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Computer Village Ikeja is residential not commercial area – LASG
Computer Village Ikeja is residential not commercial area – LASG
Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on eGIS and Urban Development Dr. Olajide Abiodun Babatunde has said the state government is committed to the regeneration and development of urban areas of the state.
Babatunde disclosed this on Tuesday during an on-the-spot assessment of the Computer Village, Ikeja, where he stressed that area is residential and not commercial area.
A statement by Director, Public Affairs at LASBCA, Olaoye Olusegun quoted the special adviser as saying the Computer Village area within the state law is a residential but had grown into a full-blown market, which is against the Modern City Plan of the state.
He said the present administration led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was committed to the restoration of the master plan of Lagos which is being degraded and distorted.
He said, “The relocation of Computer Village presently in Ikeja to Kantagua in the Abule-Egba area of the state is in progress and when fully completed will boast of world-class facilities such as schools, hospitals, clinics, hotels, banking facilities, warehouses and storage rooms, which will make shopping more conducive and befitting of the mega city status as envisaged by the governor and as obtained in other modern cities of the world.”
“The current location of computer village in Ikeja was planned to be a residential area and that plan is being distorted by commercial activities within the area. We cannot fold our hands and allow the distortion to go on. The residential status of that area must be restored.”
He said further, “We are trying to do things in proper ways that will ensure that urban centres are regenerated, redeveloped, innovated, conserved in line with the THEMES+ agenda of present administration.
“The Computer Village area still remains a Residential Area and its Land Use has not been changed by the state government and this is the main reason the government is relocating the traders to Katangua for proper settlement.”
“If the rules say it is a residential area, then it must remain a residential area. Therefore, the government has to make provision and also accommodate the people who are in this area and that is the reason why the state government is developing Katangua into a model market,” he added.
He noted that Lagos State’s exponential growth would have serious consequences on its urban space if not properly planned. Hence the need for the relocation of the Computer Village to a more spacious area that would not have traffic implications and other consequences on the citizens.
The Special Adviser assured the shop owners and traders that the planned relocation would be transparent.
He said the state government would carry them along as nothing would be imposed on them.
He stressed that the relocation of the market would be done in consultation with all relevant stakeholders including the markets associations and owners of properties in the area.
Babatunde hinted that the regeneration and development of urban Lagos is not limited to the Computer Village alone but across the state.
He disclosed that shortly Lagosians would start feeling the positive impact of the redevelopment plans on traffic decongestion, security implications and other positive areas.
Accompanied on the assessment tour of the Computer Village are top management of the Lagos State Building Control Agency led by the General Manager, Arc. Gbolahan Owodunni Oki.
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Gunmen kill two soldiers in Abia checkpoint attack
Gunmen kill two soldiers in Abia checkpoint attack
Early Wednesday morning, gunmen attacked an army checkpoint in Ekenobizi, a border community between Abia and Imo states, located in Umuopara, Umuahia South Local Government Area.
The assailants reportedly arrived around 6:18 a.m. in a white Lexus SUV (model 350/400) and launched an assault that resulted in the deaths of two soldiers.
A military source, who wished to remain anonymous, provided details of the incident but could not confirm the exact number of attackers involved.
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Confirming the incident in a press release on Wednesday, Lieutenant Colonel Jonah Unuakhalu of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA said: “In the early hours of today, 13 November 2024, troops of the Joint Task Force South East Operation UDO KA, deployed at a checkpoint along the Umuahia – Owerri Road in Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State, came under attack by the irredentist group Indigenous People of Biafra and its armed affiliate, the Eastern Security Network.
“During the attack, the gallant troops were able to repel the assault, forcing the attackers to retreat in disarray with gunshot wounds, abandoning one Sienna and one Lexus Jeep used in the attack. However, in the ensuing firefight, two soldiers paid the supreme price.”
The Joint Task Force appealed to residents of the South East, particularly those in Abia State, for credible information to help track down the fleeing attackers and combat criminal elements in the region.
The force reiterated its commitment to protecting lives and property in line with global best practices and the rules of engagement.
Gunmen kill two soldiers in Abia checkpoint attack
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94 arrested as task force raids Lagos rail corridor squatters
94 arrested as task force raids Lagos rail corridor squatters
At least 94 illegal occupants and squatters along the railway corridor from Pen Cinema to Fagba were arrested by the Lagos State Taskforce in an early morning sting operation on Wednesday.
During the raid, substances suspected to be hard drugs—such as Indian hemp, colorado, and other harmful drugs—were seized, along with various weapons.
It was gathered that those arrested attempted to resist the task force’s actions.
In a statement, Director of Public Affairs, Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, confirmed that those arrested will face prosecution.
He added that the agency dismantled shanties and makeshift structures along the railway corridor, clearing a distance of some kilometers.
The Taskforce Chairman Adetayo Akerele explained that the eviction aimed to provide relief for residents around the Fagba, Agege, and Pen Cinema railway routes, following numerous complaints from the public about criminal activities in the area.
He noted that the squatting had violated environmental and sanitary regulations.
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Akerele also highlighted the health and safety risks posed by the presence of squatters along the rail corridor.
He warned the evicted individuals not to return and assured residents and train passengers that regular patrols and surveillance would be conducted to prevent the re-establishment of shanties in the area.
“The rail tracks are not meant for habitation or the sale of narcotics. Anyone caught converting this place into a den of criminals or an area of residence will face severe consequences according to the law,” Akerele was quoted as saying.
Speaking on the raid, Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed that a locally fabricated short gun was recovered.
“94 suspects were arrested during the midnight operation; a locally fabricated short gun and several wraps of illicit substance suspected to be indian hemp, charm and a jack knife were recovered.
“The suspects will be charged to court accordingly,” Wahab stated in a post on X.
94 arrested as task force raids Lagos rail corridor squatters
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Okpebholo sacks all political appointees, Board executives in Edo
Okpebholo sacks all political appointees, Board executives in Edo
Governor Monday Okpebholo of Edo State has swept out all Board, Parastatal, and Agency appointees from his predecessor, Godwin Obaseki, in a decisive move to overhaul the state’s public service.
A statement released on Wednesday by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, confirmed the immediate dismissal of all political appointees and Permanent Secretaries brought in from outside the state Civil Service.
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The statement reads:
“For the information of the general public, His Excellency, Senator Monday Okpebholo, Governor of Edo State, has approved the dissolution of Executives of all Boards, Agencies, and Parastatals in the Edo State Public Service with immediate effect.
“In addition, all Permanent Secretaries appointed from outside the State Public/Civil Service and all Political Appointees are hereby relieved of their appointments.”
Affected individuals have been directed to return all government property in their possession to the senior Public Officers in their respective Ministries, Departments, and Agencies.
Okpebholo sacks all political appointees, Board executives in Edo
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