Kobojunkie:

They could be forced to pay taxes on the little they make. They could be forced to work for their keeps, there are so many other humane ways of treating these people, not DEPORTATION. Gosh!!

Imagine having to live in your own HOME Country, and having to fear DEPORTATION? [b]Most of these people ran away from their home states because they had no life at all there. [/b]Does DEPORTING them back to those hell holes make their lives better? We already know and see how petrified Nigerians, outside of Nigeria, get when the question of DEPORTATION is raised, why bring that terror to those who live in Nigeria? Roflmao!!

But does that mean they should come to another state and break the law or become a financial burden to another state?

Kobojunkie:

So, if a destitute registered in Lagos for the census, what then? Uummm. . . . I am not originally from Lagos myself but I have been counted in Lagos state most all censuses. So, what does that mean to what you are saying here?  I pay my taxes each year in Lagos too, so I am confused now by your last statement. And are you sure of the allocations?

The its the government's responsibility to help the person of he or she was registered in Lagos or if the person pays taxes.

Yes the allocation is true (oil producing states get more money). Why do you think Lagos is shouting for a new census? When the last census was done a lot of people were returning to their village to get counted and come back to Lagos. Not realizing that is was is been used by the Federal Government to grant allocation.

Most of this destitute are just lazy. I posted an article talking about how this people make up to N1000 a day. Some have home or hut in villages (in surrounding areas) but come to Lagos to beg. Some are also been abused by men or women who see begging as a business.

jamace:

May he be rebranded by this holy trip. Somebody shout a big Amen to this.

Amen.

Kobojunkie:

Cool, so does the law also state that any person caught begging would be DEPORTED? If yes, do you mind showing us this exact law so we can all see how that is woven into it all?

I dont know if you can be deported or not. But the federal government allocates money to each state to take care of its citizens. The allocation is based on which state you registered for the census.

So I am guessing the Lagos State Government can use the argument that this people were counted in their state (oyo) as a result it is the Oyo state government job to provide for them in case they do not have jobs.

@Kobo

Yes, Begging is illegal in Lagos State. It is in the states constitution.

It is possible

In a country were all you need is to give people free amala and egusi stew for the whole week leading up to election and recharge card, money, to secure their votes.

I don't see anything wrong in him going to Israel, if he want to travel for prayer that his business, if he wants to stay in Nigeria and pray that's his business too.

fonis:

About 120 beggars who were deported from Lagos to Ibadan are now at the gate of Oyo State House of Assembly continuing their lucrative business by begging for alms from the public . The questions we need to ask is that "are these beggars from Oyo State?, What is the reason why Lagos officials deemed it fit to deported them to Ibadan?, why not other states of the Country?
Source Punch 10th April, 2009. (My News .Com)

The article from Vanguard said they claimed to be from oyo.

The Bill is part of efforts by President Umaru Yar’Adua to reassure Nigerians and indeed the international community on the determination of the present administration to fight corruption.

Known as, “Non Conviction-Based Forfeiture of Proceeds and Instrumentalities of Unlawful Activity Bill 2009”, it would make provision for the restraint and civil forfeiture of property derived from unlawful activity and any instrumentalities used or intended to be used in the commission of unlawful activity, when passed and signed into law.

It will also make provision for the investigation of benefits derived from corruption, money laundering and instrumentalities; to give effect to requests to an from Foreign States for the restraint and confiscation of property used or derived from unlawful activity; and to extend the powers of the Law Enforcement Agencies, and to make provision for the use of recovered property.

Minister of Information and Communications, Professor Dora Akunyili, accompanied by Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources Abba Ruma, and Fidelia Njeze his Minister of state, Ikra Bilbis, Minister of State for Information and Communications and Grace Ekpiwhere, Minister of State, Works, briefed State House Correspondents at the end of the weekly meeting.

Akunyili said the draft Bill will help in tackling the problem of corruption in the country, and “equally complement the system of post-conviction confiscation and complete a comprehensive approach to asset recovery and repatriation.”

According to her, while considering the draft bill, “council noted that the introduction of non-conviction-based asset forfeiture system in Nigeria will not only complement the steps already taken by the administration to curb corruption, but will also be in consonance with the provisions of United Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) which Nigeria has signed and signed and ratified”.

The minister noted that the draft bill “conforms to international best practices and standards. So, considering the advantages therefore and the need to curb corruption and illegal acquisition of assets and properties, council approved the Draft Bill for Non-Conviction-Based Forfeiture of proceeds and Instrumentalities of unlawful Activity Bill, 2009.

However, the Draft Bill in Section 13, sub-section 11 added a caveat “Notwithstanding the provision of subsection (1) of this section, the Court shall not make an order of forfeiture of the property or the proceeds from the sales of such property to the Federal Government of Nigeria until such notice or publication as the Court may direct has been given or made for any person, corporate or financial institution in whose possession the property is found or who may have interest in the property or claim ownership of the property to show cause why the property should not be forfeited to the Federal Government of Nigeria.”

Meanwhile, the council also approved various contracts worth over N24 billion including the construction and rehabilitation of eight road projects in the different part of the country.

The road projects are the Hadejia-Nguru road in Jigawa State, at a cost of $4.9 billion, with a completion period of 24 months; the Ifon-Uzebba-Iruepken road and approach road to Ose bridge, in Edo State, at a cost of N1.9billion, with a 24 months completion period; the Nguru-Gashua-Bayamari road in Yobe State, at a cost of N2.3billion with a 24 months completion period and the Akungba-Ikare-Omuo-Kabba road cutting across Ekiti and Ondo State, at a cost of N1.5 billion with a 24 months completion period.

The other projects are the realignment and construction of dangerous curves between Akwanga and Lafia, in Nasarawa State, at a cost ofN3.4 billion with 18 months completion period; the rehabilitation of Efon Alaaye-Erinmo-Iwaraja road between Ekiti and Osun States, at a cost of N3.5 billion; the total strengthening of the existing River Niger Bridge, at Onitsha, Anambra State, at a cost of N740 million with two months completion period and the rehabilitation of Enugu bound carriageway of the Onitsha-Enugu road, phase one of section one, in Anambra state, at a cost of N5 billion, with a 30 months completion period.

Akunyili said that the money for the projects “were provided for in the 2008 budget but could not be awarded before the end of that year, but have been captured in the 2009 appropriation with due process certificate of “no objection” issued by the Bureau of Public Procurement towards the end of 2008.


http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/33199/42/

THE Federal Government announced yesterday in Abuja that it was not keen on prosecuting Nigerians involved in the $180 million Halliburton bribery scandal, even if such names are released, because it has no evidence to prosecute them now.



Why FG may not prosecute —Aondoakaa

“All these names you get; let me make it clear to you, government does not prosecute out of the newspapers. If somebody said I voted $40 million for you, which is his own wish, and if the money does not reach you, can I come and prosecute you because in his book he wrote $40 million?”

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Michael Aondoakaa made the disclosure while answering questions from State House correspondents shortly before the weekly meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

The minister who vowed that the government will not spare any of its officials found to be involved in the scam, however added that the government will not prosecute anybody until it is able to get the authenticated list of Nigerians involved; which must be certified by the US government. About $180 million was allegedly paid some top Nigerian government functionaries as bribe through a subsidiary of Halliburton, Kellogg, Brown & Root (KBR), to facilitate the award of a $6 billion LNG contract.

Yesterday, Information and Communications Minister, Professor Dora Akunyili, had said the names of Nigerians indicted in the bribery scam will be made public as soon as government gets it, adding “the Nigeria Desk in the US Department of State conveyed the urgency of the request in the two previous letters towards assisting the Nigerian government to fast track the prosecution of all Nigerians involved in the $180 million Halliburton bribe scandal.”


http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/33199/42/

The Action Congress (AC) has slammed the PDP for seeking to gag its Senators who have been complaining of the Yar’Adua administration’s painfully slow pace, calling the ruling party the biggest threat to the survival of democracy in the country.

In a statement in Lagos, yesterday, by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, AC also said the PDP had shown, by the comments credited to its Chairman, Mr. Vincent Ogbulafor, that the so-called “anti-Yar’Adua Senators are on their own - that it cannot tolerate enlightened discourse and opinions that do not conform with its jaundiced stand on issues.

“When PDP outsiders criticise the party, either on electoral reforms or any other issue, the party attacks such critics in a ferocious and vicious manner, calling them names and describing the opposition as being in ‘tatters’ or lacking internal democracy.

“Now, the critics are from within the PDP, and the party has moved fast to crush and disowned them, simply for even seeking to goad the snail-riding administration into action. Which party is in tatters now? Which party lacks internal democracy now? Which party is so disdainful of freedom of speech and democracy than the PDP?’’ AC queried.

The party said the Senators, who have used a civilised means to convey to President Yar’Adua that they are not happy with his administration’s poor performance after almost two years in the saddle, are indeed the real friends of the President, who simply want him to buckle up and make the impact of his administration felt by the long-suffering people of Nigeria.

“They are the true representatives of the people who sent them to the National Assembly. They visit their constituencies regularly and can feel the pulse of their people, who are simply not happy with the non-performance of this administration. They should be proud to be representing their people well, and should not succumb to a few PDP hawks whose interests lie simply in feathering their own nest.

AC hailed the Senators for their courage and forthrightness in calling the attention of the President to the worsening conditions of living across the land, and urged them to resist being labelled anti-Yar’Adua or being gagged by a starry-eyed party chair, who is more interested in having his party rule for 100 years than seeing it make a positive impact on the lives of Nigerians.

Concerning Ogbulafor’s lamentations that the PDP’s grip on the South-west is slipping, we can only tell the PDP Chairman that he has not seen anything yet.

“Rail-roading the South-west under its tattered umbrella has proved to be a disaster for the people of the region. They have consequently resolved to use their brooms to sweep away the footsteps of the usurpers. Ogbulafor should be ready for the shock of his life, as the people of the South-west - and indeed of Nigeria - will surely use all democratic means to remove all the traces of the PDP from their lives," AC said.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/33172/46/

lol, tattered umbrella

Atiku is greedy for power.

He should never have visited Obasanjo.

Now PDP is making fun of him, and AC have already indicated he will not be their pick for 2011.

Now he running around trying to form "Super Party".

AFTER a month of controversies over the dissolution of the 18 councils in Ondo State, an Akure High Court yesterday restrained the Council Chairmen from parading themselves as Chairmen of the councils pending the determination of the suit challenging the dissolution of the councils by the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko.

Justice Nelson Adeyanju, the presiding Judge gave the ruling on the interlocutory application brought by the state Governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko through his counsel, Mr. John Baiyeshea (SAN).

Governor Mimiko had on March 4, 2009 dissolved the Executive and Legislative Arms of all the 18 Local government councils in the state citing impending litigations restraining the former administration of Dr. Olusegun Agagu from conducting the local councils’ election.

Adeyanju said the plaintiffs (chairmen and the Councillors) and their agents are also restrained from administer or act in any other form or disrupting all the activities of the 18 local government councils in the state until the case is determined.

However, Adeyanju equally restrained the state government and the House of Assembly from nominating or passing the list of caretaker committee members to run the affairs of the local governments pending the determination of the substantive suit.

According to him, “In view of the undertaken entered into by the governor, no caretaker committee, nominees should be constituted or persons to run the affairs of the council until the case is determined.

Mimiko had asked the court to restrain the chairmen of the local governments from resuming offices as chairmen or doing anything capable of disrupting the smooth running of the local government administration pending the determination of the substantive suit.

He supported his application with 12 paragraphs affidavit and predicated his arguments on three main issues with included the legality of the governor’s action, the balance of convenient and the need to maintain the status quo.

Baiyeseha said the issue before the court at the interlocutory stage was not to determine the legality or otherwise of the governor’s action but to maintain status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit.

According to him, the status quo as at now was that the governor has dissolved the local government and that was reason for the suit, he argued that since the council bosses could not access the council secretariats, the reality of the governor’s action has dawned on them.

Baiyeseha said the court should grant the order of interlocutory injunction. He added that section 5 and 7 of the 1999 constitution gave the governor the legal right to tamper with the structures of the third tier of government.

According to him, “we have filed a reply to the counter affidavit of the plaintiffs and we rely on the affidavit in support and we want the court to determine whether the chairmen are justified on the legal processes that brought them to office. We also refer your lordship to paragraph 3, 4, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of our affidavit.

“Also, the status quo we are saying is that the dissolution has taken place and the plaintiffs have seized to be in office since March 4, 2009 which they have accepted. The legal right of the governor is based on section 5 (2) and 7 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria”, he said.

Mimiko’s counsel further stated that there was no evidence that local government workers were instigated by the state government and that there was no place in their affidavit that they have been functioning in their offices since the dissolution of the councils.

“My lord, the status quo is that they are out of office but trying to force themselves into the office. And since they have joined issue in the court, they should not have done any extra-judicial activities by forcing themselves in office again”.

Otunba Kunle Kalejaye (SAN) counsel to the council chairmen while replying said the order being sought if granted would affect the substantive suit as the application is a verbatim copy of the substantive suit.

Kalejaye pointed out that section 2 of the constitution does not give the governor blank cheque to deal with the local governments.

He argued that the defendant could not restrain the council bosses from parading themselves as council chairmen unless the governor agreed that they still occupied that position in which they were to be restrained.

“Our argument is that the status quo is known to law that is with peaceful state of affairs before the litigation and not unlawfully contravene state of affairs before the litigation. My counter submission is that the constitution did not give the governor a blank arbitrary power to dissolve the councils. The governor under the constitution must act in accordance with the law”, he added.

He therefore urged the court to discountenance the interlocutory injunction sought by the governor and should be struck out accordingly.

But the counsel to the governor who doubled as the Director of Civil Litigation, Mr Cyril Akinrinsola said the governor would not do anything to overreach the decision of the court.

On his honour, Baiyeseha said “my client (Mimiko) would not constitute caretaker committee pending the determinations of the substantive suit.

However, in his ruling the Presiding Judge, Justice Adeyanju said the defendant that is Dr Mimiko was right in his application and thereby restrained the council’s bosses from parading as council chairmen pending the determination of the substantive suit.

Adeyanju therefore adjourned the case till April 29, 2009 for the hearing of the substantive suit.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/33176/46/

YENAGOA—E[b]motions ran high yesterday as Bayelsa State government rolled out its bulldozer destroying caravans, sign boards and other business outlets described as illegal structures along the major streets of Yenagoa, the state capital.[/b]
Backed by armed policemen, the bulldozer which took off from the Capital City Development Authority on the orders of the state government rolled menacingly through the popular Imgbi road destroying several structures considered illegal by the government.

Interestingly while some of the sign boards and other projected structures were pulled down others were left intact causing residents to dismiss the exercise as selective.

Lamenting the action of the government some residents, including shop owners and other affected businessmen especially those operating in caravans said the time limit handed them by the authority was not enough to enable them relocate to Igbogene adding “the location is inhabitable and the time unattainable.”

It was however learnt that the action of the CCDA might not be unconnected with the query allegedly handed the leadership of the authority after the successful hosting of the African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) in the state by the government.

A source close to the CCDA said the destruction of the illegal structures on the major streets was directed by the state governor, Chief Timipre Sylva and should have been done before the arrival of guests for the yearly movie award but that the excuse by the CCDA was that the debris from the destruction may send wrong signs.

A concerned resident simply identified as elder Peter, who escaped been crushed by the rampaging caterpillar used by the officials of the CCDA, lamented that the area provided by the government was not suitable for all caravan owners to relocate to.

“These people are not leaders rather they have become authoritarian that they can issue order and before you comply, they execute it. It is unfair to the people of the state,” he lamented salvaging what he could from his crushed caravan like other affected residents.

Reacting to the development, the state Secretary of the Action Congress (AC), Comrade Ebikibina Miriki described the action of the government as lacking in proper reasoning.

According to him, “these people should have construction a large shopping complex as an alternative for caravan owners to source for rather than hurriedly destroying the huge money invested by the people. How much have they invested to assist small businesses in the state rather they share the SME fund among PDP members. It is pathetic.”

http://www.vanguardngr.com/content/view/33142/44/

If the Court said things should remain "Status Quo". Then the govt has a right to redraw the General C of O, to stop future construction until the case is settled. What is more worrying is to know that people were buying land in that area and building home in that area knowing that there is a lawsuit about community.

The Acting Governor of Ekiti State, Mr. Olatunji Odeyemi, has said that the former Governor of the state, Mr. Segun Oni, left behind a debt portfolio of about N5bn before his ouster on February 17.

He also denied that the state committed N200m to the hosting of President Umaru Yar’Adua and his team, including the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party, for the party’s campaign rally, in Igede-Ekiti, on Saturday.

Odeyemi spoke just as the Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, denied claims by the Action Congress that he was planning to supply military uniforms for the Peoples Democratic Party supporters for the April 25 governorship rerun.

Odeyemi had stated this through his Special Adviser on Information and Civic Orientation, Mr. Sola Ajigbolamu, at a news conference in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday, “to dispel insinuations about the actual amount inherited by Odeyemi.”

He said that the interim administration inherited a liquid cash of about N2bn to run the administration.

Ajigbolamu said that in spite of the poor state of the Ekiti’s finance, Odeyemi was able to record modest achievement since he assumed office.

He said the administration spent about N250m on pensions and gratuities, while it increased workers’ and teachers salaries’ by 11 and 27 per cent respectively.

He described as untrue allegation by the Chairman of Publicity Committee of the Action Congress, Chief Akin Fasae, that he signed off N200m to host the President Yar’Adua-led campaign train.

He said, “It should be noted that the person of President Yar’Adua cannot be divorced from his official capacity, hence the presidential honour accorded him wherever he went.

“I therefore wish to state that we are very proud to have received and honour the President in Ekiti within our short stay in office.”

Also Oyinlola, while denying allegations by the AC that he was planning to supply military uniforms, said he never met with the local government chairmen as claimed.

Oyinlola, who spoke with State House correspondents in Abuja said, “I never met with anybody in Ekiti State talk less of discussing how to give them military uniforms.

“But my comments at the campaign touched on the character of the leadership of the AC; they are trying to get back at me. I never met with anybody and I never had any meeting with anybody besides the general meeting they had with the vice-president and the stakeholders.”

In a related development, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Privatisation, Senator Ayo Arise, (Ekiti North), on Tuesday raised the alarm over alleged plot to eliminate him ahead of the April 25 governorship rerun in Ekiti State.

Arise, like the AC candidate in the election, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, hails from Oye Local Government Area of the state.

The Senator said the plot was revealed through an intelligence report he had access to.

Arise said in a statement, made available to our correspondent in Lagos on Tuesday, that he had remained a target of verbal and physical attacks by the AC, since the rerun was ordered by the Court of Appeal on February 17, because the party considered him a threat to Fayemi’s victory in Oye Local Government.

While Arise hails from Oye town, Fayemi hails from Isan, in the same local government area.

Arise said that several attempts had been made to blackmail and label him a violent person in order to justify a major attack on him.

He said, “There had been unfounded allegations that I breed thugs and also parade fake policemen. There were also provocative allegations that I keep 30 mobile policemen in my country home in Oye. There are also allegations that Police have beefed maximum security around me. Pray! Why do I need to parade fake policemen when I have access to original ones, which they themselves stated?

The Senator admitted that following the various attacks against him, he had sought and got police protection, and wondered why the AC capitalised on that to say that he was sewing uniforms for fake policemen.

Meanwhile an Akure-based lawyer and pro-democracy activist, Mr. Morakinyo Ogele, has issued a seven-day ultimatum to the Oyo and Osun States Houses of Assembly to initiate proceedings for the removal of their governors.

This, he said, would strip the governors of immunity and pave the way for the police to arrest them to face charges over their alleged link with anti-democratic moves by the Ekiti State PDP.

He appealed to Yar’Adua to caution PDP governors who were allegedly desperate to foist Oni, on the people to retrace their steps.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20090408042432

penfold:

Really, we should be very careful about some of our posts on this forum (i guess its fortunate that you cannot sue for libel or defamation thru the internet)

The true facts about itedo village:

Itedo community and the ikate elegushi community are currently embroiled in court case over the said plots of land, ikate elegushi family having granted a lease to the itedo community (who are ilajes from ondo state) about 60 years ago, the said lease being for 50 years (that means it expired 10 years ago). On the expiration of the lease, the ikate elegushi community refused to renew the lease (i no blame them, the market value of the land don increase about 1,000,000 times), itedo claimed that they could not be ejected from the land, thus they went to court. after a series of judgements, the courts ruled in favour of the elegushis, the itedos then appealed. the court then ordered that the status quo should be maintained on the land pendinmg determination of the appeal. meanwhile the land had been sold to all sorts of people (commissioners in fashola govt, and iyabo obasanjo inclusive). the several cases on the land and the court order made it impossible to process C of O, or even get building approval from the relevant authorities. All previous approvals and certificates on the land were then revoked. fashola, being who he is, woke up one day and decided all buildings without relevant documents should be demolished (as is usual with our "gomina", not because of any religious or political reasons).
the residents refused to take this lying low, hence, we took LASG to court.
P.E.R.I.O.D

So from the information you have given, the govt. actually owns the land since the people who had C of O's had it all canceled because of the court cases. I guess it is a good thing the case has been taking the court, because this will be a landmark case.

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, vowed to prosecute all Nigerians involved in the Halliburton bribe scandal.

The Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili, said this in Abuja during a press briefing.

She added that the Federal Government was expecting the United States Government to release the names of Nigerians involved in the scandal.

The minister further said that the Federal Government had written three letters to the United States Department of Justice on February 17, and March 27 and March 30 requesting the names and other details of Nigerians involved in the deal.

According to the minister, President Umaru Yar’Adua’s government has no intention of covering anyone involved in the scandal.

Akunyili said, “If we get the list tomorrow, we will release the names to the Nigerian people.

“This letter from the Nigeria Desk to the US Department of State conveyed the urgency of the requests in the two previous letters towards assisting the Nigerian government to fast-track the prosecution of Nigerians involved in the $180m Halliburton bribe scandal.

“The March 30 letter reminded the US State Department of the first letter in which Nigeria requested for Mutual Legal Assistance in order to enable Nigeria prosecute Nigerians involved in the bribery scandal related to the Bonny Liquefied Gas Facility.

“The letter also requested an urgent response with regard to Nigeria’s request to have competent authorities of United States liaise with the appointees of the Federal Government of Nigeria in the collation and transmission to Nigeria all important information crucial to the possible prosecution of corrupt Nigerian officials involved in the bribery scandal.”

About $180m was reported to have been distributed to top government officials by Halliburton officials to secure the contract for the construction of Liquefied Natural Gas plant in Bonny, Rivers State between 1994 and 2004.

While the trials of those involved abroad had taken place in the United States and France, their Nigerian collaborators remained unknown.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art200904082474765

NIGERIA's first deep sea port which construction is currently on-going at Lekki area of Lagos is expected to commence port operations in the next three years, precisely 2012. The port would provide the initial employment to no fewer than 3000 Nigerians.

The port would serve as a centre of shipping activities in the West and Central Africa as it is being planned to be a transshipment port for the African Sub Region

Speaking when the Minister of Transport, Alhaji Ibrahim Bio visited the project site at the weekend,the Managing Director Mr. Anand Sivaram said the construction of a new port in Nigeria was imperative as recent private investment in the port sector has not being able to cope with port users demand as the volume goods coming into the ports have increased in the last few year

He said the port was being built out of the need to support the double digit growth for Nigeria and transshipment potential of the country. The company, he said had already invested about $1.1billion on the port project.

According to him, the construction of the port would commence in December 2009 and would be completed by 2012.

ON completion, it would have about 1,500 meters long "Breakwater and 200m wide "approach channel. The port is being designed to handle container carriers of 4000m long with a drought of 14.5 metres and other container vessels with the capacity of 8,500 TEUs.

Besides, the port on completion would handle Suez Max and Aframaz Tankers of 160,000 DWT

He said, "The channel will be initially dredged 16.5 and later to 19.5m the port will be the 1st deep water port West Africa to berth larger vessels that current ports cannot berth volume of capital dredging -19.5m cubic meters. Main Breakwater of 1,500m length oriented to avoid wave penetration and facilitating natural sediment by-pass and designed for 1,100 year return period".

He explained that with the support of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA, lekki ports LFTZ Enterprise would operate its own maritime service fleet of vessels and trained pilots

According him, the company had since completed studies in areas of Oceanography Bathymetry, offshore and investigation among others.

He noted that to avoid traffic bottle-neck and ensure safety at the port access roads there was need for further investment in infrastructures to aid traffic flow in the area

The new investments he said could be in the form of construction of new roads and bridges, railways or waterways stressing that the Lagos state government had concluded plans to link the port with the railway and airport to facilitate movement of goods and services.

He urged the government to put in place a regulatory framework to ensure smooth running of the new port and free trade zone.

Transport minister, Alhaji Ibrahim BIO who was apparently impressed at the port project execution, described the project as viable and self-sustaining adding that the project has given hope on the prospect of the Nigerian maritime industry .He was optimistic that it would assist the country in the race to meet up with advanced maritime nations of the world

http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/maritime/article01/indexn2_html?pdate=080409&ptitle=Lekki%20port%20commences%20operation%202012,%20to%20employ%203000%20Nigerians

hopefully the project takes off and Lagos state can finally have its own port (the other ports belong to the Federal Govt.)

Lagos State Government has stated today that it sent about 2,612 drivers for psychiatric evaluations in 2008 for various traffic offences.

These numbers were given by the Commissioner for Transportation, Bamidele Badejo, at the inter-ministerial briefing today at the State Secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

The offenders were subjected to the evaluations for dangerous driving, driving against traffic and other related offences.

Mr. Badejo said that majority of those tested at the Psychiatric Hospital, Yaba, were male motorists.

He added that 15,067 vehicles were apprehended by the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority for driving in directions prohibited by the state traffic laws.

The commissioner claimed that most of the offenders were commercial bus operators [and] attributed the situation to impatience.

Analysing the figures, 6,246 of the 15,067 vehicles apprehended were private while 8,221 belonged to the commercial vehicle group.

Mr. Badejo said the mostly flouted traffic offences were those listed under the miscellaneous traffic offences, acts which posed the greatest danger to the lives of road users.

"They include driving in a direction prohibited by the road traffic law, illegal u-turns, wrong overtaking and unauthorised stoppage on highways," he said.

The commissioner noted that the disregard for traffic rule had resulted in 1,067 accidents, while 268 people lost their lives with 1,735 sustaining injuries in 2008.

"LASTMA sent 504 recalcitrant drivers to the classroom at its headquarters for re-training and re-education in 2008 because the agency realised that drivers needed more education and enlightenment for them to function better on the roads," he said.

The commissioner also said that the Vehicle Inspection Unit (VIU) sanctioned 67,776 vehicles during the same period and impounded 615 trailers which carried unlatched or unhooked containers.

"The VIO also arrested 82 drivers in their various homes after flouting traffic rule and ran away to escape justice, under its home arrest policy just introduced," he added.

http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5398618-147/Psychiatric_evaluations_of_Lagos_drivers_.csp

President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua on Tuesday approved the sacking of all the executive directors of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

In the exercise, six Group Executive Directors have been replaced with new ones appointed in acting capacity.

The new appointees are: Attahiru Baba Yusuf (North East) who takes over from Ibrahim Waziri as the new Ag. Group Executive Director, (Corporate Services). Augustine Olusegun Oniwon (North Central), Ag. Group Executive Director (Refining and Petrochemicals) replaces Onochie Azubuike Anyaoku (South East).

Others are Philip Onwuzuike Chukwu (South East) who takes over from Chris Ogiewonyi, (South South) as Ag. Group Executive Director (Exploration and Production). Aminu A. Babakusa (North West) replaces Shehu Ladan (North West) as Ag. Group Executive Director (Commercial and Investment).

Also appointed were Faithful Abi Abiyesoku (SouthSouth) who succeeds Olusola Williams Ayangbile (South West) as Ag. Group Executive Director (Engineering and Technology) and Micheal Abiodun Arokodare (South West) who takes over from Mr Stanley Lawson (South South) as Ag. Group Executive Director (Finance and Accounts).

There was no explanation for the sudden sack of the six officials or why new ones were appointed in acting capacities, except for comments credited to the Group Managing Director of the corporation, Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, in a statement that "the ongoing changes are in response to the enormous challenges of survival and growth of the corporation."

However, our correspondent gathered that the sacking was done a month ago, but was suspended because of outcry over the new appointments.

Part of the reasons for the outcry was the marginalisation particularly from the core Niger Delta area, which feels excluded from actual involvements in the oil and gas industry.

This set of appointments is the second major in the NNPC top management, which started with the appointment of Barkindo in January as the new helmsman, taking over from Abubakar Lawal Yar'Adua, whose appointment a year earlier was also terminated abruptly.

It also contravenes assurances by Mr. Barkindo that there would be no more sacks within the NNPC until the current reforms of the state-run corporation and the oil and gas industry were over.



http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Money/Business/5398717-147/story.csp

Unknown gunmen have shot the Chairman of Ifo Local Government in Ogun State, Mr Sikirulai Ogundele a.k.a Iyeru, killing his younger brother, Mukaila Olatunji, in the process.

Postings on an online forum, naija politics, by some members indicated that both men were returning from a visit to their ailing mother in University College Hospital, Ibadan on Sunday night when they were attacked by the gangsters in front of the chairman‘s residence in the Ogun State capital, Abeokuta.

Two shots fired at the council chairman were said to have failed to hurt him, which made the gunmen hit him on the head with the butt of a gun. The forumite said Ogundele immediately fell into a coma and was rushed to hospital while his younger brother, who was said to be on a visit from the United States, was killed.

The posting said the attack was politically-motivated and similar to an unsuccessful attempt by some gangsters to kill Mr. Wale Adedayo, a former aide of the state governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, in January this year.A forumite, who described himself as the cousin of both men, Dapo Ayoola, said in a posting that Mukaila was buried on Tuesday (today) while Ogundele was in good health and not in a hospital.I[/b]n an emotional posting, on behalf of the Ogundele and Ayoola families, he wrote, ”While acknowledging that Sikirulai is currently a public figure, the family would wish that we be allowed to grieve appropriately. [b]Tunji has just been buried and his biological parents are yet to be informed of his death. Let all parents on this forum, please, bear with us and leave us out of the political and administrative wrongs in Ogun State at this challenging and trying times.”

More details later.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2009040718295039

iReport:

Whareva you say but just warn Fashola not to mess with the God of Adeboye because if Daddy raise an arm to curse him just once, he's finished for life.

So the God of Adeboye approves that churches should go against the law of the land and build illegal churches?

iReport:

Tuesday, April 7, 2009
[size=14pt]Lagos road expansion: Building owners may not get compensation[/size]

By Rasheed Bisiriyu

Many owners of buildings marked for demolition for the expansion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway into a 10-lane dual carriageway may get no compensation after all, as there are indications that most affected structures are standing on government acquired land.





advertisement

Over 3,000 structures affected by the project were said to be on the Right of Way of the road network, stretching from Eric Moore in Surulere to Badagry.

The 60.3 kilometre road would incorporate light rail and Bus Rapid Transit facilities.

The buildings, which are on both sides of the road include residences, churches, banks, filling stations, luxury bus terminals, shopping complexes, gates of the Ojo Military Cantonment, offices and shops.

The state government, which gave the Right of Way as 120 metres, had last year assured of adequate compensation and resettlement for owners with genuine documents and approved building plans.

But fresh facts emerging from the state secretariat at Alausa, Ikeja, on Monday indicated that few people had applied to the state government for compensation.

Although, a source told our correspondent on Monday that the verification was still being done on the claims, he said it was difficult to confirm if any of those concluded had any genuine claims for compensation.

Many of the residents and workers in the area who spoke with our correspondent said they were already making arrangement to relocate to other places.

They also said that some landlords were reluctant to approach the government for compensation because they knew it would amount to nothing.

The Lagos State Chairman, Road Transport Employers' Association of Nigeria, Mr. Udoghoreyon Edema, who owns a building in the area as well as maintains an office at Agboju Bus Stop said, "How many people have Certificates of Occupancy? The people already know that they had all constructed buildings on the road setback."

He lamented the daily traffic congestion being on the road, and welcomed the move to expand it.

In a newspaper advertisement in December last year, signed by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Francisco Abosede, the government said it had given all affected property owners nine days to move out of the 120 metres Right of Way.

It specifically requested those affected to forward to Alausa their certified registered title documents of the properties within the Right of Way; approved building plans with certified registered titles and any other documents that might be relevant.

The state government insisted that the documents must get to the commissioner's office not later than December 10, 2008.

The commissioner also confirmed through a text message to our correspondent on Monday that the public acquisition notice would soon be published "for the acquisition of the Right of Way.

http://odili.net/news/source/2009/apr/7/412.html

The article said most of this people don't have C of O's. So i guess it confirms my statement produce C of O's , that is real and get compensation

iReport:

Was it not the govt that allowed them to build in the first place. For the last time why r they not demolishing mosques?. Fashola is a muslim, abi?. He shouldn't let christians pray down his govt with holy ghost fire.

No it was not the govt. because if it was the govt they would have been given C of O. All they had to do was present their C of O's and be fully compensated by the govt.

Here is a story of a church that was located near dolphin and they had C of O. They govt need the land to rebuild the drainage system
Fashola gave them free land in Lekki to rebuild their church

http://allafrica.com/stories/200903230934.html

I dont think he is intentionally picking on churches.

iReport:

Why are no mosques being destroyed?

Maybe its because there is no mosque in that area. Fashola has destroyed mosque and churches that are illegal and blocking the govt path. I dont think this is discrimination on the govt's part.

iReport:

Have they cleared all the illegal structures in lagos?. why are churches their center of attraction?. The won't demolish mosques abi, after all the governor will worship on friday.  

I think you need to know the full story before jumping to conclusion. This churches are on the right of way (meaning the belong to the Lagos state government) and they are blocking the 40km lekki-epe road that is currently under construction.

iReport:

Demolish house of God?

Should house of God build houses illegally? Are they not the ones to be leading by example.

The new palace of the OIubadan of Ibadanland is to cost N4.3billion, according to the Otun Olubadan, Chief Omowale Kuye. Kuye, who is the Chairman, Building Committee, disclosed this to newsmen on Monday, in Ibadan, after meeting with the Olubadan-in-Council.



According to him, the plan to construct a new and beffitting palace for the monarch has been on for years, adding that eminent personalities in Ibadanland were involved. He added that due to the lack of a modern palace, the previous obas of the ancient town, including the incumbent, Oba Odulana Odugade I, have been operating in their personal houses. The chairman said the situation did not augur well with the traditional rulers and their council members as proper traditional administration was impaired.

Kuye said the new palace would be built at Oke-Aremo area of the town which is expected to have modern equipment, including ICT facilities. At the meeting were former Oyo governor, Senator Rasheed Ladoja; Chief Lekan Balogun and many others.

http://thepmnews.com/2009/04/07/olubadans-new-palace-to-cost-n43b

This money can be used for other things such as hospital, cleaning up Ibadan

PapaBrowne:

Costs aside, there a a nasty Federal law that would hamper any development.

Federal law demands that any power generated should be pumped into the national grid.
SO even if Fashola builds a 10,000 MW power plant, he has to pump it into the national grid for Zamfara, Ebonyi, Ekiti and all other states in the Fedeartion to share. Lagos would probably end up with 2000 MW.
Now, who would want to make that kind of investment when the benefits are not going to impact your people.

That is the mess that is Nigeria!

Finally, someone gets it.
This is why states are calling for true federalism.
Even Kwara that used to have regular power supply has started crying foul, because PCHN has started sending more MW to other states.
And Tinubu has already tried it, the plant is sending more than 50% of its MW to the North (and Lagos State is been charged for the full cost of maintenance). As they say once bitten twice shy. And typical PCHN it is not doing a good job maintaining it.
Thats why I dont think Lagos State would embark on any new power project, without a guarantee it will not be added to the national grind.

The Movement Against Corruption has written to the Attorney General of the Federation, Michael Aondoankaa and his Ogun State counterpart, Akin Osinbajo to, with immediate effect, arrest and prosecute Olusegun Obasanjo over what they called "his deliberate violation of a law of the country."

Mr Obasanjo, in images supplied by the group, at his Birthday celebration some weeks back, sprayed Naira notes on women who danced to the music played at a recent birthday ceremony in Abeaokuta. This action, the group said, violates Section 12 of the CBN Act 2007 which was signed into law by Obasanjo himself in 2008.


http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Home/5398181-146/story.csp

The rerun poll ordered in Ekiti governorship race between Action Congress candidate, Kayode Fayemi and Olusegun Oni, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party,  is gradually turning a do or die affair, with increasing threats to militarise an otherwise democratic exercise.

As if the weekend threats by top chiefs of the People’s Democratic Party to draft soldiers into the state, was not enough, recent wire taping of the Osun State Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola has revealed even more bewildering plans.

Information available to P.M.News showed that the governor of Osun State plans to flood Ekiti on April 25 with guns and ammunition and also fake army uniform. He disclosed his plan to chairmen of the 16 local governments in Ekiti state.

Sources told P.M.News this morning that Prince Oyinlola at a secret meeting which held at the press gallery inside Jibowu Hall of Government House, at 8pm on Friday 3 April 2009 promised to supply army uniform, arms and ammunition which the PDP chiefs would give to their thugs.

The thugs in army uniform would then prevent AC supporters from coming out to vote while only PDP voters would come out.

Prince Oyinlola told the 16 local government chairmen that they should not  mess up and they must make sure PDP rules Ekiti State whether the people like it or not. He said although he was aware that AC may have its own plans, PDP’s plans must srpass theirs.

It was also  gathered that  at other meetings, within the same Government House, Oyo State Governor, Adebayo Alao Akala and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole mapped out separate plans on how to ensure PDP wins at all costs.

Below is the partial text of Prince Oyinlola’s briefing as recorded:

[b]“We called up this meeting purposely to speak with you and this meeting is centered upon(sic) me to tell you people that, I the governor of Osun State, Olagunsoye Oyinlola, is(sic) ready to supply all the 16 local government chairmen and particularly the affected 10 local government chairmen where rerun election will be conducted, army uniforms, arms and ammunition.

“You people will give these to your supporters who will camouflage as army in the respective polling centres so that they will intimidate the voters by allowing them not to come out to vote. The only people that will come out should be PDP so that the victory of Segun Oni would be able to be ascertained(sic).

“I hope you people are with me? Please we need no mess up, and you should mobilize your people, you should release money to them, let them be able to come out and participate as strictly in our plan so that this plan will now be sorted out and there is no way they can…, I know they have their own plans too but our plan must surpass their own plan. I hope I am communicating with you? Please we don’t want any mess up, we must rule, we must claim Ekiti back; PDP must rule this state whether they like it or not, they must rule.”
[/b]


http://thepmnews.com/2009/04/06/ekiti-guber-poll-oyinlola-promises-guns-army-uniform-to-pdp-chiefs

I hope this is not true, PM  News is not really a reliable source.