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Tag: Lagos State

  • Lagos govt opens up on Ikorodu flooding

    Lagos govt opens up on Ikorodu flooding

    The Lagos State Government has visited the affected communities in Ikorodu in response to the flash flooding caused by more than 13 hours of intense rainfall.

    The state government, during the visit, assured the affected residents of expedited efforts to complete critical drainage infrastructure in the area.

    This is contained in a statement signed by Mr Kunle Adeshina, the Director, Public Affairs of the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, on Thursday, in Lagos.

    Adeshina said the visit, which was led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr Olakunle Rotimi-Akodu, included a high-powered delegation comprising officials from the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Special Duties, and other key agencies.

    He added that the officials undertook an on-the-ground inspection of the affected areas.

    Speaking to journalists after the tour, Rotimi-Akodu emphasised that the flooding was as a result of a rare magnitude of rainfall intensified by climate change.

    “The effects of climate change are real. The type of rainfall experienced earlier this week is one that happens once in decades.

    “We are here to deliver Mr Governor’s message of sympathy and to assure residents that Lagos is not leaving them behind,” he said.

    Rotimi-Akodu said the ongoing Ikorodu drainage infrastructure projects are designed to address the area’s long-standing flooding issues.

    “When completed, these infrastructures will offer lasting solutions. We’re here to see how far work has gone, assess the damage, and determine immediate mitigation efforts,” he said.

    He urged residents to adopt environmentally responsible behaviours, especially in waste disposal.

    “We must stop dumping refuse into drains and encroaching on road infrastructure. These actions worsen flooding and jeopardise public safety,” he warned.

    The delegation also included officials from the Ministry of Special Duties, who conducted preliminary humanitarian needs assessments to determine appropriate interventions, particularly for affected communities such as Ijede, Gberigbe, One Fold, Gbopa, and Abule-Eko.

    Also on the tour was Hon. Abiodun Moshood, member of the Lagos State House of Assembly representing Ikorodu II Constituency, who clarified that the drainage project had not been abandoned, contrary to some public concerns.

    “This is a 12-month project flagged off six months ago. We are now entering the second phase. I’m confident it will bring permanent relief once completed,” he said.

    The Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr Gbenga Oyerinde, said his ministry is compiling data and damage reports to guide the state’s humanitarian response.

    “We’re gathering the facts to ensure no one is left behind in our intervention plans,” he added.

    Among those who joined the inspection were Mr Mahamood Adegbite, Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Mr Sesan Ogundeko, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Dr Femi Osayintolu, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency.

    Also on the entourage included Mrs Margaret Adeseye, Director, Lagos State Fire Service,Mr Tunrayo Gbadebo-Alogba, Chairman, Ijede LCDA and directors from various ministries and state agencies.

    The sites visited included ongoing Outfall Channel construction for Gberigbe Road Project (One Fold axis), Palm Avenue Collector Drain at Oke-Eletu and communities across Ijede and Igbogbo, including Okeletu Road, Unity Estate, Gbopa, and Abule-Eko.

  • Popular Lagos businessman, wife jailed 22 years

    Popular Lagos businessman, wife jailed 22 years

    A popular businessman, Johnson Uchenna, and his wife, Rosemary Uchenna, have been sentenced to a combined 22 and a half years in prison for dealing in illicit drugs.

    Spokesperson of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Femi Babafemi, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Babafemi disclosed that the judgment was delivered by Justice Deinde Dipeolu of the Federal High Court 8, Lagos, on Monday.

    According to him, the couple was initially arrested on June 13 by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in the Ojo area of Lagos State.

    He said they were subsequently handed over to the NDLEA along with 277.5kg of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis.

    “While investigations were ongoing, credible intelligence indicated that drug-related activities were continuing at their residence.

    “This led to a follow-up raid by NDLEA operatives on July 1, during which 231kg of the same substance was recovered from their home and a nearby storage facility.

    “The couple was arraigned on a four-count charge, bordering on conspiracy, dealing, and unlawful storage of 414.2kg of cannabis sativa, in case number FHC/L/632C/2025 at the Federal High Court in Lagos.

    “Delivering judgment on the case on Monday, Justice Dipeolu convicted Mrs Rosemary Uchenna on counts 1, 2, and 3 and sentenced her to 17 years in prison without an option of fine.

    “While her husband, Johnson Uchenna, was convicted and sentenced to five years imprisonment without option of fine on count 1 and six months in jail on count 4 with an option of N1 million fine.

    “In addition to the jail terms, the trial Judge also ordered the sum of N3.4 million recovered from the couple as proceeds of crime be forfeited to the Federal Government,” he said.

    Babafemi added that a Federal High Court in Kano, presided over by Justice Simon Amobeda, also convicted and sentenced a 42-year-old Indian national, Neetu Neetu, to five years in prison for drug trafficking.

    According to Babafemi, Neetu was found guilty of importing 72 parcels of heroin—factory sealed in wafer wraps and disguised as chocolates—into Nigeria. The illicit consignment weighed 11 kilograms.

    He said the class A drug was discovered in Neetu’s luggage after a thorough search at the arrival hall of the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA), Kano, based on processed credible intelligence.

    “The arrest took place on March 14, during the inward clearance of Qatar Airways flight QR1431 from Bangkok, Thailand, via Vietnam and Doha.

    “She was subsequently arraigned in charge number FHC/KN/CR/65/2025 before Justice Amobeda, who eventually sentenced her to 10 years on two counts with an option of N2 million fine,”he said.

    In like manner, a 42-year-old Angolan businessman Mbala Abuba was convicted and sentenced to five years in prison by Justice Mohammed Yunusa of a Federal High Court in Kano.

    Babafemi said that the conviction followed his arrest and arraignment by NDLEA for ingesting 120 pellets of cocaine weighing 1.829 kilograms.

    “Abuba, who is from the Zaire province in Angola was arrested on Feb. 25 at the screening point of the Kano airport while trying to board Egypt Air flight MS 880 to Istanbul, Turkey via Cairo,”he said..

    He further said a Federal High Court in Enugu, similarly convicted another drug trafficker,  Eze Ikenna on two counts of unlawful trafficking and possession of 11.20 kilograms of cocaine, brought against him by the NDLEA in charge number FHC/EN/CS/9/2023.

    Babafemi said that the suspect was arrested on Jan. 20, 2023 by NDLEA operatives at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, Enugu.

    This, he said was upon arrival from Brazil via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia with 11.20 kilograms of cocaine concealed in herbal tea sachets.

    “He was subsequently arraigned before Justice M. G. Umar of the Federal High Court, Enugu, who eventually sentenced him to three years imprisonment on each count, totalling six years.

    “The sentence will run concurrently, effective from May 20, 2023,”he added.

    Reacting to the conviction and forfeiture court judgements, NDELA Chairman, Brig.- Gen. Buba Marwa (Rtd) commended the various commands of the agency, their officers and men that handled the various cases.

  • 5 dead, 5 injured in separate accidents in Lagos

    5 dead, 5 injured in separate accidents in Lagos

    The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has confirmed two tragic road crashes along the Lekki-Epe Expressway that claimed five lives and left five others severely injured.

    The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos.

    Bakare-Oki, however, used the opportunity to amplify the dire repercussions of excessive speeding and gross negligence of traffic regulations.

    “The first incident unfolded during the early hours of the day at Abijo bus stop, precisely under the pedestrian bridge inward Epe corridor.

    “A Mitsubishi pick-up van, bearing registration number AKD 733 JM, travelling at an exceedingly perilous speed, lost control and crashed into a stationary Craneburg construction company equipment, lawfully parked.

    “The colossal impact resulted in the instantaneous death of four occupants (three males and one female) whose bodies were recovered lifeless at the scene of the accident,” he said.

    He said that officials demonstrating their operational dexterity and swift emergency response capabilities, successfully rescued three additional female occupants from the wreckage.

    He added that the survivors were promptly stabilised and handed over to officers of the Eleko Division of the Nigeria Police Force for onward transfer to nearby medical institutions for urgent care and further evaluation.

    He added that a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV), crashed into a parked Dangote truck in the Frajend group axis inward Bogije, along the same Lekki-Epe Expressway.

    “The devastating collision resulted in the immediate death of the SUV driver. Two other passengers, grievously injured and trapped within the crushed vehicle, were meticulously extricated by LASTMA personnel after a laborious and delicate rescue operation.

    “Upon successful recovery, both survivors were immediately placed in the custody of officers from the Elemoro Police Division, who ensured their prompt conveyance to medical facilities for life-saving intervention,” he said,

    Bakare-Oki expressed his deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the deceased, describing the accidents as colossal and avoidable tragedy.

    The general manager, however, cautioned motorists both private vehicle owners and commercial operators to desist from dangerous driving practices, particularly speeding.

    “The Lagos State Government has made substantial investments in traffic control infrastructure ranging from road signage and speed limiters to high-visibility furniture to mitigate such disasters.

    “Motorists are hereby implored to abide by these measures, which are designed solely for the preservation of human life,” he said.

    Bakare-Oki also commended LASTMA rescue teams for their rapid, professional, and life-saving interventions.

    He reinforced the authority’s uncompromising commitment to road safety, emergency responsiveness, and the protection of all road users across the state.

  • Lagos orders psychiatric test for traffic offenders

    Lagos orders psychiatric test for traffic offenders

    The Lagos State Government has directed the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) to ensure that the 18 motorists apprehended for driving against traffic flow (one-way) undergo mandatory psychiatric evaluation.

    The General Manager of LASTMA, Mr Olalekan Bakare-Oki, said this in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Lagos.

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

    Bakare-Oki described the move as a strategic effort to curb the menace of one-way traffic violations in Lagos.

    “This directive is part of a multi-faceted approach to restore road discipline, ensure public safety, and maintain order on Lagos roads.

    “The Lagos State Government views this measure as a preventive and restorative step, rather than a punitive one, aimed at rehabilitating errant drivers and deterring potential violators,” he said.

    He disclosed that LASTMA had finalised prosecutorial frameworks for the immediate arraignment of 18 vehicle owners recently apprehended for willfully driving against traffic flow.

    He added that as part of their prosecution, each offender, would be required to undergo a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation to assess their cognitive fitness and behavioral disposition.

    Bakare-Oki noted that this initiative reflects global best practices in advanced traffic psychology and behavioral enforcement.

    “The enforcement of psychiatric assessment is not intended to stigmatise or punish, rather, it is a necessary intervention designed to protect the general motoring public from individuals who exhibit reckless disregard for human life and lawful order,” he said.

    He said in spite of the ongoing public enlightenment campaigns and education efforts, a significant number of road users continue to disregard traffic laws, contributing to fatal collisions, congestion, and infrastructural degradation.

    Bakare-Oki said the state government was resolute in its commitment to ending this menace and ensuring that traffic laws are respected.

    “LASTMA reaffirms its dedication to the rule of law, public enlightenment, and sustained infrastructural harmony.

    “All residents and road users are strongly advised to comply with traffic directives, embrace lawful conduct, and contribute to the creation of a safe, efficient, and sane Lagos,” he said.

  • Gov Sanwo-Olu swears in 57 Lagos council chairmen

    Gov Sanwo-Olu swears in 57 Lagos council chairmen

    Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, on Sunday, swore in newly elected Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the 20 local government areas(LGAs)and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs).

    Speaking at the ceremony held at the Sports Ground of the Governor’s Office, Lagos House, Ikeja, Sanwo-Olu urged the council leaders to deliver inclusive governance, fairness, and quality leadership at the grassroots.

    He charged them to uphold trust, accountability and to use the autonomy granted to local governments wisely for the benefit of their communities.

    “This is not the time for politics, govern with empathy and equity regardless of those who voted or those who did not vote for you.

    “You have been called to service, and I strongly believe that you will deliver good governance, being the closest government to the people

    “We have given you the platform, the tools and the opportunity. This is not the time for politics; it is a time to work.

    “I urge all of you to use your office to drive the THEMES+ development agenda in your various councils. Govern with empathy and equity,” he said.

    The governor assured that his administration would continue to support and train the newly elected officials to help them maximise their leadership potential.

    He also advised them to be deliberate and thorough in constituting their cabinets, stressing the need to appoint competent and people-oriented individuals.

    “Your emergence is a call to duty,” Sanwo-Olu said adding,  “You must show Lagosians that they made the right choice. Be deliberate about service delivery and align with our vision of a greater Lagos,” he said.

    In his remarks, Mr Bolaji Robert, Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, said the election results reflected public confidence in the newly elected leaders.

    “The victory of today’s sworn-in chairmen and their deputies is not just political, it is a demonstration of public trust and a call to deepen democracy at the grassroots,” he said.

    Speaking on behalf of the new council leaders, the Chairman of Ibeju-Lekki LGA, Mr Sesan Olowa, expressed gratitude to the governor for creating an enabling environment and for his continued support for local governance.

    “We are grateful to the electorate for this mandate and to Governor Sanwo-Olu for his unwavering support.

    “We assure the people that we will not disappoint—we will deliver grassroots governance that works for all,” Olowa said.

    The event drew party leaders, traditional rulers, civil society groups, and residents who gathered to witness the historic ceremony.

  • Firefighters rescue man from deep well in Lagos

    Firefighters rescue man from deep well in Lagos

    The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said its operatives have rescue a man from deep well in the Ikotun area of the state.

    The agency made this known in a post shared on its X handle @LagosRescue on Tuesday. It stated that the agency received a distress call reporting an individual trapped inside a well.

    “The rescue team swiftly mobilised and arrived at the scene at No 12 Aiyeola St, off Governor Road, Molad B/S, Ikotun, Lagos.

    “Upon arrival, it was discovered that a male adult, approximately 56 years old, had become trapped while working inside a well estimated to be 80 feet deep.

    “The incident occurred at the rear of a bungalow comprising eight rooms of varying sizes, situated on a property covering approximately 648 square metres.

    “The victim was successfully rescued alive through the coordinated efforts of the firefighters, “it stated.

    According to fire service, preliminary investigations suggest that the incident may have resulted from negligence.

    It reiterated the importance of notifying the agency whenever hazardous jobs were to be undertaken.

    “This will allow for proper safety protocols, including standby duty, to prevent life-threatening situations, ” it said.

  • 2027: APC remains formidable – Spokesman

    2027: APC remains formidable – Spokesman

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has declared that the party will remain formidable in the 2027 general elections, despite what it described as opposition efforts to discredit its progressive reforms.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Lagos State APC Publicity Secretary, Mr. Seye Oladejo, dismissed a recent press release by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) titled “No Patriotic Nigerian Will Vote for APC in 2027”, calling it “politically charged and deliberately misleading.”

    “While such rhetoric may make headlines, it lacks both substance and objectivity,” Oladejo stated. “The APC categorically rejects this attempt to smear our party and misrepresent the millions of patriotic Nigerians who support us.”

    He noted that as the 2027 elections draw closer, Nigerians would evaluate all political parties based on track records, sincerity of purpose, and leadership capacity—not propaganda or emotional outbursts. “On all these counts, the APC will stand tall,” he said.

    Oladejo emphasized that patriotism transcends party lines and is defined by a steadfast commitment to national growth, peace, unity, and democratic values. He added that the APC has consistently upheld these ideals through initiatives in infrastructure, the digital economy, social investment, agricultural revitalization, and other reforms that even its harshest critics cannot overlook.

    “To assert that no patriotic Nigerian would vote for APC in 2027 is not only presumptuous but deeply insulting to the intelligence of the electorate,” he said.

    According to Oladejo, Nigerians are discerning and understand that governance is a complex and evolving process that demands vision, patience, and adaptability. “The APC continues to provide leadership that is responsive to the challenges facing our country, and reforms are underway to further stabilise the economy, curb insecurity, and create inclusive growth,” he explained.

    While reaffirming the party’s openness to debate and constructive criticism, Oladejo warned against any attempt to monopolise patriotism or suggest that political loyalty is the sole indicator of national devotion.

    “The APC welcomes robust engagement,” he concluded. “What we reject is the notion that political allegiance defines patriotism.”

  • Lagos Govt seals popular Lekki nightclub

    Lagos Govt seals popular Lekki nightclub

    A joint enforcement team from the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps  and Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency  (LASEPA) on Monday sealed Light House Club located on Admiralty Way,  Lekki, over environmental pollution.

    This is contained in a tweet by the Lagos Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab (@tokunbo_wahab).

    Wahab said that the establishment was sealed for violating Lagos State noise pollution regulations, following multiple warnings that were disregarded by the management.

    He said that the closure would remain in effect until the club management demonstrates full compliance with environmental standards.

    “This includes implementing proper soundproofing measures, and LASEPA confirming their adherence to approved noise levels.

    “We want to make it clear to all entertainment venues across Lagos that our environmental laws are not optional.

    “The rights of residents to peaceful enjoyment of their neighbourhood  takes precedence over any business interest,” Wahab said.

  • Eight jailed for open defecation, urination in Lagos

    Eight jailed for open defecation, urination in Lagos

    A Magistrate Court sitting in Bolade, Oshodi, has sentenced eight individuals to one month imprisonment for engaging in open defecation and urination in Lagos.

    The offenders were arraigned before Magistrate Oshikoya of the Special Offences (Mobile Court) on Friday, where they all pleaded guilty to the charges.

    According to a statement by the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, the convicted individuals, aged between 18 and 45, were sentenced to serve as a deterrent to others who may contemplate similar environmental violations.

    The conviction follows an earlier case on June 26, when officials of the Lagos Environmental Sanitation Corps (LAGESC), also known as KAI, arrested and arraigned eight individuals for public urination and breach of peace in the Yaba area.

    The Corps Marshal of LAGESC, Major Olaniyi Cole (rtd), said the suspects were charged before Magistrate Oshikoya for offences punishable under Section 168 (1)(d) of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015, and Section 5(1) of the Public Health Law, 2015.

    He added that the judgment served as a strong warning to potential offenders, reinforcing the government’s zero-tolerance stance on public indecency.

    ‘‘As the premier enforcement Agency in the State with operatives spread across the five divisions in the State, we must not allow public indecency such as open urination and defecation to fester undeterred and this daily monitoring of Lagos environs lead to the arraignment and prosecution of eight offenders in the same vein and we remain unshaken,” he said in a statement.

    Similarly, on June 16, thirteen individuals were sentenced to three months imprisonment for open defecation and urination in the Agege and Alimosho areas of the state.

  • Labour Party vows to challenge Lagos LG election results

    Labour Party vows to challenge Lagos LG election results

    The Labour Party (LP) in Lagos says its legal team is set to challenge the process, conduct and outcome of the recent council elections in court.

    LP Chairperson, Pastor Dayo Ekong, disclosed this during a news conference held at the party’s secretariat on Friday in Lagos.

    She said the party would not remain silent in the face of alleged electoral malpractices and irregularities witnessed during the exercise.

    LASIEC conducted elections on July 12 into 57 chairmanship and 376 councillorship positions in the state.

    The APC secured all 57 chairmanship seats and won 375 of the 376 councillorship seats contested.

    Ekong said: “The Lagos council elections were not democratic. They were a descent into darkness, designed to subvert the people’s will.

    “It was not a contest of ideas, but a blatant attack on the electoral process and democratic norms.

    “These irregularities were not glitches; they were deliberate tools used to suppress the electorate and distort the outcome.”

    She vowed that LP would use all legal and peaceful means to challenge what she described as a sham election.

    “We owe this to every disenfranchised voter, every citizen silenced or intimidated, and all Nigerians who still hope for a better nation,” she said.

    Ekong added the legal team was compiling evidence to support their case and urged the judiciary to meet the demands of justice.

    She listed alleged malpractices: voter inducement, thuggery, fake accreditation, ballot stuffing, disenfranchisement, and missing logos at polling units.

    Also mentioned were the absence of election officials and materials at several polling centres across the state.

    Ekong said she personally witnessed these issues in Eti-Osa, Amuwo-Odofin and Ajeromi council areas, alongside reports from other local councils.

    According to her, the entire process and outcome show the system requires a total overhaul for fairness and credibility.

    She advocated the scrapping of State Independent Electoral Commissions (SIECs), saying their functions should go to the national electoral body, INEC.

    Ekong urged the National Assembly to protect grassroots democracy, saying SIECs were undermining local governance and democratic integrity.

    She said: “This daylight robbery is eroding public confidence, as seen by the low voter turnout during the exercise.

    “When votes no longer count, and impunity thrives, citizens lose hope. That is a dangerous path for any democracy.”

    Ekong insisted LP would have won several councils if the election had been free and fair, due to the popularity of its candidates.

    She said the party was committed to fighting for justice, truth, and a Nigeria governed in the interest of its people.

    “We are going to court because it is the right and responsible course of action,” she affirmed.

    On the party’s leadership in Lagos, Ekong asked the public to disregard those parading as factional leaders.

    She described such individuals as impostors and political jobbers, saying their behaviour was both shameful and divisive.

    “Lagos Labour Party is not for sale. We cannot be bought, bullied, or taken over.

    “Under my legitimate leadership, we remain united and committed to reclaiming the mandate freely given by the people,” she stated.