10—Vanguard, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2013
Fashola employs 2 physically challenged as traffic Wardens BY MONSURU OLOWOOPEJO
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AGOS — GOVERNOR Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, yesterday, employed three wardens including two physically challenged, to join in traffic management. Meanwhile, activities at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa were halted by the members of the Committee for the Defense of Human Rights, CDHR, who stormed the State House of Assembly to challenge the law-makers over what it described as antipeople laws emanating from the house. Fashola while announcing the jobs of the three former voluntary traffic wardens at the launching of the state law enforcement training institute and graduation ceremony of 3, 311 officers of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, said that the graduation was part of the reform of the law enforcement agency.
FAAN assures passengers of seamless travel BY DANIEL ETEGHE
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HE FEDERAL Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, yesterday, assured air passengers across the country of seamless travel experience during the forth coming festive season. Disclosing this development to newsmen, General Manager Public Affairs FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati noted that adequate arrangements were already on ground to ensure that passengers have a seamless travel experience devoid of any discomfort. According to Mr. Dati: “The authority has made adequate arrangements to ensure seamless passenger facilitating at all our airports during the forthcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations.”
I inherited total decay in aviation sector, Oduah tells Senate By JOHNBOSCO AGBAKWURU & JOSEPH ERUNKE
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BUJA—MINISTER of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, yesterday, told the Senate Committee on Aviation that the aviation sector was in total collapse when she assumed duty as minister, saying she had repositioned the sector to meet global standards. This came as she said investigation into the crashed Associated Airline was still ongoing even as she disclosed that the ministry had established a black-box laboratory centre in the country. Oduah said rather than being crucified over some challenges still in the sector, she deserved commendation as her efforts helped to give the country’s aviation sector a face-lift to meet modern challenges. The Aviation Minister said this when she appeared before the Senate Committee on Aviation. She insisted that the aviation sector was in a deep rot when she took office in July 2011. The minister said: “The sector was dilapidated, unmanned and highly unprofessional” when she took a facility tour on assumption of office in July, 2011. Princess Oduah disclosed that the nation’s airports were characterised by obsolete, unserviceable and unavailable safety and security before her
assumption as minister. The minister was invited by the committee to explain the possible causes of the incessant air accidents in the aviation sector in recent times as well as her role in the controversial purchase of two bullet-proof cars, which value was put at N255 million. But she did not comment on the controversial bullet-proof cars. Playing a video tape of the crashed Associated Airline before members of the committee to see,
Oduah called for understanding, saying the concluded investigation would unearth the problem that caused the air mishap. According to her, what was operating then was an unsafe working condition for airport staff, especially those of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN. “There were several abandoned control towers all over the nation. We had 154 abandoned control
projects all over. There were also several runways without runway lighting. “There were massive leakages of agencies’ revenue due to manipulation of manual revenue collection process. “There was also further loss of revenue due to several lopsided so-called ‘concession’ agreements skewed against the government and public interests”, she added.
HANDING-OVER: From left, Hon. Funmilayo Tejuosho, member of Lagos State House of Assembly; Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Commissioner for Work and Infrastructure; Gov. Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Oba Lateef Dauda, Onitire Itire, cutting the tape, and Mr. Babatunde Adepitan, Chairman, Mushin Local Government, during the handing-over of 16 roads in Mushin Local Government Area, yesterday. Photo: Bunmi Azeez
Lagos warns against burying corpses in residential areas BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI
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AGOS — LAGOS State Government, yesterday, warned residents of the state to desist from burying their dead in their compounds and comply with laws prohibiting burial of family members on private property located within their community. According to the government, such practice poses a major challenge for government to relocate such corpses in the
course of future road expansion and reconstruction projects in such areas. Meantime, Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State has disclosed that over 200 roads had been constructed across the state within the last one year. The state Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat gave the warning on burial to residents at Mushin Local Government Area of the state, shortly before Gov-
13 years after sack: Group wants Akele reinstated BY OLASUNKANMI AKONI
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s part of activities mark ing the World Human Rights Day, a group has appealed to former Lagos State governor, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu for intervention, and incumbent Governor Babatunde Fashola, to waive the angers of yester years and reinstate labour leader, Mr. Ayodele Akele sacked by the state government 13 years ago. Akele, who was then the chairman, Council of Industrial Union, was sacked in 2001
for leading a protest for better working conditions and demanded a payment of N7, 500 minimum wage to Lagos State civil servants. Speaking to newsmen, yesterday, the facilitator, Akele Reinstatement Campaign Organisation, Mr. Olanrewaju Suraju, said the platform which comprised 50 civil society groups, was prevailing on the state government to reinstate him in his due position even if he would be retired immediately as this year would have marked his statutory 35 years in Lagos civil service.
ernor Babatunde Fashola, finally, handed over 16 completed networks of roads in the council totaling 10.127 kilometres. Fashola in his remarks,
appealed to residents to shun the culture of trading on roads and walk ways and other forms of activities that constitute nuisance on the roads.
19,000 benefit from SURE-P in S-West BY VICTOR AHIUMAYOUNG
THE FEDERAL Government has said no fewer than 19,000 persons in the South West part of the country have so far benefitted from Community Services Women and Youths Employment, CSWYE, project of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme, SURE P. Speaking through the Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, in Oyo State, during a sensitisation and appraisal tour of the CSWYE project of SURE P, for the South West Geo Political zone, beneficiaries recorded man hours work output of 27, 550,000 in the past one year. A statement by Prince Samuel Olowookere, Deputy Director, Press/Public Relations, Ministry
of Labour, quoted Chief Wogu as assuring Nigerians that the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan, was committed to job creation as well as empowerment of women and youths for self reliance. Chief Wogu, who recently led a high powered delegation on CSWYE project of SURE P, to the Governor of Oyo State, South West Geo Political zone, said: “I want to re assure all the people of Oyo State and Nigerians at large that, the promise made by Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, to create jobs for Nigerian youths is being successfully implemented through the CSWYE project.” According to him, other five states in the South West Geo Political zone had also benefited from the project with a total beneficiary figure of 19,000 with man hours work output of 27, 550,000.”