chosen04:

My governor just an average Governor and he is not making noise about it,

Fashola is just an average governor who is still as corrupt as other. . . . . . . .

I weep for you guys for considering who is just an average as outstanding . . . . . . .Its only in the land of mediocre that average is considered outstanding,

follypimpi:


@all,she accompanied a Nler,then i started winding her up.

blacksta:

Where you wearing the checked shirt , tall with glasses

blacksta:

I cant remember Doyin13 - Please someone gist me

debosky:

Were you the blonde black girl in disguise?  

nana:

Ghost!   Where ve u been man?!

temmytanny:

If you like say bribe or egunje. All i know is that the contractors dint perform at all cos they have been on the project since last year and not up 50% have been completed. If you live around the area, you wont carry your big mouth and conderm fashola's act. Even many staying in the area have been complaining about the contractor's attittude towards the road.

The cancellation would put other contractors on their toes to deliver.

The Lagos State Government has denied a report that it has terminated the expansion of the Lagos-Badagry Expressway into 10 lanes.



In a statement on Thursday, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Works and Infrastructure Mr. Ganiyu Johnson, said it was unprogressive for anybody to allege that such a highly beneficial project that would enhance the socio-economic well-being of Nigerians had been terminated.



He noted that substantial progress had been made on the newly constructed bridge at Mile 2, which he said was nearing completion.



A team from the Ministry of Works and Infrastructure, headed by Johnson, had on Wednesday conducted a media tour of the road and light rail projects being handled by Julius Berger Nigeria Plc.



The special adviser said the Orile and Alaba service lanes, which are part of the road project, would be put to use within the next few days.



He said, ”The technology of construction being used by the construction company is the latest in bridge construction. The company has observed the minimum standard of 40 Newton per millimeter square concrete strength, otherwise referred to as grade 40 concrete in local parlance.”



Speaking further on the new bridge technology in the country, the project‘s Resident Engineer, Mr. Samuel Olumuyiwa, said it was economical, faster and relied less on heavy equipment.



He said, ”It involves the launching system done on land and drawn on water by a machine underneath. So, the bridge is cast on land instead of the old technology, where the coaches of the bridge are cast on water.”



JBN‘s Site Manager, Mr. James Casas, said the 170- metre bridge, which is being built on the Festac Canal at Maza Maza area, near Mile 2, was at 72 per cent completion.



He said two bridges would be built on the left and one more on the right to make up for the 10 lanes, which the state government planned on the road.



The lanes now being used by vehicles would be turned to the light rail line at completion of the road project, he said.



The pier for the second bridge on the left is also ready.



In the statement, Johnson assured Lagos residents that the Governor Babatunde Fashola-led administration would not relent in keeping its words.



He said all projects embarked upon by the administration would be completed within the scheduled time frame.



He said, ”We have done it before and we will continue to deliver first class infrastructural facilities to the good people of Lagos State, because our word is our bond.”

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2010090378300

A first time visitor to the Ilupeju police station in Lagos State will be shocked. The station and its surroundings are clean; complaints are efficiently registered, with accurate data captured electronically, and the police officers friendly and receptive.

Since 2005, when Altus Global Alliance, a coalition of international civil organisations, conducted police station visits in five continents for members of the public, the station has consecutively won the best station in Nigeria and Africa, and the fourth best station out of 30 countries polled in the world.

According to members of the Ilupeju Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), who lay claim to having the best policing in Nigeria, the secret to the community's success is effective police-community relations.

"What you see is a station with a model outlook. The reason is because no station has all the facilities we have here. That is why we are winning. And we will continue to win because we are working hard to see that we put up better things," said the committee's general secretary, Frederick Silva-Rotimi.

The committee's chairman, Michael Aniyikaiye, explained how the community has managed to become the backbone of the station's success in protecting the lives and property of members of the community.

"The PCRC was established to assist the police to make sure they work as we expect them to. We know the government cannot do everything, so things like communication equipment, fuel for their cars, money for the repairs of vehicles, we provide for them," Mr. Aniyikaiye said.

How a community cares

Mr. Aniyikaiye explained that the PCRC which has about 80 members, comprising both individuals and companies, contribute yearly towards providing the necessary logistics needed for the Police to function optimally.

"While we are sleeping they are working day and night. So we are the ones who support them. We give them 200 litres of petrol every month, and anytime their patrol vehicles are faulty, we ask them to take it to mechanic, give us the estimation and we pay the money," said Mr. Aniyikaiye.

"From the subscriptions collected, we do so many things for them like providing them walkie-talkies, bullet proof jackets and even the building we are in with all the chairs, tables and everything was built by PCRC," he added.

The storey building was built within the Police station on June 14, 2007, after members of the community noticed that the station lacked some decent facilities like changing rooms, toilets and bathrooms. While the top floor serves as the PCRC conference room, the ground floor was given to the Police.

Another member of the community, Sanya Takuro, remembers how the policemen used to dress and keep their belongings under an open air garage, at the mercy of the weather. He mentioned some other efforts the community has undertaken to improve the morale of the police officers.

"Now, they have changing rooms, lockers, beds, a canteen where they can eat good food. They have clean water, toilet, bathrooms; even in the cells, there is toilet, water, and shower. Also, about a year ago all the ceilings in the police cell were bad. We renovated everything, and repainted the place. These gestures improve the morale of the Police," Mr. Takuro said.

The police can be your friend

Some police officers, who wish to remain anonymous, said they feel responsible to their host community. They see them as partners who bring out the best in them.

"The people in the community come around every time. They know us and we know them. So there's no way we can misbehave. And why should we? They have shown they care about us and respect is reciprocal," said one police corporal.

Mr. Aniyikaiye says the Ilupeju experience is achievable anywhere else in Nigeria as long as there exists sincerity of purpose between the community and the police.

"My advice to other PCRCs is that the money they collect should be spent to assist the police, and the Police in return will do their job. We know the government cannot do it alone, so we should always encourage and motivate the police to work for us," he said.

One thing is for sure, the Ilupeju PCRC is thinking ahead, as it has set a target before the year ends to install wireless close circuit television (CCTV) to mirror incidents at strategic places in the whole of the community.

"We are blessed with very dexterous police officers who have always been working around the clock to ensure Ilupeju remains crime-free. We are installing the CCTV so that the Police, while in their station, can be focusing events happening at every location within the community and rise to the occasion to nip any situation in the bud," said Mr. Silva-Rotimi.

Like many Nigerians, I am a creature of the many Babangida legends: that he can remember any name and any face no matter how long it has been; that he is a man of such wit and force of personality that to listen to him is to be charmed; that one handshake from him will change your life forever.

Here is one of those stories I have been told. The students of the University of Ibadan had a major demonstration in their school when they heard that the head of state was visiting. There were blockades, placards and bonfires. They were ready to embarrass the man who they accused of making life difficult for them and their parents.

Then General Ibrahim Babangida drove right into their midst, stepped out of his car and flashed a toothy smile, using that famous gap to effect. And, immediately, the young men and women were disarmed.

Of course, this story - delicious as it is to tell - certainly has all the tell tale signs of exaggeration, but it is the kind of story that the good general has lived large on for years now. It has enabled him build an image as a bridge-builder, godfather, doer and seer of all, instrumental to the election of everyone - Olusegun Obasanjo, Gbenga Daniel, Orji Kalu, even James Ibori.

But it seems when his own ambition overtook him the man lost his mojo. As soon as the former president started giving answers that went beyond ‘no comment’, actually engaging the media and ideas, the mystique began to melt.

He seems, first and foremost, stuck in a time warp that doesn’t go past 1993 at any point in time. He apologises for June 12, and then withdraws the apology; then he explains, then he says he has nothing to explain; then says he doesn’t want to speak about it, and then speaks and speaks and speaks about it.

But it goes beyond June 12. As he tries to chart his way through an increasingly quixotic presidential quest - he has only underwhelmed me with each word. Where is the charm, the grace, the skilful play with words, the Maradona reflexes?

His interview on MNet’s Moments with Mo was painful enough to watch, but the BBC one was an even further show of cluelessness that put the famous Sarah Palin interview with Katie Couric to shame. It was remarkable in that it was difficult to detect nuance or depth.

What kind of a serious-minded presidential candidate and “elder statesman”, in a country where 70 per cent of its population is under 30, makes a patently erroneous statement like: “Honestly, it is our wish that God will bring the younger people that will take over from us if they are available, (but) we have seen signs that they are not capable of leading this country and so we feel we should help them. May be they are not given the proper education that is why.” There is a shallowness to that statement that one would expect from the ‘badly educated’ youth he has spoken about, a coarseness that is fit for the beer parlour. It’s not about his wanting to be president - quite frankly, it’s the man’s constitutional right - it’s about how, each time he opens his mouth, he doesn’t make it easier to get used to the idea.

And then last week, there he was again. Officially announcing his candidacy to a posse of editors, what was his response to a June 12 question:

That Nigerians will forgive him because “we are a godly nation that embraces forgiveness.” How charming.

Asked about his plans are to revive our economy, he “repeatedly” failed to put forward any clearly defined policies. He conceded that policymaking was not his strongest point and said that such matters will be handled by a, “trusted team of experts.” He added that although he presently had no clear manifesto, he will “unleash” outlined policies to the public in “two or three weeks.” Seriously? This man has been strategising for this post since at the very least four years ago when he famously ‘conceded’ to his “younger brother” Umaru Yar’Adua, and then he announces his desire to contest without any outlined policy? Maradona has done it again.

Asked about his reputation for corruption, the good general also came at it with wit and nuance. “I am getting tired of people who say I institutionalised corruption,” he said. “People forget that I disciplined a military administrator over N300, 000. Today people in office are accused of N300 million, N15 billion and they are still there.” Oh. My. God.

Asked about how his campaign will be funded, he revealed that funding would come from both himself and “good friends who benefited from his policies.” Seriously? Did he just admit that his government worked to “benefit his friends”? A government of gratification, and - oh what’s that word - nepotism? Which would be the very corruption he just insisted he didn’t institutionalise?

It’s all so very amateurish. Seriously, is this the Babangida we were told about, or should we ask for another?