The Nation Newspaper

Tag: residents

  • Flood stops residents from work

    Flood stops residents from work

    Residents of Gafaru Street in Ikotun, a Lagos suburb yesterday shunned their work places to evacuate water from their homes following the heavy rain.

    To them, it has become a norm to boycott offices and stop their wards from going to school whenever it rains, to avoid being washed away.

    The development came as officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency  (LASEMA),  on patrol of flood prone areas, rescued little children from being swept away by flood.

    The residents, who pleaded with the state government to rescue them, lamented that their situation was compounded by indiscriminate disposal of waste by traders at the Ikotun Market.

    Despite visiting the area several hours after the downpour, The Nation observed that some of the compounds were still flooded, especially those situated close to the canal.

    The residents urged Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to inspect the carnal dug three years ago to ameliorate their plight, with a view to correcting the errors that have made flooding to persist there.

    According to a landlord, Isaiah Agbaninu, the government should complete the carnal and also construct their roads.

    He said: “All the dirt from the market and from upland has blocked the carnal. Also, the government did not complete the carnal.  See how our road is. Erosion has washed everything away. Once it rains, people’s homes are flooded and no one can go out.

    “We don’t allow our children go out even if it’s just five minutes rain. We are suffering here and we do not know why the government has refused to come to our aid. But when it is election time, they come here to deceive us and we vote for them massively,” he lamented.

    Another resident, Rosaline Egwuenu, who said she could not go to the market because of the rain, stated that her entire home was flooded.

    She disclosed that a bread seller was also rescued from the flood by other residents, adding that they have resigned to fate.

    When contacted, the General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) Michael Akindele, said the flood experienced in the area, as well as some places at Igando, were caused by blocked drainage.

    Akindele said: “At about 1:05pm, the agency received an alert today through the toll free number regarding a flood incident at Akesan Igando involving Zion, Akeem Balogun, Ayeni streets and others.

    “Investigation conducted by the agency’s ERT (Emergency response Team) at the scene of the incident revealed that blocked drainages and canal were responsible for the flooding leading in the entire area and subsequently displacing some of the residents of the affected houses.

    “There was no loss of life, the LASEMA Response Team and neighbours assisted in rescuing some of the trapped victims which include children and an old woman identified as Mrs Bello

    “Residents are advised to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse leading to blockage of canal and drainages affecting the free flow of water especially during the heavy downpour in the state.”

  • Lagos conducts free goitre surgery for residents

    Lagos conducts free goitre surgery for residents

    Expression of joy and relief were on the faces of the beneficiaries of the Lagos State Government free goitre mission, as they lay on their beds having undergone goitre operation. Their joy and relief were infectious as their family members were around to wish them well and attend to their needs.

    Narrating her experience, a business woman, Mrs Temitayo Abiola, whose seven-year-old daughter, Inioluwa Abiola, was one of the beneficiaries, said she could not explain how her daughter had  the goitre. Her girl was the youngest beneficiary of the gesture. According to her,  the goitre had been appearing and disappearing in the last two years, adding that she got to know about the free mission programme through a friend. She expressed her satisfaction with the state government’s initiative.

    A staff member of Lagos State and mother of five children, Mrs Archibong Ekaete had her goitre of 17 years operated. The 42-year-old Archibong told The Nation  that a colleague informed her of the free mission during Governor Fashola’s administration and how people were registering their names for the surgery at the state Ministry of Health. “I went to register. I have even forgotten about it. Last week, I received a call that they have started the free surgery and that I should report at LASUTH, and I did. I am satisfied with everything. It is absolutely free of charge. Kudos to the health family and the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Anmode,” she enthused.

    Another beneficiary, Mrs Oluwakemi Aiyegbusi, a civil servant, who works with Ministry of Information and Strategy, said she has had goitre for 13 years before she eventually benefitted from the free surgery. “I have been hearing about Free Medical Mission of the Ministry of Health, but this is the first time I will be participating in same. It is a wonderful programme, especially for those who could not afford same or did not understand what goitre surgery was. I had done goitre surgery before, but it was partial. This time, it was total and never to grow again. It is absolutely free. Everybody was nice-the surgical team, LASUTH staffers and management and the Health Ministry.”

    Explaining how the 19 recipients came about the programme, the officer-in-charge of the mission, Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr (Mrs) Dolapo Fasawe, said the service was free for sufferers, who could not afford the N250,000 to N500,000 for the surgery, depending on how big the goiter is and if done in a private or public facility.

    “Goitre is a swelling of the thyroid gland that causes a lump to form in the front of the neck. The lump will move up and down when you swallow. The thyroid gland is a small butterfly-shaped gland in the neck, just in front of the windpipe (trachea).

    “This particular medical mission is a continuation of the initiative by the state government, as a result of people of Badagry that were discovered with high incidence of goiter. Then a lot of them had gone to seek traditional help. On further investigation, we discovered that it was caused by environmental factors. So, the State stepped in and here we are today. We started with the screening of patients, investigations and surgery, which was the last stage. After the surgery, we do counseling and lifestyle modification.”

    Dr Fasawe explained that Goitre can be caused by diet, salt usage, or lack of it. “Goite is common in areas with fresh water. Governor Ambode is committed to helping the people of Lagos, especially those that cannot afford the cost of quality healthcare. He is offering accessible and affordable quality healthcare. He is encouraging the people of Lagos to live healthy and embrace lifestyle modification.

    “He has committed billions of naira to the Ministry of Health for infrastructural development and free medical services, including this goitre surgery. At the screening programme, we had 22 patients, 19 were done, and three had other diseases that would be treated before they could go for the goitre surgery. It is an on-going programme. We have a register at the Ministry of Health to collect prospective recipients’ names and their contacts.”

    She said the surgeons and the team were staffers of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), comprising over 75 personnel, four consultant surgeons, four consultant anesthetics, senior registrars, nurses and nurses assistants. The lead surgeons are Dr Modele and Dr Oludara and the Lead anesthetics is Dr Odubiyi.

    The Commissioner of Health, Dr Jide Idris said it all started as a result of the discovery of goitre in Badagry some months ago. “We looked into why a lot of people were having goitre in that environment. We resolved to assist the people with goitre that time. And this is a continuation. The patients were extensively screened and now everyone of them has been successfully operated upon. Histology was done to ensure none had cancer because that region is highly susceptible to cancer. Other routine screenings were done to ensure they were fit for surgery. I am encouraging more people to come on-board NHIS,” he said.

    Dr Modele said the experience was exciting, having to perform operation on 19 cases, and that his team could do a lot more with more funds, machines and equipment. “So, we do more and improve on what we are doing,” he said.

    Giving insight into the whole exercise, consultant surgeon, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and Lagos State University College of Medicine (LASUCOM), Dr Funsho Omodele said: “The patients went through three stages- pre-operation to determine if the patients were fit for the surgery, two patients developed track infection and were exempted and would be operated on later. For elective cases, we don’t want to lose any patient. And the third part, the operation itself, where we put in expertise as a team and now post-operation. We will further examine the tissues brought out, so we can counsel them on what to take and the drugs required, based on the results of the histology. As we had 19 patients, all of them could not come up with the same results. So, that is where individualistic counseling comes in. Counseling is important after operation because it is common with Nigerians to always run away after surgical operation and then come in again, because they did not avoid what to be avoided. Patients must not be lost post operation, especially where tissue removal is required, reason being that all the tissue might not have been removed, and what is operated may grow again.”

  • Residents lauds FESTAC Police

    Residents lauds FESTAC Police

    RESIDENTS of FESTAC Town in Amuwo/Odofin, Lagos, have hailed officers at the FESTAC Police Division for their doggedness in crime fighting.

    At a Community Accountability Forum (CAF) held at C Courtesy Garden, the residents lauded the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Monday Agbonikan, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP), for the various innovations he introduced to maintain law and order in the area.

    Noting with delight the establishment of the Voluntary Policing Sector (VPS), where 150 volunteers were trained and given torchlight, vests as well as whistles, the residents said the initiative has complemented efforts of the division in curbing crimes.

    Vice Chairman, Caviera Estate, Sunday Nwosu described Agbonikan as a vibrant DPO who ensures that his men do not extort residents in the course of their duty.

    Agbonikan explained that the forum was initiated for the police and residents to interface and ensure accountability.

  • Residents laud Ambode over road construction

    Residents of Alhaji Idowu Street, Akowonjo, have hailed the Lagos State Government for the rehabilitation of their roads and the provision of street lights.

    They are elated that after 35 years of total abandonment which left the area in deplorable condition, the government has was repairing the roads with interlocking stones.

    According to them, Alhaji Idowu Oke and Lambe Kudaisi streets were usually submerged in by flood during rainy season. Once it rained, residents had a lot to worry about as properties were usually damaged and sometimes, little school children got swept away by flood.

    A resident, Alhaji Moshood Idowu whom the street is named after said: “We want to thank Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for giving us a lifetime gift. The road was so terrible. We could not cross from some point to the other. We have called on all our community leaders to cooperate with the government so that Lagos State will continue to excel.

    “What the government has done here is a mega road in a mega city for a mega community. Luckily, we also have a Nigerian who has the interest of the people at heart as well as the contractor, Bashaul Construction Company. What he has done here is a world-class engineering work. In fact he has given us additional construction which is not part of his contract.”

  • Residents accuse police of conspiring with ‘land grabbers ‘

    Policemen attached to the Mobile Force (PMF) have been accused of aiding land grabbers to dislodge residents of Sapata community in Lekki from their homes.

    The residents, who cried out to the Acting Inspector General of Police (IGP) Ibrahim Idris as well as the Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for help, claimed that over 250 shanties were destroyed by suspected land grabbers allegedly accompanied by over 25 armed mobile policemen.

    According to a 97-year-old woman, Florence Oriyomi Oja-Okomo, the incident occurred on June 27, adding that those who led the policemen were two civilians she identified as Gbenga and Tokunbo.

    Mrs. Oja-Okomo, who claimed to have lived in the community for her entire life, said that they were not allowed to collect their properties.

    She claimed: “Over 250 families have been displaced by some powerful and wealthy people who came into our community with bulldozers. They demolished our makeshift homes.

    “This community has existed for over 200 years. My forefathers lived here and were fishermen. When I was growing up, this place was not accessible to vehicles. But now that development has come, different people have started struggling to take over our possessions.

    “Currently, there is a matter in court between the Oja-Okomos and Ojomu families over land ownership. The worst part is that the people who came here to destroy our homes and chase us didn’t come from the Ojomu clan.

    “I was shocked when a group of policemen, led by Gbenga and Tokunbo, came with bulldozers to demolish our homes. We were told that a powerful family has bought the land, even as we are in Appeal court with the Ojomu family and Lagos State Government. Is it possible that a family could encroach on a land that is in the court? Who sold the land to them?”

    A retired policeman, Felix Oja-Okomo, said his grandfather discovered the place when it was a thick forest, accusing those demolishing their homes of being dishonest.

    Felix said: “The people demolishing our homes have not specifically told us who they are working for. This shows that those claiming to have bought this place are not honest. They are just land grabbers, assisted by a few powerful men in Lagos; by men, who believe that they can suppress the truth and take over other people’s properties.”

  • Residents protest access road blockage by businessman

    Residents protest access road blockage by businessman

    Residents of Olorungbebe and Igbehinadun in Amukoko, Ifelodun Local Council Development Area of Lagos  have protested the blockage of what they called the only access road into the area by a businessman.

    The businessman identified as Ayuba Ahmed had erected a structure less than 30 metres from the canal, on a land he bought from the owner of Gaskiya College Compound, Chief Bisi Lawrence.

    According to residents, the businessman was building an orphanage home on the right of way, blocking the only motorable road into the slum communities.

    But Chief Lawrence refuted their allegation insisting that the land was part of his Gaskiya Estate land and that it was not the only access road to the communities.

    The residents stormed the street with placards inscribed with: “We want our road, not your blood money; we don’t want any orphanage home to block our road; if there is fire outbreak, how do we escape? If there is an emergency in the night, how do we escape? Don’t put out lives in danger.

    Other inscriptions were: “Ayuba Ahmed, don’t block the access road to over 2000 residents; Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, please save us from impending danger from Ayuba Ahmed; no road no development, if you block the only access road, you will compound our plight.”

    Trouble was said to have started on May 23, when some of the residents woke up to discover that the said businessman was laying foundation for his project.

    The aggrieved residents, led by the Community Development Association (CDA) Chairmen and Secretaries were said to have written Ministries of Physical Planning and Urban Development as well as Environment, calling their attention to the dangers posed by the blockage. They appealed to the governor to remove the structure.

    Consequently, officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) were said to have visited the area and marked the structure for demolition in June.

    Rather than obey the law, Ahmed was said to have petitioned the police alleging that the residents assaulted him and destroyed his fence, an allegation that led to the arrest of four key campaigners against blockage.

    Among then was Pastor Mike Ugoeke who allegedly paid N15,000 for bail at the Complain Response Unit (CRU), Command Headquarters, Ikeja, before the police investigated and discovered that the said fence was not demolished.

    “When the police saw that it was the state government that marked the structure for demolition, they turned around and said it’s land matters that we should go back and settle.

    “But since then, Ayuba has been threatening our lives. As I talk to you, he has gone to LASBCA in Apapa Local Government Area to get one Ademola, who has marked my building and that of Adesina Oloro for demolition.

    “We are under Ifelodun LCDA and we have our building approvals, and also pay tenement rents to Ifelodun LCDA. But he went to Apapa to get the man who came and marked our houses for demolition because we are against the illegality he wants to perpetrate against our community.

    “We have written another petition to the divisional police and to the Ministry of Physical Planning. We also copied the LASBCA office at Ifelodun and the man in charge said they never sent anyone to mark our buildings,” said Ugoeke.

    Alhaji Owotabuwa Asimiwu, who said he has lived in the community for over 50 years, stated that the disputed road used to be footpath until about a decade ago when the state government expanded it and made it motorable.

    “This road has been in existence for over 15 years. It used to be foot path for over 30 years before it was made motorable by the state government. The land does not belong to Bisi Lawrence but to the government. It is right of way. You can see that the road is between the powerline and the canal. Government should clear the structure so that our access road will come back. It is the traditional rulers here who are selling us out in this community. They are the ones behind this illegality because of their selfishness,” he said.

    When contacted on telephone, Chief Lawrence said the residents were just trying to embarrass him, adding that he has provided passage way for them but they insist on making the entire plot access road.

    He said: “It is not true that the land belongs to the government. The land is part of my Gaskiya Estate. They want a road through the estate, which will be very inconvenient. I gave them one path that they could use but they don’t want it. They want the one that will go through a plot that has been sold and is being developed.

    “It is also untrue that it is the only access way into the communities, neither is the structure blocking the road.

    “Also, the distance from the structure to the canal is at least 30 metres. It was measured by a surveyor. And they have been using that path. The people are just trying to create trouble for their personal reasons. They think they can embarrass me and manipulate the truth.”

  • Residents decry police alleged indiscriminate arrest, extortion

    Residents decry police alleged indiscriminate arrest, extortion

    •It’s mundane issue, says CP

    Residents of Papa Ajao and Ilasamaja in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State have cried out against alleged indiscriminate arrest and extortion by policemen.

    They accused operatives attached to Olosan Police Station; Zone ‘D’ Area Command and Itire Police Station of frequent harassment.

    Some residents stormed the Olosan Police Station last Tuesday night, demanding the release of their relatives.

    They appealed to the state government to  stop the harassment by policemen, who they claimed usually asked for money from them.

    The Nation gathered that in the last one week, policemen would storm the areas around 7 pm, raiding passersby and young men returning from work.

    It was learnt they usually operate in a 14-seater commercial bus ‘Danfo’, arresting innocent people going about their lawful businesses.

    At the police station, the victims are asked to call their relatives to bail them with as much as N5,000, without taking their statements.

    Last Tuesday, around 7:30 pm, policemen from Olosan Police Station, stormed Bello Street and arrested 15 persons.

    Among the victims dragged onto the ‘Danfo’ bus, and taken to the station were Kayode Olaniyi and Babatunde Saheed. They were returning from work.

    Olaniyi said the bus came towards them and some policemen jumped out and stopped them.

    “They asked where we were coming from and we told them. Suddenly, they started pushing and dragging us into the bus. I asked what my offence was but the next thing I heard was repeated slaps on my face. About three of them descended on us. At that time the vehicle was almost full with people sitting on one another.

    “On telling them that there was no space to sit, they slapped and kicked me all over until I screamed, ‘do you want to kill me? I am not a criminal! What is my offence? Until I sat on two people who already lapped each other, they didn’t stop.

    “As they drove from Bello Street towards Ladipo, they continued picking up people, equally hitting them with planks. There was a man they stopped around Guaranty Trust Bank in Ladipo; he said he was heading to Ikotun but they asked him to get into the bus. He refused and one of the policemen hit him on the legs and bundled him in.

    “After the bus was full; they took us to Olosan Police Station in Mushin and led us into the cell without statement.  The policemen were five. They stopped us from calling our family. Some people, who I met in the bus, said they were arrested around 7 pm.

    “These same officers arrested me about two months ago for walking five minutes away from home at Jumoke Way in Papa-Ajao area. On that fateful evening, I saw my younger brother off and the policemen blocked me while coming back, at Ogunmefun by Aladesuru junction. It was one of my sisters that helped me out.

    “The bad thing is that they usually disguise, they don’t wear uniform or use official vehicles. And they didn’t tell me my offence. I don’t understand when it became a crime to walk around 8 pm. The government should stop the criminal activity of the Olosan police officers in Mushin.

    “They are terrorising us, extorting us and in fact kidnapping people under the pretext that some landlords lodged complaints to them about hoodlums stealing in the area. A claim the landlords refuted. They just raid innocent people who they know will get people to bail them out.

    Corroborating the story, Saheed said the policemen refused to see his identity card, which he was bringing out of his wallet.

    “This has been happening in this area for some time. Once it’s 7:30 pm, policemen from Olosan will be roaming in Danfo bus looking for prey. I have been hearing of it but I never knew it could happen to me.

    “They first claimed they were taking us to Alausa Mobile Court. I asked them what we did; they did not say anything. I brought out my identity card to show them that we were coming from work and going home but they refused to listen. They forced us inside the bus with so many people. More than 15 people were in the bus.

    “At the police station, they just dumped us inside the cell. No statement was taken from any of us. After a while, they said we should start calling our family to bring money for our bail. Some people were bailed with N5,000, others N3,000. While I was there, about six people came and paid for their relatives.

    “I was held in the cell till about 10:45 pm because I told them I do not have money. I think they released the two of us when they discovered that journalists came for us. Even after myself and Kayode were released, about five persons were still inside the cell because no one came for their bail,” he said.

    According to one of the vigilantes in Aladesuru Street, the Olosan officers have arrested many people in the area.

    “Last week they arrested one person here. He just got back from the university. He saw his friend off that Sunday; when he was coming back they blocked him and took him away.

    “It was the father that came to us around past 10 pm that we should wait around to open the gate for them when they come back. They came back around 3 am that day, after they paid N3,000,” he said.

    A landlord in Papa-Ajao, who simply identified himself as Olutoke, said there was no time the Landlord Association petitioned the police.

    He said: “How can we ask the police to arrest anybody they see after 8 pm. What if they arrest my child? It is not true. They just raid the area for money.”

    At the police station, The Nation observed that a certain Oga Yellow was bent on collecting money from the victims.

    It was observed that Oga Yellow, who apparently was in charge of the new ‘prey’ refused to let the victims go despite being told to do so by an inspector.

    “Oga, they must leave money for petrol, because we fuelled the motor before going out,” he screamed.

    Also, a sergeant was seen shouting at a man who came for his brother, also illegally arrested for offering “small money”.

    A food seller and some men were arrested at Oremeji Street and taken to those stations. Those who had money on them were released. Others had to call their family to bail them for “committing no offence.”

    “What the police are saying is that we cannot move freely in our area in the night. Even, the woman who sells food for us was arrested. This is another form of robbery by the police. I hope the police commissioner and Lagos State government will call these people to order,” Seye Ololade said.

    Contacted on phone, the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, got angry that the reporter was calling him for such a “mundane issue”. Policemen, he said, should be allowed to do their job.

  • Residents sensitised to clean environment

    Residents sensitised to clean environment

    The Sole Administrator of Lagos Inland East Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Mr. Bashiri Abiola Are has said one of the priorities of his administration is ensuring that residents’ well-being is guaranteed.

    This, he said, would be through making sure that the environment is safe and healthy.

    According to him, the council is making frantic effort toward securing the environment.

    He stated this while sensitising residents to the importance of maintaining clean environment through participation in the weekly and monthly sanitation exercises which he and some council officials monitored at Okesuna, Pike Street and their environs.

    Mr. Are, who said strict enforcement of Lagos and council’s environmental laws, would go a long way in keeping Lagos Inland East LCDA in particular and Lagos State in general clean. He expressed his dissatisfaction over nonchalant attitude of some members of the council towards the environment. He said incessant dumping of garbage close to residential areas is inimical to people’s heath.

    At Pike Street off Okesuna Street, Mr Are described it as an eyesore, even as he advised the leaders of the area to ensure that residents keep their surroundings clean at all times. He also urged sanitary inspectors to make sure that residents stopped dumping garbage in drainage systems to avoid epidemic.

    He said: “Our team will continue to let our people know the danger of living in dirty environment. Some of these vehicles have not been driven for over six months or more. We need to inform owners of the abandoned vehicles to remove them. If they fail to comply, then we would do something about it quickly.”

    On youths playing football on the road, Mr Are reminded parents and community leaders of the need to talk to their kids about the importance of environmental sanitation.

    The council chief expressed dismay over some residents’ non-compliance with proper waste disposal system, frowning at indiscriminate dumping of garbage in water channels by some residents which, he said, would have devastating effects on the environment and residents’ health.

    He revealed that the council’s vehicles would help in evacuating domestic wastes from individuals’ homes and also work towards making residents of various communities to maintain clean environment.

    Corroborating Mr Are’s views, the Chairman of Community Development Associations (CDAs) Lafiaji North West (CDA), Chief Magaji Fatayi said in their monthly stakeholders’ meeting, they would continue to appeal to residents to maintain clean environment. On the abandoned vehicles, he said they would persuade the owners to remove them.

    Responding on behalf of the residents, Mr. Mufutau  Abdulsalami thanked the council for the sensitisation exercise.

    The Head of Environmental Services and Waste Management Department, Mr. Babasanya Ayosanya said efforts are being made to sensitise residents to the need to clean their surroundings every day and not necessarily waiting for the routine sanitation days.

  • Fayemi’s centre feeds Ekiti residents

    Fayemi’s centre feeds Ekiti residents

    Former Ekiti governor and Solid Minerals Development Minister Dr Kayode Fayemi has distributed food items to people of the state to cushion the prevailing economic hardship. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA reports.

    Like elsewhere, in the country, Ekiti State is feeling the pangs of the prevailing economic hardship engendered, in most cases, by the non-payment of workers’salaries.

    Being a civil service state, the economy revolves around the payment of civil servants salaries. Big-time and petty traders, artisans, transporters and farmers make money from civil servants.

    Non-payment or delay in the payment of salaries affects these people as civil servants constitute their major customers.

    The situation has been worsened by the abandonment of farming which used to be the largest employer of labour, especially by the youth, who constitute the most economically productive segment of the population. The youth can be found in public and private sectors, politics, commercial motorcycle riding and taxi driving, among others.

    Some government workers had resorted to unorthodox means to survive. Reports of stealing of food in neighbour’s houses, selling of blood, begging otherwise known as “fine bara” were rife among civil servants.

    Many youths resorted to crime and other anti-social activities to survive.

    Irked about the development, former governor of the state and Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, through the John Kayode Fayemi Leadership Centre, intervened to give the people food.

    During his tenure as governor between 2010 and 2014, Dr. Fayemi ran a food bank which provided food for the less-privileged members of the society on periodical basis.

    The latest gesture is believed to be a continuation of the policy even despite no longer being the governor. It is currently run by the centre which promotes the ideals of good governance, defence of human rights, democracy,  charity, poverty eradication and economic empowerment which formed the core values of the political ideology of Dr. Fayemi.

    Despite the scorching sun, the people waited patiently until the distribution of the food items began at 11:45 a.m. Representatives of various interest groups came to collect their items on behalf of their members after which items were given to individuals.

    Officials of the centre had a tough time controlling the crowd as the number of people who thronged the place exceeded expection. The crowd spilled into the Ado-Ikere Highway causing a traffic snarl.

    Items distributed included bags of rice, sugar, salt, semovita, packets of noodles, spaghetti, macaroni and wheat, among others.

    Fayemi said he was deeply concerned by the level of hunger in Ekiti State; hence the gesture to distribute the items to the people to identify with them in their time of need.

    Speaking through the Director of the centre, Biodun Omoleye, Fayemi advised civil servants and other residents to embrace farming to tackle hunger and boost food security.

    The former governor said the gesture was borne out of the need to assist indigent citizens and not to score a political point against Governor Ayo Fayose over the failure of his administration to pay workers’ salaries.

    Fayemi, who promised that the scheme would be a regular exercise, urged other well-meaning indigenes and groups in the state to assist the less-privileged and save them from the pangs of hunger.

    He said: “We are disturbed by the turn of events in our state where many of our citizens have nothing to eat and many go to bed hungry. We are carrying out this exercise to alleviate the hunger crisis in the land and offer our people a stop-gap approach to give them relief.

    “The wind of hunger blowing in Ekiti now is unpleasant. It seems hunger is gradually taking over the land and that is why we that are privileged must continue to identify with the poor. This has no political or ethnic undertone, but just a means of helping the needy.

    “Taking cognisance of what is happening in Ekiti now when some civil servants were stealing food on fire; our people must embrace farming as a way of life. Food production remains the best for now.

    “We must all rise up to save our state and the future of our children. Some can’t be living in opulence when some could not afford one square meal a day.

    ”This welfare programme is going to be a continuous one and we shall do it in a way that would have positive impact on the lives of our people at the community, ward and local government levels.

    “Dr Fayemi is much disturbed by what our people are passing through and we are all here in the interest of our people. This is not a matter of party because hunger knows no party.

    “We have also sent forms to groups, churches, mosques, orphanages and other groups to assist the needy.”

    According to him, food items were also sent to the other 15 local government areas for those who can’t come to Ado-Ekiti.

    He revealed that the centre also plans to carry out leadership training for unemployed youths while more empowerment programmes will be rolled out for artisans and other interest groups.

    While calling on all Nigerians to key into programmes of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, Fayemi stressed that the change promised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) government is real as things will henceforth be done differently for the benefit of the masses.

    The minister added that Nigeria is currently in the era of change under a ‘focused and purposeful’ leadership of President Buhari, advising that people must key into all the programmes of the Federal Government by learning how to do things in different ways.

    Fayemi said the centre will soon embark on empowerment programmes for artisans and other groups.

    Some of the beneficiaries praised Fayemi whom they described as a benevolent politician and a compassionate leader who still has the interest of the people at heart.

    An aged beneficiary, Alhaja Safurat Ogunsakin, said the gesture was least expected from Fayemi at a time when many people are dying of hunger as a result of economic hardship.

    She said: “We are grateful to Fayemi for remembering the less-privileged people during this hard time. I heard the announcement on the radio and I decided to come; I have just received my own package from the organisers.

    “What I have received here will last me for a reasonable length of time. There is hunger in Ekiti and you can see the number of people that are here and when the hunger problem is solved, a big load has been carried off your neck.

    “We want to appreciate Fayemi for what he has done. God will continue to protect him and take care of his family. He has proved that he is a leader that really loved the people.”

    A commercial motorcyclist, Sola Oyewole said: “Fayemi has proved that he is a real statesman because we have many people who came to benefit here that voted against him but they had seen that they made a mistake by voting for another person.

    “But what the man has done is devoid of politics as the food items are given to people irrespective of their political affiliations because hunger does not know whether you’re APC or PDP.

    “This is the type of leader we need in Ekiti and I want to urge other politicians to emulate Fayemi because if we have many people doing this, hunger will be banished from our land.”

    Another beneficiary, Wumi Agbebi said: “We were deceived with stomach infrastructure but this is a real and genuine effort to assist the people.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • ‘We’re committed to residents’ welfare’

    The Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area, Ogun State has, since assumption of office, embarked on some projects to make life better for its residents.

    Some of the projects include construction of modern toilets with other facilities, provision of security post at the local government secretariat annex, provision of modern toilets at Water and Environmental Sanitation Department, purchase of four project vehicles to facilitate effective service delivery, regular payment of over 200 adhoc staff to reduce youth unemployment, inauguration of environmental marshals, grading of access roads in all the 16 wards of the council, among others.

    The Chairman Transition Committee Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government, Kayode Sodiq Idowu – Ojumo revealed this while addressing newsmen and party faithful in his office.

    According to the council chief, the local government had successfully graded rural and access roads to aid movement residents and of goods.

    On health, Mr. Idowu-Ojumo said his council had provided enough drugs at all the health centres and clinics and participated actively in all phases of national immunisation exercises as well as the weekly and monthly environmental sanitation exercises. Also, public toilets were constructed for the people while boreholes were not only activated but were also sunk in some areas.

    On staff welfare, the council chief said that he had paid over 200 adhoc workers as and when due to check youth restiveness and combat unemployment.

    Other achievements include repair of dysfunctional vehicles, purchase of four project vehicles, repair of staff quarters and assistance to the staff labour unions to engender industrial harmony.

    He revealed that agriculture had been accorded priority as the moribund local government poultry farm had been resuscitated with purchase of 800 point of cage birds. Also extension services were provided to the farmers in all wards of the local government.