The Nation Newspaper

Tag: residents

  • Ilogbo residents urge Amosun to fix road

    Ilogbo residents urge Amosun to fix road

    Residents of Ilogbo and its environs have urged Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun to fix the road from Love bus stop (Tipper Garage) on Atan-Idiroko Road, leading to Ilogbo.

    Their spokesman, Mr. Clement Ade Eleyinmi, said the road had become a death trap.

    He said: “We thank Governor Amosun for developing Ogun State. But some areas have been neglected. They don’t have good roads and other basic amenities, such as hospitals, police stations, markets, filling stations, etc.

    “Ilogbo and neighbouring towns and villages are neglected. Our road is in a deplorable condition. The Community Development Association (CDA) is appealing to our amiable and hardworking governor to send his representatives to inspect this road, in order to repair it. We pray that your tenure will end successfully.”

  • Govt urges residents on Ogun River to relocate

    Lagos State Government has advised residents living along the plains of Ogun River to be on the alert and take necessary precautions as the management of  Oyan Dam has commenced seasonal water releases from the dam.

    Commissioner for the Environment Babatunde Adejare explained that the controlled water releases from the dam was a pragmatic approach of the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority to prevent overflow and possible integrity failure of the Oyan Dam, which could spell doom for people around the catchment area of the river basin.

    Adejare stressed that the controlled release of water from the Oyan Dam was the outcome of the collaboration between the state and the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Authority to forestall possible collapse of the dam.

    “The controlled water releases have become expedient as a result of the weather forecast and the continuous heavy rainfall, which is likely to resume later in the month,” he said.

    He, therefore, advised those residing along plains of Ogun river in Lagos State such as Ajegunle, Owode-Onirin axis, Owode-Elede, Isheri North, Ogolonto, Irawo, etc., to be careful and take precautionary measures, which may include vacating their residences temporarily.

    He urged people in these areas not to hesitate moving to higher grounds once they notice gradual accumulation of rising water as the state is not ready to lose any life during the period. He stressed that the advice must be re-echoed before the rain begins to put those concerned on the alert.

    He emphasised that primary and secondary channels in the state are being maintained and dredged to contain flood related challenges that may occur.

    Adejare urged Lagosians to be safety conscious during this period and take safety measures such as avoiding going out during the rains except only when  necessary, and be conscious when driving and not to overspeed.

  • Residents accuse police of extortion

    Residents accuse police of extortion

    Some residents of Ikorodu yesterday cried out over what they called incessant harassment by the Officer-in-Charge (O-I-C) of Ibeshe Police Post and his men.

    They accused the police of unlawfully arresting them and extorting money from them.

    They complained on their community page on Facebook, Ikorodu Ambassadors, aboutthe incessant arrest of youngsters by policemen. The police, they claimed, accused their victims of being internet fraudsters or moving at ungodly hours.

    They claimed that no fewer than 20 persons were arrested last Friday night, in the latest of such actions.

    But in a swift reaction, police chief Fatai Owoseni said the allegations were being investigated and asked the victims to come forward with their complaints.

    Owoseni said: ”We have been investigating allegations of extortion and policemen found culpable have been meted necessary sanctions. Some of them were recently dismissed and are being prosecuted. The Inspector General of Police has zero tolerance for unprofessional conducts and corruption. Affected persons should be assured that we would get to the root of the matter.”

    Amodu Olorunjedalo, whose brother, Akeem Shobona was one of those arrested, said the policemen collected between N15,000 and N25,000 from each of the victims.

    Olorunjedalo wrote: “The O-I-C of Police Post, Ibeshe needs money. When you actually think you have seen it all, the Nigeria Police will spring up surprises just to extort citizens. Over 30 law-abiding citizens were unlawfully arrested yesterday (Friday) night around Access Bank, Ikorodu Garage, BRT Bus Terminal, Haruna, and Agric starting from 8pm till 11pm.

    “They were packed in the bus like sardines and transported to Ibeshe Police Post. These innocent citizens were forcefully picked, maltreated, severely beaten and threatened at gun point for demanding to know the reason behind their arrest. It was not until they got to the police post that they disclosed to them that the O-I-C, who was seen opposite drinking, needs funds for God knows what. Varying amounts ranging from N25,000, N20,000, N15,000 were collected for bail from them in these trying times. Which way are we going with this notorious police? How long are we going to be subjected to this and many more untoward hardship in the hands of these black sheep?”

    Shobona claimed that he was handcuffed with another victim and driven round Ikorodu from 8pm to 1am before he was taken to the Ibeshe Police Post.

    He said four cops sporting T-shirts with the inscription “Raiders” on the back bundled him into a commercial Vanagon (Danfo) bus.

    The 37-year-old printer said: “I want the Police Commissioner and the Force Headquarters to investigate this matter. I was kept in the cell till around 10am on Saturday when I was released after they had collected the N3,300 I had on me, my sister’s N1,000 and N500 from another guy.

    “I was going home from work when they accosted me. It was around 8pm. I alighted from a Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) bus at Garage, Ikorodu and I saw my sister where she was selling food. I stopped to ask her where her mother was that she was the one selling.

    “The next thing, four armed policemen wearing T-shirts approached me and said I should enter their Danfo bus. I asked them why and they said they would beat, shoot me if I refused to obey them. So, I didn’t argue with them and entered the bus.

    “I was the first person inside the bus and they drove me around Ikorodu, picking other victims. We were more than 15 inside the bus and I saw them beat up anyone who tried to resist them. They handcuffed me with another guy. They drove round Ikorodu till about 1am before they took us to the police post at Ibeshe.

    “When we got there, those who had money and didn’t want to enter the cell paid between N10,000 and N25,000 for their release. They searched me and they only saw N3,300. They now said I should write statement for moving around at ungodly hour.

    “After taking my statement, they put me inside the cell. In the cell, I saw about nine people including a teenager, who said he was raided around 6pm at Magbedike, a street behind the Oba’s Palace.

    “He was very young and I picked interest in his case because I was wondering why a kid like that would be locked up in a cell. I have never been to a police station before. I have never been arrested and then, the policemen locked me up for doing nothing! It is shocking.

    “So, those of us who could not raise that much money were locked up and my sister came to the post to bail me. They collected the N1,000 she was holding. They collected my N3,300 they saw while they were searching me and they collected N500 from another guy before they released us around 10am on Saturday.

    “How do they expect poor masses like us to trust the police when they keep mistreating us? Why can’t they go after the real criminals and leave innocent people alone? I was very scared and couldn’t look any of them in the face because they threatened to shoot, beat anyone who tried to identify them.”

  • Ebonyi residents back Umahi to borrow $150m for ring road

    Ebonyi residents back Umahi to borrow $150m for ring road

    Thousands of people in the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi State have held solidarity rallies for Governor David Umahi to take a $150 million loan from African Development Bank (AfDB) and Islamic Bank for the construction of ring roads to link the councils.

    The roads will connect about eight local government areas in the state.

    The solidarity rallies followed a suit filed by some unnamed petitioners, stopping the release of the free interest loan, which would be repaid in 30 years.

    All the 13 local government areas’ chairmen and other stakeholders supported the loan to enable the government start work immediately on the roads.

    At Ezillo, headquarters of Ishielu Local Government Area, stakeholders and traditional rulers came out en mass to condemn the petitioners.

    They said the legal action would frustrate the “laudable initiative of Umahi’s administration in intervening on the age-long abandoned roads”.

    The chairman of Ishielu Local Government Area, Sunday Eze, assured the state government that his council supported the governor’s moves to secure the loan, which he said would boost economic activities and the lives of the residents.

    The council chief cautioned his people not to play politics with the future of the state.

    He noted that the governor had displayed enough commitment to transform the state.

    But as Umahi’s administration expressed its preparedness to repair the deplorable ring road, some stakeholders reportedly felt slighted and sued the state government from proceeding with the loan negotiation.

    Addressing reporters in Abakaliki, the state capital, Deputy Governor Kelechi Igwe said the petitioners would soon be unmasked.

    The deputy governor said the rally was for solidarity to the governor on his giant strides in the development of the state and to support him for the construction of the ring roads.

    He said: “We will like to know the petitioners in full. I have told you to approach the court. But very soon, we shall, for the purpose of publication, give you the processes that were served on the Ebonyi State government, where you will see the names of the plaintiffs who took the Ebonyi State government to court because of the ring roads.

    “The rally evolves from the people of the state to show solidarity to Governor Umahi for the good works he is doing and to support the construction of that ring road. The road is very important for an Ebonyi man, whether you are from the Central, North or South because that ring road is a key to unlocking the economic potentials of the state.

    “People have been clamouring and calling on the governor. We learnt that some people went to court to challenge the effort of the government to reconstruct that road. But people of Ebonyi are saying: ‘Governor, please, make yourself available; we want to show you solidarity, we want to show you support.’

    “The people are saying they want to converge on the local government areas to demonstrate their support for the construction of the ring road, and we cannot stop them.

    “What we can do as government officials is that if we have the time, we will go to various local governments areas and see what the people are saying, to see whether they are speaking from their mouths or they are speaking from somewhere else.”

  • ‘Mr Dowell’s Friendship Party’ thrills Port Harcourt residents

    ‘Mr Dowell’s Friendship Party’ thrills Port Harcourt residents

    After engaging Lagos residents in what has been called one of the biggest Friendship parties, it was the turn of the oil city of Port Harcourt to feel the vibe of ‘Mr Dowell’s Friendship Party’.

    Held August 13, the event featured cocktails perfectly paired with great music which made the atmosphere the ideal destination for fun seeking friends.

    In Port Harcourt, when the time came for the millionaire friends to be picked, Desire Igwe and her friend, Cassie Onyejeike, were drawn from the lot by a member of the audience chosen at random. In the true spirit of friendship, they decided to split their winnings equally.

    In attendance were some of Port Harcourt’s hottest radio personalities including Rhythm FM’s El-Dee and Cool FM’s Showman.

    Home-grown talent from Port Harcourt also kept the audience entertained with energetic performances that brought the roof down.

    Launched in 1968, McDowell’s Whisky is a blend of imported scotch and Indian malt whiskies which originated from India.

    According to the organisers, the last destination for ‘Mr Dowell’s Friendship Party’ is Abuja on the 20th of August.

    To stand a chance to win a ticket, follow Mr Dowell’s on Instagram or send a message to the McDowell’s Facebook page.

  • ‘35 per cent of Ibadan residents hypertensive’

    ‘35 per cent of Ibadan residents hypertensive’

    The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State capital, Prof. Temitope Alonge, has said about 35 per cent of people in the city are hypertensive.

    Alonge spoke on an Ibadan radio, Fresh FM, at the weekend.

    The CMD said UCH discovered this in a project it initiated during which its workers tested residents in their homes and offices.

    According to him, the tests showed about 35 per cent of residents live with hypertension, with most of them unaware.

    Alonge stressed the need for Nigerians to take their health serious by embracing preventive measures to reduce sudden deaths.

    He said: “The commonest cause of deaths in adult population since 2004 is stroke due to hypertension. From our tests, about 35 per cent of Ibadan residents are hypertensive.”

    The CMD urged governments in the Southwest states to support UCH because the patients come mostly from the states.

    To help poor patients who sometimes run away after treatments due to inability to pay bills or reduce preventable deaths among poor patients, Alonge said doctors make monthly contributions  to a fund from where the hospital draws.

    In the hospital’s efforts to reduce negative impact of poor funding, Alonge said UCH concluded plans to manufacture fluids and some basic drugs.

    He said production would begin within the next six months.

    The project would be undertaken through public private partnership (PPP).

    The project, he said, would also include provision of certain equipment, which the hospital cannot afford. The equipment will bring convenience to patients as well as possibly reduce cost of tests.

  • Ogun residents to get free eye surgery

    The Ogun State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Babatunde Ipaye, has said residents with eye problems will soon get free surgery and  glasses.

    Ipaye spoke at the kick off of a free eye surgery programme organised by The Collectives at Sagamu, Ogun State.

    He said residents with cataract and glaucoma would be treated free.

    Ipaye said over 20,000 residents had benefited from a social health insurance scheme called Araya, where the government takes care  of the less-privileged. He noted that about 24 health centres in the private and public sectors had already enlisted in the scheme, adding that the government pays the premium monthly.

    He added that people, especially children under five and pregnant women had received ante-natal care, malaria, hypertension, diabetes, tuberculosis and other common killer diseases treatment free.

    ”Our simple approach in reaching the people of the state was we adopt “think-tank approach” where we do the supplies of drugs to the hospitals and primary health care centres across the three Senatorial districts, transfer of equipment and assessment of workforce to the appropriate hospitals, training and re-training of our health workers, and we do motivate them to be proactive,” Ipaye said.

    A Consultant Ophthalmologist, Dr. Oladapo Awodein, charged the government to make blindness a priority by providing proper eye care service from primary, secondary and tertiary health care.

    He noted thatthe eyes matter a lot, saying that globally 38 million people are blind, while half of them suffer from cataract and about eight million people from glaucoma, adding that blindness from glaucoma was irreversible.

    ”Hence, when we have 38 million people getting blind and in Nigeria over two million people being blind. This is quite significant, if you take the population of Nigeria being around 180 million; the ratio two to 180 is, indeed, significant,” Awodein said.

    He government should provide an enabling environment for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) to partner the government like The Collectives. ‘’They should be recognised and appreciated,’’ he added.

  • Council, residents, others unveil plan to unlock Apapa traffic

    The Apapa Local Government and other stakeholders yesterday took a bold step towards easing the chaotic Apapa traffic.

    They agreed that henceforth, owners of articulated vehicles parked indiscriminately in the area should be prosecuted.

    There will be 24-hour monitoring and enforcement of the One-Lane policy as part of the measures to reduce the hardship of residents and owners of businesses due to traffic gridlock.

    These were some of the measures, adopted during an all-embracing stakeholders meeting held at the council secretariat.

    The event was attended by representatives of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN)ý, residents, banks and law enforcement agencies.

    Explaining the rationale behind the 24-hour monitoring initiative, the council chairman, Mr. Owolabi Adele, said it would involve the deployment of enforcement teams in strategic areas to ease Apapa traffic.

    Adele said: “Our presence here today marks a turning point in our collective attempt to resolve permanently and move forward in our onerous task. As it has been repeatedly re-echoed, the damages done to our economy and suffering of our people as a result of the traffic menace cannot be over- emphasised.”

    The council chief pledged prompt repair of bad roads and called for intensive training for tanker drivers to ensure sanity on the road.

    Speaking on behalf of the Association of Apapa Government Reserved Area, Brig-Gen Ayo Vaughan (rtd) suggested the erection of barriers on Liverpool Road to regulate the use of the road by articulated vehicles.

    He called for action to end the menace of Okada riders and commercial bus drivers in the area.

  • Residents get 108,000 mosquito nets

    The Head of Administration, Etsako-East Local Government of Edo State, Mr. Albert Elama, said yesterday 108,000 insecticide-treated mosquito nets would be distributed to residents.

    He spoke while inaugurating the distribution of free long-lasting insecticide treated nets at Agenebode, the council’s headquarters.

    Elama said the nets were provided free to encourage quality health care delivery at the grassroots.

    “The nets are life-saving ones, as they will reduce mosquito bites and diseases.

    “Etsako-East places premium on health services, as it is an indicator to measure the economic well-being of any nation.

    “I advise families to sleep under nets, to avoid mosquitoes,” he said.

    The primary health care coordinator, Dr. Daniel Dekhina, enjoined people to fight malaria by using treated nets.

    Dekhina, who described malaria as a “harbinger of poverty and death,” urged individuals to maintain good hygiene by cleaning their environment, to keep mosquitoes away.

  • Navy, others march to reassure residents of security

    Navy, others march to reassure residents of security

    The Nigerian Navy (NN) at the weekend embarked on a-thousand-man march to establish its presence and reassure Nigerians of their security.

    The march, which staretd about 5am from the Naval Training Command headquarters  (NAVTRAC) in Apapa, progressed through Ijora, Costain to Ojuelegba and back, despite the heavy rain.

    An initiative of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, the exercise was primarily organised to test the physical fitness and mental alertness of personnel.

    The Army, Air Force, Police, Department of State Services (DSS), Nigeria Prisons Service (NPS), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps  (NSCDC), took part in the four-hour march.

    The Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) NAVTRAC, Rear Admiral Obi Ofodile, said: “When you see military men march on the street, one of  the objectives, whether defined or not, is to reassure the public that we are in charge. In fact, they are safer than ever. It is a way of reassuring the public that all is well and every situation is under control.

    “This route march is a continuous thing and we will be doing it once in a while. I have no doubt it will strengthen the existing relationship between the armed forces and other security operatives.

    “We want to build and sustain a good relationship with paramilitary agencies. For the armed forces, we have good relationship because we all train at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA). By organising exercises like this, we want our colleagues in uniform in other agencies to know that we all are one.

    “From the turnout and participation, it is clear we are all fit and healthy. I must commend the CNS, who directed that the commands and autonomous units of the navy come up with a march where other security agencies would participate to foster understanding, friendship and oneness.

    Senior officers who took part in the exercise included the Admiral Superintendent, Naval Ordinance Depot (NOD) Rear Admiral Dogara Yusuf, Chief Staff Officer (CSO) Western Naval Command  (WNC) Rear Admiral Matthew Emuekpere and COS, 81 Division, Brig.-Gen. Hamisu Hassan, among others.