No fewer than five persons were killed and many others injured on Saturday when hoodlums attacked the Igbokuta/Gberigbe community, in the Ikorodu Area of Lagos State.
ODUDUWA NEWS gathered that the hoodlums, who were suspected to be land grabbers, invaded the community around 1pm and attacked the land owners in the area with weapons.
According to the residents, the hoodlums, who were led by one Sir K and one Gbenga, stormed the community and attacked their perceived enemies.
The deceased were identified as Lateef Ade, Mutiu Balogun, Hameed Idris and two others.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the incident happened after two suspected fake policemen placed in the community by Sir K were arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Intelligence Response Team.
He said, “Two fake policemen, who were impersonating the Special Fraud Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, were among 15 people illegally stationed in the community since May 19, 2021, by Sir K.
“However, the fake policemen were arrested and this was what led to the Saturday attack. The Sir K gang members were angry that the policemen were arrested; the attack, which led to the death of five people, was part of a reprisal by the gang.” A community leader, Chief Akorede Oluderu, lamented incessant attacks by the gang on residents and called on the police to intervene.
He said, “We no longer sleep with our two eyes closed due to the attacks on this community by the notorious land grabbers. We are calling on the Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police Force to look into our ordeal and save us from these thugs. Many lives have been lost, yet the police have done nothing to bring the situation under control.”
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, did not pick his phone which rang out several times.
He did not also reply to a text message sent to his phone as of the time of filing this report.
In a related development, two persons were injured on Saturday when some hoodlums suspected to be land grabbers invaded Obada-Oko community in Ogun State.
The rate at which people with physical challenges are begging for alms on the streets, markets and motor parks have become increasingly alarming. The activities of these destitutes have marred the image of Nigeria in the comity of nations. Unfortunately, there seems to be no social welfare programme for them by the successive governments.
Physical disability is a limitation on a person’s physical functioning, mobility, dexterity or stamina. It is an hinderance which limits other facets of daily living. Physical disability may be congenital or acquired. It may be due to diseases, embryonic or fetal developmental malformation, genetic disorders, obstruction of the respiratory tract, damage to the brain during birth, premature birth, genetic disorders, accidents or infection.
Succinctly, the deviation is a consequence of neuro-muscular and skeletal problem. As such, people with disabilities often rely for mobility upon devices such as wheelchairs, crutches, walking sticks and artificial limbs. Pitiably, some move on their knees and hands; padded by slippers.
From the above, it could be deduced that physical disability is a deviation which prevents full social or educational development. Unfortunately, the deviation relegates the physical disabled and places a stigma on them as they are referred to in the society as destitutes.
People with physically disability are incapacitated to get their means of livelihood due to be the deficiency or anomaly in their limbs, ears or eyes. The impairments have certainly placed a limit to want they can do. To most of them, the best job they could do is to go cap – in- hand. What a myopic view! This has; on many occasions, constituted public nuisance. The menace of destitutes got to a stage sometimes in Lagos state when the government was compelled to evict them from the streets. So many were banished to their states of origins.
For quite an age, the disabled have remained neglected part of the society. Conversely, social isolation or lack of close social ties with them has widened their poor health and increased mortality risk.
However, the knowledge of physical and Health Education has awaken the consciousness of the nation and the world to the fact that physical disability does not in any way compel one to resort to begging on the streets. Both able-bodied and those who have physical challenges have potentials inherent in them which could fetch them money and put food on their tables if well harnessed. One of such ways is paralympic games.
Paralympic games is a periodic series of sporting events involving athletes with a range of disabilities. It is organized in parallel with Olympic Games. While Olympic is exclusively for the able-body, athletes competing in para-sports have an impairment that leads to a competitive disadvantage. Consequently, the essence of this special sports is to minimise the impact of impairments in the disabled with a view to making them become independent and contribute to societal growth.
In a bid to cater for the impediments, paralympics rules and regulations are modified. The modifications may be in form of durations, dimensions, facilities and a host of others. All these are adjusted to ease the inconveniences associated with their deformities. Adjustment is essential to remove any barrier.
Precisely, paralympic plays a triumvirate roles in the lives of the physically- challenged. It rehabilitates, serves as a means of livelihood and remove the stigma. Verily, verily, it offers them a new lease of life.
From the evolution of paralympics, the purpose was to assist the large number of war veterans and civilians who had been injured during world war. In 1944, at the request of the British government, Dr. Ludwig Guttmann opened a spinal injuries centre at the Stoke Mandeville Hospital using sports as a therapeutic and rehabs measure. With time, rehabilitation sports evolved to recreational sports and then to competitive sport. It was not until after World War II however, that it was widely introduced.
The intent of this write up is to passionately appeal to the government to show compassion to the plight of the disabled. They need a respite and affection. They certainly need government attention which could bail them out of humiliation.
Like in the developed nations, government could establish football leagues, basketball tournaments, athletics competitions, racket games and other activities that could attract public sympathy and spectators. These events have a direct bearing on their social lives and from there, national paralympics team could be chosen.
Funding paralympic games may not be as easy as olympics because of people’s apathy to the social welfare of these special species. It is not impossible to raise funds either. All it requires is counterpart funding from governments, NGOs, philantopic gestures, local and multi- national companies plus money realized as gate fees from spectators.
In summary, these people are part of the society who have always performed their civic duties during elections. Government should stop playing hypocrisy. If you can canvass for their votes, what stops you from organising activities that could enliven their spirits and boost their morales! This service to humanity is globally recognised and celebrated every December 3rd as International Day Of Disabled Person which was proclaimed in 1992 by United Nations General Assembly resolution with the principle of equalisation of opportunity.
As the world engages in 2020 paralympic games which will commence on August 24 and end on September 4, government needs to borrow a clue from other nations with a view to doing the needful.
Comrade Lekan Badmus is a freelance writer, Education and Sports Consultant.
Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu has confirmed the record of 135 fatalities in the current third wave of the pandemic, highlighting the havoc being wreaked by deadly strains of the virus spreading in the country.
The Governor during a briefing on Monday at the State house, Ikeja revealed that the State has taken the delivery of Moderna vaccine from the Federal Government.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed the State received a little above 300,000 doses of Moderna vaccine to boost the State drive towards achieving herd immunity.
The test positivity rate, the Governor added, has also increased to 12.1 per cent in the past weeks, compared to seven per cent recorded at the end of July, 2021. This, he said, resulted from non-adherence to the laid-down health protocols designed to stop the spread of the pandemic.
Sanwo-Olu said the situation called for more responsibility, urging the residents to adhere to the preventive protocols put in place by the Government.
He said: “We are now clearly in the middle of third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and Lagos has remained the epicenter of the disease in Nigeria. Test positivity rate currently stands at 12.1 per cent, compared to 1.1 per cent at the end of June, and seven per cent at end of July. As at August 21, 4,387 positive cases are currently being managed actively in-community.
“Over the course of managing the COVID-19 pandemic, about 5,551 patients have been admitted into our various COVID-19 care centres in Lagos, with 506 registered fatalities. Of these deaths, 135 have sadly, happened in this current third wave. I commiserate with all residents who have lost loved ones to the pandemic. We share in your pain and grief. As a society and as a Government, it is for us to redouble our efforts to defeat this devastating pandemic.”
The increment in positive cases, Sanwo-Olu said, has also shot up oxygen demand at the Government-controlled isolation centres, with the State supplying 400 cylinders daily to patients with severe cases.
At the beginning of the third wave, it was learnt that 75 cylinders were consumed per day at the isolation centres.
Sanwo-Olu said the State would be ramping up its oxygen plants in the coming days, as he projected that the demand for oxygen may shoot up in the next few weeks.
From next Wednesday, the Governor said Lagos would start the distribution of the first dose of Moderna vaccine across 150 centres set up in the State for the exercise. Increasing vaccination, the Governor said, will stem cases of fatalities, urging residents to get the vaccine.
He said: “In terms of treatment of severe cases, we have seen a gradual increase in the uptake of oxygen during the current wave. Utilization has increased from 75 cylinders per day at the beginning of this third wave, to over 400 cylinders per day, currently. With our modelling suggesting that we may be requiring even more oxygen supply over the next few weeks, we are exploring several ways of increasing our oxygen capacity.
“One of the major pillars of our mitigation strategy for the third wave is vaccination. We are seeing that countries that have vaccinated a large percentage of their population are recording drastic reductions in the numbers of COVID-19 related deaths. This is one of the reasons why we have not spared any cost to ensure that the vaccines that have been provided by the Federal Government are made available to every resident that meets the requirements for the vaccination programme.”
As part of the strategy to stem the cases, Sanwo-Olu said the State Government identified 5,998 Persons of Interest and had successfully isolated 4,500 of them, most of whom arrived from red-listed countries.
The Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and other government officials today attended the induction ceremony of the newly recruited 5,000 teachers in the State.
The induction ceremony which was held at Conference Centre, University of Ibadan had in attendance participants across the 33 local government areas in the State. The snapshots below are for photostory.
The Ondo State Government on the 23rd, Monday of August released a statement, saying it has promoted over 6,106 workers of the state civil service and has recruited 1,843 new workers to the service.
The government stated, the new workers recruited were in the engineering, health, and education sectors while workers who were promoted cut across all the ministries, departments, and various agencies of the government.
Mr. Niran Adeyemo, the State Head of Service made this in Akure the capital of the state while speaking with the PRESS on the activities to mark the Public Service Day celebration, slated for the 24th and 25th of August 2021.
He then stated that the recruitment and promotion exercise was approved by the state governor, Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu.
In his statement, “The government has promoted a total of 6,128 workers in the civil service. Some of the workers have collected their promotion letters, while some are still collecting theirs now. We have also recruited 1,200 teachers who have undergone training.”
“We have also recently employed 18 qualified engineers into the Ministry of Works to work in the ongoing infrastructural projects across the state. About 625 primary health workers have also been recruited and they had been sent to the 18 local government areas of the State. The few ones that are on temporary appointments have had their appointment regularised.”
Based on the issues of alleged anomalies in the staff salaries, the Head of Service stated that the government pays the workers based on the allocation given to the state, and said the issue would soon be settled.
Mr. Niran then commended the governor, Mr. Akeredolu administration for taking the well-being of the civil servants as a top priority in which he stated “Recall that this administration inherited seven-month unpaid salaries and allowances. Within a space of about two years, the salary backlogs are almost completely cleared, leaving only a month. To date, the promotions of all eligible officers are being effected and works are in progress for the 2022 promotion exercise,”
Mr. Niran advised the workers to shun unprofessional practices and instead give their very best, saying, “Our motto in our reform effort ‘to do my best for a better should be strictly adhered to. To whom much is given, much is required”
The former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo has hosted the National Working Committee of Peoples’ Democratic Party members at his Presidential Villa on Thursday 19th of August at his library where he coached the members of the party on their choice of presidential candidate for 2023 presidential election in the country.
He asked that the pedigree of the aspiring candidate for the elections should be considered when the party is picking their candidate of choice. He asked the party should consider the way the president of the USA is from a two main political parties.
It was gathered that the PDP leaders informed the former President Olusegun Obasanjo not to “siddon look” during this critical time for the country as things are getting worse in the country.
Obasanjo has disclosed in the past that he has ended his 17 years relationship with the PDP members six years ago on the 16th of February 2015, and has since then not joined any other political party. He claimed he is done with politics when rumor had it that he plans to start a new political party back then . He still welcomes the party members giving them the necessary advice and suggestion on how to face the future as a concerned citizens and one party.
He made it known to the members of the party after appreciating their visit, that they should study the electoral process of presidential candidates in the America, adding that leaders don’t just get selected because of their wealth but the processes they have gone through determine their qualification. He also made mention of the US following a particular pattern when it comes to selecting a leader, citing the election of the Prime Minister of United Kingdom as an example. Stating that is someone who knows the country, and its system, and has prior knowledge of the country dealings in all areas should be allowed to rule the nation.
He also expressed his dissatisfaction with the country’s financial status, how the country has been busy increasing its debts by borrowing money globally.
He used his tenure as an example of how he ensured that all governors gave account of their foreign investments in their states just to make sure that the country’s financial status was not in wrecking form.
The Ekiti State COVID-19 Task Force monitoring and enforcement team has shut down two popular eateries and a new generation bank in Ado-Ekiti capital city earlier this morning for allegedly violating COVID-19 protocols, put in place by the state government to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
The eateries and the financial institution located at Ajilosun and Irona roads respectively were shut for allegedly violating the COVID-19 prevention guidelines as stipulated by the government.
The Task Force during the weekend, also visited mosques, churches, market places as well business organisations within the state to sensitise them on the need to keep strictly to the pandemic protocols.
The senior special assistant to Governor Kayode Fayemi on Public Health, Dr Jimlas Ogunsakin, while speaking with the newsmen said the routine exercise by the team is with the main aim of engaging the communities on the need to prevent residents of the state against the third wave of the pandemic.
Lamenting over the situation, Ogunsakin said Ekiti State government has spent millions of naira on the treatment of COVID-19 patients within the last six months.
He revealed that the state had recorded 300 fresh cases of the virus within one week, the development he said was a source of great concern to the government and the people of the state.
“We will continue the sensitisation to all local government areas within the state and ensure that people keep to the protocols” ,he stated.
The Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has given a matching order that we should embark on aggressive sensitisation and community engagement on the need to prevent further spread of the pandemic,” he stated.
Mrs. Ramata: I’m Ramata Agberemi Dabo, the founder of Baby Blue Angels Foundation. Oduduwa News: How did your childhood look like? Mrs. Ramata: I was born in Ibadan and had my Nursery and Primary Education in Ibadan; I attended Methodist Grammar School, Bodija, Ibadan where I obtained my Senior School Certificate SSCE before proceeding to Paris in France where I had my first degree in Criminology. Thereafter, I moved to United States of America, where I am currently pursuing a law degree.
My childhood was fantastic, living with parents who motivated and moulded me along humanitarian line. While growing up, I was trained by compassionate parents who contributed a lot in helping the needy and the society at large. So, there was a day I told myself that whenever I grow up, I would follow the footpaths of my parents and shall take up the challenge of helping the less privileged in our society and I wish my children too would pick it from wherever I stop. So, the experience was fantastic, my parents taught me to be passionate about the growth and the development of my society.
OduduwaNews: Can we have an insight into BBA?
Mrs. Ramata: BBA is just an acronym that goes by the words: Baby Blue Angels Foundation. It’s a foundation established a year back and the Foundation is primarily meant to contribute to the development of our society. If we all say we are not going to contribute our quota, the society will be deteriorating to what we don’t expect reason why we should take up the challenge. Overthere, in the United States of America, it’s the people that initiate development from their respective homes before politicians take it up. So, I brought this type of innovation back home, because I want to build a society where the less privileged, the needy, elderly will be catered for without necessarily waiting for politicians or government. Though, the important role of the government can’t be overlooked but individuals still have a major role to play. This is what I have been doing right from my childhood, not that the BBA Foundation is the first humanitarian call I will be answering. It has been part of me while I was growing up because of the belief of my parents, that giving to the needy, elderly and society at large has a great reward. Though, it has been challenging, I have been running the foundation on personal purse and I have not regretted because I believe that contributing to humanity has it way of rewarding one back. In addition, part of my dream is to work with the Nigerian Police not necessarily in terms of providing finance, but making sure that we have a better policing, where there will be a synergy between the police and the people.
OduduwaNews: What motivated you to found BBA? Mrs. Ramata: Making difference in the larger society is the major motive for founding BBA, and since the establishment, we have done a lot of humanitarian services by assisting the less privileged as well as people with disability among others. Recently, we went to Methodist Grammar School and we donated projector and other school materials to the disabled.
OduduwaNews: What is your perspective on the prevalence of poverty in Africa?
Mrs. Ramata: I’m baffled that poverty is predominant in Africa. Anytime I go out and see people on the streets begging for alms, I’m always sad; it’s bad to the extent that most people in Africa can no longer feed themselves once in a day not to talk of 3-squared meal. Though, poverty can’t be totally eradicated, but it can be managed to a lowest level, where people that are considered to be poor will be able to feed themselves. Poverty in Africa can be linked to a bad system, lack of foresight by political leaders and their inability to think outside the box as to what is obtainable overthere. It’s sad that at this 21st century, Africa is still battling with high rate of extreme poverty. We have been trying in our capacity to assist those who are working but finding it difficult to expand their scope of operation, we have assisted several artisans by empowering them more in their chosen professions. We don’t have to be waiting for government before we take up the challenge. If we come together as a team, we will make a difference, and the country will be better for all of us to live.
OduduwaNews: After the event of June 12, 1993, is Nigeria fair to her citizens? Mrs. Ramata: How will I say Nigeria is fair to her citizens when things are not going properly, people cannot afford 3-squared meal per day, people are hungry and suffering. Though, I believe the effort of our past heroes can’t be forgotten, but when you talk about being fair, a country will be fair in terms of what it gives to its citizens like developmental projects, good standard of living, adequate security etc. So, Nigeria from inception has not been fair to its citizens. I’m of the opinion that everyone needs to come together and take part in the development of the country.
OduduwaNews: How can Nigeria overcome its challenges? Mrs. Ramata: It requires holistic approach; all of us must come together and ensure that we tackle it collectively. Though, it’s a systemic problem, but we can’t shy away from the fact that as individuals, we need attitudinal change. Those in power are not demons, they come from our family, the change must start from our respective homes and our mindset must change for the development of the nation.
OduduwaNews: There’s a grant for NGOs by United Nations, does BBA have access to this grant? Mrs. Ramata: No, we have not been able to have access to it. Though, it’s not as if people have not been calling me for support, but I don’t want a situation in which the Foundation will be relying on individuals or some people. So, I have been taking care of all the expenses from my personal purse. I want to get to a point where this humanitarian work will be able to speak for itself and to the point where I will be self-fulfilled even before we are requested by the UN to submit an application.
OduduwaNews: What’s the vision of BBA? Mrs. Ramata: Our vision is to make a difference and to ensure that the society is safe for all of us to live, and that I want a situation where BBA will be able to assist more people.
OduduwaNews: Can we have insight into some of the humanitarian services you have rendered? Mrs. Ramata: I will not be fair if I start mentioning because we have done a lot, even some that I could not recollect at the moment. If I start mentioning now, we will use all our time for it. For instance, we have donated to the less privileged, helped the needy and people with disabilities as well as the students and youths. Also, we have been giving monetary assistance to those who desire to start their businesses but do not have startup capital to set up their businesses and we also train them to be self reliant. There was a day BCOS management called me, hello BBA, there’s a disabled person who has passion for school and BCOS does not have capacity to assist such person, and we ventured into action immediately to come to the aide of the guy. As we speak, the guy is pursuing his education. Also, we intend to widen our scope by covering the whole country. My goal is to reach the point where BBA will be totally fulfilled by contributing meaningfully to the lives of people.
OduduwaNews: How do you cope with living in United States and having an NGO in Nigeria? Mrs. Ramata: My NGO is registered both in US and Nigeria, and I have a team working with us in Nigeria. I want to use this medium to thank all our team members, they have been doing great. If not because of them, BBA wouldn’t have gone this far. Nigeria is my home, I come here everytime. Sometimes, I spend up to six months in Nigeria before going back. Though, I work overthere and I have been able to manage both.
OduduwaNews: Do you have interest in Politics? Mrs. Ramata: I believe everybody is a politician, the only difference is that the way we practice it. In our respective homes, we practice it; it’s not until when you hold an elective post before showing interest or participating in politics. In as much as you’re contributing meaningfully to the society, you’re practicing politics. Meanwhile, if opportunity comes to contest elective post, so far it will not take my NGO activities away I would embrace it. Participating in the larger politics in order to do more for the society is not a bad thing if it will not involve dragging my name to the mud.
NGO can only do little, we all have huge role to play in government in as much it’s not a do or die affairs. OduduwaNews: Your words of advice to the youths? Mrs. Ramata: I will advice the youths not to relent; they should be committed to the dream of making Nigeria a great and better country. I am glad that the founder of OduduwaNews is a youth and I am saying it emphatically that the entire team is doing well. I love your diction, the contents and expression. Overthere in US, I always admire reading contents from your news media. Do keep it up and I promise to continue partnering with you.
At this juncture, I must be sincere with you that I feel the pain of Nigerian youths, particularly, struggling in an environment that’s not favourable to their growth. Despite this, I believe they can still make a difference, the future belongs to them. They should ensure that they do everything within their power to ensure that the country is totally rescued from the current state of underdevelopment.
An arrest of one Mr Stephen, Afam Ikeanyionwu who was said to be a major suspect of drug dealing was made yesterday Sunday inside a Pentecostal Church in Ojodu Area of Lagos by the NDLEA.
He was currently on the wanted list for making an attempt to export a 69.65KG of cocaine, cannabis and heroin to the UK through export shed of Muritala Muhammed International Airport.
Femi Babafemi who happens to be the Spokesman for the NDLEA, said that Mr Stephen was traced and tracked down to Pentecostal church at Mike Ajari Street, Ojodu- Berger, where he was apprehended as he was stepping out of service.
His arrest was made possible through a lead from one of his colleagues who was arrested while trying to export illicit drugs weighing 69.65kg to the UK and passing through Lagos Airport on the 12 of august Thursday. The illegal bags had been sent to Aiport for exporting the goods through an unregisterd company who also hand it over to a driver to deliver at the export shed.
It was the arrest of this driver and investigation that led the NDLEA to trace back the real owner of the drugs to Mr Stephen Afam Ikeanyionwu and he was arrested three days after a proper investigation.
