The Nation Newspaper

Tag: residents

  • Military deploys fighter jets in hunt for Avengers

    Military deploys fighter jets in hunt for Avengers

    There was panic in the creeks of Bayelsa State following sudden presence of fighter jets and surveillance aircrafts which hovered in some coastal communities in search of hideouts of the militant group, Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

    It was gathered that the military planes were sighted in some the communities in Southern Ijaw where most of the attacks on pipelines and killing of soldiers occurred recently.

    A resident from Ondewari, a community in the council, said the sight and sounds of the jets caused tension in the area.

    He said some residents were already getting ready to seek refuge in the mangrove following fears of possible bombardments when the jets disappeared.

    “We noticed the jets in the morning. They were military jets. We were afraid and most people were thinking of taking cover when suddenly they flew away. We are still afraid that they may come back. We can’t forget the Odi experience”, he said.

    But the umbrella body of Ijaw youths, the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) immediately condemned the presence of the fighter jets in the creeks.

    The IYC President, Mr. Udens Eradiri, after an emergency meeting of the council, in Yenagoa, said the jets were also sighted in some parts of the state capital and Gbaramatu in Delta State.

    He urged the military to apply caution in their operations and warned against the strategy of intimidating Niger Delta residents.

    Eradiri said the  crisis would not be resolved by deploying fighter jets adding that intelligence was a better strategy of dealing with the activities of the militants.

    He said the council was happy with the President when he said in his May 29 broadcast that he would engage the stakeholders in the region to resolve the crisis.

    He said: “Ijaw people are peaceful people. Ijaw people are not avengers. These jets flying around Yenagoa and Gbaramatu, the avengers are not in these places. We just hope that they were just passing. But if it is hovering around, it means that something is about to happen.

    “The military should use more of intelligence so that you don’t go around destroying communities. We call on the military to withdraw its tactic of intimidation in Ijaw land.

    “Jet fighters will not solve the problem. The economy is in a terrible  forecast and we must do everything to save it. We are at the receiving end of the activities of these militants. Why are we also being intimidated”.

    He said the Niger Delta region was not interested in pipeline surveillance insisting that only true federalism would solve the problem in the region.

  • Residents flee as police, vandals clash in Ogun

    Residents flee as police, vandals clash in Ogun

    THERE was pandemonium at Elebute, near Ibafo, Ogun State yesterday following gun battle between policemen and suspected pipeline vandals.

    Residents were said to have deserted the community after the vandals stormed the area in a reprisal attack against the police.

    It was gathered that policemen from the state command on Sunday night stormed the vandals’ hideout and allegedly killed several of them.

    The police’s onslaught was said to have been triggered by the murder of a police inspector on Saturday night by the criminals, who also seized his gun.

    It was learnt that the area has witnessed several attacks since Saturday, forcing the residents to flee for safety.

    The criminals were said to have threatened to torch the police station at Ibafo, but were repelled by soldiers deployed to the anti-pipeline vandalism Taskforce, Operation AWATSE.

    According to a man who gave his name as Okon, three armoured tanks belonging to the police were stationed at the police division and other strategic areas along the Lagos-Ibadan expressway.

    He said: “Fears of being hit by gun bullets made many house owners and tenants in the area to flee.”

    Although the state police spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, denied there was a gun duel in the area, a police source said they were deployed to the scene after the hoodlums attempted to burn the station.

    “As you can see, we heard the information as you heard. But we are here to protect our station from attack,” said the source.

  • Lagos to create wealth, jobs for residents

    Lagos State Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr. Babatunde Durosinmi –Etti  has said the government is determined to build more wealth  and job creating activities that would lead to a more successful, sustainable and fairer economy.

    Durosimi-Etti told reporters that there is a plan to explore more talents and resources to build the state’s  potential to become a hub for the industries of the future. To this end, the ministry is strengthening collaborative approaches to drive and raise productivity.

    According to him, the government is resolved to create an enabling environment for entrepreneurship and innovation to boost economic performance.

    He said the state is encouraging more apprenticeship training courses, with a refocused skills training plan.

    Durosinmi –Etti    said this will boost job prospects across the  local government areas. There is  an action to create  openings for artisans,  build resource projects and  reform the  education system to prepare a workforce for the future .

    According to him, the government has the  objectives to maximise the school-to-jobs plan, including focusing on early hands-on learning in schools, shifting education to match jobs in demand and entering partnerships with industry and labour to deliver training.

    The government, he stated, would  be  asking institutions to focus their training programmes and courses on what it calls high-demand occupations.

    On  job registration/ labour exchange centres, he said there will  be  one in each of the five divisions of the state.

    Consequently, each local government / local council development area is to establish annexes of the centres in their various domains.

    He said the ministry has so far commissioned the Badagry Division Centre in Ojo Local Government Secretariat, Ojo and the Lagos Division Centre at Igbo Efon, Eti-Osa Local Government Secretariat, Eti-Osa.

    The Ikorodu Division Centre, according to him,   is being  renovated while office spaces have been secured at Epe and Mushin Local government secretariats  to accommodate Epe Division and Ikeja Division respectively.

    He stated also that the ministry was able to get five guidance counselors re-deployed from the Ministry of Education to work at the centres on career guidance, in addition to other IT personnel.

    The job registration /labour exchange centres (LECs), are meant to provide wealth creation and employment services with the state government giving focus on career counseling, he added.

     

  • Residents to police chief: come to our rescue

    Some Lagos residents yesterday complained of what they called high armed robbery and cult killings rate.

    On a phone-in radio programme monitored by our reporter, callers from Ikotun, Maryland and Ikorodu claimed that they were at the mercy of the hoodlums.

    They lamented the police inability to arrest the situation despite Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s huge investment in security.

    They called on Police Commissioner Fatai Owoseni to ask his men to wake up.

    According to them, the 10-minute emergency response crime is not complied with by the officers.

    Some residents of Ikotun alleged that the armed robbers have taken over their streets.

    A caller, Segun Adesola, said the local vigilantes on the streets were nowhere to be found whenever the robbers struck.

    “We beg Governor Ambode to come to our aid by providing effective security for us in Ikotun. This is getting too much,” he said.

    Another caller said last Thursday around 9:30pm, armed robbers in a black Nissan Pathfinder Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) began robbing from Costain to Ikorodu Road, during a traffic standstill. Two persons were shot and many motorists robbed, he claimed.

    Corroborating the story, Taofeek Olohuniyo said passengers inside a BRT bus almost flew out of the vehicle for the fear of being attacked.

    Olohuniyo said: “I was in a BRT bus which I joined from Onipanu. As we were approaching Maryland underground tunnel, we met a standstill of vehicles while some individuals left their cars and started running for their lives.

    “Our driver had to stop immediately. We saw a black SUV few distance away with its lights on. On realising that it is a robbery, passengers started panicking and the atmosphere turned rowdy. Some beckoned on the driver to open the doors while some objected to it. Some were of the opinion that he should reverse but that is somehow difficult as the bus was filled to the brim.

    “The armed robbers fired and our driver was utterly confused on what to do after opening the doors and closing them back, he left his cubicle to join us as we waited amidst fear. After like 10 minutes, the SUV sped off, people rushed back to their cars while some went to sympathise with the robbery victims before our driver drove off.”

  • Abducted UNICAL staff quarters’ residents freed

    THE three kidnapped residents of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) staff quarters have regained their freedom.

    They were freed on May 12, 10 days after their abduction.

    They are Dr David Iniama, son of the Deputy Registrar of UNICAL Graduate School, Mr Bassey Iniama; as well as the wife and daughter of Dr Wilfred Ndifon, a teacher. The gunmen, invaded the quarters through the Qua River linking the campus with its host communities.

    Iniama said he was grateful to God for the “safe return” of his son. He thanked sympathisers, who stood by the family. He said: “We thank God that our loved ones have reunited with us. I have nothing much to say, but to give glory to God.”

    Iniama did not comment on whether ransom was paid. The Ndifon’s house was locked when our correspondent visited last Monday. None of the family members could be reached for comment. CAMPUSLIFE could not confirm if management played any role in the abductees’ release.

    The school has beefed up security around the staff quarters, following the incident. Security officials are now on constant patrol.

     

     

  • Residents beg Ambode to prioritise water, roads, electricity in Badagry

    Residents of Badagry have urged Governor Akinwu-nmi Ambode and the lawmakers from the area to prioritise provision of water, roads and transformers for the people.

    The residents made the plea at the official inauguration of eight modern boreholes donated to the Badagry Constituency II by the lawmaker representing the area, Mr Setonji David.

    Setonji, who represents Badagry Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly, donated the boreholes to mark the 2016 World Water Day in his constituency.

    He said he decided to provide the boreholes to make potable water available because many residents had no access to potable water in the area.

    According to him, many ailments and diseases could be prevented by access to potable water.

    He said: “Water is life and it is one of the basic necessities of life. It is unfortunate that many people still walk long distance in search of water, water scarcity and stress is still on the rise. When we provide clean water for citizens, they will be healthy and we will spend less money on health care.

    “In Badagry, most people do not have access to potable water and we cannot continue to look and leave them in their plight. I want to appeal to Gov. Ambode to come to the rescue of Badagry people and other areas with water challenge.”

    The lawmaker who is Chairman, House Committee on Physical Planning and Urban Development assured the residents that government was working hard to improve electricity and roads.

    Pastor Olusegun Odesanya, the Chairman, Ibiye Town Community Development Association (CDA) in Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA), said residents had challenges of potable water.

    The cleric said: “The challenge of water here is so much that we have started using this borehole long before today using our power generator for pumping of water.”

    Also speaking, Alhaja Oluwakemi Idowu, the Woman Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Olorunda LCDA’s Ward C, who commended the lawmaker for the borehole, said that residents spend a lot of money to buy potable water.

    Baale of Agemowo in the same LCDA, Chief Solomon Godonu said,”We thank the lawmaker but we need more development in the area of road and electricity. Our roads are bad.”

    The boreholes are located in  Itakete Quarter, Singbomeh Compound Age Mowo,  New layout close , Ilogbo Eremi, and  Ago Egun Quarters, Ibiye in Olorunda LCDA , Badagry.

     

  • Waterways Authority cautions Lagos residents

    The Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) in partnership with Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) on Saturday cautioned residents of Lagos against littering waterways with human wastes.

    The Secretary of LASWA, Mr Damilola Famakinwa, gave the warning during the authority’s clean-up exercise at Ebute Ero Jetty, Lagos Island, Lagos.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise was conducted in collaboration with Wecyclers, a Non-Profit Organisation to clean debris around the jetty.

    Famakinwa said that the exercise was to sensitise and enlighten members of the public on the benefits of keeping the waterways clean.

    “Our objective is to educate members of the public on the dangers of polluting our waterways and to make them imbibe a culture of keeping waterways clean.

    “Observation has shown that generally, Lagosian violates and do not take proper care of the waterways.

    “Lagosians litter the waterways with empty plastic, bottles, nylons and various kinds of filth.

    “Another practice is open defecation on the waterways, littering it with human wastes in the form of urine and even faeces.

    “This is totally unacceptable. We have organisations emptying their waste water and various chemicals pollution in the waterways,” he said.

    Famakinwa said that the pollution of waterways necessitated the campaign tagged: ‘Caring for our Waterways’, with the support of relevant agencies.

    According to him, the pilot campaign commences at Ebute Ero because the authority notices various kinds of dirt and litter in the waterways alleged caused by market men and women in the area.

    The scribe highlighted some of the dangers to include accidents and obstruction to easy navigation on waterways.

  • Lagos decries residents’ non-patronage of PSP operators

    Lagos State Government has frowned at residents’ non-patronage of Private Sector Participation (PSP) operators for their waste disposal.

    Commissioner for the Environment Dr Babatunde Adejare expressed the government’s displeasure at the monthly meeting of the Community Development Committees (CDCs) and Neighbourhood Watch (NW), organised by the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs in Ikeja last Friday.

    Adejare urged the CDCs to educate residents to patronise the PSP and desist from dumping refuse in drainage channels and patronising cart pushers.

    Adejare, represented by a Director in the Ministry of the Environment, Mr. Stephen Adeniji, said overtime the PSP operators had encountered challenges, such as high cost of maintenance of operational vehicles, low compliance to service and low income due to defaulting tenements.

    “The Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) is currently educating the Community Development Associations (CDAs) and the public on government policies on solid waste management.

    “The PSP also encounters other challenges, such as bad road network, narrow streets in some communities, low suspension of electricity cables and operations in riverine areas,” he said.

    Special Adviser to the Governor on Community and Communications Kehinde Bamigbetan advocated the setting up of CDA Patrol Units to monitor PSP activities in their domains and ensure that residents patronise the PSP operators.

    “The patrol units should be able to know the houses not patronising the PSP operators and know where residents of such houses dump their wastes or refuse,” he said.

    Bamigbetan urged the Neighbourhood Watchers to ensure that they know people living within their domains and the type of jobs they do so as to prevent crime in their areas.

  • Residents hail council boss over road repair

    Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Egbe Idimu, Lagos, have praised the council’s Executive Secretary Kunle Olowoopeju for repairing the Community Road, Agodo.

    Joint CDA chairman Alhaji Salaudeen Idris said many Landlords abandoned their property due to the bad road. He said many had to park their vehicles far away and walk home.

    Chief Ebenezer Oladipupo Jebutu said the community looked jinxed until the Akinwunmi Ambode administration took over.

    They praised Olowoopeju who vowed to ensure the road got a facelift.

    “He kept his promise. We have resolved to stand by him in his quest for the chairmanship slot of Egbe-Idimu LCDA. He is indeed a promise keeper.

    “This is the single longest street in Agodo, Egbe. It should not have been abandoned by the previous administrations,” Idris said.

    The Palace of the Alagodo of Agodo, Mudashiru Alade Salau Odejobi is said to be on this street.

    “Each time he celebrated his coronation anniversaries, his dignitaries parked their cars far away from the palace. This is an embarrassment to the King,” Idris added.

    The residents urged the contractor to speed up the work.

  • Roads construction excites residents

    Roads construction excites residents

    The construction of 114 rural roads in the 57  local councils of Lagos State  initiated by Governor Akinw-unmi Ambode in January is eliciting excitement among residents. Residents of Obele Oniwala community in Surulere are happy with the work going on, on  Durojaiye Street.

    The Michael Ogun/Durojaiye Streets are among the two roads selected for reconstruction by the Surulere Local Government Area last December.  The other is Aralile Road. They are part of the 114 inner roads to be constructed in all local government areas (LGAs) and local council development areas (LCDAs), with two roads per council which was inaugurated in January.

    The Michael Ogun/Durojaiye Road is very strategic because it connects directly to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, without having to go through Itire. The length of the road is 600 metres and was awarded to Olag Nigeria Limited with specifications which included covered drains, walkway and street light.

    Governor Ambode had, during his electioneering campaigns, promised that, in the first year of his administration,  inner roads would be constructed in all the 20 councils and 37 local council development areas, The unique thing about this was that the LGAs and LCDAs were to be in charge of  the construction of two roads each in their domains. The Lagos State Government is just to monitor the road construction and also to ensure that the roads meet international standard, while the councils will provide the funds for the construction.

    The roads were first constructed by the Alhaji Lateef Jakande administration in the 80s, but the residents had built several illegal structures on drainage alignment and setbacks.  Some residents even relocated their soak away pit from the back of their houses right onto the drainage while others constructed shops and other structures on the alignment which posed initial problem when the contractor; Olag Nigeria Limited, moved to site.

    For the contractor to take possession of the road and begin work, the setback and drainage alignment had to be reclaimed as well as relocation of electric cables of the Eko Discos to pave way for the construction.

    According to the Executive Secretary, Surulere Local Government Area, Mrs. Bamidele Hussain, a stakeholder’s meeting was held with residents and their community development association (CDA) on the need to reconstruct the road and reclaim the setback and alignment. The stakeholders agreed that the road should be reconstructed and illegal structures on the right of way removed. With this problem taken care of, the contractor commenced work on the road.

    According to 64-year-old Mrs. Christiana Emela, the street which has been in a very bad state for over a decade is receiving attention from the council.

    She said: “We are happy for the road construction because for long, we have been inhaling dust. We are hopeful that when the road is completed, our plight will be over. We thank the Surulere Local Government for this project.”

    However the Site Engineer Olag Nigeria Limited, Samuel Tomori said the project was delayed because it took about 10 weeks to get the Eko Disco to give the permission for the relocation of the electric poles for the project to commence.

    “Some members of the community accused us of planning to relocate the poles over their roofs. This is untrue. Another challenge we had was that there were illegal structures built on the road setback. The people living in the quarters encroached on the setback. Some of them even relocated their soak away from the back of their houses unto the setback and they don’t want us to remove the illegal structures from the setback at all.

    “But the work is progressing fast as we are about completing the drainage. The relocation of the electric poles is about to start and before middle of May, we may complete the project,” he said.

    Former Chairman, Obele Oniwala CDA and resident on Durojaiye Street, Mr.. Folahan Onikori said it was improper for people to erect illegal structures on drainage alignment and road setback, saying that something had to give way for development to come to a particular area. He commended the Surulere Local Government for the ongoing road project and urged the council to expedite action on its completion.

    Chairman, Surulere Local Government, Hussain said it was the CDA members who chose that the Michael Ogun/Durojaiye Road should be constructed due to its economic and social importance to the area. “We had delay with the approval to relocate the electric poles by the Eko Disco. To work on the drainage, we had to break some walls erected on the road setback,” she said.

    Hussain explained that before works began on the Michael Ogun/Durojaiye Road, the area was a slum with deep potholes littering the road.

    “This road was like a slum with deep potholes. We decided to do this road because it is a link road to LUTH instead of using the Itire Road. The road has lots of economic importance as well as social value,” she said.