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Tag: Lagos State

  • Lagos announces traffic diversion on island

    Lagos announces traffic diversion on island

    The Lagos State Government  has announced a diversion plan ahead of technical checks, duct calibration and land route repairs at designated locations on Lagos Island.

    The state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said this in a statement on Wednesday in Lagos. Osiyemi said that the repairs would begin on Jan. 17 and end on Jan. 31.

    He listed the locations to be covered to include Bonny Camp Underbridge to Eko Atlantic Sales Office, Eko Hotel Roundabout, Officer’s Mess Inward Independence Bridge, Ajose Adeogun to Ligali Ayorinde,  and Ligali Ayorinde to the end of Landmark.

    He said that alternative routes had been outlined for motorists at each location during the course of the repairs.

    “Bonny Camp Underbridge to Eko Atlantic Sales Office:  This is from Jan. 17  to Jan. 31. The repair will be carried out on the road median with no impact on traffic.

    “Eko Hotel Roundabout is for Jan. 19. Motorists from Eko Hotel moving towards Adetokunbo Ademola will be diverted into two lanes around the roundabout, which should be maintained for safe and efficient work operations.

    “Officer’s Mess Inward Independence Bridge  will be repaired on Jan. 19. Motorists heading to Independence Bridge from Officer’s Mess will be diverted to the two extreme lanes farther from the kerb,” he said.

    The commissioner  added that Ajose Adeogun to Ligali Ayorinde will be repaired from  Jan. 20 to Jan. 24.

    He said that vehicular traffic would be diverted into two lanes as motorists  approach Ligali Ayorinde Junction inward Oniru Beach due to repair work on a manhole at the junction.

    “Ligali Ayorinde to the end of Landmark is for Jan. 25 to Jan. 31. The repair work will be carried out on the setback of the road, with no impact on traffic,” he said.

    Osiyemi gave the assurance that traffic management officers would be stationed on the routes to minimise inconveniences and manage vehicular movements. He implored motorists to be patient.

  • Lagos to demolish shanties, markets at Cele

    Lagos to demolish shanties, markets at Cele

    The Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, says it will demolish shanties and illegal market structures around Cele under bridge area of the State.

    The Commissioner For Environment, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said this while speaking with journalists after the inspection tour of drainage enforcement  at Cele underbridge on Lagos Apapa Oshodi Expressway on Wednesday.

    Wahab who was displeased about the illegal and criminal  activities going on around the environs, described the markets and shanties as a menace to the society.

    “Sometime last year, we had several complaints of illegal activities going on on the pedestrian bridge and under the bridge.

    “Criminal activities were going on. So, we had to deploy our enforcement team to come and do a scope and the feedback was heart-wrenching for the ministry.

    “The illegal activities were not just about marketing and trading. They had also gone ahead to construct lots of shanties under the bridge.

    “It goes beyond environmental and safety issues now, and then their waste were now being dropped into the major canal System 6C around this place,” he said.

    He said the ministry did a full scope on the area, adding that the report was disappointing.

    “So, when we got the report, we said let us come today. Let us do a full scope of it and I am glad the press team were also here. You saw the magnitude of what we are to contend with.

    “Nobody is saying you can’t have your markets. Your markets are for designated places and areas.

    “When you have your market, shanties or stores built on the drainage or on parts of a channel like system 6C, you leave us with no other option than to tell you to remove everything.

    “They have served a notice since last week, so they will do an engagement with them in the next few hours, and hopefully by the weekend they should be able to move,” he said.

    The commissioner added that the human activities around the environs had contributed to the continuous blockage of the drainage system.

    “There are plans this year to put the drainage in shape but it’s not enough to clear the drainage part and clean it up. It’s about the human activities going on around it.

    “This is a full-fledged market like you just saw , illegally being operated around here, and they dump their waste in the drainage.

    “So, even if we clean it up every day, and they still go in, dump their waste and behave badly every day,  It’s just so bad,” he said.

    On plans to build a proper market for the traders, he said that it was the job of the local government.

    The commissioner said that he was sure the local government would perform its duty.

    “Gladly, there have been direct allocations from the Federal Government, so they should put up a proper use of the funds,” he said.

  • Buildings of 6 floors and above must have CCTV – Lagos govt orders

    Buildings of 6 floors and above must have CCTV – Lagos govt orders

    The Lagos State Government has made it mandatory for building owners in the state to install Close Circuit Television Cameras (CCTV) on buildings of six floors and above.

    The state Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, said this in a statement issued by the ministry’s Deputy Director of Public Affairs, Mr Mukaila Sanusi, on Tuesday.

    The commissioner said, “Property owners will, as a requirement for planning permit, now be mandated to install CCTV cameras in all existing buildings of six floors and above, along major roads in the state, as well as in all proposed or under construction buildings of six floors and above anywhere in the state.”

    Olumide said that commercial buildings in the state were not exempted from the requirement.

    He said that the aim was to  enhance security and improve public safety by increasing surveillance and deterring crime.

    According to him, the decision  aligns with  Lagos State Government’s vision for a technologically-advanced and well-managed city.

    The official said that  Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority would establish standards for camera systems, maintenance and inspection,  to ensure consistency.

    He added that property owners would be mandated to provide camera footage to security agencies on request.

    Olumide urged stakeholders to support the initiative, which he described as part of the Lagos State Government’s T.H.E.M.E.S Plus Agenda aimed at  improving quality of life for the state residents.

  • Lagos GAC mute after Obasa’s impeachment

    Lagos GAC mute after Obasa’s impeachment

    Lagos State lawmakers on Tuesday met with members of the State Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) to brief the council on the development at the State House of Assembly on Monday, including the impeachment of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.

    Obasa, (APC-Agege 1 ) and a sixth-term lawmaker, was serving his third term as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Thirty-two of the 40 lawmakers in the Assembly voted for his impeachment at a plenary.

    The assembly subsequently elected and swore in Obasa’s  Deputy, Mrs Mojisola Meranda (APC-Apapa I) as the Speaker and elected  Mr Fatai Adebola (APC-Ibeji-Lekki I)  Deputy Speaker.

    The assembly also indefinitely suspended its Clerk, Mr Olalekan Onafeko, during the plenary and dissolved all principal positions and standing committees.

    The assembly impeached  Obasa over  allegations  of misconduct, abuse of office and financial misappropriation.

    Meranda, thus, became the first female Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly. On Tuesday,  the lawmakers led by their new speaker met for hours with the GAC behind closed doors.

    Meranda told journalists after the meeting that the lawmakers came to brief GAC on Monday’s development.

    She said that the meeting was also to enable the lawmakers to receive blessings from the council as well as from the  leadership the All Progressives Congress in Lagos State.

    “We are here to inform members of the GAC of the latest development, and my colleagues and I have come to receive their blessings as our leaders,” she said.

    Members of the GAC did not speak with journalists on Monday’s development. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was absent at the meeting.

  • Lagos teacher jailed 21 years

    Lagos teacher jailed 21 years

    An Ikeja Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence Court on Tuesday, sentenced a teacher to 21 years at the correctional service, for attempted sexual assault on a 13-year-old student.

    The convict, Oladosu Sakiru, an arabic teacher, was re-arraigned before Justice Rahman Oshodi,  on an amended two-count charge of attempted sexual assault by penetration, and indecent treatment of a child.

    He was first arraigned on March 17, 2023, and had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

    Trial had commenced, and the prosecution had called two witnesses namely, the victim and her father, who both testified against the convict.

    However, on Sept. 6, 2024, the convict, opted to change his plea from not guilty to guilty.

    The prosecution amended the charge, and consequently, informed the court of the position.

    The convict, was then re-arranged, and this time, he pleaded guilty to the charge.

    Delivering judgement on Tuesday, the court chided the convict for betraying the trust reposed on him by parents of the student, who enrolled their ward in the islamic school.

    Justice Oshodi held that the evidences before the court, showed a pattern of “predatory behavior”, since the convict subjected the female student to force, and inappropriate touch.

    According to Oshodi, when the convict is confronted with his action, he seeks refuge in the often repeated phrase “it was the work of the devil”.

    The court held that religious leaders and teachers like the convict, occupy an important position in the society.

    He held that when such individuals break the trust of society, by “preying” on children, the court must respond with appropriate sanctions.

    The court, held that this is to reflect society’s condemnation of such actions, and to deter others.

    The court, consequently, held:

    ”Oladosu Shakiru, I have convicted you following your guilty plea of attempting to commit sexual assault by penetration and indecent treatment of a child.

    “These offences are very serious and the facts of this case are alarming.

    “As an imam and an arabic school teacher, you occupy a position of significant trust.

    “That trust extended not only to the 13-year-old child, the one you victimised, but also to her parents and the entire community who look to you for spiritual and moral guidance.

    “You betrayed this trust in the most deplorable manner,” he said .

    The court, consequently, sentenced Sakiru to a term of 14 years imprisonment on count one, and seven years imprisonment on count two.

    The judge, held that the terms of imprisonment shall run consecutively.

    The court, also ordered that the name of the convict, be registered in the Lagos State Sexual Offences Register.

    Earlier, in a plea for mercy on behalf of the convict, defence counsel, Mr Nelson Onyejaka, had begged the court to temper justice with mercy.

    He had told the court that the convict was a first time offender, with two wives, and urged the court to be lenient with the sentence.

    On her part. the prosecutor, Ms Bukola Okeowo, had however, prayed the court to sentence the convict accordingly.

    According to the charge , the convict committed the offence between February and March, 2022 on Odusanmi St, in Mushin.

    According to the prosecution, the offences violate Sections 135 and 262 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

  • Lagos govt sends strong warning to private schools

    Lagos govt sends strong warning to private schools

    The Lagos State Government has warned all unapproved and unregistered private schools across the state to register immediately with its Office of Education Quality Assurance (OEQA), or face sanction.

    This is contained in a statement by Mr Remi Abdul, the Coordinating Director, Office of OEQA, on Monday in Lagos.

    According to the statement, the state Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Mr Jamiu Alli-Balogun, gave the directive.

    It said that the decision  was in an effort to ensure that all education institutions below the tertiary level would meet the required standards and provide quality education to learners.

    It said that registration was mandatory for all private schools,  adding that failure to comply would result in sanctions.

    `All unregistered and yet-to-be-approved private schools should submit their applications as from the 13th of January, 2025, to avoid consequences.”

    It said that  registered schools would get the state government’s recognition and interventions as well as access to technical and financial support.

    It added that such schools  would stay informed about emerging policies and initiatives from both Lagos State and  the Federal Government.

    According to the statement, the growth  in the number of private schools in the state necessitated proper registration and documentation to ensure effective monitoring.

    It said that Lagos State Government remained committed to ensuring that all learners would receive quality education.

    “Lagos State Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education through the OEQA is committed to ensuring that all learners receive quality education, and we will not hesitate to take action against any institution that fails to register.”

  • Lagos govt rattled as workers set to begin strike on Monday

    Lagos govt rattled as workers set to begin strike on Monday

    The Lagos State Government has appealed to labour unions in the broadcasting stations of the State Government to shelf their proposed industrial strike action.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the labour unions in the broadcasting stations of the Lagos State Government had served the government a strike notice.

    The proposed strike, which is planned to start on Monday, January 13, 2025, is to press home the demand of NUJ and RATTAWU – that the Government should migrate their members to the mainstream civil service.

    A consideration of the request was initiated through a meeting between representatives of the Government, led by the Commissioner for Establishments and Training, and the leadership of the Unions on January 8, 2025.

    The meeting rose with a resolution that the agitation of the unions would be presented to the Lagos State Executive Council.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, entry into the Lagos State Civil Service has laid down policies and procedures.

    “Therefore, the Union members are advised to rethink their plan to proceed on an industrial action for an amicable resolution of the dispute,” Afolabi Ayantayo, Commissioner, Establishments and Training said.

  • Lagos police command arrests 2,176 suspects

    Lagos police command arrests 2,176 suspects

    The Lagos State Police Command says it arrested about 2,176 suspects between September 2024 and January 2025.

    The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Olanrewaju Ishola, confirmed this on Saturday, while briefing newsmen on the Command’s recent achievements.

    He said that the 2,176 suspects were arrested for various offences including murder, kidnapping, armed robbery, among others.

    He said that all the suspects had been charged to court for prosecution.

    In a breakdown of the arrest figure, Ishola said that four suspects: Emeka Akwara, 19; David Segun, 21; Samuel Ariori, 21; and Lukman Ariori, 19, who allegedly murdered an Uber driver were apprehended.

    “On Jan. 9, the suspects ordered for an Uber ride at Chevron in Lekki area en-route Obalende.

    “On getting to Obalende in a lonely area, they robbed and killed the driver by stabbing him multiple times on the neck, unfortunately they were unable to snatch the vehicle.

    “With the intervention of good Samaritans and passersby, two of the suspects were immediately apprehended and handed over to police and further investigation led to the arrest of the other two fleeing suspects.

    “The deceased corpse was deposited in the Morgue at Mainland Hospital, Yaba, and a Toyota Camry Big Daddy AGL 650 HN and knives were recovered from them,” he said.

    Ishola said that some other murder suspects – Edmond Julius, 34; Abdullahi Umar, 32; and Saturday Oke, 40, were arrested for allegedly killing another Uber Driver, Oluwaseyi Fowler, on Sept. 12.

    “The arrested suspects confessed that they kidnapped the driver at Ajah area of Lagos, murdered and robbed him of his Toyota Camry Car.

    “They sold the stolen car to their criminal receiver. During investigations, the suspects led the police to recover the decomposed body of the driver and the Toyota Camry car,” he said.

    The commissioner of police added that on Oct. 15, the police also arrested two cultists, Samuel Ojenuga and Abdullahi Yusuf, members of the Aye Confraternity, for alleged murder.

    “Ojenuga confessed to the killing of 12 Eiye Confraternity members at Orita School, Ijora Oloye Area of Lagos.

    “His accomplice, Yusuf, also confessed to killing of three persons at railway crossing Ijora Badia, Lagos,” he said.

    The police chief noted that, among the suspects arrested, a notorious armed robbery syndicate led by one Fatai Lawal a.k.a Bullet, operating between Ijora and Isashi, along Badagry Road, were on Sept. 28 arrested.

    “This syndicate specialises in snatching vehicles, mobile phones and other personal belongings at gun point.

    “Other members of the syndicate arrested are Magdalene Jackson, a female; Lawal Michael, Ibrahim Saliu a.k.a gun-crosser, and Ayuba Amzat, 27.

    “One locally-made single barrel gun with 4 cartridges, three mini-buses popularly called korope were robbed at gunpoint.

    Similarly, the police boss said that a gang of alleged robbers led by one Godwin Chukwuma, 23, and Solomon Balogun, 23 were also arrested.

    “They have confessed to various robberies across the country and one AK 47 with three rounds of live ammunition, two locally made double/single gun with four live cartridges were found on them,” he said.

    Ishola said that on Nov. 22, a traffic robber, Oguche Sylvanus, 27, using an unregistered Faragon Bus with the Lagos State commercial colour to terrorise commuters along Ikorodu Road was arrested.

    “The Faragon bus with other personal effects were recovered and the case has been charged to court, ”

    The commissioner of police said three suspects were arrested for alleged kidnapping.

    “The suspects’ modes of operation was to lure their victims through a tinder app on social media, specifically Facebook, where they will make the victim a friend and asked them to come for a visit.

    “On this particular case, the victim was lured to a particular house, N300,000 ransom was collected from the victim and his phone was taken from him, ”

    He also said that on Oct. 23, the police arrested two kidnappers: Hassan Samson, 35 and Segun Akinola, 27 at Era area of Ojo, Lagos and rescued the victim unhurt.

    According to him, the police also arrested five suspects for allegedly kidnapping one Azeez Olosa at a dredging site called pump and sell, adding that the victim had, however, been rescued.

    He said the police recovered firearms abandoned by the fleeing suspects.

    “On Nov. 5, at First Gate, Agidingbi, Ikeja, police intercepted men in a commercial shuttle bus without a registration number with one Stanley SMG rifle and 44 live ammunitions.

    “On Nov. 6, at Odo Eran Area of Idimu, men on patrol sighted men aboard a motorcycle and following an effort to intercept them, the men absconded abandoning a bag at the scene.

    “Inside the bag were one locally-made double barrel pistol, two locally-made single barrel pistol with two live cartridges and one empty shell.

    “On Oct. 29, at Ijeshatedo, a Lagos Suburb, some other suspects on sighting the police, fled leaving their bags at the scene, which contained one locally-made pistol with its own live cartridge.

    “On Dec. 27, at 14, Idunsagbe Street, Lagos Island, information was received that a bag was sighted on the rooftop at this address.

    “The bag contained two AK 47 rifles with breach numbers 52573 and 4004855, and 07003-853 K2 assault rifle all without magazine and ammunition,” Ishola said.

  • Car collision with tricycle claims 2 lives in Lagos

    Car collision with tricycle claims 2 lives in Lagos

    Two persons died, while one sustained injuries in an auto-crash that occurred along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway on Saturday.

    Mr William Manga, the Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) confirmed the accident in Badagry.

    Manga said that the accident occurred at about 3.27.p.m when a Toyota Matrix car and a Bajaj Tricycle collided at the Age-Mowo axis of the Lagos-Badagry expressway.

    “Our personnel were alerted about the accident at about 3.30 p.m. and we got to the scene at 3.36 p.m., six minutes after they were alerted,” he said.

    Manga said the accident involved a Toyota Matrix car with registration number KSF 235 JE and a Bajaj Tricycle with no plate number.

    “Two of the three occupants inside the tricycle died instantly, while one sustained injuries,” he said.

    The FRSC commander attributed the accident to dangerous overtaking resulting in head collision.

    He said the injured person was taken to the General Hospital in Badagry for medical attention, while the corpses of the deceased were deposited at the mortuary of the hospital.

    The unit commander urged motorists plying the Lagos-Badagry Expressway to remain cautious of safety and obey traffic regulations on the one-lane expressway.

  • Two men dies after falling into diesel reservoir in Lagos

    Two men dies after falling into diesel reservoir in Lagos

    The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on Saturday confirmed the death of two men who accidentally fell into a diesel reservoir in the Oregun area of the state.

    The agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who confirmed this in a statement, said the incident happened at the Ikosi- Oregun Road in Lagos.

    “Following distress calls received on the 767 and 112 emergency toll-free lines at 10.37 a.m., LASEMA activated its response team from the Command and Control Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

    “Upon arrival at the scene by 10.47 a.m., it was discovered that two adult males had fallen into a diesel reservoir at the above-mentioned location.

    “Preliminary investigations revealed that one of the men accidentally fell into the diesel reservoir while working. The second adult male, in an attempt to rescue the first, also fell into the reservoir,” he said.

    He said both victims were in severe conditions and were promptly transported to the hospital by the Lagos State Ambulance Service, after receiving first aid.

    “First aid was administered on the victims immediately after their rescue. Both individuals were evacuated and transported to the hospital for further medical attention. Unfortunately, despite all sustained medical efforts, they later died,” he said.

    He said the incident scene was being assessed by emergency responders to determine further necessary action in order to prevent similar occurrences. He added that the incident scene had been secured.