The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ojodu Berger

  • Residents decry gridlock at Ojodu Berger

    Residents, traders, commuters and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Ojodu Berger branch, have appealed to the Lagos State government to ease gridlock experienced daily at Kosoko Street, Ojodu Berger.

    The traffic jam, said to be making life unbearable for users, is caused by parking of buses on the street, as the operators have been banned by the government from using their former park.

    Kosoko Street is route for hundreds of thousands of residents of Ojodu Abiodun, Yakoyo Ojodu, Alagbole, Akute, Ajuwon, Denro among others, in Ifo area of Ogun State.

    NURTW Chairman Alhaji Kamoru Ishola, said to decongest the gridlock, the government should provide better alternative motor park for their use, as well as make Kosoko Street a one-way drive, for those coming out of the street, while those driving in should use alternative streets.

  • FG frustrating my plans for Oshodi-Airport Road – Ambode

    FG frustrating my plans for Oshodi-Airport Road – Ambode

    • says state of road a national disgrace

    Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday said the Federal Government was presently standing in the way of his administration’s effort to embark on the total reconstruction of the Muritala Mohammed International Airport Road from Oshodi axis.

    The governor, who spoke to journalists at the Lagos House, Ikeja shortly after embarking out an extensive inspection of projects, said the present state of the Airport Road was a national embarrassment.

    He said although his administration has come up with a design for the reconstruction of the road as well as the funds to embark on the project, the Federal Ministry of Works was yet to grant approval.

    According to him, “The road linking Oshodi to the International Airport, you would all agree with me is a national embarrassment. In the spirit of the regeneration and urbanisation that this administration has set out to achieve, we believe strongly that the image that is exhumed by the decadence of that road must be repaired and we took it upon ourselves to appropriate in the 2017 budget that the House of Assembly should approve the total reconstruction of the Airport Road from Oshodi to the International Airport.

    “The State currently has a design of 10 lanes to come from Oshodi to the International Airport with interchange and flyover that would drop you towards the Local Airport. The contractor is already set to go and everything, as I said, has been completed and we already have the cash, but alas we are having challenges with the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing. This is a Federal and not a State road. The Federal Ministry of Works believes that they should do the road, but they have not been able to do it all these years past.”

    He lamented that despite the fact that the Federal Government was indebted to the State to the tune of N51billion, which was spent on repairing Federal roads over the years, the State Government’s effort to immediately transform the Airport Road to world class standard was being frustrated.

    Ambode said if given the approval, his administration was ready to hit the ground running and begin construction of the Airport Road within two weeks and finish same within a period of six months.

    Ambode also implored the Federal Government to avail the State of the N2billion appropriated for the Airport Road in the 2017 National Budget to carry out the project.

    “I just want to remind Lagosians that prior to my becoming Governor, the Federal Ministry of Works has been owing Lagos State a total of N51billion as reimbursement for reconstruction that was carried out by the State Government on federal roads in the State.

    “So obviously, what we are asking for is that whatever it is that we are asking for, it can never be up to the N51billion that they are owing us.

    “I just want to appeal to the Federal Ministry of Works, to let go or reimburse us with whatever it is that they are owing us and even if they are not willing to pay us now, we have the money to do it. It is a national disgrace and we would not be part of it. We would like to do it as part of the celebration of Lagos at 50,” Governor Ambode said.

    The Governor also expressed frustration that six months after President Muhammadu Buhari approved the handover of the Presidential Lodge, Marina, the state government was yet to gain access to the premises, saying that it was frustrating the programmes outlined for the Lagos @50 celebrations.

    “As we speak, we are yet to gain entrance into that place, it’s frustrating our programme. So I want to use this medium to appeal and say that the approval of Mr President should be rightly honoured and the agencies concerned, that is the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and the Security Services should honour that promise by Mr President.

    On the projects inspected, the Governor expressed satisfaction with the pace of work by the contractors, saying that they would be commissioned as part of the State’s Golden Jubilee celebrations.

    While noting that his administration has fully paid compensation to owners of properties that had to give way for the Oshodi and Ojodu Berger regeneration projects, stated that the State Government has concluded plans to pay property owners at Abule Egba within the next four weeks.

    Among projects inspected include the Ojodu Berger regeneration project, Abule Egba Flyover Project and also the Aboru Abesan Link Road Project.

  • Man, 46, needs N3.2m for cancer treatment

    Man, 46, needs N3.2m for cancer treatment

    Mr Frank Irabor, a photographer and graphic artist, needs financial assistance to treat an injury he sustained in a motorcycle accident.

    His leg has developed cancer of the cell known in medical parlance as plasmacytoma from the fracture. Plasmacytoma is a malignant tumour, which grows within soft tissue or the axial skeleton.

    Orthopaedic surgeons said he would need about N2 million for surgery and N1.4 million for chemotherapy to kill the cancerous cells.

    Irabor is lying helpless at Ward G of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Lagos, where he has been on admission since February for a more comprehensive treatment on the leg.

    Irabor, an Ishan from Edo State, recounted that the incident occurred one morning on Ojodu Road, Lagos. He said: “I left my home at 16A, River Valley Estate, Ogidi Close, Ojodu Berger very early in the morning of January 8, 2008, to go to Ken Rock Studios, where I work. Little did I know that I would end up in the hospital in pain.

    “The motorcycle that I boarded was overtaking a Toyota Land Cruiser, that was stationed by the traffic wardens. But unknown to the motorcyclist, the car moved and the motorcycle rammed into it. I immediately felt pain in my right leg and I couldn’t get up. I was sprawled on the ground as passersby were shouting to prevent further injuries.

    “I was rushed to a traditional medicine practitioner, but he advised I see a doctor. So, sympathisers took me to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja, where I was given necessary treatment. But there was a relapse six months later. And since then I have been in and out of the hospital,” he explained.

    He said the doctors did a biopsy after three months of admission at LASUTH, which showed that he was down with plasmacytoma.

    Irabor said he had complaints about the leg, adding that doctors usually advised that he exercised it, but the accident triggered what he is suffering now.

    “I left LASUTH after seven months on hospital bed with a cast of Plaster of Paris (POP) on the affected leg. My condition improved and I started working again after one year. It was really reassuring for me but a relapse of the condition has consigned me to the hospital bed again. And I’ve been on admission since then,” he added.

    Irabor also said his wife of three years left him when it was difficult to live as family because he was incapacitated.

    He appealed to well-meaning people, corporate organisations and the government to help him financially.

    His bank details are: Kennedy Irabor GTBank: A/C No. 0114527069.

  • Glo League stars storm Lagos for friendly

    Glo League stars storm Lagos for friendly

    Some super stars playing in the Nigerian League will today light up the beautiful city of Lagos with their skills as they take on Dosu Academy (run and owned by former Super Eagles goalkeeper Dosu Joseph MON).

    Organisers of what has now become a regular ritual at the end of each League season told futaa.com that Wednesday’s friendly billed to take place at the Isheri Boarder playing field opposite Sweet Sensation, Ojodu Berger by 7.30am will again be fun-filled like the previous editions.

    “It will be a nice time I am sure, the invited players have signified their interest to be part of the event which amongst other things is used to inspire youngsters also aspiring to play professional football soonest. John Dosu Warri Wolves goalkeeper and one of the organisers told futaa.com.

    The impressive list of players expected for today’s friendly include the likes of Gbolahan Salami- 3sc, Madu Chibuzor –Rangers, Razak Adegbite –Rangers, Rasheed Olabiyi- Enyimba, Kola Anobi –Wolves, Kola Ige -Nembe City, Opitoke Moses-Tornadoes and Femi Thomas- Enyimba amongst several others.