The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Oziegbe Okoeki

  • Police destroy N50m worth of drugs

    Police destroy N50m worth of drugs

    Lagos State Commissioner of Police Mr. Imohimi Edgal on Tuesday destroyed weeds suspected to be Indian hemp and other outlawed drugs worth N50m recovered from arrested notorious criminals at Akala, Mushin area of Lagos.
    The illicit drugs were burnt at Olusosun dump site in compliance with the ‘Court Order’ by Magistrate Lateef Owolabi of the Lagos State Mobile Court, Oshodi.
    The Commissioner of Police disclosed that Magistrate Lateef Owolabi recently gave the ‘Court Order’ after the prosecution of 50 suspected criminals arrested during enforcement operations on ‘Eradication of Criminal Hideouts’ carried out at Akala area of Mushin, Lagos.
    During a mid-night joint enforcement operations between the Lagos Police Command and the operatives of the Lagos State Task Force recently 44 males and 6 females suspected criminals were arrested at Akala area of Mushin.
    Edgal maintained that it is no longer business as usual for criminals and hoodlums selling or buying drugs across the State.
    He, however, warned parents to monitor activities of their wards as anyone caught would be charged to court for prosecutions.
    Chairman of the task force,  Olayinka Egbeyemi, a Superintendent of Police stated that the enforcement operations on criminal hideouts across the State are a continuous exercise.
    He enjoined members of the public to always give out information to security personnel to work with.
    All 44 males and 6 females arrested criminals have been p
  • Otodo Gbame residents paralyse activities at Ambode’s office

    Otodo Gbame residents paralyse activities at Ambode’s office

    There was a mild drama at the Lagos State House, Alausa, on Wednesday, as hundreds of residents of Otodo Gbame, community forcefully stormed the seat of power in protest of the destruction of their homes.

    The protesters who paralyzed activities in the state house for about two hours were prevented and also tear-gased by policemen in a bid to stop them from entering the state house.

    Some of the inscriptions displayed on their placards read: “90 Moroko houses demolished,” 300,000 evicted, land sold to the rich,” “Ambode is a soldier in agbada,” “Ambode is a land grabber among others.”

    The spokesman of the group, Paul Kunnu disclosed that in a recent meeting with the government officials, they were asked to document their requests.

    He, however, stated that it came as a shock to them as their requests were not given any consideration.

    He said: “Yesterday (Tuesday) we had a meeting with the government officials, they told us to bring the list of the people living in the community which is impossible for us as we totaled more than 30,000. They promised to give us special assistance in terms of food stuff but that is not our demand. We only want our lands back.Anytime we tried to refer them to it, they would stylishly deviate from it. In fact at our last meeting with them, one of them told us not to mention anything about the land again or else they would send us away. Anytime the policemen come around, they would come with the hoodlums and set houses on fire.

    Anytime we tried to refer them to it, they would stylishly deviate from it. In fact at our last meeting with them, one of them told us not to mention anything about the land again or else they would send us away. Anytime the policemen come around, they would come with the hoodlums and set houses on fire.

    “In our documented demands to the government, we requested for the restoration of our land and security measures to guide us against hoodlums who have been parading themselves in our communities with police officials. We also asked for the enforcement of the law, because they didn’t follow the order of the judge not to demolish the waterfront.

    “We want to go back to our land, till today, our people are sleeping inside the boat and not all the residents own boat, so, they usually squeezed together there. Our government is attacking us because of the interest of private body.

    “This is where our forefathers lived even before the present government was born, they can’t just come up and send us away. They even came with rumors that we are kidnappers, Boko Haram, criminals etc. how is that possible in a community where we have children and elderly people,” he said.

    Also speaking, another resident, Agemo Emmanuel declared, “We want the government to restore our land but Governor Ambode is claiming that he is not aware of the things going on. Thugs would come and kill our children and relatives.

    “Last week Saturday, they killed my Uncle, on Sunday again around 5:00am they shot a boy in the community called Daniel, he is about 17 years old. They even brought the marine police with gunboats into water harassing us and shooting. The corpse are in the mortuary. Ambode is quiet. We went to court last week Tuesday; the judge also said he doesn’t have anything to say.”

  • Vigilante group re-strategises for community policing in Lagos

    Vigilante group re-strategises for community policing in Lagos

    Penultimate week, precisely December 27, 2016, the Lagos state Command of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria organised a one-day seminar on effective community policing at Ikeja with the aim of further strengthening the security machinery in the state, Oziegbe Okoeki reports on the seminar.

    Adequate security remains very vital to the socio-economic development of any people and society and community policing has come to be recognised as the very vital aspect of security and is being given adequate attention as paramount in the security machinery of any state. It is in furtherance of the need to ensure adequate security in Lagos, the economic nerve centre of the country, nay the sub-region that the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) recently organised a one-day seminar on effective community policing on.

    Adequate security remains very vital to the socio-economic development of any people and society and community policing has come to be recognised as very vital aspect of security and is being given adequate attention as paramount in the security machinery of any state. It is in furtherance of the need to ensure adequate security in Lagos, the economic nerve centre of the country, nay the sub-region that the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) recently organised a one-day seminar on effective community policing on waterways in some strategic parts of Lagos state.

    The summit with the theme, ‘Effective community policing’ was put together by the Lagos State command of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) with the aim of developing a genuine partnership in support of community policing on waterways by engaging citizens in check-mating various criminal activities in Lagos State.

    james-udomaThe summit with the theme, ‘Effective community policing’ was put together by the Lagos State command of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) with the aim of developing a genuine partnership in support of community policing on waterways by engaging citizens in check-mating various criminal activities in Lagos State.

    Underpinning the seminar is the understanding that it is only when the community and the police work together for their common good that the citizens can repose genuine confidence in the police and ensure adequate security.

    It was agreed at the one-day conference of the necessity of members of communities to provide the police with confidential information and assistance to help prevent crimes and arrest criminals.

    Speaking at the seminar, Lagos state commander of the VGN, Otunba James Udoma said as part of activities to reduce crime to the barest minimum in the State, residents in the riverine areas should cooperate with the security operatives, particularly, the Nigerian police, by constantly supplying pertinent information, as a way of enhancing crime surveillance.

    Udoma said one of the fundamental handicaps in pursuing criminal cases is the dearth of information gathering, following the arrest of suspects who are awaiting prosecution.

    The security boss, therefore, solicited for partnership between the vigilante group and members of the public emphasising that even in the area of traditional security approach issues of information gathering, reporting to the police cannot be compromised for reasons of promoting professional integrity and securing life and property.

    Speaking on the topic: ‘Effective policing in Lagos State’, Deputy State commander, Emmanuel Ayisere recounted a number of security challenges in the recent past in Lagos State.

    According to him, “for instance, some time ago at Olaofein in Magbon community, Ikorodu, many landlords who constituted themselves into vigilante group were shot and killed by people numbering about 50, as claimed by residents.”

    He also disclosed that high profile bank robbery incidents in Lekki, Ikorodu, Festac Town and Agbara respectively were all launched through the water ways.

    While regretting that a traditional ruler of Iba town, Oba Yisau Goriola was kidnapped from his palace and the kidnappers escaped through the creeks behind his palace, he added that several other attacks, which included kidnapping and robbery at Igando also took place with casualties and the gunmen escaped through the water ways.

    He also reminded of another occurrence which took place in Epe where pupils and teachers were kidnapped and the criminals escaped through the canal.

    The guest lecturer at the occasion who is also the Chairman, Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) Alimosho area, Prince Micheal Taiwo said that knowledge of the locality and the different terrain involved was paramount in conventional policing to serve the communities better and effectively. Adding that  community policing involves genuine human relations, professional orientation and a better understanding of the people in the domiciled area.

    While cautioning members of the VGN not to see themselves as an agent of destruction in the course of carrying out their legitimate functions, Taiwo told the participants at the occasion to beware of manufacturing of evidence as information provided by informants.

    In his contribution, a Marine expert, Dr Akin Obe said occurrences of kidnapping and killing in the riverine areas in Lagos in recent times can be controlled when authorities of the Lagos state government collaborate with the grassroots in the area of information, intelligence gathering and reporting to assist the law enforcement agencies in tackling crimes.

    The conference also discussed no fewer than one hundred and fifty cases of treated criminal occurrences in the last six months in different communities, particularly the riverine areas in Lagos State.

    The participants left the seminar better informed and equipped to carry out their functions and duties as vigilantes/community police.

    It would be recalled that recently, the Commandant General of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN) Alhaji Ali Sokoto led an entourage of some members of VGN on a courtesy visit to the Abeokuta Villa of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to intimate him of activities of the group nationwide and Obasanjo acquiesced that the enlistment of the paramilitary organisation into the security apparatus of the country is long overdue.

    He, however, advised VGN to be conscious of human rights issues in all its activities and that they must not see themselves as a parallel to the Nigeria police or try to take over their functions in the attempt to secure the nation.

    Obasanjo applauded the activities of the organisation in the area of community policing and urged them to redouble their efforts in combating the menace of armed robbery and kidnapping in different parts of the country. And that they must display professional excellence and engage members in training and retraining in the course of discharging their duties.

  • Relief as lawmaker rehabilitates road, provide bore hole

    Relief as lawmaker rehabilitates road, provide bore hole

    The residents of Kekereowo, Shobowale and Mopelola in Ilasamaja, Mushin will remain thankful to their representative at the House of Representatives, Hon. Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla for bringing relief and succour to the community last week.

    Last week Ayinla who represents Mushin Federal constituency at the House of Representatives commissioned a borehole for residents of Mopelola street and a standard culvert for residents of Kekereowo and Shobowale streets as well as clearing the blocked gutter on the one. Kilometre long Kekereowo street.Thus bringing to an end the lack of potable drinking water in Mopelola and years of flooding on Kekereowo/Shobowale streets and the inability of residents of Shobowale street to access Kekereowo street because of the bad road destroyed by

    Thus bringing to an end the lack of potable drinking water in Mopelola and years of flooding on Kekereowo/Shobowale streets and the inability of residents of Shobowale street to access Kekereowo street because of the bad road destroyed by a flood.

    With the culvert residents of Shobowale street can now drive in and out of the street through Kekereowo street, a major road linking the area, Ilasa to Mushin and Idi-Araba in Surulere.

    20170109_125328Anytime it rains, according to residents, the Shobowale/Kekereowo axis of the road is always flooded and impassable because of blocked drains and lack of proper drainage to channel flood coming from Shobowale street into the gutter on Kekereowo street, a job the residents said was shabbily done by the Chinese firm that constructed the one kilometre long road. The flooding therefor destroyed the road and cut it off from Kekereowo street. But all this has been corrected by the lawmaker and he has also poured asphalt on the Shobowale/Kekereowo streets which had been destroyed by flood before now.

    Answering reporters questions on the commissioning of the two projects, the lawmaker who is popularly called BYA said that there are many issues in the various communities needing urgent attention but as a legislator; “I am going to be attending to these issues bit by bit. And it is a challenge to everyone who has the capability to improve on his environment to do so, it doesn’t have to be the government alone, this is part of my contribution to make my communities and my constituents better.

    “I have been doing things like this including empowerment and I will continue to do so. And by next month I am going to distribute N20,000 to 600 people in my constituency to assist their trade or to kick start a trade.

    “We should always look out for what the communities want and assist them. For me I can not open my eyes to see the communities suffering, I will do everything within my power and capability to give them relief and that is exactly what I am doing again with this two projects I just constructed and commissioned. I am inspired to correct the ills of the society”, BYA said.

    While giving God all the glory, Ayinla said he feels good being able to help his constituents, adding that he is able to do what he is doing by the grace of God.

    He advised the residents to put to proper use the projects and that they must endeavour to maintain them and if there is any problem with the borehole or the culvert they should report to his constituency office.

    He advised that what individuals have they should contribute little of it to the society they live in “because whatever you do you will gain the reward on the day of judgement.

    Commending the lawmaker, who he described as a pragmatic leader, for what he has been doing for the constituency and the constituents, the Sole Administrator of Mushin local government, Hon. Yinka Kazeem said he felt happy and delighted on the job the lawmaker did on the road.

    He advised the residents to keep and maintain the infrastructure “because the infrastructure belongs to them because we are all government, so we must keep watch and maintain the infrastructure in the community, it is very important”, the Sole Administrator said.20170109_125539

    A member of the community who was also the contractor who executed the project, Chief James Osemede described the honourable as a listening representative. He said he called the attention of Ayinla to the bad state of the road. “Shobowale street had been cut-off from Kekereowo street by flood and he agreed to take up the project personally since the local government or state ministry of works was not forthcoming and that was how he took it up”.

    Osemede said he feels elated about the job, done and everybody feels satisfied that he is listening to the community. In fact, BYA listens, he attends to people, he empowers people and indeed he has reached out to a lot of people”.

    Osemede advised the residents to stop dumping refuse in the drains so as not to block them again and cause flooding that will again submerge and destroy the road.

    Another resident, Adeleke Samuel, while thanking BYA said the road was not passable before because the Chinese firm that constructed the road did not divert the water and when it rains the whole road is flooded “but with the construction of the culvert the water now moves through freely and now the road is passable. He describes the lawmaker’s gesture as fantastic as it has brought succour to the people and it will also improve the economic activities of the people”, he said.

    Thanking BYA for providing residents of Mopelola street with bore hole, a community member,  Gbolahan Olusoji said the community has been longing for a bore hole for a couple of years and the honourable promised that he would give us one during his campaign if we vote for him and he has actually done it, he has fulfilled his promise.

    He said the community is delighted with the provision of the bore hole and appealed that their represents should continue to provide them with dividends of democracy.

    He advised the community to be security conscious and to protect every project that is being constructed in the community because it will benefit everybody. “The project is for us and we should protect it consciously”, he advised.

  • Traders protest planned demolition of Ojodu retail market

    Traders protest planned demolition of Ojodu retail market

    Scores of market women and men on Tuesday stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly to protest alleged plan by the state government to demolish Ojodu retail Market.
    The distraught marketers chanted several solidarity songs and passionately appealed to the Speaker of the Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa to use his office to help them stop the state government from implementing the policy.
    The leader of the protesters and Treasurer of the  Market Men and Women, Ojodu Retail Market Branch, Alhaja Fadeke Bello disclosed that the marketers were surprised when some officials of the state government gave them only one day notice for the demolition.
    Bello said in an interview that she stood in for the Iyaloja of the market, Alhaja A.A Adegbola, who she said went for a weekly meeting of the Iyalojas in the state.
    “We are here on behalf of the people of Ojodu Retail market. We heard that Governor Akinwunmi Ambode ordered the demolition of parts of the market, which we did not agree to because the notice was short.
    “They called us for an emergency meeting yesterday that they were coming today to demolish the market and we told them that we could not accept that because of the short notice.
    “This was why we decided to come and inform the Governor, Speaker of the Assembly and our Iyaloja General, Alhaja Folashade Tinubu-Ojo.
    “We are going to her office to see her now. They told us they would only demolish part of the market, but we don’t know what they would do. They gave us a short notice,” she said.
    The woman revealed that the market belongs to Ikeja Local Government and that it was established 32 years ago by the Marketing Board.
    She stated that they were later told that there were issues with the owners of the land while appealing to the government not to send them away from the market.
    According to her, Ambode is trying his best for the beautification of Ojodu Local Government, adding that they also want to enjoy the gesture of the government.
    “The Governor should not send us away from where we earn our daily bread. We depend on the market for survival. We don’t know their plans for the market, but we want them to help us,” she stated.
    Addressing the protesters later, Speaker Mudashiru Obasa urged them to be peaceful with their protests, promising to get across to the executive on the matter and report to the leaders of the protesters in due course.

  • Arepo residents protest five months of darkness

    • Estimated bills to IKEDC office

    Journalists and other professionals living in Arepo, an outskirt of Lagos State on Monday protested to the office of the Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (KEDC), Alausa, Ikeja, over  five months of darkness and estimated bills in the Journalists Estate, Beachland Estate and other estates in the area.

    As early as 7am the protesters blocked the entrance to IKEDC office brandishing placards. They called for the intervention of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola. Some of the placards read,  ‘Fashola must Sack IKEDC’; ‘Arepo in total darkness’; ‘We say no to estimated billing without light’; ‘IKEDC is a fraud in journalist Estate’, Say No Billing without Light’, ‘Restore our Light’.

    Speaking on behalf of the protesting residents, Chairman of the Journalists Estate Residents Development Association, Mr Nosiru Salau said the entire Arepo Community has been without light for months, adding that despite IKEDC’s gross inefficiency, they are fond of bringing over-estimated bills at the end of the month.

    According to him: “Arepo and its environs have been without light for months. We bought a new transformer with our money but IKEDC refused to energise it because they insisted we have to bring some money for them to buy some accessories.

    “They used to bring estimated bills in which we are over billed. We have paid for prepaid metres for close to three years now, yet they have not brought the metres. That is why we are staging this protest to drive home the point that we cannot continue to be in darkness. We are calling on the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola to intervene.”

    He vowed that the protest will continue until the management of IKEDC give them a listening hear; even as he said further steps will be taken if their demands are not attended to.

    Also speaking, Secretary to Arepo Residents Association, Mr Friday Irabor said IKEDC does not provide light to the estates in the area until every month ending when it will supply light for an hour and an estimated bill of N36,000 per resident.

    He called on IKEDC to buckle up otherwise the estates will mobilise millions of residents for another protest.

    Another resident, who spoke with our correspondent, Mr Demola Bidmus said the residents decided to stage the protest in order to demonstrate their seriousness about the issue on ground.

    He said IKEDC is being fraudulent by giving the residents estimated bills without supplying electricity; saying “we are calling on Fashola to do something because he is the one in charge. We cannot continue to live in darkness, it’s not conducive for us.”

    Those present during the protest include Deputy Editor, The Nation newspapers, Lawal Ogienagbon and Managing Editor, Abuja Sports Day, Ben Alaiya.

  • Residents of Oke Afa protest planned demolition of shops

    Residents of Oke Afa protest planned demolition of shops

    Residents of Oke-Afa Estate in Isolo have called on the State House of Assembly to prevail on the state government to stop the planned demolition of the shops in the estate.

    Some of the residents, who staged a protest to the House yesterday stated that officers of the Lagos Building Investment Company gave them a final notice on Friday, Oct. 28. According to them, the demolition is slated for Tuesday, November 1.

    The protesters said that the development would lead to loss of livelihood for the shop owners who are predominantly pensioners.

    The leader of the protesters, Chief Olawale Osanyinpeju said that the estate was constructed by former governor Lateef Jakande in the 80s, adding that the residents built shops on spaces around their houses.

    Osanyinpeju said, “We cannot allow grasses to grow in the spaces, so we decided to build shops on the spaces. Since then, we have been making use of the place. We cannot leave them and go to the market.

    “LBIC initially came to demolish the stalls, but we invited them and we discussed. I am the Chairman of Kiosks and Containers Committee. They inspected what we had done and they saw that they were okay.

    “They came during the tenure of former governor Raji Fashola and said we would be paying ground rent of N1,000 for containers and N500 for small shops and we complied.”

    The protesters later submitted a letter dated 31st October and signed by B.A Amosun and Toba Johnson, the President and Secretary of the Landlords’ Association of the estate respectively to the Assembly.

    The petition read in part: “The Lagos Building Investment Company (LBIC) is planning in conjunction with Ministry of Environment and other bodies to demolish our shops after demolishing our heritage the Landlord Association Civic Centre, which may lead to political instability.”

    It was also stated in the letter that they obtained the permit before erecting the shops and that they pay annual dues to LBIC and to Ejigbo Local Council Development Area.

    Addressing the protesters, the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade said that the House would look into the matter and get back to them in due course.

  • Group advocates for pride of place for Yoruba language

    The Yoruba Studies Association of Nigeria (YSAN) has reiterated the need to upgrade the functionality of Yoruba language, so as to ensure it takes its pride of place amidst other languages, now that the social media rules the world.

    Professor Oluyemisi Adebowale, the National President of YSAN stated this while delivering her welcome address at the Association’s 2016 National Conference, held at at Afe Babalola hall, University of Lagos with the theme: ‘Yoruba Society and The New Media’.

    According to the scholar who doubles as the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Adekunle Ajasin University, the protection of speaking, writing and culture of the Yoruba people is so germane.

    She also raised the eyebrow on the dressing malaise amidst the Yoruba youths, stating that nudity is averse to Yoruba culture and language.

    “We want to promote it amongst scholars and sensitize the citizenry to know what obtains in the global village”.

    She noted that “the greatest challenge is the loss of interest for the speaking and identifying with the language, governments also are not helping the matters.

    “Yoruba, Hausa and Igbo languages used to be compulsory at the senior secondary level, but things and policies have changed, it is no longer compulsory and so the number of students, candidates offering this language have reduced drastically.

    ” It pains us because it is also affecting the institutions because the number of applicants for the language is decreasing and we are not happy about that, we have made efforts on this, even to the Minister’s table, but we were not taken seriously for it was only the Yoruba scholars angling for it, we are looking at merging force with the Igbo language president and Hausa to put up a strong paper for consideration by government for a review”.

    Professor Rahaman Ade Bello, Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, who was represented by his Deputy Professor Duro Oni noted that using the Yoruba language and the other Nigerian languages as the medium of teaching and impacting knowledge is quite beneficial to the wards’ academic future.

    “Let’s start teaching the little children in the Yoruba, Igbo and Hausa languages once they start going to school, it is language they ought to be taught with, those taught that way will excel, the rhymes in Yoruba encouraged academics, we need to resuscitate this.

    “Even when you teach them English language, using Yoruba as the medium of expression like Professor Babs Fafunwa and Ayo Banjo have proven to us the efficacy of that method, the products do much better. The culture of learning  one other language aside their language must be restored in our policy”.

    The chairman of the committee of the conference, Prof. Oladipo Ajiboye, called all  those stakeholders on the need to ensure our children speak, understand and write Yoruba for even development.

    Engineer Haruna Ishola Bako, the Baale of Shibiri Oto Awori LCDA, was quick to add that scholars and stakeholders should rally round and ensure that the Yoruba language and culture is not destroyed.

    The keynote speaker at the event, Most Rev. Ayo Ladigbolu, Arch Bishop, Methodist Church of Nigeria, a retired cleric stated that the world is now a global village.

    “We must be able to communicate not only with our immediate neighbours but our next door neighbour in America, Haiti, Australian, Ghana and wherever human beings are found and the language of new media is the language of computer, website, whatsap, Facebook and YouTube, we must learn and use those languages to communicate our culture, ideals, desires as well as our projections for  future.

    “There is the need to produce materials in Yoruba language in the new media for them to be interested so that we won’t be left behind. All languages in Nigeria should embrace it so that you can gain from the benefit”, Ladigbolu said.

  • ‘Economic recession is not death pill’

    ‘Economic recession is not death pill’

    • Develop alternative ways of living

    Nigerians have been advised not to see the current economic recession as a death pill but instead, they should develop alternative ways of living and surviving in the midst of the current situation.

    Member of the Lagos state House of Assembly representing Alimosho constituency 1, Hon. Bisi Yusuf gave this advice on Monday while answering questions from Journalists at the commencement of a 4-day medical mission he put together for the four local councils in his constituency at Iyana Ipaja.

    During the 4-day exercise residents will be screened for various diseases which include: diabetes, HIV, hepatitis B, sight, hernia, prostrate, specific antigent, eye test, malaria, deworming and medical check up; he has also arranged for minor  surgery for those with a hernia and swollen testicles while the complicated ones will get referrals.

    Yusuf advised his constituents not to despair because of the recession but they should think outside the box, urging them to be calm and venture into agriculture; “because if you don’t eat well definitely other diseases will come. He also advised them to be mindful of their expenditure, “they should prioritise and spend only on things that will add value to their lives”, he said.

    The lawmaker said he chose to use the medical mission to reach out to his constituents to celebrate his birthday which was on Monday. “At my age, if God has given me this very beautiful health I should translate it to benefit other people who are less privileged. that he owes it as a duty.

    According to him, his constituents deserve sound health if the development would be well grounded in his area, “because without good health there is little you can do and there are some here who can not afford even drugs of N200 .

    “For this exercise, there are 25 Surgeons, a number of Pharmacists and a retinue of Nurses on ground to attend to the over  five million residents in my constituency expected at the four-day event,” Yusuf said.

    The lawmaker went further: “As you know I’m celebrating my birthday today, I was born on 26th of September. So instead of going into a party for the people who even have more than I do, why don’t I do things that the less privileged people will benefit from? You can see the way the people are so happy.”

    Also speaking to newsmen, the head of the medical team, Dr. Olajoko Samson Alaba who is a surgeon assured the residents of professional treatments, saying everything has been put in place for successful operations.

    He said: “We will treat the hernia, glaucoma, we won’t be able to do the big ones because this place is not a formal hospital, we will do the pre-surgery there, any other post-surgeries they go to the hospital and we resolve it,” he said.

  • Families of Epe boat mishap victim get N3.5m compensation

    Families of Epe boat mishap victim get N3.5m compensation

    Families and relatives of the seven dead victims of a boat mishap that occurred in Epe area of Lagos State during the March 2015 general elections were compensated with N500,000 each by the management of ABSAM Memorial Foundation.

    ABSAM is an acronym of the victims of the incident, including Prince Kunle Adewale, son of Epe traditional ruler and Deputy Director, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lagos State; Mr. Olawale Mogaji, a consultant with Lagos Eko Education Project; and Mr. Gbolahan Mogaji, a former public servant with the Lagos State Agriculture Development Authority.

    Others were Mr. Muiz Bello, a former staff of Chevron and a chairmanship aspirant of Epe Local Government Council, and Mr. Shamsideen Agoro, the Personal Assistant to Mr. Muiz Bello.

    They were in their mid and late 40s. The boat operator and his two sons, however, survived the mishap.

    A member of the foundation, Mr. Waidi Ogunnorin, said during the presentation of the cheques to the beneficaries at the conference room of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Friday, that the foundation was established in memory of the victims, and that the efforts of the deceased should not be in vain.

    “Therefore, I on behalf of the foundation, urge you to use the money judiciously for the purpose of which it was given. Efforts are on-going to make sure that this type of presentation will be a continuous exercise,” he said.

    Also speaking at the event, a member of the Board of Trustees of ABSAM, Hon. Abiodun Tobun described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the victims had been destined to die the way they did.

    Tobun, who is a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, revealed that a memorial park would soon be established in honour of the deceased and that they would be regarded as heroes of democracy, while advising the families to take solace in God.

    Present to receive their cheques during the brief ceremony were Mrs. Taiwo Mogaji, Mrs. Mojisola Agoro and Mrs. Taiwo Kareem.

    Beneficiaries that were absent included Vivian Ufoma Salau, Monsurat Olabisi Bello, Olabisi Mogaji and Adewale Yesirat Adefunke.

    Mother of one of the victim, Shamsideen Agoro, Mrs. Mojisola Agoro, who spoke to journalists at the event, thanked the management of ABSAM Foundation and said that she missed her son so much.

    She thanked God that her son was diligent and that he never hurt anyone before his untimely death.

    “My son was loved by everyone. When he wanted to start working with Muiz Bello, I said they should tell him that my son was not an area boy and that he came from a good family.

    “He was introduced to Bello by one of our relatives, who is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He promised to help me with whatever I needed before his demise,” she said.

    Also present at the event were some members of the foundation, including Chief Wale Mogaji, Princess Remi Adebowale, Mr. Bode Gabadin and the General Secretary of the foundation, Mrs. Yinka Ayeyemi.