TheNewsGuru

Tag: Lagos State

  • Gov Sanwo-Olu moves to prevent stampedes in Lagos

    Gov Sanwo-Olu moves to prevent stampedes in Lagos

    Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has summoned a meeting of all safety agencies in the State following recent stampedes witnessed in different parts of the country.

    Recall that on December 18, a tragic incident occurred in Ibadan, Oyo State, where a stampede at a children’s funfair resulted in the death of about 35 children, leaving many others injured.

    Similarly, in the early hours of Saturday, another tragedy struck at the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Maitama, Abuja, during the distribution of food items to vulnerable and elderly individuals. This unfortunate incident led to the death of 10 people, with many others injured.

    A similar incident occurred on the same Saturday in Anambra at a palliative distribution centre, resulting in the death of several individuals.

    To prevent such occurrences in Lagos State, Governor Sanwo-Olu has directed all individuals or groups that intend to distribute items to large gatherings of people to seek clearance from the Lagos State Safety Commission.

    According to a statement by Gbenga Omotoso, Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, the Lagos State Safety Commission is well-equipped to ensure that such events do not turn tragic.

    “The agency has a partnership with security agencies to ensure crowd control at locations with large numbers of people. Individuals and groups can register their events and get clearance through the Safety Commission’s platform http://lasgsafetyreg.com,” Omotoso stated.

    The Lagos State Government threatened that “any group that flouts these measures will surely face the legal consequences of its indiscretion”.

    He added: “The Government has activated all its safety mechanisms, following a directive from Mr. Governor who has also summoned a meeting of all safety agencies.

    “Besides, Mr. Governor has directed that the ongoing advocacy against fire and flooding, among others, should be strengthened”.

  • Man dies in Lagos-Badagry expressway crash

    Man dies in Lagos-Badagry expressway crash

    The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) said on Saturday that one person died in a motor accident at Jackos filing station, Ola Oki Hospital axis of Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

    Mr Williams Manga, the Unit Commander, FRSC, Badagry Command, disclosed in Badagry that two persons were also injured in the crash, reported at 12.38.p.m.

    “My personnel responded to distress calls at about 12.41, about four minutes after the call. Upon arrival at the scene, it was discovered that two vehicles and a motorcycle were involved in multiple collisions.

    “The accident involved a commercial truck, registration number AAA 541 YL, with a Bajaj motorcycle, no registration number, and one SUV Lexus car, registration number BDG 428 DW,” he said.

    Manga said that the accident involved 10 persons,  comprising eight men and two women.

    “An adult male died in the incident and two other injured persons were rushed to nearby Ola Oki Hospital. The corpse of the dead male was released to the relatives who took him away.” he said.

    The Unit Commander said that traffic control measures were implemented at the scene to ensure the smooth flow of vehicles along the carriageway. He appealed to motorists to be cautious on the expressway.

  • Lagos govt diverts traffic on Lagos-Badagry expressway

    Lagos govt diverts traffic on Lagos-Badagry expressway

    The Lagos State Government has announced  plans to  repair the stretch of Iganmu Bridge (Lagos bound), Eric Moore Road, Babs Animashaun Road and Baale Junction (Badagry bound) on the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, made this known in a statement on Friday.

    “The repair work will be done in phases, with the phase one – stretch from Alagba Junction to Baale Junction on service lane (Badagry bound)  – commencing from Dec. 22, 2024, to end on Jan. 22, 2025 Motorists are enjoined to use alternative routes as follows:

    “Motorists inward Orile Community from Iganmu Bridge (on the service lane) will be diverted to Alagba Street to link Imalenfe-Alafia Street to connect Savage Lane to Baale Street, down to Kekere-Ekun Street/Tokosi Street, to access Lagos-Badagry Expressway to continue their journeys.

    “Motorists from Iganmu Bridge to Apapa-Oshodi Expressway will continue their journeys on toll lane to exit at Coker to link Akinwande Street to connect Apapa-Oshodi Expressway to access their destinations,” he said.

    He said that motorists from Iganmu Bridge heading to Apapa-Oshodi Expressway would continue on toll lane to link Alaba Interchange Bridge to connect Apapa-Oshodi Expressway to continue their journeys.

    The commissioner said that motorists from Iganmu Bridge heading to Badagry would continue their journeys on the toll lane.

    “Traffic diversion for other phases will be announced by  the ministry of transportation as and when due. Motorists are implored to be patient during the diversion,” he said.

  • Lagos Assembly denies awarding N17bn contract for gate project

    Lagos Assembly denies awarding N17bn contract for gate project

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has described as  unfounded the  allegation made by an anti-corruption coalition  that  it  awarded  a N17bn contract  for the  construction of  the Assembly’s gate.

    The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, Mr Stephen Ogundipe ,made the clarification in a  statement in Lagos on Thursday.

    An anti-corruption  group Lagos State Anti Corruption Coalition had recently written  the Economic Financial and Crimes Commission (EFCC) to probe the House  leadership for  awarding the  gate contract.

    Reacting, Ogundipe described the  petition as frivolous,saying it was designed to discredit the House for political goals.

    The chairman said the gate project at the Assembly had been executed  over three years ago, adding that there was no recent project like that at the House of Assembly .

    He said it was worthwhile to let the group know that  though the Assembly had its own procurement unit, it still relied on the state government’s procurement process from start to finish.

    According to him, it is  preposterous to think that in Lagos, contracts are like witchcraft and its nocturnal posting.

    “For a few days now, there have been some attempts to bring to disrepute the exemplary successes of the Assembly and its leadership.

    “Our silence over some of the issues raised by a group which tags itself as the Lagos State Anti-Corruption Coalition, a hitherto unknown body claiming to be fighting corruption, does not amount to consent.

    “However ,because we did not want to glorify what looked like information sourced from a beer parlour or joint with a response, we feel the need to lay the facts bare because of the regard we have for Nigerians and the belief in posterity.

    “The Lagos State House of Assembly is an institution that bases its activities on facts and realistic evidence, not grapevine as put forward by the fictional group.

    “For instance, how will any person or group even imagine that such a humongous amount as N17 billion could be allocated for the construction of ‘a gate’? Just one gate?

    “Even if the gate is made of gold, would it cost such an amount? To the group that decided to rush to the public without thinking through or double-checking what it said it sourced through ‘grapevine’.

    “It is good to know that there was no project like that at the House of Assembly as claimed. The gates at the House had been fixed over three years ago.”he said.

    The chairman said there was actually no need by the group and its traducers to try to pad up their stories with old allegations that had been adjudicated upon and trashed by the court.

    He accused the group of trying to “lump everything together to create a make-belief in the eyes of the public”.

    Ogundipe reiterated that the Assembly had grown beyond the common standards of excellence, and that residents  would continue to work in harmony for the peace, progress and development of the state.

  • 27 adults, 15 minors arrested for street begging in Lagos

    27 adults, 15 minors arrested for street begging in Lagos

    Operatives of the Lagos State Environmental Taskforce have apprehended 27 persons for alleged unlawful act of street begging.

    Mr Tokunbo Wahab, the State Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, confirmed this in a post he shared on his X handle @tokunbo_wahab on Wednesday.

    Wahab said that the agency carried out the operation on Tuesday.

    “The task force monitored and carried out a special purpose operation against persons constituting public nuisance across the metropolis.

    “Twenty-seven persons, including 15 minors, involved in the unlawful act of street begging in the middle of vehicular traffic/hold-ups were apprehended during the operation.

    “Major routes raided include Awolowo Way up to Falomo Roundabout, Ikoyi and Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue, along Lekki Road.

    “This is in a bid to apprehend and get rid of destitutes in the areas, ” he said.

    According to the commissioner, all suspects will be transferred to appropriate government facilities in line with enabling laws.

  • SAD: Truck driver dies in Lagos accident

    SAD: Truck driver dies in Lagos accident

    The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on Wednesday confirmed the death of a truck driver who was involved in an accident around Kara Bridge.

    The Permanent Secretary of the agency, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who confirmed this in a statement, said that LASEMA received a distress call at about 04.26hrs.

    “Following distress calls received through the 767 and 112 emergency toll-free lines at 04.26hrs, LASEMA activated the state’s emergency response plans and team from Command and Control Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

    “Upon arrival at the incident scene, it was discovered that a truck, registration number unknown laden with several rolls of coils of steel and a 40ft container were involved in the accident.

    “Investigation conducted revealed that the articulated truck driver who was on motion, in a bid to avoid collision with a 40-foot container on the road lost control and fell on its side resulting in the discharge of its cargo,” he said.

    Oke-Osanyintolu said that an unidentified adult male driver lost his life to the incident and the body had been taken away before arrival of the agency’s response team.

    “LASEMA has activated necessary safety measures at the scene of the incident and collaborative efforts were made to restore vehicular activities. The road has been set free for vehicular movement and recovery operations concluded,” the LASEMA boss said.

  • Lagos businesswoman sentenced to 17 years imprisonment

    Lagos businesswoman sentenced to 17 years imprisonment

    Justice I. O. Ijelu of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has convicted and sentenced a businesswoman, Oluremi Phillips to 17 years imprisonment for N57,690,000 (Fifty Seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety Naira) fraud.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Lagos businesswoman was convicted and sentenced to 17 years imprisonment on Thursday, December 12, 2024.

    Philips was previously standing trial before Justice S. O. Solebo of the Special Offences Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, following her arraignment on January 27, 2022.

    However, the trial could not be concluded before the retirement of Justice Solebo in November 2022, a development that resulted in the re-assigning of the case file to Justice Ijelu.

    She was on May 22, 2023 re-arraigned before Justice Ijelu alongside her company, Omritas Energy Limited, on a five-count charge bordering on stealing and issuance of dud cheques to the tune of N57,690,000.

    Count one reads: “Oluremi Ebun Philips and Omritas Energy Limited, sometime in 2016, at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, fraudulently converted and stole the sum of N57, 690,000.00, property of AYM Shafa Limited meant for the supply of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) which you failed to supply.”

    Count two reads: “Oluremi Ebun Philips and Omritas Energy Limited, on or about the 10th of April 2017 at Lagos, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, knowingly issued a Diamond Bank cheque of Nigeria Plc for the sum of N14,298,075

    payable to AYM Shafa Limited, which when presented for payment was dishonoured on the grounds that no sufficient funds were standing to the credit of the account.”

    The defendant, again, pleaded “not guilty” to all the counts preferred against her.

    In the course of the trial, the prosecution counsel, T.J. Banjo called three witnesses through whom several documentary evidence were presented in court to prove the case against them.

    The defence also presented three witnesses during the trial.

    Delivering judgment , Justice Ijelu held that the prosecution proved the case against the defendants beyond every reasonable doubt and convicted them on counts one to five.

    The Judge, thereafter, sentenced the first defendant to nine years imprisonment on count one, with an option of fine of N2million to be paid within 90 days, and two years each on counts two to five.

    The sentences are  to run concurrently.

    The second defendant was fined N250,000 on count one, and N100,000 each on counts two to five.

    The court further ordered the restitution of N57,690,000 to be paid to the victim within 90 days.

    The company was also ordered to be wound up within 90 days, if it fails to fulfil the restitution.

    The convicts bagged their imprisonment when they fraudulently converted and stole the sum of N57, 690,000.00, property of AYM Shafa Limited meant for the supply of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO).  They neither supplied the products nor returned the money to the victim.

  • Irate mob sets car on fire for hitting pedestrian in Lagos

    Irate mob sets car on fire for hitting pedestrian in Lagos

     A yet to be identified miscreants set a Toyota Venza on fire after its driver fatally struck a male pedestrian along Awoyokun, inward Onipanu, Lagos State.

    It was gathered that the tragic incident occurred on Saturday while the driver was overspeeding, then went on to hit the pedestrian, who was attempting to cross the road.

    Following the accident, the vehicle was vandalized and subsequently set ablaze by a group of miscreants.

    Confirming the incident, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu disclosed that LASEMA arrived swiftly to the scene.

    “Upon arrival at 2048hrs to the incident scene, LASEMA’s Cobra Response Team observed that a Toyota Venza, registration number EKY 839 HU oversped and hit a pedestrian at the aforementioned location,” the statement read.

    “Preliminary investigations conducted by the Agency’s Response Team revealed that the driver of the above-mentioned Toyota Venza was on top speed when he lost control and collided with a male pedestrian that was crossing the highway.”

  • Tragic accident claims 2 lives in Lagos

    Tragic accident claims 2 lives in Lagos

    The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) says two persons died on Sunday following a collision involving two trucks on a Lagos road.

    The LASTMA General Manager, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said in a statement that two other persons trapped in the wreckage were rescued.

    The statement was signed by Mr Taofiq Adebayo, Director, Public Affairs and Enlightenment Department, LASTMA.

    Bakare-Oki said that one of the containerised trucks involved in the accident was loaded, while the other was empty.

    He said that the rescue operation at the scene was done in collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Lagos Fire Service, and personnel from the Nigerian Army’s 174 Battalion.

    According to him, the accident occurred at Powerline by Cele Bus Stop, Ita-Oluwo, Ikorodu.

    “The tragic incident, which unfolded earlier today, led to the rescue of two individuals trapped in the wreckage, while two others were recovered lifeless.

    “All victims were immediately conveyed to the General Hospital, Ikorodu, where the survivors are currently receiving medical care.

    “Preliminary investigations revealed that the loaded container truck suffered a brake failure while allegedly attempting to evade a revenue collector in pursuit.

    “This mechanical failure triggered a catastrophic chain of events, including collisions with other vehicles and damage to nearby buildings,” he said.

    He said that LASTMA officials promptly cordoned off the accident site using caution tape to safeguard the public and facilitate the operations of emergency responders.

    The LASTMA boss condoled with the families of the deceased and lauded the heroic efforts of the rescue teams.

    He extended his best wishes for a swift recovery to the injured survivors.

    “Efforts to clear the accident scene are currently underway, with LASTMA officials working tirelessly to remove the trucks and restore seamless traffic flow in the affected area,” he said.

    The agency reaffirmed its steadfast commitment to ensuring road safety.

    It urged all road users to exercise caution and adhere strictly to traffic regulations to avert similar incidents in the future.

  • U.S. returnee arrested at Lagos airport for duping 139 Australians

    U.S. returnee arrested at Lagos airport for duping 139 Australians

    The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested a suspected online fraudster known as Osang Otukpa for allegedly duping 139 Australians to the tune of eight million Australian dollars.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Otukpa was arrested by EFCC operatives in a stakeout at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Ikeja, after arriving from the United States of America on December 6.

    “Otukpa goes by five aliases, namely: Ford Thompson, Oscar Donald Tyler, Michael Haye, Jose Vitto and Kristin Davidson.

    “He scammed his victims by luring them on social media to invest in his rogue cryptocurrency investment platform, Liquid Asset Group (LAG).

    “The proceeds of the alleged crimes were routed to his bank accounts through a global cryptocurrency exchange platform,” a statement by EFCC’s spokesperson, Dele Oyewale on Friday in Abuja reads.

    Oyewale said that the suspect would be charged to court upon the conclusion of investigations.