TheNewsGuru

Tag: Lagos

  • Lagos PDP crisis: Makarfi orders hand over of party secretariat to Bode George, BOT

    Lagos PDP crisis: Makarfi orders hand over of party secretariat to Bode George, BOT

    Chief Segun Adewale, the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Lagos State, on Saturday handed over the state secretariat of the party to the Board of Trustees (BoT).

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Adewale is the factional chairman of PDP loyal to Sen. Ali Modu Sherrif, recently sacked by the Supreme Court as the National Chairman of the party.

    Adewale, addressing journalists shortly after moving his possession out of the secretariat, said that this was in line with the directive from the national headquarters of the party.

    He said that a letter from the party headquarters had directed him to hand over to BoT members in the state.

    Adewale explained that the National Caretaker Committee of PDP had ordered that the state secretariat should be handed over to Chief Bode George and other members of the party’s BoT in Lagos.

    He said that the order was contained in a letter signed by the Secretary, National Caretaker Committee, Sen. Ben Obi, and addressed to the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fatai Owoseni.

    The letter reads in part: “The attention of the National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has been drawn to the occupation of the PDP Secretariat at No. 56, Adekunle Fajuyi Crescent, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, by a group.

    “Section 32(5) (e) of the PDP Constitution (2012 as amended) states that the Board of Trustees shall be vested with the assets of the party and shall serve as custodians of such assets.

    “This is to avoid negative consequences that may arise from the tussle for the secretariat and in keeping with the PDP Constitution.

    “The National Caretaker Committee hereby requests that you hand over the secretariat to Chief Bode George and other members of PDP Board of Trustees ( BOT) in Lagos State.”

    According to Adewale, I am going to hand over the key to the BoT as instructed in the letter.

    “`As you can see me, I have packed out my things. I am going to drop the key now,” the PDP factional chairman said.

    He instructed all his supporters to stay away from the secretariat in the interest of peace, even if the key is given to someone else.

    “It is quite unfortunate that those, who as at last week Saturday, were campaigning against PDP while in Labour Party, now want to take over the secretariat.

    “I was the one mobilising for the party during last Saturday local government elections in the state.

    “Even at that, I am ready to leave the secretariat, the police asked us to sign an undertaking that there will be peace in Ikeja.

    “I am not fighting with anybody, because if we continue this way, we will continue to lose elections in Lagos,” Adewale said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the crisis rocking the party at both the national and state levels made those loyal to Mr Moshood Salvador to make an alliance with the Labour Party.

    Salvador is the factional chairman loyal to Sen. Ahmed Markafi, who was declared by the Supreme Court declared as the authentic chairman.

     

     

    NAN

  • Special Report: How poor waste management constitutes major threat to achievement of Lagos Mega/Smart city project

    By Olaotan Falade

    Lagos, Nigeria’s centre of excellence attainment of its much cherished mega/smart city status might be under serious threats as the state still battles indiscriminate refuse dump on its most busy and commercially viable roads and cities.

    Wikipedia defines megacity as a metropolitan area with a total population in excess of ten million people. It could be a single metropolitan area or two or more metropolitan areas that converge. Likewise, it also defines a smart city as an urban development vision to integrate information and communication technology (ICT) and Internet of things (IoT) technology in a secure fashion to manage a city’s assets.

    While the state qualifies automatically as a megacity due to its population which is in excess of the required 10 million, TheNewsGuru.com reports that the immediate past administration in the state, under the leadership of Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) now Minister of Works, Power and Housing set the ball in motion in terms of provision of basic infrastructures.

    Fashola had at a Lagos Liveable City Conference in November 2013 stated that his administration was committed to facing squarely the challenges that comes with managing a megacity (by population) like Lagos.

    Fashola had during the conference themed “Preparing for the mental and social health needs of the Lagos Megacity”, explained that the object of governance in a mega city “is firstly and lastly for the people and about the people including the man on the street who must be able to live in it. He must be able to breathe in it. He must be able to dream in it – dream for himself, for his family, for his succeeding generations. He must be safe in it”.

    However, while several old structures were bulldozed to make space for either a new/upgraded road networks or some attention catching edifice truly befitting of a megacity, one thing that remained a major challenge was the indiscriminate dump of refuse on the very roads and in cities that government spent billions of naira to construct.

    On assumption of office in May 2015, the Akinwunmi Ambode led administration further climbed the ladder of change by declaring that Lagos was joining the leagues of Dubai, Malta and India as the next smart city, the first of its kind in Africa.

    To drive home the smart-Lagos agenda, Governor Ambode and Chairman of Dubai Holdings, Ahmad Bin Byat, who is also the Deputy Prime Minister of Dubai last year superintended the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at the Emirates Tower, Dubai by Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem and the Chief Executive Officer of Smart City Dubai LLC, Mr. Jabber Bin Hafez.

    The governor at the brief ceremony said: “A Smart-City Lagos will be the pride of all Lagosians just as we have Smart City Dubai, Smart-City Malta and Smart-City Kochi (India). We are encouraged by the fact that we do not, as a government, need to develop at a slow pace, but take full advantage of the digital age and fast track development of Lagos to a real megalopolis that we can all be proud of. The future is ours to take. It also marks the first Smart City in Africa when completed.”

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that within two years of taking over the mantle of leadership in the state, Governor Ambode has embarked on several projects to fast track the achievement of the smart city project. These include; the light up Lagos projects, Fourth Mainland Bridge, the recently launched public Wi-Fi, and several others.

    However despite all these giant strides to reposition Lagos as one of the leading economic and business hub in the world, a tour by TheNewsGuru.com‘s team to some of the cities and roads proved that unless the government gives immediate and unwavering attention to the management of waste in the state, the new smart-city project might just be one of the numerous agenda of government that is usually dead on arrival.

    In Ikeja, the state capital, heaps of refuse were a common sight to behold almost at every turn or direction. One would have imagined that the ‘keep Lagos clean’ initiative should have commenced from the state capital to complement the popular saying that ‘charity begins from home.’ If the capital (despite the heavy presence of government agencies and officials) does not drive home the status of a smart-city, where else will?

    A resident and businessman who spoke to the TheNewsGuru.com on condition of anonymity said: ‘Lagos is synonymous to dirt and Ikeja being the capital is no exception. Successive governments have tried to put in place enduring legacies to change the face of Lagos but paid lesser attention to the management of waste which could be a blessing in disguise as witnessed in several other developing countries. We need a cleaner and safer Lagos, and both government and the governed have a role to play in its achievement,” he said.

    The sole agency saddled with the maintenance of cleaner and safer environment, Lagos State Waste Management Authority, LAWMA, domiciled under the Ministry of Environment is probably overwhelmed by the enormous task of waste collection in a dynamic state like Lagos.

    Through its Private Sector Participation, PSP, the dynamics of waste management has further improved but not at a projected pace.

    A thorough monitoring by TheNewsGuru.com revealed that most of the waste trucks used are either rickety or completely out of order with some breaking down on public roads for as long as a week before they are removed.

    TheNewsGuru.com further gathered that the refuse are dumped along a busy road and around residential areas on the instruction of the waste collectors. This sometimes constitutes nuisance and great health hazards as the waste collectors don’t come to pack the refuse days after.

    A visit by TheNewsGuru.com team to Jakande Estate (in Ejigbo LCDA), Ojota, Ketu and Ago Palace road could not prove otherwise. There were huge refuse dump, stinking and begging for attention.

    Mrs. Aina sells around Jakande Estate, she told TheNewsGuru.com that what we (TheNewsGuru.com team) saw on the day of visit was a child’s play compared to what was there some few weeks ago. She said business owners and residents now contribute money to pack the refuse once it is getting ‘out of hand.’

    “You people (referring to the TheNewsGuru.com team) are even lucky that we had contributed money to pack some of the refuse some few days ago. You can see for yourself how improper this is. This how we operate here. The smell alone is killing. We want to appeal to government to prevail on LAWMA to be more effective. Many people have fallen ill and even died as a result of this refuse heaped up here. The LAWMA people need to improve on their efficiency and shouldnt wait till matters get out of hand before coming around,” Aina said emphatically.

    Another resident along Ojota axis told TheNewsGuru.com that the PSP operators are beginning to constitute nuisance on government roads and even the environment. He said most times the PSP operators leave dirt and stinking smell whenever they come for their operations.

    “If it were possible, residents here will ban PSP operators. You need to perceive the smell in this area whenever they (LAWMA PSP) come around. The waste would have started decaying and the smell and sight is usually very offensive. And they charge us outrageous bill too. Government needs to check into the activities of these people. They are not timely and efficient at all”, the resident said.

    Efforts to reach the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Babatunde Adejare and the Executive Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of LAWMA, Mr. Olumuyiwa Adejokun for comments did not succeed as at press time.

  • More photos of released kidnapped Lagos students

    More photos of the six abducted pupils of the Lagos State Model College, Igbonla, Epe, who regained their freedom on Friday.

  • Presidency lauds Lagos Govt over release of kidnapped Igbonla students

    The Presidency on Friday praised Lagos State Government over its relentless efforts in ensuring the release of the six kidnapped Igbonla-Epe Model College students.

    In a tweet, media aide to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande wrote, “congratulations to Lagos State Governor on the release of the kidnapped boys. He worked very hard with Federal agencies, Ondo, Delta governments and Nigerian Navy for the result.”

    Similarly, Lagos State Government has expressed excitement over the release of six students.

    In a press statement, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde congratulated the parents of the students and all concerned stakeholders over the development, just as he said the students would undergo series of medical tests and trauma therapy before they are reunited with their families.

    “This is a welcome development and the State Government has always believed that the students would be released unhurt. The news of their release is, therefore, a confirmation of that belief and we are glad that they would be reuniting with their families,” Ayorinde said.

    He said the State Government remains resolute in its commitment to ensure the safety of lives and property of residents in the State and has already beefed up security in schools to prevent a re-occurrence.

    “It is on record that the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration has invested massively on equipment and welfare of security personnel so as to ensure that the State remains safe for residents and investors.

    “This Government has already taken giant steps to secure all our schools especially those in the suburbs and riverine areas and we are confident that the steps taken so far will go a long way in nipping a repeat of such in the bud,” Ayorinde said.

  • Lagos welcomes release of kidnapped Epe school students

    …Assures residents of safety of lives and properties

    The Lagos State Government on Friday expressed excitement over the release of six students of Igbonla-Epe Model College who were abducted on May 25, 2017 in their school premises.

    In a press statement, the State’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde congratulated the parents of the students and all concerned stakeholders over the development, just as he said the students would undergo series of medical tests and trauma therapy before they are reunited with their families.

    “This is a welcome development and the State Government has always believed that the students would be released unhurt. The news of their release is, therefore, a confirmation of that belief and we are glad that they would be reuniting with their families,” Ayorinde said.

    He said the State Government remains resolute in its commitment to ensure the safety of lives and property of residents in the State and has already beefed up security in schools to prevent a re-occurrence.

    “It is on record that the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration has invested massively on equipment and welfare of security personnel so as to ensure that the State remains safe for residents and investors.

    “This Government has already taken giant steps to secure all our schools especially those in the suburbs and riverine areas and we are confident that the steps taken so far will go a long way in nipping a repeat of such in the bud,” Ayorinde said.

    The Commissioner also quoted Governor Ambode as commending the efforts of security agencies who worked tirelessly to ensure the safe release and return of the students.

     

     

  • Inland Waterways: Lagos refutes NIWA’s claims

    …Insists Appeal Court Judgment Favours LASG

    The Lagos State Government on Thursday refuted a misleading claim by the National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) on the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal setting aside the Judgment of the Federal High Court and allowing the Appeal of the State Government on its right to control its inland waterways to the exclusion of the Federal Government.

    NIWA had claimed that the judgment of the Appellate Court retained its power to regulate all waterways including international, intra-coastal and inter-state waterways.

    But in a press statement issued on Thursday by the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the State Government clarified that in the lead Judgment delivered by Dr. Hussein Mukhtar JCA , the Court of Appeal indeed set aside the judgment of the Federal High Court and held that the Lagos State House of Assembly is competent to make laws in respect of the intra-Inland Waterways in Lagos State except those inter-State Waterways under item 5 in the 2nd Schedule of the National Inland Waterways Act.

    “It is on record that the Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority was a respondent at the Court of Appeal and was represented by Counsel who argued and adopted its brief of Argument on NIWA’s behalf,” the Commissioner said, adding that “the rules of precedent for judgments are also very clear and this landmark judgment represents the current law on this issue until it us set aside by a higher Court.

    “Any arguments to the contrary by NIWA are misconceived and should be disregarded. IT IS NOT IN DOUBT THAT THIS JUDGMENT FAVOURS Lagos State Government AND BECAUSE THE STATUS QUO HAS CHANGED IS THE REASON FOR THE PURPORTED NOTICE OF APPEAL REFERRED TO BY NIWA,” he said.

    In the meantime, the State Government urged all boat operators and dredging companies to be law-abiding and FULLY comply with the provisions of Lagos State Waterways Authority Law Cap L72 Laws of Lagos State 2015 guiding dredging and boat operations which has been declared to be a valid and binding law by the Court of Appeal.

    “Failure to do so will attract appropriate stiff sanctions under the law,” Ayorinde said.

  • Death toll in Lagos collapsed building increases to 8

    More bodies have been recovered from the debris of collapsed building in Lagos, bringing the death toll to eight.

    Alhaji Ibrahim Farinloye, the South-West spokesman for National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, gave the update in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

    Farinloye said that the four-storey building collapsed on Tuesday at about 3.00 p.m at Tokunbo, off Odunfa Road, Carrena/Martins Street on Lagos Island.

    He told NAN that the rescue team completed the operation after reaching the ground zero at about 1.30 p.m.

    According to him, after reaching the ground zero, only two more bodies were recovered, bringing the deaths to eight, while 15 people were rescued alive.

    He said that integrity test would be carried out on other buildings in the area to prevent recurrence of the incident.

    Farinloye said that the collapsed building was initially a bungalow before it was converted to a four-storey with a penthouse.

    He said that the required six-foot in-between building was not observed in the area, adding that the adjacent building was also under threat of collapse.

    Farinloye advised the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency to prevail on house owners to renovate their buildings regularly.

    He said that the advice followed the challenges of the climate change which might have effects on buildings in view of high volume of rainfall this year.

    NEMA spokesman urged building contractors to avoid the use of substandard materials in their construction works.

    In his accounts, Mr Adesina Tiamiyu, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), said that his team worked all through the night to rescue trapped people.

    Tiamiyu said that the account given by the community on the collapsed building was that a telecommunication mast was erected on top of the building.

    He said that some of the residents explained that the building collapsed on Tuesday, exactly two weeks, after the community rejected a generator brought there for the mast.

    Tiamiyu said the community believed that the building was not strong enough to carry the generator as the building was vibrating whenever the generating set was on.

    The LASEMA chief said that, after the rescue and recovery operations, the agency would carry out its investigations to ascertain the cause of the collapse.

    He said that the investigation would be done with other emergency management agencies to ensure that the number of families living in the building tallied with the community’s account.

    One of the residents of the area, Mr Yusuf Align, blamed the collapse on greed by the landlords.

    ”They know it is an old building and they allowed one of the communication networks to erect a mast on top of it.

    ”Even, if they have paid them N10 million or more, what have they gained now?” he asked.

  • JUST IN: Panic as another four-storey building collapses In Lagos [Photos]

    A four-storey building has collapsed at Tokunbo Street, off Odunfa, Lagos Island, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, with many people still trapped in the debris.

    The building is said to be owned by Kafo Family which was reportedly managed by Isola Costa. It collapsed around 3.00pm.

    Director, Lagos State Fire Service, Rasak Fadipe said five people had been rescued as at 3:39 pm on Tuesday, adding that operation is ongoing.

    JUST IN: Panic as another four-storey building collapses In Lagos [Photos]

    A source told newsmen that the structure was initially three-storey building before another one storey was added to make four storeys building.

    TheNewsGuru.com report that another building had previously collapsed on Saturday in Meiran, Agbado-Oke Odo Local Council Development Area of Lagos.

     

    Details later…

  • Flooding: Lagos govt confirms 2 deaths in upsurge of acute diarrhoea cases

    Flooding: Lagos govt confirms 2 deaths in upsurge of acute diarrhoea cases

    The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr Jide Idris, on Tuesday confirmed that two deaths had been recorded from the 27 cases line-listed in acute diarrhoea disease in some local government areas.

    Idris, alongside his counterpart from the Ministry of Information, Mr Steve Ayorinde, made this known at a joint news conference in Lagos.

    He said that the upsurge of acute diarrhoea cases was the aftermath of flooding experienced by residents in some parts of the state following heavy rainfall in the last few days.

    TheNewsGuru reports that the council areas where the diarrhoea disease was recorded were Shomolu, Oshodi-Isolo and Surulere.

    Idris said that the state government had put some measures in place to check the spread of the disease.

    According to him, six of the cases were reported in Shomolu, two in Oshodi-Isolo and 14 in Surulere council area.

    Idris said that acute diarrhoea disease with or without vomiting was caused by a bacteria disease transmitted through ingestion of food or water contaminated with infective faeces.

    The commissioner appealed to Lagos residents to imbibe proper hygiene including, handwashing, washing of fruits and vegetables before eating.

    He also advised them to boil water from unsafe sources before drinking and always ensure that they cover their foods and water all the time.

    In his remarks, Ayorinde appealed to the mass media to help sensitise the residents, especially the young ones, on the danger of playing inside the flood water.

    Ayorinde said that the state government would roll out a new set of sensitisation on the social media in addition to the ones already being aired on the conventional media.

     

  • Lagos LG Poll: APC wins 369 councillorship seats, PDP, Accord take 7

    Lagos LG Poll: APC wins 369 councillorship seats, PDP, Accord take 7

    Details of final results of Saturday’s local government election in Lagos released by the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC) on Monday indicated that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) won four councillorship seats in the polls.

    A statement issued by the commission ‘s Director of Publicity, Mr Oladapo Olatunde, indicated that Accord Party also won three councillorship seats in the election.

    According to the statement, the PDP won the four councillorship seats in Agege Local Government Area (LGA) Ward C, Itire-Ikate Local Council Development Area (LCDA)Ward A, Ikorodu LGA Ward G, and Oriade LCDA Ward A.

    Accord Party won in Agege LGA Ward E, Ikosi-Isheri LCDA Ward D and Shomolu/Kosofe Ward E.

    Aside the seven councillorship seats, the All Progressives Congress swept all the chairmanship seats and the remaining 369 councillorship seats in the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs in the state.

    The analysis of the results showed that nine out of the 12 parties that participated in the election did not record any win.

    The LASIEC chairman, retired Justice Ayotunde Phillips, according to the statement, congratulated all winners and urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them.

    She urged them to do so by making impact with their leadership in their respective areas.

    Phillips thanked the political parties and their agents for the peaceful way they conducted themselves during the election.

    The commission’s Chairman also commended security agents for helping to maintain law and order during the election.

    She thanked the media and civil society organisations that partnered the commission to conduct the polls.

    Ayotunde said the election was largely successfully conducted, but admitted initial delays in the deployment of materials to polling units.

    She attributed the delays to the downpour on the day of the polls, which affected easy movement of materials to polling units.

    The chairman thanked all Lagosians for the support given to the commission to ensure successful conduct. (NAN)