metro
Lagos intervenes in Magodo estate demolition crisis, police, bulldozers withdrawn
The Lagos State Government has intervened in the crisis rocking the highbrow Magodo Estate over planned demolition of some of the buildings in the area.
Following the intervention, the gates of phase two of the estate have been reopened clearing a siege laid by police officers in the area.
Some police officers in company with hoodlums had reportedly arrived at the estate with bulldozers on Tuesday evening.
The hoodlums marked some houses in the estate with the inscription which reads ‘ID/795/88 possession taken today 21/12/2021 by court order’.
On Wednesday morning, members of the Magodo Residents’ Association (MRA) locked up the gates leading to the exit and entry points of the estate in a bid to resist what they described as “forceful takeover” and attempt to demolish houses in the area.
The development, according to a report by TheCable, left some residents stranded as no human or vehicular movement was allowed in and out of the estate.
It also reported that on Wednesday afternoon, the two gates of the estate were opened with people and vehicles moving freely.
There were also no police officers seen around the gates of the estate.
Speaking with journalists, a legal adviser of MRA, Tunji Abdulhameed, said residents of the estate were not aware of any court verdict issued in favour of the Shangisha Landlords Association to demolish houses in the community.
He said the only court verdict residents are aware of is to the effect that the Lagos government should allocate 549 plots of land to the Shangisha association.
Abdulhameed said, “We are not aware of any court order which allows for any demolition of properties in this estate. We asked them to show us papers, they refused to show us the paper.”
He also said, “We are aware that they obtained an order against the Lagos State Government, the judgement which people believe is fake as no specific definition and no properties were mentioned.
“What the judgement said is that the Lagos state government should allocate 549 plots to them. As at today, no plot has been allocated. Until the plots are allocated to them, that is when they become property owners.
“All the properties you see here, those who own the properties obtained allocations from the Lagos state government and they obtained certificates of occupancy to that effect. And those certificates are still valid; they have not been revoked.
“That is what we are trying to put across. We want the world to see what we are facing because the government has not come to protect us.
“Thankfully, they later came today — people from the governor. I think they are still around to ensure that the police that came from FCT through the IGP are out of the state. That is why the gates are open.”
Chairman of the MRA, Bajo Osinubi, said they decided to reopen the estate’s gates owing to the promise made by the Governor of Lagos, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, that the government was “on top of the case”.
“Actually, he (the governor) sent in the mayoress of Ikosi, Mrs Bada, to come and tell us that the policemen will be withdrawn and this siege that has become perennial will never happen again.
“So, with that promise, we decided to open up the gates so that our people can move.”
metro
Many killed, houses, vehicles destroyed in Delta petrol tanker explosion
Many killed, houses, vehicles destroyed in Delta petrol tanker explosion
Many people were feared dead as a petrol tanker exploded Sunday afternoon on a highway in Delta State.
The accident occurring on Asaba-Lagos Road in the Agbor Ika South Local Government Area caused huge damage to houses and vehicles trapped in the inferno.
The explosion was reported to have happened when the petrol tanker was navigating a turn near First Bank in Agbor and overturned.
Firemen from both Delta state and federal authorities were mobilised to the scene, according to the director of the state fire service, Eugene Oziwele.
Oziwele also confirmed that the casualties were high, adding firemen from Asaba joined those in Agbor with others from the Federal Fire Service to put out the raging fire.
metro
Farmer-herder crisis: Cooperative to establish ranches in 774 LGs
Farmer-herder crisis: Cooperative to establish ranches in 774 LGs
The National Agricultural Mechanisation Cooperative of Nigeria (NAMCON) has disclosed plans to establish cattle ranches in the 774 local governments across Nigeria.
According to the National President of the cooperative, NAMCON, Dr Aliyu Waziri, the move is part of sustained efforts to modernise livestock production in the country, bolster value-addition and address the persistent clashes between farmers and herders.
He spoke with journalists in Kaduna adding that the ranches would be provided with adequate animal feeds, mega dams and an array of features of world-class equipment, thereby ensuring herders and their livestock have no cause to migrate in search of water and food.
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He said the ranches would be adequately equipped with clinics, western and Islamic schools and other necessary infrastructure.
Waziri said, “These ranches will be fully equipped for both rainy and dry season farming activities for the sustained production of food as this is very crucial to boosting food security, jobs creation, poverty eradication and jerking off Nigeria’s foreign reserves.”
The ranches, he said, would also have plantations of various economic trees like mango, guava and cashew.
He said, “The gesture will also greatly help in combating the recurring herder-farmer clashes in the country.”
Waziri maintained that the goal of the cooperative was to transform Nigeria’s agricultural sector through mechanization and empowerment programs.
He recalled that in November 2021, NAMCON empowered 15 million farmers, especially women and young people, on farm mechanisation.
He then urged the government to explore the agricultural sector’s hidden potential to address unemployment and food security.
Farmer-herder crisis: Cooperative to establish ranches in 774 LGs
metro
Again, Northern elders ask FG to suspend tax reform bills
Again, Northern elders ask FG to suspend tax reform bills
The Northern Elders’ Forum (NEF) has again raised concerns over the Federal Government’s proposed Tax Reform Bills, urging immediate suspension of the implementation and calling for extensive dialogue with stakeholders.
The forum criticized the government for failing to engage critical stakeholders and experts before drafting the reforms.
NEF expressed its position in a statement on Saturday signed by its Chairman of Management Board, Al-Amin Daggash, highlighting the reforms’ potential adverse effects on Northern Nigeria and the nation as a whole.
Daggash said: “Once again, it is necessary to reiterate, that indeed, Nigerians in general and Northerners in particular, are not really against the introduction of any form of good and meaningful reforms by those in positions of authority, at the federal, state or local government levels.
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“Even though, we shall remain very implacable in reaffirming that, our practical experiences teach us, that, going by global best practices, successful reforms are known to be underpinned by strict adherence to certain common cardinal characteristics of the public policy-making process.
“For convenience of exposition, these similarities include, but, not limited to the under listed basic essentials: Extensive pre-reforms early engagements with experts and critical stakeholders, in order to secure their buy-in
“Establishing a very well-defined media/communication strategy, that clearly articulates the full import of the reforms and disseminates public awareness and mass enlightenment on a nationwide scale.
“Designing a robust, transparent and inclusive implementation mechanism. Pro-actively putting in place a well-sequenced process, in order to ensure that the meticulously planned reforms, really meet the society’s desired and anticipated outcomes.
“The Northern Elders’ Forum make bold to say that the recently proposed Tax Reform Bills by the Federal Government, were clearly in the breach, with regards to adhering to the above listed common characteristics of reforms and public policy-making process, all over the world and in conformity with the global best practices.”
Again, Northern elders ask FG to suspend tax reform bills
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