A Nigerian newspaper and Online version of the Vanguard, a daily publication in Nigeria covering Niger delta, general national news, politics, business, energy, sports, entertainment, fashion,lifestyle human interest stories, etc
ABUJA-Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court in Abuja, Tuesday, sacked two members of the House of Representatives from Enugu State.
The Judge ordered the two lawmakers, Hon. Stella Ngwu representing Igbo-Etiti/Uzo-Uwani Federal Constituency and Hon. Dennis Nnmachi Agbo from Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency, to immediately vacate their seats.
Their removal followed two pre-election suits that queried the process that led to their emergence as winners of primary election the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, conducted in the state in December 2014.
Delivering judgements on the matter, Justice Abang ordered that the sacked lawmakers should be replaced by Dr. Gabriel A Okafor (Igbo- Etiti/Uzo-Uwani Federal Constituency) and Hon. Chijioke H. Ugwu ( Igbo-Eze North/Udenu Federal Constituency).
He also ordered the removed lawmakers to refund into the coffers of the National Assembly, all monies they collected by way of salaries and allowances.
The court maintained that PDP and its National working Committee, cited as 1st and 2nd defendants, respectively, had no right or authority to use another delegate list aside names of delegates that emerged from congress the party held on November 1, 2014.
It directed the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to immediately issue Certificate of Return to both Okafor and Ugwu, even as it awarded N100, 000 cost against the defendants in favour of the plaintiff.
While INEC was the 3rd defendant in both cases, the sacked Reps members, Ngwu and Agbo, were cited as 4th defendants, respectively.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday said Nigeria had no excuse for the deplorable state of its agriculture sector.
Obasanjo said this at an agriculture seminar in Abuja organised by Lift Above Poverty Organisation (LAPO), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) with "Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture in Nigeria: Challenges and Opportunities'' as theme.
He said that researches had revealed that about 65 per cent of the country's population were faced with "food insecurity''.
He called on Nigerians to make agriculture more attractive, saying that the country had a comparative advantage in the sector and should, therefore, not suffer food shortage.
The former president expressed concern that investment in the sector could not address the food insecurity in the country.
"We must all play our cards either in farming, processing, manufacturing, packaging, and we must put in our best to revamp the sector and address food insecurity in our country.''
He said that some countries that went through the same challenges as Nigeria had all walked out of the problem , but that Nigeria's was getting worse.
"We must return to agriculture as a means to increase our food production in Nigeria.
"Between 2015 and 2016, there has been no production of grains in the country to feed ourselves, no fertiliser, and there are challenges at all levels of government.
"We have to reflect on how to get back to agriculture and we must get there,'' he said.
Olusegun Obasanjo
Obasanjo challenged Nigerians to work hard to attain zero hunger level in 2025, adding that farmers should use appropriate technologies for better yields.
He regretted that many farmers in the country were still using hoe and cutlass.
In his address, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, said the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to diversifying the nation's economy through agriculture.
He said that ongoing efforts were expected to largely reduce importation of food items like wheat, rice, fish and sugar.
Ogbeh, who was represented by Alhaji Musibau Azeez, a director in the ministry, said that government was committed to reversing the age-old trend through revitalising agriculture towards innovative re-emergence of its past glory.
Earlier, founder of the NGO, Mr Godwin Ehigiamusoe, said that the importance of attainment of national food security could not be over-emphasised.
He said that the challenges of food insecurity had economic and socio-political implications and that it was one of the critical indicators of national power and influence.
Ehigiamusoe said that a nation which depended on food import "as we do today, remains vulnerable in politics of international economic relations''.
He said that the various initiatives, including the intervention by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) through rural finance institutions building programme, among others, must be sustained.
"We need the kind of entrepreneurial spirit which swept through the banking sector in the 90s.
"At LAPO, we have over the years made our strong commitment to funding of activities in the rural economy within our institutional mandate of poverty alleviation.
"We have provided N20.7 billion as agricultural loans to micro and small enterprises engaged in livestock, arable and tree crops farming,'' he said.
Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho claimed that his team had exposed Liverpool’s shortcomings after holding Jurgen Klopp’s well-regarded team to a 0-0 draw.
Liverpool went into Monday’s game at Anfield seeking a sixth successive win in all competitions and bidding to draw level on points with Premier League leaders Manchester City and second-place Arsenal.
But United restricted them to few chances, with visiting goalkeeper David de Gea largely untroubled apart from a pair of eye-catching second-half saves to deny Emre Can and Philippe Coutinho.
“The goalkeeper (De Gea) was on holiday for 90 minutes, but he had two big saves to do and he did,” said Mourinho, whose side remain seventh in the table.
“When we recover the ball I was expecting the team to be more dangerous, (although) we had two good chances, but Liverpool did too.
“They are not the last wonder of the world like you (the media) say they are, but they are a very good team so we had to adapt a little to them.”
Premier League statisticians Opta said United had only had 35 percent of possession — their lowest tally for a league fixture since such statistics started being gathered in the 2003-04 season.
But Mourinho returned to the press conference room after he had finished addressing reporters to say the club’s own statisticians thought United had seen more of the ball.
“My guy did it — 42 (percent), not 35,” he said, having re-emerged through a side door.
“I thought it was crazy. We do it ourselves with better people than them.”
He had earlier dismissed the importance of statistics, pointing out that United had won 1-0 at Anfield under his predecessor Louis van Gaal last season despite being largely outplayed.
“Last season United won here, Liverpool had 14 shots on target and United had one,” he said.
“How many shots on target did Liverpool have on target today? Two. Two shots on target with 65 percent of possession.
“You have to be critical of Liverpool. It is their problem, not our problem.”
– ‘Hectic’ –
United largely succeeded in stifling Liverpool, with wide players Marcus Rashford and Ashley Young notably dropping deep to create a six-man defence at times.
The visitors procured a clear sight of goal early in the second half when Paul Pogba, playing in a more advanced role, picked out Zlatan Ibrahimovic, only for the Swede to miscue his header.
Liverpool improved following the 59th-minute introduction of Adam Lallana, either side of which De Gea showed characteristically snappy reactions to foil Can and Coutinho.
“We lost patience far too early and our passing game was not good,” said Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, whose side trail City by two points.
“We had 65 percent possession, but we have to do better. I didn’t expect we would have 10 to 15 chances. Second half we had chances, but De Gea was finally warm and he made brilliant saves.
“They had that chance with Ibrahimovic. The best news tonight is we have one point more and a clean sheet, nothing else.
“We can do much better and we must do much better. We have to stay cool. When they want to chase us, we have to use counter-movements.
“Really good attitude of my side. They tried everything, only with the wrong tools.”
Klopp dismissed suggestions his players had been affected by being saddled with the pre-match favourites tag.
“Maybe it is very important for the rest of the world what you all write, but for us it is not important,” he said.
“We were not favourites in the dressing room. Tonight nobody thought about this.
“You could see Man United is physically stronger than we are. We couldn’t get rid of the hectic (mindset) — that was the problem.
“When you have the ball you have to calm down immediately and that is what we didn’t do.”
English Premier League leaders Manchester City on Tuesday announced record turnover of $480 million and its Abu Dhabi owners said the club has reached a “turning point”.
City, who were hit by UEFA sanctions over their finances in 2014, announced a 20 million pound ($24.5 million/22.2 million euro) profit from revenues of 391.8 million pounds ($480 million, 436 million euros).
With broadcasting, match-day and commercial revenues all up, City announced a second straight year of profit.Manchester City’s Belgian defender Vincent Kompany (C) holds up the English League Cup during the presentation after Manchester City won the English League Cup final football match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium in London on February 28, 2016. / AFP
Chairman Khaldoon Al-Mubarak said the 2015-16 season when City reached the Champions League semi-finals was a “turning point” on and off the field.
“Manchester City has now reached a level of sporting and commercial maturity that allows one to feed the other,” said the chairman.
“I believe the 2016-17 season represents the beginning of a critical new phase in the evolution of Manchester City.
“We know that we have the playing, coaching and off-field capabilities at our disposal to achieve great things in English and European football in the years ahead.”
Broadcasting revenue from Europe and the Premier League increased 19% to 161 million pounds. Matchday income went up from 43 million pounds a year ago to 52.5 million pounds.
Other commercial revenues went up from 351 million pounds to 391 million pounds.
In the past year, City have appointed Pep Guardiola, one of Europe’s most successful coaches, while China Media Capital Holdings has become a key new investor.
City said that its wage bill was down to 50 percent of revenues which it said was one of the best ratios in the Premier League.
By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJA – THE Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, Tuesday lamented that the present administration in the country has traumatised and pauperised the Nigerian people.
The union said that President Muhammadu Buhari’s economic policies which it claimed was imposed by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund, IMF and their collaborators had become hostile to the people in the last few months, while the enthusiasm that greeted the entry of the government was gradually giving away to the realism that “we may be losing the war to rescue our people from the ruling class extortionist agenda.”
Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, the National President of ASUU, Prof. Biodun Ogunyemi described as a monumental fraud the call for the sale of national assets, saying operators of the economy must be held responsible by the Nigerian people.
He said that the economic policies of the Buhari government was impacting negatively on all sectors of the economy and he urged Nigerians to organise themselves to reject the policies that claimed had pauperized the people and consolidate the gains of the ruling class.
Kano – A member of the Kano State House of Assembly representing Doguwa constituency, Alhaji Salisu Riruwai, said over N40 million was paid as ransom to free some people who were kidnapped in the area.
Riruwai disclosed this while briefing Newsmen on Tuesday in Kano on the rampant cases of kidnapping across the different villages in Doguwa Local Government Area.
"This N40 million I am talking about was paid only by the people whose relatives were kidnapped in one ward out of the many wards we have in my constituency.
"There are other people who paid huge sums of money to free their kidnapped relatives in other areas that we are not aware of," he said.
According to the lawmaker, four nursing mothers were kidnapped recently in the area, and in the process of freeing them, one of their babies died.
He commended the security agencies for their efforts to rid the area of criminals.
"I also commend the Speaker and my other colleagues for their contributions and support to the ongoing process to amend the bill against kidnapping, abduction and forced labour," he said.
According to him, if the bill is amended, it will provide for life imprisonment for the kidnappers.
Ile Ife (Osun State) – The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has advised Yoruba Obas not to allow supremacy battle bring disunity among them.
The Oba gave the advice on Tuesday in Ile-Ile Ife when the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji and his chiefs visited his palace.
He said that enmity caused disunity could hinder progress of any society.His Royal Majesty,Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi Ojaja 11,Oonirisa of Ife Land during the 2016 Olojo festival in Ile Ife Osun State. Photo: Akeem Salau
He described the Yorubas as `talented and united' people and urged traditional rulers in Yorubaland not to allow supremacy battle bring disunity among them.
He said that God is the creator and leader of the people while Obas were only elected to rule over them.
The Ooni prayed for God's guidance and protection in the South-West region and in Nigeria in general.
He said he was happy and grateful that the Olubadan made history by visiting him on the last day of the celebration of Olojo festival.
Ogunwusi thanked the Olubadan for propagating unity and love among the Yoruba race.
In his remarks, the Olubadan, who declared that Ile Ife was the origin of the Yoruba race, said he was pleased to visit the town where Yorubas originated from.
He said he visited Ife to thank the Ooni for coming to Ibadan during his coronation on March 4.
Adetunji felicitated with Ogunwusi on his birthday and celebration of Olojo festival.
FIFA’s anti-corruption court on Tuesday banned Thailand football chief Worawi Makudi for five years for forgery and refusing to cooperate with an investigation.
Worawi, who was also fined 10,000 Swiss francs ($10,000), has been linked to multiple scandals in his former role as head of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT).
He was found guilty in July 2015 by a Thai court of forgery in his re-election as head of FAT.
The adjudicatory chamber of FIFA’s ethics committee said in a statement it had found Worawi “guilty of forgery and falsification” and of failing to collaborate with an inquiry.
The ban from all football activities starts immediately, the statement said.
Barcelona defender Gerard Pique insists he will not reverse his decision to retire from international football after the 2018 World Cup.
Pique announced his intention to leave La Roja after having to demonstrate he didn’t cut the colours of the Spanish flag off his kit during a 2-0 win in Albania last week.
The absurd incident was the latest in a string of accusations concerning Pique’s commitment to play for Spain due to his outspoken calls for a referendum on Catalan independence.
“The decision is final. Events in Albania brought it forward, I didn’t want to say it at that time, but I came out annoyed by the story that was proven to be false and felt I had to say it.”
Pique was routinely jeered when playing for the national team on home soil in the build-up to Euro 2016 in part for his political views, but also for his role is stoking the fierce rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid.
However, after winning the World Cup in 2010 and Euro 2012 with Spain, he insisted his decision to retire after the World Cup is not due to the treatment he has received.
“I have taken the decision myself because if we qualify I will have been playing with the national team for 10 years, I will be 31, and the time will be right,” he added on Tuesday.
“It is the best option, to step to one side and give the new generation the chance to occupy the space I have.”
Pique even revealed he nearly retired from football completely after the 2014 World Cup due to a lack of motivation.
“After the 2014 World Cup I didn’t have the desire to keep going,” he continued.
“It was a question of motivation, possibly because I won everything very young.”
Arsene Wenger insisted Tuesday there was never any danger of Theo Walcott leaving Arsenal despite a reduced role with the Gunners last season.
The England international started just 15 league gammes and scored five goals in the 2015/16 season.
But Walcott, 27, has already matched that goal tally this term following a double in Arsenal’s win over Swansea on Saturday. Walcott Arsenal manager Wenger, speaking ahead of Wednesday’s Champions League tie against Ludogorets, said of winger Walcott: “Look, I haven’t spoken to anybody because I was not ready to let him go. I always wanted to keep him.
“What I’ve seen of him is that he lets the passion for the game come out of his body. That’s what you want from him.
“I’ve felt that since he’s played with more freedom, maybe he lets his feelings come out a bit more and is less calculating: ‘Can I do that or can I not do that?’,” the veteran French boss added.
“He plays with more freedom and more desire. I think he has a less restricted attitude and that shows you that he is a completely different player.”
Arsenal have won their last six matches in all competitions and two more victories over Bulgarian title-holders should see them into the knockout phase of the Champions League.
Francis Coquelin could come back into the starting side on Wednesday after featuring as a substitute against Swansea following the knee injury he suffered in last month’s win over London rivals Chelsea.
“I feel 100 percent fit. It took me a few weeks to get back to full fitness, but now I feel good,” said Coquelin.
“When you make these kinds of tackles, and this happened before against West Brom, you are a bit scared. It was a similar tackle to then,” the Frenchman added.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to provide intensive support for the 21 released Chibok girls to safeguard their future.
The group made the call in a statement signed by Mr Gianfranco Rotigliano, its Country Representative and made available to newsmen in Maiduguri.
"The release is a great news and we are delighted to see the girls back with their families.
"But we must keep pressing for all the women and children held by Boko Haram to be freed.
"And we must bear in mind that all of those who have been held by Boko Haram will face a long and difficult process to rebuild their lives after the indescribable trauma they have suffered," Rotigliano said.
He also said that the more than 200 Chibok girls abducted by Boko Haram in April 2014 were among thousands of women and girls that UNICEF estimated had been held and subjected to violence by the group.
"UNICEF has supported hundreds of women and girls who have already been released or escaped from Boko Haram.
21 released Chibok girls
"The girls' report that they have been subjected to rape - frequently in the form of forced marriages - beatings, intimidation and starvation during their captivity. Many returned pregnant or with babies as a result of rape.
"When they do reach safety, girls who have been held by Boko Haram are often ill, malnourished, traumatised and exhausted.
"They are in need of medical attention and psychosocial support so that they can begin to come to terms with their experiences and reintegrate with their families and communities.
"Frequently, returning to their families and communities is the beginning of a new ordeal for the girls, as the sexual violence they have suffered often results in stigmatisation.
"People are also often afraid that the girls have been indoctrinated by Boko Haram and that they pose a threat to their communities.
"The use by Boko Haram of children - mostly girls - as so called 'suicide bombers' has fueled such fears.
"Children born as a result of the sexual violence are at even greater risk of rejection, abandonment and violence.
"Since January, UNICEF and its partner International Alert have been providing psychosocial support for women and girls who have experienced sexual violence in the hands of Boko Haram.
"UNICEF and International Alert are also working with affected communities through a network of trained religious and community leaders to promote acceptance and to address negative perceptions that hamper the reintegration of women and girls who have suffered such violence.
"Funding from the Swedish International Development Agency and the UK Department for International Development has so far this year enabled UNICEF to provide a comprehensive programme of reintegration assistance to more than 750 women and girls subjected to Boko Haram-related sexual violence.
"With such large numbers of women and girls having been held by the group, however, the long-term provision of much-needed support remains heavily underfunded,'' the UNICEF official said.
Benin – Use community near Benin in Edo on Tuesday, erupted with thunderous shouts of praises and chants of traditional greetings from residents and well-wishers as Crown Prince Eheneden Erediauwa arrived the Edigin N'Use palace.
The Crown Prince is at the Use Palace to choose a name in fulfillment of the cultural requirement for his coronation as Oba on Thursday at Urho-Kpota in Benin.
The Crown Prince, accompanied by palace chiefs and traditional dance troupe, arrived the Use palace at 4: 05 p.m. and was received by His Royal highness, Ekpen Kelvin, the Edigin N'Use..
Residents of Use community and well-wishers who had lined the streets and taken positions around the palace premises, were excited and broke into songs of worship to appreciate the Crown Prince.
The Prince is expected to play a game of marble during which he will choose a name for himself as tradition demands.
By LAWANI MIKAIRU Federal Government Tuesday appointed two new Directors for the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, FAAN, to replace some recently sacked directors of the agency.
The newly appointed directors are Mrs. Nike Aboderin, who is now the new Director of Finance & Accounts (DFA), and Mr. Sadiku Abdulkadir Rafindadi, the new Director of Commercial & Business Development (DCBD).
Recalled that the Federal government recently effected major administrative changes in the agency with some Directors forcefully retired and most of the General Managers demoted.
Confirming the new appointments, Mrs Henrietta Yakubu, Ag. General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, said Mrs. Nike Aboderin is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB). She holds an M.Sc degree in Banking and Finance of the University of Lagos. She has over 23years experience in the financial services industry and an Advanced Management Programme (AMP) graduate of Lagos Business School.
She also holds a post graduate certificate in Global Strategic Management (GSM) of the Harvard Business School, Boston, USA. She is married with children.
Mr. Sadiku Abdulkadir Rafindadi is a 1985 graduate of Economics of the University of Pittsburgh. He also holds an MBA in Finance of Clark Atlanta University, USA. He attended Kaduna Polytechnic, where he obtained Certificates in Management Studies.
He is also a seasoned Manager and until his current appointment, has worked in several Management capacities in different institutions, including, Phoenix Investment Services and British Petroleum. He is married with children.
It will be recalled that the members of the committee set up by the Federal Ministry of Transportation to review the administrative structure of FAAN were in the agency headquarters to implement the report which recommended that all the directors except one should be sacked and General Managers who were not properly placed and might have been brought in by politicians should be demoted and some sacked.
In all, 22 people were affected by this exercise. The Head of the Civil service of the federation had earlier ordered a comprehensive audit of FAAN as the place is said to be overstaffed and officials placed on grade levels they do not merit.
ABUJA-The Hope Democratic Party, HDP, has prayed the Federal High Court in Abuja for an order of mandamus to compel the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, to adopt electronic voting system for the 2019 general election.
The party equally sought an order of mandamus to compel the National Assembly to initiate and pass laws that will prohibit politically motivated violence and deaths during elections in the country.
The plaintiff, in the suit it lodged through its lawyer, Mr. Iji Emmanuel, contended that unless INEC is compelled to adopt the e- voting system, human errors in voting, vote collation, counting, and vote stealing, would continue to characterize elections in Nigeria.
Alternatively, the suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/617/2016, urged the court to restrain/prohibit INEC from planning or conducting any election until it has fully adopted the electronic voting system.
Other defendants in the suit are the National Assembly, the Attorney General of the Federation, as well as the Chairman, National Assembly Constitution Review Committee.
It prayed the court to among other things, determine; "Whether the constitutionally provided duty of the National Assembly to enact laws for peace order and good governance under section 4 of the 1999 constitution does not place a duty or review the electoral laws to provide that politically motivated deaths at elections must result in the prohibition and barring of identified sponsors and candidates at such elections to entrench a culture of peaceful elections in Nigeria.
"Whether by virtue of the Amended Electoral Act 2015, granting the use of other devices for election, the Defendants are not under the duty and owe any obligation and or compunction in the circumstances of our electoral woes and experiences of adopt in full for all future election henceforth, electronic voting system to check and or eliminate human errors in voting, vote collations, counting and vote stealing all such identified electoral vices resulting to politically motivated violence and deaths.
"Whether the 2nd Defendant are not under a duty in the performances and exercise of its powers as constitutionally provided and the Electoral Acts 2010 and advise of the AGF to make public its reports, findings and initiate and implement the sanction of possible proscription against major political parties and defaulters/culprits reportedly engaged in gross breach of the law limiting campaign funds to restore sanctity and orderliness at electioneering campaign in Nigeria in the light of the national embarrassment over the revelations of the arm funds diversions and the fuel subsidy scandals running into looted and diverted trillions of naira deployed for the funding of 2011 and 2015 presidential elections".
In a 26 paragraph affidavit in support of the originating summon, the plaintiff claimed that: "The recurrent politically motivated deaths in the land over electoral frauds and malpractices and the 'win at all cost' syndrome by political actors without any reprimand or sanctions of any kind by the INEC and AGF in our political climate and background possess danger and stunts National Development.
"The electronic voting system as already passed into law in the 2015 Amended Electoral laws require to be implemented to benefit all Nigeria in line with International Best Electoral practices.
"That the laws in the land have been grossly violated without the appropriate intervention by bodies changed with such duties including the defendants in this case to the detriment of the Plaintiff.
"That the Justice of this case require a due interpretation and construction of the sections of the relevant statues and laws to protect, and enforce the due observation and compliance to the letters of the laws and restore the citizenry rights to good governance and rule of law.
"That unless orders are made and granted as sought in this suit, it is unlikely the plaintiff and citizens of Nigeria will get any full benefits of the NASS and INEC duties and activities as demanded and required of them by law.
"That the defendants are not prejudiced nor suffered in any form in the interpretation and construction or grant of this application which seeks an ordered and disciplined society and polity to uphold and respect the laws of the land and make necessary laws for good governance and conduct of political affairs in Nigeria", it added.
Precious Chikwendu, wife of erstwhile Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode, Tuesday, denied allegation by the Economic and Fianancial Crimes Commission, EFCC, that her Access Bank account was used to launder funds from the NSA's office and that approximately N2.4 million balance was found in her account, when she was arrested by the anti-graft agency yesterday. Read full text here
.Cites Security, Contravention Of Extant Laws .Says Govt'll Not Succumb To Cheap Blackmail
Lagos State Government on Tuesday clarified its decision to demolish illegal structures and shanties erected along the river banks and under high tension cables across the State, citing security concerns and flagrant abuse of its building regulations as its core reasons.
Addressing journalists at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, the State's Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said that the move was in line with government's pursuit of its policy on cleaner environment and restoration of master plans through the removal of all environmental infractions and nuisances across the state.
He said over time, the Government had noted with dismay, the flagrant disobedience of building regulations in the State, hence its decision to go ahead with the enforcement of structures in contravention of the Law.
Ayorinde, who was joined at the press briefing by his counterparts in the Ministry of Housing, Mr. Gbolahan Lawal, Ministry of the Environment, Mr. Babatunde Adejare and top officials from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, said the State Government would not go back on its resolve to establish zero tolerance for all structures and properties built under high tension cables.
"It is quite worrisome that ramshackle structures, sheds, canopies and shanties, especially along shorelines have turned to the abode of miscreants/street urchins, kidnappers, touts, street traders and hawkers who often vandalise public utilities and attack innocent citizens.
"The State’s Urban and Regional Planning and Development Law 2010, prohibits erecting structures within the Right of Ways and set backs of drainage channels, centre-line of over-head electricity wires and also states in very clear terms specified distance to be observed between a Property line and a public utility", he said.
Ayorinde said after the Security Council Meeting of September, a directive went out to the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABCA) and the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to take inventory of all the houses and buildings along the river banks in the riverine areas of the state to among other things, ascertain whether set backs were adhered to inline with stipulated regulations.
"So you would see that nothing is being done and nothing will be done in Lagos State as far as demolition of illegal structures are concerned without due considerations to the extant laws of the state and without adequately engaging with the communities and the people involved as demonstrated by what the Governor did in Illubirin to give them more time to move inspite of the repeated warnings and notices that were being served.
"Yes we would be considerate to the plight of those considered as urban poor, but we will also not allow their situation to jeopardize the safety and security of more than 21 million residents of the state. This is the reason why this is being carried out and this is the reason why government will not succumb to cheap blackmail," Ayorinde said.
Explaining further, the Commissioner said most of the buildings marked for demolition did not comply with the required setback as stipulated, saying that such could have fatal consequences in the wake of an incident.
Giving a background to the demolition of shanties on the Illubirin waterfront, Commissioner for Housing, Prince Gbolahan Lawal, said the occupants were evicted and their shanties demolished because they were illegal settlers in the area.
He recalled that the Illubirin Housing project started about ten years ago under the administration of former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu with the reclamation of the Lagoon, while the fishermen who were there at that time were resettled at Badore.
He said after the reclamation, the housing units started in 2013 and it was initially designed to accommodate 1,254 housing units, while the scheme was reviewed and redesigned by the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to make the place a live, work and play environment, with the partnership of a private investor.
According to Lawal, the illegal settlers moved into Illubirin waterfront during the process of redesigning the scheme, adding that the private investor had perfected plans to move to site, and is committing about $500 million into the scheme.
On his part, Commissioner for the Environment, Dr. Babatunde Adejare, said adequate notices and sensitisation have been embarked upon by the State Government to educate the people on the need to refrain from constructing any structure on river banks, saying that the safety of about 22 million residents of the State cannot be allowed to be jeopardised by few.
The Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) has said that 189,750 families enrolled in family planning between January and September.
A report by PPFN's Project Officer in Rivers, Mr Emmanuel Owor, in Port Harcourt on Tuesday said the number recorded during the year represented a 31.5 per cent increase when compared to the enrolment figure in 2015.
It said that 29,300 out of the number were new family acceptors while 160, 450 were old and ancillary family acceptors.
The body said that it was already providing a new family planning service called VIA for women of reproductive age.
It said VIA was a service that women of reproductive age should access at least three times during the reproductive age bracket.
It further said that PPFN's family life education and counseling programme had remained a vital tool for the sensitisation of women on reproductive health issues.
The PPFN commended its public and private partners in the state for their contributions in the crusade against unplanned parenthood.
The Senate on Tuesday called on the Federal Government to set machinery in motion to conduct housing and population census in 2018.
Emanating from a motion by Sen. Suleiman Hunkuyi, at plenary on Tuesday in Abuja, the senate also urged the government to make adequate provision of fund for the exercise.
Motion the motion entitled "A call for The Federal Government to Expedite Action on the Planned 2018 National Census", Hunkuyi reminded the government of constitutional provision for conduct of census.
He recalled that the last census was conducted in 2006 during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and said that by the 10-year provision for the exercise to be conducted, it out to be in this year.
He said that delay in the issuance of a proclamation by President Buhari and poor release of funds to the National Population Commission (NPoPC), were major setbacks to conduct of the exercise.
Hunkuyi said that in accordance with best international practices, a well planned and executed population census should take a minimum of two years.
"It is only pertinent that subsequent population census should be carried out within an adequate timing and an objective of conducting an acceptable exercise.
"Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), NPoPC, Ministry of Budget and National Planning and other supervising agencies must make adequate provision in 2017 budget as critical prerequisite to achieving 2017/2018 population census," he said.
Sen. John Enoh, in his contribution, reiterated the need for relevant government agencies to include the total cost of conducting the census in the 2017 budget.
He stressed that the Federal Government should adhere to the United Nations provision that censuses should be conducted every 10 years.
Sen. Emmanuel Bwacha, said that there was need to keep records of births, deaths and the entire population of the country.
"If they tell us the number of people that have been killed in the North-East, some of us will faint.
"It is important for us to support this motion and ensure that funds are released for the conduct of the national population census and call on President Buhari to make a proclamation,'' he said.
Sen. Ajayi Boroffice, observed that there was no reason why money should not be made available to the population commission to conduct census.
"The huge sum of money we will use in getting data from abroad is expensive. Let us channel that money into NPoPC so that they can conduct the census," he said.
Other lawmakers who contributed supported the motion.
Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, warned the population commission not to conduct a national census that would become an issue for deliberation.
He said that every Nigerian must be counted and that information technology should be deployed in order to produce acceptable results.
"I want to thank the sponsor of the motion; as we approach the next census, we must take advantage of the development in technology and make the results of the exercise acceptable.
"All the previous exercises have been disputed. We want this exercise to count; every Nigerian must be counted and no one should be counted twice.
"If we do this, we will be able to plan," Ekweremadu said.
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has said that Nigeria is not a society where someone is tied to a stake and shot for having being indicted of corruption. As a SAN, Osinbajo said rather, the federal government is following the law in prosecuting judges alleged of misconduct and corruption.
