Neo-XVI:


Lies
Still no answer, all blah, blah, blah. You're a waste of my time. Ciao

“It’s a regeneration of a slum,” he said. “We gave enough notification. The government intends to develop 1,008 housing units. What we removed was just shanties. Nobody was even living in those shanties. Maybe we had a couple of squatters living there.”

babyosisi: Is there provision for refuse disposal in Nigeria?
No be for bush or street people dey throway dorty?
The country is one big poo

Neo-XVI:


Lol. I'm not the reporter who wrote the story. Go take that up with the new york times. You're a paid govt hack and there's no arguing with you. Provide an answer to this simple question: did they document those that lived there before the demolition, so that when the units are built those folks can go with an ID and get an apartment? Yes or no, Mister?

Neo-XVI:


How dumb can you be? You come with a claim that Fashola said this and that and expect me to believe without asking questions? If you are a sheep, please don't assume we all are. That is the reason the country is so messed up, cos no one ask questions. How can you claim Fashola said they will build a thousand housing units for those folks, meanwhile they demolished their houses without even documenting those that lived there in the first place. I'm supposed to believe that? So when the houses are completed, how will government know the people that lived there before without any documentation? Can you now see how dumb you are?

If there's documentation, tell me there's one. If not, please stop quoting me if you have nothing sensible to say.
I posted the link to the full story and stated that clearly. It was too long to post here. Sorry, I'm not a government azzlicker.

shymexx:

Where the heck is "Makoko?" And how's Makoko relevant here??

Yeah, my ancestors came from China to settle in Lagos - my last name is Lee Xi Ping, are you happy now??

Billyonaire: I am sorry, whats the meaning of olodo, can you type English. I am pretty much well-lettered in English.

Billyonaire: You can do that at your spare time. I am a very busy person.

Neo-XVI:


Much as I wish and hope that this turns out to be true, it just seems like it won't be. Did they tell that to those folks? Did they document those that lived there before the demolition? Did they get their forwarding address or tell them who to go and meet in due time to make their claim for getting a housing unit when it is completed? Did they tell them when these new units will get completed?

From the story of how the place was demolished and the subsequent press conference, it doesn't look like there's a yes for any of these questions.

[b]

LAGOS State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, Sunday said the Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market that was shut last week would not be re-opened until the environmental situation in and around the market improves and the umbrella union of the traders enters into an agreement with the government.

The governor, who spoke during a visit to the market, told members of Ladipo Auto Centre Executive Committee (LACEC) that the reasons for the closure included gross disregard to the environment, erection of illegal structures and improper business dispositions by the traders, adding that all must be thoroughly addressed before the market could be reopened.

The state government’s role in the market, Fashola said, was to encourage the traders understand the importance of a tidy environment, not just for good health but also a crucial factor for a thriving business.

Fashola noted that the rainy season would soon begin in earnest and that government’s intervention was to ensure there would be no casualties as a result of the unacceptable activities the traders had perpetrated in and around the market.[/b]

He said the state government would not want to be responsible for casualties of flood as recorded in previous years in Lagos and other states of the country, adding that shutting the market was only a proactive measure at preventing such casualties.

He said the market would remain closed till “the government is satisfied, after which another fresh agreement between government and the union would have been reached.”

He also assured that government was ready to help traders and anybody doing business in any of the markets to prosper but that a shabby condition lsuch as Ladipo Market, before closure, could not encourage customers.

“No business associates will be courageous enough to visit such an environment. It will no longer be business as usual. The old ways cannot continue. Those responsible have seen where their error lies, and I hope they are ready to adjust so that business can continue.”

Fashola urged the traders to co-operate with the Mushin Local Council in cleaning up and ensuring an environmentally sustainable market environment.

In his response, President, Ladipo Auto Centre Executive Committee (LACEC), Iyke Animalu, assured the governor of the union’s and traders’ readiness to comply with the relevant directives towards immediate evacuation and disposal of refuse and removal of whatever might impede free flow of traffic on the roads, so as to have the market reopened.

“The union will do whatever it takes to ensure that it does not disappoint the governor and make sure the market is made a business-friendly environment for traders and customers”, he assured.


http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115119:-fashola-gives-conditions-for-re-opening-ladipo-market&catid=3:metro&Itemid=558

The Ladipo International Auto Spare Parts Market during the visit of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN) on Sunday, March 3, 2013. INSET: Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola SAN (2nd right), Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello (left), Chairman of the Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences, CSP Bayonle Sulaiman (2nd left), President General, Ladipo Central Executive Auto Dealers Association, Comrade Ikechukwu Animalu (middle) and Director of Enforcement, Ministry of the Environment, Oluwatoyin Adesina Onisarotu (right)

Billyonaire: The Lagos State does not have limited funds, dont lie. Fashola is actually doing nothing with the funds received from Abuja and the Internally generated revenue cos most projects in my part of Lagos are PPP. The Badagry rail project is Loan, we pay average of 1million naira for tenement rate here annually so it runs into hundreds of billions off Naira, so limited funds is just not true. You are missing the point, the poor people are ready to leave the place, but they simply have no funds according to their complaints, I witnessed first hand experience of mothers sleeping outside in the harsh weather. I saw grown men cry. So I need to you to sound convictions on things you see. I understand you want compensation paid, but the question is, is it before or after the demolition ? What arrangements has been made on where the poor people should stay before the bureaucratic bottlenecks prior to compensation. But alas, fashola isnt paying any compensation. Is this just fair ? Think my brother

Yoruba_Omoge: What I find sooooooooooooooooo funny is that the same group of imbe/ciles who enjoy posting Lagos slum as an example of suffering in Lagos are the ones crying "Injustice".

Slums dey: Fashola is not working.

Cleans up slum: Fashola is evil.

Men with nefarious mind will never be satisfied.

vandarsar: Are you nut? Aint state govt generating revenue from these people some 4-6 years ago? Ranging from tenement rates to so many fraudulents rates that was floated by Fashola's administration. Some of the residents are parts and parcel of Lagos working community, skilled or unskilled.

To the best of my knowledge govt generate funds solely to cater for the masses not the upper class in ikoyi and your imaginary eko atlantic city alone.

NEROSKY:

I like your English, composure n comprehensive illustrations, but your head is not correct.

Reading ur posts makes me think you're fashola's NL proxy!

You they think self

I wish such things come ur way, so you no how it feels, because you don't go around fire and xpect not to sweat!

Am not against change or development either, why no formal notification b4 demolition Are they not human
Even they were animals, won't you move them to a safer place

I believe in nemesis!!!

All the same, i lost my respect for fashola, he locked ladipo market and he's asking for 40million naira (legal stealing) the same thing he to Coker, odunade market, alaba suru e. T. C , wicked looters!

kross_01:
maybe i got carried away with the comparison but come on man, rolling back to africa, lagos can safely be compared to jo'burg, whch still hav shacks & funny settlements visible. But the govt doesnt jst go & drive them all off, rather the first thing u'ld notice in such area is that they'll cme construct an array of toilets dia for them & then keep managing them till they can get a lasting solution to them. While i'm not suggesting to the state gvt hw to run its affairs, 'm surely suggesting to it, hw to trt its citizens like humans & nt second class citizens. My pain with this whole demolition still remains that you as a gvt cnt wake up & send a bulldozer to a settlement without prior notice & or time frame, not even minding the fact that those people are the traditional indigenes/natives of there. If not for land use act, i wonder if such could be thot of in d 1st place.

TheBookWorm:

You will not see me disagreeing with all the assertions that you have made. I am in full support of progress and Nigeria as a whole needs to be modernized at all cost. However, I think where we disagree is how this modernization can be achieved. The slums that are throughout Lagos need to be removed. But we must not forget the human element. Governor Fashola is trying to move Lagos in the right direction, but I wish he handled this situation better. The people who inhabit these slums will not go back to their villages and towns, they will stay in Lagos. Where will they go? They will most likely find themselves in other slums in Lagos. Therefore, this is simply spreading the problem and not making it better. But what is done is done, but the fact that Nigerians have been rendered homeless, because of Governor Fashola's actions does not make me feel good about the situation.

kross_01:
God bless you Neo.
most people are only okay wit things so long as it doesnt affect them, like a saying will have it, 'when another's corpse is being carried, one feels like its a log of wood that is being carried about'. Some people fail to recognise that one of the basics of a responsible govt are provision of basic amenities to its citizenry(good roads, portable water, housing, power, security & general welfare). What will happen if lagos state gvt builds a massive block of flats for its poor natives that are being affected by the modernization of lagos & rent them out at subsidised rates? Uk has council flats, malaysia is even building housing units for its unborn generations, s'african govt does that & more, why can't such be done? For all i care the only crime these people have committed are because they are poor. This is one of those reasons why people are championing for the removal of land use act from the constitution.

Neo-XVI:


How dumb and insensitive. They are the homeless you see around. They are the beggars at your window during traffic jams. They are the people living under bridges, hawking pure water that make you wonder how they are even able to feed with such meager earnings. You people seem to think that these guys had a choice but chose to build shanties in mosquito infested areas BECAUSE THEY LIKE IT. You also seem to forget that life moves in circles. You may be up today in your cozy houses and cars being insensitive to the poor and downtrodden, but it may not last forever. You may need help tomorrow and may receive the same treatment you hand out to these poor folks. It is people with your warped logic that we've been unfortunate to have as leaders that have brought this great country to her knees. A society is judged by how it treats its poor and helpless, and right now we are in a bad place.

TheBookWorm:

You bring up an interesting point. There is logic behind your statement I must say. However, I still believe we should show empathy to those who are at the lowest rung of society. They are often marginalized and forgotten. The improvements that Governor Fashola is bringing to Lagos should be commended, but these improvements are coming at a price. They mostly benefit the haves and not the have-nots.

Igwe.:

Whatever that is not someone's expertise.

Igwe.:
My question is, were the interviews granted? If yes, the facilitator has done its work, so what's the fuss, and if not, money spent has to be returned.
B.T.W, those that collect money from politicians to post on Nairaland, Does Nairaland charge anybody money to post? NO.

Sometimes, you have to be generous to get pass some unnecessary time consuming protocols.

The deal between the president and firm has sparked concerns regarding why Mr. Jonathan chose to channel state funds to secure an interview, when, as president of one of the world’s most important countries, he should have no problems getting leading broadcast stations to interview him.

The interview held in 2010, months after Nigeria’s turbulent power transfer from late president, Umaru Yar’adua; and amid President Jonathan’s preparation to stand for the 2011 election-two events that sure boosted the president’s news value. Critics say that period naturally placed Mr. Jonathan as an appealing subject that any media organization around the world would like to interview for no fee.

Should the president found need to arrange an interview, they say, his officials and aides could easily have reached, say, CNN correspondents in Nigeria; or directly contact the network’s headquarters in Atlanta.

With news organizations perpetually scrambling to be ahead of one another everyday, Mr. Jonathan’s critics say the president did not need to hire a lobbyist or pay anyone to interview him.

Why the president’s team opted for a third party to secure the media interview for thousands of dollars, remains unclear.

Spokesperson for the president, Reuben Abati and Doyin Okupe, declined to comment for this story while Ima Niboro, who was the president’s chief media adviser in 2010, did not answer or return calls.

Information minister, Labaran Maku, also did not reach PREMIUM TIMES back after an aide promised the minister would do so. It is not clear whether the aide passed our questions to the minister.

But if the president’s decision to pay for the interview generated concerns, the CNN’s denial that it was neither contacted by Fleishman-Hillard nor received funds from the firm has left even more questions about the nature of the deal between the Nigerian presidency and the firm.

killuminati: how much dem go pay me if I read all that shiit finish?

Cable News Network, CNN, has denied being paid, or contacted by American lobbying firm, Fleishman-Hillard, for a 2010 interview with President Goodluck Jonathan, contradicting the firm’s claim that it contacted CNN, and other media for a string of interviews.

Fleishman-Hillard, contracted through a Nigerian consultant to the presidency, Caser’s group, was to receive $58,200 to pitch interviews with advocacy groups, and major media outlets including Reuters, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, CNN and Bloomberg.

In its filings to the US Justice Department, the company claimed that while it reached the media organizations, it only succeeded in securing a CNN interview for the president. It added that its fee was lowered by $20,000 after the rest of the interviews were rescheduled.

CNN has however denied arranging its interviews through agencies, specifically denying receiving contacts, or funds, from Fleishman-Hillard to speak to Mr. Jonathan. The TV station’s claim has now stirred fresh questions concerning the services the firm delivered for the president to warrant payment of thousands of dollars in public funds to it.

“We never have to deal with agencies for interviews. We don’t work for the government of Nigeria, and Nigeria does not work for us, so there’s no reason to make payments,” a spokesperson for CNN, Jennifer Dargan, told PREMIUM TIMES by telephone.

“CNN does not pay for interviews; we don’t pay for interviews and we don’t receive money for interviews. Not CNN.”

Asked specifically whether there was an understanding between the broadcast station and Fleishman-Hillard for setting up interviews, Ms. Dargan replied, “No, no!”

Fleishman-Hillard declined to state in exact details what its services to the presidency involved. In a previous emailed response to PREMIUM TIMES, the firm said the deal was a “one time” arrangement, that entailed “communication services”.

Contacted last week on why it claimed to have contacted CNN when indeed it did not, the company said it would not discuss further details of a job completed three years back.

“Fleishman-Hillard cannot provide any further details on the work completed in 2010,” a Nigerian representative for the company, The Quadrant company, said.

But the company admitted it didn’t share the funds released to it by the presidency with the CNN. It kept the entire sum to itself even when the service it rendered remained unclear.

A spokesperson, Eyitayo Olatoye, said the firm never transferred funds it received to CNN or other outlets for the interview with the president; confirming CNN’s claim, but stoking even more concerns about what service it delivered that justifies the firm’s $60,000 bill to the presidency.

“Fleishman-Hillard however categorically stated that no money was paid to any media organization or media representative at any point,” Mr. Olatoye said.

Questionable money-for-interview

The deal between the president and firm has sparked concerns regarding why Mr. Jonathan chose to channel state funds to secure an interview, when, as president of one of the world’s most important countries, he should have no problems getting leading broadcast stations to interview him.

The interview held in 2010, months after Nigeria’s turbulent power transfer from late president, Umaru Yar’adua; and amid President Jonathan’s preparation to stand for the 2011 election-two events that sure boosted the president’s news value. Critics say that period naturally placed Mr. Jonathan as an appealing subject that any media organization around the world would like to interview for no fee.

Should the president found need to arrange an interview, they say, his officials and aides could easily have reached, say, CNN correspondents in Nigeria; or directly contact the network’s headquarters in Atlanta.

With news organizations perpetually scrambling to be ahead of one another everyday, Mr. Jonathan’s critics say the president did not need to hire a lobbyist or pay anyone to interview him.

Why the president’s team opted for a third party to secure the media interview for thousands of dollars, remains unclear.

Spokesperson for the president, Reuben Abati and Doyin Okupe, declined to comment for this story while Ima Niboro, who was the president’s chief media adviser in 2010, did not answer or return calls.

Information minister, Labaran Maku, also did not reach PREMIUM TIMES back after an aide promised the minister would do so. It is not clear whether the aide passed our questions to the minister.

But if the president’s decision to pay for the interview generated concerns, the CNN’s denial that it was neither contacted by Fleishman-Hillard nor received funds from the firm has left even more questions about the nature of the deal between the Nigerian presidency and the firm.

Many sides of the deal

With its insistence that the firm had never contacted it to interview President Jonathan, Fleishman-Hillard appears to have lied to the US Justice Department, for it clearly claimed in its filing that it contacted, arranged and coordinated multiple media interviews for the president.

“Caser’s has requested and Registrant (Fleishman-Hillard) agreed to arrange and coordinate interviews for the president with major media outlets and advocacy groups in the USA and in Nigeria…” Fleishman-Hillard states in the filing.

“Registrant contacted media outlets such as CNN, Bloomberg/ Bloomberg Business Week, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, etc. and advocacy/ human rights groups to coordinate interviews for the president,” the firm adds.

None of the interviews occurred in the United States of America, it said, except one in Nigeria with the CNN Nigeria affiliate.

Even so, should the firm’s service, as detailed in its filing to the US authorities, been about contacting media organizations, then the CNN denial would seem to invalidate the company’s claim, that purportedly justified its $58,200 bill.

CNN contacted PREMIUM TIMES last week to respond to our two previous reports detailing the contract involving the Nigerian presidency and the American firm.

The television channel said its interviews are arranged professionally, and it had no need for third parties to reach world leaders for interviews.

Citing the example of the president’s interview with Christiane Amanpour in January, Ms. Dargan said the station merely contacted the Nigerian embassy in the US, which in turn contacted the president’s media team.

“We interview many presidents and heads of states on that programme pretty much everyday. It’s quite routine to have such guests on the programme,” she said. “It’s not very difficult for her to interview a head of state. But there has never been any exchange of payment.”

The controversial 2010 interview was anchored by Isha Sesay, ahead of Mr. Jonathan’s declaration to run in the 2011 election.

Part of the understanding between the presidency and Fleishman-Hillard was that interviewers do not ask the president questions about his plan to run in the election.
- See more at: http://premiumtimesng.com/news/122797-interview-cnn-disowns-us-lobbying-firm-raising-questions-about-jonathans-40000-payment.html#sthash.AOdyt3Ev.dpuf

Pukkah:



But aren't moderators (or, better put, referees) suppossed to be above board and exercise restraint when it comes to matters of personal opinion or beliefs?

I was aghast when I saw the volte face within 24 hours! This is unbecoming of the referee of any forum.

On that same thread, I reported a poster (FreeGlobe) who insulted me and hurled tribal insults without any provocation. Up till now, I am not aware that anything has been done to him.

This shouldn't be a surprise anyway since the assailant shares the same viewpoint with the supposed referee?

Is this how to make the forum great?

seanet01: Sorry to bust your bubble, you seems not to be taking your medications.
Fashola is not getting 70 billion naira monthly and the whole world knows that except you mofo.
Even apabio is almost getting more than him.
Comparing a state of 18 million people with a one of 3 million people on the basis of collecting same revenue shows that your Education is a complete ruse.
Comparing Fashola to Apabio shows you are a complete ediot with no Cognitive skills.
In what area can the one eyed apabio beats Fashola in governance?
Let us start discussing it,
Roads? Fashola have constructed more kilometres of roads than Apabio
Health? Fashola have constructed more health facilities than Apabio, he also have a three fold of apabio's health workforce to manage translating to more money needed.
Education? Fashola completely dwarfed your hero here. In terms of Schools renovated, new schools constructed, Maintaining a qualified workforce, astutue management, Apabio is a junior to Fashola.
4. Agriculture? Fashola is currently producing more rice than your Federal government not to talk of apabio. Fisheries, apabio have never even hear that word.
Currently, all the farm centres in Lagos are wholly functional with a plethora of people making a living there
oh boy, i can go on and on. Just bring out one let me shredd it for you.

TheBookWorm: "Eko o ni baje o, o baje ti" can only happen if the people are progressing as well. If these slums need to be destroyed to make Lagos a better place, that is all fine and good, but the government must realize that the people who reside there should be compensated as well, so they will not be rendered homeless. There needs to be more compassion for those who do not have a voice within government. A country is judged by how it treats its "lowest" citizen.