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8 THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015 NEWS Fire: Lagos records N200.59b loss in five years By Miriam Ekene-Okoro THE Lagos State government yesterday said fire incidents in the last five years has led to a loss of about N200.59 billion. Commissioner for Home Affairs and Culture Oyinlomo Danmole gave the statistics at a ministerial press briefing. He said 6,541 fire calls were received, adding that many of which were avoidable. Danmole said while cumulative estimated properties lost was put at N200.59 billion, the cumulative estimated properties saved was N645. 87billion. The commissioner put rescue calls at 397 and collapsed buildings at 59. Of all, 8278 calls were received in the period under review, 1278 turned out to be false calls, which is now punishable under the law. In all the incidents, 550 victims were recovered dead and 498 rescued alive. Danmole added that this year has been busier for the State Fire Service. In the first three months, 524 fire calls were recorded, 20 rescue calls and three collapse buildings. In all, 20 people were recovered dead, four alive. Emergency services salvaged properties worth N36.6billion, property lost is estimated at N6.1billion. The commissioner said a lot of Lagos residents still take fire safety precaution for granted. According to him, “It is alarming that residents treat issues that could be preventable with levity. And when we realised this, we carried out enlightenment campaign using different medium. But it is pathetic that residents of Lagos have failed to make good use of the platforms to learn how to prevent fire and if it occurs, what to do. ‘Better days in Osun soon’ AGROUP, Osun Liberty Group, has said better days are ahead for the people of Osun State. In a statement by its Coordinator, Ayo Akinola, the group said Governor Rauf Aregbesola is God’s gift to the state after what he referred to as “years of the locust represented by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)”. In the statement, Akinola thanked workers and residents for their patience and understanding, despite orchestrated efforts by the opposition to use the paucity of funds as a tool of political smear against the government. “Our people need to appreciate the fact that the governor has everybody’s welfare at heart as demonstrated by huge infrastructural development throughout the state. “Despite declining federal allocation, Aregbesola has creatively managed the finances such that the effect was not immediately felt until the decline persisted. “The government accumulated a debt of N12 billion in its bid to ensure that salaries were paid. The government was ready to borrow more but the banks would not grant more loans. "The Aregbesola administration remains pro-workers despite the tight corner it has found itself, which was the result of booby-trap deliberately put on his path.” Babatope gets knocks for backing illegality THE 19 All Progressives Congress (APC) members in the Ekiti State House of Assembly have criticised a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, for calling them charlatans. They slammed the exTransport and Aviation minister for backing the impeachment of Ondo State Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi and opposing the impeachment proceedings against Governor Ayo Fayose. The lawmakers’ comments followed Babatope’s interview in a national newspaper yesterday. They said a senior party leader should not be speaking from both sides of the mouth in his analysis of political events in Ekiti. In a statement yesterday by Special Adviser (Media) to Speaker Adewale Omirin, From Odunayo Ogunmola, Ado-Ekiti Wole Olujobi, the lawmakers advised Babatope to take a break after the defeat his party. Slamming the PDP leader for calling them charlatans, the lawmakers said it was regrettable that Babatope could succumb to partisan emotions while his country crumbled under the weight of illegal acts of brigands. The statement said: “A question mark is being put on Babatope’s integrity. As a leader, he supported the impeachment in Ondo but he is now calling Ekiti lawmakers names for questioning Fayose. “Babatope’s past role in Ekiti is still fresh in our memory, as he was alleged to have participated in the supervision of thugs to unleash mayhem on our members. “We want to ask Babatope where was his integrity and clarity of thought when he kept quiet when Govenor Ayo Fayose invaded the court and beat up a judge. “What did he say when Fayose froze the Assembly’s accounts, seized the Speaker’s vehicle, cut electricity supply to his house, locked him out of his house and office and seized his official car? “ What did Babatope say when Fayose suborned seven PDP members to illegally pass the budget, approve commissioners and special advisers, revoke the Local Government Law, State Transport Management Agency and Social Security Scheme laws without recourse to the Assembly through revocation bills? “It is quite unfortunate that a supposed progressive elder statesman in the twilight of his political career threw away all he attained as a progressive and is frolicking with wolves.” •Lagos State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ademorin Kuye (second left), Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Lateef Raji (second right), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Lateef Abari and the Director, Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Mrs. Toro Oladapo at a briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, the Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja…yesterday. Hoodlums beat up workers at Ibadan firm THERE is tension at the Ring Road headquarters of the Ibadan Local Government Properties Company Limited, Ibadan, Oyo State, yesterday, as hoodlums stormed the compound and beat up some workers. The company manages property owned by the 11 local governments in Ibadan, including estates (Mapo Hall) and monuments. An eyewitness said eight hoodlums invaded the office complex at noon and ordered workers out of their offices, beating up those that resisted. Five workers were reportedly as- THE police in Ogun State have rescued another child, Abraham Adeyemi (five), who was abducted from a church in Somolu, a suburb of Lagos, on Sunday. Master Adeyemi, who gave his parents’ name as “Mummy Sarah and Daddy Sarah”, was rescued at Imedu-Nla, by the police in Mowe. The boy was found at 2 pm by a man and a pastor attached to the Foursquare Gospel Church. Master Adeyemi said his kidnappers told him they •Ekiti 19 condemns comment Abducted Lagos boy rescued in Ogun From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta were taking him to an eatery, Mr Biggs, to buy food for him, but could not explain how he found himself in Imedu-Nla, Mowe. It was discovered that he is a pupil of the New Way Nursery and Primary School, Lagos. Police spokesman Olumuyiwa Adejobi told reporters in Abeokuta, the state capital, that a pastor found the boy within the premises of the Foursquare Gospel Church, Imedu-Nla, after the From Bisi Oladele, Ibadan ‘We want to ask Babatope where was his integrity and clarity of thought when he kept quiet when Govenor Ayo Fayose invaded the court and beat up a judge’ saulted, among them the Company Secretary, Adebowale Abdulazeez. The eyewitness told The Nation that the hoodlums slapped Adebowale when he inquired the reason they were being asked to leave. According to him, the hoodlums, after “descending on” some senior managers, asked for the general manager. But some workers prevented them from entering the general manager’s office. The General Manager, Surajudeem close of service. Adejobi, a Deputy Superintendent of Police(DSP), said the pastor could not extract useful information from the boy regarding his family or contact address, adding that a piece of paper bearing a telephone number and fastened to the boy’s shirt, also offered no clues to the parents. According to him, several calls were placed on the telephone number but none of them went through. No ransom has been demanded. Adejobi said: “This is the fourth time kids we have Babalola, escaped and reported the attack to the police. But before policemen arrived at the scene, the hoodlums fled. At the office complex yesterday, workers were still in shock. Babalola said the company had never been attacked. But a source said the recent transfer by the company might be responsible for the attack. Babalola called on the police to investigate the attack and arrest the culprits. rescued in Ogun recently . The boy was found at a church and probably dropped there by the kidnappers. “He could not give valid information about his family and we have not been able to locate his family. “We believe he was kidnapped in a place near Canal in Lagos, nobody has demanded ransom, and we are advising churches to take security of kids serious during service. Parents should also watch their children during service.” One million kids immunised From Adesoji Adeniyi, Osogbo OVER one million children were immunised against polio virus last month in Osun State. The Chairman, House of Assembly Committee on Health, Leke Oguntola, who represented Governor Rauf Aregbesola, said this at the launch of the second round of the National Immunisation Plus Days in Osogbo, the state capital. The governor said no case of Wild Polio Virus (WPV) had been recorded in the state in five years. He noted that effective and active surveillance was carried out regularly by the Disease Control Unit in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO). According to him, Osun was among the best performing states in immunisation in 2014, with coverage of 92 per cent in Penta 3 and OPV 3. ‘LASU yet to resume’ By Adegunle Olugbamila THE management of the Lagos State University (LASU) has debunked rumours that the recess it declared on March 25 has been called off. “The recess is still in force” said a statement, titled: “LA- SU’s recess still in force” and signed by the university spokesperson, Mrs Ronke Osho, yesterday. The statement said despite the recess, students due to be mobilised for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Batch A scheduled to begin on May 5 need not fret as “they are being duly attended to”. The management warned that workers and students, who do not fall into the category, must stay away from the school. The management closed the school on March 16, following a crisis by workers, who assaulted the Vice- Chancellor, Prof John Oladapo Obafunwa. Okun greet Buhari, others THE Lagos/Ogun states chapter of Okun Development Association has congratulated the Presidentelect, Gen Muhammadu Buhari; Lagos State Governorelect Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode and his Ogun State counterpart, Governor Ibikunle Amosun, on their electoral victories. In a statement by the Publicity Secretary, Odunayo Joseph, Patrons Cladius Olusegun Olorunfemi, Mohammed Aliu Elewonibi and the Chairman, Akere Owoniyi, the group said: “We join millions of Nigerians in congratulating Buhari, Ambode and Amosun. “With their election, the people’s age-long prayer for the emergence of an egalitarian society has been answered by God. “The group hails the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for his relentless and rigorous campaigns, which have visibly and undoubtedly contributed significantly to the actualisation of the cries for change in Nigeria. His name will be written in gold as one of the outstanding agents of change in Nigeria.”
THE NATION TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 2015 NEWS Ex-Speaker faults Olanusi’s removal FORMER Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly Victor Olabimtan has described the impeachment of Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi as a slap in the face of the All Progressives Congress (APC). He described the development as the cowardly act of Governor Olusegun Mimiko. Olabimtan, an APC chieftain, said if not for Olanusi, Mimiko would not have been governor. His words: “Olanusi’s defection should not have been a licence for his impeachment, it shows the type of person Mimiko is. “The people should note that Mimiko’s action has reached a crescendo, his continued stay in power is inimical to the state’s growth. “We can’t continue like this, Mimiko’s acts must be resisted. “We will follow the rule of law and I am certain that no matter how long Olanusi will be vindicated. “The act will not go unchallenged; we will follow due process to achieve our objectives. Supare-Akoko, Olanusi’s home town, was in a pensive mood yesterday. One of his kinsmen, Ebenezer David, said: “Olanusi is one of the pillars in the community, who brought development to the area.” Ikare-Akoko people were jubilating over the appointment of Lasisi Oluboyo as the new deputy governor. Jonathan sacks NHIS Executive Secretary •Peter Obi is SEC Chair PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has sacked the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Femi Thomas. In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, the President has approved the appointment of Mr. Olufemi A. Akingbade as Acting Executive Secretary/ Chief Executive Officer of the NHIS. No reason was given in the statement for Thomas’ removal. “Akingbade, who hails from Ekiti State and holds a Bachelors Degree in Computer Science as well as a Masters in Business Administration, was the General Manager, ICT in the NHIS until his new appointment,” it added The statement also said Jonathan has approved the confirmation of Mounir Haliru Gwarzo as Director- General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). “ Gwarzo who has been acting as director-general of the commission, was appointed as Executive Commissioner in January 2013,” the statement said. On the appointment of the former Anambra State Governor, Peter Obi, he said: “The President has also approved the appointment of the former Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, as chairman of the SEC.” •Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun (second right), Secretary to the State Government Taiwo Adeoluwa (right), Chairman, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC), Cao Bao Gang (second left) and Chinese Consul-General in Lagos, Lin Kan at the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Light Rail Network project for Ogun State at the Governor's Office, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta...yesterday. Story on page 11 Troops still in Sambisa forest, says DHQ THE Defence Headquarters yesterday denied media reports that troops have retreated from the Sambisa forest, which has served as the main operational base for Boko Haram insurgents. A statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major-General Chris Olukolade, said operation was progressing and gaining increasing momentum towards clearing all terrorist hideouts in the forest. “It is noteworthy that it is becoming common for sto- THE Lagos State government has said the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is responsible for its inability to conduct local government elections. Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Ademorin Kuye said it is still impossible for the government to state when the elections will hold as INEC was yet to make the voters register available. Kuye said: “I cannot say when the elections will be conducted. There is no way From Gbade Ogunwale, Assistant Editor, Abuja ries of attacks on some remote settlements to be fabricated and attributed to anonymous or unidentifiable source in remote places. This is apparently the work of terrorists’ sympathisers or propagandists. “Military operations to eliminate all terrorist hideouts are going on well and the terrorists are being seriously decimated. They will continue to be pursued and prevented from constituting danger to civilian population in their desperation for survival, suicide or publicity,” Gen Olukolade added. He debunked reports claiming that terrorists are now in control of Mafa in Borno State, saying that attempts by a group of fleeing terrorists who strayed towards the town and engaged typical suicide attacks were duly repelled by troops. He continued: “Similarly, the claim by some media organisations that terrorists chased out troops and took over Marte cannot be verified as troops were busy elsewhere during the said attack. “However, efforts to track the terrorists who were reported to have attacked the town have not indicated their presence as claimed. “Surveillance activities are however ongoing although there has been no indication of the large number of terrorists as being claimed in some reports attributed to anonymous sources. “The terrorist are certainly no longer capable of that level of coordinated action by thousands of terrorists as Lagos: INEC to blame for delay in council polls PENSIONERS of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) yesterday shut down activities at the Fund over nonpayment of their 58 months’ arrears. The pensioners, who blocked the entrance at 8am, disrupted visitors and vehicular movements in or out of the premises. They alleged that the Fund’s management neglected and refused to pay the approved increase by the Federal Government since July 2010. The protesters said the NSITF should pay the arrears. Otherwise, they insisted, they would continue the protest and seek support from the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress By Miriam Ekene-Okoro the electoral commission can conduct any election without having the appropriate voters register. And this register is still in INEC’s custody. “It has not been released to the state. The moment it is released to the government, then we can start planning on when the elections will be held. The commissioner blamed the recent loss of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition in (TUC). Some of the protesters carried inscriptions such as “Pension Matters: Board approved N350 million, Trust Fund received N200 million, Balance N150 million. Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, where did you keep NSITF Pensioners’ N150 million? Alh. Munir, Do you know?”, “Mr. President, is Dr. Ngozi Olejeme above the law?” Dr. Ngozi Olejeme and NSITF Management, pay your in-house pensioners their entitlement.” The Deputy General Secretary, Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Chief Joseph Okunade, said the protest was held against maltreatment of NUP members. some local governments to money and ethnic politics, saying the performance of the council executives has nothing to do with the loss. “The allegation that lack of performance led to the APC losing five House of Representatives and eight House of Assembly seats is not true. “This was because the last election was dictated and influenced by money politics. President Goodluck Jonathan was in Lagos several times abandoning his office in Abuja. Okunade said: “You can imagine the NSITF owing the pensioners 58 months arrears of pension increase. If the Managing Director does not take his money in a “Another factor was ethnicity. One will notice that in the area where the APC lost, they were areas dominated by certain tribes. The commissioner said the boundary and land dispute involving the Onilogbo of Ilogbo-Eremi in Olorunda Local Council Development Area in Badagry Division was resolved by the ministry. He also said boundary dispute between Agege, Ikeja and Orile local governments was also resolved. Protesters shut down NSITF over 58-month arrears From Olugbenga Adanikin and Jummai Kpoga, Abuja ‘We have talked to them, written to them and taken different approaches but they turned a deaf ear, that is why we are protesting. We will continue to pester and picket them’ month, you know how he will feel. “We have talked to them, written to them and taken different approaches but they turned a deaf ear, that is why we are protesting. “We will continue to pester and picket them. You see they cannot go in and come out.” NSTIF’s NUP Chairman Aham Mbazigwe-Akonye said the organisation did not cater for welfare of workers. According to him, he worked for about 23 years but after the new pension approval, NSITF was yet to effect the changes. Asked if there were commitments from the NSITF management on the pension, he said several appeals were made but yielded no positive results. 9 reported.” Gen. Olukolade advised the media to ignore what he described as “fabrication being churned out by some terrorists sympathisers trying to encourage the terrorists who he said were in disarray”. “The truth is that the operation to decimate them from Nigerian territories is progressing well. The military will not be dissuaded by the resurgence of false reports on the operations. The progress will be prosecuted as necessary”, he said. Oyo Tribunal gets 12 petitions From Oseheye Okwuofu, Ibadan THE Oyo State Election Petitions Tribunal yesterday said it has received 12 petitions - 10 House of Representatives and two senatorial. At the State High Court, Iyaganku, Ibadan, where Courts 15 and 21 have been assigned to hear the petitions, a tribunal official, who pleaded for anonymity, said it was too early to give details. He said the two senatorial petitions received were in respect of Oyo Central and Oyo South districts. The tribunal official said the 21-day period allowed for filing of petitions had lapsed in respect of the presidential/National Assembly elections. The court official said hearing might not begin until next week when, according to him, “it is expected that all the necessary filings would have been completed and those expected to be served would have received the papers”. It was gathered that petitions in respect of both the governorship and State House of Assembly elections held on April 11 could still be entertained. The All Progressives Congress (APC) made a clean sweep of the National Assembly election, winning 12 of the 14 House of Representatives seats and all the three senatorial seats.
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