News

Sanwo-Olu Orders Demolition Of Three Buildings On Banana Island

Published

1 year ago

April 23, 2023

Editor

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has ordered the demolition of three two-storey buildings in Banana Island following the collapse of a seven-storey building in the area.

Sanwo-Olu gave the order on Saturday during his visit to the site of the collapsed seven-storey building and inspection of other infrastructure around the Island.

At 310 Close, he ordered the demolition of the two-storey building because it was an illegal structure, without approval.

Also at 306 Close, the governor ordered the removal of two-storey buildings adjacent to each other because they were constructed under the powerline and under water.

While speaking at the site of the collapsed seven-storey building, he blamed the unfortunate incident on the irresponsibility of the developers and some of the citizens that just wanted to make quick money.

Sanwo-Olu also blamed the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and National Inland Waterways Authority, for allegedly granting extension of the line of Banana Island.

According to him, the incident shows that the Lagos State building officers are not alive to their responsibilities, and officers found culpable will also be sanctioned.

“We are at the site of the last unfortunate building collapse in Banana Island Lagos. Like it has been reported before now, there has been a lot of investigation that is going on right now and you can see that they are still clearing the rubbles at the site.

“We have given an order to stop work, not only at this site but also in all of the construction sites in Banana Island.

“I think that the exercise we are doing today is not really just about this location. You have all seen the extent of what I will call unapproved extension into the water, at the back of each of the land that is abutting water.

“You can see that the original line for Banana Island is even not where we are. It’s way in front there and you can see that there are several extensions that have been granted by both the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and NIWA.

“These are the two federal agencies that have been culpable for those extensions.

“From what I have been told all of the four buildings at the back have never even applied for approvals. The illegality is real and so that is why we are going round other properties in Banana Island.

“Excuses have been given that they don’t have access and this is not acceptable. This is a total recklessness of all of the developers and we will make a strong point out of this place and all-around Banana Island and in other developments that we have,” he said.

The governor said that an external seven-member committee had been set up with two weeks mandate to independently ascertain what had gone wrong.

He said that the outcome from the committee would further strengthen the government to be able to come up with a robust workplan that could be enforced going forward.

“We have had to change staff here and there so that we can bring forward a robust and very strong monitoring offices. But we believe that we are still far from, we are still short on it, I must say.

‘“We will continue to do what we need to do to ensure that we keep the lives of our residents safe at all times,” Sanwo-Olu said.

News

PICTORIAL: Osun Traditionalists Unveil N200m Temple

Published

2 mins ago

May 21, 2024

Editor

Ile Ajuba Idin Ileke Temple in Osogbo.

Far-famed Osogbo-based Ifa priest, Chief Ifayemi Elebuibon, on Tuesday, demanded recognition for African Traditional Religion, saying such official recognition from the government has been long overdue.

Elebuibon spoke in Osogbo at the official unveiling of an N200 million Idin Ileke Temple, a place of worship by traditionalists in the Atelewo Area of Osogbo.

The edifice, which is to serve as a place of weekly worship and other ceremonies for the adherents of different deities, has a hall with solar panels and designated places for placing atonement.

The adherents are to meet at the hall on Saturdays for service.

Elebuibon said ATR remains the most enduring, a uniting cord binding Africans together long before the advent of religion on other continents of the world.

He said, “The Federal Government must recognise that the African Traditional Religion is our only means of cultural identity. Besides, if it is properly recognised, it can generate revenue in billions of dollars for the country’s economy.

“This building is the first of its kind in the country. It is our moderate contribution to traditional religion with a view to enriching our heritage as a people.”

Speaking on behalf of the building committee, Ogundeji Elebuibon, said funds were raised for the project through voluntary donations by the traditionalists in the state and some of their apprentices across the globe.

Elebuibon, who served as the Treasurer of the committee further said, “We raised funds for this project through donations by adherents of traditional religion in the state and beyond. We have godchildren all over the globe and they all contribute money and send to us.

“We spent about N200m on this project and the construction work was completed within 22 months.”

Speaking on the temple’s significance, he said, “This project is significant. With this kind of place of worship, we won’t lose more members to Western religion. It is important for us to have a place where we can worship Olodumare. It will keep our members together. We have our worship on Saturdays from 10 am to 12 pm.”

The PUNCH had reported that Elebuibon urged Kwara Muslims and Isese devotees to allow peace reign in the case involving activist Adegbola Abdulazeez, a.k.a. Tani Olohun.

Abdulazeez was arrested on August 16 in Ibadan and transferred to the Kwara State Police Command for allegedly insulting the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, and some prominent Muslim clerics.
PUNCH

News

Court Awards N300m Damages Against DSS Over Illegal Detention Of Bayelsa Activist

Published

11 mins ago

May 21, 2024

Editor

A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa on Monday ordered the Department of State Security to pay N300 million in damages over the illegal arrest and detention of a youth activist, Collins Opumie, for over two years.

Opumie approached the court in 2022 to seek redress, demanding N9.0 billion in Suit number YHC/324/2022 as damages over his detention following a petition by the Nigerian Agip Oil Company.

In his ruling, the presiding judge, Ebiyon Charlie, declared that the claimant was forcefully imprisoned and should be awarded N300 million as compensation.

Reacting to the judgment, the claimant, Opumie, said he was satisfied with the judgment as his right was trampled upon, and he was denied medical attention during the period of his incarceration.

“I am happy even when all our expectations were not met. I thank all those who stood by me, the traditional rulers and my lawyer, for standing for the truth”.

In his statement of claims, he had accused the DSS in Yenagoa of allegedly abducting him at the instance of NAOC in Gestapo style, physically and mentally torturing him, tying up and throwing him into the boot of a vehicle, and taking him to Abuja like a common criminal without the knowledge of his family and access to medical care.

He had also prayed the court to declare that his arrest, torture, and subsequent detention without proper food and medical attention and access to family members for two years for false imprisonment and malicious prosecution were illegal.

He had sought an “injunction restraining the 2nd and 3rd set of defendants from further harassing or attempts to arrest and detain the claimant at the instance of the 1st set of defendants.”

News

UBTH Gives Ultimatum To Owners Unclaimed Corpses

Published

3 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Editor

Management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) has given six weeks ultimatum to owners of the unclaimed corpses lying fallow and abandoned in its mortuary facility to come and move them out or face a mass burial.

The warning was contained in the hospital’s circular.

The management also said that the corpses, include both infants that have been in the mortuary since January 2023 and adults that have been there from April 2021 and December 2022.

“This is to inform the general public that the Management of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, UBTH has concluded plans to dispose off all unclaimed Corpses that have been in the Hospital’s mortuary, which has been a home to several Corpses “for a very long time.

“Any unclaimed Corpse(s) at the expiration of six weeks period shall be disposed off through mass burial or any other manner considered appropriate”,the notice partly reads.