Tag: lagos
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Goldie’s belongings for sale on May 1
The belongings of late Hip hop star and Big Brother Africa housemate, Goldie Susan Harvey are up for sale at her residence, 30B, Ologunkutere Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.
This was disclosed in a statement by her family representative, Deji Adetayo. Mr. Adetayo noted that the late artiste did not leave a will but agreed with her husband before her death to auction her belongings.
In the statement, Mr. Adetayo said, “there will be a garage sale at Goldie’s house located at 30B, Ologunkutere Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos on May 1, 2013”. The proceeds from the sale will be donated to a charity organization, “Project Alert On Violence Against
Women”.
The artiste died on February 14, few hours after returning from the Grammy Awards.
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Removal of ship wrecks in Lagos to cost N20b
• Exercise may take three years
IT will cost the Federal Government over N20billion to remove the 200 ship wrecks on the Lagos coastline, it has been learnt.
Besides, the removal, sources told The Nation last weekend, will last between 30 and 36 months when the exercise begins.
Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development Adesegun Oniru complained last week about the eye sore the ship wrecks have become, saying they pose a threat to life and property.
The commissioner said abandoned vessels were partly responsible for the problem of ocean surge, adding that the environmental problem had devastated lives and communities in the state.
“The problem of ship wrecks is a major issue in the state as it is in other states of the federation.
“No fewer than 200 of these vessels have been uncovered on the state’s coastline, including the lagoon.
“The situation poses great danger to the state as well as the citizens.
“Unfortunately, the NPA and Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), who are responsible for maritime safety, are not doing anything about this problem.
“We have written to the Federal Government on a number of occasions on the problem, but we are yet to get replies let alone assistance.
“We are appealing to NIMASA and other relevant authorities to assist the state by removing these vessels for the safety of residents and the environment,“ he said.
Sources at the Federal Ministry of Transport said the wrecks may not be removed this year, because of the huge financial cost, adding that increasing vessel sizes and growing cargo volumes are driving up the cost.
The source said a vessel, MT Ray, that was washed ashore the Lekki coastline sometime in 2011, has sunk.
NIMASA, it was learnt, has sent in a tender for the job, but the contract is yet to be awarded.
It was gathered that the NIMASA Board cannot award without going through the Ministry of Transport – the Bureau of Public Enterprises and the Federal Executive Council.
In layers of authorities, sources said, are politicians and civil servants with vested interest in the contract.
Explaining the reasons responsible for the delay in the removal of the wrecks, the Secretary, Association of Indigenous Ship Owners (ISAN), Captain Niyi Labinjo, said the country does not have the required capacity to put broken down vessels back into shape. This, he said, accounts for the increasing number of wrecks and abandoned vessels on the Lagos waters.
Lack of capacity to remove the wrecks by indigenous companies, he said, is why they have not been removed despite President Goodluck Jonathan’s directive when he visited Lekki Beach in Lagos last year.
The ISAN scribe also painted a grim picture of the maritime industry, saying that the Federal Government is only interested in collecting revenue accruing from it but not willing to develop the sector based on its bad and inconsistent policies.
Labinjo said the dearth of adequate infrastructure to repair broken down vessels on the nation’s coastline, necessitated the decision of the NPA to take its 6,000 tonnes floating dock, which sank in Lagos in 2011 to Ghana for repair, after it had been refloated.
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Lagos court frees five awaiting trial inmates
An Igbosere High Court, Lagos, yesterday, ordered freed five awaiting trial inmates, who had been at the Kirikiri Prisons for over six years.
Justice Deborah Oluwayemi released them after the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) admitted that there were no charges against them from its record.
Abayomi Adeyemi; Saheed Toheeb; Joseph Robert; Kingsley Ewenye and Gboyega Alatise had been in prison since 2005 without trial for alleged offences ranging from armed robbery to murder.
They were never arraigned before any court.
They were freed following a suit instituted on their behalf by the Director of the Prisoners’ Rights Advocacy Initiative, Mr. Ahmad Adetola-Kazeem.
In 2011, Adetola-Kazeem filed a suit for the unconditional release of 106 inmates, who had been awaiting trial for over five years.
Eight were released by a vacation judge and 56 by the Chief Judge, Justice Ayotunde Philips, during her visit to the prison last year.
Justice Oluwayemi earlier released 16 in batches.
Adetola-Kazeem demanded the release of another eight, but a state counsel, Mrs. Rotimi Odutola, objected to it on the grounds that charges had been filed against the inmates in various courts.
Adetola-Kazeem urged the court to adjourn the matter to enable the Ministry of Justice provide proof that the inmates had been arraigned.
Justice Oluwayemi fixed May 20 for the Attorney-General’s Office to report on the state of the cases filed against the eight inmates, who have spent a minimum of six years each in prison awaiting trial.
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One killed, two injured in Lagos accidents
A Man was killed yesterday at Haruna in Ikorodu, a Lagos suburb, by a hit-and-run driver.
The incident occurred around 9am when policemen attached to Owutu Police Division, who were on patrol, attempted to impound a commercial bus and arrest its driver.
It was gathered that the policemen chased the driver, who allegedly committed a traffic offence, from Agric bus stop towards Ikorodu town.
Sources said the driver, who was driving recklessly, knocked down a man who was waiting for a bus by the roadside.
The victim, simply identified as Baba Peace, died on the spot.
His wife, who earlier escorted him to the junction, kept on crying out for help. She was later taken to her house by sympathisers.
When the accident occurred, the policemen immediately turned back to avoid a mob action.
The police patrol vehicle veered off the road and raced into Wahab Avenue, before heading for Marwa Estate.
Youths and commercial motorcyclists went after them and the policemen started shooting into the air to scare them away.
They went into a compound in the estate, where they packed their vehicle.
They told the owner of the house that some robbers were after them and the man phoned the Divisional Police Officer in charge of Owutu Police Station, who immediately ordered reinforcement.
However, before the reinforcement arrived, one of the policemen changed into mufti and went out of the gate, but he was identified by someone in the angry mob that was waiting outside the gate.
He was held there until reinforcement arrived and set rescued him.
The body of the deceased was later taken away by policemen from Owutu Police Division and men of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA).
Also yesterday, a bus driver fleeing from LASTMA officials, who wanted to arrest him for driving on the BRT lane, knocked down two pedestrians at Ketu bus stop, Lagos.
The bus driver escaped.
The incident occurred around 2pm.
The injured, a male and a female, were taken to a nearby hospital.
Attempts to speak with deputy police spokesman Damasus Ozoanifailed, as several calls to his cell phone were not answered.
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Pastor in court for allegedly stealing female church member’s underwear
The police in Lagos on Monday arraigned a 25-year-old pastor, Tommy Issachar, over an alleged stealing of a female church member’s underwear and N10,000 cash.
Issachar, who resides at No 35, Mafoluku St., Mafoluku, Oshodi, Lagos, appeared before an Oshodi Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, on a two-count charge of breach of public peace and stealing.
The prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde told the court that the accused committed the offences on April 12 at Mafoluku, Oshodi.
He said that the accused stole two pants, one bra and a cash sum of N10,000 belonging to Mrs Gift Bassey.
“The accused, a pastor of All Nations Evangelical Church, Oshodi, was invited to a programme at the headquarters of the church– which was the complainant’s church.
“The complainant and her husband accommodated him (pastor) in their house for three nights to conduct a special prayer session related to her husband’s business,” he said.
Olatunde said that after the accused had left their house, the complaint discovered that two of her pants, (her only black and white pants), one black brassier and the sum of N10,000 were missing.
“In the process of finding, it was discovered that the said underwear were taken by the accused without the complainant’s consent..
“At first, the accused denied taking those underwears but later confessed that he actually took them.
“He said that he wanted to use them to pray for her, but denied taking the money,” the prosecutor said.
Olatunde said that after the underwear was recovered from the accused, he had been sending series of threat text messages to the complainant.
“The accused always send her text messages, threatening to eliminate her on or before August ending,” he said.
Olatunde said that the offences committed contravened Sections 166 and 285 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2011.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Section 285 provides that if convicted of stealing, the accused is liable to three years imprisonment.
The magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50,000, with one surety in like sum, and adjourned the case till May 8 for mention.
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Lagos adopts open tender
THE Lagos State government is adopting an open tendering process in contract procurement and management, the Commissioner of Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Femi Hamzat, has said.
He spoke on the sideline at the weekend during the ministerial briefing on the activities and achievements of his ministry in the last one year.
He said the key strategies adopted to achieve open tendering is the direct funding of road rehabilitation and construction, private sector involvement, front loading of projects and a robust monitoring of projects.
Hamzat said the administration is also mindful of the quality of contractors engaged to handle key infrastructure projects in the state. As a result, the government, he said, sanctioned some contractors for shoddy jobs, removed their names from its list and sacked them from site. He cited the contractor handling Awolowo Road in Ikorodu, saying he was sacked for poor quality construction among others.
He said the state is determined to promote intermodal transportation system and as such has put in place the critical infrastructure that will enable it to take off.
He said three prototype jetties were being provided along the East to West axis of the state at Ipakodo, Osborne and Badore.
He said the government is working on 180 roads and would deliver most of them before the year ended.
He said the government attaches importance to road construction, adding that it believes that it is one of the first class socio-economic infrastructure with demonstrated impact, such as stimulation of economic activities, which affects Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Other positive impact of competitive infrastructure, he argued, is reduction in transaction and trade costs which creates competitiveness.
On the Lagos/Badagry Expressway, the commissioner said the government would deliver the project on schedule.
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Lagos tars Ladipo market road
In line with its promise, the Lagos State government has begun the construction of Ladipo Auto/Market road, TAIBAT IDOWU reports
The tussle for the chairmanship of Ladipo market in Mushin, Lagos was said to have led to its closure last month. The present chairman of the centre, Mr Jonathan Okoli reportedly refused to step down after the expiration of his tenure, leading to acrimony. The executive was said to have become split. Okoli was said to have held office for eight years.
There was plan to hold fresh election in November, last year, but Okoli was said to have disrupted the exercise, leading to its postponement. No new date has been fixed for the election.
Last month, the market was closed in the heat of the crisis. It is yet to be reopened. But in line with its promise to tar the road leading to the market, Lagos State government has begun the construction.
Some traders spoke on the development. Mr Uche Ezuma said: “The government has put an end to street trading and if they say they don’t want street trading, it is because they want a stress free shopping environment for traders and shoppers.”
Mr John Aigbo said he likes the market‘s new look. “One could not move freely within the market before.”
According to Mr Williams Bakare, one of the displaced street traders, “the government said they sent us away because of the congestion in the market, now most of us have no hope!”
Mr Chukuka Oyenbalulu , a trader, said the new development is an opportunity for traders who have their shops in plazas situated inside the market to make huge sales, because over the years, street trading has been a barrier to the market as a whole. -
Odo Eran, meat market
Located at Itire area of Lagos is Odo Eran market. A market where beefs and cows are majorly sold in pieces, as well as other food stuffs. These cows are slaughtered and sold by the traders every day, thus customers are sure to get fresh meat whenever they get to the market.
Buying and selling is convenient for customers and traders because they get whatever food they want at a place and also get good bargains. It is one of the peaceful markets at Itire presently.
Mr. Alade Adeagbo a meat seller said “we are safe here there is no disturbance in this market and we pray not to experience fire like some markets did recently. Everything is going on smoothly and in a day we slaughter more than twenty cows and by God’s grace we sell all before the end of the day” he said.
Mrs. Bashiru Gbadebo said “everything is in other, we have a union that settles misconception in the market .
Mrs. Ojugbade Monsurat a customer said “I prefer this market because you won’t walk far before getting all the food stuffs you want. I usually shop here every weekend in bulk. To be sincere, this market is neat despite the fact that they kill cow and do other rough work here, still it is neat, that shows how discipline they are here.” she said.
Mrs. Imanuel Alaba a customer said “one thing I notice in this market is that there is peace and anywhere peace is , things are successful. The trades are hard working and they cooperate.”
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One up for Lagos Command
•Quite some feat tracking Queen Okonjo’s kidnappers, but the Lagos CP has a big test in his hands in the abduction of Ejigbo LCDA chairman
As fate playing pranks with the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Umar Manko? Well the next few days will prove. The Lagos top cop who, with the logistical and institutional backing of the Fashola administration, has also proven to be a tough crime buster in his few years in the mega-city has just been caught up in a thrilling double-decker irony. Just last Monday, Manko had regaled the media with the cheery news of how his command cracked the notorious gang that kidnapped Queen Kamene Okonjo, mother of the finance minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala in Ugwuashi-Ukwu, Delta State, last December.
According to Manko, upon the arrest of two of the informants instrumental to the kidnap of Queen Okonjo last March, the command had pulled all stops, raising decoy teams that stormed Delta, Edo and Rivers states; all tracking methods were put in place and networks activated. In no time, eight of the dare-devil gang members led by 22-year-old Jideofor Ogbuem, a.k.a. Marvelous, had been apprehended. The gang, said to be 13 in number (with one dead and four said to be still at large) gave copious accounts of their escapades both in the abduction of the queen and several other operations. Though the suspects are still to be prosecuted, Mr. Manko’s is a laudatory report of how policing ought to be conducted. He has proved that with the police hard at work and criminals are brought to book, there would be sufficient deterrent to curtail kidnapping to bearable minimum.
But there is a fateful twist in the tale. Perhaps at about the same time Manko was briefing the press, hoodlums in Ejigbo, outskirts of Lagos Mainland, were busy snatching Mr. Kehinde Bamgbetan, chairman of the Ejigbo Local Council Development Area, LCDA. He had been kidnapped near his house in Ejigbo and a ransom of N150 million has reportedly been demanded by the criminals. What exhilarating irony it is that in closing his briefing Monday, Manko had sounded it loud and clear that: “There is no hiding place for any criminal in Lagos, no matter where he runs to.” The criminals may have thrown the challenge right back at the police boss. We urge him to always consider the insider connection as numerous accounts have shown that total strangers can hardly do the abduction ‘business’.
While we commend Manko for his gallantry, rigour and methodical approach, we hasten to say that governments at all levels must seek holistic solution to the scourge of human snatching in Nigeria. What was known to be rampant mainly in the south-south and south-east parts of Nigeria in the past few years has spread to nearly every part of the country, including the south-west and lately, Lagos. We have said it here times without number that crimes like these are symptomatic of a failing economy.
As we have noticed in the accounts of the arrested suspects, they are all supposedly graduates of tertiary institutions who claimed they could not find jobs after school. There is no doubt that unemployment in Nigeria is invidiously high with a teeming mass of enlightened young people who are idle and frustrated. Vast areas across the country are particularly comatose, with hardly any economic activities going on in them.
We urge governments across board to stir themselves. We advise that stakeholders must meet urgently to seek immediate and long-term solutions. Apart from the traumatised victims, the paralysing effects of this heinous crime on the economy cannot be quantified. For instance, no quality foreign investor will venture into any country where kidnap-for-ransom is rampant. We urge governments to act as a matter of urgency.
