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Tag: residents

  • How cultists torched our homes, by residents

    How cultists torched our homes, by residents

    Residents of Ikota near Lekki-Ajah in Lagos yesterday relived how some cult members torched their homes on Monday.

    They claimed that the cultists undertook the attack to avenge the alleged killing of one Dada last Saturday.

    The late Dada was described as an occasionally visitor to the area.

    The residents debunked the fire service claim that the fire was caused by candle light.

    Fire chief Rasak Fadipe was quoted saying: “Somebody forgot a candle and slept off. It burnt out and started a fire. We met the fire raging and we engaged in active fire fighting operation to save the shanties, but unfortunately, we lost 17 of them to the fire.”

    Speaking with The Nation yesterday, a resident, who just gave his name as Samson, said the cult members torched the structures around 12.34am, while some residents were asleep.

    “It was the death of one Dada, who was killed last Saturday by some cultists that caused this incident,” he said.

    Another resident, Sylvester, said what the cultists did was a retaliation.

    “I heard Dada’s clique killed someone from the other gang and it was what caused the fight. I don’t know if there was any other reason. I can’t even say much because I don’t know who is watching me,” he said.

    Another resident, Jerry Macolo, who has been living in the area for eight years, said the fire was not caused by candle light, adding: “Majority of the structures here are shops and they were closed at that time. Those people were ready to kill anybody because of the incident that happened last Saturday. I don’t even know what woke me up. I just smelt fire and when I came out of the house, I saw fire everywhere. “

    Mrs Joy Nathaniel, who lost goods worth N50,000 to the fire described the incident as pathetic.

    She said the neighbourhood is different from what it used to be, adding that it is not a safe place to live anymore.

    “I operate a restaurant. When I got to my shop yesterday (Monday), I couldn’t recognise anything. I couldn’t rescue a table spoon. I borrowed all the kitchen utensils to cook. It was sheer wickedness.

    “We are scared to voice out. That is how they kill each other. We will be glad if the government can mobilise men of the armed forces to our community to eradicate them. We can’t move freely because there is always trouble. This neighbourhood used to be peaceful but now, we don’t know who is who. We need help,” Mrs Nathaniel said.

     

  • Lagos urges residents on environment

    Unwholesome sanitary habit of open defecation can be extremely inimical to Lagos citizenry as it poses threat to health, wreaks havoc on the environment, leads to epidemic outbreaks and gives room for perilous diseases to thrive.”

    These were the words of Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Babatunde Adejare during the commemoration of World Toilet Day in Lagos. He said it is imperative for residents to foster a clean and hygienic ecosystem in order to combat the attendant effects of unsafe defecation. He said the high rate of unguided human activities and entropic interaction between man and the environment further increases vulnerability of the state to various forms of environmental degradation.

    “It is worthy to note that proliferation of such environmental sanitation related diseases increase poverty in households and the economy as a whole, diminishing productivity as a result of increased Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY). In addition to loss of national and state productivity, the dirty, unhygienic and unsanitary environment created as a result of open defecation and urination reduces the aesthetic of the environment thus discouraging tourists and foreign investors,” he said.

    He further reiterated that poor sanitation and hygiene are linked to stunting and wasting otherwise described as low weight for height which causes irreversible physical and cognitive impairment. “Defecating openly means diseases like diarrhoea and intestinal worms can quickly spread. According to the World Health organisation (WHO), roughly 50 per cent of all malnutrition cases are associated with repeated diarrhoea or intestinal worm infections as a direct result of inadequate water sanitation and hygiene.

    “Improving sanitation can play a big role in the nutritional status of women and children. By safely separating faeces from human contact and the environment, women and children are more protected from disease and malnutrition; children can realize their full potential and women and their babies can live healthier,” he said.

    He however, pledged the Ministry of Environment (MoE’s) commitment to eradicate unhealthy defecation through provisions of public toilets and upgrade of existing facilities in selected areas across the state, adding that this is in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) geared towards ensuring improved sanitation, positive nutrition and health outcomes.

  • Residents, motorists groan as Calabar-Itu Road gets worse

    Residents, motorists groan as Calabar-Itu Road gets worse

    In the past week, major national dailies hit the stands from noon in Calabar, the Cross River State capital. Normally, some newspapers arrive late sometimes due to issues associated with production or transportation, but the present situation is one that affects all.

    The fact that no resident of Calabar can buy any major national daily till noon in recent times is an indication that something is wrong. The problem is the terrible state of the Calabar-Itu Federal Highway, which is the only road through that vehicles conveying these papers can get into the city.

    In the past years, complaints about the poor state of the road and other federal roads in the state have become many. Constant protests, pleadings, petitions and news reports among others have done nothing to attract relevant authorities to do something about them. Several failed promises by the Federal Government over the years have become commonplace.

    It is undisputed that if there is something the state has in abundance, it is stretches of federal roads in utter states of disrepair.

    From Bakassi to Obanliku the condition of these roads mostly constructed in the 70s has been a source of misery for users.

    It is often said the state is so large that driving from some parts to another can last for seven hours or more. Mostly contributing to this is the poor state of federal roads which link up most of the 18 local government areas in the state. If the federal roads were in better shape, one would be able to make such trips in much shorter periods.

    Investigations revealed that they are 22 federal roads in the state spanning about 1,100km.

    Some of them are Calabar-Itu, Calabar-Ikom, Calabar-Ikang, Ikom-Ogoja, Ugep-Obubra, Ikom-Obudu, Ogoja-Obudu, Ogoja-Yala-yahe, Ogoja-Gakem-Vandikya, Mbok-Yahe, Okuku-Alifokpa, Ugep-Itigidi-Afikpo among others.

    An official of the Federal Ministry of Works who begged not to be named said about 80 per cent of the federal roads in the state need urgent attention.

    He said, “I can tell you that from our appraisal of the roads, they need total reconstruction to bring them to the capacity that can cope with the thousands of heavy duty trucks that ply them.”

    Most infamous of these roads are the Calabar-Itu and Calabar-Ikom roads, which are the only gateways by land in and out of the capital city, Calabar, where traffic activities are most intense.

    The Calabar-Itu road, especially, the Odukpani axis, which is the most strategic and economically viable of these two as it the shortest route to other south-south and south-east states, is worse off.

    Besides the accidents that occur on the road frequently, it is often that commuters have had to spend days on the road because of trucks that fall, causing serious traffic jams. At the moment tanker drivers have embarked on strike in protest against the condition of the road. The situation has led to scarcity of petrol in the capital city. This would not be the first time petroleum workers would be embarking on such strike. Saying the negative effect of the roads is far reaching on the lives of residents of the state and road users is simply stating the obvious.

    Recently, the problems of the users of the Calabar-Itu Road has been compounded by incessant torrential rains which have caused floods that cut of the road completely. This is responsible for the issue with the newspapers mentioned earlier.

    The problem, which is acute at the Ekenkpon Community axis of Odukpani local government area, has left thousands of commuters stranded on the road for hours.

    Residents of the area have even been sacked from their homes by the flood occasion by the poor condition of the road.   As ridiculous as it may sound, the road situation has become so bad that people have had to be ferried across by canoes. When a vehicle stops on one side of the flood, the passengers alight, then board a canoe for a fee, then continue the journey in another vehicle on the other side of the water.

    The overflow of water to the road has covered an area estimated to be about a kilometre. Many vehicles that had tried to brave the flood broke down. Many commuters have had to go back after spending hours on the road.

    In a bid to alleviate the suffering of road users in the state, the state governor, Prof Ben Ayade had promised the construction of a new 260km superhighway to be completed in four years, a project which many have expressed doubts about. Those who are optimistic about the new superhighway however feel that in the meantime something has to be done urgently about the existing roads.

    In response to the complaints associated with the bad state of the Calabar-Itu road, the Cross River state government on Tuesday, commenced intervention on the federal government road.

    The remedial measure is aimed at bringing quick relief to road users in the state.

    In a related development, Governor Ben Ayade has called on the tankers drivers who embarked on a strike as a result of the bad state of the road to call off their strike in the interest of Cross Riverians.

    Leading a state government delegation on an on the spot assessment of the road, the Chief of State to Governor Ayade, Mr. Martin Orin said as a responsive government, the administration views seriously the plights of its people, noting that the challenge on the road is of great concern to the state government.

    According to him, Cross River state is taking charge of the section of the roads that affects the state and appealed to its Akwa Ibom State counterpart to rehabilitate the section of the road that concerns the state.

    The Chief of Staff begged Cross Riverians and other road users to be patient with the state government, assuring them that everything was being done to alleviate their plights.

    Speaking on the level of intervention the state government intends to carry out on the road, the Director of Civil Works at the state Ministry of Works, Godwin Akeke, said: “It would require a whole lot of work. What you are seeing here are unsuitable materials. We intend to remove all the unsuitable materials impeding the road and replace them with hardcore to get the road to a very good state.

    “We don’t intend to do a temporary work, what we intend to do is what will stand the test of time and all agencies have been mobilised to ensure smooth flow of traffic as the work is going on.”

     

  • Ekiti residents lace land with juju

    Ekiti residents lace land with juju

    An attempt by the Ikewo Community on the outskirts of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, to take over a piece of land belonging to the Federal Polytechnic Ado-Ekiti has sparked tension between the two parties.

    It is believed that the community plans to build a shanty market on the land.

    Individuals believed to be members of the Ikewo community, which borders the polytechnic, laced the land with charms and other fetish objects.

    The community claims that the land, which lies between the polytechnic  and Ado-Ijan Road, belongs to its ancestors.

    Many students are living in fear, following the tension generated by the alleged land grab.

    Speaking with reporters yesterday, the Rector, Dr. Taiwo Akande, urged the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Adeyemo Adejugbe, to intervene in the crisis.

    Mrs. Akande said the intervention would prevent a breach of the peace.

    She wondered why the Olu of Ikewo, Chief Adewumi Aladesanmi, in collaboration with the Ado Ekiti Local Government Caretaker Chairman, Dauda Ajise, were trespassing on the land.

    The rector said the land had been in the government gazette over 30 years ago.

    According to her, the erection of shanties around the polytechnic has constituted a security threat.

    “He (the Olu of Ikewo) should go to court if he feels he has a genuine case or appeal to the Federal Government.

    “Toeing the line of the peace by vacating the land is necessary.

    “This is to avert clash between the students and the community. We know the steps we have taken to calm  the restive students.

    “Miscreants are using the  shanties to commit crimes. There is the need to discourage this.”

     

  • Residents decry Mainland ‘gang wars’

    Residents decry Mainland ‘gang wars’

    Lagos Mainland Local Government residents are worried by the increasing rate of youthful restiveness in the community. They lodged their complaints to a member of the House of Assembly, Oladele Adekanye, during a Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting at Lagos Mainland Local Government Secretariat in Yaba.

    The youths, they said, had turned the community to battle field.

    They condemned what they called the “laxity” of the Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) in the area to the problem and called on government to arrest the situation.

    Eletu of Oto and Mainland Chief Shamsideen Pedro blamed it all on unemployment.

    Pedro, who represented the monarch of Oto and Mainland, called on wealthy individuals to pool resources and establish a company to cater for the jobless.

    An idle mind, he said, is the devil’s workshop.

    He also canvassed for the creation of state police, suggesting that the Neighbourhood Watch could be upgraded to state police.

    Adekanye said every family has a role to play in curbing crime.

    Popularly called Lado, Adekanye said the meeting would facilitate participatory governance, adding that it is the first of its kind in the assembly’s history.

    “The decision to reach out to our constituents and other groups is borne out of our desire to deepen the democratic culture as well as facilitate participatory governance in the state. It is the first ever Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting to be held simultaneously across the 40 constituencies in the political history of Lagos State”, he said.

    The Lagos assembly, Adekanye said, had become a reference point for other states, the National Assembly and the international community.

    The assembly, he said, received a letter in September from a State Legislative House in Kenya requesting for a visit to tap from its experiences, progressive skills and people-oriented legislations.

    He reassured his constituents that their welfare and security are the major concern of the government.

    The lawmaker said: “Since the commencement of the current Assembly in June 2015, 28 resolutions have been passed covering on a broad range of socio-economic, political and other issues pertaining to the welfare of Lagosians, the progress of the state and the nation as a whole. We have in the course of our legislative duties, settled communal clashes, played the Ombudsman while not neglecting several petitions referred to us for mediation and resolution.”

  • Council sensitises residents to hygiene

    Council sensitises residents to hygiene

    Committed to ensuring residents’ well-being, Executive Secretary of Ikeja Local Government Area of Lagos State, Mr. Adekunle Dally-Adeokun has promised to make the environment conducive for healthy living.

    •Mr Dally-Adeokun durng the last sanitation exercise.
    •Mr Dally-Adeokun durng the last sanitation exercise.

    Hon. Dally-Adeokun, who spoke during the environmental sanitation held at the council headquarter,  said he would work towards ensuring that residents have attitudinal change on the environment.

    He noted that maintaining high level of cleanliness would engender good health, advising residents to participate actively in the monthly clean-up exercise.

    The Executive Secretary called on the residents to co-operate with the council in its efforts to rid the area of waste, so as to promote healthy environment.

    The council chief, however, expressed discontent over attitude of some residents who do not comply with the council’s and state’s rules and regulations with regard to proper waste disposal. He also frowned at their proclivity to indiscriminate dumping of garbage in water channels which would have devastating effects on the environment.

    He said: ‘’We are appealing to residents to strictly observe the monthly environmental exercise. Today, we are not satisfied with the level of compliance, especially at Makinde Street by Obafemi Awolowo Way and Baba Yufu Close at Ward F all in Alausa Ikeja. The drainage has been blocked; the street most times are waterlogged, coupled with construction of illegal markets and parks. We are going to enforce environmental sanitation laws.

    “Residents should co-operate with the council to rid the surroundings of waste, especially in front of their houses.

    “It would not be business as usually. The council’s vehicles would help to evacuate wastes. The council would also work towards making residents of various communities to maintain clean environment.”

    Also speaking, the wife of Executive Secretary, Mrs. Olaide Adeokun said the council was disturbed over the nonchalant attitude of some residents who block water channels with domestic waste.

    She equally expressed worry over indiscriminate dumping of garbage in water channel which she said could result in overwhelming effects on the residents.

    She, therefore, urged market women to always clear their environment before selling and after selling their wares to ensure clean environment, saying a dirty environment was threat to good health.

    Corroborating Mrs. Adeokun’s views, the Chairman Community Development Committee (CDC) of the council, Ahaji Osinberu Sulukaleen said in their monthly stakeholders’ meeting, they would continue to appeal to residents to maintain clean and safe environment and to imbibe rewarding sanitation habits.

    He also pleaded with the state government to start enforcement of the environmental laws.

    Sanitation tools such as hand gloves, brooms, rakes and nylon bags for waste collection were distributed to the residents.

    The Head of Environmental Services and Waste Management Unit, Mr. Kolawale Ajanaku said efforts are being made to sensitise residents to the need to clean their surroundings every day and not to wait until another sanitation day.

    Meanwhile, some officials of the council, including the Deputy Executive Secretary, Prince Oluranti Olufon visited some streets to inspect the level of compliance to the day’s sanitation exercise by the residents.

  • Residents urged to screen for cancer

    Rural dwellers over 40 years in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have been advised to continuously screen themselves for cancer-related symptoms  in order to detect the disease early and be treated before it develops.

    This advice was given by a non- governmental organisation under the auspices of Project Pink Blue,  in collaboration with Sandvik mining and construction company limited at an awareness and free screening programme organised for residents of Utako community in Abuja.

    Marshal John, the Managing Director of Sandvik mining and construction limited, who organised the cancer awareness and screening exercise,  explained that the event is part of their corporate social responsibility  in ensuring that they look after their immediate communities.

    John said that last year, they ventured into supporting a group in the fight against malaria and this year, they have also looked at it that out of every eight women, one is diagnosed of cancer. “So, we thought it is very important to partner with other organisations in the fight and creating awareness against cancer.

    “It is very important that we talk to our immediate community, and our immediate community here is Utako, we have been in Utako for two years now and the people have been nice to us and it is a way of giving back to them.  So, as a result of that we are going to be scanning over 30 women and 20 men for the various diseases related to cancer.

    “We are making sure that we educate them on cancer,  that even if they do not have it,  they will go back to their people and educate them on the disease. We are also thinking that we will discuss with our office to set up a trust fund for Cancer patients in the FCT on yearly basis,  we are hoping that before our next awareness programme which will be next October we will have the fund available,  no matter how little the fund is,  what matter is for us to start from somewhere and continue to work with the people,” he said.

    Executive Director of Project Pink Blue, Runcie Chidebe, Executive Director Project Pink Blue,  explain that they are community based cancer NGO which engages in providing breats,  cervical and prostrate cancer awareness and also providing support for people who are battling with cancer.

    “We are providing free screening,  which is very important because it ensures that cancer is discovered when it can be treated,  but once cancer is discovered at late stages it becomes a problem. We have cancer survivals that we work with in our network,  because they were treated since they were detected early.

    “We saw the need to reach out to our immediate communities,  who are only concerned about sickness like Malaria and they know less about Cancer. When this disease kills people,  they do not see it from the scientific side that it is a dangerous thing,  they see it at probably witchcraft,  because of ignorance. That is why we have decided to create this awareness for them to know about the disease and how to prevent it,” he said.

     

  • Residents blame fire service for loss of properties

    Occupants of Block 369 in Double Star area of Jakande Estate in Ejigbo Local Development Area of Lagos have absolved themselves of blame in the  fire that ravaged their apartments.

    They are blaming fire fighters for the incident.

    The inferno destroyed two flats in a two-storey building.

    It was gathered that occupants of a flat left their gas switch on. Another person said the fire emanated from the air conditioner  that wasn’t switched off.

    A victim, John Ogwu, said electricity voltage in the area had not been stable for a while, adding that he switched off all appliances before he left for work.

    He said: “I was at Ikeja when a neighbour called that my flat was on fire and immediately I dialled 112. I also called the Ejigbo fire service but I was told they were not working. I called Isolo Fire Service, they said there was no water. It was later I informed the Bariga office and before they reached the estate, my properties were gone. There was nothing left in the house. I went to Ejigbo LCDA and nothing has been done; nobody has called me.”

    His certificates, his wife’s  and children’s birth certificates, he said, went with the fire.

    “If the fire fighters got to my place on time, they would have rescued few things. An estate that is owned by the government should have a fire service unit because it has over 500,000 occupants leaving there,” he added.

    A resident, Nelly Momodu, who runs a barber’s shop opposite the affected building, said the fire was caused high voltage.

    Momodu said when the light was restored, it fluctuated and people complained of how it damaged their appliances.

    He said: “Some residents tried to put out the fire but it was more than their capacity. The land meant for the fire service to build their station in the estate has been sold out to people and other spaces have been rented out as shops.”

  • Residents hail Ikpeazu, seek quick completion of roads

    Abia State Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has got the thumbs-up for his intervention on roads in Aba, the state’s commercial capital. But the residents equally asked that the job be done quickly so they can be put out of their nightmare.

    Poor roads and clogged drains have for long given Enyimba City a dirty face and its residents all sorts of problems. But on June 1, the Ikpeazu administration started an ambitious rehabilitation plan.

    Asphalt has been laid on Owerri Road, off Okigwe Road, as well as on Ukaegbu, Umuola, Umule, Tonimas roads. Work on others has reached advanced stage with drainage channels built.

    Some residents praised the Ikpeazu administration on the  facelift drive.

    A shop owner at Tonimas Junction said, “We want to thank the governor on his efforts so far. It no news that in the last eight years, we were subjected to all manner of suffering because of the bad nature of our roads especially those of us living and doing business around Umule, Tonimas Junction and its neighbourhood. Sometimes especially in the evening we find it hard to come back home because of the high cost in transportation and it could get worse at the slightest drop of the rains.

    “Are you talking about getting a cab from Azikiwe Road or the usual gridlock at Faulks Road? The government is doing something meaningful and we want them to intensify efforts to ensure that the contractors finish the work in due time.”

    There are challenges, still. Motorists find it difficult to drive through Aba as most portions of intra-city roads have collapsed, making driving in the commercial city a herculean task.

    A motorist who gave his name as Mr. Frank however, opined that the usual gridlock along major roads like Ama Ogbonna junction, Azikiwe road, fualks road among others would be eliminated if government should do something to address the situation by directing the appropriate agencies of government to move their equipment to the areas concerned.

    According to Frank, the cost of vehicle maintenance is becoming too much on them to bear, stressing that they leave above income as they spend their money on maintaining their cars rather than using the money to feed their families.

    “We spend most of the week in the mechanic because of one breakdown or the other that at the end of the day, we find it difficult to feed our families. This situation I believe will be addressed if the government will look into the internal roads in Aba. You are in Aba. The governor, I learnt goes to work in Umuahia from the Governor’s lodge in Aba. I believe he sees what people are passing through. He should come to the aid of the people of Aba. I learnt he has been trapped in the traffic on one or two occasions while returning to Aba. The founding fathers of Aba and Abia had good plans and if successive administrations had followed their footsteps, the traffic situation of Aba wouldn’t have been that bad as it is today. I am optimistic that if the governor will be allowed to work, he will definitely do his best to ensure that the roads in Aba were fixed, but before new roads will be constructed, the old ones should be properly managed and maintained,” the commercial driver said.

     

  • Council sensitises residents on health

    Council sensitises residents on health

    As part of its commitment towards ensuring safe and healthy environment for the well-being of the residents, the Executive Secretary of Oriade Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Hon. Bola Badmus–Olujobi has advised members of the public to be dedicated in their garbage generation and disposal.

    Hon. Badmus-Olujobi gave the advice during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the council’s secretariat.

    At the meeting whose theme was “Community Advocacy Review on the Private Sector Participation (PSP) and Household Refuse Collection in Lagos State”, she expressed discontent over the unbridled manner in which residents litter the environment indiscriminately without minding the health consequences.

    She said: “I implore all communities to imbibe the culture of keeping our environment clean and healthy. All of us should patronise operators of Private Sector Participation (PSP) as they are the people that Lagos State Government has commissioned to cart away our garbage as at when due. Also, all households should cultivate the habit of bagging their garbage and dropping them at the designated points. They should not patronise the cart pushers (kole-kole).

    “All community heads should try and inspect their surroundings at all times and not only on Lagos State Environmental Sanitation days.

    “I want to inform us all that Meteorological (MET) office has forecast that rainfall in latter part of this year will be heavier than that of the previous years. We should recall the recent flood disaster in Kaduna that destroyed a lot of lives and properties.

    “Let’s imbibe the culture of dislodging our gutter and stay away from littering our surroundings. I would urge us all to embrace these causes so as to stay away from communicable disease.”

    Also speaking at the event, the representative of the Lagos State Waste Management Agency (LAWMA), Mrs. O. A. Osonuga said “through the advocacy programme, we have been able to influence individual and collective behaviours on waste generation and disposal. It is a continuous enlightenment campaign. We educate on waste sorting, reduce re-use and recycling for a cleaner and healthier environment. We are joining the whole world by having recovery facility to recycle our wastes and turn them into wealth.

    “The establishment of the resource recovery facility demonstrates the state government’s resolve to ensure a clean, healthy and sustainable environment in line with the vision of the Ministry of the Environment.”

    She advised the residents to take the programme seriously as it will assist them in staying safe, noting that waste bins are placed at strategic locations, while sweepers remove litters and bags for collection. The garbage bags were distributed to residents for proper waste storage.

    Some of the residents complained about the inadequate services of waste managers in the metropolis. They said evacuation of refuse was always delayed by waste collectors.

    However, some who live in Ade-Oshodi Street, Ijegun expressed satisfaction with the performance of waste managers.