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Car parks in Lagos: Before the sod is turned

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Car parks in Lagos: Before the sod is turned

“If you want something new, you have to stop doing something old.”……Peter Drucker (Management consultant and author)

When the news hit the airwaves that the Lagos State Government (LASG) plans to build multi-layer car parks in strategic locations in the state “as part of the traffic management and transport sector reforms”, according to the Lagos State Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development, Ade Akinsanya, it was a welcome development. And if the truth must be told, such project is long overdue in the state, more so when the issue of unabated traffic gridlock is an urban management albatross and particularly a dent on the image of the city-state.

Public Parking Garage Miami
An impression of a new public parking garage in Miami, Florida, USA

Description and analysis of Lagos traffic gridlock

In Lagos, both vehicular and pedestrian movement within the city is neither a jolly ride nor a pleasurable walk. Human and vehicle compete for space on the roads that are barely motorable. The sidewalks, as narrow as they are, double as road-side shop for traders in defiance of municipal regulations against street trading. Indiscriminate on-street parking is commonplace. Shopping at the Lagos Central Business District (CDB) is not palatable if you ask any Lagos resident because of the battle of wit between motorists and shoppers and the ubiquitous “area boys” who constitute a security risk. These are mainly social outcasts who are streetwise in pick-pocketing and who indulge in fraudulent/tricky activities dupping unsuspecting shoppers of their money or newly-bought goods. The traffic gridlock is unpredictable and not the type characterised with high and low peak period. Once the go-slow happens, it can go on from morning till late at night. This description is a daily occurrence in many parts of Lagos megacity and what it does to the smooth flow of traffic is the exact opposite: traffic gridlock.

 

Efforts made by the LASG to ameliorate Lagos gridlock

Lagos has been notorious over the years because of its incessant traffic gridlock and efforts at taming the monster by the government in the past and now, have been a “keep-on-trying” result. It has remained insoluble, but not insurmountable in the view of this writer. All it requires is a mixed-grill of transport sector reforms long overlooked, but are now being considered for experimentation and implementation. To-date, as part of the transport sector reforms, the LASG had introduced the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) aimed at improving public transportation and at encouraging the residents to ride the BRT buses which are driven on dedicated lanes with the attendant advantage of reducing travel time of commuters.

Institutional reforms had been introduced leading to the establishment of Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) in 2002, as an omnibus agency in-charge of transport policies, planning and public transport infrastructure implementation such as BRT corridor, bus shelter, and bus terminus. The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) was an “institution of necessity”. LASTMA was primarily established to manage traffic in Lagos State. Its functions are to ensure the free flow of traffic and also reduce road accidents. LASTMA trained traffic officers in conjunction with other traffic wardens often collaborate to control traffic in Lagos. And as for the provision of transport infrastructure, bus stop, and public buses, many mileage had been covered in terms of construction of new roads, rehabilitation, public enlightenment for the denizens to cultivate good driving habits and increase in the fleet of BRT buses and allocation of more bus routes which the buses can ply in the city-state.

Despite all the transport sector reforms, Lagos is still gridlocked. Why? The causative factors are due to unseen human problems, institutional inefficiency, bureaucracy (delay in completion of transport sector reform projects), astronomical increase in the number of vehicles plying Lagos roads  which are already congested, bad driving culture and lack of foresight to explore additional options that could be adapted to minimise the Lagos gridlock.

 

Situation and operation analysis of car parks in Lagos

A glance around Lagos would reveal that hardly could you see an organised public car park in the true sense of the word. The so-called car parks are mere open space being improvised as car parks. They are usually company-owned for the sole use of company employees. Many of the companies are located in the marina area of Lagos. There are other parking facilities owned by private sector operators who leased available open space either from local government or the real property owners, for long tenure 20-30 years. The car parks are badly managed unlike what obtains in other climes. There are seldom subdivided into car lots where each car should be parked. One can not easily determine the full capacity of the facility in terms of the total number of vehicles it can accommodate. It is just a hazard-a-guess headcount.When the car park is full, the park attendants would still allow cars to come in and park albeit there is no vacancy, The responsibility of where to find a vacant lot to park the vehicle is that of the car owner and that is why vehicle owners feel reluctant to patronise many of the makeshift parking lots common in Lagos city proper and other secondary cities such as Ikeja, Ikorodu, Epe, Imota, Oshodi, Agege Ajah, Lekki down the line.

On the issue of security, the car parks score zero because the owners of the parking lots are less bothered. Therefore, in essence,  there is nothing “inviting” for motorists to use the parking lot because the customer service is very poor and the lot owners are more concerned about daily income and don’t care a hoot about physical improvements such as resurfacing of the lot, provision of light at nite and general upkeep of the facility. Given consideration to the high number of vehicles plying the city network of roads daily coupled institutional apathy towards the provision of organised multi-layer parking garages the presence of daily gridlock will not evaporate in due course.

 

Governor Ambode must stop doing something old while desirous of something new

I take readers back to the subject matter of this piece. I want to offer unsolicited advice to Governor Ambode to stop or avoid doing something old, while desirous of something new.  As a  concerned and committed resident of Lagos State, I deeply appreciate the good work the incumbent Governor is doing in Lagos to make the megacity liveable and sustainable. Lagos, as a megacity needs a massive investment in urban renewal and revitalisation intervention programmes/projects to make it globally competitive and a beckon to foreign investors in order to make it a city where “everybody has golden opportunities to succeed” like the success stories of Dubai, UAE, Curitiba, Brazil and the city-state of Singapore, which are globally recognised as liveable, green and sustainable cities based on their superb public infrastructure and innovative/ people-centred urban planning and good urban governance.

In that regard,  before the sod is turned to commence the construction of the multi-layer parking garages all over the city-state, this writer wants to chip in a word or two in advisory capacity no matter how unsolicited such advice could be misconstrued.The ultimate aim is for the governor to leave an enduring legacy about this all-important and much-desired public project must be completed, once it takes off.

The  suggestions  are as follows:

  • The Governor must not engage the services of inexperienced contractors/builders whose trademark is “poor quality job delivery.” He should avuncular and jobs-for-the-boys favouritism because his hard-earned reputation is at stake if the project fails.
  • Insist on open competition and choose the best of designs that would make a statement of architectural beauty when completed. That is what most cities of the developed world do. They plan and build big to attract local visitors and ceaselessly promote tourism. Dubai, Singapore, and Chicago are world-acclaimed tourist destinations and they gross a humongous amount of revenue from the venture.
  • The garages must incorporate greenery. Such examples and prototypes abound around the world for LASG to understudy. Nowadays, no city builds public infrastructure without prime consideration for the negative effects of climate change and global warming. It is not a formality, but a necessity if you want to minimise the scourge of  micro “urban heat island”.
  • If there is a constraint of space, the law allows the governor to invoke the “power of eminent domain” to acquire a place that is suitably located but already occupied. Since the project is for the public good, the government must pay just compensation to the property owner(s).
  • Avoid locations, where the parking garage could create traffic bottle-neck. The ingress to the parking garage should have adequate space to allow for free flow of traffic and to minimise long queue of vehicles waiting on the main road to enter the parking garage.
  • The LASG’s revised Public Parking Law must be strictly enforced and sustainable or else the investment would not be profitable for the prospective investors (local or foreign) and the whole exercise will be in futility. No Parking traffic signs must be visible at designated locations and punishment for violation must at a “high cost” to deter repeat offenders.
  • All the projects must have a timeframe for completion to avoid cost over-run. Contractors must be held responsible for tardiness or lack of performance and those who finish on time could be rewarded. This is a common business practice for the execution and timely completion of municipal-sponsored projects in the city of Chicago, where you rarely see abandoned public projects.
  • Lagos must exhibit elegance,  not backwater structures.

By Yacoob Abiodun (Urban Planner and Planning Advocate; Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos)

World Food Day: Delta to export foodstuff to UK

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World Food Day: Delta to export foodstuff to UK

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State says the state government is partnering with farmers in the state to commence export of plantain and garri flour to the United Kingdom.

ifeanyi-okowa
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State

The governor, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr Tam Brisibe, stated this on Monday, October 16, 2017 at an occasion to mark the World Food Day in Asaba, the state capital.

He noted that the state has a comparative advantage and ranked best within the country in the production of plantain and garri, a by-product of cassava.

The governor said the theme of the Day, “Change the Future of Migration, Invest in Food Security and Rural Development, ” was in line with the state government’s agricultural empowerment programme.

Okowa said that the world in the last few years recorded great migration of people, particularly the youths, from the rural to urban centres in search of jobs, safety and security.

He said that the incident of migration had remained a global challenge and a threat to agriculture.

“Plans are at advanced stage to ensure that Delta joins agricultural crop exporters; we are looking at the possibility of exporting red and white garri and plantain flour to the UK.

“The export programme will facilitate and improve agricultural production activities in the rural areas in respect of cassava production and plantain thereby reversing the trend of rural-urban migration,” Okowa said.

The governor also said the solution to the challenge was in the provision of farming methods to attract youths as well as provision of lands and other incentives to the farmers while boosting rural development.

He said the state agricultural programme was tilted to the rural areas which had encouraged and empowered many youths, women and retirees in returning to farming.

“ Seventy five per cent of the state population reside in the rural communities and this administration has put up programmes to develop youths and women through agricultural empowerment programmes.

“We are creating enabling environment for our rural farmers through rural electrification, water and beautification projects across the 25 Local Government Areas of Delta State.

“Rural urban migration is a threat to food security and as the youths migrate to the urban centres they leave farming to the elderly and aged farmers in the rural areas; this is also a challenge to the urban centres.

“So, we must develop the rural areas to make migration to the urban less attractive and to invest in food security,” he said.

Earlier, the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Chief Austin Chikezie, said the state government had adopted community friendly and sustainable agricultural practices.

“Such practices include co-operative farming, cluster fish farming, cluster youths empowerment programme and promoting peaceful herdsmen-farmer’s meetings.

“This is vital to promoting peace in the community, reducing youth restiveness, creating jobs, increasing youth income and reducing rural-urban migration,” Chikezie said.

He said government had keyed into the Central Bank’s Anchor Borrowers Programme and other initiatives to boost oil palm, rice, fish and cassava to ensure food security, create jobs and wealth.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that farmers at the occasion displayed their wares for exhibition and sales to mark the day.

The state government gave the farmers certificates of participation while others were recognised for their outstanding performance.

World Food Day: Lagos to support 1,140 farmers

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World Food Day: Lagos to support 1,140 farmers

The Lagos State Government on Monday, October 16, 2017 promised to support 1,140 farmers in the state with farm inputs and open up the rural road to improve food production. Gov. Akinwumi Ambode said this at a celebration to mark the World Food Day with the theme: “Change the Future of Migration: Investing in Food Security and Rural Development” in Lagos.

Akinwunmi-Ambode
Akinwunmi Ambode, Governor of Lagos State

Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Mr Babatunde Durosunmi-Etti, said that investing in rural farming communities would address the problem of rural-urban migration.

“The theme of the 2017 World Food Day celebration cannot be over emphasised because most farming activities are based in rural and semi-urban communities.

“We are, therefore, charged with the responsibility of ensuring that basic facilities are evenly distributed across the state, with an objective to make communities habitable and centres of economic activities.

“The provision of roads would further facilitate easy transportation of harvested produce to the market in the cities. This will reduce post-harvest wastage and translate to more income for farmers.

“To ensure food security, the state is engaging in policies and programmes that will encourage more people to go into food production, in line with our food security objectives,” he said.

Ambode said the partnership between the state and the World Bank under FADAMA, coupled with additional financing of rice production, had achieved the desired objectives.

The Commissioner for Agriculture, Mr Toyin Suarau, said that the commemoration of the World Food Day was a way of encouraging farmers to increase production with ease.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there was exhibition of agricultural produce and inputs during the celebration.

The three schools that emerged first, second and third, in the quiz that was organised during the celebration, were rewarded with laptop computers.

Some Local Council Development Areas in the state were also rewarded for being outstanding in agricultural practices and agro-processing ventures.

ADB increases climate financing for Pacific to $500m

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ADB increases climate financing for Pacific to $500m

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has announced that it will more than double the level of climate financing it will mobilise for its Pacific developing member countries to over $500 million between 2017 and 2020.

ADB-GCF
Prime Minister of Fiji and Incoming COP President, Frank Bainimarama (left), with officials of ADB and GCF at the ministerial meeting

The announcement was made during a ministerial meeting in Fiji to prepare for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23) billed to hold in Bonn, Germany from November 6 to 17, 2017. Fiji has the Presidency of the Bonn meeting.

In addition, the ADB signed two concrete agreements: first with the Government of Fiji for a $42 million loan to improve water and sanitation services to over 300,000 people in the greater Suva area, while ensuring that critical infrastructures are climate resilient. Second is with the Green Climate Fund (GCF) for a $31 million grant to the country through ADB.

“ADB has been supporting Fiji to improve water and sanitation for more than 20 years,” said the bank’s Vice-President, Stephen Groff. “With this new investment, we expect to assist Fiji expand water supply by 40,000 cubic meters per day, ensure 98% of households in Suva have access to clean water, and expand the sanitation network for additional 4,500 households to access reticulated sewerage by 2023.”

The Fiji Urban Water Supply and Wastewater Management Investment Programme was among the first group of projects approved by the board of the Green Climate Fund Board at its meeting in Zambia in 2015. The investment will also be co-financed by the European Investment Bank.

Prime Minister and Incoming COP President, Bainimarama, said: “As the incoming President of COP23, one of my top objectives is to create better access to finance for projects like this, not only for Fiji, but for other vulnerable countries in the region and around the world. I would not only like to thank the ADB and the GCF for their technical and financial support, but also for their leadership and forward thinking on climate finance more broadly. I encourage more lending institutions to follow their example and to join us in our grand coalition to build a more resilient, carbon-neutral world.”

Nigeria immunises 874,000 people against yellow fever

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Nigeria immunises 874,000 people against yellow fever

The Government of Nigeria has launched a campaign to immunise some 873,837 people against yellow fever in the states of Kwara and Kogi.

Dr.-Wondimagegnehu-Alemu
Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu, the WHO Country Representative to Nigeria

The 10-day campaign began on Friday, October 13, 2017, and mobilises more than 200 health workers and volunteers. It targets residents aged nine months to 45 years old.

“This campaign aims to ensure that people living in high-risk areas are protected from yellow fever, and to prevent the disease from spreading to other parts of the country,” said Dr. Wondimagegnehu Alemu, World Health Organisation (WHO) Nigeria Representative.

The WHO has been working with health authorities on its implementation in nine local government areas in Kwara State and two in Kogi State.

Nigeria has requested support from the International Coordination Group (ICG) on vaccine provision for yellow fever. A global stockpile of six million doses of the yellow fever vaccine is available for countries to access, with the support of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

WHO and health partners have been supporting the Government’s response to the outbreak since the first case of yellow fever was confirmed in Oke Owa Community, Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara state on September 12.

WHO has deployed experts to Nigeria to support surveillance and investigation, lab testing, public health measures, and engagement with at-risk communities. An Emergency Operations Centre has been activated in the area to coordinate the response.

The last yellow fever outbreak in Nigeria was reported in 2002, with 20 cases and 11 deaths.

World Food Day: Need for nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Benue

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World Food Day: Need for nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Benue

The Bill and Melinda Gates funded Synergos for the State Partnership for Agriculture (SPA) programme in Benue State has advocated for food security and nutrition sensitive agriculture in the state.

World Food Day
Stakeholders at the World Food Day dialogue in Makurdi

Making this known on Monday, October 16, 2017 at a “Multi Stakeholder Level Dialogue on Nutrition Sensitive Agriculture: Marking the World Food Day in Benue” organised by Synergos in Makurdi, Mr Michael Agon, while advocating for an all inclusive agriculture practice that will support nutrition, stated that all hands must be on deck to enhance food security and encourage nutrition.

According to Agon, the problem of food insecurity and malnutrition should not be apportioned to leadership or government alone but as individuals, all should be change agents and educate the communities on the benefits of maintaining food security and nutrition in the practice of agriculture.

He stressed that Synergos is determined to encourage the Benue community to practice agriculture that would embrace food security and nutrition which will ultimately facilitate growth and development of the populace.

In a remark, Secretary, Benue State Core Delivery Team (CDT), Mr Lucky Izobo, stated that there is need by stakeholders to create awareness on the need to provide food for every person and drive away hunger.

He opined that it is very important and critical to take advantage of the World Food Day celebration to re-awaken selves to the need to drive away hunger as food security is ideal in preserving food and preventing waste.

Stressing further, he stated that agriculture should be sensitive to the needs of the people, adding that stakeholders can contribute to the nutritional needs of the State even individually.

In their separate remarks, some stakeholders who include Mrs Maureen Kajo of Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Mr Saondo Anom of Paradiso Farms Nig. Ltd., noted that there is enough information available on how communities can improve on food security and nutrition, once utilised.

They added that even graduates need not depend sorely on white collar jobs but, rather, resort to small farms, home organic gardens amongst others to earn a living and prevent hunger.

The World Food Day, a day for action dedicated to tackling global hunger, is held annually on October 16; and this year’s theme focuses on Sustainable Development Goal Two (2) – Zero Hunger.

By Damian Daga

Paris goals need support of all sectors of society – Mohammed

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Paris goals need support of all sectors of society – Mohammed

Ahead of a Ministerial meeting in Fiji to finalise preparations for the UN Climate Change Conference in November in Bonn (COP23) scheduled to hold from November 6 to 17, 2017, a Partnership Days was held to further foster efforts to build a grand coalition for climate action.

The Partnerships Day builds on the the outcomes of the Climate Action Pacific Partnership (CAPP) Conference held in Suva July 2017 and the UNFCCC Climate Action Agenda. The day focused on best practice climate actions, as well as needed innovation to boost action. Some of the themes explored included looking at how the private sector, cities, regions and other non-Party stakeholders can contribute to the implementation of countries’ climate action plans under the Paris Agreement (Nationally Determined Contributions), climate finance and risk management.

The Partnerships Day was opened by Prime Minister of Fiji and incoming COP 23 President, Frank Bainimarama. In an address at the opening, UN Deputy Secretary-General, Amina J. Mohammed, says that the Paris Agreement is not a chain that can be broken by a weak link, but a web of ever deepening and widening influence in terms of realising a better, safer and more secure future for every one on Earth.

Amina-Mohammed
Amina J. Mohammed

The Paris Agreement represents a turning point in international cooperation to combat climate change.

It is a hallmark of the Agreement that so many leaders from cities, states, regions, territories, the private sector, the investment community and civil society came in with pledges and initiatives to take climate action.

The enthusiastic support for the Paris Agreement as a key pillar of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development continues.

In the run-up to and during Climate Week in New York in September, on the margins of the Un General Assembly, many more companies and local authorities committed to action.

RE100, an initiative in which companies commit to 100 per cent renewable energy, welcomed new partners including Estee Lauder, Kellogg’s and DBS Bank.

EV100, launched this year, is bringing together companies committed to accelerating the transition to electric vehicles and making electric transport the new normal by 2030.

The Under2Coalition, whose members are committed to reducing emissions by up to 95 per cent by 2050, welcomed new signatories, including major cities and the Marshall Islands, which became the 17th nation to endorse the Coalition.

The Under2 Coalition now includes 187 jurisdictions on six continents that collectively represent more than 1.2 billion people and $28.8 trillion dollars of GDP – equivalent to more than 16 per cent of the global population and 39 percent of the global economy.

We could spend all day trying to capture the breadth and scale of this momentum.

We are moving – taking important steps, but of course it is not enough.

Paris is a global agreement of nations – but it needs the global support of all sectors of society from all across the planet to minimise risks and provide security and opportunity for all.

In the words of Frank Bainimarama, Fiji’s Prime Minister and the incoming President of the next UN climate change conference, we need a Grand Coalition.

While support for the Paris Agreement from sub-national governments is gathering momentum in developed and developing countries alike, support from business and investors is still predominantly from Europe and the United States.

This must change.

So, I welcome the establishment of the Climate Action Pacific Partnership as an important new piece in the Grand Coalition jigsaw puzzle and a new catalyst for the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action.

The bringing together of business, investors, funders and governments from within and outside the region to accelerate implementation of national climate action plans is a significant new development.

The other challenge is to bring all sectors of society and the economy into alignment with the Paris Agreement’s pathways, timetables and goals — including finance, so that funding flows into the low carbon, sustainable economy that must be the future.

We must also engage and enroll the higher emitting sectors of the economy.

As some of you may recall, during the high-level segment of the General Assembly last month, the Secretary-General outlined six high impact areas where our collective efforts can bring a structural change in the global and national economies:

  • Investing in clean technology;
  • Putting a price on carbon;
  • Making the energy transition;
  • Mitigating risk;
  • Augmenting the contribution of sub-national actors and business; and,
  • Mobilising finance.

Our shared challenge is to connect reality on ground with collective action in these areas.

By the 2019 Climate Summit, we must be able to show that climate action works and that transformation is well under way.

I am very encouraged that a number of leaders have come forward.

The Prime Minister of Sweden announced his intention to create a zero-emission steel industry through the full electrification of furnaces using hydrogen rather than coal as fuel.

The Prime Minister of Denmark voiced his intention to establish a “Clean Energy Investment Coalition” to accelerate a shift from fossil fuels.

The international Solar Alliance led by India and France intends to mobilize $1 trillion by 2030 and bring together rich countries to deliver solar energy in some of the poorest countries of the world.

Let us also recognise the key role of non-state actors in the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

The Secretary-General and I encourage all involved to uphold these pledges and commitments.

This is just the kind of innovation that the Paris Agreement, supported by the private sector and partnerships, can catalyse and take to scale worldwide.

I look forward to your outcomes here as a contribution to the success of the UN climate conference in Bonn.

This is the next staging post for accelerating action and ambition.

Urgency and speed must be our bywords.

This Pre-COP and COP-23 come against a backdrop of a distressing period of extreme weather events that have brought misery and economic damage to so many people from Asia to the Caribbean and central America and the United States.

The Secretary-General is concerned that international governance and the global development system are not fit for purpose to address these challenges well in advance of their impacts. Besides removing barriers to accessing financing, innovative financing mechanisms are needed to meet the needs to middle income countries that face such external shocks.

Such events are virtually certain to become not only more frequent but more intense. It is time to rethink our approaches.

I am pleased to note that these two Partnership Days are being spent on the crucial issue of better managing climate risk and building resilience.

We know there is a lot more that can be done to assist and buffer small island developing states and vulnerable regions from such events.

And there is a lot more that richer governments, working with the private sector – including the insurance and re-insurance industries – can do to support countries and people to re-build.

I am pleased to see the German government here, which I understand will announce plans at COP23 to take forward the InsuResilience initiative, aimed at helping 400 million of the world’s poorest people, with direct and indirect affordable insurance.

COP23 in Bonn can also take forward the Clearing House on Risk Transfer, also requested at the 2015 Paris climate change meeting.

We live in a world of rising risks from climate change – including risks to the very life support systems upon which so many depend.

These include our seas and our oceans – so I welcome your discussions today on how to breathe life into the Oceans Pathway Partnership with a view to bringing action on healthier oceans into the UN climate change process by 2020.

But, while the risks rise, so too does the momentum for change.

Cities and regions, businesses and investors are playing a critical role, providing crucial support and new levels of creativity to help governments as they fast-forward their climate action plans and the wider sustainable development agenda.

So, I congratulate the government of Fiji and everyone taking part in these Partnership Days here at the pre-COP.

It underlines that the UN climate process is strengthening its foundations and potential.

It shows that the Paris Agreement is not a chain that can be broken by a weak link, but a web of ever deepening and widening influence in terms of realising a better, safer and more secure future for every one on Earth.

Court orders interim attachment of firm’s funds to EFCC

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Court orders interim attachment of firm’s funds to EFCC

The Federal High Court, Lagos has ordered the interim attachment of funds allegedly belonging to an oil company, Ontario Oil and Gas, over alleged fraudulent sale of refined petroleum.

Federal High Court
The Federal High Court in Lagos

The trial judge, Hadiza Shagari, made the order, following an ex parte application filled by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) seeking attachment of the funds.

The commission, in the application marked FHC/L/CS/1464/17, joined as first and second respondents respectively, Ontario Oil and Gas Limited and Mrs. Ada Ugo-Ngadi (Managing Director of Ontario).

EFCC’s affidavit of urgency endorsed by an investigating officer, Mr Abdukarim Acheneje, in support of the ex parte motion, said: “That the EFCC received a petition from one Barrister Joan Ganadanu against the second respondent, complaining of fraud, diversion and conversion of proceeds of sale of refined petroleum products valued at N1.96 billion.

“That the petition alleged that the first respondent is a customer to Union Bank Plc, of Stallion Plaza Branch, Marina Lagos.

“That Union Bank granted a loan facility to the first respondent in the tune of $70 million to import and/or purchase locally refined petroleum products PMS, DPK and AGO.

“That the loan was to be repaid from sale of the products and the second respondent guaranteed repayment of the said loan personally.”

Acheneje also swore that further investigations revealed that the respondents have lifted the product on the order financed by the bank for 10,000 metric tons of AGO, since July 2016, adding that the respondents have sold same, but have refused to lodge the proceeds in the company’s account and pay back the facility to Union Bank.

His words: “That the respondent have refused to authorise Union Bank to repossess the unloaded order of PMS from the Petroleum Products Marketing Company; that the respondents have breached the terms of transactions between them and Union Bank.

“That investigations reveals that the respondents instead, diverted the funds to the account of Renoir Logistics Limited and intelligence further reveals that Ontario oil and Gas has an outstanding 15,000 metric tons of DPK and 5,000 metric tons of PMS.

“That intelligence report gathered shows that the respondents are at the verge of dispensing with the said properties and that the order of the court is urgently needed to attach the property mentioned in paragraph nine.

“That unless the application is urgently heard and determined, the respondent will tamper with the property sought to be attached.”

Consequently, Justice Shagari held: “Upon reading the affidavit in support of the ex parte originating summons, and after hearing Nkereuwem Anana, counsel for the applicant moved in terms of the application. It is hereby ordered as follows: “That the property mentioned in paragraph nine of the affidavit viz, Renoir Logistics Limited currently under investigation be interim attached/forfeited pending the determination of the investigation and possible prosecution of the case.

“That the said property attached/forfeited, ad-interim be managed and controlled by the EFCC.”

By Chinyere Obia

Court awards N10.3m damages against Lagos hotel

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Court awards N10.3m damages against Lagos hotel

The National Industrial Court (NIC) in Lagos has awarded the sum of N10.3 million against Lagos Travel Inn over a disabling injury suffered by one of its employees, Mr Emmanuel Abah, in the course of his duties.

National Industrial Court
The National Industrial Court

Justice J. D Peters held that the NIC was a court of law and also of equity, which is governed by the rule of law.

The court noted that, with the damage done to the leg of the claimant, there was no market where he could purchase a new leg.

The court accordingly awarded the sum of N10.3 million against the defendant, as damages for the injury suffers by claimant.

The judge also awarded interest of 20 percent on the judgment sum from date of judgment until the said sum is fully liquidated.

The court ordered that the judgment should be complied with within 30 days.

Counsel to Abah, Mr. Daniel Onwe, had commenced the suit marked NICN/LA/548/14, in November 2014, on behalf of the claimant.

Abah is seeking declarative reliefs, that the termination of his appointment due to his condition is wrongful and unfair.

In an affidavit in support of his suit, Abah avers that he was offered appointment in the defendant’s security department on March 3, 2012.

He said that he was absorbed into the defendant’s housekeeping department with effect from May 1, 2012.

The claimant avers that the lift at the defendant had been dilapidated, malfunctioning, noisy and on several occasions had trapped its occupant.

He contends that the management of the defendant had, at all material time, been aware of the state of the said lift, but had urged it’s staffs to use same to avoid notice from visitors.

He asserts that, on November 13, 2013, he was discharging his duties and accordingly was to use the said lift from the ground floor to clean the rooms upstairs.

He said that as he stepped his left foot onto the floor of the lift while lifting his cleaning materials, the lift swiftly took off in the upward direction with the doors trapping his left leg, pulling and dangling him headlong.

He said that his ankle-bone was crushed against the over-head concrete lintel causing a disabling injury, while he was rushed to the hospital.

He averred that on his resumption to work on July 1, 2014, he was reluctantly admitted and redeployed to the laundry section.

He said that he subsequently applied to the defendant for a loan of N40,000 to enable him defray the sum outstanding treatment expenses, but his application was ignored.

The claimant contends that on July 12, 2014 (almost two weeks after resumption), he received a letter from the defendant, terminating his appointment, without any reason.

By Chinyere Obia

Evans’ suspected accomplice sues Police over continued detention

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Evans’ suspected accomplice sues Police over continued detention

Mr Emeka Arinze, a suspected accomplice of alleged Kidnap kingpin, Chukwudumeme Onwuamadike also known as Evans, on Monday, October 16, 2017 sued the Police before a Federal High Court, Lagos seeking his immediate release from detention.

Evans kidnapper
Evans

Arinze, in the suit, filed on his behalf by Mr. Ogedi Ogu is claiming the sum of N100 million and a public apology from the police, jointly and severally, for infringement on his fundamental rights.

Joined as respondents in the suit are the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in the Lagos State Police Command and one Inspector Christian who is IPO SARS.

Ogu is seeking a declaration that the arrest and detention of the applicant without any order validly made in accordance with the 1999 Constitution (as amended), is unlawful and illegal.

He is seeking an order of the honourable Court, directing and mandating the respondents to produce the applicant before the court.

In an affidavit of urgency sworn to by one Mrs Nkem Nwaka (younger sister of the applicant), she averred that the applicant was arrested on June 27, at Festac Town in Lagos, by the third respondent and taken to the office of the second respondent.

She said that he has, since then, been so detained in custody.

She averred that, since his arrest, the applicant has been kept in solitary confinement, and has been denied access to his medications, family and lawyers.

The deponent averred that since the applicant was taken into custody, he is yet to be informed of his offence till date, and the respondent have refused to give reasons for the continued detention of the applicant.

She averred that the applicant has been in the custody of the respondents for over three months now, without any formal charge.

According to her, the applicant’s fundamental rights as guaranteed under Sections 35 (4) and 36 (4)  (5) of the 1999 Constitution have been violated.

She further swore that the applicant is a hypertensive and second-degree diabetic patient, whose health is now in serious jeopardy.

The applicant’s counsel is, accordingly, seeking an order of the court, releasing the applicant forthwith.

He also seeks an order, directing the respondents to pay, jointly and severally, the sum of N100 million to the applicant, being damages for the breach of his fundamental rights as protected under sections 35 and 36 of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

Ogu also seeks an order, mandating the respondents to render a public apology to the applicant for violently violating the provisions of Section 35 (4) (a) of the 1999 Constitution which provisions constitute an integral part of the applicant’s fundamental rights.

No date has been fixed for hearing of the new suit.

By Chinyere Obia

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