The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Lekki

  • Before another building collapses in Lekki

    Sir: I have noticed with deep concern the state of the massive blocks of flats located in Horizon II, Lekki, Lagos. The collapse of a buildings on March 10, 2016 where over 30 innocent people died is still fresh in our memory hence the need for Lagos State government to take urgent steps to forestall a repeat of such.

    I attend Christ Embassy Church in Lekki by OANDO filling station and each time I drive to church, I notice a deep gorge in the foundation of the estate which overlooks Christ Embassy church and I worry hence this submission.

    The heavy rain of July 8, that created heavy flood in Lekki area of Lagos worsened the situation which led to the collapse of the fence of the estate. The damage is still continuing as I have also observed that the foundations of the massive blocks of flats have been seriously threatened. Knowing Nigerians for what we are, I am sure the occupants of those buildings would have resorted to prayer and fasting to stem the activity of the erosion for a poorly constructed building. They need to be helped as some of them have committed their life-savings into buying the property.

    As a Christian and a realist, I urge the Lagos State government to take quick steps as follows: Dispatch a search party to confirm the level of damage done to the blocks of flats near the referenced fence; send in structural engineers to determine immediate and long-term solution; extend such solution to all the massive blocks of flats near the fence of the buildings near the affected fence; if the situation is as bad as I imagine, occupants should be relocated to a temporary accommodation while the structure is being corrected

    I will feel guilty for the rest of my life, if I do not make and report this observation and the buildings end of taking-lives of innocent Nigerians once again.

    Building-collapse especially in Lagos is a disturbing occurrence. This has occurred too many times and has scored the administration of Governor Ambode low in spite of his efforts in other developmental areas. This should not be allowed to happen again.

    Nigerians should rise up and help their fellow Nigerians in distress.

     

    • John Adamasi,

    Lagos.

  • Celebrities gather as Wanneka’s Lounge opens in Lekki

    Celebrities gather as Wanneka’s Lounge opens in Lekki

    It was a slightly breezy evening, and the songs played by the disc jockey rendered extra soothing effects as celebrities rocked the red carpet at the glamorous launch of Wanneka’s Lounge, a choice restaurant in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.

    Hosted by Denrele Edun, the event was graced by celebrities like Humblesmith, BBNaija Eriata Ese, Yvonne Jegede, Belinda Effah, BBNaija Jon Ogah, Fredrick Leonard, Mary Lazarus, Azuka Ogujuiba, Latasha Nwugbe, Peggy Ovire, Mimi Orijekwe and many others.

    Just before declaring the beautiful lounge open, the proprietor, Mrs. Doris Nkumah popularly known as ‘Mizwanneka the Hair Boss’ talked about her journey as a serial entrepreneur and the times she had almost given up on her dream of opening a lounge.  According to her, “I am grateful to all that encouraged me to never give up; my husband, my elder sister and my friends. I’m glad and excited that this lounge is now a reality”

    After the cutting of the ribbon and declaring the lounge open by the celebrant’s elder sister, a tour of the facility revealed a tasteful decor, exotic offerings and warm hospitality for loungers.

    A perfect mix of fun, relaxation, entertainment and meals, guests had a taste of the ice berg as they were then treated to a beautiful performance by a Saxophonist while relishing the local and intercontinental dishes, after which Humblesmith entertained everyone with his hit songs.

  • Flood: Eko Disco restores electricity to Lekki, Victoria Island, Ikoyi

    The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has restored electricity to Lekki, Victoria Island and Ikoyi which were flooded on July 8.

    EKEDC’s injection substations and equipment were submerged by the flood.

    The firm’s General Manager, Corporate Communications Unit, Mr Godwin Idomudia in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, praised customers for their patience and understanding during the blackout.

    He urged them to be safety conscious and avoid touching electrical appliances with wet hands.

    Idemudia also advised them to always call the attention of professionals to electrical fault in their households or areas of residence.

    “Residents should be careful not to touch our equipment and poles during flood.

    “Whenever you noticed that our poles are on the ground, the first thing you should do is to stay away and call the attention of nearest EKEDC station to it,’’ Idemudia said

  • LEKKI SOUTHERN VILLA AND PEN GARDENS ESTATES 

( refer someone and get 10%)

    LEKKI SOUTHERN VILLA AND PEN GARDENS ESTATES 

( refer someone and get 10%)

    *Due to the immense success of our Southern Villa Estates and by popular demand,
we have on a limited time offer, the latest of our exclusive, hand-picked real estate
 developments, The Lekki Southern Vila Annex is located at Sangotedo, 12 minutes away from the VGC Round-About, off Monastery Road near Shoprite very close to its sister estate- the Lekki Southern Villa Phase 1,

    Grand-Deluxe plots @ 12,000,000.00 Per Plot.

    Duplexes from 27,000,000

    The LSV Annex comes with a Certificate of Ownership (C of O) as title document and is in
close proximity to several important facilities like the New Shoprite Mall
The estate is covered by C of O with semi detached and Terrance Duplexes for sales

    Title Documents:

    1. C of O
    1. Registered Survey
    1. Registered Layout Plan

    Amenities to be provided in the Estate include:
- Paved Roads
- Effective Drainage System
- 24 hour surveillance equipped with CCTV Cameras
- Creche, Gardens, In-estate shopping center and many more. 

Size per Plot: 600 sqm (residential).
We are also delighted to introduce to you our new and current projects, and we know you will love it. There are other four housing estates we are developing at the moment.


    Lekki Southern Villa Estate Phase 2- Just a minute away from the Lakowe
 Golf Course @ 5,500,000.00

    Pen Gardens Phase Estate Phase 2minutes’ drive from the New
International Airport @ 1,800,000.00

    Pen Gardens, Owerri @3.500,000.00

    Pen Gardens Awka @ 2,500,000.00

    Payment plan is Flexible and you don’t need to break the bank to own any of our properties But remember!!! Plots sales won’t last long.

    CALL NOW!

    0700 1000 000,

    08122493117
    08122493114

    sales@pennek.com

    www.pennek.com

    Powered by: PENNEK NIGERIA LIMITED

  • Businessman bags N3.6 m fraud charge

    A 45-year-old businessman, Oludotun Onifade, who allegedly obtained the sum of N3.6 million under false pretences, on Friday, appeared before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Onifade, whose address was not given, is facing a three-count charge bordering on stealing and fraud.

    The prosecutor, Insp. Steven Molo, told the court that the accused committed the offences on Oct. 16, 2015, at No. 184b, Corporation Drive, Dolphin Estate, Lekki, Lagos.

    He said the accused obtained the money from the complainant, Mr Alade Agbabiaka (SAN), to supply some window frames and some curtains for his residence.

    “The accused failed to supply the frames and curtains. He collected the money with the intention of defrauding the complainant.

    “All efforts by made by the complainant to get back his money proved abortive,’’ he said.

    The offences contravened Sections 168, 287, and 314 (1) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Magistrate O. O. Oshin, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    She said the sureties should show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government.

    The case was adjourned to June 21, for mention.

     

  • Firm unveils Lekki estate

    Another estate has joined the growing property business in Lekki, Lagos.

    Known as Royal Residence, it is the brainchild of Obika Realtors Limited.

    It is on a 10-acre land at Eluju Town in Ibeju-Lekki  Local Government Area of the state.

    The  estate with about 54 serviced plots, is zoned into five areas-detached  semi-detached terraced  recreational and commercial to ensure uniformity and aesthetics.

    Its Managing Director, Mrs. Ekamma Ufot, said the estate has basic infrastructure and services, such as roads, drainages, electricity, water, security, and effective facility management.

    She explained that the estate has 54 plots, 20 of which would be allocated under the first phase. A subscriber cannot buy more than four plots which must be developed within five years.

    At the allocation,  Ufot explained that a Deed of Assignment would be given to beneficiaries upon completion of payment. The title  would be transferred to owners and the property excised.

    She said her firm’s business philosophy  is hinged on meeting and surpassing the needs of its  clients by  achieving world class services in the most cost effective and professional manner.

    “We are providing this at a very affordable cost all in a bid to transform the dreams of prospective allottees   to reality. We are already getting testimonies from our stakeholders due to our commitment to deliver as promised within the stipulated time frame,” Ufot explained.

    A subscriber, Mr. John Ikomi, lauded the infrastructure, saying the firm was committed to ensuring that stakeholders’ dreams were actualised.

    Managing Director of Cordros Capital Wale Agbeyangi hailed the scheme, expressing satisfaction with its infrastructure and layout.

  • Charge to Ambode on Lekki Phase Two

    SIR: Shortage of affordable housing has been a teething administrative twinge of successive administrations in Lagos State.

    Giving the riverine taxonomy of Lagos landscape, availability of land for development is in much more restricted supply compared with most states of the federation.

    As the de facto commercial capital of Nigeria, Lagos population which is estimated at well above 20 million is becoming a social economic burden on infrastructural delivery.

    Notwithstanding the above narrative, Lagos seems to have missed a strategic and a huge housing opportunity in Lekki phase two. Lekki phase two with a land area of 514.53 hectares was designed and mapped out in 1996 to provide 3,095 residential plots, 64 commercial plots, 47 mixed development plots, 26 institutional plots and 17 recreational plots.

    This huge estate however is largely in a state of desuetude with more than 80 percent of the landmass wearing the antiquated look of a thick forest.

    The partially inhabited part of it remains isolated with security challenge as a major disincentive to neighbourhood ventures.

    The estate is already powered with electricity and almost all the roads are paved but land owners are not developing as expected owing to the exposure of the estate to insecurity.

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has a rare opportunity to change this narrative and convert this estate to a liveable real estate.

    Lagos State government should commission LSDPC to fence the estate and manage all access both ingress and egress.

    Owners of plots should be made to pay service charge for maintenance of infrastructure most of which have largely failed due to negligence.

    This singular act would not only turn this sprawling estate into developer’s delight, it would encourage plot owners to develop for habitation.

    One other disincentive to development in this estate is the governor’s withholding assent to hundreds of Certificate of Occupancy without which building approval can be processed.

    Lagos is losing huge revenue accruable from various inhabitancy value chain in Land Use Charge, Development Charge, Building Approval, Consent Fees and other sundry statutory revenues.

    If Governor Ambode takes a step in this direction, it would go a long way to ease the convoluted housing deficit in Lagos State.

     

    • Bukola Ajisola,

    bukymany@yahoo.com

  • Driver docked over car theft

    A 35-year-old driver, Christopher Ogonu, who allegedly stole his employer’s car valued at N500, 000 was on Friday brought before an Igbosere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

    Ogonu, who resides at No.10A, Micheal Olawole Cole Drive, Lekki, Lagos, is standing trial on a count charge of stealing.

    The prosecutor, Sgt Francisca Job, told the court that the accused committed the offence sometime in January, at No. 2, Akin Adesola St., Victoria Island, Lagos.

    She said that the accused stole a Toyota Corolla car with registration no. CQ 985 LSD, valued at N500, 000 belonging to the complaint, Mr Donatus Okonkwo.

    The prosecutor said that the accused was told to service the vehicle but he sold the car.

    Job said that the offence contravened Section 287 (7) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

    The accused denied the charge and the Magistrate, Mrs F. O. Botoku, granted him bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

    The magistrate also said that the sureties should be gainfully employed and must show evidence of tax payment to the Lagos State Government and have their addresses verified.

    She, however, adjourned the case until May 10, for mention.

     

  • Community protests over government destruction of their houses

    Hundreds of residents of Otodo-Gbame in Lagos on Wednesday stormed the Government House, Alausa, Ikeja, protesting alleged destruction of their houses by the state government.

    The protesters forced their way into the House in spite of a barricade mounted by police to prevent them from gaining entrance.

    They disrupted activities at the gate of the House for about two hours.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state government had evicted hundreds of residents of Otodo-Gbame area of Lekki, citing security reasons.

    The protesters, who claimed to have stayed on the waterfronts for years, carried placards with inscriptions such as: “300,000 evicted’’ and “land sold to the rich”.

    The spokesman of the group, Mr Paul Kunnu, said that they had documented their requests in a recent meeting with some government officials.

    He claimed that the requests were not given any consideration.

    “Yesterday (Tuesday), we had a meeting with government officials; they told us to bring the list of the people living in the community which is impossible for us, as we are more than 30,000.

    “The government promised to give us special assistance in terms of food stuffs, but that is not our demand. We only want our lands back.

    “At our last meeting with them, one of them told us not to mention anything about the land again or they would send us away,” he said.

    According to the spokesman, the group had requested for restoration of their lands and security measures to guard them against attacks by hoodlums.

    NAN reports that, as at the time of this report, no government official attended to the protesters but the police calmed them.

     

  • Don backs Dogara on postponement of national census

    Don backs Dogara on postponement of national census

    A don, Dr Austine Nwaeze, on Wednesday said he supported the suggestion by the Speaker of House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara that a national census should be after the 2019 general elections.

    Nwaeze, who lectures Political Economics at Pan Atlantic University, Lekki, Lagos, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the census, planned for 2018, would be an exercise in futility.

    He said that although conducting the exercise was good in view of the current economic plan of Federal Government, but it might not change the narrative.

    “I will suggest that the national census be held in 2020 or 2021 for a fair exercise.

    “It should be extended by few years after the elections because of our peculiarities as a people.

    “I support the people who are calling for the suspension because we should learn from the mistakes of the past.

    “Since the early 1960s, our elections have been controversies. The exercise has always pitched one section of the country against the others and almost negated the purpose of the scheme,” he said.

    He said that postponing the exercise until after the election would enable the government to plan and prepare better for the exercise.

    Nwaeze said the suggestion to postpone the census was in order as it would not disrupt the current economic recovery plan.

    NAN recalls that Dogara, had on Monday in Abuja, warned that the census figures could be manipulated if the census was conducted in 2018.

    Dogara, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr Turaki Hassan, said the exercise should be conducted in 2017.

    He said that political interests would determine the outcome of the results, rather than the actual figures.

    The Speaker argued that 2018 was too close to 2019, an election year, and feared that politicians could hijack the exercise to their advantage.

    “If you conduct census just before the elections, there will be so much pressure, crises and a lure for people to manipulate the figures for political reasons, such that the agency cannot even cope with.

    “So, it is better for a fresh administration to conduct this exercise from the beginning of that administration when we do not have any pressure of elections in sight.

    He was reacting to the clamour by some groups for the census to be conducted in 2018.