LASG Moves To Curb Cultism, Drug Abuse

In recent times, there have been reported cases of drug abuse and cultism in Lagos State public schools. These have greatly affected students academically, emotionally, psychologically and morally.
To arrest these rampant cases, the Lagos State Office of Youth and Social Development held a sensitisation programme with the theme: “Curbing the Menace of Drug Abuse and Cultism in Schools”, last week at the Women Development Centre, WBC, Agege, Lagos, southwest Nigeria.
The choice of the theme is a deliberate and conscious attempt to tackle headlong, the twin-evil of drug abuse and cultism in Lagos schools.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Youth and Social Development, Dr. Dolapo Badru lamented that drug abuse with its attendant social problems was fast assuming frightening dimension in the society.
“Drug used in social setting but are socially unacceptable because of the inherent danger they pose to men and society are heroin and marijuana, among others. A small amount acts as stimulant while a greater amount acts as a sedative and a larger amount acts as a poison and can kill.
“The production, possession, sale and distribution of these drugs are illegal, while their use in any quantity constitutes an abuse. Drugs are essentially poisons. The degree they are taken determines the effects.
“A visit to our rehabilitation and vocational centres in Isheri, Majidun and Tekunle will reveal the devastating effect of drug abuse on our youths who have been entangled in the web of this destructive act. The government, in response to this challenge commits huge sums of detoxification and preventive purposes,” he explained.
Badru, whose speech was read by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Kamol Junaid, added that the cost of releasing and flushing out of the body the accumulated toxic residue lodged in the tissues could be very great and catastrophic.
On cultism, he said this had led to outbreak of violence in schools with “its concomitant social problems not even sparing the upcoming students in our secondary schools. The total eradication of cultism and drug abuse in our schools will not be compromised. Lagos State government is resolutely committed to the realisation of these noble and set goals.
In his speech, Junaid expressed regret that vices ranging from absenteeism, gangsterism, examination malpractices, obscene dressing, prostitution, sexual harassment, cultism, drug abuse and several others were now rampant in some schools in the state.
Junaid, whose speech was read by the Director, Finance and Administration, Olalekan Akodu, said the responsibility of curbing cultism and drug abuse rested on parents, school system, religious leaders as well as the government.
“This could be done through appropriate upbringing, counselling and necessary sanctions. Hence, the need for this all inclusive programme carefully designed to carry parents, students and teachers in pursuit of the onerous task of ensuring normalcy within the academic milieu, thus making them to internalise the acceptable norms and values that would guarantee their academic excellence,” he said.
Dean Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, Prof. Omoegun Mopelola stated that several options on how to curb cultism in schools had been proffered in the past, saying that the problem was that of implementation.
She said that to tackle cultism and drug abuse, parents, teachers, government, religious bodies must be involved, adding that counselling was also key to eradicating the vices, while penalties must be put in place to deter others from going into it.

Trafficking Of Nigerians Worries Ambassador

The Nigerian Ambassador to Mali, Mr. Iliya Nuhu, has decried the high rate of trafficking of Nigerian girls through the West African country.

Nuhu told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Bamako that the problem had grown in “magnitude and sophistication” to the extent that a substantial number of Nigerians in Mali seemed to be thriving on it.

He said the practice was a “kind of modern day slavery” with Nigerians going to their villages or towns to bring in young girls between the ages of 10 and 15.

He said the traffickers were taking advantage of Nigeria’s economic problems to lure their victims with promises of setting them up in “very lucrative businesses abroad.”

“These people (traffickers) tell them about businesses which are not there and these girls, with very loose parental upbringing, fall for their tricks.

“They go to Nigeria to source for these girls and sell them off to their cronies not only in Mali but in other countries; but we are able to work in cooperation with these countries to map out the routes the traffickers follow.

“Since August, we have assisted not less than 30 of these girls to return to the country and this is a daily routine that the embassy and the staff go through.

“From what I gathered from the Nigerian community in Mali, an average of 20 to 30 girls are being trafficked into this country every day and those we get are those who raise alarm,” he said.

Nuhu said the embassy was working with the police in Mali on how to identify the traffickers, adding that he had written a memo to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja, to work out a strategy to solve the problem.

“We, however, call on the Federal Government to work with NAPTIP or take appraisal of what they are doing and see if there are gaps to be filled so that they can have the capacity to do this job.

“NAPTIP also should be able to have the necessary information through their own network to able to follow up these routes and study the mode of operation of the traffickers and beat them to it,” he added

NAN spoke to two of four girls who had been rescued from the traffickers.

Joy Monday, a hairdresser, said a woman came to her hometown, Auchi, Edo, to lure her to Mali.
“The woman told me that I can make between N5,000 and N7,000 fixing one person’s hair in Mali only to discover on reaching here that I am to be a prostitute and I was rescued by a man who brought me to the embassy,” Monday said.

Another victim, Chidinma Ubah, said a man called Sunny brought her to Mali, promising her that he was taking her to Europe.

She said she sought refuge in a police station when she discovered that she was to be a prostitute.
Nuhu said arrangements were being made to return the girls to Nigeria.

Assassins on motor bike kill barber

Assassins on a motor bike stormed Kawu Junction within Kano metropolis, northwest Nigeria on Monday, killing a barber, and injuring two other persons.

Witness account said the two gunmen invaded the barber’s shop, just beside the junction and shot him several times.

“They also shot sporadically after killing the young barber and left the area in a high speed. About two people received bullet injuries while a number of others who ran for safety got bruises from falls as they struggled for life,” said an eyewitness.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris confirmed the incident to P.M.NEWS on phone, saying that already, his men have cordoned off the area.

“We already have a hint of the operation of serial killers in the area and we have some useful information about their operation. We have made some arrests before now and we are on the trail of the fleeing ones,” he said.

Following the incident, security was further beefed up within Kano metropolis Monday evening as men of the Joint Security Force (JTF) and armed military patrol move around the streets.

P.M.NEWS also learnt from security sources that the JTF and anti-riot police squad have cordoned off the major flashpoints within Kano metropolis.

Journalist sends phone credit, not money, to wife’s kidnappers

Abductors of Mrs. Mariam Onoyume,the wife of the Rivers State Correspondent of Vanguard Newspapers, Jimitota Onoyume,have asked to be paid N10million to free her.

But all the journalist husband has been able to afford was to send some phone credit cards to the abductors.

Onoyume told P.M.NEWS today that the kidnappers have contacted him and are demanding 10Million Naira and recharge card.

“I have been able to send the recharge card.But where on earth will I get that kind of money,a poor journalist. I plead that they should not harm my wife.”

His wife, Mariam, was kidnapped on Monday morning by four armed men from her residence at Eku community in Ethiope East Local Government Area, Delta
State as she was about driving out of the compound in a Nissan Quest SUV with plate number EF 988 BEN.

Mariam is a teacher.

The Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has condemned in strong terms, her abduction.

In a statement signed by its Assistant Secretary, Anayo Onukwugha, the Union wondered why of recent, Nigerian journalists and their families have been targets of armed robbery attacks, kidnapping, and assassination.

The statement also wondered where all the monies voted yearly for improvement of security and training and re-training of security agents in the country go when innocent Nigerians are molested and often hacked to death by hoodlums, who operate without being challenged.

While calling for the unconditional release of the woman, the Union appealed to security agencies to do all they can to ensure the rescue of the kidnapped victim unharmed.

LASTMA Bans Junior Officers From Arresting Motorists

The Lagos State Government has banned junior officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA from arresting vehicles on Lagos roads, Southwest Nigeria.
This decision was taken to check overzealousness in the enforcement of the state’s traffic laws.
Speaking at a public forum on the new Lagos Traffic Law organised by the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), General Manager, LASTMA, Engr. Babatunde Edu said the measure was taken to respond to the complaints of aggressive law enforcement by junior officers.
He appealed to the public to report any junior officer who victimised or harassed them, saying they had been stripped of the power to arrest.
While urging members of the public not to take laws into their hands when unlawfully arrested, Edu said the officers are to render assistance to motorists in ensuring that traffic laws are voluntarily complied with.
He also charged members of the public to take note of the names of such officer, insisting that junior officers have been warned not to arrest again following the complaints of aggressive enforcement.
According to him,”You can easily identify them. Anywhere you find a junior officer with black epaulet on their shoulders, they cannot arrest, only the senior ones with red epaulet on their uniforms can arrest. We have stopped the junior officers from arresting motorists except during a joint operation.
“That is the extent we have gone in checkmating aggressive enforcement of the law.”
He revealed that the state government is spending huge resources on continuous training of the officers on non-aggressive measure of dealing with motorists.
Responding to complaints of unlawful seizure of broken down vehicles on the road, even when the driver is making frantic efforts to evacuate the faulty vehicle, Edu said LASTMA officers are expected to assist such driver.
“We have trained these men to be fair with motorists. They are not to harass or victimise on the road. If they do otherwise, please do not fight them, just take note of their names and report them. You don’t enforce law by breaking it.
“What I’m saying here may be totally different from what obtains on the roads, please I urge you to report them.Every officer has a name on the uniform. However, our roads must not also be turned into a mechanic workshop where you will decide to repair your car. You have to evacuate the faulty car from the road so as no to disturb other road users,” he stated.
Edu called for the cooperation of everyone in ensuring free flow of traffic, saying that LASTMA had removed several abandoned vehicles from roads to allow free flow of traffic.
“ We are training traffic officers at various councils and our men are also embarking on community development initiatives. LASTMA officers are parts of our society who are doing their best to ensure everyone has free access to the roads.”

Okada Ban: Relative Sanity On Lagos Roads

Before the enforcement of the new traffic law, driving on Lagos roads, Southwest Nigeria was an issue. It was an issue because every motorist had to contend with the multitude of motorcycles, popularly known as ‘okada’ on both sides of the roads and the reckless manner their operators were riding. While the motorists would be looking sideways to ensure that their side mirrors were not smashed, they would be extra-conscious to avoid crashing with okada operators, considering the way they rode.
Mr. Babatola Akinsanmi, a resident of Idimu area of Lagos said on different occasions, okada operators had “hit my side mirrors with impunity. Sometimes, they even abused and called me names. I had a sad experience with one of them at Agege sometime in August.
“At Agbotikuyo, one okada operator suddenly  crossed my lane after LASTMA officers had passed the lane. I almost hit him. If I were not careful enough that day, I would have cleared him off the road and perhaps, killed him. The scenario made me drive in the fear of okada almost on daily basis.”
Since the  enforcement on the ban of okada riders from plying 475  roads in the metropolis about three weeks ago, several motorists have heaved a sigh of relief as sanity is gradually returning to Lagos roads after long period of brazen lawlessness exhibited by okada riders.
“But since the enforcement started three weeks ago, the situation is much different. There is relative order on Lagos roads. I now drive with ease. Precisely on Monday, I drove from Idimu to Alausa with little or no fear of okada suddenly crossing my lane. Aside, the roads are no longer congested. At least, vehicles move with ease except that yellow buses still constitute menace on the roads.
“But there is need to do more because some okada riders still operate on restricted roads. The law  enforcement officers should do more to ensure the traffic law is implemented without fear and favour, bias or favouritism or objectively and with human face. And there should be room for correction at all time,” Akinsanmi added.
Mr. Emmanuel Ukudolo, who lives in Ojodu area of the state said “prior to restriction, driving in Lagos State has been very difficult, hectic and nauseating. Okada riders mill around vehicles; they drive against traffic.
“Now sanity has returned to Lagos roads; you feel free to ride your car now, there is no threat now that okada riders will enter your front. Okada riders still have places to ply, they can ply rural areas.”
Another motorist, Mr. Abiola Peter said there is now relative sanity on Lagos roads since the clampdown on okada riders, but lamented that some daring ones still ply the prohibited routes. It behooves on those patronizing them to abstain for their own safety.”
Since the clampdown on okada riders three weeks ago, thousands of riders have vacated the expressways, highways and several of other prohibited routes across the state. Several popular areas where okada riders have turned to their parks are now deserted as the police are now after them.
Already, over 5,000 okadas have been impounded since the clampdown. The police have been very dutiful in the war to get rid of okada menace in the metropolis.
In places like Ogba, Ikeja, Agege, Oshodi-Apapa Expressway, old Abeokuta road, Egbeda, Idimu, Capitol Road, Oba Akran, Ojodu- Berger, Ikotun-Iyana-Ipaja road, Ejigbo-Isolo, Ilasamaja, Oko-Oba, Iju, Ikeja GRA,Opebi, Allen, Toyin Street, Adeniji Jones, Agidingbi, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Lagos Island, Surulere, Ojuelegba, Costain, among several places, okada riders have deserted the roads for fear of being apprehended by the police.
Some desperate  okada riders have adopted a new strategy. They still  ply some of the prohibited routes but don’t normally carry their passengers to the main bus stops where police could arrest them. They stop very close to the bus stops, drop their passengers and move to other directions.
The enforcement had been total, the police had been very ruthless in enforcing the law; the Lagos State Government is happy that the enforcement is effective in the metropolis and Governor Babatunde Fashola had vowed that there is no going back on the enforcement as okada riders have become a thorn in the flesh of Lagosians.
Irked by the fact that their trade and means of livelihood are on the verge of being totally taken away from them, okada riders took laws into their hands last week when they protested in several areas in Lagos such as Ikorodu road, Ejigbo, Agbado, among others and vandalized over 10 BRT buses in a bid to express their grievances.
Very early in the morning, okada riders from Mushin, Onipanu and Somolu areas of the state  reportedly attacked BRT buses with commuters  around Olosha area of Mushin, Ojuelegba, Onipanu and Fadeyi. It was gathered that the angry hoodlums attacked three BRT buses between Onipanu Bus Stop and Aladiye Bus Stop on the ever-busy Ikorodu road, smashing the buses with stones, sticks and other objects.
The hoodlums, mainly from Mushin and Somolu also attacked a BRT bus around Ojuelegba, where passengers were forced to scramble out of the bus for safety.
Okada riders’ outrage led to criticism in several section of the society while some called for outright ban of okada business instead of restricting them.
The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji said the state might be forced to ban okada riders outrightly because of their  violence as a result of the restriction.
The House frowned at the attitude of Okada riders in the metropolis, calling on the state government to further strengthen security agencies to protect lives and property.
Fashola, in his reaction said: “About the okada, for me, I understand the economics of the okada. But it also has the social effects. Many fathers have lost their children; many husbands have lost their wives; many children have lost both parents.
“All we are saying is don’t go on the highways. First, because we must even understand, okadas and vehicles are automobiles; they are not toys; they are mechanical devices and therefore for you to even use them, you must go and train. That’s why you go to driving school to go and learn; then they certify you.
“Somebody just pulls okada from any parts of the country he likes, gets onto a truck, he’s going to Lagos and then you entrust your life to that man? As if that was not bad enough, he drives against traffic?”
Statistics from the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA and the police speak volume on why the government wields the big stick on okada riders.
In the last two years, 107 people have been killed and 512 others injured in okada accidents in Lagos State, according to the report
Reports obtained from the research department of LASTMA also revealed that 71 males and  36 female were killed in okada accidents in two years.
According to the report, between January 2011 and October 2012, 442 commercial motorcycles were involved in accidents across the State, out of which 271 occurred in 2011 while 171 occurred this year across the state.
The report also disclosed that in 2011 alone, 47 persons were killed and 98 others sustained serious injuries while from January 2012 to date, 63 people have been killed and 59 others sustained serious injuries.
More reports from the Lagos State Police Command revealed that 22 out of 30 armed robbery incidents between July and September this year were carried out by the use of okada.
The report shows that of eight robberies incidents that occurred in July, seven involved the use of okada while okada was also used in 10 out of 14 robberies in September and five out of eight robberies in August.
It disclosed that 513 fatal accidents recorded in the State in the last two years were caused by okada operators, adding that out of this number, 305 happened between January and December 2011 while 208 of the fatal accidents happened between January and June this year.
Some okada riders who spoke with PM NEWS METRO said the state government was very cruel to have driven them away from major roads in the metropolis.
According to Alex Nwore, an okada rider, government’s decision was cruel, painful and bad because “many of us have no jobs. I ride my okada in Ikeja; they drove me away and I am now at Ekoro area. I sustain myself and children through this business; I am begging them to allow us. Many of my colleagues are leaving the state with their okadas to somewhere else.”
“I don’t like the ban on okada riding. This move is counterproductive for the poor masses. Government should leave us alone; we campaigned for him and he promised not to ban okada but now he has done it,” said John Chukwuma, another okada rider.
As for Mike Ojo, okada rider, “okada ban is unfair. We don’t want to steal; we don’t want to go into armed robbery. They should allow us to ride on the streets they banned us from.”
Another okada rider, Joseph Umoh lamented that “government has made us useless through this ban. I pay my children’s school fees through this business. I don’t use okada to wreak havoc. He should leave us alone.”

Ladipo Market Traders Against Armed Thugs

Traders at the Aguiyi-Ironsi International Trade Centre at Ladipo, Mushin, Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria on Monday staged a peaceful  protest against armed thugs known as Bakassi Boys that have taken over the market.
The traders went round some streets in Mushin with placards to protest against the presence of the thugs and appealed to the Lagos State government and security agents to come to their aid. The protest which lasted several hours ended at the Mushin Local Government secretariat where they handed over a protest letter to the council chairman, Mr. Babatunde Adepitan.
Speaking during the protest, a leader of the traders, Casmir Ulasi told Adepitan that despite the arrest and detention of the factional leader of the market, Jonathan Okoli, the thugs he allegedly brought from the east known as Bakassi Boys, have not only increased, they are now unleashing terror on the traders.
“We cannot enter the market because the thugs allegedly brought into the market by Okoli have fortified themselves and refused to leave the place,” he protested. Ulasi accused the thugs of terrorising the traders with arms such as guns, machete and other dangerous weapons. They also rob and extort money from them, he added.
Former secretary of the market, Anthony Nwanzelibe, described what is happening in the market as unacceptable.
He said that many traders are being subjected to inhuman treatment and chased out of the market.  Another trader, Okey Imo, thanked the council chairman, Lagos State government and security agents for their efforts to sanitise the market. He said that more needed to be done because most of the traders are still outside and cannot enter the market because of the thugs there. Addressing the traders, Adepitan thanked them for their peaceful protest. He urged them to maintain peace while promising that their complaint would be forwarded to the relevant authorities for immediate action.
The market has witnessed leadership crises for the past three years during which some traders were attacked and injured.
One of the victims,  37-year old Ofoka Nnaji lost one of his fingers. Similarly, Solomon Eze and Ejike Maduabuchi nearly lost their lives during one of such attacks by the thugs.
Nwanzelibe who was secretatry to Okoli’s administration traced the crises in the market to the alleged inordinate ambition of the former leader to perpetuate himself in office. He said since the expiration of the tenure of his former boss, the market has not known peace.
The latest development was the arrest and arraignment of Okoli at an Ebute Metta Magistrate’s Court for his alleged involvement in terrorism, attempted murder, armed robbery, unlawful assembly,  displaying of arms and extortion, among others.  His plea was not taken.
The presiding Magistrate, Mrs. M.O. Olajuwon remanded him in prison custody at Ikoyi and ordered his file to be duplicated and sent to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, DPP, for advice. The matter was adjourned till 3 December, 2012. P.M. NEWS learnt that Okoli’s counsel has gone to an Ikeja High Court to file an application for his bail.

Fashola Disowns Facebook Fraudster

Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) of Lagos State this morning disowned the existence of any facebook account purportedly being operated by the First Lady of the state, Abimbola Fashola.

According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser to the Governor, Mr. Hakeem Bello, the First Lady of Lagos State does not operate a facebook, twitter or indeed any social media account.

Describing impersonation as a criminal offence punishable by law, the statement warned members of the public not to fall victim of fraudsters impersonating the First Lady on the facebook or any social media outlet.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the First Lady of Lagos State, Dame Emmanuella Abimbola Fashola does not operate any facebook, twitter or indeed any social media account,” it said.

“The attention of the Governor’s Office was recently called to the activities of impostors posing as the wife of the Governor of Lagos State via facebook thus leading to an investigation which revealed about four different facebook accounts purportedly operated by the First Lady.”

The statement warned perpetrators of the criminal act to desist henceforth or should be ready to face the music when the long arm of the law catches up with them.

Aviation sector dying, private jets market booming

With barely four functional airlines and less than 20 aircraft serving about 160 million Nigerians, the elite and government officials embrace private jets and chartered flights as the solution to the nation’s ailing aviation industry


Until recently, Nigerians could count on their fingers members of this exclusive club. They included oil companies, the Presidency and some individuals. But not anymore. Nigerians are losing count of their country men who own private jets. Governors, politicians, legislators, religious leaders and top executives in telecommunications and banking own jets. Those who do not own jets travel on chartered flights.


The brand of plane the elite and government officials love include, but is not limited to, Hawker Siddley 125-800 and 900XP, Gulfstream 450, 550 and 650; Bombardier Challenger 604, 605; Global Express; Embraer Legacy and Falcons.


Aviation experts and industry watchers are not at one on the number of private jets in Nigeria today. While some claim it is over 200, many believe that figure is an exaggeration. A foreign magazine, Forbes, recently claimed that in the last five years, Nigerians may have spent about $6.5 billion or more buying private jets, and that there are more private jets in Nigeria than even comparatively richer African countries, such as South Africa, Egypt and others.


Forbes revealed that the craze for private jets rose by 650 per cent between 2007 and 2012. As at 2007, there were just about 20 private jets in Nigeria, but as of today, there are about 200. Forbes claims that Nigeria is one of the fastest growing private jets markets.

But for Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the figure being peddled by Forbes or any other medium is not right. They revealed that only 77 private jets are operating in Nigeria, and 67 of the jets are not registered in Nigeria.

NCAA spokesman Sam Adurogboye said: “Basically, we have 10 privately owned jets owned by Nigerians that are registered. We equally have 67 that are foreign registered. What this means is that they are bought overseas and registered there. Nigerian registered has to do with those jets that are on the register of aircraft maintained by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority. It follows, therefore, that those are the aircraft that you have oversight authority over. By oversight, I mean regulatory functions that determine whether it is fit to fly, whether it is fit to be brought into the country, whether it is fit to be operated at all in your airspace. Every country has its registration mark for its aircraft. It is allotted by International Civil Aviation Organisation. No country has two numbers, it is just one.”

Adurogboye said he “cannot say whether the 67 foreign aircraft” are owned by Nigerians or not. “When people buy airplanes, often times they don’t buy it directly as individuals. People buy aircraft through an agent, usually a company. That is the position of the law. Like I said earlier, you buy through a firm that will charge you because it is in business to make profit. Our business is not to find out the owner of any aircraft. It is bought by a third party as it is known to the law and it is registered with NCAA in the name of the firm. There is nowhere in NCAA records where you will see the name of an individual as the owner of any aircraft.”


Nigerian owned jets with foreign registration


However, a highly placed aviation officer confided in The Nation that many public office holders own most of the private jets registered abroad. He said the trend is to prevent them from being linked to the ownership of such airplanes.

The Managing Director of Aero Airlines, Captain Akin George, has condemned the increasing number of private jets being parked at most of the aprons of Nigerian airports. He was particularly piqued that most of the private jets carry foreign registration credentials rather than Nigerian registration. The decision to register the jets in foreign countries, particularly in South Africa, is said to be informed by the notion that in case the owners want to resell the jets, they would warrant a bigger value from buyers.

George urged the authorities to make registration in Nigeria friendly and attractive. He said all the aircraft in Nigeria were registered in company’s names rather than private names.
Governors need jets

Outrage continues to trail the recent acquisition of jets by Akwa Ibom Governor Godswill Akpabio and Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi. Akpabio reportedly bought a Gulfstream jet manufactured in 2011 for $45 million in July 2012. The plane registration number is N224BH. This was confirmed by the state’s spokesman Aniekan Ummanah, who insisted that it is Akwa Ibom State property.

Amaechi, on October 7, took delivery of a Bombardier Global 5000 (N565RS). The jet cost $45.7 million. The state’s former aircraft, a Dash 8-Q200 aircraft, was sold to Cross River State for $6 million.
A Port Harcourt-based human rights campaigner described the vogue as “ungodly”. But Rivers State Information Commissioner Mrs. Ibim Semenitari told reporters the plane was paid for “two years ago”.

She added: “The reason is for safety. The new aircraft is a much safer one.”
Semenitari revealed that expert advice was sought before the purchase and that the Rivers State House of Assembly approved the purchase.

If Akpabio and Amaechi merely acquired jets to be ferried around in, Taraba State Governor Danbaba Suntai not only acquired one, he had enough time to combine governance with studies as a pilot. He qualified as a private pilot from the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT) Zaria in August 2010.

Recently, the pilot-governor crashed at Ngulore village, 10 kilometres to Yola International Airport. Suntai was piloting a Cessna 208 aircraft, with registration number, 5N-BMJ. The governor and his aides are undergoing treatment in Germany.

House of Representatives member representing Zuru/Fakai/Zakaba/ Dawazagu Federal Constituency of Kebbi State, Bala Ibn Na’Allah, who is reported to have sold Suntai’s first plane to him, recently justified the acquisition of private planes by the elite.
He said: “Since I took delivery of my aircraft, it showed that it is far cheaper to maintain than maintaining my cars. A return flight from Abuja to Zuru, my village, costs me 50 litres of petrol, whereas my jeep consumes over 200 litres.”

Na’Allah added that it is cheaper to maintain a plane than the latest models of cars and Sports Utility Vehicles. He said: “To service it after a mandatory 50-hour flight, which is the equivalent of servicing a car, costs less than N50, 000. And for maintenance, the retainership fee with Aviation Maintenance Organisation (AMO) per annum is about N200, 000.”


He revealed that his C-172 aircraft manufactured in 1971 cost him about $48,000 to acquire.
“In all, you will see that it is very cheap to maintain these aircraft than to maintain the latest car in the market. I think if people know that it is cheaper to acquire and maintain a small aircraft, like my own, many Nigerians would not hesitate to get one today, than the craze for buying flashy cars, with armed robbers trailing you, not to talk of bad roads and frequent car crashes will reduce,” he said.

Chartered flights booming
For elite and government officials, especially governors, who could not acquire private jets probably because of public outrage, the next level is chartered air planes.

Aviation sources put the cost of a trip between N4million and N7 million.


In 2011 alone, statistics revealed that Nigerians spent roughly N29.7bn on chartered flights. According to NCAA and FAAN data, an average of 50 jets was chartered daily in 2011. NCAA Director-General, Dr. Harold Demuren, confirmed this in a recent public lecture.


Preferred charter operators include Kings Airlines, Associated Airlines, Top Brazz Aviation, Wings Aviation, Associated Airlines, Overland Airways, Arik Air, Vistajet, Aero Contractors, Caverton Helicopters, OAS Helicopters, Bristow Helicopters and Pan African Airlines.

No, yes to private jets,
chartered flights
Lagos lawyer Festus Keyamo has described the development as waste of public funds. He said: “This is a colossal waste of public fund. It is absolutely obscene and distasteful and a classic case of misplaced priorities for state governors to acquire private jets at this present time. By placing the said private jets or airplanes in the hands of private managers, is also an avenue for fraud. It cannot be a source of revenue enough for a state to recover that kind of capital. That kind of income can never be in commensuration with such investment especially in this very situation and time when people are hungry in the state. It is not commensurate.

“There are a lot of commercial jets in Nigeria for any state governor or government to move around in. They should return the private jets to where they got them from, recover the money and use it for projects that will really affect the lives of people in their states positively.”


Another lawyer, Mohammed Fawehinmi, agrees with Keyamo. He said: “Governors or state governments are not presently considering the economic situation of the country to justify acquiring private jets. I will implore Nigerians to be asking questions collectively and stop hailing these people. The money used to acquire those private jets is meant for development projects that should benefit the citizenry of each state. Unfortunately, the governors now use such monies to buy jets and some people are hailing them and wanting to be like the governors, creating more problems for the citizens of those states.”

For Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Chief Mike Ozekhome, it is unfair to say governors have private jets because the jets are owned by their states. He said: “I do not like the word private because it suggests that it belongs exclusively to the governor in question. If it is an aircraft purchased for a state to ease movement of the governor and government officials for official duties, I do not see anything wrong with that because at the end of the day, it could be more protected and viable.


Many times, when these governors are travelling abroad, they go with First Class tickets, sometimes they go with up to 10 Commissioners, 10 advisers and even with their wives who may also go with their hangers-on. So some governors go on a trip with 30 or 40 people. By the time you pay for first class and business class tickets for such a large number of people, you find out that money of the state is being drained in a very drastic and shameless manner. On the other hand, if government acquires a jet for the state and it is the property of the state like governor Odili, former Governor of Rivers State once did for his state, then it is viable. And to the best of my knowledge, the jet was being used long after he had left Government House.”

Aviation expert, Captain Dele Ore, said for states that are not linked by commercial flights, there is nothing wrong with such states acquiring jets. He said: “Every state has its own peculiarities. And there are states that are not properly linked by the commercial airlines. And so it makes commuting from such places to Abuja or Lagos, which is a commercial centre, difficult for the officials, therefore creating a need for an aircraft to be designated to belong to such a state for ease of governance because of the need to commute to the federal capital, without first of all going to Lagos.”
He added that what should be worried about is whether the jets were acquired after due process has been followed.


“We should not be against the use of aircrafts if they are used to develop and train the people of the state and ease government officials’ transportation as long as they have capacity to buy and maintain because some people can say that they cannot even feed themselves and so on. But if it helps the governor to go to Abuja and in a few hours he is back in the state instead of spending two extra days on the road, it saves delay in government duties and these same aircrafts might also be used for medical evacuation and such emergencies. So it depends on what studies they made and arrived at in such states. As a blanket cover to condemn state governors buying jets, I don’t share that view. It is not all governors that you can fault; there are genuine needs in some places.”

Commercial airlines moribund
While the elite and top government officials continue to acquire jets, the nation’s commercial airlines continue its fast march to the morgue.
In the last few years, about ten commercial airlines have died. Only Arik Airline, Aero Contractors, IRS and Overland seem to be in the air, and the number of flights they operate is grossly inadequate.
Because there are more Nigerians chasing the few planes, operators not only charge exorbitant prices, with an hour flight sometimes costing as much as N35,000, one of the highest in the world. Passengers are most times delayed at the airports for hours; flights are cancelled without genuine excuses and getting a refund is a herculean task.
Commercial airline operators reportedly owe banks about N250 billion. Recently, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) placed a ban on further loan to commercial flight operators to prevent further escalation of their debts.


So critical is the situation of the industry that the Federal Government is proposing a new intervention fund for the aviation industry.


Aviation Minister Stella Oduah said: “We wanted a direct growth for a better impact than what we currently have in place and our strategy to utilising it is to have a tripartite, triangular if you like, system where the CBN with the approval of the Ministry of Finance pays directly to aircraft manufacturers of the leasing company. The leasing company would in turn bring the aircraft to our airline operators. The airline operators would now have access to brand new aircraft, if not brand new, but relatively brand new aircraft. You and the passengers will have access to functional airline that can take you to where you want to go safely and aviation remains the preferred mode of transportation.


“Aviation is pivotal to the growth of key economic sectors, such as travel and tourism, agriculture production and distribution, rural development, trade and commerce, manufacturing and other non-oil sectors, which are critical to economic transformation of any nation. The value chain of creation by aviation is enormous. In order to reposition the Nigerian aviation sector for this role, we consulted widely with industry stakeholders and relevant ministries, departments and agencies to develop a common mission and vision.”

FG orders Bi-Courtney to fix Lagos-Ibadan Expressway before Christmas

The Federal Government has ordered Bi-Courtney Highway Services Ltd., the concessionaire handling the rehabilitation of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, to complete the ongoing reconstruction work before Christmas.

Mr Tunde Ekunsunmi, Director, Public-Private Partnership (PPP), Federal Ministry of Works, gave the order in response to journalists’ questions at the end of an inspection of the road.

The company was to carry out the reconstruction work from Kilometre 32 to 45 (around Redeemed camp to Shagamu interchange),

Ekunsunmi said that the company was expected to lay asphalt on the stone base two weeks before Christmas, to ensure less congestion when people travel for the Yuletide.

“This is the time to ensure this road is put in the right shape because of people travelling in the next few weeks for Christmas. That is why we have come to alert them to work day and night to ensure that the road is good enough for the Christmas,” he said

He added that the ministry was satisfied with the progress of work done by the contractors, Messrs Borini Prono.

Ekunsunmi said that the contractor was working in line with general certification of both the ministry and international standard.
“I think they have done very good, bearing in mind the intervention of weather,” he said.
Dr Wale Babalakin, Chairman, Bi-Courtney, said that the company would complete the reconstruction of the road without much stress to users.

Babalakin said, “Our purpose is that we have made a covenant with Nigerians to deliver this road on time and we are determined that this covenant, we would live up to it.

“Nigerians should expect that this road would be completed on schedule and they would have a smooth road to travel on for Christmas.”

Demuren orders airline operators to instal safety equipment

Dr Harold Demuren, Director-General (DG), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), has given airline operators six months to instal Automated Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) on their aircraft or face sanctions.

Demuren gave the order on Tuesday at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, while speaking with newsmen shortly after delivering a speech at the ongoing Airbus Industry Training Workshop for indigenous airline operators.

``I think we are giving them six months to instal the gadgets in their airplanes. We need to give them sometime. It is not a thing you can do in one day.

``After the expiration of the six months, no plane would operate in the public category carrying passengers for hire. I think it is good to promote safety in the industry,`` he said.

He explained that each of the airline operators would have to instal AFIRS, which is a safety device, with an initial down payment of US$60,000.00 (N9.5 million), adding that the balance would be spread over a period of two years.

The DG said that the equipment was available at the NCAA headquarters.

Demuren expressed satisfaction that all the country’s airline operators were willing to adopt the innovation.

He said that the installation of the AFIRS, which he said was the latest in the world, would make it easier for the NCAA regulators to detect any snag on them.

 It was reported that AFIRS is the newest safety gadget in the global aviation industry and could be used to detect any problem in any aircraft, whether stationary or airborne.

8 die in Limuru road ACCIDENT

Eight people died early this morning and another six left seriously injured when a police vehicle collided with a matatu at Ngarariga in Limuru.

A witness at the scene said the accident happened when a matatu that was on its way to Githunguri collided with a police truck that was picking up prisoners on their way to Naivasha. 

Confirming the accident area OCPD Jonathan Kisaka said that four people died on impact while another four died on arrival at the local hospital. Kisaka also confirmed that six other people were still in hospital receiving emergency care.

Kisaka also said that an initial inquiry into the accident had revealed that it happened when the driver of the police truck lost control of the vehicle and rammed into the Githunguri bound matatu.

Girl Drugged And Raped By Man She Met On Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Kenyan version of Cynthia perhaps, just lucky she didn't lose her life, She claims she met a  man on Facebook and both arranged for a friendly date after one month of lovey dovey inbox messages.

The man picked her up in a Range rover car and drove to upmarket westlands for a drink. She decided to have red bull since that was their first time of meeting and didn't want to leave a bad impression.

During their date, she excused herself and went to the loo, that was when the man drugged the red bull she was drinking.

 

The girl only remembers being drowsy and someone dragging her to the car. She was half awake but still weak when the man together with other assailants raped her repeatedly. She lost count of the number of times she was raped.

She only came back to her senses when good samaritans found her in Umoja 2, Kenya in a very bad state.

The girl said her private part was sore and couldn't walk properly.

She warns females to be very careful about the male friends they meet on Facebook as not all of them have good intentions.

Okada rider arraigned for stripping self

The Lagos State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences (Enforcement) Unit has charged the okada rider who allegedly stripped himself on Acme Road, Ogba on Monday to the state special court in Alausa.

The government said the rider, Mr. Sunday Udoh, 38, stripped himself to evade arrest for violating the road traffic law and possibly expose the policemen who wanted to arrest him to attacks from sympathisers.

 

The Taskforce Chairman, Superintendent Bayo Sulaiman, said Udoh’s action constituted public nuisance and was a violation of the traffic law.

 

After pleading not guilty to the charge, the court granted Udoh bail in the sum of N100,000 and one surety.

 

However, when it was obvious that he could not meet the bail condition, he was remanded in custody while the case was adjourned to October 13, 2012.

 

Before his arraignment, Udoh had told our correspondent that he did not know if he stripped himself.

He said, “I don’t know what happened; I was begging them and I don’t know whether my clothes were on me or not.”

 

But Sulaiman insisted that the okada rider stripped himself to attract public sympathy and create confusion.

 

He said, “He was about to be arrested when he created a big scene by stripping himself. It seems that is a new trick by okada riders to evade arrests for violating traffic law. We had to persuade him to put on his clothes before we arrested him.

 

“Stripping is a violation of the traffic law. His action can cause attack on policemen by other okada riders.”

Hundreds of Passengers escape death as trains collide in Lagos

 

Many passengers escaped death when two trains collided in Lagos on Wednesday.

 

Four people were however injured.

It was learnt that the accident was due to the absence of signal operator at the Mushin Station terminus in Lagos.

 

An eyewitness, who identified herself simply as Bisi, said when one of the trains, which was coming from Ijoko in Ogun State got to the terminus, it stopped for passengers to disembark.

Bisi added that as the Iddo-bound train driver was waiting to be cleared, the train coming from Iddo rammed into it.

 

It was gathered that the signal operator had gone to defecate and asked his assistant to take over but his assistant forgot, leading to the collision.

 

A trader near the rail track, Ngozi Nelson, told PUNCH Metro that the accident occurred because the train operators were not properly guided.

 

She said, “The train from Iddo was coming with high speed unknown to the driver that there was another train on the track.

“By the time the driver got to where the train was stationed waiting for direction, his brakes failed.”

A tailor in the area, who craved anonymity, said the impact of the accident threw the entire neighbourhood into chaos.

 

“We thought it was a bomb blast. It was when we got there that we found out it was train collision. Some passengers sustained injuries. But I do not think anybody died,” he said.

The man, who looked downcast, said the accident was unfortunate.

 

“The trains have been removed as you can see. It was not as serious as people exaggerated,” he said.

As at 2pm when one of our correspondents was leaving the terminus, officials of the corporation were clearing some of the debris of the accident.

 

Meanwhile, the management of Nigerian Railway Corporation has confirmed the accident.

The NRC Assistant Director Public Relations, Mr. David Ndakotsu, in a statement on Wednesday, said no one died in the accident.

 

He said, “The two trains involved in the accident at Mushin Railway Station were mass transit trains, one coming from Iddo to Ijoko and the other from Ijoko to Iddo.

 

“There were no fatalities. However, three out of the four injured persons were treated at Railway Clinic and have since been discharged.

 

“The NRC management has since set up a committee to investigate the cause of the accident. Normal services have since resumed in Lagos.”

 

Lagos offers banned okada riders new job opportunities

The Lagos State Government is working on a number of options to engage genuine commercial motorcycle operators, recently thrown out of jobs as a result of the implementation of the new traffic law, in meaningful ventures.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa, dropped the hint in Lagos on Wednesday, stressing that the move was meant to give only the registered operators a new lease of life.

 

Many of the okada riders, as the commercial motorcycle operators are called, have had to abandon the business, as the new law prohibits them from plying major roads and bridges in the state. According to the new traffic law, only those with 200cc engine capacity can operate in the permitted areas.

 

Some aggrieved operators have been protesting against the new policy and a few people sympathetic to their cause have urged the state government to rescind its decision in view of the multitude that will be affected.

 

But Opeifa, who spoke at the 11th Business Forum of the Lagos State University’s MBA Heritage held on Lagos Island on Wednesday, said that there was no going back on the decision.

 

He said, “We are resolute about the Road Traffic Law; there is no going back on it. But we are going to re-certify the okada operators resident in Lagos.

 

“We are going to start a registration process, and in the process, if we discover those who have skills, we will send them to the skill acquisition centres established by the state government to hone these skills.”

 

Opeifa, who spoke on the theme, ‘Effect of Transportation on Nigeria’s Economy,’ stressed that okada could not be regarded as a means of transportation, as nobody wished to bequeath it as an inheritance to their children.

 

The commissioner, therefore, said the state government would re-register the operators with a view to providing the genuine ones adversely affected by the policy other job opportunities.

 

“Some of them could be absorbed into the LAGBUS as conductors and drivers. We also have agriculture, where some of them can also be useful. Apart from our farms in Lagos, we have bought landed property in Ogun State and Abuja, and we are going to buy more in Benue for agriculture. So, the options are there for them,” he said.

 

According to him, the state government plans to assist some of the okada riders with the acquisition of skills to make them employable or to become self-employed.

 

Opeifa also said some of them would be assisted to own bakeries after undertaking the needed training.

 

But the Managing Director, Megavons West Africa Limited, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, expressed the view that the okada business could be reorganised, and urged the state government to re-brand it as a community transport system.

 

Although Oladele, who was a keynote speaker at the forum, commended the state government for its efforts in transforming Lagos, he said there was still a need for a truly masses-oriented means of transport, which the okada business represented.

 

“Let us re-brand them as community transport system, license them and restrict them to their domiciliary local government areas,” he said.

Opeifa said there was a need for the development of multi-modal transportation system for the economy to grow.

 

“The groundnut pyramids were moved from the North down to Lagos by the railway; likewise, cocoa and some other farm produce. The system worked then, and all that seems to have died now,” he said.

Opeifa advised that the review of the Constitution currently going on should whittle down some powers of the government at the centre, so that states and local governments could develop the modes of transportation that suited them.

Policeman kills bus conductor in Lagos because he stepped on him

A yet-to-be identified policeman attached to the Alapere Police Division, Ketu, Lagos, on Wednesday allegedly shot and killed a bus conductor for stepping on him.

 

Eyewitnesses said the policeman was standing at Tipper Bus Stop when the conductor stepped on him.

The eyewitness said, “The policeman was in mufti. He challenged the man on why he stepped on him and could not apologise. I think the victim maintained that he was not going to apologise to him.

“It happened so fast. All we heard was a gunshot and the conductor fell down bleeding profusely.”

Our correspondent learnt that people in the area immediately tried to swoop on the policeman but did not succeed as he threatened to shoot them.

 

The bus late conductor

 

According to one of the eyewitnesses, the policeman also threatened to shoot a riot policeman who challenged him for shooting the conductor.

 

“But as he was trying to escape, people around followed him and caught him. People were really angry. When they discovered that he was a policeman, riot developed. The rioters wanted to burn down Ketu Police Division,” a police source said.

 

Policemen soon mobilised to the area to quell the riot and secure the police station.

 

The police source, who spoke with our correspondent, confirmed that the policeman was from Alapere Police Division but said his name had not been confirmed as at press time.

 

Meanwhile, an okada rider was feared killed at Koola area of Apata, Ibadan West, Oyo State when a police Inspector allegedly hit his forehead with an object.

 

There were conflicting reports on the incident. Earlier report indicated that the okada rider was beaten to death by the police officer who accosted him for violating traffic rule.

 

Another report stated that the rider called Akebaje slumped after the policeman allegedly hit forehead with an object.

 

Akebaje was said to have been hauled into a waiting police van and taken to Koola Police Station.

Motorcyclists, who were informed of his ordeal, reportedly took to the streets in protest.

The okada operator was alleged to have carried two passengers, an act that is against the new traffic law in state. On sighting the policeman, he asked one of the passengers to alight but was ordered to stop by the policeman.

 

An eyewitness who refused to disclose his name said, “Unknown to him that the inspector had sighted him. As he attempted to escape, the policeman hit him with a baton. The protesters who were told that Akebaje had died began to attack policemen on the streets.”

 

It was gathered that scores of youths later stormed the station and vandalised the building while the men on duty escaped.

 

Sanity was, however, restored to the area when some policemen and men of the joint security patrol team arrived the scene.

 

The Oyo State Police Command, however, denied that the okada rider died.

 

The Acting Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Ayodele Lanade, told journalists that, “A commercial motorcyclist was stopped by a team of policemen on a stop-and-search duty but he turned back immediately to evade search.”

 

Lanade said the motorcyclist fell down with the two passengers he carried.

 

He added that the policemen ran to them to offer a helping hand but that the gesture was misconstrued by the okada rider’s colleagues who attacked the policemen.

 

He said, “The cyclists used the incident to vent their anger on the police over the new regulation forbidding them from using unregistered motorcycles or carrying two passengers at a time.

 

“The person they claimed was dead is alive and is in our custody. He only pretended to have fainted to deceive people.”

 

The PPRO said 28 suspects and 42 okada riders were arrested in connection with the incident.

Nigeria has announced its day to celebrate the aftermath of road traffic crash.

The N.G.O. of Safety Beyond Boarder, Road Safety Expert, Adenusi Patrick recommend that every third Sunday of November would be dedicated as the world's remembrance day to victims involved in road accident.

He disclosed that the stated day will be conducted to provide procession to the media houses, light candles, visit and give message supports to the injured and deceased families.

However, Adenusi reproached that death rate and injuries on road crashes are caused by human errors. He stated that hospitals should help road accident victims.
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The enforcement of lagos traffic law, especially on the operation of motorcyclist on highway, Road Safety Expert, Adenusi Patrick said that, okada riders are highly sensitive and complying to the law.

He also said that, many drivers are not trained and they don't make use of protection when driving.