TheNewsGuru

Tag: Lagos

  • Photo News: Ambode celebrates Eid-el Fitri with Muslim faithfuls across Lagos

    Following his decision to host Muslims in the state for the 2017 Eid-el-Fitri celebrations across the 20 Local Government Areas, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode made well his promise as he was physically present to celebrate with them in some LGAs in the state.

    He was accompanied by his wife, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode.

    See pictures from the event below:

    R-L: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode; Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef; Chief Imam, Lagos Mainland Mosque, Alhaji Sabitu Akanni and Leader, Conference of Islamic Organisation, Alhaji Abdullahi Shuaib (left) during the Eid-el-Fitri celebration at Evans Square, Ebute-Metta on Sunday, June 25, 2017.

     

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right), exchanging greetings with Rtd. Justice Ishola olorunnibe (left) while the Sole Administrator, Mainland Local Government, Hon. Adedoyin Rojaiye (right) and Leader, Conference of Islamic Organisation, Alhaji Abdullahi Shuaib (2nd left), watch during the Eid-el-Fitri celebration at Evans Square, Ebute-Metta on Sunday, June 25, 2017.

     

    R-L: Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, with Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef and Chief Imam, Lagos Mainland Mosque, Alhaji Sabitu Akkani during the Eid-el-Fitri celebration at Evans Square, Ebute-Metta on Sunday, June 25, 2017.

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right); Sole Administrator, Mainland Local Government, Hon. Adedoyin Rojaiye (right); Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef (middle); Chief Imam, Lagos Mainland Mosque, Alhaji Sabitu Akkani (2nd left) and Leader, Conference of Islamic Organisation, Alhaji Abdullahi Shuaib (left) during the Eid-el-Fitri celebration at Evans Square, Ebute-Metta on Sunday, June 25, 2017.

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle); Sole Administrators, Mainland Local Government, Hon. Adedoyin Rojaiye (2ndright); Yaba Local Government, Hon. Bayo Adefuye (right); Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef (2nd left) and Chief Imam, Lagos Mainland Mosque, Alhaji Sabitu Akkani (left) during the Eid-el-Fitri celebration at Evans Square, Ebute-Metta on Sunday, June 25, 2017.

     

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), with APC Chieftain in Ifako-Ijaiye, Alhaji Ayokunmi Akande (right) and Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef (middle) during the Eid-el-Fitri celebration at the Ifako-Ijaiye Mini Stadium, on Sunday, June 25, 2017.

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (middle), with member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency I, Hon. Dayo Saka Fafunmi (2nd left); Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga (left); Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef (2nd right) and member, House of Representatives, Hon. Nurudeen Akinwunmi (right) during the Eid-el-Fitri celebration at the Ifako-Ijaiye Mini Stadium, on Sunday, June 25, 2017.

     

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (2nd right); congratulating the winner of Quran recitation, Master Abduqayyum Onifade (3rd left) during the Eid-el-Fitri celebration at the Ifako-Ijaiye Mini Stadium, on Sunday, June 25, 2017. With them are Commissioner for Home Affairs, Dr. Abdul-Hakeem Abdul-Lateef (right); member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Ifako-Ijaiye Constituency I, Hon. Dayo Saka Fafunmi (3rd right); Special Adviser to the Governor on Primary Health Care, Dr. Olufemi Onanuga (4thright) and Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde (5thright).

     

     

    Wife of Lagos State the Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (2ndright), presenting a gift to one of the winners of dancing competition, Mrs. Idiat Tugbeyi (left) during the Eid-il-Fitri celebration at one of the designated centres, Marina Waterfront, Epe, Lagos, on Sunday, June 25, 2017. With them are member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Abiodun Tobun (3rd right) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs. Toyin Awoseyi (right).

     

     

    Wife of Lagos State the Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (middle), flanked by member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Abiodun Tobun (left) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs. Toyin Awoseyi (right) during the Eid-il-Fitri celebration at one of the designated centres, Marina Waterfront, Epe, Lagos, on Sunday, June 25, 2017.

     

     

    Wife of Lagos State the Governor, Mrs. Bolanle Ambode (2nd right); member, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Abiodun Tobun (middle); Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, Mrs. Toyin Awoseyi (right); APC Chieftains in Epe, Chief Akanni Seriki (left) and Chief Lanre Razaq (2nd left) during the Eid-il-Fitri celebration at one of the designated centres, Marina Waterfront, Epe, Lagos, on Sunday, 25thJune, 2017.

  • Otodo Gbame: Lagos appeals verdict directing resettlement

    …Says Illegal Structures Demolished After Residents Flouted Court Order

    The Lagos State Government has asked the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgment of a Lagos High Court in Igbosere which faulted the demolition of illegal structures in Otodo Gbame Community and ordered the resettlement of displaced persons in the area.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Justice Surajudeen Onigbanjo of the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, on Wednesday ruled in favour of residents of several waterfront communities in a suit they brought against Lagos state government.

    The judge released his verdict on June 21, 2017, ruling the evictions as unconstitutional, saying it violates the rights of the residents, especially as it happened without consultation or a resettlement plan in place.

    However, the State Government, in a Notice of Appeal dated June 22, 2017, filed before the Lagos division of Appeal Court, said apart from violating Constitutional provisions, the judgment of the lower court delivered by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo on June 21, was capable of encouraging illegality.

    In the appeal which was hinged on two grounds, the State Government argued that the lower court erred in law and misdirected itself when it made far reaching decisions that conflicted with the facts of the matter as placed before the court.

    According to the first ground, the government, through its lawyer, Mr Saheed Quadri, Director of Civil Litigation, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, said Justice Onigbanjo erred in law when he held that the demolition was illegal when in fact there was no demolition carried out in Otodo Gbame prior to the institution of the suit.

    Going into details, the government said there was a fire outbreak in Otodo Gbame caused by violent clash between two rival cult groups, and that the fire engulfed and destroyed the entire community with no residents and property remaining, as the destroyed shanties were built with corrugated iron sheets, woods and bamboos.

    Pursuant to the government’s constitutional duties ,particularly sections 13 and 20, Quadri said the State Fire Service responded timeously to put out the fire and excavated the debris, while the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode consequently visited the community to commiserate with the people.

    The Governor also gave directive barring re-construction of illegal shanties, and further directed that all squatters living along the riverine/swampy areas or strips in the State should vacate immediately as they pose security threat with the increase in vices and crimes that include bunkering, kidnapping, armed robbery, among others, especially when the criminal elements used the riverine areas as escape route to the hinter land.

    The directive of the Governor, according to government, was pursuant to Chapter 2, Section 14 (2) (b) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

    After the directive for all squatters habiting illegally in the riverine and swampy areas in the State to vacate, residents of the riverine areas in the State instituted the suit in which Otodo Gbame Community was also represented, while Justice Onigbanjo on January 26, 2017 referred the matter for mediation but ordered parties to maintain status quo pending the final resolution of the matter.

    While parties were still at Lagos MultiDoor Courthouse for mediation, the government said the residents of Otodo Gbame used the period to rebuild the illegal structures contrary to court order, adding that it was the action that prompted it to carry out the demolition in line with orders for maintenance of status quo.

    The government thus argued that: “The declaration of the lower court that the demolition of March 17, 2017 is illegal and unconstitutional is misplaced and one-sided without considering the violation of the same order of court by the respondents. The demolition was to return both parties to status qou.”

    Besides, the government said the failure to effect service of the statutory notices on the squatters of swampy areas within the State was because after the Governor issued the directive, the suit at the lower court was instituted, and doing such was no longer feasible until the determination of the suit, otherwise it would offend the doctrine of lis pendens (case pending in court).

    In ground two, the government argued that the lower court erred when it held that the State Government should hold consultations with the communities before any further evictions, and also provide compensation for the destruction of their properties, contending that in as much as Chapter 4 of the Constitution provides for fundamental rights, some rights contained provisos that made such rights not sacrosanct and absolute.

    It said: “There are abundance of uncontroverted evidence before the lower court that the structures built along riverine/swampy areas of the State are without building permit as required under the Urban and Regional Development Planning Law.

    “The respondents have constructed illegal shanties and structures without the requisite building permit/approval and the rights under the Constitution does not permit breach of a law or exempt anybody whosoever from building without first obtaining requisite approval. The respondents are squatters and deliberately failed to put the issue of title in contention.”

    The government, therefore, argued that the order as to consultation, resettlement and compensation was without justification based on the evidence before the lower court, adding that Justice Onigbanjo’s judgment was a violation of Chapter 4 of the Constitution as it sought to encourage illegality.

     

  • INEC moves to create more voters registration centres in Lagos

    Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has begun moves to create additional centres for Continuous Voters Registration (CVR) in 13 local government areas of Lagos state.

    This is even as INEC has explained that the high volume of uncollected Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) in Lagos state, which TheNewsGuru.com estimates to be in region of 1.4 million, is as a result of majority of the owners of the cards relocating, especially students who had completed their course of study, from the state.

    Administrative Secretary of the commission in Lagos State, Dr Mustapha Mudashiru, who made this known in Lagos made this known on Saturday in Lagos.

    He said the commission is pushing for more centres, especially in 13 of the 20 council areas in the state to reduce to ma manageable size crowd in existing centres.

    According to the Administrative Secretary, “we requested for additional centres, particularly for some peculiar local governments in Lagos State to further address some of the challenges facing CVR in a metropolitan city like Lagos.

    “We are still awaiting formal approval by the commission.

    “We made the case for additional centres in Ajeromi-Ifelodun, Alimosho, Eti-Osa, Ifako-Ijaiye, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Mushin, Ojo, Oshodi-Isolo, Somolu, Surulere, and Lagos Mainland local governments.

    “We are hopeful that the commission will consider this and as soon as we get
    approval, we will put those centres into use.

    “This will go a long way in reducing crowd at existing centres because it is one of the challenges we have been facing.”

    The INEC boss said the commission was committed to bringing innovation and improvement in delivering its mandate to the people of Lagos state.

    He commended eligible residents of the state for their eagerness and enthusiasm toward the exercise, stressing that statistics nationwide showed that Lagos was leading in the exercise.

    He also noted that the commission’s Voter Education Department is reaching out to tertiary institutions in the state to further increase awareness about the ongoing CVR.

    He affirmed that the commission has carried its publicity blitz to University of Lagos, College of Education, Technical, Akoka and would visit other tertiary institutions in the state.

    He urged the Lagos State Government to complement the efforts of the commission in the area of publicity and enlightenment, saying it would go a long way in assisting those who may be unaware of the exercise.

    He urged eligible residents to show interest in the exercise to avoid being disenfranchised in future elections, saying it was free.

    INEC started the nationwide CVR on April 27 to capture those who attained 18 years of age and others who did not register or those seeking replacement or transfer.

  • Lagos to become largest mega city in Africa by 2035 – Researchers

    Researchers have predicted that no fewer than 30 million people can live in Lagos by 2035 turning it into the largest mega city on the African continent.

    According to a statement by the African Property Investment (API) in Abuja on Thursday, researchers also predicted that by 2030, Lagos, Cairo and Kinshasa would each have a population of 20 million.

    Luanda, Dar es Salaam and Johannesburg were also predicted would have a population of more than 10 million by 2030.

    The API noted that with rapid population growth in African cities, urban planning had proven to be ineffective with private development often deterred by `opaque or inappropriate regulations’.

    The property development and investment organisation added that African cities had, until recently, failed to keep pace with the concentration of people.

    “When it comes to investments in infrastructure, industrial and commercial structures, and affordable formal housing, African cities have, until now, failed to keep pace with the concentration of people.

    “In Dar es Salaam, 28 per cent of residents live at least three to a room; in Abidjan, that number rises to 50 per cent.

    “In Lagos, Nigeria, two out of three people dwell in slums,” it said.

    The API pointed out that the World Bank’s African Cities report found that in several cities, built-up areas were scattered throughout the centre, with more than 30 per cent of land within five kilometres of the city centres still left undeveloped.

    The organisation noted that the rapid growth of Africa’s urban populations would place a new demand for infrastructure, housing and other physical structures, and amenities in the next 20 years.

    It said that to meet the new demand, city leaders and planners needed adaptable strategies.

    The group said it had commenced plans for a summit where experts, Africa’s real estate and built environment developers and investors would debate and craft a vision of what an African city should look like.

    “The API Summit and Expo 2017 Future Cities Africa sub-conference will look at how African governments and institutions can help formalise land markets, clarify property rights, and better leverage off land values to finance Africa’s urban development.’’

    Managing Director for API events, Kfir Rusin said the continent could not move forward without proper discussions on the planning, infrastructure and urban development requirements of African cities.

    Rusin explained that such discussion and information sharing would enable African cities thrive and grow.

    “The Future Cities Africa sub-conference will take an in depth look into how African Cities can better open its doors to the world, while creating more economically dense and inclusive urban areas,” he added.

    The Africa Property Investment Summit and Expo would hold in South Africa from 24 to 25 August.

     

     

    NAN

  • Return all Lagos lands, buildings in your care, Ambode tells Fashola

    Governor Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Tuesday asked his predecessor and Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, to use his office to ensure that the federal government releases all the disused and disputed assets to the state government.

    The governor noted that some of the properties were in a dilapidated and wasteful state.

    Ambode explained that such properties were needed to further develop the state and bring about a positive change in the lives of Lagosians.

    “They are no longer in use for the purpose the apex government acquired it”, Ambode said at the State House after receiving the report of the Special Committee on Federal Government Assets in Lagos State.

    The committee chaired by former Federal Commissioner for Works, Chief Femi Okunnu, comprised a human rights activist, Femi Falana, a Simmons Cooper partner, Mrs. Victoria Alonge and Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Lands Bureau, Olabode Agoro, among others.

    Ambode recalled that Fashola was a passionate advocate of the issue during his tenure as Governor, adding that now that he is a representative of Lagos State in the Federal Executive Council (FEC), he should use his office to return the assets.

    His words: “The report of the committee has come at a time when the state government is in dire need of space for development projects that would improve the socio-economic wellbeing of its residents in line with the socio-economic realities of present times.”

    “We hope this initiative will end the long standing dispute between the federal and state governments over the disused lands, buildings and disputed quarters in various parts of the state.

    “These assets are no longer in use for the purposes for which they were originally released to the federal government. We are hopeful this report will get favorable response from the federal government now that these assets are no longer in use for the purposes they were acquired.”

    After submitting the report, Okunnu expressed sadness over the current status of the Federal Secretariat in Lagos and other abandoned assets of the federal government in the state, noting that the assets be returned to the state government for effective and proper usage.

    He said the assets “are not only quarters, but the land on which these buildings are situated. We have tried to argue that the whole of Ikoyi with boundary at Lagos Canal standing between Ikoyi Island and Lagos Island.”

    Okunnu added that title to the whole of the Islands “is vested in the Government of Lagos State when Lagos became Crown Colony. Title to the whole of Ikoyi including Osborn Foreshore, Banana Island is vested in the government of Lagos State. We have other areas we have covered.

    “The state owned Festac Town. The title to the town is vested in the government of Lagos State. Federal Housing Authority (FHA) is the tenant of the Government of Lagos State indeed. Also, the title to the Trade Fair site is vested in Lagos State.

    “The government of Lagos State acquired the Land of the Trade Fair site. But the federal government gave a promise to pay the state compensation which was to be paid to the original owners of the land. That compensation was not paid,” Okunnu noted.

    He added that title to Satellite Town too “is vested in Lagos State. It is the federal government which should prove title to any land, which it claims to own in Lagos State. The land on which the International Trade Fair Complex was situated was acquired for the purpose of the trade fair, but the place had been turned into market.

    “Federal Secretariat gives me sadness because I built it when I was the Federal Commissioner for Works. The land upon which federal secretariat is situated is part of the Crown land, which is now state land.

    “The title to the Crown land is vested in Lagos State. But Brigadier Mobolaji Johnson agreed to release that land to the federal government when they wanted to build federal secretariat.

    “We hope that discussions between Lagos State Government and federal government on hand over of federal lands, state lands within Lagos and disuse or surplus lands which federal government, especially defence and prisons are still occupying in Lagos are resolved.

    “Large parcels of the land are now surplus to what is required under the land. We hope that discussions between Lagos State and federal governments will be held to settle this palaver once and for all.”

  • BREAKING: Court rules in favour of Otodo Gbame residents, says eviction by LASG unconstitutional

    Justice Surajudeen Onigbanjo of the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, has on Wednesday ruled in favour of residents of several waterfront communities in a suit they brought against Lagos state government.

    The judge released his verdict on June 21, 2017, ruling the evictions as unconstitutional, saying it violates the rights of the residents, especially as it happened without consultation or a resettlement plan in place.

    He also ordered the state government to cease further evictions.

    The suit was brought last year by 33 applicants suing on behalf of themselves and other residents of settlements including OtodoGbame, Tomaro, Otumara, Orisunmibare, Oko Agbon, Itun Atan, Sogunro, the Ikorodu communities of Ofin, Bayeku, Olufunke Majidun and the Bariga communities of Ago Egun and Ebute-Ilaje.

    The communities are challenging the demolition of their waterfront settlement by the state government, a decision that has been condemned by local and international right groups.

    Details soon…

    #OtodoGbame residents in wild Jubilation at the court today

  • Just in: Suspected kidnappers of Lagos pupils, teachers arraigned

    Federal Government on Tuesday arraigned five men accused of kidnapping some pupils and members of staff of a school in Isheri, Ogun State, on January 13, 2017, and another six victims along the Ikorodu Expressway, Lagos, on December 16, 2016.

    The Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation had, on June 1, 2017, charged the five alleged abductors before the Federal High Court in Abuja after taking over the case from the police.

    The charges were signed on behalf of the AGF by an Assistant Chief State Counsel in the Federal Ministry of Justice, Mr. Aminu Alilu.

    Those named as defendants in the case marked FHC/ABJ/CR/85/2017, are Bekewei Agbojule (aka Asari), Egbasimokumo Ayeomi (aka Effiong), Godspower Olopele, Toki Okuba and Super Allen Baye (aka Yanga).

    Three of the defendants –Agbojule, Ayeomi and Baye ­ ­– were said to be from the Ijaw community of Arogbo town in the riverine area of Ondo State while the two others – Olopele and Okuba – were said to be residents of Ikorodu, Lagos State and Isheri in Ogun State, respectively.

    The prosecution described the acts of hostage taking and receiving of ransoms which the defendants were accused of as acts of terrorism punishable by life imprisonment under the Terrorism (Prevention) (Amendment) Act, 2013.

  • Two men charged with homosexuality in Lagos

    Two homosexuals in Lagos are facing a two-count charge of same-sex having sexual intercourse and fighting in the public‎.

    The accused, Promise Oluwabunkenoye,24 and Kehinde Abiola ,29 were brought before a Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on Wednesday and charged with anal sex.

    They were caught by a police patrol team fighting in public and upon interrogation, one of them confessed that he had been invited to Romeo and Juliet Hotel located at Ejigbo on May 28 at 5.00 a.m. for anal sex but afterwards wasn’t paid.

    The police prosecutor, Sgt. Anthonia Osayande, made the above allegation while addressing the court. She further stated that the accused with others still at large committed the offences at City Centre Hotel at Ijeshatedo in Surulere about 3.00.p.m. on June 1.

    ‎In spite of the confession, the accused both pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Ipaye Nwachukwu, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100,000 each with two sureties each in like sum. One of the sureties must be a blood relation and the other must be a cleric or community leader. She also asked the accused to take their photographs to the court register.

    The case was adjourned until Aug. 3.

    Source: Guardian

  • VIDEO: Man caught strangling woman in Lagos

    A man suspected to be a hired killer on Tuesday narrowly escaped mob action as he was caught in the process of strangling a woman to death.

    It was gathered that the man, who was caught in the act at Jakande Estate in Lagos was sent from Sapele.

    The yet-to-be-identified man entered the woman’s shop and strangled her with a rope but was stopped by residents who heard the woman screaming.

    A video footage of the man after he was caught was published online.

    The video showed the man stripped, sitting on the floor and surrounded by a crowd.

    Another man in the crowd quickly narrated in Yoruba language that the man is a killer from Sapele who was caught trying to kill a woman in her shop.

    A policeman soon appeared in the video while the voice narrated the same story again. It was gathered that it took the police’s intervention to stop the crowd from lynching the suspect.

    The woman was reportedly taken to the hospital.

    Police officials have however whisked the man to their station.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the police is yet to issue any official statement as regards the incident

    See video from the scene below:

  • Lagos releases N698 million for Lekki Free Zone

    The Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Co-operatives in Lagos, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye, said a total of N698.47million has been so far released for infrastructural development in the Lekki Free Zone Development Company (LFZDC).

    Speaking during a business meeting with members of the Diplomatic Community at LFZDC recently, he said the Lekki investment hub is not only meant for Chinese companies but other investors across the globe are welcome to invest. .

    According to him, “the state government is committed to promoting sustainable commercial and industrial growth,” stressing further that the “funds released to the zone is to ensure speedy development and honour the state’s obligation on counterpart funding of the project.”

    He also disclosed that about N740.461 million had been given as compensation to host communities comprising Yegunda and Abomiti as well as Lekki-Epe International Airport Zone.

    While presenting his progress report, the Managing Director, LFZDC Ding Yonghua, said Phase one of the Zone will create 30,000 employment opportunities, with a population of about 120,000 people residing in the premises.

    He also said the LFZDC is controlled by transparent and efficient management service, adding that good infrastructure, adequate security, water treatment plant, sewage plant, and 24 hour power supply are all available in order to enhance the ease of doing business in the Zone.

    He also explained that in addition to incentives being provided by the government, the management of Lekki Free Zone will provide further incentives to encourage investors that situate their factories within the Zone.

    The Lekki Free Trade Zone is being developed as an industrial harbor city with transportation advantage with the Lekki Deep Seaport, which is less than three kilometers from the Zone.

    The proposed international airport is to be situated about 10 kilometers from the Zone, and access to the inland waterways with an extensive and well planned rail and road access.

    The meeting had in attendance representatives from Canada, Britain, China, France, Ireland, Malaysia, Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands, Spain, Brazil, Germany, and Namibia.