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

LAVA OAKWOOD ESTATE is a magnificent and exclusive development by Lava Properties Limited, a property development company focused on making real estate investments in key cities in Nigeria.

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.

http://www.brickstone-partners.com/properties_details.aspx?id=4

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.

Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola to accept responsibility for the face-off between the Lagos State Government and the state Medical Guild

By Punch Editorial Board

Published: Wednesday, 13 May 2009

The decision by Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola to accept responsibility for the face-off between the Lagos State Government and the state Medical Guild represents a rare lesson in good leadership values. Both the state government and the striking doctors said they had reached a “considerable agreement” over a number of issues that led to the strike. Apart from the assurance that none of the doctors that participated in the strike action, especially the Guild leaders, will be victimised on account of the industrial dispute, the government has also promised to implement the approved welfare package for health workers in the state in the shortest possible time-latest by June 2009.

The two parties reached the agreement after the intervention of some respected Nigerians. For more than a week, the strike action paralysed activities in Lagos hospitals, disrupting the provision of health services. While the strike lasted, patients in critical conditions, including those awaiting urgent surgical operations, were left to their fate. The medical union’s resolution to suspend its seven-day- long strike action is therefore a welcome development.

The doctors had initially embarked on the strike action in January to demand the full implementation of the consolidated salary structure for the medical practitioners in the state, which they claimed their counterparts in other parts of the country were already enjoying. The Guild also wanted the various state-owned hospitals and maternities to be better equipped.

But, the union had similarly suspended the industrial dispute after some notable individuals had stepped in. It had then given the state government a 90-day ultimatum to implement their demands.

For the latest strike, the union alleged that its Chairman, Dr. Ibrahim Olaifa, was sacked by the Health Service Commission for granting a press interview in January, while the Guild’s Secretary General, Dr. M. Olaiwola Agara, was also issued a query for speaking to the press. Agara was alleged to have been seriously brutalised and subsequently hospitalised while trying to mobilise Guild members for the strike.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris, however, complained that some of the Guild’s leaders were fuelling disunity among doctors. Idris said that there was a split among members of the Guild, as well as the members of the Nigerian Medical Association, which he said was a clear indication that not all the members of both groups were interested in the strike. Those who were ready to work, the government reasoned, should not have been prevented from doing so by a few angry protesters.

Unfortunately, the state government mismanaged the dispute by resorting to high-handedness in treating the doctors’ demands. Admittedly, health services are too essential to be politicised, or subjected to the whim of a group of perpetual protesters. Medicine is a calling whose practitioners should be sober and be ready to make sacrifices in the service of humanity. No remuneration package is big enough to compensate the doctors. Though everybody, including the doctors, is entitled to peaceful protests, medical practitioners must at all times respect and observe their Hippocratic Oath. A life lost during a strike can never be brought back.

The government on its own part should refrain from pushing the doctors to the wall. The fact that they are highly trained and responsible people who always want to exercise restraint during conflicts with their employers should not be exploited to deny them good pay and conducive work environment. At a time when brain drain has depleted the nation’s medical workforce, the Lagos State Government must note that highly skilled and experienced people such as doctors are not easy to replace.

In view of medical doctors’ strategic role in the society, it is imperative that all the stakeholders within the health care delivery system should ensure that the dispute is permanently resolved.

The government of Mr. Raji Fashola should, therefore, set the pace again by providing a condition of service that is capable of attracting and retaining doctors. Considering the high cost of living in Lagos, doctors in the state should even earn more than their counterparts in other parts of the country. A well-motivated workforce is crucial to the implementation of the government’s laudable health programme.

Random Eko By Pics.........

Lagos Gets New Zoological Garden

Lagos Gets New Zoological Garden Saturday, May 09, 2009 - Bankole Adeshina and Laolu Adeyemi

A FIRM, Woodfields Farm and Theme Park, has established a 15-hectare zoological garden on Lagos-Epe road to boost the tourism potentials of Lagos State. The garden, which is home to exotic animals from around the world, is the brainchild of Mr. Oladipo Bali, a legal practitioner and scuba diver. According to the Facility Manager, Abayomi Dawodu, the project has gulped over N200 million so far and is entirely a private initiative intended to fulfill the dream of enhancing eco-tourism and its sustainable development in Lagos. He added: "It is also to enhance the educational and excursion curriculum of school students from all over Nigeria, private and public, by providing detailed lectures on animals, farming, fish farming, indigenous fresh water fish and all sort of water fish." According to Dawodu, the farm will also create direct employment for about 5,000 Lagosians.

OnlineNigeria.com http://www.Onlinenigeria.com/

In two years, Fashola has revolutionized Lagos roads –Gov’s aide

By TOPE ADEBOBOYE
Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Fashola Photo: THE SUN PUBLISHING

More Stories on This Section

At the Lagos State Ministry of Works and Infrastructure these days, the workers consistently wear a cheerful mien. From the Special Adviser, Engr Ganiyu Abiodun Johnson, to other members of the ministry’s management and indeed the entire staff, workers in the ministry are in high spirits.

Their excitement is not far-fetched. They are delighted that, in the last two years, the ministry has done a yeoman’s job in helping Governor Fashola actualize his dream of turning Lagos into a world-class megacity.

“I am particularly grateful for the understanding of His Excellency, the Governor of Lagos State who has provided the necessary wherewithal to attain this immeasurable standard to meet the challenges of the state as a mega city,” the man in charge of the ministry, Engr Johnson, noted.

Indeed, in matters of road construction and rehabilitation, even the political foes of the governor and his team will hardly deny them some credit. With photographs and telling data, Johnson told journalists at a ministerial press briefing last week how Fashola supported and empowered the ministry to ensure that Lagos roads and public buildings remain the cynosure of every eye.

The briefing was held to commemorate the ministry’s activities in the last two years. There, Johnson expressed satisfaction with what the Fashola administration has achieved since May 29, 2007, especially in the areas of road construction and rehabilitation as well as in the construction and maintenance of public buildings. In each local government area, the governor’s special adviser detailed some of the achievements of the ministry since the present administration assumed office two years ago.
In a bid to make life more comfortable for the residents of Agege Local Government area of the state, the ministry embarked on the rehabilitation of Humuani Adetona Street, Sodipo Street and Oniwaya Road. The projects are almost completed.

Besides the rehabilitation of old roads, Johnson informed that the government has also installed street lights and transformers in many parts of the local government. The old NRC building at Oko Oba area of the local government has also been rehabilitated for operatives of the state security outfit, the Rapid Response Squad.

In Ajeromi Ifelodun, the local government housing the popular slum, Ajegunle, Johnson said the Fashola administration has done a lot to ease the pains of the residents. Some of the government’s efforts, he noted, include the construction of nine roads and two bridges in the area. He stated further: “We have also embarked on the construction of Mobil Road expansion (which is 47% completed), construction of Wilmer Crescent with a bridge to link Cardoso at 65% completion stage, construction of Olumokun/Olayinka/Sanusi/Oduduwa with a bridge to link Amukoko at 57% completion stage, among others. There is also the construction of Magistrate Courts at Mba Cardoso Street, Ajegunle and a maternal child care centre.”

In Alimosho, the state government said it mapped out some projects to be carried out in four phases. Engr Johnson listed some of the projects in Phase 1 as the completion of the Abule-Egba–Ekoro – Agbelekale-Meiran Road and the de-flooding of Karimu Laka area through the construction of collector drain. The projects in this phase, he noted, are at 80% completion stage. The state government has also commenced the construction of Agodo Community Road, Shasha-Orisunmbare-Ejigbo Roads, Association Avenue - Ikotun Road, and Old Otta Road, among others. “These roads are designed to decongest traffic in Ejigbo, Idimu and Ikotun axis as well as the Abeokuta Expressway, while Karimu – Laka Bamisile collector drains will definitely ameliorate the perennial flooding of Egbeda,” the governor’s adviser stated.

Other projects in the area, he noted, are the rehabilitation of Irefun/Kufisile Street, rehabilitation of Modupe Ayoade Street and the upgrading of Olugbade/Wusamotu Oreagba and Transformer Streets. “All these projects will soon be completed,” he assured.

Recently, the state government commissioned the reconstructed Ago Palaceway Extension in Amuwo-Odofin Local Government Area of the state. The road, once a single lane, has metamorphosed into a dual carriageway with a walkway and street light facilities. The state government is also working on the Odofin Bypass even as work is on-going at several roads within Kirikiri town.

In neighbouring Apapa where a Central Business District has been created, Johnson said the government is working hard to make life easier for the people. Among the road projects being handled by the state government in this area, he explained, are the upgrading and rehabilitation of Aerodrome Road, Calcutta Crescent and Duala Road, among others.

The government, Johnson said, is also working hard on its proposal to turn the Lagos-Badagry Expressway into a ten-lane carriageway. “In fulfilment of the promise of this administration to transform the Lagos-Badagry Express road to a super highway, the state government has just awarded Lot 1 which stretches from Eric Moore Road to Mile 2,” Johnson announced, promising that the two other lots would be awarded soon.

In Epe, the government has done a lot of work, said the man in charge of the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure. Several roads have been rehabilitated, while the Agbowa/ Ago Owu Community High School has been totally rehabilitated. The government has also constructed magistrate courts in the local government.

“At Eti-Osa Local Government, the Ajah-Badore Road has been completed and dualised. The government has also completed the dualisation of Bourdillon, Alexander, Gerald and Osborne Roads in Ikoyi. Other roads being constructed in the area include Unity Road, Fola Osibo/ Emmanuel Cole Road, Idabo/Lekki Road and Okun/Ajah/Ogombo Road,” he said, adding that the state government is also constructing ferry terminals and buildings at Osborne, Ikoyi. The government has also installed street lights in many parts of Eti Osa.

Johnson, while speaking on the government’s activities in Ikeja, listed a number of roads, drainage channels and bridges being constructed. The government, he noted, has also designed additional projects aimed at easing traffic congestion in the area. For instance, the government intends to construct a fly-over from Allen Avenue to Aromire across the Obafemi Awolowo Way just as there will be a link bridge from Adeniyi Jones Street to Acme Road.

Within the last two years, Ikorodu Local Government has witnessed a lot of positive changes, Johnson said. Apart from the construction of many roads, magistrate courts, Oba’s palace and maternal health centre, the government is also constructing jetty terminals and buildings in the area.
“In Lagos Island, the government has also constructed new magistrate courts at Igbosere, reconstructed the Lagos City Hall, provided street lights and rehabilitated many roads,” he said.
He said that upon assumption of office in 2007, the Fashola administration listed some 37 roads and six pedestrian bridges for rehabilitation in phases in Lagos Mainland Local Government. Many of them, he said, have since been completed, while works on others are ongoing. In Mushin, the government says it’s working hard on 36 roads spread across the various wards of the local government. Of the roads, 19 are proposed for execution in 2009, 12 in 2010 and five in 2011.

Fashola’s developmental ship has also berthed at Ojo Local Government with the dualization of the Isheri-Iba-Ojo Road, construction of Shibiri Etegbin Road, Ajangbadi /Ilogbo/Elegba Road, Alasia-Aiyetoro Road, and many more.

In Oshodi-Isolo Local Government, the on-going construction of the Okota-Itire overhead link bridge and road work is one major project that will bring smiles to the faces of millions of Lagos residents when completed, according to Engr Johnson. “This project will link various communities in the western part of the axis such as Alimosho, Egbe, Ikotun, Ejigbo, Isolo, and Okota with those on the eastern side such as Ijesha Tedo, Itire, Mushin, Aguda, Lawson and Yaba. Upon completion, it will reduce travel time, running cost on vehicles and facilitate smooth transportation of commuters along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway. Furthermore, the project will open up communities to increase economic activities and improved standard of living,” he stated.

Other local governments in the state, including Kosofe, Shomolu, Surulere and Yaba have also witnessed positive development with the state government touching millions of lives. In Johnson’s words, since May 2007, 70.352 kilometres of roads have been rehabilitated across the state just as 111.80 kilometres of roads have been constructed. And there will be more, he said.

“In the last two years, Lagos State has been turned into a huge construction site where projects are on-going in all the 57 Local Government Councils and Development Areas. With the birth of a new Lagos State, this ministry has positively played a significant role as a service providing agent of change and we promise you that, we shall keep the flag flying. The best is yet to come,” Johnson assured.

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/features/citysun/2009/may/06/citysun-06-05-2009-002.htm

Clinical Sciences building at the Lagos State University College of Medicine.

Still On The Move:::The New Roads....

The New Tinubu Square...

Legendary Lagosian::Baba Kokoro Goes Home..

Nigeria: Baba Kokoro Goes Home on Thursday

May 5, 2009 by bunmi

The burial ceremony of Pa Benjamin Aderounmu a.k.a. Kokoro, will begin on Thursday, 7 May in Lagos.

According to the burial committee and the President of PMAN, Admiral Dele Abiodun, Artistes’ Night will flag off the two-day event, when PMAN members, both elite and up coming, will converge to give their last musical respect to one of the oldest members of the union.

Before this, Pa Aderounmu will be laid-in-state at PMAN headquarters from 10a.m. to 12 noon that day.

On Friday, 8 May, the second lying-in-state takes place at his residence, Millennium Housing Estate, by Afonja Police Station, Mosalasi bus stop, Shasha, Lagos, at 9 a.m.

Church service takes place at the same venue at 11 a.m., after which his remains will be buried at Ikoyi Cemetery. Entertainment of guests will follow at his residence in Shasha.

Pa Aderounmu died during a brief illness on Sunday, 25 January, 2009.

The burial was initially slated for April but has to be rescheduled due to logistics reasons.

Meanwhile, the entire Aderounmu family has expressed appreciation to the government of Lagos State and Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN), the governor, for their support which has made the burial arrangement possible.

Aged 84 years, the veteran musician is survived by wife, children and great grand children.

A Few Good 'MAN' - Babatunde Fashola, Lagos State Governor

Gbenga Badejo

Postcard from Lagos


I never thought I would ever have to write a full article about a Nigerian
politician, a very positive review for that matter. This was not for lack of optimism on
my part, but for the lack of vision and purpose on their part. The reality is that a good
Nigerian politician is difficult to come by. The vast majority of the politicians elected
into government are self-serving, corrupt and worse of all visionless. They are corrupt
nationally, regionally and locally. They are corrupt in the South and in the North, in
the East and in the West.

The Governors in the North marry multiple wives, in the South-West; they publicly stick
with one wife but go through young mistresses faster than mach 2. The Ibo Governors
ingratiate themselves with royalty; the Yoruba ones think they are royalty, the
South-South Governors lobby to become Knights, the Hausa Governors have too much time on
their hands and Yar'Adua, the President, gives his daughters to two of them as third and
fourth wives respectively.

Worse still, the legislators are clueless. Their main pre-occupation is junketing abroad
on endless fact-finding missions. Yet they are concerned with how they are perceived at
home and at the ready to threaten with arrest anyone that challenges their plain-to-see
indolence and hopelessness.

Nigerian politicians are ego driven; they will commandeer an honorary doctorate degree
from Universities to which they are the ‘Visitor’ and get their friends and families to
congratulate them with full page newspaper advertisements. Annoyingly, they assault our
intelligence and overwhelm reason with false eulogies in these congratulatory
advertisements, many of which often share the same message. They celebrate 47th, 56th and
other meaningless birthdays; they collect meaningless titles from any monarch. The
Nigerian politician gives the impression that theirs is a gadabout government,
purposeless yet whirling in self congratulation.

After the era of visionary and selfless leaders like Awolowo, Azikiwe and Ahmadu Bello,
we are lumbered with the misfortune of having so-called usurpers who think they are doing
us a favour by carrying out what they are elected to do. So State Governors have their
ugly photos plastered over the covers of notebooks distributed to school children
majority of whom have to contend with window-less, teacher-less schools. Some of the
politicians also erect massive billboards with their photos and political slogans beside
every road repaired and every well sunk. On being sworn to office, the vast majority of
them took to corruption and the euphoria of office like a pig to filth. They stink to
high heavens and they carry a lot of innocent blood on their hands and head.

Refreshingly, Babatunde Fashola, the Lagos State Governor is a departure from this filth.
He is a breath of fresh air compared to anyone who has held any executive position in
Nigeria in over 40 years. He is so different that you can hardly believe he is one of us.
He is genuinely and determinedly interested in changing the lives of his constituents for
good. Like many other Lagosians, I have developed an air of breathless excitement as I
watch Fashola transform the hitherto impossible city.

The recently introduced commuter bus systems have made travelling affordable and easier
for a good number of people. Major road works are being carried out, drainage systems are
being rebuilt. If you go on Mobolaji Bank Anthony in Ikeja or Akin Adesola in Victoria
Island at night, you may think you are in London. Many roads in the Lagos metropolis now
light up at night powered by solar energy. Fashola must have realised that the
environment affects people’s behaviour, and has therefore engaged in a massive drive to
beautify the city, left, right and centre. Lagos roads are now being swept almost round
the clock.

The Lagos State Signage Agency has seen to it that posters and overhead fliers that
hitherto deface Lagos roads are now a thing of the past.

Wherever you go in Lagos, you can see the government of Babatunde Fashola at work without
seeing his face. He is rebranding Lagos State without making any noise about it. He just
lets his work speak for him. Unlike many Nigerian politicians, he is not involved in any
populist, short-term projects; he appears to be planning ahead for the next 100 years.
Fashola genuinely has the interest of the people at heart.

Do not get me wrong, if you are visiting Lagos for the first time or have lived abroad
for a considerably long period, you may not notice much. However, having lived in Lagos
for over a year now, the transformation is truly astounding. Fashola has proven that good
governance is possible. He is also governing from a position of service. Never has he
once made Lagosians believe he is doing them a favour. Fashola has class.

He is also very wise. He shows deference to traditional and religious leaders, but he
does not collect titles from them. He collected an award from a newsmagazine as one of
the best performing governors in 2008 but returned it when he realised it was a Greek
gift.

Fashola is also a cultured person who is not carried away by power. He is one of only
three Governors in Nigeria who still carry the title of ‘Mr’. In an interview he gave a
few months after he became Governor, He said he does not use the signature siren favoured
by politicians and the ‘powerful people’ because he is averse to noise but also because
he considers it in bad taste to live in a government house, drive government vehicles and
terrorise the same people that pay for the luxury he enjoys.

Some people will argue that he can only do what he is doing because his predecessor and
mentor Bola Tinubu helps to take care of the political side of things. My response is
whilst this may be true; Fashola can not do what he is doing if he does not have it in
him.

I will like to share a story that in my view sums up the effort of Babatunde Fashola and
showcases the new Lagos that he is trying to build. A man had been lying for consecutive
days at the same spot on the central reservation of the road that leads to our Estate. I
decided to stop and on enquiring from a nearby shop-keeper, I was informed that the man
had been drunk and was hit by an Okada (motorbike).

On Friday 17th April, I placed a call to the Lagos State emergency telephone number ‘767’
to request for assistance for the man. This was my first time of using this service which
is in itself a first in Nigeria. I was amazed when I got connected and I was afforded the
utmost courtesy by the person who answered the phone. When we got disconnected shortly
afterwards, I tried again, and yet another person answered on the first ring. She
listened to my report asking for the full details of where the man was located and
promised that an ambulance will be sent forthwith. I was joyful not only for the man, but
that something this good was possible in Lagos and in Nigeria. Without any deliberate
prompting, my heart blessed Fashola.

A few days later, I noticed that the man was no longer there. My wife later informed me
that she saw an ambulance parked at the same spot to ferry the man away for treatment as
she drove past one evening.

Of course Fashola is not doing more than what he was elected to do, however, when the
vast majority of our politicians care less about the electorate, Fashola should earn our
admiration for differentiating himself so fantastically.

I have watched Fashola on the sidelines for over a year and I know he is no fluke. He has
surreptitiously dragged us, Lagosians, to develop confidence in him and increasingly in
government. I have come across many people who have chosen to pay their tax because they
believe that Fashola will use it responsibly. This agrees very well with the proponents
of the theory that Nigeria’s problem is a leadership one.

Fashola has proven that you only need a few good people to change the course of a nation;
in his case, a few good ‘MAN’. Lagosians know that what is happening in Lagos is due to
the determination of a single man and they truly appreciate this man and have come to
trust him. Fashola is a leader, a responsible man, a genuinely good person. He is a few
good ‘MAN’. And we all can learn from him.PostcardfromLagos

http://www.postcardfromlagos.com/