Tag: Lekki

Police Arrest Two Robbery Suspects In Lekki, Recover Loot

Police Arrest Two Suspected Robbers In Lekki, Recover Loot

Two suspected members of a robbery gang notorious for terrorising residents of Lekki area in Lagos State have met their Waterloo shortly after robbing two persons.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Bala Elkana, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday.

READ ALSO: Air Force Trains Personnel To Tackle Terrorism, Armed Banditry

The suspects – Adebayo Ayomide and Isaac David – were arrested by a team of detectives led by the Divisional Police Officer, Maroko Police Station, Mr Isah Abdulmajid.

The police team had embarked on crime prevention patrol on the Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge around 9 pm on Saturday.

In the course of their duty, they came in contact with two young women simply identified as, Gbemi and Hannah, who appeared to be in panic.

Upon questioning, the women explained to the team that they had just been dispossessed of their phones by the suspects at gunpoint.

They pointed at the direction through which the suspects escaped on a motorcycle after which the police went after them.

“The team tracked down the suspects and upon searching them, their operational single-barrelled gun, a cutlass and the phone were found on them. The items were recovered and the criminals were taken into custody,” the statement said.

“In their confessional statements, they owned up to belonging to a syndicate terrorising Lekki and its environs.”

According to Elkana, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Zubairu Muazu, commending the team for a swift response to the crime and the eventual arrest of the suspects.

He also directed that the case be transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the command for further investigation.

The police commissioner assured residents of the state of the command’s commitment to securing lives and properties in every nook and cranny of the state.

He, however, warned criminal-minded individuals to either change their ways or face the full weight of the law.

We Need To Get The Local Governments Working Again – Jimi Agbaje

 

The Lagos gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Jimi Agbaje has said that the state’s local governments need to get working again. 

Jimi Agbaje made this statement while responding to a question at The Platform’s Lagos Governorship Debate.

Agbaje in a reaction to questions about gridlocks in Lagos said that the key is to “get the local governments working again” adding that the grassroots play a great roll in making state function optimally.

The PDP gubernatorial candidate said that planning ahead is crucial if Lagos must overcome its problem with traffic jam.

READ ALSO: LIVE: The Platform’s Lagos Governorship Debate

Giving an example of the refinery coming up on the Lekki axis of the state, Agabje said if no forward thinking is put into play, then we may have another issue as experienced in the Apapa area.

He said, “There is no provision yet for what is going to happen to lift products from there, so if we are not careful, we are going to have another gridlock as we have in Apapa”.

Agbaje said town planning is very crucial in addressing the issue of gridlocks in Lagos.

“The idea is to have even development across Lagos state so that you are having less of movement from one end of Lagos to the other,” the pharmacist said.

He argued that the different parts of Lagos must be looked into as to make them self-containing.

Agaje surmised that “Lagos is still one of the two megacities in this world that does not have a rail system that is working” adding that “that is no longer acceptable”.

He also asserted that we must go into the idea of multi-layered roads because there is little to what we can do to expand our roads.

Why Lekki Deep Seaport Is Important To Nigeria’s Economy – Amaechi

 

The Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, has explained the importance of the Lekki Deep Seaport to Nigeria’s economy.

The Minister said that the  Deep Seaport will improve and upgrade the capacity of the Nigerian ports which are already existing in the country.

” Every country that desires a market share in the global maritime space must consider the importance of having a Deep Seaport because they convey enormous benefit to such countries”.

These are the words of Rotimi Amaechi, on Thursday at the Commissioning of Lekki Deep Seaport in Lagos, Nigeria.

According to the Minister,  Nigeria is about to get its first Deep Seaport which he believes will not only improve the capacity of the Nigerian Ports but will enable the transfer of skills and technology.

“What the country has had so far are river ports such as Tincan, Apapa, Port Harcourt amongst others, but this will be Nigeria’s first Deep Seaport” he added.

The Lekki Deep Seaport, he said will allow Nigeria to receive and accommodate large crude carriers, ultra-large crude carriers and other categories of large vessels.

Shipping companies across the world now embrace the use of large vessels and Nigeria’s ability to accommodate these vessels will almost guarantee the country’s hub status by the share volume of Nigeria’s inward and outward cargos.

“With the development of modern equipment, the Deep Seaport is projected to improve the capacity of our ports for space utilisation, modern cargo handling methods and new operating procedures.

“The project will also enable the transfer of skills and technology which will be executed by a special purpose vehicle called Lekki Port Free Trade Zone Enterprises Limited,” he said.

The Minister also expressed concern over the nation’s inability to generate outward cargos and hoped that with the deep Seaport things will get better.

The Deep Seaport is situated at the heart of the Lagos Trade Free Zone and is expected to be completed by 2020.

We’ll Do Everything Possible To End Flooding In Rivers State – Wike

The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike on Sunday evening assured residents of Port Harcourt and other flooded communities that his administration will tackle its environmental challenges headlong.

He empathised with all residents affected by the flooding, assuring them that his administration will work with relevant agencies to resolve the issues caused by the flooding.

The governor who inspected some flooded areas with engineers from Julius Berger and officials of the state Ministry of Works, directed all relevant agencies to take immediate remedial measures.

Furthermore, he directed the continuous de-silting of all major canals in the town.

Meanwhile, Wike also advised residents of Port Harcourt to stop dumping refuse in water channels. According to him, such actions lead to blockage of the water ways, which subsequently leads to the flooding.

The governor, however, stressed that he will take some tough steps to ensure that the state will not experience such devastating situations in the future.

The Liaison Manager of Julius Berger Plc, Sam Ngbor also assured the governor that the company will work with the state government to resolve the challenges as soon as possible.

Read Also: Lekki Flood: Residents Remain Trapped In Homes

Rivers State is one of the several states affected by the heavy downpour being experienced across the nation in recent times.

One of the worst hit was the Lekki area of Lagos State, which saw many resident trapped indoors for days. Cars, as well as household items were being submerged in the water.

In another development, about 10 residents were feared dead as the flood took over Suleja in Niger State following a heavy downpour.

Eye witnesses told Channels Television that some who had attempted to leave their submerged homes for safety were swept away by the flood.

See photos here.

FG Releases N1.6bn For States Ravaged By Flood

The Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has approved the immediate release of N1.6billion as intervention funds for 16 states ravaged by flood.

The states include Akwaibom, Kebbi, Enugu, Abia, Oyo, Plateau, Edo, Bayelsa, Kwara among others.

The money is expected to be taken from the ecological funds and released directly to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) immediately.

Read Also: Suleja Flood: Death Toll Rises

The development is coming days after states across the country witnessed massive flooding as a result of a downpour that went on for days.

The flood led to loss of several lives and property in states such as Niger and Lagos.

Read Also: Flooding: Lagos To Re-engineer Canals, Drainage Systems – Ambode

Osinbajo on Monday, visited the site of the collapsed Mokwa-Jebba Bridge in Niger State for an on-the-spot assessment, after which he stated that the government had commenced work to make the roads passable again in about two weeks time.

Suleja Flood: Death Toll Rises

More than 10 persons are said to have died following the downpour that occurred on Sunday morning in Suleja Local Government Area of Niger State, which resulted in a flood.

The Deputy Governor of the state visited the affected communities are residents counted more losses.

The incident which occurred in Banki-Iku and Chachania communities is said to be the worst so far in its history as property worth millions of Naira were destroyed while some houses were submerged.

The Chairman of Suleja Local Government Area, Abdullahi Maje, confirmed the incident to Channels Television on Sunday.

He explained that the heavy rain started around 12 midnight and went on for hours, leaving more than 100 houses flooded in the area.

Lekki Flood: Residents Remain Trapped In Homes

courtesy: @AdNikky

Residents of the Lekki Axis in Lagos State have remained trapped in their homes following a flood that hit the area in the third day of a heavy downpour.

With Lekki being one of the worst hit, residents have been lamenting that the deluge is so massive that they are unable to leave their homes.

Though not as heavy as it was on Saturday some of the residents who attempted to go out are forced to stay back while others had their cars stuck in the water.

Some of them who spoke with Channels Television said the Lekki/ Ajah masterplan may have been compromised and they are calling on government to come to their aid before the whole area is submerged.

Read Also: Lagosians Lament As Flood Hits Lekki, Victoria Island

Reacting to the development, the Lagos State Government reiterated its call for residents to observe extreme caution on the roads as torrential rain persists across the state.

The Police also asked road users in the state to avoid the the Ahmadu Bello Way on Victoria Island for some time.

The State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Steve Ayorinde, said heavy downpour is expected for a few more weeks and warned residents to desist from dumping refuse on water channels.

PHOTOS: Flood Takes Over Victoria Island, Lekki

Some communities in Lagos state are experiencing flooding as a result of heavy downpour which lasted for several hours.

One of the worst hit is the Lekki area, along Lekki- Aja highway, Lagos.

 

Other places affected include Victoria Island, Victoria Garden City and Ajah.

Courtesy: @ChukwujikeChima
courtesy: @abi_abiodun
courtesy: @Chydee
courtesy: @AdNikky

In March this year, NIMEIslanddicted heavy rains around the coastal areas and warned residents to relocate to avoid flooding of the area.

Title Documents: Lagos Gives House Owners 30-Day Ultimatum

Courtesy: thenationonlineng

The Lagos State Government has announced a 30-day ultimatum to owners of buildings situated in Lagos state to obtain their title documents or lose their property.

The Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde revealed that the government has wielded a big stick, by sealing up the ‘This Present House Church’ located in Lekki.

He also explained that the building does not have any title document and warns that other similar buildings will be demolished.

Residents Cry Out Over Demolition Of Settlement In Lagos

Residents Cry Out Over Demolition Of Otodo-Gbame SettlementThe residents of Otodo-Gbame in Lekki area of Lagos State have decried the demolition of houses and destruction of properties in their locality.

Dwellers in the fishing community on Friday alleged that the State Government commenced demolition, while ignoring a subsisting court injunction which had stopped the forceful eviction of residents.

They expressed shock at the process, claiming they were not served notice of demolition by government.

Amnesty International also condemned the eviction which it described as ‘chaotic and dangerous’ for the resident of the community.

The Organisation in a statement alleged that the inhabitants “are being forcibly evicted and their homes destroyed by bulldozers as security services used tear gas and live bullets to clear the area”.

otodo-gbame1

Brutal And Illegal Act

Amnesty International’s Nigeria Researcher, Morayo Adebayo, who said Military and Police personnel were out in full force, stated that there were four bulldozers ripping through the settlement.

“This brutal and illegal act flies in the face of human dignity as well as a High Court ruling that prohibited the eviction taking place and instructed the authorities to instead seek a settlement with the affected communities.

“The Lagos State Government should ensure that the families who have been rendered homeless this morning are given emergency relief including adequate shelter, water, food and any medical care they may require,” Adebayo said.

otodo-gbame

According to Amnesty International, a resident of Otodo-Gbame, Julius Oladele, who witnessed the eviction along with his wife and two children, said: “Almost all the houses in the community have been demolished, the only ones left are those on the water.

“They did not allow anyone to take their properties. They are chasing people away. My own house was destroyed this morning before I could rush back from work”.

The Human Rights body has called for an immediate end to the ongoing eviction and for the authorities to respect the court ruling which prohibits them from carrying out forced evictions in waterfront communities.

The organisation said it has been documenting forced evictions in Lagos State for over 10 years, stating that “these evictions are carried out without adequate prior consultation, adequate notice, and compensation or alternative accommodation”.

Lekki-Ajah Roads Reopened After Rehabilitation

Adams Oshiomhole, Roads, Edo StatePortions of the Lekki-Ajah expressway which were closed for reconstruction, have now been opened.

The reopening is on the orders of the Lagos state government.

According to some motorists, the roundabouts along the Lekki – Epe expressway have been a menace to them owing to their large sizes.

The removal of the roundabouts was part of the junction works and traffic system management designed by the present administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

It is also part of the urban clean-up project started in August 2016.

The government had set up a committee to commence the elimination of illegal structures and shanties, street hawkers, as well as those who have converted walkways to trading points and food courts on the island.

RRS Nabs Five In-Traffic Robbers In Lagos

RRS Nabs Five In-Traffic Robbers In LagosThe Lagos State Police Command says it has arrested five robbery suspects in different parts of the metropolis as its onslaught on in-traffic robbers by the operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) continues yielding results.

The suspects were apprehended during a special raid by the RRS operatives on robbers who were attacking and dispossessing members of the public of their valuables in traffic.

The suspects, Oyeleke Abdullah (24), Olajide Dipo (17), Saheed Alayande (17), Azeez Yusuph (21) and Oyeniwa Wasiu (18) were nabbed in Victoria Island, Ojodu Berger, Oshodi, Obalende and Ilubirin around the state.

RRS investigator revealed that before the arrest, the State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, had directed the RRS Commander to deploy more operatives to Ojodu Berger, Lekki and Oshodi in order to ensure ‘Ember’ month free crime.

It was gathered that some operatives of the RRS’s Decoy Team, in arresting one of the suspects, Azeez Yusuph, pretended to have had a broken down car under the Ilubirin Bridge around 4:23AM.

“It was very early in the morning when an undercover policeman pretended as if his vehicle broke down on the bridge while some of his colleagues hid somewhere to ambush the robbers who would come and harass the lone occupant of the vehicle…. The suspect showed up few minutes trying to collect handset and money from him, that was when we arrested him,” the source said.

He hinted that the operatives also got complaints from members of the public on RRS social media platforms about the activities of miscreants on road users with broken down vehicle in Ilubirin.

Abdullahi confessed to interrogators “I was trying to make ends meet by snatching valuables of stranded drivers on the bridge,” adding that he sleeps underneath the bridge along with his colleagues.

In his confessional statement to interrogators, another suspect, Oyeleke Abdullah, a danfo driver revealed, “I snatched a Zeltel phone from a passenger around 9:00PM on Saturday…. There was traffic entering Lagos on Saturday at Berger, I decided to use that opportunity to snatch handset and other valuables from commuters. My colleague and I do this whenever we need money.”

Another suspect, Saheed Alayande, who was arrested in Oshodi disclosed that he was a bus conductor in Oshodi. “Whenever I am not doing that, I carry load and wares for people with my friend. It was here that I stole the phone that I was caught with before I was arrested.”

Confirming the development, the Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent Dolapo Badmos, said that the Command was on high alert to curb social miscreants who exploit traffic situations in the metropolis to dispossess Lagosians of their valuables on the road.

The suspects have been transferred to State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Yaba, for further investigation.