TheNewsGuru

Tag: Lagos

  • ‘Anybody that is confident should come out on Thursday to protest’ – Lagos thugs to residents

    ‘Anybody that is confident should come out on Thursday to protest’ – Lagos thugs to residents

    A video capturing the moment some sponsored anti-protest thugs threatened Lagos State residents not to come out for the planned hunger protest slated for August has surfaced on social media.

    In a viral clip on social media on Tuesday, a yet-to-be-identified group of young men were seen in a popular Lagos market, issuing stern warnings to the market men and women to desist from the planned protest.

    According to the thugs, the planned protest might lead to more destruction than that witnessed in the #EndSARS protest.

    The men were heard saying, “Anybody that is confident should come out on Thursday to protest. Are you the only one hungry?

    “If you dare come out for the protest, you will be mercilessly dealt with.”

     

  • LASG denies revoking existing building permits

    LASG denies revoking existing building permits

    The Lagos State Government said it had not revoked all existing building permits as reported in some online media.

    Mr Olaoye Olusegun, Director, Public Affairs, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) made the clarification in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.

    According to him, the report is untrue and misleading and should be disregarded.

    He said that the issuance of Planning Permit was the prerogative of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, which was under the supervision of the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development.

    ” The directive issued by the Special Adviser on eGIS and Urban Development, Dr Olajide Babatunde, is that Letters of Authorisation to commence construction, issued by the Lagos State Building Control Agency, needed to be revalidated,”he said.

    According to him,  most developers after obtaining the letter to commence construction fall short of engaging all relevant professionals in the building projects.

    “The revalidation is to allow the agency to do proper audit and authentication of all the professionals that will be engaged in building construction in the State.

    “Babatunde also disclosed that buildings under construction that had been abandoned for a long time needed to be re-certified before recommencement of construction to ascertain the structural stability of the building project.

    “Babatunde directed that henceforth, nobody should sleep in buildings undergoing constructions and all construction work should not go beyond 7.00 pm everyday and there should be no building construction work on Sundays,”he said.

    He also quoted him saying that property owners and developers should revalidate all letters of authorisation to commence building construction issued to them.

    He said that Babatunde called on developers to always engage  relevant professionals in the building environment.

  • LASG gives traffic update from Osborne to Adeniji Adele link bridge

    LASG gives traffic update from Osborne to Adeniji Adele link bridge

    The Lagos State Government says traffic will be diverted from Osborne/Dolphin Estate to Sura en route Adeniji Adele Link Bridge for asphalt pavement of the road.

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Oluwaseun Osiyemi, confirmed this in a statement on Saturday in Lagos.

    Osiyemi added that the traffic would be diverted from 12.00 a.m. tonight, July 27 to 5.00 a.m. on July 29.

    “Consequently, motorists are advised to  use the following alternative routes; motorists from Osborne/Dolphin Estate are advised to connect Sura Link Bridge to Adeniji Adele to access the 3rd Mainland Bridge to continue with their journeys.

    “Motorists from the State House at Marina are to connect Obalende to link Simpson Bridge inward Sura to access Adeniji Adele to link the 3rd Mainland Bridge for their desired destinations,” he said.

    Osiyemi said that the state traffic management personnel would be on ground to manage vehicular movement and reduce inconveniences.

    “Motorists are implored to be patient and adhere to the direction of movements by the traffic management personnel,” he said.

  • Owner of Lagos collapsed building still at large – LASEMA

    Owner of Lagos collapsed building still at large – LASEMA

    The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), on Thursday, said that the owner of the collapsed building in the Maryland Estate that claimed five lives was still at large.

    The agency’s Director, Operations, Engr Olatunde Akinsanya, said this while speaking with journalists at the incident venue.

    He, however, appealed to the owner of the collapsed building to make an appearance.

    “No one has come forward to say he or she owns the property. We are appealing to the owner to come forward because he or she can’t at this point be at large,” Akinsanya said.

    He said part of the unit of the building would  be taken for material testing to determine the cause of the incident.

    “A neighbour who lives beside the building, Mrs Yusuf Jumoke, a businesswoman, said she heard the building collapsed early hours of the morning.

    “I heard the noise and I came out and saw that the building has collapsed.

    “I can’t talk about the history of the building because I am not involved about the operation.

    “All I know is they work there every day and night and that is all I know,” she said.

    Another resident,  Mayen Adetiba, an engineer, attributed rampant collapsed building to lack of usage of competent building engineers.

    “These are things we need to stop in this country. There are so many quacks running all over the place.

    “People believe the fees of professionals are too expensive. Government needs to wake up. They have bodies that should look at these things,” she said.

    NAN reports that LASEMA received a distress call regarding a collapsed building at No 13, Wilson Mba Str., Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, Lagos, at about 3.49 a.m.

    Five other persons who were found in the collapsed building were also rescued and given medical attention.

    The National Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Nigeria Police and the Lagos State Building Control Agency, were all on the ground.

  • Updates: Two more casualties recorded at Lagos building collapse

    Updates: Two more casualties recorded at Lagos building collapse

    The death toll from the two-storey building collapse at Arowojobe Estate in the Maryland area of Lagos State has risen to five, as confirmed by Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

    The building collapse occurred on Thursday, with search and rescue operations still ongoing.

    There have been building collapses in Lagos, including a 2021 incident where a 21-storey building under construction collapsed, resulting in at least 42 fatalities.

    Recall that three persons had been confirmed dead following the building collapse which occurred at No. 13, Wilson Mba St., Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, Lagos, in the early hours of Thursday.

    Oke-Osanyintolu had said that three males who were recovered dead at the building were site workers.

    In an update on the incident, Oke-Osanyintolu said that by initial response early Thursday morning at about 3:40 a.m., LASEMA and other responders rescued three victims.

    Oke-Osanyintolu said that during the search and rescue operation, two more male adults were rescued and stabilised before being transferred to the hospital.

    “The first 3 victims that were rescued were taken to Gbagada General Hospital. The other 2 victims that were rescued were ferried to the Trauma Center at Gbagada after being stabilised.

    “In all, the four adult Male victims that were recovered dead, have been handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU), for further processing.

    “Search and Rescue Operation is still ongoing to Ground Zero,

  • Lagos: Death toll rises to 5 in early morning building collapse

    Lagos: Death toll rises to 5 in early morning building collapse

    The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) said the death toll in the building collapse at Arowojobe Estate in Maryland area of the state had risen to five person.

    The agency’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed this in a statement made available to NAN.

    He said the total number of death was now five adult males while the rescued persons were now five.

    “The first three victims that were rescued were taken to the Gbagada General Hospital.

    “The other two victims who were rescued were ferried to the Trauma Centre at Gbagada after being stabilised.

    “In all, the five adult male victims who were recovered dead have been handed over to the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit for further processing.

    “A search and rescue operation is still ongoing to ground zero,” he said.

    LASEMA had earlier received a distress call regarding a collapsed building at No 13 Wilson Mba Str., Arowojobe Estate, Maryland, Lagos, at about 3.49 a.m.

    This prompted the immediate activation of the agency’s response team to the scene of the incident at 3.58 a.m. while operation is still ongoing.

  • Lagos traditional worshippers fix Oro festival for August 1 to thwart protest

    Lagos traditional worshippers fix Oro festival for August 1 to thwart protest

    Traditional worshippers are set to hold Oro Festival across Lagos State in a bid to thwart the #EndBadGovt protest.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) understands that the protest had been scheduled for the 1st of August, 2024 by Nigerians, particularly the youths to express grievances on hardship and the rising cost of living and staple foods in the country.

    This was disclosed in a notice to residents and visitors, and it went viral on social media on Wednesday.

    The notice read, “Please be informed that the Oro Festival will be observed in various communities across Lagos from August 1 to August 15. This traditional Yoruba cultural event involves significant rituals.”

    The state government has, however, denied having a hand in the cultural event, which timeframe coincides with the #EndBadGovt protest.

    On Wednesday, Gboyega Akosile, the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, noted that traditional worshippers also have the right to perform their activities like the youths intended to exercise their right to protest.

    Akosile, however advised the protesters and Oro adherents not to stand in each other’s way to prevent a breakdown of law and order. 

    He said, “I saw it just like every other person did. Did you see any signatory to this statement? The answer is no! If it’s not endorsed, then it’s a nullity. However, traditional religious worshippers have the right to carry out their worship at any time. Whether it coincides with the dates of the protests or not. I’m not sure it removes anything from the fact that they have their right to carry out their traditional worship.

    “You want to protest, I want to do my worship, it’s my right. It is now right versus right. As long as your own right does not disturb my own right, there won’t be crisis, let everybody be doing their thing.’’

    Akosile however noted that if the protest turned violent, security agencies would be on hand to ensure that it didn’t turn bloody.

  • Woman dies inside keke in Lagos

    Woman dies inside keke in Lagos

    A yet-to-identified woman on Friday died in a tricycle while in transit at Isheri, Idimu area of Lagos State.

    According to reports, the deceased had boarded the tricycle along the Isheri-Igando Road and was headed to the Isheri when she gave up the ghost.

    The tricycle rider was said to have notified her of arriving at her destination, when he discovered that she was motionless.

    An eyewitness who pleaded anonymity said  the rider drew the attention of passersby who rushed to the scene and realised that the passenger was no longer breathing.

    He said, “I was close to the Isheri bus stop when I heard the tricycle rider shouting for help. When we moved close to the spot, we saw a woman placing her head on the middle of the barricade of the tricycle unresponsive.

    “The rider said he was supposed to drop her at Isheri which is the last bus stop for tricycle riders along the area and when they got there, the rider expected her to step out and pay her fare only to find out that she wasn’t responding. That was when he raised the alarm. The place was crowded as it appeared strange.”

  • Lagos denies imposing parking fees on worshippers, churches

    Lagos denies imposing parking fees on worshippers, churches

    The Lagos State Government has clarified that the state’s parking policy will only affect motorists who intend to utilise the newly created 1,800 parking slots of the Lagos State Parking Authority (LASPA).

    Mrs Adebisi Adelabu, General Manager, LASPA, made the clarification in a statement on Sunday in Lagos.

    Adelabu said the authority was concerned about a recent social media post regarding parking charges for churches and worshippers in Lagos State.

    “The post incorrectly stated that LASPA on Saturday announced it will from October charge churches and worshippers in Lagos State, who parked vehicles on designated streets around places of worship.

    “To clarify the matter, LASPA wishes to emphasise that this information is inaccurate and does not reflect the true intent of our communication.

    “The Lagos State Government is not imposing parking fees on churches or worshippers for parking on streets around religious institutions.

    “Rather, LASPA is implementing the Lagos State Parking Policy to mitigate parking induced traffic congestion across the state,” she said.

    She noted that “Lagos is experiencing a high demand for parking spaces that exceeds available space like many other major cities worldwide facing similar challenges.”

    She said this shortage of space prompted the agency to adopt a regulated on-street parking model to manage parking resources efficiently.

    Adelabu recalled that the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, earlier this year,  approved the introduction of a regulated on-street parking, which was announced during a stakeholder’s forum on Feb.14.

    She said that the religious organisations and other stakeholders were adequately represented at the forum, adding that the outcome was later communicated to the umbrella bodies representing these groups.

    She added that one of such correspondences was referenced in a news release making the rounds on social media.

    “It is important to clarify that no specific religious group is being singled out by this policy.

    “Our aim is to ensure all stakeholders are informed and prepared for the implementation of the regulated on-street parking scheme.

    “Additionally, Lagos State Government has designated and “lane-marked” suitable roads for on-street parking across major zones such as Ikeja, Surulere, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, and Lekki, creating approximately 1,800 additional parking slots.

    “The communication sent to religious institutions serves to notify them of their respective roles and the financial aspects of utilising these designated parking slots,” she said.

    Adelabu said the management of these facilities would be overseen by concessionaires under the regulation of the Lagos State Parking Authority.

    She added that LASPA remained committed to improving traffic flow and parking management through transparent and equitable measures that would benefit residents and visitors alike.

  • LASTMA breaks silence on keke driver who committed suicide at their office

    LASTMA breaks silence on keke driver who committed suicide at their office

    The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has denied the involvement of its operatives in the dead body found hanging from a tree around its office in the Ikorodu area of Lagos.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) had earlier reported that yet-to-be-identified keke driver had on Thursday committed suicide after efforts to retrieve his seized tricycle from some government agents proved abortive in the Ikorodu area.

    Reacting in a statement on Friday, the spokesperson of the agency, Adebayo Taofiq debunked that the deceased’s tricycle was impounded by officers of the agency.

    Taofiq while confirming that the body of the deceased was discovered in the early hours of Thursday, explained that no one could really identify him as either an Okada or tricycle rider from amongst several operators of Okada and tricycle who visited the scene of the incident.

    It reads, “The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) wishes to debunk in no equivocal terms that its operatives are not responsible for the dead body found hanging by the gate of an Estate along Lagos – Shagamu Expressway, Lagos

    “Several speculations were made by sympathisers present at the scene. Some said he was dressed like a motorcyclist (Okada rider), while some speculated he was a tricyclist (Marwa rider). Some even believed he was brought to the scene by his killers during the wee hours of midnight, and stage managed it to give it the semblance of suicide, because the victim’s leg was touching ground.

    “For brevity, no one could really identify him as either an Okada or Marwa rider from amongst several operators of Okada and Marwa who visited the scene.”

    Adebayo said the body of the man was evacuated by the State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU), Yaba.