Lagos installs 90 CCTV cameras to improve security

May 7, 2009
The Lagos State Government has installed about 90 Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras across the State to protect life and property as well as nab anyone who illegally uses the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) lane.
Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, commissioner for Science and Technology, who disclosed this at a radio programme, added that the cameras have been used to arrest criminals who robbed a woman because the camera recorded the incident and the robbers were later arrested by the police because their pictures were captured.
Hamzat said Information Communication Technology (ICT) has been fully deployed by the State in carrying out many government activities in the area of health services, education, judicial process and obtaining of certificate of occupancy among others.
On the possibility of vandalising the camera, Hamzat said this cannot be too possible since the locations of the cameras are not known and due to the fact that the cameras monitor one another.
According to him, “if someone is trying to tamper with camera A, camera B is surely monitoring it. We will have what we call the ring toplogy, that is some will overlap, so that if camera A and B is checking a particular direction camera C and D will also be looking at 15 per cent same direction and 85 percent of somewhere else, so by that we have an overlap”.
He informed that about 80 schools in the State have been provided with Information Communication Technology laboratories in order to give students in the State secondary schools an opportunity to interact with the outside world and at the same time improve their knowledge base. “In this regard, science base teachers have been trained on techniques for teaching science based subjects to facilitate assimilation”, he said.
On the Health Management Information System (HMIS) introduced by the State Government, the commissioner stated that this will ensure the improvement of the quality of health care delivery services in the state.
He explained that with the development, the registration of all patients in Lagos State Hospitals on a Central computer server will eliminate queues usually found in the medical record in all State hospitals and doctors will have access to patient’s medical history anywhere within the state.
He said the first phase of the project started with 3 hospitals which were used for the pilot scheme.
The hospitals are Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja; General Hospital Isolo and General Hospital Lagos.
The link of these hospitals has been commissioned since last year while the second phase involving ten General Hospitals have commenced.
The hospitals on the second phase, according to him, include General Hospital Gbagada, General Hospital Alimosho, General Hospital Orile-Agege, General Hospital Surulere, General Hospital Badagry and General Hospital Ajeromi.

AJAH-BADORE JETTY NEARS COMPLETION

In fulfillment of the Governor Fashola (SAN) administration's desire to deliver to the people the blessings of integrated transport system, the administration is giving the necessary priority to water transport. It would be recalled that during his gubernatorial campaign, Governor Fashola (SAN) had promised to make Lagos the 'Venice of Africa' by way of taking advantage of Lagos' natural endowment, which is water. In pursuit of this cause, ultra-modern Jetties are being put together in different parts of the State. These pictures were taken on the site of the Ajah-Badore Jetty!

New Lagos Model City Law Compounds Federal Secretariat Crisis

May 11, 2009 (Daily Independent/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX) -- A bill signed into law last week by Governor Raji Babatunde Fashola of Lagos providing for the establishment of the state's Model City Development Authority (MCDA) may have delivered the death knell for the planned transformation of the Federal Secretariat Complex in Ikoyi by private developers.

Upon the movement of the federal seat of power to Abuja some decades ago, the authorities increasingly found limited uses for the sprawling blocks of offices, which finally ran down in terms of quality of facilities. In the bid to address the development, federal officials disposed the property to investors, who resorted to transforming the office spaces to residential apartments for onward sale to needy Nigerians at home as well as those in the Diaspora.

But the proposal met a brick wall as the original landowners as well as state officials kicked against the property's sale and planned change of status from institutional to residential use.

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While the landowners claimed that the land upon which the property is built was surrendered decades ago on the basis of its use for overriding public interest and should rightly revert to them if such use was no longer for the public, state officials argue that federal officials and the owners of the property must to go through a certain planning and development process before the intended transformation can even be considered for approval.

But the provisions of the MCDA Law look to have closed the chapter in that regard, even though the dispute (which erupted years before the emergence of the law) is presently being argued out in a court of law.

Essentially, Section 14 of the law states, "Government institutional offices, within a model city area shall continue to be used for the public purpose for which the offices were developed and no alteration of use shall be allowed." The Federal Secretariat in Ikoyi automatically falls under the Ikoyi-Victoria Island Model City, one of the nine model cities planned for the state under fresh moves to, among other reasons, ensure better stakeholder participation in the development of their neighbourhoods.

Other areas designated as model cities are Ikeja, Lagos Mainland Central, Lagos Island, Alimosho, Apapa, Oshodi-Isolo, Agege-Ifako-Ijaiye and Kosofe. Plans for Ikoyi-VI and Ikeja Model Cities are already in place and in operation. Areas like Ikorodu, Lekki and Epe will however be covered by master plans.

The Ikoyi-VI Model City Plan that came into force some three years ago identified the Federal Secretariat as one of the numerous institutional use structures in the highbrow area, where in the past generous land allocations were made to accommodate federal institutions such as military establishments and the Police and other government bodies such as the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Federal Palace Hotel and the Nigeria Security and Minting Corporation.

The state Commissioner for Physical Planning, Mr. Francisco Bolaji Abosede, stated that the law is one of the four legislative planning instruments being put in place to ensure compliance with the Model City Plans that are emerging. Others are Model City Approval Order, Lagos State Building Regulations 2005, and Lagos State Physical Planning and Development Law of 2005.

Abosede, a town planner, added, "This law is not entirely new, as the provisions had already been made. It reviews existing town planning laws and creates an authority to administer model cities.

Other federal and state government bodies like the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) apply and get approval from us and the Federal Secretariat cannot be an exception. Developers of the 1004 Flats have gotten an approval and work is going on there. However, the governor recently gave an executive order that there would henceforth be no change of use. Even if there was one, a process has to be followed." Furthermore, the law has specified stern disciplinary measures for those whose ways appear to be at variance with the authorities', with incarceration, heavy fines or building demolition as reward for such effrontery.

For instance, the law states that any owner, occupier or developer who embarks on a construction, development, alteration or modification of any property in violation or contrary to the Model City plan without obtaining the necessary approval commits an offence and shall be liable to a two-year imprisonment or a N1 million fine, or both.

Similarly, any property for which an offence has been committed shall be liable to be demolished after the necessary statutory notices under the provisions of the Urban & Regional Planning and Development Law have been served on the owner/occupier or developer..

The legislation stresses that members of the new MCDA shall comprise a chairman, general manager, two representatives of the organised private sector (OPS) operating in the state as well as a representative of the ministries of Physical Planning & Urban Development, Works & Infrastructure, Justice and Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs The further specifies that each Model City Development Area shall have a Model City Area Committee (MCAC) responsible for monitoring and reporting non-compliance with the provisions of a development plan. The MCAC is the operating arm of the MCDA and shall be responsible to it (the MCDA).

The governor, upon Abosede's recommendation, shall appoint members of both bodies.

Members of the MCAC shall comprise the chairman, executive secretary, representative of the affected local government(s), Community Development Committee (CDC) chairman, CDC secretary, two representatives of non-governmental organisations (NGOs), District Officer in each Local Planning Authority (LPA) and a representative each from the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Nigerian Institute of Builders (NIOB), Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors & Valuers (NIESV), Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Nigerian Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NIQS), Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS) and Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP).

Lava Oakwood Estate. Onike Road, Yaba, Lagos

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The estate is an inspiration built on the concept of providing the same level of finishing and comfort experienced in Ikoyi to Yaba. Lava Oakwood Estate will be a signature real estate development with unparallel quality and comfort in Yaba providing the inhabitants modern luxury to meet their life styles. The estate comprises of 20 townhouses and 16 luxury apartments.

Lava Oakwood is located on Onike Road, Yaba, Lagos. Yaba is central location and is one of the fastest developing suburbs in metropolitan Lagos State. Lava Oakwood estate is located two minutes from Herbert Macaulay Road, eight minutes from the Third Mainland Bridge and within 100 metres from the famous Queens College main gate. The Estate is situated on a secure site of about 7,071 Sqm and offers easy and quick links to Victoria Island and other parts of the mainland.

The estate will be within a gated community with security and surveillance systems, adequate parking, swimming pool and gym, squash court, crèche, children's playground, back-up generator, onsite facilities management office.

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Yaba - a Glory Regained With Upgraded Roads.

Written by Kingsley Adegboye

Friday, 01 May 2009

About four decades ago, the area of Lagos now nostalgically referred to as Old Yaba, was one of the most sought after real estates in Lagos metropolis. It was host to Nigeria’s emerging middle class elite immediately after independence. The area boasted of well-planned roads, beautiful houses displaying contemporary architecture of the time and hosted many great schools that have produced many leaders of our country. Indeed, it was treasure house to Nigerian social, music and entertainment life. This was the place to find Kakadu Nite Club and many other resorts where Fela Anikulapo Kuti, Bobby Benson, Tunde Nightingale, Art Alade and so many other Nigerian musicians, artists and entertainment impresarios strutted the stage and displayed their talents. Yaba never had a dull moment. New look Yaba roads Regrettably, this good life had to change as many years of political instability denied Lagos and places like Yaba of any meaningful government presence that would have translated into the planning and implementation of developmental programmes in response to the population growth and needs of the people. Yaba thereafter became the place where everybody passed through but did not want to stay. Many chose Ikeja, the new state capital while others chose Ikoyi and new emerging settlements like Lekki. Domino Stores folded up, Mainland Hotel struggled to attract clientele in spite of investments, Oyingbo Market could not find investments for its re-development, Railway Compound depreciated as a prime real estate, Iddo a historic settlement in the history of Lagos and Otto became slums while property values slumped. This was the situation of Sabo Yaba before the intervention of the Babatunde Fashola administration. In his address at the commissioning of the upgraded Montgomery Road, Commercial Avenue and Aje Street, Yaba on Tuesday, Governor Fashola said during his campaign, he promised to rebuild Oyingbo Market and return the glory of Yaba. He pointed out that in fulfilment of that promise, the construction of Oyingbo Market has commenced in earnest. “We have developed a comprehensive plan for the reconstruction of 37 roads in Yaba in phases in order to renew the infrastructure. “That promise is being fulfilled today by the handing over of Montgomery, Aje and Commercial Avenue, while work is going on in at least 12 other roads in Yaba as we speak. I must confess that it has not been easy to come this far. Your support, payment of taxes and understudy in the relocation of structures, walls, old buildings have been particularly helpful. I am delighted to note that even before we finish, life has returned to Yaba with a lot of energy. “Many people have started coming back. Property values and income have improved; the economic life of Yaba is on an upward swing. Domino Stores is back and our vision is vindicated. Tejuosho will be getting two brand new markets which are already under construction and the Red Route, our intra-city rail that will link Lagos with Ijoko in Ogun State which will originate from Iddo through Yaba corridor to Mushin and Agege will soon commence. “As we hand these assets over to the community today, I urge you all to develop a strong residents association like VIIRA in Ikoyi/Victoria Island to act as trustees of these assets on behalf of all Lagosians who will use them and protect them from vandalization, illegal cutting and unlawful use as markets. Efficient transportation is critical to our well being as a people and these road assets were developed solely for that purpose,” he stated. According to the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure, Engr. Ganiyu Johnson, the infrastructure development of Yaba to Iddo in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area comprises 37 roads and six pedestrian bridges at strategic locations. Engr. Johnson explained that the project has been divided into four phases. He said Montgomery Street, Commercial Avenue and Aje Street are part of the second phase and these three roads constitute a total length of 1.5 kilometre with an average width of 10 metres. “The phase 1 of this project was awarded to Messrs P.W. Nig. Ltd. in February 2008. The completion of these three roads will reduce the traffic jams resulting from bad roads and indiscriminate parking arrangement. Redirecting of the traffic has also been done to ensure smooth flow of traffic in the area,” the Special Adviser noted.