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Tag: lagos

  • One injured as fire raze Mobil station in Lagos

    One injured as fire raze Mobil station in Lagos

    Fire. Service blames fuel scarcity for rising petrol related inferno

    A yet-to-be identified person on Wednesday sustained injury with several vehicles burnt following an inferno that engulfed one of Mobil’s filling stations in Lagos.
    The incident which occurred at about 6:05am, was said to have been caused after an iron that  punctured a tanker laden with 33,000 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at Oba Akran.
    Eyewitnesses said the tanker was trying to negotiate its way into the filling station to offload its content but motorists on queue at the station refused to give it passage for fear of being dislodged.
    Having blocked the entrance and with none willing to leave the road for the tanker to get into the station, the motorists were said to have been directing the tanker how to wriggle its way until an iron punctured the tanker and PMS started gushing out.
    When they saw that there was impending disaster, some of them quickly drove off while the unfortunate ones. Including two buses and two cars were razed, said an eyewitness.
    The federal and state Fire Services personnel; National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) were onground on time to contain the situation.
    According to the Director, State Fire Service, Rasaq Fadipe and NEMA’s SouthWest spokesman, Ibrahim Farinloye, the injured man was trapped by an electric pole, which fell as a result of the inferno.
    Farinloye confirmed that two cars and two buses were razed, just as he stated that the fire was put off at about 7:30am with four fire fighting tanks including one belonging to the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN).
    “A guy of about 25 years, an onlooker, was injured by the pole because the PHCN pole fell on him. He was quickly taken away by LASAMBUS for treatment.
    “We have always warned that except for fire service personnel, everyone else including other emergency stakeholders during fire outbreaks should stay 300metres away.
    “Also, we have appealed to people who have no business in emergency situations to stay off, all these steps are to ensure adequate crowd control as well as avoid situations such as this,” said Fadipe.
    On why there was an upsurge in petrol related infernos in the last two weeks, Fadipe said the situation was not unconnected to fuel scarcity.
    “As a result of fuel scarcity, some people have resorted to storing massive petroleum products even in overhead tanks as was discovered in the case of Christ Embassy Church the Tuesday night.
    “Also, because people know that Mobil always has fuel, that was why they queued there this morning to the point of not allowing the tanker entrance.
    “It is obvious they were too impatient and feared others will take over their lines if they should give thw tanker passage.
    “I want to appeal to Lagosians that in as much as there is scarcity, people should avoid risking their lives.
    “All that is required is patience and everyone will get fuel. People should avoid storing up petroleum products especially large quantities because it is risky.
    “Also, they should endeavour to contact firemen immediately there is an outbreak. If we are called early, we can bring the situation under control without loss of lives and properties,” Fadipe said.

  • Why we are inaugurating children’s lounge

    Why we are inaugurating children’s lounge

    Lagos State has again blazed the trail in the judiciary with the inauguration of first ever children’s court and as required by the Child’s Rights Act. The lounge is intended to care for children, who most of the time, bear the consequences of divorce. The state Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips and head of the Family Court, Lagos Judicial Division, Justice Yetunde Idowu spoke on this issue and other sundry ones in an encounter with Adebisi Onanuga.

    Lagos State judiciary inched forward in the implementation of Child Rights Act 2007 with the inauguration of a lounge for the children in family courts last week.

    The lounge was equipped with children’s story and toy books; exotic toys and children games of different kinds; couches and other electronic items such as television; water dispenser; cookies and candies.

    Lagos State Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Phillips described the lounge, established by virtue of Section 150 of the Child’s Right Act, as novel and the first of its kind in all the 19 states that have adopted the law.

    Justice Phillips, who was represented by the Head Judge, Justice Funmilayo Atilade said the lounge would remove the children from the psychological influence they would have suffered if told the divorce story of their parents.

    The head of the Family Court, Lagos Judicial Division, Justice Yetunde Idowu explained that the purpose of creating children’s lounge is in accordance with the Child Rights Act, which forbids anyone from having a child where issues concerning adults are being discussed. “Normally, when you have a matter, for instance, custody matter in a matrimonial court, when you talk about issues in divorce, you would expect some funny and dirty details. That is not good for the upbringing of the child and is also not good for the psyche of the child to be present when these things are being said,” she said.

    She continued: “So, while we are tackling that, the child will be brought to the lounge and taken care of. We don’t want to expose our children to all these dirty things being said in the matrimonial court. So they are here and are taken care of and when their parents are ready to go, they would take them.”

    Justice Idowu said sometimes, there could be a need for the family court magistrate or judge to have a talk with the children and would want to have it in a conducive atmosphere. She said in such situation the court room is not a friendly place. “We don’t want to expose the children to that and with this kind of environment, you know children, when they are comfortable, they tell you the truth so that you know the way to go forward. That is the essence of setting up a place like this,” she said.

    Justice Idowu disclosed that the children’s lounge is the first to be inaugurated by the Lagos State judiciary and each family court would have a place like that attached to it.

    According to her, there are 10 family courts manned by Chief Magistrates and two by judges in Lagos State are spread around different areas in the state.

    On cases of child defilement, which are on the increase of late, she said a place like the children’s lounge would help to take evidence from victims, who sometimes may view the court as a hostile place.

    “If they are brought to court to testify, I think this would be an ideal place to take their evidence rather than take their evidence in court,” she said.

    The state, according to her, has a similar place for victims of child abuse, child rape or defilement and others. “I am aware there is a centre where the victims can be taken to, where a psychologist can have a session with them. We are not psychologists, they are. So while we are handling the hard core cases, children can be brought here, we can have a chat with them and they would tell you what happened and that would help in the prosecution and adjudication of the matter,” she said.

    Justice Idowu does not see any need for a review of the criminal law to make the punishment for child defilement stiffer and curb the increasing trend. According to her, what is in the criminal code is stiff enough to deter a potential child rapist.

    “I think the present punishment we have is enough, but that is my own personal opinion. But I think we should tackle more, the fundamental things that are wrong. It starts from the home. A girl must be told that nobody has the right to touch her without her consent. Mothers must be told that they must protect their children from all these people. For instance, if you ask me, a man of 20 years or an adult going after a young girl, we need to tell them that girl child marriage is not something we should encourage. I think the punishment is enough. If someone is convicted, that punishment is ideal”.

    Justice Idowu disagreed with claims by lawyers that absence of witnesses to acts of rape makes conviction difficult. She said this does not happen in all cases as there are other evidences that are considered. She, however, emphasised: “In a situation where somebody was there, that person can come to court and give evidence on what he or she saw. Most of the time, these things are committed in camera, not in the open. If I am in the open, I don’t think any normal being would come and want to defile a child near me. I would of course shout.

    “So in most cases they are not done in the open and they create fear in the mind of these children that ‘if you tell anybody, I would do this to you; I would do that to you’, that is why children need to take their parents into confidence. Parents too must be close to their children so that if anything is happening to a child, the child would feel free to talk to them,” she said.

     

  • Lagos decries allocation of wetlands by Fed Govt

    Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment Tunji Bello has blamed the Federal Government for the indiscriminate allocation of land in the state, especially those around natural water channels and under high tension wires, saying such acts have grave effect on communities.

    He cited the alleged approval given to some land owners at the Osborne Estate, Ikoyi, which the state said, was threatening lives and properties in and around the estate.

    Bello, who spoke during an inspection of Osborne Estate, Ikoyi, regretted that the Federal Government allegedly approved building development on natural water channel, which the state government had preserved for safety and ecology.

    Accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, Drainage Service, Muyideen Akinsanya, Bello gave reasons on the need for the demolition of such structure on the natural water channel, since it constitutes threats to lives. The construction, he stressed, has obstructed the state’s natural wetland in the Osborne Foreshore Estate, adding that it is appalling that the Federal Government approved such a place for a developer.

    “We have high tension wires on this channel. We also have wetland, which absorbs water when there is rise in water level. This is a surprise to us. This is a federal estate. There is no doubt about that. But for the reasons we have given, how can the Federal Government approve this kind of project knowing its grave effects on lives? The developer cannot continue the project. It is a disaster in waiting. It must be stopped,”Bello said.

    The commissioner said the development was contrary to the agreement the state had with the Federal Government and that globally, construction of buildings under high tension installation and on natural waterways are not permitted.

    Akinsanya said the row over the natural wetland was resolved some years ago, adding that from the lagoon, the delineation had been done in terms of the extent the Federal Government could develop the area.

    He said he was surprised that the Federal Government suddenly made a u-turn on this after years of complying, terming it a breach of agreement.

    He feared that not only the residents of the Osborne Foreshore Estate would be affected by the development, but the Ikoyi and Lagos Island environs have been endangered.

  • Lagos scores compliance to policy low

    •Registers 19,372 vehicles, 10,000 operators

    Lagos State Government has scored the compliance to its directive on registration of commercial vehicle operators, drivers and conductors low.

    It said only 19,372 operators of the estimated 35,000 commercial vehicles operating in the state have complied with the directive. This, government said, is poor.

    The Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, gave the verdict in his Alausa, Ikeja, office last week.

    He said despite the poor compliance, the government remained committed to beginning the second phase of the state’s traffic system.

    Describing the documentation directive as the beginning of the second phase of the Road traffic Law 2012, Opeifa said under the law, all operators, whether owners, drivers or conductors, are expected to undertake appropriate documentation as part of exercise aimed at developing a data base of commercial operators.

    Government had issued a directive last year, giving a 60-day ultimatum for commercial vehicle operators, drivers and conductors to register or face the wrath of the law.

    Faced with poor response at the expiration of the ultimatum on January 1, this year, government had relaxed the implementation of the law, giving the operators more time to comply.

    Giving a breakdown, Opeifa said of this number, 1,645 vehicles were registered under the commercial Car Hire Service and “kabukabu,” 394 were Mass Transit and 10,373 were mini buses (Danfo).

    He added that 6,381 of the vehicles were yellow taxis and 579 tricycles known as “Keke Marwa.”

    He lamented that the breakdown showed non-compliance by public transport owners and operators.

    On drivers and conductors accreditation, Opeifa said less than 13,000 of the estimated 50,000 operators had attended the Lagos State Drivers Institute (LASDRI), as at last month.

    He advised drivers and conductors yet to attend LASDRI to do so in their own interest, go to any of the five centres of the Institute in Ikeja, Badagry, Ikorodu, Lagos Island and Epe, for their documentation.

    He enjoined commercial vehicle owners to also go with their vehicles to any of the 21 Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS) offices for their documentation.

    Opeifa reminded those who are yet to register that when the new policy eventually takes effect, any owner, driver or conductor who has refused to register will not be issued with a licence in line with Regulation 41 of the Lagos Road Traffic Law and will miss out on the various opportunities and benefits that the government intended to make available to owners, drivers and conductors.

    He praised those who had complied with the law, adding that they should feel free to transact their businesses.

    He implored the leaders of transport unions, especially the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN), the Tricycle Workers Association (TWAN) and the Lagos State Taxi Drivers and Cab Operators Association (LSTDCOA), to ensure that their members adhere to the directive.

    He urged the law enforcement agencies, comprising the Vehicle Inspection Service (VIS), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), men of the Nigeria Police and Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), to step up the enforcement and bring to book any operator, driver or conductor who violates the law to serve as a deterrent to others.

  • Lagos to get commercial court

    Lagos to get commercial court

    The Lagos State government  would soon build a special court to adjudicate on  commercial disputes in the state in order to attract foreign investors.

    The Chief Judge of  Lagos State, Justice Ayotunde Phillips disclosed this  last week while speaking at one day Stakeholders’ Forum on Fast Track Rules and Procedure by the state Judiciary held last week at City Hall.

    It was organised by the state judiciary in collaboration with Justice for All, a project of the British Council and Human Development Initiatives(DHI).

    Justice Phillips said the commercial court would  adjudicate in matters relating to revenues, mortgages and other commercial disputes.

    She said the peculiarity of the state as the hub of the nation’s economy has made a commercial court more imperative and in reality with developments around the world.

    The Chief Judge said the court would be located at Tapa area of Lagos Island, adding that the architect has completed the design as the take off awaits the governor’s consent.

    The main objective of establishing the court, she said, was to reduce the time spent on litigations to a period not exceeding nine months from the commencement of the action till final judgment.

    “This fast-track court is what the social economic climate of Nigeria requires now as the world is fast moving towards arbitration in dispute resolution. Nigeria cannot sit on the fence and watch all these developments around her. We have to be part of the development around the world,” she stressed.

    She appealed to stakeholders in the judiciary to partner towards making the initiative a success.

    The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Ade Ipaye said speedy resolution of commercial disputes was important for economic development.

    “Investors are looking for a justice system that works. They are looking for where they can confidently invest with the expectation that when there are disputes, those disputes can be speedily addressed,” he added.

    Ipaye urged practitioners to ensure that the initiative works by changing those things done wrong in the course of practicing their profession.

    “You can have the laws, you can have the judiciary, but using delay tactics is unfortunate. It makes a lot of people to lose faith in the judiciary and justice system,” he said.

    The Attorney-General appealed to legal practitioners to shun the habbit  of filing  frivolous applications, which often cause delays in the court system.

    According to him, filing of frivolous applications in order to frustrate trial was not the proper thing to do if lawyers believe they don’t have a solid case.

    He advised lawyers to embrace the paradigm shift of the fast track court adding, “this will guarantee investors’ trust in our judicial system”.

    “Investors are looking for a stable political and judicial system that works. When an investor is assured of getting justice in respect of disputes from commercial transactions within a reasonable time, he would feel secured to invest in the country,” he said.

    Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikeja Branch, Mr Monday  Ubani said lawyers must be dissuaded from employing delay tactics in fast-track matters.

    Ubani described the fast-track procedure as a welcome innovasion and procedure that would encourage commercial transactions of lending and burrowing, and give confidence to foreign investors that debt owed would be easily recovered using fast-track mechanism.

    Making a remark, National Programme Manager, Justice for All, Dr Bob Arnot said the relationship between justice and economic development cannot be over emphasised.

    Arnot, represented by Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies (NIALS), said this was the reason the British Council was supporting the initiative.

  • Lagos warns against use of unpainted buses

    PERATORS of unpainted commercial buses and taxis in Lagos State have been warned to desist from such practices or face prosecution. The warning was given by the Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, while responding to a caller’s question on a radio programme.

    He said anybody operating commercial transportation with an unpainted vehicle would be assumed to have criminal intention, and passengers’ should be wary of falling into their trap.

    Opeifa further warned operators masquerading as uniformed personnel, operating with unpainted and yellow vehicles and disobeying traffic rules and regulations, to desist from such acts.

    He said the government would prosecute prosecute offenders apprehended in the court.

    Opeifa who noted that the state welcomes all investors in the transportation sector observed that such investors must be willing to follow to laid down rules, regulations, and procedures.

    He said government frowns at anyone operating outside the law.

     

  • Lagos council donates sandals to pupils

    Lagos council donates sandals to pupils

    THE Chairman, Mushin Local Government Area, Lagos, Olatunde Babatunde Adepitan, has donated sandals to pupils of the area.

    He launched the initiative titled: a-child-a sandal scheme at the Palm Avenue Primary School, Mushin.

    Adepitan said it was meant to provide pupils in public primary schools with a pair of sandals and socks each.

    He said: “The wearing of good sandals to school should not be seen as luxury to the pupils; in fact, wearing worn-out sandals or nothing at all is an index of poverty which should be discouraged. This administration is, therefore, poised to bridge the gap between the rich and the poor by providing each pupil in this local government area with good sandals and a pair of socks.”

    He said in the past, the council reconstructed various school structures, provided furniture, trained teachers, built school toilets, distributed exercise books, gave out free JAMB and WASCCE forms, organised free coaching programmes, exposed the children to oral dental care, provided free first aid boxes, and distributed branded mathematical sets among others.

    He said the new scheme is to renew the confidence level of pupils in the public primary schools. .

    “Something tells me that if these children are well taken care of today, by the time they occupy exalted public offices tomorrow, they will remember to serve the people and not themselves,” the chairman said.

    He added that the council is seeking more partnership with corporate bodies to complememnt the 5000 pair of new sandals of varying sizes available for the take off.

    He extended appreciation to individuals and corporate bodies that keyed into the vision through their generous contributions.

    “We would not have been able to buy in large quantity of sandals if the council had bankrolled the entire cost, but some corporate organisations that believed in the vision bought sandals and donated them to us.”

    He charged pupils in public schools to excel in their studies as they now have enough qualified teachers to handle them. He said recently a teacher from the council,Mr Ganiyu Alawiye, was adjudged the best teacher at the primary school category in Lagos State.He implored other teachers to do same by showing more commitment and dedication to duty.

    Miss Christianah Asagba of Estate Primary School, who gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the beneficiaries, thanked Adepitan for his efforts. She appealed for more like school bags, uniforms and other writing materials.

  • Principal bids Lagos farewell 33 years after

    It was supposed to be her last day in office when she would be putting finishing touches to files, but for Mrs Elizabeth Moji Iwaotan, t the day turned out to be one for merry making.

    Her colleagues, friends, pupils and well-wishers held a send off party for Iwaotan, principal, Igbo-Owu Junior Secondary School, Mushin, Lagos.

    For her, it was, indeed, double celebration as the day coincided with her 60th birthday. Ihe Olaotan’s company were her amiable husband and children, including Tolulope.

    Mrs Iwaotan, who began her career as a classroom teacher in 1981 at Aguda Grammar School, retired on February. She has also worked at Atunrase Boys High School, Mushin, AUD Girls High School and Ijeshatedo Senior Grammar School as Vice Principal.

    The event, which held at the school’s uncompleted Assembly Hall, despite its dilapidated nature, was filled. There were Ewi rendition, and prayers for the celebrator. The school’s cultural group entertained guests with special songs rendered in Yoruba. Many people also wore uniformed ankara to mark the day. Edna Ogholi’s evergreen song; “Uye, I wish you a happy birthday…” blared from the the DJ’s table.

    The school’s Parent Forum Chairman, Mr Sunday Bodede, described Mrs Iwaotan as a good administrator and excellent teacher.

    He said: “She (Iwaotan) is a good mother, who cared about her children. She did not relent in her efforts for her pupils. She does her work diligently and often times worked late. She is never tired. Besides, her records are clean, including the execution of projects. She carried everyone along.”

    The school’s Vice Principal (Academics), Mrs Sile Igbikoyi, who said she had worked with Mrs Iwaotan for five years described her former boss as an ‘individual with a heart of gold.’

    “I wish her the best in life; I pray that good things will come her way; that she will continue to be happy always.

    For Mrs Iwaotan, it was also a day of joy.

    “I am happy,” she said.”I want to thank the Lagos State government for everything, including my service.”

    She also praised her husband Pastor Emmanuel Olanrewaju, whom she wedded in 1981, describing him as a pillar of support over the years.

    Will she still teach or be in the profession at another level? “No,” she said, adding: “I want to rest.”

    The high point of the event was the cutting of the birthday cake.

     

  • PHOTOS: Lagos boat mishap

    PHOTOS: Lagos boat mishap

  • Update: 13 die, five injured in Lagos boat mishap

    Update: 13 die, five injured in Lagos boat mishap

    Death toll in the Lagos boat  mishap in Festac  is now 13 with  five persons rescued alive and four still  missing .
    The incident was said to have occurred at a river at fourth avenue, opposite 41 road junction at about 11:10pm.
    It was learnt that the location were the mishap occurred has been a hot belt for oil vandals in the neighbour.
    The Nation had last year reported the activities of vandals there who are alleged to be aided by security operatives in Festac.
    Confirming the disaster, General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Femi Osayintolu and spokesman, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye said 13 bodies have been recovered dead.

    Osayintolu said: “13 confirmed dead and five alive .Those that are alive have been taken to LASUTH for treatment. Operation is still on going”.
    According to Farinloye, rescue agencies got a distress call at about 11:10pm.
    “We received a distressed alert around 11:10. Navy Special Boat Service (SBS), National Inland Water Ways, Marine Police, LASEMA, POLICE Disaster Unit, Navy Air Wing and NEMA were immediately mobilized to search.
    “We were told that over 15 persons were onboard the boat and by the time we got to site, we recovered 13 dead bodies.
    “Some person were also rescued alive and have been taken to the hospital, while rescue operations is ongoing ,” he said.