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  • Sanwo-Olu won’t disappoint Lagosians – APC

    The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has urged residents to support Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu as he is sworn in as the next executive governor of the state on Wednesday.

    The Assistant Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, Mr Abiodun Salami, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos.

    He said the party was sure that the administration of Sanwo-Olu would consolidate on the strides recorded in the state, but cooperation of all was needed to enable in-coming government succeed.

    Salami urged residents to support the Sanwo-Olu administration with ideas, and by performing their civil obligations, obeying the laws, and keying into its policies and programmes.

    The Assistant Publicity Secretary described Sanwo-Olu as a tested and trusted hand in governance, assuring residents he would not disappoint in the delivery of his electoral promises.

    ”As Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu is sworn-in tomorrow, we urge all Lagosians to give his administration all the support to enable him succeed.

    ”Sanwo-Olu is a man ideas, he is experienced in governance, he knows his onions and he is passionate about a better Lagos.

    ”We have no doubt he will deliver on his promises; he will not disappoint the people. But residents need to support his administration.

    ”We need to support him with ideas, by paying our taxes and obeying the laws. We should support the policies and programmes of his administration.

    Read Also: Sanwo-Olu: I’ll fulfill campaign promises

    ”This is the only way to build a better Lagos, the Lagos of everyone’s dream,” he said.

    Salami said the APC had consistently rendered impactful governance in the state and thanked residents for keeping faith with the party.

    The Assistant Publicity Secretary also thanked residents for voting overwhelmingly for the party in the last presidential and governorship elections in the state.

    ”As you supported APC in the election, I urge you to troop to the TBS tomorrow to once again demonstrate your support for Sanwo-Olu as he is sworn-in,” he said.

  • Lafarge Africa partner FRSC, Lagos to sensitise motorists

    To commemorate the 2019 Lafarge Global Health and Safety Days and as part of its Sustainability strategy 2030, Lafarge Africa, in partnership with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos State Blood Transfusion Services and Rotary Club of Lagos, has delivered a health and safety sensitization programme for motorists.

    Lafarge Africa and FRSC urged motorists in Nigeria to ensure that they are aware of health and safety procedures as this would further reduce road accidents, even as the current data from the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) show a marginal decline in the number of road accidents in the country.

    The Head of Safety, Health and Environment for Lafarge Africa, Mrs. Folake Odegbami alluded to this at the joint health and safety campaign programme held recently for members of the National Union of Road and Transport Workers (NURTW) at Ojota Motor Park in Lagos state. Odegbami stated that Lafarge’s commitment to Health and Safety informed the company’s decision to collaborate with critical organizations focused on improved safety across the country.

    According to the January 2019 Road Traffic Crash (RTC) Report by the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), a total of 540 fatalities occurred, while 3,383 were injured following 950 road traffic incidents across Nigeria in January 2019.

     

     

  • Lagos assures residents of robust criminal justice system

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has assured the people of the state of a robust criminal justice delivery system as it kicked off the review of its Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2015 for improved performance.

    The Attorney-General (AG) and Commissioner for Justice, Adeniji Kazeem, gave the assurance  at a workshop on “Appraisal of the current Criminal Justice Regime in Lagos State: Proposal for Policy and Practice changes” at Lagos Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja.

    The workshop, which held in partnership with the European Union (EU), British Council and Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC), is aimed at re-evaluating reforms in criminal justice administration.

    Kazeem said the zeal to transform the sector would transcend the administration because the state has demonstrated its passion for an improved system of justice and has earned the status of a pace setter in the country.

    He described the workshop as unique, pointing out that it would serve as an opportunity to reflect on the innovative reforms introduced so far under the administration of  Ambode whose passion for achieving a practical, effective and contemporary system, he said, remains unique.

    The AG recalled that the state’s ACJL 2015, which was enacted in 2007 and an amended in 2011, has  assisted the criminal justice system not just in Lagos, but also in Nigeria and has  been a pivotal tool in dealing with defendants in the state and over 27 others, which adopted similar laws.

    He said having used the ACJL for over a decade, it is clear that certain provisions require attention while in other cases, the inclusion of key aspects of the law not addressed be  considered.

    “We seek to examine new options to traditional judicial system which are diversionary. While our primary duty is to protect the community, we should also develop ways to rehabilitate our juvenile offenders with the hope that they do not re- offend. For instance, the use of Peer Courts is targeted at child or juvenile offenders.

    “Besides, the court mandated diversionary or restorative processes, we should also consider limited instances where the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Police rather than clog the courts, in deserving cases refer an offender to an appropriate government facility or home or rehabilitation center for necessary support.

    “This is because it has been discovered that what some minor offenders really need is help and not incarceration. And as a loving parent, Lagos State is trying to pay attention to peculiar needs of some of its special citizens.

    “We need to make use of more diversionary measures like drug testing and supervisory order, anger management and other non-custodial sentences in dealing with Youth offending, to rehabilitate younger offenders and children conflict with the law.

    “I do not say these for benefit of puffing out hot air, but to also use this medium in educating stakeholders of their existence, for some who do know, and to encourage you to take advantage of these innovations, to enable a robust Criminal Justice System in Lagos State,” he said.

    The Chief Judge, Justice Opeyemi Oke said an effective administration of criminal justice could not be achieved without the cooperation of all stakeholders in the sector.

    According to Justice Oke, “efficiency and reforms can only be actualised through inter-agency co-operation and collaboration’’.

    She said: “This workshop creates an avenue for the needed collaboration and all attendees are expected to actively participate in the highlight of reforms, identification of current challenges faced and corresponding solutions. We must ensure we bring to fore challenges facing our criminal justice sector with a view to proposing reforms to resolve same timeously.’’

    She assured that the state Judiciary would not refrain from lending its hands of cooperation and partnership in working assiduously to meet the expectations of the citizens of Lagos State and ensure litigants get the best justice system and experience.

    A manager with ROLAS, Dr. Oluwatoyin Badejogbin, said the criminal justice system must be one that responds with a heart, “one that flows with milk of human kindness and is able to discern and respond with restorative objective in mind”.

    Badejogbin said: “The rules that regulate the systems are made by people like us. The systems reflect the premium we place on human life and dignity, safety, security, in victims of crime, on offenders and social harmony or cohesion.

    “Systems and the institutions that form part of it, reflect who we are. And because it reflects us, it should have the capacity for empathy,” he said, adding that the workshop would afford stakeholders the opportunity to review the progress of the systems and rules we have put in place to ensure effective criminal justice system.’’

  • Downpour causes traffic gridlock in Lagos

    The rain storm in Lagos on Monday resulted in many residents and motorists counting their losses as it caused traffic gridlock and wreaked havoc in many areas, damaging communication masts, electric poles and other infrastructure.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the heavy downpour resulted in many roads being flooded occasioning  traffic gridlock.

    Major roads in Ikeja, Maryland, Ketu, Lagos Ibadan expressway experienced traffic gridlock and some were completely blocked as a result of collapse of communication masts and electric poles.

    At Maryland, Ikeja, there was traffic gridlock because of flood leaving many commuters stranded at nearby bus stops.

    The situation was similar on the Mobolaji Bank-Anthony Way in Ikeja, as motorists groaned due to the long hours in traffic gridlock.

    The 7up Oregun Road was completely blocked due to the collapse of a communication mast and an electric pole, which made the road impassable.

    Commuters, who spoke with NAN decried the poor emergency response to situations like this, adding that quick emergency response would have salvaged the situation.

    Mr Ademola Ogunmokun, a commuter  told NAN that the Lagos State Emergency Response Agency (LASERA) might have been overwhelmed by the situation.

    “I think the LASERA officials are up to the task only that the rains would have been experienced in all parts of Lagos.

    “To prevent this, we need to have the men of the agency moved to the areas suspected to be prone to such emergency cases.

    Read Also: Anti-traffic gridlock squad for Lagos

    “We need more personnel for situations like this, or maybe people should volunteer more for emergency situations because that is what is obtainable in advanced countries,” he said.

    Also, Mrs Titilayo Nelson, a resident of one of the blocked streets on Oregun road, Ikeja, said that it was taking too long for the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) to remove the damaged electric pole.

    “There is a poor emergency response in this part of the world, when the rain stopped around 11 a.m, we put a call through to the IKEDC, to remove the collapsed pole.

    “Up till now about 2p.m., they are yet to respond as you can see. They need not wait till we start experiencing casualty before they move in.

    “Rain is a blessing from God and this is even mild in what other countries have experienced or experiencing, we just need to brace up,” she said.

    NAN

  • Lagos takes HIV/AIDS campaign to religious leaders

    For awareness about HIV/AIDS to further reach the people at the grassroots, the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency engages religious leaders in the state in a two-day sensitisation workshop on how to prevent the virus and handle stigmatisation issues, reports Associate Editor ADEKUNLE YUSUF

    In times past, getting infected with HIV was the equivalent of a death sentence. But this is not the case anymore, says Dr. Oluseyi Temowo, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA). Having HIV is no more a life sentence, especially if the person eats well as recommended and takes all the drugs as prescribed.

    As far as Dr. Temowo is concerned, it is tantamount to committing a crime for anybody to die of HIV/AIDS in Lagos. This, according to him, is because the state has put in place various measures to check the spread of the virus and take care of its treatment, adding that the state is truly determined to achieve the eradication of the disease by year 2030.

    The LSACA boss said this while delivering his welcome address at a two-day sensitisation workshop for religious leaders in the state on HIV/AIDS prevention. He stressed that the programme was put together for Christian and Islamic religious leaders in the state in appreciation of enormous roles they play in the lives of members of the public, especially in guiding, informing and advising their teeming followers. The sensitisation programme is very critical to the success of the war against HIV/AIDS, he said.

    Lamenting that many young adults now see no abnormality in selling their body for money, injecting drugs and indulging in risky sexual behaviours in the process, the LSACA CEO said the onus is on the religious leaders, whom he said the people listen to and respect most, to bail out the country from the quagmire. He said moral decadence is increasing among the youths and other members of the society through unprotected sex and abuse of drugs. Hence, he added that the agency needs to engage the religious leaders to help in cascading HIV/AIDS awareness among their congregation, stressing that religious leaders are critical stakeholders in the campaign to eradicate the scourge.

    “This is why we are calling you, our religious leaders. We want you to preach to them in the church and mosque that because there is no money today does not mean that there will be no money tomorrow. Let them know that God is against selling our body because our bodies are the temples of God. These are the teachings we want you to pass down to your subjects, either in the church or in the mosque, such that they will have it at the back of their minds. Once we can control sexual behaviours, I believe we are on the road towards stopping this menace by 2030,” he enjoined the religious leaders.

    Read also: HIV/AIDS: FG restates commitment to remove barriers on access to treatment

    Speaking on circumcision, Dr. Temowo said while it is good for men, it is unnecessary for women. Even for men, he recommended that religious leaders should educate their followers that the best places to circumcise male children are the hospitals where safe and sterilised equipments are used. Any circumcision not done in the hospital is dangerous, he stressed, calling on faith leaders to discourage their subjects from patronising homes where their children may be infected with HIV in the process of circumcision.

    He also warned that the country is also battling with issues of same sex relationships, injection of drugs and commercial sex workers, which he said are avenues that predispose those indulging in the aforementioned acts to being infected with the virus. “The people we used to call prostitutes now call themselves as commercial sex workers. We need your intervention and all the things you can do to help so that Nigeria will not turn into Sodom and Gomorrah. May God give you the wisdom as pastors and imams to deliver these messages back home,” he said.

    In the lecture by Dr. Oladipo Fisher, head of projects at LSACA, faith leaders were exposed to current facts and trends in HIV/AIDS issues. According to him, the country is winning the war against the disease, adding that the recent findings by the Nigeria HIV/AIDS Indicator and Impact Survey (NAIIS), one of the largest household surveys on HIV in the world, have provided the proof to that effect. He allayed the religious leaders’ fears, saying the country has fewer people living with HIV than previously estimated, with a national prevalence of 1.4 per cent.

    While providing basic facts about the virus, Dr. Fisher said HIV – as dread as it is – does not kill anybody. He emphasised that what the virus only does is to compromise the body immunity and make it vulnerable to all kinds of diseases that can lead to death. The LSACA head of project also told the faith leaders that the campaign against HIV/AIDS has moved from preaching abstinence to encouraging people to play safe and not indulge in risky sexual behaviours, urging the religious leaders to evolve a pragmatic way of communicating this message to their followers without desecrating the altars of God.

    During the session for questions and answers, Dr. Temowo told the faith leaders that anyone living with HIV can marry as long as he or she is accessing treatment and taking prescribed drugs. After taking antiretroviral drugs as recommended for about six months, he said the viral load is expected to be low or undetected, meaning that such a person cannot transmit the virus to any person. “Once an infected man is using his drugs regularly, the chances of transmitting to his wife are minimal. In fact, it is almost zero. If he goes back for test and the viral load is undetected, he can marry an uninfected person. Since he cannot transmit the virus to his wife, the baby that will come out will be negative too. The same thing happens if the woman is the one that is infected. As long as she is taking her drugs, her baby will be negative,” he explained, urging the leaders to educate the subjects on these issues.

    On HIV/AIDS response in the state, Dr. Temowo said testing and treatment is free in all hospitals designated for such throughout the state, adding that state government deserves kudos for going a step further by starting empowerment programmes for people living with the virus and care givers. This has gone a long way in helping to solve some of the problems people encounter such as discontinuation of treatment as a result of lack of transport fares, he said. He urged religious leaders to always count on LSACA whenever they plan to embark on outreaches, adding that the agency is always ready and willing to visit their community to give free counseling, testing and treatment to their congregation – at no cost whatsoever to the church or mosque. All they need to do is to write to the agency at least three weeks before the programme and ensure that they get the people ready, adding that “we are ready to come with our team, kits and materials.”

    He commended Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for the support given to the agency, adding that Lagos offers full-scale HIV testing services to align with the global initiative of 90-90-90. If this trend continues, by 2030, 90 per cent of people in the state would have known their HIV status, and 90 per cent of those that know their status would be able to access anti-retroviral treatment, while those accessing treatment would have suppressed viral load and would not be able to infect others. “Therefore, ‘by 2030 in Lagos, we would have been able to eradicate HIV/AIDS. The agency trucks for on-the-go HIV services are moving to the nooks and crannies of the state to conduct free HIV testing services. This is in addition to the residents being able to access free HIV Counseling and Testing Services across the government hospitals in the state,” Dr. Temowo said.

    Concerning stigmatisation of people living with the virus, Dr. Fisher admitted that it is still a problem that is yet to be eradicated, adding that it is a practice that is made worse by cultural issues. If it continues unchecked, stigmatisation is capable of reversing the gains recorded in the fight against HIV, he emphasised. He said stigmatisation makes people not to want to come out for test, which is dangerous for the person and entire society. While enjoining faith leaders to educate their followers on HIV/AIDS, he also reminded them that it is an offence in the state to discriminate against anyone based on his or her HIV status because the law has recommended two years’ imprisonment as penalty for anyone found guilty.

  • Why we remove structures to fix road, by LASG

    The Lagos State Government on Thursday explained why some structures have to be removed to fix roads in the state.

    Speaking at a stakeholder meeting in the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, on the reconstruction of Remi Oyefiade Street in Eti Osa Local Government Area of the state, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye said such was necessary not only for the development of the state but also for the upgrade of the standard of living of the people.

    According to him; “There is no way we will do road, drainages, walkways and not remove certain aspect of the road, except you just want us to fill the road and we leave, but this is not government standard. We must have drainages at the sides and we must do standard work, hence the reason we have to remove those structures that are on the right of way.”

    Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Boladele Dapo-Thomas, Ogunleye noted that there is no way they will do the road without removal of structures.

    Read Also: Lagos Assembly set to address building collapse with laws, regulations

    “For the contractor to actualize all they have planned, there is no way structures will not be removed because the structures are on the spaces the roads are meant to expand to.

    To expand the road in Remi Oyefiade Street in Eti Osa Local Government Area of the state, the structures to be removed has been marked already, so there is no way the structures will not be removed because they are on the space for the road.”

    He noted that the meeting is to sensitise residents to know if they are ready for the project, for the development to be brought to their area.

    He assured the property owners whose structures will go with the road construction that they will be compensated.

    “We serve as consultants and as consultants, we only deliver the right of way, we would require that you submit necessary papers if there are any on any of your structures that would be removed. We would forward all the papers to the Lands Bureau because everyone of us have our mandate. Ours is to deliver the right of way, theirs is to enumerate, take inventory and arrange payment of compensation where applicable.,” he said.

    Noting that the project is to provide infrastructural development to the community, Ogunleye urged residents to collaborate with the state government and the contractor to actualize the project.

    “We urge you to bear with us as some form o inconvenience will be experienced while the road is being constructed, ” she said.

    The Project Coordinator Contractor for the reconstruction, Alpha and Gold International Limited, Wale Logunleko, said the fixing of the road will commence any time from now, seeking the corporation od residents to get the project completed.

    Chairman Remi Oyefiade Street Resident Association, Prince Matthew Ahianba, thank the state government on the repair of the road, saying it shows that they have not been forgotten.

    “When there is no gain, there is no pain. We are ready for the pain because we see the gain ahead. The value of our properties will be enhanced, our standard of living too will be enhanced and our cars will no longer be damaged as it used to be due to the current poor state of the road,” he said.

  • Student to die by hanging for killing younger brother

    A 33-year-old student, Allen Abiodun, of the University of Abuja was on Monday sentenced to death by an Ikeja High Court, Lagos for killing his younger brother, one Allen Wale with a broken bottle.

    Justice Raliat Adebiyi found Abiodun guilty and convicted him of the offence of murder contrary to Section 221 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011 after six years of trial.

    Abiodun was arraigned February 20, 2013 for killing his brother, Wale at Imude Village, Oto-Awori, Lagos.

    The convict confessed to killing his brother Wale.

    Following his confessional statement and the evidence of other prosecution witnesses, Justice Raliatu Adebiyi sentenced Abiodun to death as charged.

    Justice Adebiyi said that the prosecution had proven its case of murder beyond reasonable doubt against the defendant.

    “The defendant is hereby found guilty and convicted of the murder of his brother, Allen Wale.

    “You, Allen Abiodun are hereby sentenced to death by hanging. May God, the giver of life, have mercy on you”, she said.

    During trial, the State Prosecution, O. R Ahmed-Muil, called four witnesses to testify in the matter.

    Ahmed-Muil also told the court that the convict attacked his younger brother with a broken bottle, stabbed him severally at the right side of his neck, dragged his body to a bush and covered it with leaves.

    One of the witnesses, Sunday Abogunrin (PW2), the landlord of the convict, had testified that Abiodun was a troublesome fellow who fought his siblings at every slight provocation.

    Abogunrin, a building contractor, told the court that he caught the convict dragging the deceased body into a bush after he had killed him.

    According to the PW2, “I know the defendant because I live close to their residence. I’ve known the defendant since his childhood and his entire family.

    Read Also: Seven die in avalanche, Russia’s Altai Mountains

    “On February 20, 2013, at about 1-2a.m, I heard dogs barking. Initially, people around were afraid to come out to clarify what was irritating the dogs for fear of robbers but later on they all came out, including me.

    “I later went out to investigate the cause of the noise. But I noticed someone dragging something into the nearby bush. I initially wanted to raise an alarm but instead, I put my torch on and the person ran off towards the defendant’s house.

    “I immediately followed to see who it was only to meet the defendant washing his hands, covered in blood, near the well. I quickly alerted the Baale of the community, who then ordered the youths to apprehend him.

    Abogunrin had further told the court that convict also broke his sister’s hand and smacked his other brother’s head while attempting to escape when the community youths came to apprehend him.

    “He was finally apprehended by the help of some Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) members who intervened and took him to the Baale’s palace,” he said.

    Also Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Uthman Lamidi, the Investigating Police Officer from llemba Hausa Police Station had stated that he was on duty when the report about the incident was lodged at his station.

    Lamidi said that himself and his team immediately went to the Oba’s Palace, arrested the defendant and went with him to the crime scene.

    The IPO stated that at the scene, he saw the deceased’s body and upon interrogating the defendant, he admitted killing his younger brother with a broken bottle and was about to bury the corpse when he was intercepted.

    “I handcuffed the defendant and took him away. The Defendant followed him willingly and confessed killing his younger brother. His confession was read over to him and he signed it while I countersigned. In the course of investigation, we also discovered that the defendant had threatened to kill his late brother several times before actually doing it that day,” he said.

    The convict, in his defence, claimed that the deceased was not his biological brother and  but  admitted killing him.

    “He told me that he would kill me if am not careful of him. He kept threatening me until I got up angrily, took a bottle and stabbed him on his right neck. He fell down, I went to him and told him that he would bleed and die, which he eventually did.

    “When he died, I dragged his body to a nearby bush to bury it. I hide his corpse and covered it with leaves so that no one could see it. I then went back home and washed off the blood stains on my hand,” he said.

     

     

  • Land: Lagos, Akinole-Oshiun family lawyer bicker over Supreme Court judgment

    THE last may not have been heard over the judgment of the Supreme Court, which awarded ownership of 398 acres of landed property in the Agidingbi community to a traditional land-owning family, Akinole-Oshiun.

    The Supreme Court  verdict has ignited a war of words between the Lagos State government and Akinole-Oshiun family lawyer, Mr. Ayo Opadokun.

    Akinole -Oshiun family, after the judgment, went to the area with security agents to take possession of the land by pasting a Caveat Emptor Notice on the buildings.

    The family urged “all the illegal occupants to contact its solicitor Ayo Opadokun and Co “with whatever documents they have to rectify their title with payments”.

    The notice gave the occupants seven days ultimatum to comply, failure of which they will forfeit the land.

    The possession order is said to cover a large section of the Lateef Jakande Road, Acme Road, Fagba Close and other streets around the area, totalling over 2,000 buildings.

    On Thursday, a large number of community leaders and residents of Agidingbi area of Ikeja protested against the eviction notice at Alausa.

    The protesters, who marched from Agidingbi to House of Assembly complex in Alausa, urged the Lagos State government to quickly intervene to avert bloodshed.

    In response, the state government on Friday urged the residents to “ignore the public notice served or pasted on their premises”.

    In an advertorial signed by Lands Bureau Permanent Secretary Bode Agoro stated: “The government will do what is required as permitted by law to protect Government allotees , their lives and properties.”

    According to him, the land in contention is within the 7,300 acquisition, which is contained in the Lagos State Official Gazette No. 26 Vol. 2 dated October 24, 1969. The Lagos State Government, he said, subsequently had the title for the 7,300 acres acquisition, including the land in contention vested in her by Legal Notice No. 8 of 1976 published in the Extra Ordinary Gazette No. 25 Vol. 9 of 18th June, 1976.

    Agoro said: “The 1969 acquisition has not been set aside by the courts in the various judgments referred to by the Akinole -Oshiun family in Suit No. ID/216/77L delivered by Justice B.O. Martins on 19th August 1983: Appeal No. CA/L/517/99, Appeal No. CA/L/649M 2006 and Suit No. SC/173/2009 respectively.

    “That Lagos State Government is not a party to the Appeal No. CA/L/776/2014 and the judgment delivered on the 29th day of March, 2019 by the Court of Appeal has not nullified the 1969 acquisition. Furthermore, Lagos State Government is not a party to the Appeal.

    “That since 1969 when the land was acquired, Lagos State Government has been in possession and in the exercise of its possessory right, allocated all the plots within the Central Business District to various allottees who have fully developed their land and have been in occupation for over 20 years.

    “Notice is hereby given to all Government allottees within the Central Business District and all members of the public that all parcels of land within the Central Business District are within the 1969 acquisition and that Government allottees should ignore the Public Notice served or pasted on their premises.”

    The Akinole-Oshiun family’s solicitor, Opadokun, however, described the state government’s claim as “untrue”.

    He vowed to expose the shortcomings of the government on the matter.

    In an interview with The Nation yesterday, Opadokun said: “The government issued a public notice on Friday. They said they were not a party to the suit. It’s a lie. We are exposing that. Three times, the Lagos State government applied to be joined as a party to the suit – they wanted to join Mogaji and Saka family, who are the opponents of the Akinole -Oshiun family and they were rejected by the Court of Appeal. So, a government that has lost its bid to be joined as a party, now is claiming that it was not a party. You know that is a deception to the populace. We are revealing that. We will let the world know that they are misrepresenting facts. If they have tried three times to be joined, (we are going to release the suit numbers and the dates) and they were rejected, such a government has no claim to any verdict that it can give to anybody.

    “So, anyone who allows himself to be deceived by their false claim, they are the ones who will have to comply with the law. Remember the Supreme Court has given a judgment on this matter first in 2010 and there is no order that is superior to that of the Supreme Court in Nigeria. Nigeria is a country of law, not a country of caprices. That is the thing that should be known and understood.

    “All the claims they are making now had been made on two or three attempts at the Court of Appeal and they were rejected. Supreme Court decision is final in every situation. No one can query it any longer in a matter of civil litigation. It’s only a criminal matter that perhaps the President or the Governor under the prerogative mercy can look into.”

    According to Opadokun, the first judgment on the case was delivered in August 1983.

    “The public notice that the government gave out was ridiculously unbelievable that the government will be lying. We will reply them.

    “What they needed to do is for them to come if they have any paper. Let them come and show the lawyers their papers.

    “Anyone, who intends to buy land or property has an abiding duty to conduct due diligence at the Land Registry to be satisfied that he was not buying litigation. Whatever claims the seller is making to him or her, he needs to be sure that he has conducted the required due diligence at the Land Registry to know the true state of the matter. The fact that the matter has lingered for 40 years and if they are building on it, they should remember the process of the judiciary, it runs very slowly, but ultimately it will catch up. The real people in that place know the correct thing to do,” he said.

  • Kachins Fashions unveils products in Lagos, Abuja

    It was all glitz, glamour and excitement as the high and mighty trooped in, in their hundreds to the prestigious Eko Hotel Lagos, and Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja to be part of the 2019 international fashion exhibition sponsored by the trend setting Kachins Personalised Coultur.

    The high octane events which held in Lagos and Abuja respectively and ended at the weekend drew the admiration of participants, guests and stakeholders.

    Kachins, a real fashion sensation in Dubai – the iconic suit makers have been operating for over three decades in UAE and have become pioneer trendsetters across the region in the bespoke tailoring industry.

    The brand over the years has created a niche in Nigerian market by learning, adapting and introducing new styling trends and techniques in the personalised industry. Successfully injecting novel fashion nuances with its fusion of style and comfort in the men’s fashion industry – making it an iconic essential for every gentleman’s wardrobe.

    However, after a successful exhibition last year in Nigeria, Kachins decided to have yet another one this year as well. Anil Ramchandani, Kachins Head of Business Development said, “We were extremely happy and delighted from last years’ exhibition experience. It was a huge success and a great event. The turnover was exceptional and we got good number of enquiries. We have seen the love for fashion in Nigeria and the way Men and Women dress with so much attention to detail; this is what encourages us to bring our bespoke services to Nigeria. I believe there is a lot of potential in this market and are absolutely excited for this year’s exhibition and looking forward to another successful event.”

    During the exhibition, the brand showcased a wide array of different types of fabrics, patterns, accessories, suiting styles along with the option to custom make hand-made or machine-made business suits, shirts, jackets, trousers and even traditional clothing such as kaftans and babarigas. The event highlighted the importance of traditional skills, elegance and luxury of the bespoke tailoring world. A suit at Kachins takes at least 30 hours of manual labour to complete.

    The experience begins with a consultation with one of the brand’s Master Tailors – the aim is to discuss each customer’s specific tastes and needs. You can define the style and cut which you prefer and can choose from an exclusive collection of fabric from Italy, United Kingdom, and Switzerland. Suits are embellished with details – buttons, embroidered name, etc – chosen by you to make formal occasions and relaxing moments equally exclusive and personal.

    Through the exhibitions, customers had the opportunity to learn about the process and the quality of the product first hand.

    With a keen eye for styling, each design come to life by the hands of the tailors who create (handcrafted) every Kachins Bespoke tailored masterpiece by using measured techniques and personalising it down to the smallest detail.  The in-house style expert’s main focus is for the client’s personalised distinction to flourish in their ensemble. Kachin’s luxury bespoke tailoring house is a one stop destination for all bespoke lovers, stylish and fashion savvy people, offering a perfect suit for every type of man.

    There is no doubt, the fashion industry has a lot of potentials that needs to be harnessed especially with exhibitions of this nature. Brands like Kachins should be encouraged to showcase their unique fabrics and designs more often in the country.

  • Lagos and the menace of articulated vehicles

    The menace of articulated vehicles parked indiscriminately on Lagos roads and obstructing the free flow of traffic has now become the new identity of Lagos. Hardly can one move around Lagos without encountering the demonized vehicles causing traffic or being involved in one accident or the other. In Lagos a journey of 20 minutes can turn to three hours in the face of Lagos traffic.

    Since the administration of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a lot of efforts were made to rid the state of this menace but they have consistently defied solution, with the administration of Akinwunmi Ambode receiving the most bashing in managing the crises.

    The question usually on my mind is how did Lagos get this negative social status? I perceive that there are several factors responsible, with the actions and inactions of the various stakeholders sharing part of the causal factors. Each stakeholder role must be examined thoroughly with a view to finding a lasting solution to this simple problem that has turned complex and has become one of the biggest causes of financial loss to the economy of Lagos.

    Government seems to be the major culprit in the traffic crisis, its role range from bad federal roads to non-functional petroleum assets, to inefficient port management.  The failure of government over the years (not PDP or APC) in maintaining and upgrading the nation’s four refineries is a major factor to the crises. As the nation turned towards importation of refined production to meet its daily demand for products consumption, farm tanks suddenly became a worthy investment with lucrative returns in Nigeria.

    The rate at which petroleum farm tanks are springing up in Lagos is a cause for concern as the number of tanker fire incident is on the rise across the country. It is clear that the farm tank owners and product marketers are not convinced in the government’s ability to stop the importation of petroleum product by fixing the refineries and as such, they are prepared to reap the maximum gain/profit possible with increased investment of farm tanks and associated assets.

    Lagos accommodates most of the farm tanks in Nigeria; many are located in Apapa and Satellite town areas, leading to a lot of tankers parked along the Apapa end of the Lagos Apapa Expressway and the Lagos Badagry expressway causing agonizing traffic for road users and increasing traffic robbery incidents along these routes. The inner roads are not spared; the entire stretch of Old Ojo road in Kuje Amuwo area which is off the Lagos Badagry expressway as well as Satellite town roads are lined with tankers and containers carrying vehicles.

    Petroleum assets consisting of government depots and pipelines are wasting across the country. Many of them have not seen products in several years as pipeline vandals disrupt the pumping of products across the country. I am sure the personnel managing such assets still receive monthly salaries, promotion and exit benefits for doing probably nothing.

    A friend told me that even with the coming up of Dangote refinery, the tank farms will still be relevant in the scheme of things as long as government refineries are in a comatose state.

    Inefficient port operations can also be linked to this crisis. Over the years, port congestion has been a major crisis facing the maritime sector. It seems that the port infrastructure can no longer sustain the maritime traffic and as such bonded warehouses has become the succor to the inefficiency caused by government inability to expand the ports to meet modern demands. The long queue of container laden vehicles on Eko Bridge extending backward to Coastain and National Stadium, inner Apapa down to Boundary area of the notoriously popular Ajegunle can attest to this. Nigeria is largely an importing nation with huge demand for consumption goods, therefore this compounds the situation as Lagos is a desired port of destination. This is the case because Lagos is the state housing two ports capable of handling Roll on Roll off (RoRo) activities.

    Farm tanks owners, truck owners and regulators like DPR, NPA and Customs have equal responsibilities in the issue at hand. Most Nigerian tank farm owners build businesses without giving considerations to other services capable of giving conveniences to customers and general public. Only in Nigeria will a man buy trucks and park them on the roads whilst his personal car is kept safely in his garage. A man builds a N500m tank farm yet cannot provide waiting bays for his customers who are forced to inconvenience other road users. Any attempt by government agencies to arrest these traffic offenders is usually met with stiff opposition from their respective unions who in their sense of entitlement believes they are doing the nation a national service. Most times I wonder if it is that difficult for a business concern to think through his business processes.

    Regulators on their part seem not to give full consideration to the totality of the process, or how else can you explain the siting of over seven farm tanks of mega capacities in a densely populated residential area like Ijegun Egba in Satellite Town? To further compound it all the farms tanks have zero provisions for waiting bays for their customers the least of which are 33,000 litres trucks.

    Another notorious group are truck drivers, this group have very little regard for other road users. They park indiscriminately along the road, using any available space as packing lot to wait for their “loading turn”. And if for any reason a truck breaks down on the road, the whole day is wasted until the truck is repaired usually on the same road.

    Uniform personnel have been reported to be part of the traffic menace. Many are accused of collecting a little “title” from the drivers of articulated vehicles in order to allow them pass through the roads leading to the ports or the farm tanks. Except we want to deny the obvious, the accusation is actually founded, it is sometimes done with collaboration of union officials who for lack of decent office enjoy harassing truck drivers on the road in order to collect their dues before loading. Other lighter factors like the attitude of commercial vehicles who specialise in driving against traffic at the slightest opportunity cannot be underemphasized.

    Attempt should be made to find a lasting solution to the articulated vehicles induced traffic. The immediate expansion of the ports should be considered by the Nigerian Port Authority and the federal government. This will ensure that the maritime traffic is met with adequate port infrastructure capable of decongesting the port and reducing the time spent on entry queues into the port complex. With the ongoing expansion of the Apapa road and Lagos Apapa expressway under the public private sector arrangement, an efficient port operation will better free the gridlock around the port area.

    Government should also consider imposing the duty of building of waiting/parking bay or points on the farm tank operators. It is absurd that a business will exist without providing a reception area for its customers. Operators of farm tanks owe the citizens a duty of making the roads available for all to use and should not consider their private gains over public good. DPR should no longer issue licenses for farm tanks which cannot provide parking areas capable of accommodating at least 50% of their expected daily traffic.

    The Federal Ministry of Works and Housing should embark on immediate repairs and maintenance of all strategic roads that are capable of boosting business and invariably enhancing our GDP. Many of such roads are located in Lagos, thus giving priority attention to Lagos is sacrosanct to the economic development of Nigeria.  More incentives should be offered to private businesses in order to encourage them to partake in the Public Private Partnership arrangement in Infrastructure developments particularly on roads.

    It is also important that all road users have a culture of good road usage. The habits of driving against traffic, indiscriminate parking of vehicles on the roads and careless loading and offloading at various bus-stops by commercial drivers and conductors should be discouraged. Uniform personnel’s should be advised to thoroughly discharge their duties either as traffic management officers or law enforcement officers, this will increase the flow of traffic. Union executives should be asked to keep their union revenue activities off Lagos roads as the revenue generation can be done in more sophisticated manner without obstructing traffic.

    To improve the ease of moving around in Lagos and also stop economic losses arising from the terrible situation in Lagos, all stakeholders must live up to their responsibilities. We are all but guilty but a departure from our old attitude can save more time and money on Lagos roads.

     

    • Odewale ACA resides in Lagos.