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Lagos to build five 100-bed health facilities in 5 hospitals THE Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, has said that the state government has developed a four-year infrastructural development plan, under its secondary health care programme, to construct five 100-bed maternal and child health complexes within the premises of Ikorodu, Isolo, Ifako-Ijaiye, Gbaja and Ajeromi general hospitals. At a press briefing to mark one year in office of Governor Babatunde Fashola, Idris explained that each of the complexes would have clinics for mothers, children, a labour ward/delivery room, a modern theatre for obstetric surgeries, wards and a neonatology unit. He said already, works had reached over 50 per cent completion stage at some of the sites, adding that the contract for the supply and installation of equipment for the maternal and child health complexes at Ikorodu, Isolo, Ifako Ijaiye, Gbaja and Ajeromi hospitals had been awarded. The commissioner said to further strengthen the secondary health care programme and the policy thrust of the government to have at least, one secondary health facility per local government, five general hospitals at Ifako Ijaiye, Somolu, Mushin, Alimosho and Ibeju-Lekki local government areas of the state had been rehabilitated. He added that generators had also been procured as backup power source for the Lagos Island Maternity Hospital; General Hospital, Lagos; Ajeromi General Hospital; Apapa General Hospital; and Orile Agege General Hospital. “The state government is undaunted in its effort at strengthening the secondary health care programme vis-B-vis having a functional secondary health facility in each of the local government in the state. “hus we have procured medical and laboratory equipment for various hospitals in the state. In addition, we have also re-roofed the old theatre and maternity annex at Lagos and Surulere General Hospitals beside raising and repairing the perimeter fence at the Lagos and Mainland General Hospitals respectively.” Dr. Idris reiterated the state government’s commitment to the completion of on-going projects involving rehabilitation, refurbishment, equipping and or upgrading of health facilities, as well as embarking on new projects where necessary. He stressed that in this regard, the rehabilitation of Igbonla Primary Health Care and the Community Health Training Institute in Agbowa near Epe have been undertaken by the state government, in collaboration with the African Development Bank.
Lagos assures communities of infrastructure LAGOS Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Opeyemi Bamidele has assured all communities in the state that government would not fail in its commitment to bring infrastructural development to their areas. He expressed government determination to fast track the development of rural communities in the state as one of its cardinal feature of the mega city status. In a press release to The Guardian Bamidele, said: "Experience has shown that there is great deal of danger in concentrating development in one area without necessary spreading it to other parts, particularly the rural communities as a tool of forestalling population drift". "Government is conscious of the need to make a planned and sustained efforts to distribute development to different communities. It is now making appropriate preparations to empower relevant ministries with sufficient budgetary provisions for the purpose". Bamidele also added that the recent tour of various local councils and Community Development Areas (CDA) by Governor Babatunde Fashola and other members of the State Executive Council were for the team to assess the infrastructure needs of all the communities in the state. "The administration is at present constructing access roads that would open up different communities. For example, the dualisation and improvement of the Isheri -Olofin, Iba- LASU Road in Ojo and Alimosho was not only to ease traffic on the Badagry Expressway but also to open up opportunities for people living in the area. Egba, Ekoro and Meiran Road, old Otta Road, Agodo Community Road, Shasha, Orisumbare, Ejigbo Road (Phase II), construction of network roads in both Alimosho and Epe as well as Ikorodu are part of government's plan to improve infrastructural development in these communities," he said. He, however, pleaded for understanding from Lagosians that the projects are capital consuming and may likely take some time.
Lagos govt to clamp down on prostitutes THERE are indications that the Lagos State government may soon be visiting hotels and brothels within the metropolis to arrest prostitutes. The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Joke Orelope-Adefulire, who gave the indication about the increasing rate of prostitution in the state, said government could not condone prostitution anymore and would soon enforce the police to arrest sex workers in their hotels. Orelope-Adefulire said government was planning to establish five centres where the prostitutes would be trained for various vocational skills and then sent back to their various states. She bemoaned indecent dressing on the streets of Lagos, adding that government would soon clamp down on those wearing seductive dresses. According to her, many people especially ladies, had lost their dress values as they now dressed seductively “to harass men who cannot control their sexual urge.” She said her ministry had recorded cases of rape caused by immoral dressing, adding that government would soon enforce the police to question people who wore seductive dresses around.
Unease returns to Lagos roads THERE were days, not too long ago, when private motorists drove on the roads in Lagos metropolis with fear. The fear was not of accidents or robbers. The fear was of officials of Federal Road Management Agencies (FERMA) who literally lay in ambush along many routes, arresting and extorting money from private motorists on trumped up excuses. Then, something happened and the FERMA officials left the roads to the huge relief of Lagosians. But it appears that relief has been short-lived and there is cause for worry on Lagos routes once again. This time, the scourge of private motorists is no more from FERMA but the Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) of the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation and Lagos Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) who seem to have adopted the same tactics Lagosians abhorred. Just like FERMA, the vehicle inspection and traffic officers seem to have set their sights on private car owners or trucks and other vehicles belonging to corporate organizations. To them only these categories of vehicles infringe traffic rules or are driven without proper documents. As far as they are concerned, the danfo, molue and other yellow bus drivers can do no wrong. Only private motorists are accountable and expected to do the proper thing whether it concerns driving license, roadworthiness, motor insurance, driving against the traffic, over-speeding or any such matter. The VIO and LASTMA tyranny is exercised under the guise of Ministry of Transport (MOT) test, which the Lagos State Government introduced in 1999, and the efforts to ensure free-flow of traffic on Lagos roads. Hiding under these two covers, officials of the two agencies now torment Lagos motorists. Recently, and for no particular reason, LASTMA officials around Tafewa Balewa Square in Lagos stopped an Indian, Mr. Dharmu Lalwani. He had lived long in Lagos and was cognizant with traffic laws none of which he had contravened to warrant his being stopped. They threatened to tow his car to the Secretariat, Alausa, where he would pay a fine of N50, 000. According to him, "I was forced to part with N5, 000.0000.If I had broken any rule, I would have understood, but I had not. They cashed in on the fact that I was a foreigner and in a hurry." Lawani is only one among the hundreds of motorists who go through all kinds of odds daily in the hands of some corrupt LASTMA officials Rather than control traffic, some of them have become extortionists and assumed the status of touts. All over the metropolis, tales of woe abound. Another victim tells his story. "Not long ago, I took public transport along Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja on my way to Ojota. "As the bus was about to move, four LASTMA vehicles pulled up and impounded all the buses and cars that stopped for passengers at what everyone knew was a legal bus stop. "They gave the strange reason that the place was a bus stop but was being used as a motor garage. For anybody who is familiar with Awolowo Road in Ikeja, there is only one known motor park on that road, which is close to the Local Government Secretariat. " When I challenged them, one slapped me, the others crowded, punched and kicked me and forced me into one of their pick-ups. Another put tear gas in my face. I became dazed and fainted. "When I came to, I made calls to a number of people as a result of which they became worried and asked me to disembark but I insisted on seeing the end of the absurd drama, what with the way they had tortured me. "They took me to Ogba, where they got more victims and where the LASTMA vehicles drove ferociously against the traffic causing panic. A private vehicle was smashed in the confusion while even the LASTMA vehicle got damaged. " I also think the government needs to audit the LASTMA staff. Otherwise, the officials will continue to paint the Lagos State Government in bad light." Narrating his ordeal, this time at the hands of VIOs, another motorist, Mr. Sidney 'Kevwe said: "I was on my way to work when some VIO officials accompanied by mobile policemen and LASTMA officials flagged me down. I obeyed and parked. One of the officials demanded for my vehicle documents. I asked why she wanted them since I know it is not the duty of a VIO to check vehicle documents. "She was enraged and beckoned on a superior official to come. He ordered that my car be towed to the premises of the Ministry of Transport, Vehicle Inspection Unit at Alimosho Testing Ground in Ejigbo. "Instead of allowing them to tow my car, I drove it into the premises and parked close to the gate. "The next thing the man did was to slam a fine of N5, 000.00 on me for refusing to produce a MOT Certificate. He ordered that the vehicle tyres be deflated and vowed to ruin my day for telling them it was not their duty to check vehicle documents," he said. Another Motorists, Tochukwu Eze said: "Even at the so called checking centres, so many excesses are being practiced. You can imagine that after paying the N1,000 at the bank, an official that attended to me insisted I must pay another N500 ." A Lagosian who has had a brush with VIOs, Duro Sotoye said: " It is easy to think some of the VIOs, and LASTMA officers as well as those employed by local council traffic units are touts and half-reformed area boys by the way they behave. "I do not think that anyone would frown at efforts by the government to ease traffic or ensure that vehicles are roadworthy which I think loosely summarise the statutory functions of VIOs and LASTMA. The government also is entitled to revenue sources including fines and fees legally approved. But the fact is that these men and women should not see the motoring public as victims or easy sources of money to be humiliated and forced to part with money. They should not remind Lagosians of touts." Reacting to this development, Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Kayode Opeifa, said that the public was talking about LASTMA and VIOs was an indication that they were doing their jobs. He however noted that there are bad eggs among them. According to Opeifa: " There have been reports about waylaying antics of LASTMA officers and we have warned them that any one caught will be shown the way out. " We are engaging them in continuous training to help them do their work well." Opeifa who said the training would be continuous asked the public to get the number of any LASTMA official involved in sharp practices so that such an officer would be disciplined. " We have told them to de-emphasis arrest and concentrate on traffic control. They can arrest offenders by copying their vehicle numbers since attempting to arrest at all can result to accident and worsen traffic logjam. " For us in LASTMA we are concerned with traffic not arrest, that is the message we are trying to drum into their ears" he added. The spokesman of the ministry, Mr. Shina Thorpe denied the allegation that touts are now been employed to collect or extort money from motorist. He urged Lagosians to confirm the identity of any VIO officers if they were in doubt of their status. According to him, "So far I do not think it is appropriate to conclude that hoodlums are now employed by the ministry to act as agent of VIO officers. The ministry has also make its position known that no officer of the agency should operate on mufti, they have to be in uniform and also the public have the right to demand for their identity if they doubt their status. "It is also not a mater to contend whoever is not satisfied can make complaints to the ministry. So far there are no hoodlums in the services of the ministry". Thorpe also told The Guardian that the ministry is at present working to ensure that vehicles are checked on a regular basis to ensure their roadworthiness. Said he, "We discovered that a vehicle that is certified road worthy last month may no longer be today despite the paper clearance. What we now do is to call alert zonal commanders on the need to check all vehicles from time to time to avoid this problem."
N70bn Lagos light rail ready in 2011 Less than a month after introducing the Bus Rapid Transit scheme, the Lagos State Government has approved N70bn for another mass transit programme, this time, the light rail project. And excited by the instant success of the BRT Lite, the state government has also increased the number of buses on the Mile 12 -Ikorodu Road-CMS route from 126 to 196. The Managing Director, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, made the disclosure in Lagos on Thursday at a meeting with a delegation from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, led by its Director-General, Prof. Akin Akindoyeni. He said that the N70bn was for the completion of two rail networks, which would be ready for operation by 2011. The two lines, he added were part of the seven rail networks, which LAMATA had prepared for development in the state for effective integrated transport system. The two lines, according to him, will run through Agbado-Iddo-Marina and Ojo/LASU-Okokomaiko-Marina routes. He said that the private sectors would provide the rolling stock for the running of the light rail, just like the BRT Lite currently being operated by the National Union of Road Transport Workers. Moreberola stressed that LAMATA would provide the policy direction and regulation of the transport scheme, in addition to the provision of the necessary infrastructure. He also said that the rail lines would link the airport, lamenting, that Lagos was the only mega city in the world without an efficient rail system. It is also the only mega city where its airport is not linked by rail. The LAMATA boss said, already, two consultants were on ground to come out with feasibility studies and drawings for the project. These should be ready by the end of July this year. He added that the lines would not interfere with the existing or new rail tracks being conceptualised by the Federal Government along the corridors.
Lagos pays Lekki property owners N25.4m compensation AS part of its plan to compensate owners of the affected properties in the on-going Maroko-Epe expressway expansion, the Lagos State government yesterday paid N25.4 million to some affected firms and individuals. Yesterday's payment, according to the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Lands, Alhaji Gbenga Ashafa, was the first phase of approved compensation to affected property owners. Some of the beneficiaries included Messrs Knorr Construction Company, Pennisulla Resort, Chief S. O. Fadahunsi, Rocky Sporting Clubs and F. O. & Properties. Speaking during the ceremony, Ashafa said 27 property owners were due to receive the compensation, adding that the next batch would be paid soon. He also disclosed that when the original design of the project was carried out, it was discovered that more than 90 buildings would be affected. "But after a thorough examination and considerations by the government and the consultant handling the project, another design was carried out, which turned out to be a better option. Hence, only 27 properties were affected," he added. He said that the first phase of the project, which is Falomo-Roundabout to Maroko, nick named kilometre "0 - 2", had been completed, adding that the next phase would start "latest in a month's time." Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr. Bode Onibudo expressed gratitude to the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, for keeping to his promise.
Lagos to fast-track payment of teachers THE Lagos State government yesterday promised to expedite action on the settlement of arrears of pensions of retired primary school teachers. Deputy Governor Mrs Sarah Sosan said this when she addressed protesting primary school teachers yesterday. She said the state government is not unmindful of the plight of the teachers and it is finalising arrangements with financial institutions that would raise the N5billion needed to pay the arrears. She added that because of the large sum involved, the arrangements on how the funds can be recouped from the local governments by the lending banks are being finalised before the fund is released and disbursed. She explained that it was in recognition of the high esteem which the Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) holds the retired teachers that he decided to set up a ministerial committee under her chairmanship to resolve the issue. Mrs. Sosan sought the understanding of the protesting retired teachers so that the grey areas could be resolved, especially about how banks that would grant the N5billion loan would be paid back. Also speaking, the Accountant General of the State, Mr Akin Ambode informed that the Joint Action Committee (JAC) that usually meet to deliberate on release of funds has just met and that before the end of this week, the cheque for payment of February and March pensions would be ready for collection.
980 retired teachers reported dead in seven years About 980 retired primary school teachers in Lagos State have died in the last seven years as a result of starvation and various illnesses. This was disclosed on Monday by the pensioners, led by Mr. Sanya Joseph, who visited the state secretariat, Alausa, to protest. This is coming just three days after the state Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Rotimi Oyekan, disclosed that government had paid all gratuities and pensions. According to Joseph who with other members, distributed the handbills that contained the death information, as at May 2007, the association of primary school pensioners had recorded about 980 deaths since 2000. He said, “Some have even died this year but we have not been able to take their record. Many are living with stroke, some are bedridden with various diseases, and some are suffering from starvation. “Pensioners are dying on a daily basis due to lack of money to sustain their lives. We have been frustrated because we have nothing to show for our 35 years of meritorious services to Lagos State.” The protesters, who carried placards with different inscriptions, stated that the government was yet to pay them their gratuities and pension arrears between 1999 and 2007. They said that the government still owed them the arrears of 180 per cent pension increase for 66 months. According to Joseph, about 2, 392 retirees are affected by the 180 per cent increase while over 3,000 are affected by the 142 per cent increase for 74 months. Another retiree, Mrs. Mosunmola Kukoyi, who spoke with our correspondent, said that she retired in 1997 and confirmed the death toll. She added that four pensioners died in her constituency, Somolu Local Government Area of the state in March, 2008 without having the opportunity to receive their pension. Kukoyi recalled how she left her hospital bed to attend the verification exercise organised by the state government for pensioners last year but said that despite the pain, the government refused o pay her. Reacting to the protest, the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Sarah Sosan, who was accompanied by the state Head of Service, Alhaji Yakubu Balogun, said that issues about gratuity would be resolved through the newly introduced contributory pension scheme.
Tinubu, Fashola, Mamora call for true federalism Former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and his successor, Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) at the weekend led other stakeholders to call for the review of the 1999 Constitution to facilitate true federalism. Fashola, Tinubu, Action Congress (AC) leaders and other elected office holders from the state, spoke at the Peninsula Resort, Ajah, Lagos, venue of a two-day executive/ legislative parley. Aside the call for constitution review, Fashola and Tinubu also called for the repeal of some laws, which they considered inimical to the development of the state. According to Fashola, some of these laws, which he described as "vestiges of unitarism", are the National Sports Lottery Act, Decree 28 of 1998, Value Added Tax, Land Use Act, and the National Inland Waterways Act. He suggested that there should be a law which would direct the payment of some taxes to state governments. These taxes, such as capital gains, Stamp Duty and income taxes being collected by the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), according to the governor, should be returned to the states. "The effect of Section 163 of the Constitution is that these taxes, i.e. income tax collected from individuals in the Armed Forces and Police as well as Stamp Duty collected from companies have to be returned to the states from which the tax or duty was derived, i.e, the states in which the taxpayer individual was resident or in which the underlying transaction of the document stamped took place," Fashola said. He said the National Assembly went overboard by promulgating the National Sports Lottery Act, which vested the right in the National Sports Lottery Plc to carry out business in every part of the country. He explained that matters of lottery, pools and betting were not listed on the Exclusive and Concurrent List and as such "within the residual competences of states." At the parley, which was also attended by AC leaders such as the party chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale, Chief Bush Alebiosu, Deputy Governor Mrs. Sarah Sosan, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, and Adenrele Adeniran-Ogunsanya, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Fashola chided the proponents of the proposed National Inland Waterways Authority Bill, meant to replace the existing National Inland Waterways Act. The governor said if passed as it is, the bill, just like the Act it is supposed to replace, contravened the provision of the 1999 Constitution, because it encroached on the power of states to regulate activities of intra-state waterways. Fashola said: "The greater the more resources are concentrated in the all powerful centre, the more states and local governments are incapacitated to effectively discharge their responsibilities as agents of development." He added that the current democratic government, which we run, offers unique opportunity to canvass and actualise necessary constitutional changes that will strengthen the federal features of our polity." Asiwaju Tinubu, who berated the Senate Committee on Health for collecting money from the Ministry of Health, all in the name of organising a seminar, observed that some taxes being shared among all states now, such as the one on liquor were aberrations, since not all states contributed to generating it. "Somebody will come and say ‘don’t drink beer. If you do, we will cut your hand.’ We are the ones who indulge in alcoholism. We are the ones who take the beer. We are the ones who are supposed to take the money. ‘Why can’t you say which one is VAT on beer?’" he said. The former governor charged federal and state lawmakers from Lagos to work with the state government to ensure that constitutional means were evolved to get the state its dues from the Federal Government. Other speakers including Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and House of Representative’s Minority Whip, Hon. Olu-femi Gbajabiamila, said the constitution is due for a comprehensive review. Senator Mamora said: "We must seek to abrogate the listing of local governments as we have in the First Schedule, Part 1 of the Constitution. This will not only effectively solidify and justify the 57 Local Government Areas we already have, but open avenue for creation of additional ones if so desired." Mamora also said Lagos deserves a special attention aside getting its due from the VAT, Education Tax Fund and the Petroleum Consumption Tax. Buttressing Governor Fashola’s position, Mamora called for the repeal of all obnoxious laws targeted at Lagos, such as the Act vesting the ownership of "all land within the 100 metres limit of the 1967 shoreline and all land reclaimed near the Lagoon, sea or ocean in or bordering Nigeria exclusively in the Federal Government of Nigeria." He said that he was already working on a bill to repeal this law. Hon. Ikuforiji also urged that we must end the infringement of the right of Lagos State by the Federal Government, especially in the area of taxes, Land Use and Inland Waterways. In a communiqué issued at the end of the parley, the stakeholders agreed to work for the enthronement of true federalism for Lagos to attain its desired height.
Mayhem in a city suburb PEOPLE in the Isolo area of the Lagos Mainland were shocked at the level of violence. So also must the spirit of the late Okota, the progenitor of the combatants, who is said to have died about 200 years ago. The legendary hunter who migrated from Ile-Ife settled in a vast-tract of land in Isolo, in present day Isolo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State. While he would have taken some pride that his descendants have literally multiplied and filled the whole Isolo, he would also have been shocked and saddened that groups among his great-great grand children would take up guns, machetes, and cudgels against one of their own. According to a resident, Alhaji Jamiu Isa, "It was an attack launched with the aim of taking lives. They came in two buses and they wanted to kill people they felt were opposed to the tyranny and monopoly of power unknown in Yoruba land they want to impose. What happened had been brewing and the police knew. Yet, for three hours, they did not respond. May be, they were waiting for someone to be killed before they moved in to restore order." At the end of the attack, hundreds of spent cartridges and bullets as well as live ones and broken bottles littered the area. Bullet marks scarred the walls and shards of smashed car windscreens were just about everywhere around No.16, Aregbe Street and No. 21, Akinbaye Street, Isolo. Two of the sons of Alhaji Lateef Adisa Aregbe, the suspected primary target of the assailants, were shot. Bullets were later extracted from their bodies at Emmanuel Hospital, Isolo, near Aswani Divisional Police Station when The Guardian visited on Wednesday morning. The attack, The Guardian gathered, may not be unconnected with a long-running tussle of who becomes the Olori ebi or family of the ruling Okota family. In such a person would repose the power of attorney to administer the family property among the descendants of Okota's five children, Idowu Apena, Kobolu, Okobale, Faniyi Aluko and Ibioyinmi. The present Olori ebi of Okota family, Alhaji Lateef Adisa Aregbe, who holds the power of attorney, told The Guardian the traditional ruler, Oba Kabiru Agbabiaka wanted to effect a change from what had been agreed upon by the family and attested to in an agreement signed on November 14, 2007. Narrating his ordeal, Aregbe said he and some members of his family were having lunch that Tuesday afternoon when they were attacked by hired thugs suspected to be members of the O'odua People Congress (OPC) from Mushin. He said: " Trouble started last in November last year, when the family rejected an attempt by the Oba to remove me as the Olori ebi. "There was an agreement and I was elected to be the head. Since then, I have not known peace. They vowed to deal with me and kill all of us one by one. Last year, they wrote a petition against me that I hired assassins to kill him. The police picked me up with other members of the family. While I was detained at Panti, others were detained in Zone D and Aswani. The Commissioner of Police looked into the case and dismissed it. We were released. "They have written all sorts of petitions against me, one even came from Abuja and I was picked up again and later released. "Based on the strength of one such petition, the police searched for arms in my house while I was in detention. Still, they found nothing and I was released." Tuesday's attack, he said, started at Ago Palace Way, when thugs attacked his brother, Ganiyu, who had machete cuts on the legs as well as swollen face from the beating he got at Lateef Aregbe Street, Ago Palace Way, Okota, where he went to collect money from a client. According to him, the thugs did not only steal the N 4.5 million he collected from sale of six plots of land, he was stripped at the police station. He said: " The police were there, but could not do anything. They threatened to kill my client, Mr. Jeff Obinna, who witnessed the attack if he testified at the station. "The District Police Officer was not happy but he could not do much." According to him, his sister, Alhaja Fausat and her husband, Yaya Oluwisebi, lost over N150, 000 to the thugs. " Apart from the money and beating, I also lost my two handsets, a national identity card and some bank documents, I intended to use to lodge the money in the bank," he told the Guardian on Wednesday. But that was not the end of the matter, according to Alhaji Lateef Aregbe, because he did not know that " those who wanted to subvert the family agreement also wanted me dead. After what happened at Ago Palace Way, I made a report at the police station and came back home to eat. They came to attack us in my home. You can see the food littered everywhere. They shot at me and later use a hammer to break my legs. They were even instructed to blind me if they could not kill me. Properties worth several millions of naira were destroyed, the windscreen of five cars parked outside smashed and vandalized, several people wounded, and my two sons eating with me shot by the attackers. They smashed doors and windows, fired bullets into my rooms, ransacked everywhere and stole money in three hours of madness. Yet, the police could not arrest anybody." It was gathered that the Area D Police Commander was unhappy that the District Police Officers had failed in their duties and continually fed him with wrong information. When The Guardian visited the scene, some police officers were stationed near the Oba's palace, while broken bottles and windscreens as well as a goat killed by the attackers, littered Alhaji Lateef Aregbe's, building. Meanwhile, the Aswani Divisional Police Officer, Mr. Johnson, who led a team of policemen to the scene, told The Guardian the case has been reported to the headquarters while investigation on the matter was on. He also pleaded with Alhaji Aregbe to change his bloodstained clothes. Efforts to reach the Osolo of Isolo proved abortive as he was said to be engaged in series of meetings connected with the incident. A source told The Guardian the family has been polarised since after the late Oba passed away. However, calm has returned to the area as residents hope that peace may be allowed to reign in Isolo as in the past.
Tears, Grief As Bulldozer Pulls Down Oshodi Market Over 2000 lock up shops and properties worth millions of naira were on Saturday demolished at the Mosafejo Market, Oshodi by the Lagos State Physical Town Planning and Development Authority for not having development permit from the Agency, the General Chairman of Mosafejo Market, Mr Yemi Janehin, revealed this to The Guardian when it called on the scene of the demolition for an on-the-spot assessment. Commenting on the genesis of the crisis, Janehin said that on February 1, officials of the Authority went to demolish a section of the market that was being renovated. He said the agency claimed that the shops being renovated and upgraded had no development permit, although they were carrying on the construction work in conjunction with the Ikeja Local Government. "In short, it is a surprise to us. Last year, we were having series of fire incident, so as a result we went to the local government to seek approval to renovate a side of the market. After we were given approval, on February 1, the state government came and they started demolishing the buildings. We sought to know what the problem was and they said we should go to the Lagos State Physical Town Planning and Development Authority, which we did. "The agency asked us to come with the physical structural plan and other things, which we have done and given to them, including the application from the local government. But to our greatest surprise, two days ago they came and were driving us out without notice or information," he stated. Mr Rufai Adekunle, an officer in the Lagos State Physical Town Planning and Development Authority, who supervised the demolition on Saturday, maintained that neither the traders nor the local government got the approval from his agency before they started the development of the market. He said: "As far as we are concerned, they did not get approval and when they were served all the notices they did not come up with any approval letter. So, the issue that they were not served notices is not true. The first thing is that in line with the Lagos State Town Planning Law and Regulations, all individuals and governments in all levels must obtain a development permit before the commencement of any construction work. "When they were doing the renovation, the structures were promptly served, to give attention to whoever is occupying the buildings, because it was served right on the structure, while those doing the construction collected the notice. They are not covered by development permit; let them produce it if they have permit. They were given adequate time but they did not comply." Janehin, however, said that if some things were wrong, government should have called them to dialogue on the way out, considering the fact that over 10,000 men and women feed their family members from the profit of sales made in the market and over N50 million was spent to renovate a section of the market. "We do not believe our eyes that government can come up one day and drive people out of the market in other to destroy the shops. It is a disappointment that we, citizens of this country, in our father land, can be treated as slaves," he posited. One of the traders, Mrs Nnorom said although they were served notice, it was a week's notice which, to her, was just too short for them to take the appropriate steps. Many of the traders, who were seen moving out their goods from the rubbles when The Guardian visited, wore long faces. A concerned citizen, Mr Donatus Ndubuisi, opined that government would do well if they provide them another place to operate and trade. "Outside that, I think government would be unfair and would be rendering many people jobless, which is a threat to the security of the state," he said. At the curtain-line part of the Mosafejo market, shop owners were seen busy moving out their wares and personal effects out of the reach of the marauding area boys who were prowling around, intent on looting the market. Others were still undecided as to what next to do and only a few could express their mind. Mrs. Abosede Idowu, one of the shop owners, stated that she was in a state of confusion and really did not know what to do except evacuate her goods. "I can't say what is the cause of this demolition at all because the committee we appointed to represent us have not been informing us of what is going on. "What we heard at first was that the government gave us seven-day ultimatum to pack out of our shops and my reaction was that even if a landlord was to eject a tenant from his house, the law stipulates a three-month quit notice before such ejection can take effect. Again, I heard that the committee of representatives was in discussion with the state government, seeking ways on how the matter could be settled amicably and out of court but as at now, I don't know what has become of that discussion. This is not the time to ask questions from anybody because even the leaders themselves are all affected." But in a chat with The Guardian, Mr. Ben Akunya, vice chairman of the Curtain-line Express market said: "This latest action of the state government has left me speechless, because the way and manner this demolition was carried out is beyond human feeling. Millions of naira has gone down the drain in over 2000 shops which were legally established in 1983 during Jakande's administration." According to Akunya, "what actually happened is that sometime in February, some people came to us here from the Ministry of Physical Planning and wanted to know if we had government's approval for the market structures. We told them that this market belongs to the Onigbongbo Local Government. Few days later, they came with a seven-day ultimatum to leave the market and the same day they brought the notice was the same day they started demolition in some parts of the market. "After that incident, we went to the local government and they in turn took us to the ministry. The demolition stopped; we opened negotiations with the ministry officials, even spending a lot of money on the reconciliation process. At first, they said there should be no obstruction 50 metres away from the road. Later they said it is 100 metres; another time they came and said it was illegal approval plan to build structures at the curtain-line and we said: 'Fine we would moved the market away from the road to at least 100 metres'. But suddenly, they came here on Friday and said it is an order from the governor to demolish the whole market. "We are talking of a democracy and this is happening to us. Presently, we don't know the actual reason of the demolition; some are saying the government wants to make use of this place for another BRT garage, but that is still on the basis of rumour because the government has not come out to tell us their purpose of the demolition which they ought to do. Why we didn't go to court was because of the discussion we had had with the ministry and we felt we could sit down and resolve the grey areas concerning the market, but if we had known all along that the government is deceiving us, we would have headed for the court. "We are, therefore, carrying out a peaceful protest march to the governor and the house of assembly on Monday (tomorrow) to explain our grievances to Fashola. If they are really the government of the people then they owe us compensation for our demolished shops. We have everything a market should have; we have a police station, mosque, church, hospital, banks, parking spaces and garage, even Baba and Iya loja so I don't know why the government is disturbing us now."
HIV/AIDS battle gets to barbers’shops in Lagos Campaigns against the spread of HIV/AIDS in Nigeria have been mostly restricted to the prevention of its transmission through sexual intercourse and blood transfusion in hospitals. The emphasis on safe sex, particularly the use of condoms, must have been informed by the belief that more than 80 per cent of HIV/AIDS is spread through sexual intercourse. The efforts to curb the spread of the disease can be said to have yielded some fruits with the country’s HIV prevalence dropping from 5.8 per cent in 2001 to 5.0 per cent in 2003 and 4.4 per cent in 2005. In spite of the decrease in the national prevalence rate, there has been an increase in the number of people living with the disease in some states. For example, 15 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, have prevalence rates greater than the national prevalence rate of 4.4 per cent. Other states, including Lagos, have however recorded a drop in their prevalence rate. For example, the prevalence in Lagos dropped from 6.9 per cent in 1999 to 3.3 in 2005. Until last week, much emphasis had not been placed on the use of sharp objects. This must have informed Lagos State’s new guideline for barbers and hair dressers. Last Thursday, the state government distributed 1,000 sterilisation units to barbers. At the event held in Agidingbi, Lagos, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on HIV/AIDS, Dr Adetokunbo Dabiri, said the disease could be spread through the use of sharp objects used by barbers. Dabiri stated that one could not rule out the fact that there were people who contacted the disease through barbershops. Our correspondent learnt that the equipment can sterilise all tools used by barbers and hairdressers within five minutes. She said the state Action Committee on AIDS would ensure that all barbers in the state use the sterilising equipment. “We will constantly engage the leadership of barbers and hairdressers associations in monitoring of their members,” the officer said. Dabiri, however, indicated that the use of the sterilising units could lead to the increase in the cost of cutting hair. “We implore customers not to feel slighted or cheated whenever the cost of barbing goes up because barbers will need to buy chemicals for the sterilisation,” the governor’s aide added. The state Governor, Mr. Raji Fashola, who distributed the sterilising units, said the state government was committed to the provision of infrastructure that would enhance the health of people. The governor noted the HIV/AIDS has become a major health challenge in the world. According to him, it has affected 40m people in the world. He stated that the state government would continue to intensify efforts to check the spread of the disease. According to him, the efforts of the government have resulted in the decline in the prevalence rate of the disease in the state. The governor stated that the state government had been reaching to all segments of the society, particularly those infected with HIV/AIDS. He urged barbers to use equipment certified by relevant authorities for sterilisation.
Lagos drops N2.7 trillion suit against tobacco firms THE Lagos State government has withdrawn a N2.7 trillion suit it instituted against six tobacco companies as claims for damages and money allegedly spent by the government on treating tobacco related ailments in its hospitals. In a notice of discontinuance filed by the state government dated February 21, 2008 and signed by Lawal Pedro, Director of Civil Litigation, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, and Babatunde Irukesa of M/STI, the claimants stated that they, "wholly discontinued the action against all the defendants in the suit." Named as defendants in the suit jointly filed by the Lagos State government and a non-governmental organisation, Environmental Rights Action (ERA) are the British American Tobacco Nigeria Limited, International Tobacco Company Limited and British American Tobacco Plc. Other defendants in the suit are British American Tobacco Investment Limited, Philip Morris International and the Tobacco Institute. The claimants on May 2, 2007 instituted a suit against the defendants claiming N2.7 trillion as compensation for health hazards resulting from cigarette smoking in the state. At the time of filing of the suit, the claimants had alleged that statistics taken in Lagos State revealed that whilst tobacco smoking increased by 20 per cent yearly, there were about 9527 recorded cases of tobacco related illnesses that had been treated in the state in 2006, of which at least two persons died per day from these tobacco related diseases. They (claimants) also averred that the state government had expended N216,000 in 2006 as hospital bill per individual treated for tobacco related illness. The claimants in their suit alleged to have been claiming all costs spent in the preceding 20 years and anticipatory expenditure for the next 20 years as well as damages for injuries and losses resulting from the defendants' negligence and or breach of duty. When the suit commenced in Lagos State, some other states, which felt the same impact, took a cue and filed similar actions against the tobacco companies operating in their areas. Among such states were Kano, Gombe in the North East, and Oyo State, in the South West. No state in the South East, South South, North East or North Central regions considered the issue actionable. Consequently, the Federal Government was forced to join the suit when it filed an action at the Federal High Court, Abuja in November last year demanding N5.3 trillion. It is not yet clear if the other states and the Federal Government that took similar actions have also withdrawn their own suits. The suit for Lagos was endorsed by the then Attorney General of the state and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), during the administration of former Governor Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
Lagos launches agric programme, to tackle rural-urban drift BUOYED by the high incidence of rural-urban drift to Lagos metropolis and the need to ensure food security in the state, the government has launched a new initiative tagged: "State Agricultural Awareness Programme (SAAP)", which targets the training of young men of school age interested in agriculture. Lagos State Commissioner for Rural Development, Lanre Balogun, who disclosed this during a stakeholders' forum at the weekend in Lagos, said the new initiative was aimed at ensuring food security, provision of jobs and discouraging rural-urban drift. He urged principals and agricultural science teachers to encourage the students to see farming as a lucrative vocation, which guarantees self-reliance. In an address delivered on his behalf by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr. Muyideen Akinsanya, the commissioner observed that the farmlands are being cultivated today by aged men who largely practise subsistence farming with crude energy-sapping implements. He said the result of this is that their productive ability is far below the food requirement of our ever-growing population. He added: "To redress the situation and prepare youths for the enormous challenges ahead, we have to catch them young, prepare their minds and start inculcating in them the idea of mechanised farming in all facets of the industry like poultry, piggery, animal husbandry, fish farming and cropping". Balogun noted that the programme was capable of speeding up rural development as youths will be encouraged to remain in the villages while the farm produce will provide enough raw materials to attract agro-allied companies, which will in turn bring about expected developments in the areas. He solicited the cooperation of the principals and agricultural science teachers in ensuring that students derive maximum benefit from the programme. Balogun promised that the state government would render all necessary assistance to ensure that the programme is a success. "Part of the strategy is the massive provision of infrastructure in the rural areas of the state", he added.
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