Lifestyle

Lagos state reinstates ban on night boat trips

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The Lagos State Government has reiterated that the law which banned boat operators from plying the state’s waterways beyond 7.00 pm every day remained in force.

This was disclosed in a joint statement issued by the Director-General of the Lagos Safety Commission, Mr Lanre Mojola, and the General Manager, Lagos State Waterways Authority, Mr Damilola Emmanuel, made available to The PUNCH on Wednesday.

The statement also advised boat operators to adequately fuel their vessel tanks for their journeys, adding that fueling mid-sea was an unsafe practice.

It read partly,

“In line with the waterways’ safety code developed by all waterway’s regulators and stakeholders, boat transport, activities are to take place between 5:30 am and 7.00 pm every day. It is an offense for boat operators and passengers to be seen on inland waterways outside of these hours.

“Therefore, all waterways’ users are advised to strictly observe this time restriction in order to avoid boat mishaps. On no condition should anyone get on board a vessel after or before the stipulated operational hours likewise no passenger or operator can board a vessel without wearing a life vest with a standard buoyancy factor.

“This is very important because, in event of an accident, the user will be able to stay afloat for a few minutes before emergency responders arrive. In addition to using appropriate Personal Protective Equipment, boat operators are mandated to have onboard safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, first aid boxes, pool float (life buoys), and so on.”

Politics

Lagos state government disbands Ministry of Transport (MOT) enforcement team

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The Lagos Ministry of Transportation has placed an indefinite ban on the operations of its enforcement team tagged M.O.T Taskforce.

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Transportation, Mr. Sola Giwa, in a statement released, stated that the decision was reached after a thorough appraisal and review of the enforcement teams operating under the Ministry of Transportation.

Giwa explained that the ban is part of measures initiated to streamline transport enforcement activities in Lagos State to achieve the required effectiveness in line with global best practices, warning that the ban is not an excuse for drivers to disobey the traffic laws of the State.

”The Special Adviser averred that Traffic Management and Transportation is a cardinal pillar in the T.H.E.M.E.S Agenda of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, stressing that the readjustment of the enforcement strategy was to enhance service delivery to the people of the State.

He, therefore, enjoined the general public to report the activities of any unauthorised enforcement team still operating with the tag M.O.T Taskforce to the Ministry of Transportation for prosecution.

Appealing to Lagosians to cooperate with the State Government in its effort to improve the traffic situation across the metropolis, the Special Adviser gave an assurance that a lot is ongoing behind the scene to bring the much-desired change in the transport sector.”

Business, Politics

Sanwo-Olu restates commitment to affordable housing

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The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has restated his commitment to providing affordable housing for different strata of citizens in the state.Sanwo-Olu said this on Tuesday during the inauguration of the Channel Point Apartments project executed by the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation and Brook Assets and Resources Limited on Victoria Island.

He said,

“In the housing industry, this is the 16th housing project that we have handed over to our citizens and I want to assure you that there are still a whole lot more. For instance, before the end of the year, I am sure the Ministry of Housing has about four major projects to hand over hundreds of flats to citizens.

We are not just building; we are ensuring that we build affordable housing for different strata of our citizens – from the low budget to the middle budget to beautiful apartments like this in the heart of Victoria Island and we are also building in Ikorodu, Badagry, Epe, Ilupeju, Surulere, and Ikota.

As we pursue this housing agenda, we are also rigorously pursuing a comprehensive urban renewal.”The Managing Director of LSDPC, Ayodeji Joseph, disclosed that its partnership with the private sector will lead to more projects in the next 18 months.

“We are glad that through this joint venture with Brooks Assets and resources Limited, we have been able to deliver 38 family residential units of commensurable value and quality, and the flats have modern facilities,” he stated.

Lifestyle

Lagos govt renews ban on ‘okada’ operators in aftermath of killing of sound engineer

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The Lagos State government has announced a total ban on operators of commercial motor-cycles, otherwise known as okada in some local government areas of the state.

This followed the death of a sound engineer, in the Lekki area of the state who was mobbed, beaten to death and burnt by okada operators in the area over a disagreement involving N100.

The ban had been previously put in place by a previous administration in the state, but it’s implementation had become lapse.

The sound engineer, Sunday David Imoh, with Legacy360 Band was gruesomely murdered along Admiralty Way, Lekki.

Govenor Babajide Sanwo-Olu announced the reimposed ban on Okada in six local governments areas of the state.

The Governor gave the order at a meeting with DPOs and Area Commanders across of the state at the Lagos House, Ikeja.

He noted that other security agencies will join in the enforcement, which will be effective from June 1, 2022.

Local Government Areas affected by the ban are the whole of Ikeja, Surulere, Eti-Osa, Lagos Mainland, Lagos Island and Apapa.

It would be recalled that other members of the band were attacked and injured, in the mob attack.

A law banning the activities of okada riders was made in 2012 by the then Governor of the state, Babatubde Fashola.

The law barred okada riders from plying 475 routes in the state including Ikorodu Road, Funsho Williams Avenue, Apapa-Oshodi Express, Lagos-Badagry, and Lekki-Epe expressways, among others.

Fashola had raised concerns over the many avoidable injuries and deaths emanating from the unmonitored activities of the okada riders.

Since then, implementation of the laws banning the activities of the okada riders has not been effective, as security agents had been accused of being complicit in taking bribes and allowing the operators to carry on against government’s directive.

Lifestyle

Lagos govt orders schools to resume on Monday

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The Lagos State government on Friday directed all public and private schools in the state to resume on April 25.

The Director-General, Office of Education Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education, Ms. Abiola Seriki-Ayeni, disclosed this in a statement in Ikeja.

She urged all school proprietors and administrators in the state to comply with the directive.

Seriki-Ayeni said: “Office of Education Quality Assurance, Ministry of Education hereby notifies all public and private schools in the State to resume on Monday 25th April, 2022 in line with the Harmonized Academic Calendar for the 2021/2022 session.

The second term holiday which started on Friday, 8th April 2022 ends on Friday, 22nd April 2022 as stated in the 2021/2022 academic calendar, while the third term begins on 25th April, 2022. The public holidays within the term such as Workers Day, Eid-El-Fitr and Eid-El-Kabir were put into consideration and embedded in the calendar.

“As schools resume, proprietors and school administrators must ensure strict compliance with the Lagos State Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy. Schools are also to ensure full compliance with all safety protocols on their premises toward a safe learning environment as the State Government is committed to the delivery of quality education.”

Lifestyle

Lagos govt demolishes illegal mechanic villages

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The Lagos State government on Saturday demolished two illegal mechanic villages in the state.

The Chairman of the state’s Environmental and Special Offences Unit, CSP Shola Jejeloye, confirmed the exercise in a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s spokesman, Abdulraheem Gbadeyan.

The mechanic villages were sited opposite Area E Police Station, Festac Town, and under high tension electricity towers at Maroko area of the state.

Jejeloye , who personally supervised the demolition, said eight suspected hoodlums were arrested during the operation.

He said the mechanic villages were cleared to safeguard the lives of citizens and to beautify the state.

The task force chief said: “The exercise was necessary to help to safeguard lives and also to beautify the state so as to have a serene, safe and secure environment based on the existing master plan of the state.

Countless warnings were served on the operators of the illegal mechanic villages which were sometimes used as hideouts by criminals.”

He stressed that it was suicidal to stay under high tension cables to perform any activity, noting that no responsible government would fold its arm and watch people engage in dangerous activities.

Jejeloye added: “Government earmarked the Maroko power line area for a beautification project which will further translate to greener Lagos.

“Residents complain regularly about the constant burning of refuse and tyres by the illegal occupants.

“Actions like these are hazardous to health and also harmful to the environment. They will no longer be tolerated once this exercise is concluded.”

Lifestyle

Lagos govt insists on COVID-19 protocols, warns on complacency

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The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, on Thursday warned Nigerians that the COVID-19 pandemic was not yet over.

Abayomi, who gave the warning at the Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce trade conference and exhibition in Lagos, noted that the pandemic was still something to be worried about.

He charged the citizens to always comply with the COVID-19 protocols put in place by the government.

The commissioner said: “COVID is not over, but the crisis is over. We should be in a position to understand the dynamics of this virus, how to manage it, and as a government, our role is to balance the public health response with maintaining the economy of the state and the nation.”

In his remark, the Managing-Director of First Cardiology Consultants, Adeyemi Johnson, recalled the effects of the COVID-19 on the global economy.

He said: “COVID-19 has destroyed our economy, especially the supply chain. Technology is the future. We are not moving anywhere without technology. The healthcare in Nigeria needs funding to be able to leverage technology strongly.”

Lifestyle

Ex-BBNaija star, KiddWaya slams Lagos govt for supporting Buhari’s stage with stones during projectscommissioning

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A former Big Brother Naija housemate, Teerser Waya aka KiddWaya, has faulted the Lagos State government for poor organisation during the commissioning of some projects in the state.

President Muhammadu Buhari visited the state on Tuesday to commission the multi-billion naira terminal at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, and other projects in the state.

Kiddwaya, who spoke on the development on Twitter, wondered why the government would use stones to support the stage President Buhari used after arriving Lagos for the projects’ commissioning.

He wrote: “How can the biggest economy in Africa be using stones to hold the stage the President of Nigeria is standing on? As in we no get standard or what?”

Lifestyle

Lagos govt arrests three men over illegal demolition

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Three men have been arrested for impersonating staff of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) during the demolition of a property in Ogombo, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the state.

The state’s Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, who disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday, said the impostors embarked on the exercise to defraud the public and cause mayhem.

He said the men were arrested when they illegally pulled down a disputed property in the area.

Salako said: “They have since been handed over to the police for prosecution while one Adeyemi Ajose, who is believed to be their mastermind, is still at large.”

The commissioner assured that the imposters would be prosecuted and advised residents to report suspicious activities, particularly in the built environment to the ministry.

He stressed that the arrest of the trio would send a strong signal to others about the government’s determination to rid the sector of all forms of illegality.

He advised members of the public to be wary of fraudsters and always ascertain the identity of people parading themselves as public officials.

Lifestyle

Father of late Dowen College student, Sylvester Oromoni, accuses Lagos govt of cover-up in son’s death

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Sylvester Oromoni Snr., father of the late student of Dowen College in Lekki area of Lagos, Sylvester, on Tuesday accused the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State government of a massive cover-up on events leading to his son’s death.

He made the allegation during a cross-examination by counsel to Lagos State government, Mr. Akin George, at the state’s Coroner Court in Ikeja.

He questioned the rationale behind the release of five senior students of Dowen College who allegedly bullied his son to death.

The students were released on the advice of the state’s Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) 14 days into the 21-day remand order given by the Yaba Magistrates’ Court.

The Oromonis claimed in November last year that their 12-year-old son died after he was bullied by some students of Dowen College for refusing to join a cult group in school.

The police and the state government later conducted an autopsy on the deceased and discovered that the cause of his death was natural.

Oromomi Snr. said: “There is a massive cover-up and it is clearly here (in the police report).

”A Magistrates’ Court in Yaba requested 21 days and after the 14 days, the boys were granted bail when the police were not done with their investigations.

When I saw the Lagos State Commissioner of Police (Hakeem Odumosu) and told him about it, he told me that, that was not true that they were not done with their investigations.

“He even said that on the day it was said that they had released those boys, the courts were not sitting.

”I then called the Deputy Commissioner of Police, he told me the same thing and told me to give him some time.

“After about two to four minutes, he called me back and he confirmed it, that they were given 21 days for their investigations and the boys had just spent 14 days in detention.

“They (police) said they were going to write a protest letter. They were already interrogating two of the students and revelations were coming out so they were taken by surprise.

“The same Commissioner of Police, after some days now publicly declared that at the instance of Mr. Governor, the Attorney-General and the DPP said there was nothing wrong with the boys, therefore, they have released them.

“At what point did they complete their investigation, give all the case files to the DPP to go through and the DPP to come up with their report?

“This is why I am saying there is a very massive conspiracy going on.”

Lifestyle

Lagos govt arrests developer of collapsed three-storey building as death toll hits five

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Lagos State government has confirmed the arrest of the developer of the collapsed three-storey building in the Yaba area of the state.

In a statement on its official Twitter handle, the government said the developer was arrested for breaking the government seal on the property and violating the “stop-work order.”

He had since been handed over to the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) for questioning.

The statement read: “The Lagos State Government has arrested the developer of a collapsed building at No. 16 Akanbi Crescent, Onike, Yaba,  for breaking the government seal on the property and violating the stop-work order.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, who reported that the incident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, said the building was under construction and at three floors, suspended slab before it collapsed.

Salako stated that preliminary findings indicated that the site had been sealed-off twice by the Lagos State Building Control Agency in 2021 for non-compliance with Building Regulations after which the site was abandoned.

“However, the developer later broke Government Seal, sneaked into the site and re-commenced construction without official authorisation.”

Meanwhile, the collapsed building death toll has increased to five after the body of a student on industrial training was recovered from the debris by rescue workers.

The South-West zonal coordinator, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Ibrahim Farinloye, confirmed the development to journalists on Sunday.

Four persons had earlier been pulled out of the rubble.

Lifestyle

Falana charges Lagos govt to adhere to Supreme Court ruling on Magodo

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Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, on Monday implored the Lagos State Government to adhere to rule of law and implement the judgement of the Supreme Court in the ongoing Magodo land case.

Falana made this appeal during an interview with Channels Television “Sunrise Daily” monitored by Ripples Nigeria.

The case had been protracted over the refusal of the Lagos State Government to implement the Supreme Court ruling granting the 549 original Magodo landowners ownership of their lands.

This snowballed, last week, when the Attorney General of Nigeria, Abubakar Malami, in collaboration with the Nigerian Police Force sought to enforce the ruling by posting some personnel to the estate.

Despite the efforts of the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to make the security operatives stand down, he was unsuccessful.

Speaking on the matter, Falana charged the government to ensure the peace by abiding with the ruling of the court.

He said, “We must allow the due process of law to run its due course which the Supreme Court reiterated about the 549 plots at Magodo. For ten years, the judgement was not enforced and this does not happen in any civilised society whereby a ruling by the Supreme Court be treated with disdain.

“As far as the law is concerned, once the SC has issued a ruling it shall be final and no appeal will arise from it so you can’t say those who were granted the ruling were wrong. The ruling must be complied with. That was what led to the incident with the Governor and the Chief Superintendent of Police.

Neither under the colonial regime or the military regime was the Supreme Court’s ruling flouted. This is the second time. The first was in 2006 when the Supreme Court ordered the Obasanjo administration to pay the LASG funds and he refused to pay. This is the second time and it is unfortunate that LASG are now the villain.

“I will also send a letter to the Attorney General to comply to various pending Supreme Court rulings since he has done this by enforcing the judgement regarding the Magodo Case.”

Politics

Lagos govt releases official copy of #ENDSARS panel report

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The Lagos State government has released the official copy of the state judicial panel of inquiry report on the shooting of #ENDSARS protesters at the Lekki toll gate.

The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, who announced this in a statement on Sunday, noted that the report was submitted to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on November 15.

He said the report titled: ”Report of Lekki Incident Investigation on 20th October 2021” and ”Consolidated Report on General Police Brutality” and was now available to the public.

Onigbanjo said: “Members of the public can view and download the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the documents on the website of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice – https://lagosstatemoj.org/official-documents/

Further inquiries should be directed to the Office of the Hon. Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice through info@lagosstatemoj.org.”

The panel had in the report indicted the Nigerian Army and police in the shooting of the protesters on October 20 last year.

The team revealed that at least 46 unarmed protesters were either shot dead or injured with bullets by security forces at the Lekki toll gate.

The state government released the White Paper on the report last Tuesday.

In the document, the government accepted 11 out of the 32 recommendations, modified six, and rejected one.

Lifestyle

Lagos govt closes Marina road for rail project

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The Lagos State government on Sunday announced the closure of Marina road from Apongbon Bridge over the ongoing Blue Line Rail Project in the state.

The General Manager of The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Bolaji Oreagba, who disclosed this in a statement titled: “Traffic Advisory from LASTMA,” in Lagos, said the closure of the road would take effect on Monday.

Oreagba suggested alternative routes for motorists in the state.

He said: “As part of the ongoing Blue Line Light Rail Project, there will be launching of the beam on November 22 on outer Marina road after descending from Apongbon Bridge.

The construction starts from 10:00 a.m. and motorists are advised to plan their journey as a lane will be available for vehicular movement from Apongbon Bridge.

“In addition, motorists from Eko Bridge can also use Leventis inwards outer Marina road or motorists can make use of alternative routes such as 3rd Mainland Bridge or Oyingbo-Iddo-Carter Bridge to Leventis and connect their destinations.

“While we seek the support and cooperation of all road users, we apologise for any inconveniences this may cause.”

Lifestyle

Lagos govt releases resumption schedule for schools

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Lagos State government on Monday released the guidelines for resumption of public and private schools across the state for the 2021/2022 academic session.

The state’s Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Folasade Adefisayo, said in a statement issued by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs in the ministry Mr. Ganiu Lawal, schools are expected to resume on September 13 while students in Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools would resume in batches from September 19.

She said boarding students in the Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools and Senior Secondary 2 students seeking placement into SS3 class would resume on September 10.

Adefisayo said: “The revision for this class will run from September 20 to September 26 while promotion examination to SS3 class will start from September 27 to October 8, 2021.

The newly admitted JS1 students into Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools are to resume October 2 for a one-week orientation programme which will intimate them on the secondary school structure and modalities.

“Other returning students in JSS 2, JSS 3, SS1, and SS2 in the various Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools are to resume on October 9 while classes for these set of students will begin on Monday, October 11, 2021.

The commissioner revealed that the adoption of staggered resumption for Model Colleges and Upgraded Schools was due to the presence of 2020/2021 SS3 students currently writing the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE).

The WASSCE will end on October 6.

Politics

Lagos govt inaugurates committees on Lekki Free Trade Zone

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The Lagos State government on Tuesday inaugurated the Epe Lagoon and Lekki Coastal Resettlement Committees.

The committees will resettle the individuals and families affected by the Lekki Free Zone Project.

The state’s Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mrs. Lola Akande, who inaugurated the committee in Ikeja, said they were to serve for two years.

She said the committees are expected to provide the timetable of their activities within the first three months of their inauguration.

She noted that all the provisions in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) would be adhered to strictly to prevent the fundamental misapplication of roles and functions of the respective institutions.

Akande said: “It is important to state that this newly reconstituted resettlement committee will work in strict compliance with the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

“This is to mitigate any maladministration of the resettlement land. Importantly, unauthorised land sales are prohibited and this will attract legal sanction for individuals found complicit in the practice.

“They are to take up roles and obligations that have been set out in their respective Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and elaborated by key executive committee.

These obligations are the planning, designing, monitoring and evaluating the resettlement of individuals and families affected by the Lekki free Zone Project; maintaining peace, law and order in the communities.

“They will serve as the primary point of contact between members of the communities and the state government for all enquiries relating to the project and necessary requests.”

Politics

Lagos govt engages Port stakeholders to eliminate Apapa gridlock

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The Lagos State Government has said the Apapa gridlock has eased considerably and urged terminal operators to support the interventions set in place to end the gridlock in Apapa and its environs

The Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Transportation, Hon. Oluwatoyin Fayinka stated this in a statement after an operation review Meeting with terminal operators in the Tin Can Island ports at Apapa, on Saturday, March 13.

Fayinka, who doubles as the Chairman, Traffic Management Enforcement Team, declared that the meeting was a continuation of efforts to enlist the support of all the critical Stakeholders in the Ports at Apapa.

Fayinka noted that traffic in and out of Apapa and its environs has improved drastically.

He said, “If you come in through Eko bridge, Ijora, Sifax, or Iganmu, the road is free. The only problem we are having now is from Area B to the Port.’’

“We have actually met with shippers council and they told us they are ready.

We have agreed that the next meeting will be to engage the Shippers Council, the truckers, the terminal operators, Nigerian Ports Authority, and every other Stakeholder, so we can listen to their challenges.

“This is because we will want the Shippers Council to be up and doing in the evacuation of empty containers. It is their responsibility to remove empty containers from blocking the roads,” he disclosed.

In his remarks, the Chairman of Apapa Local Government Area, Hon. Elijah Adele charged terminal operators on the need to support the e-call up system.

Adele noted that the time for making excuses is over, saying that everyone must cooperate with the State Government on Apapa gridlock intervention.

The traffic situation has to be drastically reduced so that your businesses can thrive.

“When the road is free, the truckers turnover will be high. Traffic causes health, security, environmental, and other societal problems. I’m begging us, let’s make this work,” Adele said.

Politics

Lagos govt commissions Pen Cinema Bridge

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The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday commissioned the dual carriageway flyover and five other roads at Pen Cinema in the Agege area of the state.

In his address at the event, Sanwo-Olu noted that the government was aware of the challenges faced by residents of the area.

According to him, residents and road users along the axis have clamoured for a solution to the suffocating nature of the gridlock occasioned by the huge human and vehicular traffic flowing through the intersection.

To address the challenge, the governor said his administration decided to continue with the construction of a precast and pre-stressed reinforced concrete dual-carriage flyover and ramp, with road work in the area.

He said: “We prioritise the continuation of strategic ongoing roads and link bridges as well as the development of new roads.

“We also listed many roads for urgent maintenance, and continue with the provision of ongoing strategic offices and public buildings.

“One of the most critical challenges being experienced on daily basis by residents/road users along the Agege Pen Cinema axis over the years was the heavy traffic volume occasioned by the geometric increase in traffic volume.”

He said the project was part of the state government’s efforts at achieving the Transportation and Traffic Management Pillar (T) in its strategic THEMES Agenda.

Governor Sanwo-Olu stressed that the government deliberately focused on the provision of infrastructure to achieve preconceived targets of reducing travel time and save important man-hours that would have been otherwise lost to traffic.

“In our quest to achieve the Transportation and Traffic Management Pillar (T) in our administration’s strategic THEMES Agenda, we deliberately focus on the provision of infrastructure to achieve preconceived targets of reducing travel time – save important man-hours that would have been otherwise lost to traffic, provide better riding surface leading to reduced maintenance cost, boost inter-connectivity and generally make life more meaningful to commuters in Lagos State.

In line with the State Strategic Transport Master Plan (STMP), we deployed a two-pronged approach to infrastructure delivery, so as to bring immediate impactful succour and relief to commuters,” the governor added.

He commissioned the project in the company of a former governor of the state, Bola Tinubu, and top government officials in the state.

Politics

Lagos govt to close Marine Bridge for three months

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The Lagos State Government has revealed the scheduled closure of the Marine Bridge for three months in order to carry out emergency repair works on the Apapa outward section of the bridge.

The closure is expected to last from Tuesday, March 9 to Monday, June 21, 2021.

This was contained in a statement titled ‘LASG to close Marine Bridge for emergency repairs’, signed by the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Frederic Oladeinde on Friday, March 5.

According to Oladeinde, the partial closure was necessary to maintain the bridge infrastructure.

The maintenance work includes removal and cleaning of the existing expansion joints to prevent further deterioration.

The commissioner explained that during the period of the partial closure, traffic would be diverted to alternative routes, while Apapa inward lane would be divided into two lanes to allow counter flow of traffic.

To ameliorate the effect of the expected traffic, palliative works had been completed on alternative routes to ease movement, the statement said.

Motorists inwards Apapa were advised to make use of Total underneath the bridge to connect Naval Dockyard to Danlami to Leventis corridor and/or to connect Marine Beach by Mobil through Federal Fire Service/Obanikoro to Naggaf/North Avenue to Wharf Road.

Similarly, motorists from Ajegunle inwards Iganmu/or Ijora were directed to use Agbo Malu to Tego Barracks to Total underneath the bridge and ascend Marine bridge to connect their desired destinations.

Politics

Lagos govt warns against converting residential buildings for commercial use

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The Lagos State Government has revealed that it will embark on weeklong monitoring and enforcement against the conversion of government residential buildings to commercial purposes.

The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Idris Salako, made this known on Tuesday, March 2, in a statement by Mr Mukaila Sanusi, spokesman for the ministry.

Salako said that there had been an indiscriminate conversion of government buildings from residential to commercial purposes by some of the residents.

He said that the affected housing schemes include Lekki Peninsula Scheme I and Magodo Residential Scheme I and II.

The commissioner said the focus would be on those who had indiscriminately converted their buildings from residential to commercial purposes.

He said that government housing schemes ought to remain residential with provision for services as planned.

According to him, the schemes had been bastardised by indiscriminate conversion of buildings from residential to commercial by some of the residents.

Salako said that a team from the ministry would soon begin the monitoring and enforcement for the return of the state residential estates to their original plans.

He said if the lawlessness in those estates were not checked, “the future would spell doom for the carefully designed upper-income residential schemes”.

Salako said residents in the affected estates had complained to the state government, seeking redress.

He said that the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development had met with residents of the estates severally in order to restore sanity.

“It is noteworthy that engagements with Magodo Phases I and II Residents Association produced the Revised Magodo Scheme I and II, which has since become effective,” he said.

The commissioner said the state government would not tolerate indiscriminate conversion, urging those liable for such infractions to brace up for the ministry’s enforcement.

“Our Monitoring and Enforcement Team will be visiting all other government schemes for similar action in due course.

“I hereby urge that every part of the state should take a cue from this by desisting from the undue conversion of properties without the approval of the appropriate authorities,” he said.

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