The house of scam on ibadan street ilupeju

A house developer has duped over 200 people of about 50 million naira in a matter that has generated media interest and the intervention of the EFCC. The 2-storey building in Ilupeju is a brown building on Ibadan street off Tinubu road, off Ilupeju Street, is a newly completed building with at least 15 flats. The developer known as Alhaji Hassan Lukman or Qulaj Homes or L A Chicago or Standard homes collected house rents from at least 200 people starting from 150,000 naira to as much as 1.4 million naira. Monday, 31st of August was meant to be the opening day where tenants would lay claim to their flats but unfortunately, more than 200 people converged to witness one of the biggest modern real-estate scams in Lagos. The developer, along with his team of Ahmed, Otunba e.t.c. absconded and coined the Ilupeju Policemen with the help of the RRS squad to deter touts from tearing the building down. They also paid Ilupeju Area Boys to work with the police and maintain peace and orderliness as the workers put finishing touches to the house.

Work is ongoing but all the flats have already been occupied by people who had links to the military, touts, police, government e.t.c. LagosMet.Com noticed even the crew from Sterling Bank did not stand a chance in the scam romance.

Now the highlights.
The developer “Hassan alias Chicago met the head of the family in a bid to demolish the old family bungalow and build a lucrative 2-storey on it and maybe collect rentals for 6 years before handing the property over to the family. LagosMet.Com was told that the family agreed to this, verbally, without signing any papers and the original documents are still with the head of the family. Most houses on Ibadan street belong to families (not one person). The developers practically collected money from people to fund the building project and had been doing this since October 2008. In a nut-shell, most of the money went into building the new house while some went into a similar project at a site not far from the present calamity. NTA and SuperScreen were at the site yesterday and it was on the news on TV last night.

This should serve as a warning as fraudulent people are still driving people to the site and collecting money from them, issuing fake receipts. The present list has been forwarded to the EFCC and Alausa, the Ilupeju Police could not offer much in terms of information but it is widely believed that he carried out the fraudulent acts with the connivance of some top Ilupeju police officers.

www.LagosMet.Com

Whether the house would be sold to pay back the funds of hundreds of stranded tenants remains to be seen but it looks like the only way out of this mess. As usual, this is another 55 million naira case that will last could last years before justice, if at all, is done. It has always been said several times. Patronise only Registered Estate Surveyors and Valuers for your housing needs, even a Lawyer is not a professional Property Manager recognised by the Institute of Estate Surveyors and Valuers. Don’t be a victim.

More from the net:

http://www.sunnewsonline.com/webpages/news/national/2009/sept/02/national-02-09-2009-14.htm

http://thepmnews.com/2009/09/17/fraudsters-take-over-real-estate-business

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Crime/5451529-147/story.csp

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Crime/1885367-147/Property_scammer_arrested___.csp

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Crime/5435760-147/House_scam:_Another_set_of_victims.csp

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Crime/5425074-147/Long_wait_besets_Egbeda_property_scam.csp

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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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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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The Police is your friend

FRSC (Road Safety), VIU (MOT), Customs, LASTMA, Lagos KAI and Nigeria Police

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

If you do not have Certificate of Roadworthiness (not M.O.T.) quickly get yours from the authorised source ASAP, that’s to start with. Another issue that’s likely to cause confusion and ultimately, extortion is the issue of Tax Clearance Certificate for tax payers. Have you been told that your vehicle particulars, license, number plates or even your car itself are illegal? Have you seen the “men of the force” break or tear these before your very eyes? Have you been “stopped and searched” by the “authorities” only to find bullets or marijuana in your car without knowing how they got in there? Have you ever bribed a policeman? Have you ever been threatened with an “official” weapon or with “detention”? Have you been physically assaulted? Have you escaped LASTMA by whiskers? Do you feel your heart pop out of your chest when you sight the FRSC? Did you fill your vehicle forms by yourself or did you “runs” it? Have you ever unknowingly ventured into the opposite direction of a “one-way” road? Did you get away with it during the day?

Warning!!!: Always go out with photocopies of your documents (except for the driver’s license) and ensure you have at least 500 naira in your safe.

This is one never ending topic – I can’t even compile all in one month. I’ll take a little at a time, and then like Nollywood, I’ll give you part 1, part 2… Firstly, I’ll start with what you probably know. Before you go with me, please see Traffic Offences and Fines in Lagos State

A punch reporter writes:

“It is always difficult to complete the payment process in one day, even if the arrest/booking was made in the morning. By implication, the impounded vehicle will pass the night in the custody of the VIOs. And that means paying extra for demurrage. But having an MOT certificate may not be enough to be out of the VIOs’ trouble as some of the documents are adjudged to be fake.Having a fake MOT is as bad as not having any at all.”

Police documents (I mean what they need to see when they stop you)
1. Vehicle Particulars gummed to your Windscreen
2. Driver’s license
3. 3rd Party Insurance
4. Occasionally, P.of.O. (proof of ownership) – here they may question you on your relationship with the owner if the car is not yours.
5. Seat Belt (you’ll be shocked)
6. Stop and search (the law is – you should search a policeman thoroughly before allowing him to search your vehicle. Several people ended up behind bars for refusing to bribe the police. By right, a policeman can search you if there is a warrant for a missing laptop (e.g.) with the serial number matching yours. You must search a police officer before allowing him to search you, if you don’t want to end up on crime fighters.
7. Crash Helmet
8. Wetin you carry (in your trunk). Always ensure all glasses are up before going to the trunk of your car, they can easily throw stuff in it.

LASTMA
1. Driver’s license
2. Central Unlock (I’m not joking, they are ever ready to jump in if you let your guards down)
3. Your key (if you are really dumb)
4. Other police documents including certificate of roadworthiness (if you don’t know your right)
5. Seat Belt (very very important)
6. Baby in front seat (serious trouble)

Generally, LASTMA attempts to do FRSC duties as the former is tied to internal routes while the latter should only man federal roads. This implies that LASTMA can charge you for receiving calls without using headset, while driving.

FRSC and maybe, VIO/VIU
1. Driver’s license
2. General Vehicle Registration info
3. Fire extinguisher
4. Jack, Wheel Spanner, C-Caution, trafficators, inner lights, all the lights, horn, wipers, tyres …
5. Original number plates
6. Baby in front seat (very serious trouble)

So much to mention… I’ll update this with time, you can bookmark this page (safe).

Now back to the issue of TCC. If you pay tax, get your Tax Clearance Card, it’s likely to become the next pot-hole for unsuspecting motorists. We know our law enforcement (or law breaking) agents love making money out of “Government orders” like limit on old imported cars, right hand driving, the old odd number – even number plate driving days e.t.c. Now I’ll give a brief report on my people.

1. The Police: You almost cannot avoid them, even on Sunday Morning, and on their day, you can never be right. Here, Tokunbo captures the yellow fever as they attempt to stop a real Lagosian. Here again, a policeman is sentenced to death for killing a civilian over 20 naira bribe. While some are villains, a few are heroes who stand up to defend the civilians whose funds were used to purchase the guns they carry about, in order to protect us. I’ve met a few true policemen, seriously. Depending on how you handle a policeman, he is potentially your friend. Know when to smile and when to bone. Remember, you can get out of ANY police situation if you know how to ‘relate’, without paying a dime even if you are driving a big car. I’ve done it a few times (but I sent recharge cards afterwards o!). For RRS, please cooperate with orders, for ARS please, I beg of you please please please, be extremely cooperative and observant. I guess they have the license to kill. If you have links to lawyers or military men, you are 50% above the law. If you have links within the police, hmm some 80%, if DPO and above, 99%, if Commissioner or IG, 100% FREE!

LASTMA ready to tow

2. LASTMA: Hmm, I’ve made a few friends with these guys, highest i’ve paid – 1,000 naira. A few times, I got away. If you’ve got some military (Army, Navy, Air Force) or even Combatant MOPOL sticker, you are 99% above the law. If you leave home before 6:00am and leave your office after 7:30pm, you most likely won’t encounter any of the law enforcement agents (except of course, our friends – the Police). On Awolowo Road, they come with the police to move all vehicles parked on the sides and you pay at least 15,000 naira to get your car back. Woe betide those without military stickers (by now you can see that this is more important than all your documents put together). Now you are thinking these guys are not dangerous cos they aren’t armed? You are totally wrong! Here LASTMA officials killed a passenger with an umbrella.  Elsewhere, a LASTMA official stands trial for collecting 10,000 naira from a car owner, see yawa. Lastma sacks 24 (http://thepmnews.com/2009/01/28/lastma-sacks-24)More?

See Contact details of Top LASTMA, LAMATA, Drainage e.t.c. officers and executives.

FRSC on fire

3. FRSC: These guys don’t listen to shite. They move you (tow, fly, pull, drag) to their office where you pay and get your receipt so you can put it in a frame and display it in your living room! These guys could be ruthless though, two Sundays ago, I saw an ugly scene at Ilupeju Bypass where an FRSC official brought out a brand new special (maybe official) axe and attempted to axe a motorist who was pleading with him, everyone around took to their heels, I was about slowing down, but man, i thought of my mother (mama dey for house like Fela said) and stepped on it.

Here, Tayo Odukoya pictures the FRSC living what they preach. An FRSC car goes up in flames with no fire extinguisher (Ironic, isn’t it?).

4. Others KAI, VIU e.t.c they come up everyday. Some factions wear purple, some lemon green and green, some yellow, red, pink, some have 24-bit colours! like the ones on Ligali Ayorinde Street who report to their Oga at the Local Government Secretariat and arrest you for slow driving or looking out of your window or illegal “trafficating” or stopping. As for inter-state routes, the Customs are all out looking for Cotonou-imported cars, impounding them and charging as high as 250,000 naira for fake customs papers. More on that later.

All these haven’t gone unnoticed as Gov. Fashola declares war on such indiscipline and threatens to sanction such corrupt people.

Acronyms (in zig-zag “order”)

RRS – Rapid Response Squad

ARS – Anti-Response Squad

MOT – Ministry of Transportation Certificate

MOPOL – Mobile Police

FRSC – Federal Road Safety Corporation (no mercy)

Police – NPF or Olopa (our best friends – seriously)

Traffic Warden - Yellow Fever (Red top or light green reflectors on Police Uniform, usually more peaceful and more useful unless flanked by the Police or LASTMA or both)

VIO – Vehicle Inspection Officer

VIU – Vehicle Inspection Unit (Yellow with diagonal black stripes)

KAI – Kick Against Indiscipline

LASTMA – Lagos State Traffic Management Authority

P of O - Proof of Ownership

Traffic – Means real go slow!

To be continued…

Joor oh! Mi o le fi ARS ta eyin o! (Please, I don’t joke with the Anti-Robbery Squad)

Joke of the day: WarriTV reports on the Niger Delta Crisis (wafi pidgin, youtube)

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Awolowo - Falomo Bridge

Lagos has been at a standstill all day and heavy traffic starting from Bonny camp has spread to Ojodu Berger and beyond. People spent an average of 4:30 hours from the mainland to the Island. If you have any plan to visit Victoria Island today, the best thing to do is to cancel it. I feel sorry for people who are stuck in that traffic with Manual gears and without A/C or with 10 litres of fuel. Believe me, you don’t want to be caught in that traffic by sunset when armed robbers and mobile phone agents are likely to take undue advantage of the unfortunate incidence.

Why the gridlock? A dead container trailer blocked the road to Bonny camp completely, such that even Okadas cannot squeeze into the tiny space leaving the whole of Lagos no other choice than to go through Falomo bridge, the second of three land ways to get into V.I. (The third option is the Ikorodu-Epe expressway). As a result, traffic from the third mainland bridge and Western Avenue all explore means to get to Falomo bridge either through Awolowo Road or Osbourne/Kingsway.

Zoom in on Awolowo Road

I don’t even want to think about the amount of man-hours or fuel burnt in traffic, I just know the State Government will come up with a law limiting trailers henceforth. For the sake of one man, Lagos suffered terribly on a Friday. Thank God it’s Friday!

Going home? Well, I’ll let you know how it is, that’s if people have not explored the unlawful one-way option, thereby blocking all incoming routes. As for me, I’m not leaving the Island until 9:45pm, or better still 11:00pm. Don’t wait for me though, cos I can as well crash somewhere on the Island… or in the car.

Enjoy your weekend.

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Governor Fashola

In Simon’s article, Understanding the Fashola Phenomenon, the relationship between Fashola and Tinubu clearly explains why Lagos is moving forward. He also compared the governor with other peers who have embarked on white elephant projects and like their predecessors have failed to make an impact. Please read on…

“Anytime someone pours encomium on Lagos State Governor Babatunde Fashola, I smile, mischievously. I’m usually amused because… Okay, I’ll come back to that shortly. A few days ago, I was, as usual, discussing Nigeria with a friend. He recently had a terrible experience with a government institution. “We can never get it right in this country,” he said in frustration. “Nigeria is doomed,” he proclaimed on top of his voice. I looked at him and said: “Fashola.” I could feel his anger melt down. Reluctantly, he replied: “You may have a point there.” What did I mean by “Fashola”? No, I was not saying Fashola was about to solve all our problems. But under two years, he has demonstrated a sense of urgency, commitment and focus. It is not just about the change he is bringing to Lagos, but also the promise he has shown. He is showing us clearly that we are not living in a hopeless society, that things can change and change for good. Fashola has renewed my hope that a new Nigeria is possible.
It is very easy to think Nigeria is doomed. I have agonised over this doom most of my adult life. It is very difficult to see hope. We hardly see the silver lining in a dark cloud; rather, we see a dark lining in a silver cloud, as someone said years ago. We are so frustrated and pessimistic that we don’t even see the opportunities and prospects that gawk at us. All we can see are problems and pains. You cannot blame the Nigerian. We appear to be helpless and hopeless. We are like a sheep without a shepherd. Therefore, whenever someone appreciates Fashola, I smile mischievously, as if saying: “Didn’t you say it is finished with Nigeria?” And believe it or not, there are a hundred Fasholas – educated, exposed, committed, focused and visionary – all over Nigeria who do not have the opportunity to shine because of our peculiar political structure.
The major difference, however, is that someone placed merit above political expediency and stuck out his neck for Fashola. I’m talking about Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the immediate past governor of Lagos State. Having ruled Lagos for eight turbulent years, during which he kept battling with the President Olusegun Obasanjo-led PDP troops who were hell-bent on capturing Lagos at any cost, Tinubu could easily have handed over to another politician. There were many of them around him, pressing him left, right and centre. He chose, instead, to throw his weight behind a certain Babatunde Raji Fashola who was unknown outside the Lagos corridors of power. Why did Tinubu settle for Fashola? Why did he choose to gamble on someone who had never been a councillor, much less a council chairman, in a society where we make jest of people like Pat Utomi because their political CV is not intimidating?
Tinubu opted for someone whose first exercise of executive power would be in the office of the governor of Lagos, the most chaotic and the most strategic state in Nigeria. Why? My guess is that Tinubu saw something in him which some of us did not see. My guess is that having laid out a beautiful plan for Lagos which he could not fully implement because of political expediency in the Obasanjo years, Tinubu was sincerely committed to getting a rightful successor who would carry out the assignment to a logical conclusion. He put merit above merriment, purpose above politics, reason above rhyme. I wish Obasanjo could honestly say the same regarding his own choice of successor.
Why is Fashola making progress? This should provide good PhD research topics for political scientists and maybe economists. Since I am a student of Governance and Development, I will look at the Lagos Model from my own bias. My write-up today should help us understand the Fashola Phenomenon and put things in proper perspective. We can then ask: what can the rest of Nigeria learn from this? The major obstacle to good governance in Nigeria, in my own opinion, is politics. You can replace that word with “politicking”. Many times, we have managed to produce good people in government but they end up as failures. Why? I suggest: the impediments caused by politicking. For you to succeed as a leader in Nigeria, you must get your politics and policy right. You may have good policies, but without the right politics you will fail. No matter how much we dislike politicians, we need them. You can never have politics without politicians. That is one. On the other hand, you may get all your politics right – pleasing some people, pummelling others, perfecting all the intrigues – but the society will never move forward if you do not have the right policies. You, therefore, cannot escape a happy marriage of politics and policy if you are to be an achiever.
Now here comes the Lagos Model. Fashola is the “technocrat” who handles governance, the finer details. Tinubu is the “godfather” who handles the politics, you know, the murky waters. They complement each other. Tinubu himself is a technocrat, to be sure, but the politician took the better part of him during his tenure as he had to fight off the PDP hawks. If Fashola begins to play politics today, governance will suffer. If he was interested in politicking, he could never have removed the traders from Oshodi. He could never have chased away those yellow buses from the highway. In Nigerian politics, the critical mass of voters will be found in markets and at motor parks. The real voters and foot soldiers are petty traders, bus drivers, conductors and touts. The conventional wisdom is that if you control the motor parks, you control the thugs; if you control the thugs, you control the polling booth; if you control the polling booth, you control the votes! That is why associations such as National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN) are very strategic to politicians and there is always a fierce battle to control them.
By taking these tough decisions, Fashola would have been committing political suicide. But, no, there is Tinubu to clean up the “mess” politically. This frees Fashola to retain his focus without much distraction. It is like in football: you have a defensive midfielder and an attacking midfielder – the former, like Tinubu, handles the defensive part of the job while the latter, like Fashola, is freed and creates goals for his team. Politics and policy, like we said, must be happily married if we are to enjoy good governance in this country. Fashola has never made any attempt to discredit his predecessor. I hear a lot of PDP people say: “It’s Tinubu’s programme that Fashola is implementing.” Pure rubbish. One of the biggest obstacles to our development is this mentality that you must discredit your predecessor and discontinue his programmes so that people would not say you don’t have your own ideas. Pure rubbish. Government is a continuum. If anything, policy reversals have done a lot of damage to the country, as we can see at the federal level.

Fashola and S.A.Ferguson

President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua came to office in May 2007, and – based on the advice of people who probably had selfish motives – he suspended the power projects, cancelled the Lagos-Kano rail contract and reversed the privatisation of refineries. Nearly two years after, Yar’Adua is going back to the same power and rail projects – and he now wants to privatise the refineries again. Precious time wasted for nothing! Does he know the billions of dollars and invaluable productivity we have lost as a result of this? Why must he reverse policies for the fun of it? All the talk about 6,000 megawatts today is based on the projects Obasanjo initiated in 2006! So why waste our time? This is very common all over Nigeria – new governors abandoning critical projects for selfish reasons. Fashola has proved to be wiser than most.
But can we replicate the Lagos Model all over Nigeria? For instance, would Dr. Chimaroke Nnamani have performed better as Enugu governor if he had faced governance and allowed Jim Nwobodo to handle the politics? That is the problem with modelling. What works in Sokoto may not work in Akwa Ibom and what works in Oyo may fail in Kogi. However, the fundamental truth cannot be altered – that “politics and policy” must be delicately balanced, happily married, if we are to make progress. Whether one person should handle the two or there should be “separation of powers” between the “politician” and the “technocrat” is what we can debate more extensively. However, the Lagos Model can work for Nigeria as witnessed under Obasanjo administration. Obasanjo, though a terrible politician who was obviously power drunk, managed to handle the politics while “technocrats” such as Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Mr. Bode Agusto, Dr. Mansur Muhtar and Mallam Nasir el-Rufai went about the business of governance. Obasanjo’s battle with his own contradictions might have discredited his government, but we certainly made some progress under his government.
Can we then toy with the idea of a “politician” President and a “technocratic” VP in 2011? Technocrats have their failings, just like politicians too, so we need a balance. Somehow, I think Nigeria’s redemption will benefit tremendously by learning from the Lagos Model. It’s a phenomenon we should give serious consideration to, as we battle to create a new Nigeria.”

Joke of the day: African Remix Video (Beyonce put a ring on it) All the single ladies spoof

and Don’t put that ring on it (Spoof Video)

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Buildings Collapse, monthly!

11 die as 3-storey building returned to ground zero in Mushin… Wait a minute. The Government is Corrupt! The police is Corrupt! Lecturers and teachers are Corrupt! Agents are corrupt! Managers are corrupt! Pastors are Corrupt! Civil servants are corrupt! Politicians are Corrupt! They are all brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, friends, colleagues, relatives and rivals but they all steal. Now tell me who is not corrupt? Only people who are closer to money can steal, people who force their way into those region to steal are known as armed robbers. People are quick to point fingers but when you reverse the case, they do even worse.

Government officials embezzle public funds, police extort and accept bribe, lecturers accept stuffs in cash or kind, agents defraud, managers inflate, pastors preach money only for the sake of their pockets, civil servants cant depend on salaries and have to make you pay whatever you can, keep me away from politicians, please. The list is endless. They must feed mouths, they must represent but some innocent people must DIE as a consequence.

When funds are not available, people die, when someone has to pay all he made for the day to corrupt LASTMA officials, someone sleeps hungry, someone is forced to steal, someone can have sex for apples… Though it happens all around the world, the emphasis on material things in Lagos probably makes it one of the worst cities in this regard. Many imported drugs, electronics, fabrics e.t.c. are substandard, why? because people want to make more profit. They simply want you to pay more and get less and short-change you. They don’t care if you die, afterall 140 million (possibly more) other Nigerians will patronize them. We have a few wealthy people and many rich ones, well respected by the media, church, banks, government, Police and the Embassies regardless of how they came about the riches (legal, illegal or ritual means).

Why am I mad today? Time and again, we’ve been confronted with news of lecturers sleeping with ladies for grades, police extorting money from motorists, contractors bribing government officials…. and buildings collapsing. Of all the grave offenses against humanity, I think this is probably the worst. I would rather have you take my money and spare my life. Why should I lose both at shelter point? When I say structures I’m referring to roads, bridges, homes, drainage, schools e.t.c. People just want to cut costs (both the owner and more often, the contractor) by reducing the quantity and quality of Cement, Iron rods and many other building materials. That’s why you see 2 year old roads that look much like some gully erosion in rural areas. All hell is let loose when the rains return and then you see people living the life no right thinking human being would think of.

Is sleeping under the bridge now safer from staying at home? Look around your house, do an inspection, trace those crumbs you sweep away every morning, those holes you patched, those red sands turning cake, cracked walls (pillars worse) exposed foundation, soaked walls, extensive flooding e.t.c. You cannot struggle to feed yourself and your family yet struggle to close your eyes, expecting the walls to give in to pressure from corrupt planners. I think now is the time to fight corruption at all levels. Building plans are approved and buildings are left at the mercy of corrupt people, without quality and safety inspection. Landlords (some have 100 such houses in Lagos alone) immediately contact equally corrupt agents and unsuspecting Lagosians move in, just to either run away at some time after having spent a lot patching things up, or lose their lives sometime later.

It’s time to start making alternative plans to “stay alive” if you wish. Newly completed buildings have crumbled in the past and it won’t be surprising if more buildings start to crumble as the rains eventually descend on coastal Lagos. Listen to your instincts, if you think your home isn’t safe, it definitely will collapse or sink.

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The world’s best place to live in, the worst place to work

Lagos Island

I tried real hard not to discuss this topic but I have since found myself caught in the middle of such arguments initiated by first time visitors to Lagos. Work is still on going and I sincerely believe Lagos will be the best place on earth to work when issues such as security, drainage and traffic have been resolved.

AOL’s survey: http://video.aol.com/video-detail/lagos-voted-worst-place-to-work/2278408703/?icid=VIDLRVNWS04 reported that voters decided human beings should not work in Lagos.

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Result:

No. 1 Lagos, Nigeria

Overall Grade: Very High Risk Location
Severe Problems: Infrastructure, Crime
Major Problems: Pollution, Disease & Sanitation, Medical Facilities, Availability of Goods and Services
Other Problems: Climate, Education Facilities, Physical Remoteness, Political Violence & Repression, Political & Social Environment, Culture & Recreation
LagosMet Problems: All these in our Lagos Naija alone?

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Where do I start from? Talking about expatriates (cos they obviously participated in the voting process), war-torn countries such as Sudan, Iraq, Columbia, Liberia e.t.c miraculously failed to produce a City to top this “overblown” report and places such as Gaza, Darfur e.t.c. are not as bad as Lagos. Interesting innit? Apapa, V.I., Ikoyi, Surulere, Ilupeju harbour lots of expatriates from Americans, Europeans to Asians, South Americans and Africans. Lebanese, Japanese, Indian and Chinese are known to be notorious employers but are still making it big in Lagos and we are yet to see a massive exodus of such people. Many of them have settled in Lagos, have their spiritual places of worship and even contribute to the society and local organizations. They have their Schools (Indian School, Ilupeju, American International School, British International School, The Chinese School… and so on) and even have their vegetable markets. Even when Kidnapping seems to be the order of the day, expatriates are rarely kidnapped in Lagos.

Vegetable Market

We already know our roads need massive repairs, and power supply is almost non-existent, but we have tried our best to accomodate foreigners; why the negative report? From Y-not to Eko Hotel, Kuramo to Galleria, our “night fighters” have kept them warm in the land of heat, some even got married and had kids by them. Mobil for example have a huge staff quarters on Ligali Ayorinde, right next to their HQ. Chevron already have a similar structure somewhere around 4th round about, with members of staff (foreigners) relaxing comfortably in their sofas while others have staff buses and the rest is all history. Lagos is relatively peaceful.

The voters certainly had something else against Lagos beyond this and this is no good news to rebrand Nigeria. I think it’s time to rebrand Lagos and let our expatriates know that the best way to move our Metro forward is not to go to AOL or ABC or Business Week to say “Hey Fellas, Lagos is your Bermudas Triangle!”. They have probably tasted our food, visited our Hotels, Strip-clubs, Night Clubs, Coliseums, and Malls, and Gallerias and our wines and champaignes but have handed us a bottle of Napalm in return. We all know many of the problems we have in Lagos, but please (Joor Oh!) it’s not so so bad.

Eko o ni baje!

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Teacher’s Strike

Staff campaign for pay rise

This week, I was shocked to hear that school teachers had gone on strike. Actually, traffic was kind of lighter than usual, this I mistakenly attributed to the on-going UEFA Champions league matches knowing fully well that Arsenal, Man-U and Chelsea (and some Liverpool) fans would like to watch the games live even if it meant staying back in the office or at home (call-in-sick). This Day made it clear (http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=136699) how pupils will be affected negatively by this development, final year pupils especially. I really don’t know why teachers so poorly paid have to fight tooth and nail to get an increase in the face of searing inflation, devaluation of the Naira (The naira was 117 naira to a dollar as at 28th of November) at 165 naira to a dollar. The lowly paid ones feel the ripple effect the most ranging from food stuff, house rent, health, transportation and clothing.

Credit Crunch

February was fast! If you are still paying up debts you “amassed” during the month of December, you can pay up this March as 30 days should make one more pay. But if you fell a victim during vals, with Easter likely to be on the way, don’t dip your hands into your pocket just yet. Okay if the teachers are complaining bitterly and even going on strike, they have every right to. People in the private sector dare not try that. The global credit disaster has left a lot of people unemployed as companies keep downsizing. At present, most companies instead of recruiting are relieving employees of their jobs and overworking the surviving ones. It’s a matter of holding on to your job. It was predicted that Nigeria would not be affected by the Credit Crunch but whoever published that probably forgot that at least 4 billion dollars is pumped into the Nigerian Economy by Nigerians in Diaspora. Already, many are returning from the UK to seek a better life in Lagos. Companies are reviewing budgets and are very reluctant to sign P.O.’s as the traffic indicators stand still on “RED”. Oceanic Bank for example did not retain a single Corper among the resently unleashed Batch A NYSC members. A very rare occurence in banks nowadays. GTB also sacked some members of staff for not showing up at the last annual retreat. The fact is most companies are seriously looking for ways to downsize, free up the wage bill and reduce operating expenses as much as possible. Will things get better soon? Do you expect a yes? Then keep tab on what’s happening to America and Obama’s mission of “Hope”. The obvious fact is that the credit crunch is affecting Nigeria regardless of what we initially thought. The earlier we address the issue the better. Address in the sense that we, as individuals, need to find alternatives and to battle hard to survive these times. It is purely coincidental that our Governor is trying to keep Lagos clean at the moment, thereby relieving people of their “jobs”. Coupled with the c.c., well, I just hope it won’t be long before everyone walks on the street carrying three things:

1. Audacity of Hope by Barrack Obama
2. The Holy Bible/Qu’ran
3. Revolver or Knife

Fuel Pump Price Hike

Okay, the FG has been subsdising the cost of fuel before I was born but really, I do not understand how after almost 50 years of independence we cannot refine enough crude oil for use or export and now we will be left at the mercy of “independent” marketers (IMs). Hmmm. Interesting. They’ve promised that prices are likely to be low (even without subsidy) since our IMs are not greedy milk-them-quick people. To have this coming in at this time of the GCC (Global Credit Crunch), I think it’s a welcome decision and hopefully that should boost the value of the Naira (Mr CBN won’t it?). It’s for our own good anyway, that’s what “they” said and I can only hope…

Click here to compare the price of petrol/gasoline in other parts of the world: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline_usage_and_pricing

Flood

Okay the rains are here again. And with on-going road reconstruction, it remains to be seen if this is one department where the Governor will score the least. Drainage has been a huge problem in the past, contributing to gridlocks (heaviest traffic), robbery, loss of homes and breakdown of vehicle not to mention, lateness to work. If Lagos can keep the floods away for once then we should have a pleasant March to August. Unfortunately, I don’t see us living this “good life” until sometime next year!

Buy Garri

Before I say bye – bye, I should remind you that the global credit crunch will not affect 4 things: Food, clothing, housing and Internet. If you are in any of these businesses, you should continue to live large. Obviously, music, movies, advertising, religion and education will continue to thrive. If you are thinking of investing heavily in electronics or automobiles, I think this is not a good time. Invest wisely and remember that the GCC is also affecting 419ers (visit www.419eater.com), don’t fall mugu to Land/Property/Mowe-Ibafo scams.

Happy New month!

I leave you with a video from Hon. Lekan Kamson… A must see.

Links: www.lagoscityphotos.blogspot.com

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