C&I Leasing's RedCab Corporate Taxi concept now concrete

Having successfully pushed the same in Enugu and effectively kicked okadas out of the business area in the eastern city, C & I Leasing has finally deployed the much awaited 200 RedCab Corporate Taxis. The Red taxis however pose a serious threat to the typical Yellow with black striped taxis (oko asewo) and on the long run, okadas. The red taxis would also compete with the Corporate Cabs. Taking a close look at the drivers (male or female), they are suited up (meaning 247 A/C’s) with red ties. The cabs are labelled and I presume some tight communication network here or there.

C & I Leasing paints Lagos Red with Suzuki Hatchback Corporate Taxis (RedCab)

LagosMet Verdict: A very welcome development indeed. How they will cope with the crazy Lagos traffic and resistance (unforseen) from the old cabs remain to be seen.

Close up Shot RedCab Corporate Taxis - LagosMet.com

Beautiful RedCabs for the Red Light Districts

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Law School, V.I.

Random Pictures of Beautiful Lagos (See pictures below, click on thumbnails to enlarge)
Who ever thought, 2 years ago that Lagos would ever be more beautiful than Abuja? Well, it’s beginning to happen in our lifetime and it gets better and better. Many places have been beautified, Oshodi and Tejuosho Markets have been demolished and cars can now pass freely, saving Lagosians millions of Man-hours and cutting the pockets of touts and Area Chairmen in shreds. The BRT Terminals look so beautiful, the solar-powered street lights and traffic lights are cute and Lekki Road and Bar Beach (by HiTech) are out of this world (only in Nigeria, permit me to exaggerate a lil bit). Plenty of credit to Governor Fashola, we can imagine what Lagos would look like in 6 years. If you are out of the country, I’m sure you are seriously missing home by now (not to raise your hopes, we still have issues with security, fuel, flood, and mad traffic). Beautiful Lasgidi!

Fuel Everywhere
Finally there’s fuel everywhere, filling stations looking ever scanty. Shame to bad people right? (don’t start celebrating yet, it was like this on Saturday only to see long queues on Monday). Let’s hope this is permanent. AMEN!

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Victoria Island, Ikoyi stands still this evening, May 18 2009

It’s been 3 hours and she’s trying to hit Awolowo Road, Ikoyi from Karimu Kotun, a journey of 3 minutes now takes 4 hours. Fact is the whole Island has cars with engines practically switched off. Pedestrians are trekking a marathon trying to reach Racecourse to catch BRT Buses as bikes and taxis (oko asewo) are somewhere stuck in self-inflicted gridlock. Traffic is heavy and dense, sleeping in the office is much more productive right now. Awolowo Road (towards Falomo) and Falomo Bridge (Osbourne to V.I.) is dead – a no go area right now. Hopefully, Festac and Iyana Ipaja people can make it home before 11:00pm.

The cause? Prolly some trailer broke down at Bonny Camp again, obviously 2 lanes are dead somewhere somehow.

I’m looking out the window and this dude has his head on his steering and I’m dead sure he’s snoring. It’s a hopeless night guys, and if you are driving manual with no A/C and no fuel (there’s scarcity of fuel as well, all join) you know it’s one of those nights again. Sorry. E go better.

I’m listening to Style na Style by 9ice and Darey (on repeat). Don’t hate, this is lasgidi where timing is everything.

UPDATE: 9:00pm, V.I. is clear now, like everyone pressed their flight gears, delete or they just disappeared, but not to raise your hopes, Third Mainland Bridge (3MB) is a dead end. Ironically, many people have stayed back and are not convinced the road is “motorable” right now and they’ll all hit the road by 10:00pm, traffic round 2. I’ll be there then.

UPDATE: 9:40pm, I understand 3rd Mainland Bridge is free. Let’s hope its true, I’m sticking my head out, 10:00pm, I fly.

CASE CLOSED: 10:45 pm, got home safely, light traffic, stopped by the Police, they asked for “particulars” then suddenly changed ringtone when it became obvious I was prepared for their antics, “Oga wetin we go take do Monday night?” If you know what I mean…

Don’t expect a “LASTMA” report on whatever caused this traffic that’s cost us millions of man-hours, this is Lasgidi, not Las Vegas. Na nyte.

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Is that what you're saying too?

It’s been a week already and NNPC has publicly declared that Filling Stations will ’smile no more’ come Thursday. Before you begin jumping up, News around is that the number of trucks loading fuel in Lagos has reduced from 180 to just 20. NNPC had better be telling me the truth. Methink they’ve just postponed another week of suffering and we can only suffer, smile and say thank you (more like UP – NEPA! - ring a bell?). Fuel scarcity is the Holy Grail of most Gas stations, they fast, pray, hope, believe and long for it, if they don’t get it, they create it. They need catalysts or some little assistance in the form of rumours at least and capitalize on it, the resulting mixture was what you saw some weeks ago. Honestly, I got tired of capturing those ugly scenes (not because they almost attacked me and nearly beat the building manager up, I’m not making this up, they brandished AK’s but for the defiance of the building manager) and black marketers lining up the roads with red, yellow, green and pink coloured fake, original or lukewarm petrol. I still did not buy from them anyway. I got full tank on Friday morning, at 70 naira per litre on the mainland and still have about half tank left in there.

With the current Rebrand Nigeria (a topic I’ve been avoiding since inception) adverts and announcements all over the radio, papers and everywhere, it was a perfect time to test the faith of Nigerians, Lagosians to start with. Like the advert said, insist on first-come first-served, join the queue bla bla bla (is it easier said than done). Check out the people shunting the queues, forcefully, with sirens, uniform, koboko, bulala and AK’s (I no dey point fingers) – they probably need no re-branding like we do. Dora, are you reading?

This is what happens at filling stations now. The gates are closed and only one “fine-tuned” Machine works. This Pump has been badly programmed to cheat you, giving you about 7 litres instead of 10, but that’s no rip-off compared to Item number 7. Now to get into the gates (of course from the entry point, you pay the Agbero fee, about N100, then the gate fee, N50, to get in through the EXIT point, you pay N2,000 flat so you’re worth 20 stingy cars – all rebranding Nigeria). You then wait your turn as only one machine sells to hundreds of angry, impatient and unfriendly people. 3 dedicated people sell to you. 1 holds the nozzle, another determines whether you sell to cars, okadas, jerry cans or the powerful ones who come in through the exit, the last one holds the calculator and collects the money for the transaction. Okay, before the attendant fills your hungry tank, you pay N200 (sometimes N200 per N1000 sale) then they sell to you between N70 and N120 per litre. You look at the meter, not at the price because the calculator guy will tell you how much you are to pay as the machine might still be reading N65 per litre. You pay and deal is done. They are so honest they won’t ask you for tips, you drive out angrily cursing your luck, the government, the marketers and anyone who crosses your mind at that time, but when you get to the tail end of the queue and see black marketers doing a harder rip off, selling 20 litres at 5,000 naira, then you realise you didn’t lose much. Then you run into traffic in broad day light, it’s full tank so you decide to feel some A/C then you get home and read the papers and read about Ekiti Politics and ReBrand Nigeria. You shake your head and smile (in suffering), start your generator and think about tomorrow. Lasgidi babe.

If by 7th of May, 2009 queues are still this long, I’ll tell you what probably came up. But until then, I’ll be discussing -

Ebenezer Ajayi, killed by men of the force for wearing Camo and dumped at Area G, then Pen Cinema. http://thenationallife.com/2009/04/19/killed-by-soldiers/

Lagos Agents, house rents, land lease and property development scams.

The task force, clearing of Oshodi, Yaba and other major markets and progress report.

The Crash Helmet (better known as Element) and Lagos Okadas.

Lagos and the swine flu scare.

Meanwhile I’m presently reading the Ebola Monkey Man’s 419 archive http://www.ebolamonkeyman.com/fanpage.htm, much similar to that of 419eater.com and 419baiter.com join me.

It’s 5:00pm, Arsenal Versus Man-U coming up soon but before then, you must fight through traffic. Wish you all the best.

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These Millions could be homeless in a matter of days

Lagos: Ilupeju, Gbagada, Anthony, Onigbongbo, Somolu residents are likely to lose their homes and lands as the Adoyi Ifadu Alashe Chieftaincy family seeks to claim back their heritage, backed by a 57-year old court judgement. e.t.c.

While a lot of people already have C of O’s for their title deed, the century old order is likely to prevail. The family has already, through agents sent notices to residents of the affected areas (about 2 million people) to quit their possessions peacefully or face forceful eviction engineered by the Police Force. It is rumoured that a politician close to the government is involved but as usual, this was debunked by the agents.

It is unfortunate (not suspiscious) that this is coming at this time of economic hardship and recession as the value of these transactions could run into Trillions of naira knowing the crazy value of real estate in the mainland where a plot of land costs as much as 4.5 million to 35 million naira. Don’t ask me why “anyone” would be interested in driving this or igniting the police into action. Money is king.

LagosMet verdict: This is probably the most ridiculous news I’ve heard since birth but the law must prevail. It is very unlikely that residents will so be evicted. I think deed owners and agents of the family will come to a compromise, pay a certain percentage and gain the permission of the family. Companies especially on Industrial Avenue include GSK, PZ, Direct on PC (ISP), uncountable banks, fast food restaurants, schools and major branches or regional headquarters of companies. This is one case that is sure to generate heat and dust over the next few weeks and months. I hope it doesn’t lead to bloodshed since Mushin is also affected.

LagosMet Rainy Season: My do’s and don’ts for motorists and passengers – How to survive the rainy season.

The cream of the crop is the obvious likelihood that 419, scammers and touts are likely to be more involved as they seem to lay claim to reap from where they have not sown. Residents, beware.

Here’s the full story from The Punch’s Sesan Olufowobi.

“Residents of parts of Lagos Mainland, including Ilupeju, Anthony, Igbobi and Bajulaiye, have written a petition to the State Police Command over threats that have lately been issued to them by members of a popular Lagos family and their agents, advising them to willingly quit their houses of face eviction.

A copy of the petition quoted the Adoyi Ifadu Alashe Chieftaincy Family and their agents as claiming that the expansive land on which many big buildings are erected were illegally acquired by the owners of the buildings, adding that the family’s claims were also backed by a copy of court judgment.

Although the spokesman of the Lagos State Police Command, Mr Frank Mba, said it would be difficult for the police to enforce the order, Saturday Punch investigation revealed that the family’s claims are supported by a series of court judgments, the last of which was delivered in 1952 by the Supreme Court under the former Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), the late Justice Adetokunbo Ademola. The judgment had held that the ownership of most parts of Lagos Mainland belonged to the descendants of Adoyi Ifadu Alashe chieftaincy family.

The head of Ifadu Alashe Family, 90-year-old Chief Lasisi Ajayi Arubo, told our correspondent at his Oko-Oba home that the family was seeking the enforcement of the 57-year-old judgment now because initial efforts to execute it were resisted so much that the family had to go back to court. “The court has determined all the cases in our favour, and we are currently seeking the execution of the judgment,” he declared.

The copy of the judgement shown to our correspondent indicated that the areas covering Idi Araba, Anthony, Idiroko, Onigbongbo, Obanikoro, Igbobi, Pedro Bajulaye, Abule Oja, Bariga, Shomolu, Gbagada, Iwaya and Oworonsoki belonged to the family.

The Adetokunbo Ademola verdict had stated, “There is no doubt that the Ifadu Alashe family at one time was not very active about the control of the area in dispute. This has been explained as largely due to the long illness of Madam Aina Edu who inherited the area from her father.

“I am satisfied on the whole that the area in dispute was ordinarily owned by Adoyi and that he and his descendants exercised numerous and positive acts of ownership for a period of many years.

I am satisfied that the area has always been in the possession of members of Adoyi Family and that in recent years (she) lost her tenancy owing to severe sickness.

“I therefore declare that the area in dispute belongs to the Ifadu Alashe to which all the just and true descendants are entitled and which family claims to the head.”

It stated further that all occupants of the area in dispute were illegal occupants except they “have the consent of the Ifadu Alashe Family to use apportioned areas.”

Arubo, who said he was happy that the family got back the land, said the family had made all arrangement to go back to court to compel the police and relevant security agencies to enforce the judgment.

Saturday Punch, however, gathered that the latest move is being championed by a politician who is close to the seat of government in Lagos.

But the Secretary of the family, Alfa Kareem Tajudeen Arubo, said there was no politician involved. He said, “You asked earlier why it took us all these years to execute the judgment. But the reality was that while those who we met on the land preferred to use thugs and violence to prevent us, we went back to court.

Our forefathers started these cases and we are still continuing. The Aworis are used to court cases and this one is not different. As soon as we are through with the relevant court judgment, we are enforcing it.

They can write one million petitions, we are not bothered. Truth and justice will prevail.

When it was pointed out to him that such a move could spell doom for Lagos State, Tajudeen retorted, “What about us that they had been cheating? We have made a provision for those who are willing to buy the land back. An oil company is already talking to us because it has one of its facilities on our land. But every undeveloped land will be claimed back; no negotiation.”

Many of the residents of the affected areas said they were not aware of any move to evict them.

But the few who were in the know were not really worried about the judgement. Mr. Olu Olaleye, who lives in Olateju Street, Mushin, said he was not bothered. “This land belonged to my father, and since I was small, we have been hearing of things like this. My father is dead and I am living in the house and the threat is still there. I can tell you that nohing can shake me”.

Mr. John Agha of Fola Agoro in Akoka, Yaba said he was waiting to see the person that would demolish the house he had just completed. “Let them try it,” he said.

Another resident of Shomolu, who gave his name as Olugbenga, said he got all the necessary papers on his house. “I have heard the rumour, but it can not affect me, because I have a C of O,” he said.

Some other respondents, who craved anonymity, urged the family to exercise caution.

At the Lagos State Ministry of Land in Alusa, the spokesperson was not available for comment. But an official who spoke with our correspondent said the ministry was aware of the court cases. “But I don’t think it has been resolved yet. I don’t think the Lagos State Government will go for such a crude action. The matter will be resolved,” he said, adding that he was not aware that anybody in government was spearheading the latest move.

Mba also said that the police had not seen any document compelling it to enforce the judgment. “But we will tread on the path of caution,” he said. But the lawyer to the family, Tobi Ogunleye, said the judgment was still binding because it was delivered by a court of competent jurisdiction.”

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Long queues resurface at filling stations

Fuel (Petrol) scarcity hits Lagos hard:

UPDATE: Strike was called off on Tuesday, the 21st of April, 2009.

I feel like brushing whoever is responsible for this self-induced scarcity at this time when things are tight. The impact of the scarcity (long queues and more hold ups wherever there is a filling station) was first felt on Friday morning and it lasted throughout the evening even until 12:00am. Many gas stations refused to sell while multitudes queued with cars, bikes and jerry cans (kegs) hoping God would touch the hearts of the Oil Masters. More than half of Lagos depends on petrol-fueled generators and no one wants to spend the weekend in darkness, after having worked 4:00am to 9:00pm on weekdays. I came back from the office on Friday with my tank at R and red meaning no weekend trip for me until a miracle comes through. Yesterday, Saturday ws equally bad, but this morning, things seem to be a bit much better around Ilupeju but from radio reports, some areas have not smelled petrol since Thursday. It rained and drizzled a lot yesterday, but today, the sky looks great and you won’t be drenched queuing and fighting to fill your tanks. If someone “bashes” you, sorry, there’s nothing you can do about it, cos it happened in a “scuffle” – please take note!

I have a feeling churches will be emptier than last Sundays as people hold on to their hopeful slots at heavy, unfriendly, violent and uncompromising queues. Trust touts and black market guys, a litre is now 250 naira – that’s if you are lucky. If you can’t buy, simply join the queue and waste your whole day. I’m buying 60 litres and there aint no way in hell that I could ever be tempted to pay 15,000 naira. Lai lai, no be me. I’m a Lagosian.

You don't wanna be here, I bet.

Just in case you didn’t know, the scarcity will definitely affect schedules, i mean visiting, shopping, worship, and even tripping. But on a serious note, I did not see a single BRT bus held up, instead they were going their normal business, bullish as ever on their dedicated lanes. They aren’t affected so… I’m digging out my coins, piling them up for a possible trip to work thanks to Lagos BRT, and it’s so cold I don’t have to pay double to board the LAGBUS with Air Conditioner, i’ll join the old old shock absorber-less Tata Buses. Lasgidi babe!

===============================================

It was discovered that the fuel scarcity was due in part to two factors. LASTMA officials impounded about 50 fuel tankers for parking on the Apapa Wharf Road, a dirty operation which ended in vandalism, and demanded the payment of 150,000 naira per tanker. Also, NUPENG and the PPPRA demanded at least 50 billion naira to be paid into their account (an amount being owed them by the government for fuel subsidy) and payment was made by electronic means on Monday, the 20th of April, 2009. The Lagos State Government cleared their part on Tuesday and the issue was resolved.

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LagosMet Rainy Season: My do’s and don’ts for motorists and passengers.

I sincerely hope this is the final year Lagos would have to go without drainage. I don’t mean drainage in Ikeja or Lagos Island alone, I mean all over the state cos we all pay tax and this flood thingy is making the whole of Lagos look like

A lawyer's view of flooded Orile

Governor Raji Fashola (Pol Party: Action Congress AC) has done nothing. The Governor has tried his best, we know the power issue is beyond him but he can do much better in terms of security and drainage.

(Kindly include the link to this page if you intend to copy and paste the contents of this page. Please quote the source: http://lagosmet.com/blog/2009/04/lagosmet-rainy-season-my-dos-and-donts-for-motorists-and-passengers/)

I’d been yelling drainage since September last year when I stopped using my very low car, discarded it and got a higher one, a low-class 4 – wheeler (my papa no be politician). Now I can sing “because he lives… I can FACE tomorrow”. Tomorrow as in Lagos floods, nothing more to it. If I can swap minds with fellow readers, those with low cars, e.g. Old Accord, Mini, Bug, Picanto, QQ, I10, Celica, Legend and Previa, e.t.c. are already cursing their luck. Sorry, so goes the saying “save for the rainy day”. Now it’s raining, look outside your window, you see it drizzling, yeah, out there, it doesn’t reflect anything drizzling at all, it in fact paints the picture of the aftermath of a Tsunami. I’ve been avoiding blogging for some days now cos it takes me at least 4 hours to come up with something and I have a whole lot on my neck, I’m not so into coffee and this cold brings with it the lure of sleep… (you all are happy today’s a public holiday aint ya?). For this reason, I’ll keep facts, pictures and sturvs for some other time and go straight to the point. As usual, just my 2 cents, you don’t have to agree with me 100% but to those who have ears…

It’s Rainy Season, what do you do?

Your Umbrella or your life?

1. Buy an umbrella for the car, office, a friend and home.

2. If you haven’t raised your sport car, call your mechanic now

3. Don’t drive while it’s raining or less than 20 minutes after, it takes a while for highway floods to clear.

4. Don’t venture into roads you less frequently used (during the dry season) as floods make it difficult to differentiate pot holes from “gutters” and “canals”.

5. If you must drive while it’s drizzling or raining, turn your headlamps on and your emergency lamps too. Also, avoid depending on horns alone, while you honk, flass your full lights as well since most windows are wound up and A/Cs on in other to clear the windscreen of most cars. Some even tune up their radios for situation reports, coupled with the deafening sound of the rain and thunder outside, your horn alone is less than likely to pass the message across. Use your hazard lights and flash your full lights.

6. Avoid unnecessary overtaking. Everyone’s trying to avoid water clogged areas and also splashing water on pedestrians.

7. Trust your instincts, if it looks like your car won’t make it, then don’t take it. I mean don’t risk it, it’s never too late to turn back when your rear is clear. Once other cars join you there, you have little option than to be compelled to MOVE into the danger zone, and glory be to God if you (your car) survive. http://lagosmet.com/blog/2009/04/lagosmet-rainy-season-my-dos-and-donts-for-motorists-and-passengers/

8. Avoid reversing unnecessarily, it is against the law to face oncoming traffic (one-way) but in this period, you just can’t help it. Better to face oncoming traffic than to do a reverse. It is very dangerous, especially due to poor visibility. Poor visibility contributes 85% to most road accidents when it’s raining as some people don’t even have wipers, some don’t have A/Cs to clear the fog on the windscreen, some are hydrophobic and they just ram into you, then you try to step out and realise you are in the middle of the River Niger, you need the back of a tout to make it to the other side where you would only be drowned halfway.

9. If you can, avoid service lanes and generally the lower ends of unlevelled roads as they hold more water. Service Lanes hold deadly pot holes (especially along Ikorodu road up to Ketu). If you are not driving an LR4, and you can do without service lanes, please do. Palmgrove, Onipanu, Ojota, Ajah and some places in Victoria Island are Bermudas Triangles you don’t want to find yourself in.

He that is "drowned" needs fear no "flood"

10. Follow the leader, and give him some distance. Taxis (yellow and black) know the bad places in Lagos, they know the roads like you know the buttons of your mobile phone. Follow someone who has a flood navigator (don’t follow okadas or LR4’s, follow car for car or SUV for SUV, not Trailer for Cooper).

11. Have some airtime on your phone.

12. Service your car, fix your horn, tyres, winders, heaters, A/C, fog lamps, trafficators, and everything fixable. Believe you me, no one will stop for you when it’s pouring heavily. When it’s pouring, you don’t see the police and that’s when men of the underworld rush out en-masse, you make their work easier for them when your car breaks down for any reason, even a flat tyre.

13. Don’t drive alone but avoid picking unknown persons up. When it rains, it is assumed that all cars have tinted glasses and no one can see someone pointing weapons at you right in your car, and even if they do, they look for an exit and drive off, leaving you to your fate. Be very careful. Lock your doors.

14. Drive slowly, you have no choice. Tyre skid, brakes fail and cars stop suddenly when it pours, so be prepared to gently apply (not slam) your brakes. Traffic is bound to be heavier than on normal days so leave home some 30 minutes earlier than usual, but not too early. In fact don’t leave home while it’s dark as floods will force you to drive slowly or even stop and that’s when “our friends” can make a run at you. You will also notice that colleagues get to work/meetings later than they used to.

15. Ensure you have a fair amount of gas (sorry, petrol) in your tank. Rain-induced traffic are 69% heavier.

http://lagosmet.com/blog/2009/04/lagosmet-rainy-season-my-dos-and-donts-for-motorists-and-passengers/

As for Pedestrians, you know the rules already.

BIS under siege sometime ago

1. Umbrella

2. Nylon cover, shower caps, or raincoat, umbrellas can’t withstand strong winds.

3. Rain boots (keep a spare pair of shoes in the office and trouser/skirt too). Rubber shoes are on sale now (Max: 400 naira.). Sometimes NEPA/PHCN poles bow to the winds and live power cables/wires find their way into the stagnant waters creating death traps for innocent pedestrians. I’d say rubber boots are essentials.

4. Use the BRT (thank God LAGBUS have resumed operation), if you feel that friend’s rickety car might nor make it, or that your car is not in the best rain condition

5. Have airtime on your line, call your superior if traffic is hell.

6. Avoid carrying laptops and other bulky electronics that won’t fit in beneath the raincoat.

7. Keep yourself warm

8. Carry a 50cl bottle of water, to wash your feet when you reach your destination.

9. Don’t forget to pick your umbrella after leaving it out to dry…

10. Don’t walk in the path of motorists, especially in the clear paths as motorists desperately try to avoid water and have poorer visibility seeing through water clogged screens. You are more likely to get hit by a hit and run driver in this period. http://lagosmet.com/blog/2009/04/lagosmet-rainy-season-my-dos-and-donts-for-motorists-and-passengers/

11. Do not back traffic; face on coming traffic and always be prepared to dive. Don’t cuss the driver or the governor when it does happen.

12. Relocate if you can, closer to the office or your business. As bus fares skyrocket (even BRT and LAGBUS increased fares), you will find it cheaper to stay closer to your source of income.

13. Take your leave. We usually have one or two 3-day non stop rain and 7-day non stop drizzling, I can’t think of a better time to take your leave than then. I just hate traffic.

14. Not a good time to pay friends a visit. In fact, Churches will see a decrease in the congregation size too. Do not promise to visit friends at this point in time, and don’t pay surprise visits as your hosts may be 3 hours away in traffic or trying to pull their car our of the canal.

15. Be careful where you put your legs into. Some stagnant waters house various pests and diseases, and some “small” waters can mask deep gutters and sharp objects. Do not be tempted to take off your shoes unless you know the road so well. It is always safer to turn back.

16. Finally, if you can’t “enter” the rain, then wait in a safe place, there is no shame in doing so, but it is sometimes dangerous. Watch where, who and for how long you do. My advice, don’t stay behind for too long, move as soon as the rain subsides.

Eh, 2 hours gone already! I got work to do guys, you can help with the ones I missed out on. I wish you all the best. You can send me pictures and stories of floods in your area and I will do well to post them here, of course with your name on it, if you don’t mind.

Safety first, no regrets. Happy Easter.

All rights reserved, Christino Xsi Penthome, 2009.

If you enjoyed reading this, please refer this page to a friend.

Link to this page: http://lagosmet.com/blog/2009/04/lagosmet-rainy-season-my-dos-and-donts-for-motorists-and-passengers/

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Interswitch website warning!

Don’t fall for the Interswitch ATM/Debit Card Scam!

This scam (perpetrated by our Yahoo Yahoo! boys who are fast running out of options – www.419eater.com) has been around for a while now especially since the inception of webpay which made e-commerce possible in Nigeria. The ATM/Debit Card is the only equivalent of the Western Credit Card only that it is prepaid. Naturally, you’d expect the ATM card to be very secure since you need a PIN and a physical provider (Interswitch, E-tranzact) card with preference for Interswitch (being more popular), but websites such as Buyright.biz, rechargenigeria.com, reloadng.com and deoluakinyemi all allow you to pay for goods and services from the comfort of your internet-connected device, just by punching your card number and PIN. In some cases, you get an SMS confirming the transaction, and in some other cases (especially if you are yet to subscribe to SMS alerts) you don’t get any alert. On interswitch’s official website (http://interswitchng.com), you could even transfer from one interswitch card account to another (not sure if this is still possible). Our fraudsters promptly rose to the occasion to explore the holes in the loops, GTB was one of the worst hit, and they reacted instantly by blocking the use of their ATM cards on websites.

It’s quite unfortunate that till today, many still fall for this trap. Look at the mail below: a scammer sends a mail asking you to click on a link to interswitch’s website. Do not click on links (especially masked links) but instead copy and paste into the browser, if it’s not Interswitch’s official website, then it’s pure scam, delete the mail. (http://allafrica.com/stories/200704190048.html)

Interswitch Logo

Also, do not be deceived by the sender’s address, anyone can mask the sender address. If you wish to reply at all, always click on the reply button. Most scam mails usually ask you to reply to a different email address other than the one that was used to send the mail (e.g. sender: expiry@interswitchng.com please reply to: scammer@gmail.com). When they do provide websites, their fake websites mirror the original one (as seen in fake MTN and Zenith Bank job scam sites), sometimes, some cheap-ass scammers use free sites and folders within folders of sub-domains such as http://money.myfreewebsites.com/bank/scammers/fraud/?@www.interswitchng.com/register – you should easily “nab” these ones (I repeat, do not click on links in emails directly, always do copy and paste into google search with the word scam before it and see for yourself, trust your instinct).

LagosMet: My take on this is this, always suspect anything that comes to you by mail or SMS (better to be a pessimist on the internet). Take a line of the content or title of the message, google it with the word scam and see if you get similar results. Remember, if it’s too good to be true then it’s scam.

The mail:

Dear Interswitch Card Holder,

We are carrying out a fraud prevention on our system,
and you’ve been required to register all your ATM card(s) Online Immediately
for security reasons, and to prevent your ATM card(s)
from fraudulent activities.

Be notified, that all ATM card(s) must be registered, such as your
(DEBIT CARDS, X-CHANGE CARDS, and CASH CARDS)

Please Register your ATM cards now by CLICKING HERE and then do as required.

(Failure to verify your ATM Card(s) details correctly will lead to account suspension)

This Update is compulsory
If you do not register your ATM card(s) immediately,
you will no longer be able to use your card(s) on our ATM machines
or for ATM transactions and your card(s) will be cancelled or terminated.

Thank you.

=======================================================

Breakdown:

1. Prevent your card from fraudulent activities (and he’s planning to defraud you already)

2. All cards must be registered (are cards not already registered? A wise man will give the bank a call, not even interswitch)

3. Failure to verify will lead to account suspension (all ATM cards have their expiry dates, you can’t even do any online transaction without entering your debit card’s expiry date, why the rush?)

4. Glorious threats (this is the first scam mail without the magic word called “guarantee”, are you scared to lose your card? As long as your money is safe). Never ever reveal your PIN to anyone.

Finally, Interswitch should please release a list of approved websites so that users can verify which websites are registered and which ones are phishing/scam websites. If there was a list like http://interswitchng.com/list_of_approved_websites/ then the world would be a much better place for scammers and potential, unsuspecting victims like you and I. This modus operandi applies to other sites such as ebay, paypal and many bank websites worldwide. You don’t want to lose your hard earned money in this period of recession, its credit crunch period for scammers as well. Be watchful, be careful, be prepared, be informed.

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Empty bus, no driver!

Lagos Strike: BRT unlikely to be available this evening

NO BRT TONIGHT! Rumours are spreading that the roads will be blocked as the Bus Rapid Transit operators threaten strike. The impact is likely to be felt on the Island (CMS and Racecourse) as people proceed to Obalende and alternatives. You are therefore likely to see lots of heads stranded at “bus stops”. If you are without your car, you should do yourself a favour and “marry” someone who isn’t, at least for today.

If you drove to work, then try to help a fellow Lagosian.

I hate traffic so I’m as good as asleep till 10 p.m.

E go be.

UPDATE:

Some drivers eventually showed up helping to decongest the long queues at terminals. Hopefully the rumour should end there as many people have become acustomed to leaving their cars at home in favour of the BRT. Let’s see what the News has to say tonight regarding this.

Safe journey y’all.

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Opambata, Eyo o!

Lagos Laws: Alms to beggars, loittering & littering can lead to jail.

Giving of alms to beggars – 1 month imprisonment. Wandering in any premises – 3 month to 1 year imprisonment. Suspected thief with no proven means of livelihood, 3 months to 1 year imprisonment. It is an offence to dispose of scrap papers, newspapers, sweet wrappers, fruit skins, water sachets or similar refuse anywhere except little bins within the Lagos Central Business district. Offenders will be liable to a fine of not less than N1, 000.00

Just imagine me, cruising my nano, ‘jeje-ly’, it’s hot and my a/c is blowing flames so I decide to feel the cool breeze only cos as hungry as I am, Gala has been banned, I’m watching out for “red” bikes coming too close too, cos LagosMet said it’s not safe (security-wise), Just in front of me, I see a “check point”, my heart is beating fast cos I left home without my license,  I narrowly escaped and see a child beggar right in front, another trying to clean my windscreen, I decide to help (not that kind of lagos erotic help o!) and then remember that I could end up in jail this very night… yet Lagos is not the worst place to work. Joor oh! Mi o le fi handcuffs she bracelet o!

THE PUBLICATION

In the initiative to re-enforce Law and Order around the Lagos Central Business District, the Lagos State Government hereby draws the attention of the general public to the following PUBLIC DISORDER OFFENCES, contained in the CRIMINAL CODE AND ENVIROMENTAL SANITATION LAW 2003 LAWS OF LAGOS STATE and the sanction that maybe imposed upon conviction.

1    BEGGING FOR OR GATHERING OR COLLECTING ALMS IS PROHIBITED WITHIN THE LAGOS CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT:

1    Outer and Inner Marina
2    Broad Street
3    Balogun Street
4    Martins Street
5    Nnamdi Azikiwe Street
6    Eko Bridge
7    Carter Bridge
8    Apongbon Street
9    Idumagbo Avenue
10    Campbell Street
11    Breadfruit Street
12    Tinubu Street
13    Abibu Oki Street
14    Oke Olowogbowo Street
15    Davis Street
16    Adeniji Adele Street
17    Church Street
18    Docemo Street
19    Odunlami Street
20    Iga Idunganran Street
21    Ereko Street
22    Kakawa Street
23    Campos Street
24    Bamgbose Street
25    Alli Balogun Street
26    Ehingbeti (Marina Foreshore)
27    Ebute Ero
28    Force Road
29    King George Road
30    All Flyovers in Lagos Island

It is an offence to give alms to any person begging for alms within the Lagos Central Business District.

Offenders will be liable to one (1) month imprisonment and suffer punishment for subsequent offences.
www.LagosMet.com
2    Every Person found wandering in or upon or near any premises or in any road or highway or any place adjacent thereto or in any public place within the Lagos Central Business District at such time or under such circumstances as to lead to the conclusion that such a person is there for an illegal or disorderly purpose shall be deemed to be a rouge or vagabond and is guilty of a misdemeanor and is liable to imprisonment for three (3) months and one (1) year upon subsequent conviction.
3    Every suspected person or reputed thief who has no visible means of subsistence and cannot give an account of himself found within the Lagos Central Business District shall be deemed to be a rouge or vagabond and is guilty of a misdemeanor and is liable to imprisonment for three (3) months and one (1) year upon subsequent conviction.

1.    Extortion by tout or miscreants is prohibited on all streets within the Lagos Central Business District.

2.    LITTERING OF THE STREETS WITHIN THE LAGOS CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT IS PROHIBITED.

It is an offence to dispose of scrap papers, newspapers, sweet wrappers, fruit skins, water sachets or similar refuse anywhere except little bins within the Lagos Central Business district. Offenders will be liable to a fine of not less than N1, 000.00

3.    DEFECATING OR URINATING IN THE DRAINAGE OR OPEN SPACES WITHIN THE LAGOS CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT.

It is an offence to defecate or urinate in the drainage or open spaces within the Lagos Central Business District. Offenders will be prosecuted and upon conviction liable to a fine between N5, 000.00 & N 10,000.00.

4.    STRUCTURE ON ROAD SET BACK & ABUSE OF OPEN SPACE AND WALK PATH.

It is an offence to erect any structure on the road set back and walk path of any highway within the Lagos Central Business District and any open space within the district.

No person shall use any road set back or walk path or open space within the Lagos Central Business District for a mechanic workshop.
Offenders will be prosecuted and upon conviction liable to a fine between N5,000.00 & N10,000.00.

Persons convicted of any of these offences maybe ordered to render community service under the provisions of the Law.

Eko o ni baje o!

BIG thanks to Chinwe for putting this together.

Joke of the day. Let’s visit the court of law as this grannie is being tried for disobeying the laws of the state…

Grandma prolly knows you too!

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