The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Sand

  • Half of Olusosun dump covered with sand

    Lagos State Commissioner for Environment Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti said half of the 47-hectare Olusosun Metropolitan Dump in Ojota has been capped. Capping is the covering of a dump to prevent fire.

    Speaking with reporters during the supervision of the exercise, Durosinmi-Etti said 50 per cent of the site was capped within three weeks.

    According to him, there is need to cap the site to prevent a recurrence of fire there.

    He said: “The capping started over three weeks ago and what has happened is that we have covered a lot of mileage. And we are looking at another three weeks to complete the whole capping, before the rain starts. So, it is quite important that we take advantage of every good weather.

    “We have covered over 50 per cent of the work. We use a minimum of 250 trips of laterite and this is not the best time of getting laterite because of the rain.

    “The dump is now odourless, the fume has gone and this is as a result of the hard work being put in by the team from the Ministry of Environment.

    “This is a new Lagos. The toll gate is there, an entry point into Lagos. The dump is not the sort of thing people should be seeing as the first impression.

    “By the time this place is turned into a world-class recreation park, it will be pleasing to the sight of people coming into Lagos.

    “We are looking at a mix array of activities in planned recreation park.

    “The residents of this area should be rest assured that there are greater things coming their way in terms of recreation, in terms of much cleaner and healthier environment than they ever envisaged.”

    Operations Manager, Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) Essien Nsuabia, said the capping was aimed at dousing fire and smoke, using landfill equipment to level the place and cover it with laterite sand.

    “Landfills are not level, some places are high while some places are low and gases are going out from there, which eventually cause fire outbreak.

    “So landfill equipment are used to cut the dumpsite, making it level, hence, covering the vent, then use the laterite sand to cover it completely.

    “Laterite sand does not allow oxygen to go inside to continue to fuel the burning,” Nsuabia said.

    He said laterite removed oxygen from underneath the waste and when oxygen was removed, the level of flammability would be reduced.

    According to him, weather is a determinant of the time of concluding the capping of the dumpsite.

    “When the rain comes it slows down the work, that is why we have devised a means of working both day and night anytime we have great weather,” he said.

  • Buhari and his spear in the sand

    Every country needs a great leader with a personal integrity to steer the ship of state. President Muhammadu Buhari’s emergence was needed at a troubled time in our nation’s history. While I do not regret voting for this president, my expectation on his style of governance so far has not been met. I can’t judge him on the economy.  Who doesn’t know that ours is a mono economy? A crying shame for a country desirous of growth. The erstwhile administration subordinated the running of the economy to the hands of technocrats in a moment of oil boom but failed to act like General Patton (US Army WW II), who delegated roles but went to the front lines to see how those roles were performed.

    I expected ‘change’, the beloved mantra of the party in power, to be ‘change’ in the real sense. ‘Change’ can only come about if there is a sense of urgency and a sense of community. Both are scarce especially the second.

    I had hoped to see an ideological push into the regions where the APC isn’t popular, notably the South-east and South-south, but there doesn’t appear to be a plan whatsoever from the  party in power to promote policies of national integration into these regions. One isn’t suggesting that these regions become a sub-party of the APC but I had hoped to see national programmes in these regions regardless of whether they support the central government or not.

    While I concede this that might not guarantee any chance of the party being liked and supported because of fractious policies which we love to promote in Nigeria, it would nonetheless, be on record that the party made democratic attempts to enhance the living standards of the people in these regions. More than one year after, on the peacock throne, PMB has yet to visit both regions. Governance is about the people.

    Does President Buhari have his spear stuck firmly in the sand? I believe in the fight against corruption, and in the elimination of the  gravy train. The fight regrettably isn’t popular because the president seems to be the only one who carries the burden. Many people around him, pundits say, care nothing because their corrupt reputations go before them.

    The president’s silence on the atrocities committed by the herdsmen is shocking in the light of the revelation that these herdsmen are the fourth-worst terrorist group in the world. I expected him to be nimble-footed to use the will of state to make them bow.

    I have unadulterated support for the president and expect him to succeed but it would be hard for him to succeed if he doesn’t create the environment for trust. It would be hard for him to succeed if he doesn’t communicate his vision regularly with the values and beliefs underlying it and commitment of his government to its implementation.

    Most government policies fail due to the misunderstandings of the aims and objectives. But a good communication culture can restore it. A good communication culture is an “informed culture,” a “just culture,” a “reporting culture” and a “learning culture.”

     

    • Simon Abah,

    Port  Harcourt.

  • Fayose ‘increases’ prices of gravel, sand

    Fayose ‘increases’ prices of gravel, sand

    Residents of Ekiti State will now pay more for sand and gravel, following the stand-off between Governor Ayo Fayose and members of the Tipper Owners and Quarry Employers.

    The stand-off, caused by the government’s imposition of a new tax of N1,000 per trip and a fine of N50,000 for default, was settled yesterday.

    Fayose reduced the tax to N500 per trip to take effect from January.

    The peace meeting held at Jibowu Hall of the Government House was brokered by the Founder of the Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola (SAN). It was attended by the Commissioner of Police, Etop James and Director of the Department of State Services (DSS), Duke Fubara.

    With the development, the price of a load of sand has been increased from N12,000 to N14,500. A load of gravel is now N28,000 ,up from N25,000.

    Fayose said a tax hike was necessary to make the state less dependent on federal allocation, adding “Ekiti is in dire need of money.”

    He maintained that all tipper owners must register their trucks and get new number plates.

    Fayose said: “For the fact that I love you and that power belongs to the masses and with the intervention of our revered leader, Chief Babalola and security chiefs, I will accept this proposal. But my position has been that you must pay N1,000 per trip.

    “I want us to come to reality that Ekiti is in dire need of money. N934 million is being deducted from our allocation monthly. But no tipper will operate in Ekiti without proper registration. You need to be aware that any illegal operator will be dealt with.”

    Fubara said: “The two parties would have to be aware of the security implications of this stand-off.

    “You just have to shift grounds for us to find a middle ground to this matter.”

    Babalola, who praised the governor’s magnanimity, told the tipper owners to continue to support the government by paying their tax.

  • Nigeria hammer Germany 7-1

    Nigeria hammer Germany 7-1

    •Lebanon stun Senegal 5-4

    Nigeria’s Supersand Eagles started their Copa Lagos defence with a 7-1 win over Germany at the Eko Atlantic Beach Soccer Stadium on Friday.

    Captain Isiaka Olawale opened scoring for coach Audu Adamu led team that showed more experience and flair in their game compared to the Germans.

    Abu Azeez added to the tally after dribbling through the German defence before rounding off the goalkeeper to slot in from close range.

    Azeez then made it 3-0 from a long range shot before completing his hat-trick and Nigeria’s fourth goal by turning round a German defender before putting the ball beyond the on-rushing keeper.

    Sebastian Ullrich, however, reduced the deficit from the spot to end the first quarter at 4-1.

    On resumption of second quarter, Bartholomew Ibenegbu scored his first goal of the tournament to make it 5-1.

    Ogbonaya Okemiri then fired a superb long range shot that caught the keeper unaware.

    Ogbonna Emeka completed the rout in the 3rd quarter to finish the game at7-1.

    Meanwhile Lebanon defeated Africa Beach Soccer champion, Senegal 5-4 in the match played earlier.

  • Sand Eagles ready for Copa Lagos

    Sand Eagles ready for Copa Lagos

    CAPTAIN OF the Nigeria’s Supersand Eagles, Isiaka Olawale has confirmed his teammates’ preparedness for the second edition of the Copa Lagos Beach Soccer Championship.

    The tournament, which involves four nations, is expected to start next week from Friday to Sunday at the Eko Atlantic Beach in Lagos.

    Olawale, 29, who lifted the trophy last December for Nigeria told supersport.com that it would be great for his career to lift the title again this year.

    “Last year, we made Nigerians proud as we were the only side that put smiles on their faces as the Super Eagles and the Olympic team failed.

    “I am very sure of winning the tournament again considering how good my teammates are in camp, but I want to plead with the NFF not to allow what happened to us last year occur again. They should come to support us, as we are the only team left this year playing in any competition for Nigeria,” Olawale said to supersport.com.