46—SATURDAY Vanguard, OCTOBER 10, 2015
Lagos loses N3.7 1 bn N3.71 pr oper ty proper operty to fire disasters
Ambode halts eviction of IjoraBadia residents BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO
LAGOS state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has ordered a halt to the ongoing demolition and forceful eviction of over 15, 000 persons from their homes at Ijora-Badia East in Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Area, LCDA. The demolition which commenced on Friday, September 18, 2015 was sequel to a Lagos High Court judgment delivered March 2014 by Justice Alogba. The court ruled that the royal families of Ojoras own the disputed land. Ambode, who spoke at a meeting in Alausa, said that the Oba of Ijoraland and head of the Ojora family, Abdulfatai Aromire should stay action on the demolition and asked the affected to liaise with the meet the Ojora family reaching an amicable resolution of the dispute. Ambode, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Jafar Sanuth, gave both parties 30 days to resolve the issue. “Government cannot mediate on sentiments. All documents presented by the evictees are temporarily documents and we should not forget that the family (Ojoras) had gone to court and the Judiciary, an arm of the government issued a judgment on the said matter. “We are only mediating and in a bid to ensure that both parties do not feel aggrieved, we are giving both parties 30 days to meet and resolve the issues on the disputed land. “We pray that you resolve the issues but in a situation where both parties cannot reach judgment, the government will look into how to help both parties reach a common ground,” the Governor said. C M Y K
•Badia
Alimosho traders protest planned demolition of market stalls BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI TRADERS at the Irepodun/ Olorunshogo market, Oladun Road, Council/ Powerline Bus Stop, Isheri Idimu in Egbe Idimu Local Council Development Area of Alimosho local government area of Lagos state have staged a protest over plans to demolish their stalls, allegedly without giving them adequate notice. Last week, the traders in their hundreds, stormed the secretariat of the council to seek audience with Executive Secretary of the LCDA, Kunle Sanyaolu Olowopejo, over the matter but officials there prevented them from seeing him. The Irepodun Community Development Association in the area has vowed to resist the proposed demolition. The CDA in a two page letter, dated September, 15, 2015 to the Area Commander, ‘Area M’ Police Command, Pipeline, Idimu, Lagos, noted that in order to “avert the consequential breach of peace and harmony within the community, we implore you to use your good office to quickly arrest the situation by calling Kazeem, his agents and all other concerned authorities to order before it is too late.” In a letter signed by Comrade MK Shoyombo on behalf of the traders and dated October 2, 2015 the protesters noted that, “to
the majority of us, it came as a rude shock. It was served during the Ileya festival period as well as the resumption of our children back to school. “In view of this and other considerations we urge the LCDA to extend the proposed development to afford us ample time to wrap- up our market activities for the year, balance our yearly accounts and settle various contributions.” But the council had in a notice titled, “To whom it may concern” warned that, “you are hereby informed that Egbe Idimu LCDA will commence the redevelopment of Olorunsogo
•Gov Ambode
BY MONSUR OLOWOOPEJO THE Lagos state government has a released a report indicating that various fire incidents in the area destroyed property worth N3.71 billion in 464 disasters in the area in the between June and September 2015. According to the report released by State Fire Service, there were a total of 464 emergency calls including cases of collapsed buildings during which estimated property worth N22.26 billion was saved from being consumed by fire. The Fire Service said it had secured the release of an undisclosed fund for aggressive public enlightenment programme to sensitize citizens on fire and disaster prevention. According to the Director State Fire Service, “this is an ongoing exercise which is being conducted through motorised campaign to all nooks and cranny of the state and the Fire Service secured approval to increase its workforce with recruitment of 100 firemen to further strengthen the service.”
LSPWC begins repair of potholes BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI THE Lagos State Public Works Corporation, LSPWC, has flagged-off its “Operation fix all potholes,” an exercise aimed at ridding Lagos roads of pot holes in order to enhance the free flow of vehicular movement. The LSPWC General Manager, Ayotunde Sodeinde, who spoke at the flag-off of the programme on Wednesday, explained that the operation was in line with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s directive to fix and rehabilitate all deplorable roads in the state. The LSPWC boss described condition of some roads in the metropolis as “regrettable” adding that government is determined to tackle the issue headlong. Speaking at Betalbox, at in the Ogba area of the state, Sodeinde, said that, “we are here to show you the concern of the state government on plight of the residents who ply the road.
The road has been left in this poor state for over eight years. “When we arrived here, the entire stretch of the road is in state of disrepair and at the moment, we are grading the road and when we get to an equal level, we will pour asphalt. “We pray that it does not rain consistently so that we should be able to complete the work in the next three weeks. “We are working on different roads in Lagos. While some are for complete repair, some others are for full rehabilitation and reconstruction. “The Corporation has been maintaining Federal Roads in the past and we will continue to do so and our objective is to make the roads in the state pothole free so as to ease vehicular movement and reduce the stress frequently experienced by motorists.