TheNewsGuru

Tag: Lagos State

  • EKEDC explains power outage in Badagry

    EKEDC explains power outage in Badagry

    The Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has attributed the power outage in some communities in Badagry to broken poles along the Badagry Expressway in Oko-Afo.

    The General Manager, Corporate Communications, EKEDC, Mr Godwin Idemudia, said on Tuesday in Lagos that the incident at Oko-Afo affected four electric poles and some equipment.

    “At around 1:46 p.m. on Monday, Oko-Afo 33KV feeder was faulty due to broken poles at Temole bus stop along the Badagry Expressway.

    “The incident which occurred affected four electric poles and other equipment of the company,” he said.

    Idemudia said the fallen poles had been removed and the company’s technical team was working hard to resolve the problem.

    He, however, assured the residents that electricity supply would be restored to the affected communities after the repairs.

    Idemudia said the affected communities in Badagry include Oko-Afo, Aradagun and Igborosun.

    “We are, therefore, appealing to customers to bear with us, as supply will be restored as soon as these repairs are concluded.

    “EKEDC highly regrets any inconveniences caused by this outage,” he said.

  • Lagos compensates Baba Suwe with N3.1m over wrecked property

    Lagos compensates Baba Suwe with N3.1m over wrecked property

    The Lagos government has presented a cheque of N3.1 million to Babatunde Omidina, comic actor better known as Baba Suwe, as recompense for the demolition of his property in the state.

    TheNewsGuru recalls that Baba Suwe was among the residents of Ikorodu who were compensated after their properties were demolished to pave way for the current Igbogbo-Igbe road expansion project.

    Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Thursday, presented the cheques to the affected property owners at the commissioning of the newly improved 6.05 kilometres Ijede Road (Itamaga to Ewu Elepe).

    Among others who were also compensated are Malok Petrol Station with N100 million, Stir Oil and Gas Petrol with N36 million; as well as Igbe Central Mosque at Degolu Junction with N8 million.

    About 455 affected families, worship centres, and businesses were recorded for compensation to the tune of N2.2 billion in places where the state is executing construction projects within the suburb.

    In a recent chat, Baba Suwe said he has been rendered crippled due to his experience with NDLEA.

     

    In 2011, he was arrested by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on suspicion of ingesting cocaine wraps.

    According to him:”I have not forgotten about my issue with the NDLEA and I will never forget because I am still bearing the pains and suffering from that encounter. I am still affected by the inflictions they meted on me at that time.

    “As I speak with you, I cannot walk with both my legs. Just to visit the toilet in my room, I have to be carried there. Even using the toilet is a problem as well.

    “Although I travel abroad for medical check-up, my body is still not okay at all. As I said, I cannot walk to my toilet at all without assistance. This development began about a week or two ago. Before then, I hardly walk properly and anyone who sees me would know that I have difficulty walking.”

     

  • Chairman, people of Egbe-Idimu mourn T. B. Joshua

    Chairman, people of Egbe-Idimu mourn T. B. Joshua

    Mr Kunle Olowoopejo, the Executive Chairman, Egbe-Idimu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos, has commiserated with Balogun family and members of The Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN) on the death of Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua.

    Preacher Temitope Joshua, fondly known as Prophet TB Joshua, reportedly passed away in Lagos on Saturday evening after a programme at his church.

    Olowoopejo said the report of the demise of the prophet came as a shock on Sunday morning.

    “The demise of our Man of God, a rare benevolent spiritual leader, an astute cheerful giver and a veteran prophet of God, Prophet Temitope Balogun Joshua came as a big shock.

    “It is with heavy heart and deep sorrow that I commiserate with the Balogun’s family and the the entire members of The Synagogue Church of All Nation (SCOAN).

    “Your death came as a big shock to us because we don’t pray to lose you even in decades to come,” he said

    The chairman described TB Joshua as a complete definition of what humanity should be, adding that “he was generous and no matter your colour, ethnic, tribe, language or religion you may belong to, his hands of fellowship has no bound and that’s why both young and old keep echoing “Alaanu Mekunnu lo.”

    “On behalf of the government and the good people of Egbe Idimu LCDA, our prayer is that the Lord Almighty should grant you an eternal rest, avail us all the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss and make paradise your final destinations.”

    TB Joshua was born on June 12, 1963 and became the leader and founder of The Synagogue Church of All Nations (SCOAN) in the 1990s.

    He ran the Emmanuel TV television station based in Lagos.

  • Lagos APC regrets skirmishes’ at LG primaries on Saturday

    Lagos APC regrets skirmishes’ at LG primaries on Saturday

    The leadership of ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos has expressed regrets at “cases of skirmishes” which characteristic the party’s local government election primaries in some parts of the state on Saturday.

    The APC Spokesman, Seye Oladejo, in a statement on Sunday in Lagos, urged the security agencies to conduct thorough investigations to bring the culprits to book.

    “We acknowledge with regrets the reported few cases of skirmishes in a few wards with the attendant fall outs. We empathise with the victims of the unfortunate incident.

    “While we await the formal reports of the electoral officials, we wish to admonish the security agencies to conduct thorough investigations to bring the culprits to book and maintain law and order,” Oladejo said.

    According to him, hoodlums, cultists and other outlaws are not members of the party and will not be tolerated.

    He said that “the untoward intervention of external forces within the progressive fold” should be resisted by all and sundry.

    “The party wants to enjoin aggrieved aspirants to approach the Electoral Appeal Committee headed by Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN) to lodge formal complaints.

    “The party calls for the traditional united front as we prepare for the fast approaching local government elections,” he added.

    The APC spokesman, however, commended party faithful for turning out en masse for the exercise.

    The APC primaries were truncated in some parts of Lagos on Saturday by hoodlums and party officials allegedly favouring particular aspirants.

    The results of the primaries are expected to be announced at the APC state secretariat later.

  • BREAKING: EFCC nabs Lagos ponzi scheme operator in Sokoto

    BREAKING: EFCC nabs Lagos ponzi scheme operator in Sokoto

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) says it has arrested a Lagos State based ponzi scheme operator identified as Omotade-Sparks Amos Sewanu.

    According to the EFCC, the suspect, who operated the Inks Nation Ponzi Scheme, was arrested in Sokoto State by the zonal office of the Commission in the State.

    “The suspect who had been at large, was finally arrested on Thursday May 27, 2021 and has made useful statement,” the EFCC stated.

    TNG reports Sewanu was declared wanted by the EFCC in a case bordering on obtaining by false pretence, names-dropping and fraud to the tune of N32 million while claiming to have floated an online digital currency called “Pinkoin”.

    He fled No 19, Posukoh Quarters, Via Joseph Dosu Way, Badagry, Lagos State for Sokoto after the anti-graft agency declared him wanted.

  • Lagos Govt to punish parents of children convicted of cultism

    Lagos Govt to punish parents of children convicted of cultism

    Lagos State Government will henceforth punish parents of children convicted of cultism, the State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has said.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Sanwo-Olu stated this while reaffirming commitment towards providing quality education and a safe learning environment for children in the State.

    The Lagos State Governor declared that education remains a veritable means towards attaining greatness.

    Sanwo-Olu, who stated this while addressing pupils and students at the Children’s Day parade organised by the State Government and held at the Police College ground in lkeja, added that his administration has completed over 1,097 school infrastructure projects with the integration of technology to enhance education in Lagos.

    The Governor, represented by his Deputy, Dr. Obafemi Kadri Hamzat at the event, said the theme of this year’s celebration “Unite to Reverse the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Children”, is quite apt as it underscores the importance of ensuring that the effect of the pandemic does not affect the children, stressing that all kids, irrespective of their status and prevailing global situation, should enjoy their rights to survival and development.

    He highlighted some of the major interventions by the State Government towards ensuring that learning continues despite the global pandemic, saying, “the various steps we have taken since the outbreak of the pandemic have yielded commendation and positive feedback from parents, students and stakeholders in the society”.

    “We introduced electronic teaching on television, radio and the internet as well as provision of mobile devices and mp3 players preloaded with the school curriculum for students through a partnership with various organisations and individuals, who are passionate about the welfare and development of our children”, the Governor said.

    Sanwo-Olu, therefore, encouraged the students to strive towards excellence in learning and character, emphasising the need to acquaint themselves with the use of modern technology provided by the State Government to enhance learning outcomes in public schools.

    While also commending the efforts of the teachers and advising parents/guardians to be vigilant and effectively monitor the activities of their children, the Governor revealed that a new law against cultism has been introduced by the State government to punish parents of young people convicted of cultism.

    His words: “We owe them a duty to ensure that their dreams and aspirations are realised through continuous training, guidance and mentoring. Therefore, I urge you, as parents, to inculcate the right values in them, which will enable them to shun all social vices”.

    Earlier in her welcome address, the Honourable Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, submitted that Lagos State students have continued to distinguish themselves in national and international competitions, winning several laurels and trophies for the State in the process.

    Mrs. Adefisayo applauded the State’s free education policy from primary to secondary school level, observing that despite the various contending needs struggling for resource allocation against the large number of schools and huge population of learners, Governor Sanwo-Olu has continued to commit huge resources to the upbringing and wellbeing of the children.

    “It is not by accident that the education sector of the State got the highest budget in 2020 and 2021. It was because of the needs assessment, commitment and passion of our dear Governor towards providing a conducive environment for teaching and learning by our students across the State”, she said

    The Commissioner disclosed further that the celebration of children’s day started last week with a lineup of activities to mark the annual event, noting that the events included special prayer session during jumat service for Muslim students, thanksgiving service for Christian pupils, career talk/youth forum and cultural display, among others, to commemorate the Y2021 Children’s Day.

  • Why Remi Tinubu called me a thug – Oloko

    Why Remi Tinubu called me a thug – Oloko

    Arinola Oloko, an educationist that had an altercation with Senator Remi Tinubu at the venue of Lagos State Constitution Review public hearing has explained what actually transpired.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Oloko gave the explanation on Friday, while reacting to the matter on a national television program monitored by our reporter.

    The educanist explained, saying: “When we got there [venue of the public hearing], we were told the hall was filled and we demanded for speakers to enable us outside to hear what was happening inside and that is it. The rest is captured in the video”.

    Oloko further stated that public hearing in the South West was not properly organized and that a new constitution is what is needed, and not an amendment.

    “I am not a criminal ma, was my response; because I can’t be, because I am not a violent person.

    “The whole exercise is not properly organized. How will you use Marriott Hotel in Ikeja after inviting several people and you now claim that the hall can only take 256 people.

    “We want a new constitution because this one has a faulty foundation. Once a foundation is faulty what do you expect. So, we need a new one to accommodate transparency, accountability and autonomy.

    Recall a video, in which Senator Tinubu, representing Lagos Central was seen involved in a shouting match, surfaced on the Internet on Thursday.

    Tinubu is leading the Senate Committee on Review of the 1999 Constitution in the South-West and it was reported that residents queued to register before they were allowed into the venue of the event.

    However, when the State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, came in through the back door, the front door was shut and the registration closed.

    Those who were yet to register were said to have stayed in the queue, protesting their exclusion from the event.

    Some lawmakers from Oyo State, who passed the queue and were about to be ushered into the programme, were allegedly followed by some residents, causing a commotion.

    Tinubu was said to have shown up at the backdoor to allow the lawmakers in.

    However, Oloko, who reportedly complained about being denied entry, was said to have decried the partial treatment and voiced out her frustration.

    The senator, after beckoning on her and two others, reportedly called the woman a thug for speaking too loud.

    The remark was said to have caused an altercation between Tinubu and those who heard her.

    While expressing their reservation for the tag on the woman, the people demanded an apology from Tinubu.

    “I will not apologise for what I said. I saw it and I said it,” she reportedly said.

  • PDP releases guidelines for Lagos LG poll

    PDP releases guidelines for Lagos LG poll

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State has released guidelines for aspirants contesting on its platform for Chairmanship, Vice Chairmanship and Councillorship positions in July 24 Local Government election in the state.

    This is contained in a statement issued by the PDP Chairman in Lagos, Adedeji Doherty on Thursday.

    He said the party has set up a 10-member Election Committee headed by Mr Setonji Koshedo and an 11-member screening committee headed by a legal practitioner, Folake Philips.

    Doherty said the party will begin sales of nomination forms on May 7 and close on May 14, while May 18 is the last day for the submission of nomination forms.

    Doherty said the party’s screening of chairmanship and councillorship aspirants would hold on May 20, while all appeals arising from the screening would be heard on May 21.

    The chairman said that May 25 had been scheduled for ward congresses/councillorship primaries, while appeals arising from the congresses would be heard on May 26.

    He said that May 28 has been scheduled for Local Government congresses/chairmanship primaries, while appeals arising from the congresses would be heard on May 29.

    He said the submission of Names of candidates to the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) would be May 31.

    According to him, a male chairmanship aspirant would pay a sum of N150,000 comprising N100,000 for LASIEC form, N30,000 for the Expression of Interest Form and N20,000 for Nomination form.

    He said that a male vice-chairmanship would pay a sum of N100,000 comprising N50,000 for LASIEC form, N30,000 for the Expression of Interest Form and N20,000 for Nomination form.

    The chairman added that a male councillorship aspirant would pay a sum of N50,000 comprising N30,000 for LASIEC form, N10,000 for the Expression of Interest Form and N10,000 for Nomination form.

    Doherty said that a female chairmanship, vice-chairmanship and councillorship aspirant would only pay a sum of N25,000, N20,000 and 15,000 respectively for the Nomination forms.

    The chairman said that payments for Expression of Interest and Nomination forms would be made by all male aspirants for posts of chairmen, vice chairmen and councillors.

    He noted that only those who came out tops at the respective primaries would go ahead to make payments for the LASIEC forms.

    Doherty, said all female aspirants in line with LASIEC directives, would only be making payments for expression of interest forms for whatever posts they intended vying for.

    He said all aspirants are expected to present the receipt of payment or any verifiable evidence of payment of fees upon collection of nomination forms from their local government area chairmen/chairperson.

    LASIEC rolled out timetable and guidelines to political parties for the conduct of the election in the state.

    On May 3, the All Progressives Congress released guidelines for its aspirants.

  • JUST IN: Lagos Assembly suspends 3 council chairmen

    JUST IN: Lagos Assembly suspends 3 council chairmen

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday suspended three local government council chairmen over alleged disregard for the rules governing their activities.

    The affected chairmen are: Ogidan Olaitan of Lekki Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Suleiman Jelili of Alimosho Local Government and Tajudeen Ajide of Surulere Local Government.

    The House announced their suspension through a voice vote during the plenary shortly after Bisi Yusuff (Alimosho 1) raised a complaint against one of the suspended chairman.

    The House said it could no longer continue to watch the council chairmen flouting the state’s local government guidelines governing their activities.

    Yusuff, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Commerce and Industry, told the House how Olaitan had been allegedly unruly and had disregard for the assembly members.

    He complained that Olaitan accused the lawmakers of carrying out an oversight function on a memorandum of understanding in relation to an issue that arose from a resettlement programme in Lekki.

    The lawmaker further said that the council chairman had total disregard for those in his domain whom he was elected to govern.

    Commenting, Mr Fatai Mojeed (Ibeju-Lekki 1), accused Jelili and Ajide of questioning the House for investigating the councils based on the petitions raised by their counsellors.

    Mojeed then urged his colleagues to suspend the chairmen pending the outcome of the investigations on the allegations made against them to serve as deterrent to others.

    The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, while speaking on the issue, noted that the House had received petitions from many councillors in the state against some serving chairmen.

    Obasa said the House could not continue to watch while council chairmen flout the laws that they were supposed to uphold.

    “Total disregard for local government guidelines is something that should not be tolerated.

    “We cannot continue like this. We can’t be breeding monsters in our local government councils,”Obasa said.

    Obasa said it would not be ideal to gloss over the issues as it would be creating a precedence of disobedience to the law by council chairmen especially at a time the state was planning elections into the councils.

    According to him, we have received too many petitions from their councillors against many chairmen, this is the time to take action.

    The speaker directed the Clerk of the House, Mr Olalekan Onafeko, to write Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and other stakeholders on the decision of the House.

  • APC releases guidelines for Lagos LG poll

    APC releases guidelines for Lagos LG poll

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) has released guidelines for aspirants contesting on its platform for Chairmanship, Vice Chairmanship and Councillorship positions in the Local Government election of Lagos State to hold on July 24.

    The party’s Caretaker Committee Chairman and the Caretaker Committee Secretary, Alhaji Tunde Balogun and Mr Lanre Ogunyemi respectively, made this known in the guidelines jointly signed on Monday,

    They said that it was the duty of the party to provide guidelines for its members seeking to contest election.

    They noted that the guidelines would without prejudice conform with the provisions of the party’s constitution, the 2010 Electoral Act (as amended), the Nigerian Constitution, the Lagos State Local Government (Administration) Law and Guidelines of Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).

    “The party’s constitution prescribes that member’s name in the Register of Members shall be the prima facie evidence of valid registration as a member.

    “Hence, the first requirement is that any aspirant on the platform of the party shall comply with this provision.

    “The aspirant shall be a Nigerian citizen, registered member of the party, pays the prescribed fees and must not be a member of any other political party.

    “All aspirants must submit the evidence of membership of the party, submit a demonstrable evidence of active party support and provide a portfolio of loyalty to the party and evidence of non-involvement in any anti-party activity,” the party leaders said.

    They said that all aspirants must sign the party’s code of conduct and only aspirant cleared by the screening committee shall be eligible to stand election at the party’s primaries.

    According to the duo, every aspirant shall present for scrutiny all certificates that he or she laid claims to.

    They noted that the screening committee shall take into consideration full information on an aspirant’s background such as education, political experience, team spirit and reputation.

    They said that there shall be a five-man screening appeal committee which shall be responsible for hearing of all appeals arising from the screening committee’s report.

    The duo said that a disqualified aspirant might seek review of the screening committee’s decision by appealing to the State Caretaker Committee through the state caretaker chairman.

    According to them, there shall be a State Electoral Committee (SEC) for Chairmanship or Councillorship nomination and the LGA/LCDA Electoral Committee who must be persons of proven integrity.

    The state caretaker committee said that all accredited party members from the ward shall be entitled to vote in a direct primary system for aspirants of their choice.

    They said that sales and submission of party forms would hold between May 4 and May 11 while the screening of aspirants would start from May 13 and end on May 21.

    According to them, all appeals shall be heard from May 22 to May 26 while the primaries for Chairmanship and Councillorship aspirants would hold on May 29.