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Tag: lagos

  • Ambode rescues accident victim in Lagos

    Ambode rescues accident victim in Lagos

    In what could be best described as a show of concern, Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday alighted from his vehicle to assist in the rescue of an accident victim.

    The victim, Miss Anukam Angela, who was driving alone in a wine-coloured Toyota Corolla car with registration number EKY 415 CG, at about 8:15am, lost control and ram into the median of the road along Osborne Road, Ikoyi before the vehicle somersaulted.

    Worried by what could have befallen the occupants of the car, Governor Ambode who was heading to the office, through the direction before the incident occurred, ordered his convoy to stop at the scene so as to enable him access the situation as well as help rescue the passengers.

    The Governor immediately instructed the ambulance attached to his convoy to convey Miss Angela, who was in a state of shock, and could barely move or talk, to be taken to the Lagos Island General Hospital for treatment.

    Angela’s sister, Amaka, who was contacted shortly after the incident, said she was treated for minor injuries and discharged free of charge on the order of the Governor.

    She said the ambulance also conveyed her sister back to her residence at 3, Efosa Ehiedu Close, off Modupe Thomas Estate, Ajah, while the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) assisting in towing the vehicle away from the roadside to prevent traffic gridlock.

    According to the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Habib Aruna, “What the governor has done is typical of him. It is indeed a demonstration of his concern to the wellbeing of every resident and Miss Angela is not an exception”.

    “He has also with this act, shown his commitment to an all inclusive approach in protecting the lives and property of citizens in the state.”

  • Why land is highly priced in Lagos

    Why land is highly priced in Lagos

    Acquiring a land anywhere in Nigeria can be a very difficult thing especially if you don’t have proper information on the property you want to acquire.

    Opinions differ on the accessibility of quality space for property, especially in Lagos.

    However, one man who should know better, Barrister Ezenne Solomon provides an insight on the beauty of becoming a house owner without the usual vigour and stress.

    “Property is a very technical aspect of law and you don’t just jump into it,” the Ichida-born lawyer told The Nation. “What I have come to understand is that everyone needs a professional in anything you do.

    Pressed further, he said: “For instance, when you go for an operation, a surgeon is needed so also if you want to get a property you need a property lawyer because so many lawyers don’t understand property.

    “Some families use their lands for farming and don’t need the government to give permits before they could do that. Every property you buy is a lease from government for 99 years although it ought to be 100, that’s what the C of O gives you.”

    Continuing, he said: “If I’ve acquired a property and I have a C of O for it and wants to sell after 30 years – what you will buy from me is the remainder of the 100 years.”

    The Principal Counsel at Ezenne and Associates Law firm who also doubles as the Managing Director of Green Pastures Interbiz Projects Ltd explained that the federal government can make life easier for practitioners by reviewing the Land Use Act.

    “Believe me they can help a lot because land in Lagos is like Oil in the Niger-Delta. The federal government needs to change the Land Use Act because that lease-hold is a problem and those who don’t know the legal frame work of property business are easy to dispose of their land,” he said.

    On the challenges he faced so far in dealing with clients, he explained that getting title for property in Lagos State can be cumbersome and expensive.

    “While trying to get our C of O, sometimes we have to pass that burden to the subscriber and some don’t find it funny. Getting the C of O of a particular property, for example 20 million now and the government in the next few months review it to 50 million – how do you reconcile that? And you’ve already set the property at a fix prize, now if you go touch the price the clients will complain and some might walk away so this is the major problem we face.”

  • Another building collapses in Lagos

    Another building collapses in Lagos

    A building, which serves as a warehouse collapsed on Monday night on Orile-Coker axis of Lagos.

    The three-storey building, which has a few shops for merchants and goods such as various plumbing materials, tiles and ceramics.

    Residents of the area, while reliving incident said the collapse was accompanied by shattering sounds and loud noise.

    Although, no one was hurt when the incident occurred, but goods worth millions of naira were buried under the rubble.

    Officials of the Lagos State Building Agency (LASBA), were at the scene to unravel the possible cause of the collapse.

     

  • Activists advise Lagos on water policy

    Two rights activists, Akinbode Oluwafemi of the Environmental Rights Action and Shayda E Naficy of the Corporate Accountability International, have advised the Lagos State government not to privatise water.

    The duo, in a an article published on brettonwoodsproject.com,  said: “Today in Lagos, 90 per cent of the city’s 21 million residents lack daily access to safe water. Millions rely on costly or unsafe water sources, such as poorly regulated wells and boreholes. For many Lagosians, water arrives not through pipes to their homes, but through shared standpipes – or worse, or in jerry cans or cellophane bags from sources unknown to them, at a mark-up charged by those few who have access. For many, this presents an impossible choice between paying for clean water or paying for food, transportation, school fees, or clothing costs.

    “The World Bank holds much of the blame for the current state of affairs. For almost three decades it has promoted the privatisation of water systems in Nigeria, strong-arming water policy and impeding the development of adequate public systems.

    “The World Bank Group must abandon its harmful corporatisation and privatisation policies in favour of funding for the development of robust, accountable, and well-functioning public water systems

    “In 1988 and 1999, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank’s private sector arm, advised the Lagos state government to “reform” the water sector and privatise Lagos State Water Corporation, the body charged with providing water to Lagos’s residents. Likewise, the Bank’s first National Urban Water Sector Reform project, instigated in 2002, drove privatisation which it misleadingly called “public private partnership” (PPP). The Bank’s plan failed miserably: it crowded out any effort to build a functioning public water system; profit-oriented water corporations had no interest in building the infrastructure we need. After the Bank’s plans fell through, its central recommendations were nevertheless folded into a 2004 law. Pushed through in secrecy despite opposition, the legislation corporatised Lagos’s water utility, paving the way to privatisation by prioritising bill collection, metering and profitability rather than universal access.”

    They added that: ” Newly elected Lagos state governor Akinwunmi Ambode has promised to work for safe and affordable water, rekindling hopes for a new official policy that will promote public water systems that work. We look forward to collaborating with him in the coming years to stop the failed World Bank policies and fulfil the human right to water. Together we can develop a water system that is democratically accountable, publicly managed, and delivers to all Lagosians the clean, affordable water we need to live.”

  • Lagos, Ogun FRSC rewards officers for rejecting bribes

    Lagos, Ogun FRSC rewards officers for rejecting bribes

    NO fewer than 334 officers of Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) serving in Lagos and Ogun states were rewarded for rejecting bribes from motorists who violated traffic rules.

    The Lagos and Ogun Zonal Commander, Nse-Obong Charles Akpabio said the officers stood to the truth.

    The FRSC chief urged the officers to continue with their loyalty and committed to the service.

    ‘’You must shun any act that will drag the name of the Corps to disrepute. FRSC has good image. It is no longer a matter of you even resisting bribe, but a matter of you exposing those among you who usually involve themselves in the dirty act of extorting road users,” he said.

    He urged the Sector Commands to increase their surveillance patrols, noting that the corps had declared war against bribery and corruption and would ensure the policy was sustained.

    He explained that the new thinking of the corps would ensure that there was adequate consultation with its officers and men, adding that the hardworking ones would be adequately rewarded and those found wanting would be copiously sanctioned.

    He ordered the Sector Commanders to ensure they organised road safety clubs in schools and to ensure all weekly activities reports of the commands were submitted to his office weekly.

    He also appealed to vehicle owners to stop allowing underage to drive vehicles on the highway. He added that no vehicle owner was expected to drive with worn-out tyres, especially during wet season.

    He urged trucks owners to install speed limiter on their vehicles before September 1. He noted that any haulage vehicles without the device would be arrested and impounded.

    The Itori Unit Head of Operations, Mr Olumide Adebajo (CRC) who spoke on behalf of the recipients, thanked the Corps for the award.

  • Lagos presents cheques to fire victims

    Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, on Tuesday redeemed his promise to assist victims of recent tanker fire explosions in Iyana-Ipaja and Idimu areas of the state with the distribution of cheques to 243 victims enumerated by the government.

    The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Dr. Oluranti Adebule, at the event held at the Igando Rehabilitation Centre, Igando, urged the beneficiaries to utilise the government’s widow’s mite and return home to rehabilitate themselves as much they could.

    “We know that what government has given is not enough but with the belief that you are going to put it to judicious use, it would go a long way to help out. Please stay peaceful and remain focused.

    “We want to you to go back home and rehabilitate yourself as much as you could. The good Lord would continue to be with you. We pray not to witness this kind of incident again. We share in your feelings and urge you to continue to give your support to this administration,” the governor said.

    He urged citizens to continue to be patient and join hands with his administration, adding that the government is going to be very responsive and has already demonstrated that by the financial assistance.

    Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs, Dr. Aderemi Desalu, said from the Iyana Ipaja incident, 76 persons were recommended for financial assistance out which seven were landlords and got N500, 000 each. 64 others who were shop owners each got N150, 000, while five tricycle operators got N50, 000 each.

  • I‘ll strengthen security in Lagos

    The new Lagos State Commissioner of Police Fatai Owoseni has said that he will see the structure on ground to know how to improve security.

    He promised to keep Lagosians sleep with eyes closed.

    Owoseni said this promise while taking over from Kayode Aderanti at the Police command headquarter, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos yesterday.

    He hailed Aderanti for a job well done.

    He appealed to journalist on the importance of their inputs on how they the command could re-strategise.

    “Feel free to come to me, I will operate open door policy,” he said.

    He said he and Aderanti are brothers and had attended foreign mission together.

    Handing over to Owoseni, Aderanti expressed optimism that Lagos will be better under Owoseni.

    “As I step out and he step in; he can also crack crime even with greater vigour; he will not allow criminals to be on the loose. He has finest officers on ground to work with. Lagos is important that we should do everything possible not to destroy it.

    Nobody commits crime in Lagos and get away with it. It may be long but he must be caught,” he said.

  • Lagos Dep Gov hosts mother of twins

    Lagos Dep Gov hosts mother of twins

    Lagos State Deputy Governor, Dr. Idiat  Oluranti  Adebule Monday hosted Mrs. Ruth Uche and her twins, who were abandoned by her husband, Mr Benjamin Uche.

    The visit of Mrs Uche to the Deputy Governor’s office is a follow up to the directive of the Governor of the State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode who directed that the woman and her children be rehabilitated and assisted by all relevant government agencies to ensure they are in good condition.

    Speaking while hosting the woman at her office, the Deputy Governor sympathized over the traumatic   experience she has faced in trying to raise the six children following the disappearance of her husband, assuring that the government of Lagos State is ready to come to her aid and ensure the well-being of her children.

    “As a woman and a mother, I can only imagine what you have gone through managing six children, it must have been energy sapping and depressing, but I salute your courage and I want to assure you that this government will not abandon you, we will stand by you and ensure that you are assisted to get back to a normal life,” Adebule assured.

    She thanked the woman for coming forward to seek help rather than abandon the children, which some other people would have done, noting that if she dumped the children by the road side, it would still have been the lot of government to take custody of the children and ensure their well-being but her presence and determination to raise her children further encouraged the government to offer the necessary assistance.

    The Deputy Governor added that the Governor had approved the release of some amount of money, which the deputy governor stated will be paid into an account and part of it will be used to attend to some of the immediate needs of the children and their mother, adding that officials from the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation have been directed to provide the necessary logistics support to her.

    Dr Adebule however advised the run-away husband to come forward and take up the responsibility of caring for his family, admonishing him to be appreciative of the divine blessings that have come his way through the children.

    Responding, Mrs Uche thanked the State Government for assisting and supporting her, noting that the love shown to her and her children could only have come from a government that truly cares about the well being of its people.

    Highlight of the visit was the presentation of the token from the government to Mrs Uche by the Deputy Governor.

  • Lagos plans reconstruction of Ladipo market road

    Lagos plans reconstruction of Ladipo market road

    Lagos State Government on Sunday indicated plans to reconstruct the popular Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market Road and other connecting roads to enhance vehicular movement within the axis.
    The plan was disclosed when government officials inspected some road networks in the Papa Ajao and Ladipo Spare Parts Market areas in Mushin and Oshodi/ Isolo Local Government Areas of the State with a commitment to commence rehabilitation that would make the roads motorable.
    Permanent Secretary in the State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Bamgbose-Martins who led the inspection said plans are underway to get the contractor working on the Daleko Road back on site to finish the remaining portions of the road.
    “We need to get the contractor back on site, have them fill it up at least so that it becomes motorable”, he said.
    Martins who was joined by the General Manager, Lagos State Public Works Corporation, Ayotunde Sodeinde, the Chief Press Secretary, Habib Aruna and other officials of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, said palliative measures would be applied by the Public Works Corporation on other roads and craters in the Papa Ajao area.
    On the state of Ladipo Market Road, he ruled out the option of carrying out palliative work saying that what the road needs is total reconstruction.
    “One of the things you would observe here is that the road here is gone, in terms of standard road, it’s gone. It’s not a case for palliative; it’s not a case for patching. This is a case where the road has to be totally reconstructed.
    “In other words, we need to redesign it to fit into the habits and the use that is here. It’s a market. There are rocks here, so it is still motorable, even if it rains, it is motorable. So PWC can’t come here and put asphalt because it’s not going to last. If they put asphalt, the next rain, it will wash off,” he said.
    He however said the State will list the road in its plan of work for next year as some other roads in the State need urgent attention.
    “It is still passable now, but what we need here is a full construction. When we are going to do anything, we are going to redesign it and then we have to reconstruct from the beginning, that’s the situation here, but for now, at least it’s motorable”.
    “If we allow Public Works Corporation (PWC) come in here, we would just come and waste resources, but we’ll redesign it. We’ll probably take the option of using concrete pavement, we call it reinforced concrete, rigid pavement and the reason why we consider that is because there’s a market here and what it means is that heavy vehicles will come here, you’re going to have tankers, trailers come in here with heavy axle loading”.
    “Some of them would even park here. Any road here that we don’t put in a lasting solution will fail. So this would be one of the things we would begin to look at next year, it’s not going to be an immediate thing, but between now and then we’ll do the design of the road. Even the soil effect is affected, we’ll have to rip it off and do it all over again”.
    He cautioned the traders in Ladipo Market area against parking containers and articulated vehicles on the roads, saying the roads are not designed for such heavy stationery load.
    “The roads are not designed for trailers to park on them. This is what we saw when we went to Apapa. You have trailers parking on the Bridges permanently and that’s what you call static loading, it’s not designed for that. The bridge won’t collapse, but overtime, there’ll be fatigue. The same thing that can happen to the bridge, can also happen to the roads,” he said.

  • IGP deploys CPs in Lagos, Rivers, Ogun

    IGP deploys CPs in Lagos, Rivers, Ogun

    The Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has ordered the posting of new Commissioners of Police to Lagos, Ogun, Rivers and other formations in the Force headquarters.

    In a statement by the Deputy Force PRO, Abayomi Shogunle, the new posting is expected to reduce the crime rate in the affected states.

    The statement read: “It is expected that the new postings will reverse the crime wave in the affected states and also strengthen the administration in the Force headquarters formations”.

    The commissioners affected by the posting and the states they are posted to are; “CP Ajani Fatai Owoseni; Lagos State, CP Chris Ezike; Rivers State, CP Abdulmajid Ali; Ogun State.

    Other CPs posted to formations in the Force headquarters are: “Dan Bature; Intelligence FCIID Abuja, CP Valentine Ntomchukwu, CP Admin Department of Logistics and Supply, Abuja, Hyelasinda Kimo Musa; CP Fed. Special Anti Robbery Squad, Abuja, CP Kayode Aderanti; CP Admin, department of Operations Abuja, CP Ibine; CP Port Authority Eastern Command; CP Ogbusua Aja Oleh, CP Provost, Abuja”.