance for Lagosians while using public facility.

    As a legislator, I am aware that implementation of our laws is a serious issue given our peculiar mega environment. Conscious of the need to ensure our laws work effectively on government and the governed, the Governor recently inaugurated Board for the Lagos state Law Reform Commission which is a major step towards deepening democracy and the rule of law. Modern and civilized societies thrive on the quality of laws which regulate and guide actions of government, organizations, institutions and individuals. The dynamics of the law is relative to time and circumstances therefore demands that laws are revisited periodically to ensure their relevance and effectiveness.

    For every government that has succeeded globally, their policies on youth development are unbeatable. Realising the strength of young people, the need to see youth as strength of the nation rather than problems, coupled with the desire to inject energy into his administration as required by the reality of the time, Mr Ambode made youth empowerment one of the cardinal point of his campaign, which he has already started fulfilling. I am particularly happy with the establishment of Wealth Creation Ministry which is first of its kind in the entire country. This will drive our youth to productivity, self-reliance and creative sustenance. By signing the Employment Trust Fund bill into law, he has also demonstrated his readiness for high-level youth engagement. Tactically, the government will be proffering solutions to the economic challenges of the State and creating financial prospects in partnership with young people as N25 billion will be spent on entrepreneurship developments in the State channelled through the youth platforms. How smart! The One Lagos Fiesta that was put together in all divisions of the state to close the year 2015 with the youths also shows Mr Governor’s social ‘connect’ with the youth…the best way to go!!

    Interestingly, I am aware that civil servants were jokingly saying the Governor pays their salaries too early. Why not? He is civil service oriented and waits not for the sweat of labourers to dry as commanded by God. Even the out-of-service senior citizens or others who have one entitlement or the other are being promptly attended to in order to ensure no one goes to bed hungry while government is indebted to them. The Governor is also lighting up the state, improving night life and enhancing security of our communities day and night. Installation of over ten thousand CCTV camera will go a long way improving security situation and promote safety.

    As a lawmaker who is equally very passionate about seeing Lagos work, I am extolling the virtues of this administration to strengthen hopes of our people in what I believe will work. After our sleepless nights and hard-work at ensuring appropriation budget is timely attended to. The Governor, on the first working day of the new year signed the N662.588 billion Appropriation into law with a promise that the budget would be faithfully implemented in line with the determination of his administration to make Lagos work for all, irrespective of age, gender, tribe or status. What I see is a budget that will work. I see hope for our people!

    Ambode is building a Lagos for all – a Lagos where all can access opportunities for growth and development, not just a few people. We have challenges of a complex mega society but patience with this administration will help us more than any other factor to get to the Promised Land. Ours is a multi-ethnic society where every family all over the country has a representative. Our fight for special status on Lagos is undying and we shall resume the call with the Buhari’s administration.

    If you see what I see, a more prosperous Lagos beckons. We should take all it has to offer and also offer our best civic responsibilities. Governor Ambode is walking on the path of his predecessors who have achieved remarkable successes; of course Lagos has always been blessed with great Governors. Surely, I see Ambode becoming yet another glory for our dear Lagos after four years of exceptional turn-around of our mini Nigeria and a State known as the economic hope of Africa.

     

    • Olulade is a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, representing Epe Constituency II
  • Woman, 80, dies in Lagos fire

    Woman, 80, dies in Lagos fire

    An octogenarian was burnt to death yesterday when fire gutted her home in Maryland, Lagos.

    The duplex at 5, Tola Adewunmi Street in Wasinmi, Maryland, caught fire around 4am when she and her housemaid were asleep.

    The maid, simply identified as Mama Jossy, who lives in the boys quarters saw the fire and rushed upstairs to rescue her employer, but the apartment was filled with smoke.

    Mama Jossy ran back to seek help. But when sympathisers, neighbours and men of the Lagos State Fire Service got to the scene, the fire had razed the octogenarian’s room.

    The fire was quenched and the octogenarian’s body recovered.

    The victim, a medical doctor, simply identified as Helen was said to have practised in Saudi Arabia but returned to Nigeria last year after her retirement.

    She was said to be preparing to travel abroad on Saturday.

    Her remains have been deposited in a mortuary.

    A security man, who didn’t give his name, said the fire occurred few minutes after power was restored.

    He said her body may be taken to her home town in Delta State for burial.

    An eye witness, Madam Maria Etukudoh, described the fire as “strange”, saying it was the second within a year.

    She added: “She returned to Nigeria for her last child’s wedding and now the incident happened. Mama didn’t take things for granted and whenever she saw an unusual thing, she informed an electrician to make amendment. Also, she did not allow the use of petrol in the house. Only God knows what transpired.”

    Few hours to the incident, the victim was said to have asked her driver to take her to her relatives’ place to inform them about her planned trip.

    “Mama”, who lost her husband about a decade ago, was said to be billed for an operation abroad.

    Lagos State Fire Service Director Razak Fadipe said preliminary investigation showed the fire was caused by power surge.

  • Lagos to stop sales of alcohol, hemp at motor parks

    Lagos to stop sales of alcohol, hemp at motor parks

    •Public smokers for trial

    Lagos State Government is working with the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to flush out Indian Hemp and alcohol sellers at motor parks.

    Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Chief Executive Officer Christian Olakpe made this known at a Public Education and Enlightenment Programme held by LASTMA for articulated vehicles at Naval Park, Marine Beach, Apapa, Lagos.

    He said driving under the influence of alcohol and drug abuse were major causes of accidents by articulated vehicles, adding that LASTMA will not fail to enforce traffic laws.

    Olakpe said: “We are planning to partner with NDLEA to flush out these hangers-around who sell drugs and alcoholic drinks to them (drivers) anywhere we see them. We have also told them that when they are strapping their cargoes, they should strap them well and they should drive with reasonable speed.

    “LASTMA is coming with full enforcement because we are going to include court processes, ticketing and impounding vehicles, penalising erring motorists. It will be very tough and total for those who don’t want to key into the change mantra of traffic law of Lagos.”

    Lagos State chapter of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) Publicity Secretary Comrade Tayo Aboyeji hailed LASTMA for the programme, saying it is coming at the right time and will complement the association’s efforts.

    Also yesterday, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) General Manager Bola Shabi said those who smoke in public would, henceforth, be prosecuted.

    Shabi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that this would ensure high standard of safety in public places and ensure a sound well-being for residents.

    He hoped that before the end of June, public smoking would have been reduced.

    “People have started reducing their smoking habits in open places especially due to health reasons,’’ he said.

    Shabi said those who did not comply with the directed would be sanctioned.

    The General Manager said LASEPA had also warned events’ centre owners against indulging their customers on public smoking, stating that they must paste a non-smoking sign in such facilities

  • Lagos strategises to improve performance in schools

    Lagos strategises to improve performance in schools

    With plans to build new schools, recruit qualified teachers, introduce school meals, and increase the number of technical colleges among others, the Lagos State government is expecting to improve education service delivery in its public primary and secondary schools.

    Deputy Governor of the state, who is also the Commissioner for Education, Dr Idiat Adebule said the government would use the 17 per cent share for education in the 2016 budget to achieve these goals – as well as the $42.3 million World Bank long term loan for the Eko Secondary Education Project.

    In an interview with journalists, Dr Adebule said the Eko Project fund will be used to fund the IBILE (Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos-Island and Epe) Tablets it plans to purchase for secondary school pupils.

    “Given the importance of the tablet as a tool for learning, the senior students will be the first beneficiaries of the tablet that would be deployed soon. We will be providing for students in the 324 schools in the state,” she said.

    Mrs Adebule also showcased the IBILE prototype school buildings the state plans to build in areas of need around the state.

    The three-storey u-shaped structure will boast of 15-18 classrooms, four laboratories, library and media centre, a lobby to showcase trophies and historical artifacts, art room, conveniences, cafeteria, applied technology room, administration and counseling office, among others.

    “It would be sited in schools and community that needs it. We know that there so many schools or communities demanding or schools or additional structures, we will yield to their cries,” she said.

    Mrs Adebule said Lagosians should also be expecting the establishment of new technical colleges to add to the existing five, naming Badagry as a likely location for one of the colleges.

    In addition to physical infrastructure, the Deputy Governor said the state would be focusing on how to improve performance in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), which presently stands at 37 per cent.

    “We are determined to provide enriched educational experience for our students through the provision of quality standards. There would also be a deliberate attempt to improve on pass rate for Lagos State students at the WAEC and NECO examinations from the present 37 per cent.

    “We are aware that majority of the public secondary schools in the state lack essential amenities such as water, electricity and toilet facilities, thus the need for the state government to provide and also ensure safety and friendly environment for learning in our schools,” she said.

     

  • Lagos shuts six firms over N32.17m tax evasion

    The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has shut six companies for failure to remit a total of N32.17 million deducted as personal income tax of their employees to the state government.

    Head, Distrain Unit of LIRS, Mrs Ajibike Oshodi-Sholola, disclosed this while speaking in Lagos yesterday.

    Oshodi-Sholola said the companies were audited by LIRS between one and five years ago, but the companies had not been meeting their tax obligations to the state till date.

    She said the period of the tax liabilities of the companies were from 2009 to 2013, adding that the LIRS went to court and obtained an order to seal the companies since they refused to pay these taxes after many years of been audited.

    She said tax payment was a civic responsibility of everyone and that companies had no reason for not remitting taxes of workers to the government.

    According to her, the affected companies are into communication, security management, shipping and pharmaceutical, among others.

    Oshodi-Sholola, however, advised that companies could contest or object to tax liabilities given to them within time allowed for consideration by the service.

    She said the service usually gave 30 working days after the demand notice letter was issued for companies to contest or object to tax liabilities.

    According to her, large numbers of firms usually object or contest their liabilities after the time allowed.

    He said this was the reason the LIRS was not acting on their requests in most cases.

    “If a company thinks it is not contented with the liability given to it, it can contest it and the LIRS may amend the debt. But it is necessary they do that within the timeframe because if they contest after the given 30 working days, the LIRS tax enforcement team will still come to seal their companies,” she  told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN). .

  • Lagos to light up streets, schools

    Lagos to light up streets, schools

    The Lagos State Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources will light up all the streets in Lagos and 172 schools in the rural areas, the Commissioner, Mr. Olawale Oluwo has said.

    Oluwo, who spoke during the unveiling of light up Lagos campaign and the commissioning of some projects in Ikeja said the campaign is imperative to educate the public on the purpose of light up Lagos project and its importance to the people, adding that a community in Badagry was lit up after having black out for 16 years.

    Oluwo said: “We are taking street lights to all the streets in Lagos and not just the major highways, but also the third Mainland Bridge, and Ikorodu roads. Light up Lagos initiative is the idea of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode who used it in his campaign. The Light up Lagos project is not just about street lighting but we also intend to light up all healthcare centres both at the local and metropolitan levels, and water corporations in Lagos so that people can have light 24 hours, as well as public schools and most importantly their libraries, staff quarters, among others.”

    The Commissioner said the United Kingdom deployed solar panels to 172 schools in Lagos rural areas, and trained people to make sure the deployed solar equipment is readily available.

    He said Lagos State as a government do not generate, transmit, distribute or supply the gas to power generation companies, but the investors who bought the power assets following the privatisation programme of the Federal Government are to make it happen. Lagos state Government has the responsibility to ensure that while the private sector people are setting out, the government must be with them as a partner to ensure that there are no bottlenecks.

    He said lots of enforcements need to be put in place to avoid the issue of bypassing meters and power theft. Those are the areas the government is concerned about, he added.

    Light up Lagos concept is divided into six, power advisory committee, independent power supply at Lekki, Berger, Alausa, among others.  Lagos State is moving away from providing to itself, institutions to working with stake holders to make sure they transmit power to the people.

    The street lighting project aims at putting all the street lights into operation, adding that sometimes management of the street light project is difficult because other agencies such as Lagos State Electricity Board, Lagos State Ministry of works, New Town Development Authority, Local Governments have stakes. Even at the federal level, we have Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, some Senators and House of Representatives members have powered street lights as part of their social responsibility, he added.

  • Two held for armed robbery in Lagos

    Two men have been accused of robbing a speedboat operator of cash and other items valued at N1.3 million in the Agura area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.

    It was alleged that on November 24, 2005 at about noon, Olawale Majeofodun (39) and Obapolo Benjamin (27) both from Igbokoda in Ondo State, and three other men accosted one Sunday Elebiju while he was standing near his speedboat at the Agura area of Ikorodu.

    They threatened to kill him with guns and charms and ordered him to take them in the boat to an unknown destination. When they got there, he was robbed of a cash sum of N500, 000 and a Samsung Galaxy Note 5 phone valued at N50, 000.

    The men also removed the speedboat engine valued at N750, 000 before escaping.

    They were arrested by the Police Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, and arraigned before a Lagos State Magistrates’ Court in Ikorodu on Friday, on a two-count charge of conspiracy and robbery.

    Prosecuting Corporal Abosede Adegesin (Mrs.) informed the court that the men committed the alleged robbery while armed with two locally made guns.

    The offences, she added, were punishable under Sections 409 and 295(2) of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.

    The men’s pleas could, however, not be taken.

    Chief Magistrate O. O. Olatunji directed that the case file should be sent to the Lagos Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). He ordered that both men be remanded in prison custody pending the DPP’s advice.

    The case was adjourned till February 25.