₦airaland Forum

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5475030-146/Lagos_tourism_commissioner_absent_from_House.csp


[size=16pt]Lagos tourism commissioner absent from House hearing on Sunborn Yacht[/size]


The two dissenting parties involved in the stagnant Sunborn Yacht project, the Lagos State Commissioner for Tourism and Intergovernmental Relations, Tokunbo Afikuyomi, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Multipurpose Infrastructural Development Company, Emmanuel Obire, reneged on their promises to submit all documents relating to the project to the state’s House of Assembly.

The lawmakers refused to take oral presentations during a hearing last Tuesday and demanded that all documents relating to the project be submitted to the House.

Mr. Afikuyomi and Mr. Obire promised to submit the documents but they failed to appear yesterday before the House proceeding and no documents were submitted by either of them.

It was expected

On Tuesday, October 20, when the documents relating to the project were requested to be tendered, one of the lawmakers, Adelabu Onibiyo, representing Alimosho I, suspected that there might be no document anywhere because “Mr. Obire looked suspiciously towards Mr. Afikuyomi anytime the issue of documents is raised.”

Also, Mr. Obire claimed some documents relating to the consignee company, Loneseed Limited, were with the project’s financial adviser, Diamond Capital. However, Babatunde Ogala (representing Ikeja) took the statement as a “flimsy excuse.”

“You cannot say you don’t have, at least, photocopies of the documents assuming the originals are with Diamond Capital,” he said.

Mr. Ogala demanded that the owners or the registration number of Loneseed be disclosed “so the House can carry out its own investigation into the matter”.

Disappointment

The lawmakers expressed their disappointment on Tuesday when the two parties did not show up. Mr. Ogala explained that the Sunborn Yacht has generated so many negative reactions in different media and many of the reports indicted the House of Assembly.

“The House has also been accused of covering up for some people, and we have also been accused of compromise,” he said.

“Our party leaders have also been accused and this issue has become something that cannot be swept under the carpet. We need to take an affirmative action because the issue seems to be the one that requires a proper investigation.”

Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland 2) said the challenge posed by the matter has gone beyond what he called a party affair.

“It is now an embarrassment to the state,” he said. “We can’t afford to put the state’s reputation at stake.”

Others demanded that Mr. Afikuyomi be consequently sanctioned for deriding the Assembly’s orders.

“He has put the state in a big embarrassment and, therefore, we should not take it light with him,” said Mr. Onibiyo who suggested that a warrant of arrest be placed on the commissioner for disregarding the Assembly.

Getting to the bottom

The Speaker of the House, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, said, “This House will not allow anyone, no matter how highly placed, to toy with the name of the state. I must confess that I am a little bit embarrassed, and I think we have to get to the root of all these and make sure that the truth behind the vessel is resolved.”

He said the commissioner telephoned on Monday night claiming he was not aware he was supposed to present a document to the Assembly, and promised to bring it before the House on Tuesday.

The House decided to summon Mr. Afikuyomi to appear before its sitting on Thursday. Calls placed to Mr. Afikuyomi and Mr. Obire went unanswered.

ezeagu:
[quote author=Abagworo link=topic=336574.msg4782219#msg4782219 date=1256244293]I feel ashamed when someone comes out to make ridiculous population claims.The size of lagos cannot contain 17000000 people.13000000 may be more reasonable but 10000000 is realistic.

CNN is saying Lagos will grow to 25 million your saying 10 million.  But really, look it up.

---

SESAY: Welcome back to INSIDE AFRICA. Lagos, Nigeria is one of the world's most crowded cities. About 15 million people live there, and that number is expected to hit 25 million in the next six years. As Brent Sadler reports, government officials have some ambitious expansion plans that include holding back the forces of nature.

---

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0902/21/i_if.01.html[/quote]

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-35352.96.html


New voters register puts Lagos figure = 4,204,000 , a little below the previous figure of 4,558,216

http://www.tribune.com.ng/16022007/news/news2.html
http://www.triumphnewspapers.com/62m162207.html

Latest Analysis from Lagos "Census" will now be:

Age 0 -5 = 3.19 Million
Age 6 -17 = 2.06 Million
Age 18 - above = 4.20 million
TOTAL = 9.45 Million.

Given that some people left Lagos during the census and that only 98 % of Nigerians was claimed to be counted by N.P.C., It is plausible that Lagos is indeed 9.01 Million.


The figures above are the "human figures" (as opposed to Vehicles, Buildings & Satellite Pictures) being used by Lagos State to disprove The NPC results.

School age for Primary - Secondary School = 6 -18

http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=12304


[size=16pt]Kudos To Guv Fash, But Is This Abracadabra?[/size]


Back in April 2007, I went back to Nigeria to observe the charade tagged elections in our dear country and came away with a singularly negative thought – Nigeria and Nigerians were not suitably grown-up to take their destiny in hand. This was firmly anchored on the fact that (s)election was the order of the day in what was derisively and ridiculously tagged democracy. To make matters worse, the concept of selection was mortgaged to self-perpetuation and self-protection as was witnessed from federal to local government level.

The most glaring of these atrocities foisted Baba Go Slow on Nigeria, it gave us the likes of Akala, Fashola, Bukola Saraki, Orji et al. One common feature to all these people is the fact that their coming was totally without regard to the wishes of the common Nigerians who would like to think they vote and their “votes” count. Their common ascendancy was traceable only to the whims and desires of departing rogues who wanted to plant surrogates that would protect their perfidious ways and guarantee their continued relevance in the scheme of things – such schemes largely restricted to an agenda of looting!

Things obviously would never improve under these circumstances, but for the next two years, I was assailed by the ‘achievements’ of one unassuming man who was equally (s)elected to rule in Lagos after the departure of one “j’eun s’oke” aka “oju n’yobo”! In all honesty, I was quite impressed with what I read and heard about the man, even from the usually jaded band of internet-warriors – that tribe of eternally sceptical Nigerians armed with such verbosity achieved from the relative obscurity of the internet, the relative comfort of diaspora existence and the serene safety of the keyboard located either in the corner of their bedrooms, attic offices of living rooms.

This led me to embark on a journey to ascertain what was truly going right in Nigeria since I was not entirely sure that the offspring of eagles would be doves or that the antelopes would suddenly start rearing offsprings in the shape of lions! So I dusted my travelling bag and took a six week sojourn in dear Fatherland. What I saw was a veritable case of the good, the bad and the ugly!

The good being Guv Fash, the bad being Guv Daniel and the ugly, ? Well, he holds sway in the land of amala and gbegiri politrics! Do not ask me about the centre.

A trip through most corners of Lagos State actually showed that there is a “Government” definitely at work. This was in the terms of seeing “Slow Men at Work” signs everywhere with the attendant visual sighting of these slow men repairing roads. I also saw several human beings in bright orange overalls sweeping the edges of the highways with palm brooms shredded to the stumps (in these days and ages and in the mega city of the most populous black nation on Earth!). Obviously, their employers have not read a single page of Health and Safety Manuals anywhere in the world, Neither, do they seem aware of the fact that simple Risk Assessments would scream that these exposures are damn near daylight murder of these operatives dues to the hazards of the normally discourteous, reckless and forever in a hurry and largely illiterate Nigerian road users and drivers! I had cause to wonder if there is a law on corporate man-slaughter in Nigeria and if these have ever been put to the test. Anyway, that is another story deserving of separate attention by experts in that field on another day.

A drive through Lagos was certainly no longer a harrowing experience and indeed the sights were a beauty to behold in certain places, not all! I gleefully encouraged my West Indian companion to take pictures to prove that the edifices seen on Nollywood movie clips were for real and not film tricks or mirages conjured by enterprising movie producers. Such was my pride, that I did not notice when I was driven through Oshodi! We had passed the area before I thought it looked familiar. All these changes after about 2 years in power! So, Kudos, I say to Guv Fash!

A steady drive towards Otta quickly convinced me that there was a difference in the terrain and territory akin to that between night and day. I immediately observed that there was a gulf in governance between Guvs Fash and Daniel. Ogun State did not demonstrate a government in power and touching its’ citizens’ lives. In fact, I witnessed a clear demonstration of governance on billboards and not on the ground! To make matters worse, nature confirmed this for me as Abeokuta was FLOODED by rainfall and widely reported in the local newsclips. Maybe this is nothing different from most parts of Lagos and indeed Nigeria, save the North, but Abeokuta is a naturally mountainous terrain rarely prone to flooding! All of Guv Daniel’s “achievements” were fully spelt out on billboards and nowhere else discernible! So much for the bad governor!!

Of course, I ended up traversing Oyo State after passing through Ogere in Guv Daniel’s land without any reasons to reverse my opinion of the man and his non-performing team. Ibadan, in itself, is a study in what is truly ugly in the absence of governance and focus in development. This is not to disparage the citizens of Ibadan or Oyo State, but I was seriously tempted to conclude that the Guv pays more attention to his physical attraction (or the lack of it) rather than on the governance of his conquered and subdued people!  Alas, this is what democracy has bestowed on Nigeria.

Further sojourns across the rest of the state, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti, Edo, Kogi, Kwara and Niger states did little to convince me Nigeria is ready to work nor are Nigerians ready to liberate themselves from the overlords called politicians who brazenly steal from them and turn around to offer them crumbs while smiling at them oafishly from lofty heights. You could almost imagine the remnants of locust beans and vegetable stews or even góró hanging from the corners of their teeth, depending on which part of the country they claim to rule! The roads were veritable death traps and the drivers had to adapt kamikazé antics to their driving in order to avoid sudden craters in the roads.

But enough of these, I could not resist revisiting Abuja – that enclave of the insensate politicians; that brand new cynosure of the civil servants and the playground of the Nigerian affluent class. I saw the BMW 780i for the first time anywhere in the world; I saw so many arrays of gleaming 4x4s when I eventually pulled up at the Abuja Hilton car park that I was tempted to ask if the hotel chain also carry on a trade in cars! I saw some seriously big 4x4s in almost brand new state and I could not help but wonder what Nigerians would buy if theirs was not a cash-based economy! Abuja is still largely a big building site; albeit an impressive one that is definitely now struggling to maintain the sheen of respectability. Gone was the patina of order that I witnessed in 2007 as drivers were now at liberty to drive directly at oncoming traffic; Lagos-style; nor were the traffic lights working and having drivers obey them as I had observed in the past visit. I actually found myself wishing I was back in Lagos because I could not get beer to drink in almost all the eateries I saw in Abuja and eventually asked whether the lack of beer joints had something to do with licensing laws in a country notorious for not enforcing laws!

Anyway, I did not venture near the Three Arms Zone this time for obvious reasons of not wanting to be treated to government hospitality. It is so easy to forget that access to Downing Street or Buckingham Palace is easier than access to Aso Rock. But if there was any reason for me to understand the plight of the Niger Deltan, Abuja provides a good study in how not rub salt in open wounds. Having seen enough of the lack of progress, I could not submit myself to a return journey by land across Nigeria so I took a flight back to the relative comfort of generator noise and mosquitoes that Lagos represented and took a second look at the “miracles” of Guv Fash!

To start with, during my sojourn, I learnt that the internally generated revenue for Lagos State is now #14bn monthly! That is a lot of financial muscle, without adding whatever else is received from the FGN into the equation. This simply led me to wondering where the impact of the money is being felt or should be felt. I had seen the cleaner environment engineered in Lagos; I had seen the reckless buses and drivers of the LAGBUS scheme, I saw the Sunborn Hotel (a retired Oceangoing Cruise ship in my opinion that could easily be scrapped having being on one earlier this year), I happily witnessed the Orisa Adimula display; had failed to notice when I drove through the erstwhile notorious Osodi area. Indeed, I had happily noted the state of the roads between Ikeja and the Agege area as well as other road works being developed in areas around Okokomaiko, Iba and Idimu but failed to observe any building or plans for the empowerment of Lagosians and the future Lagosians!

I fondly recollect the Jakande schools and his education system from which I also benefited. I was even tempted to go and see the state of the Abesan housing project and the other one at Mile Two built by the same Jakande some decades ago. You know what, I even took a drive into LASU to see if there were any significant developments in its facilities and buildings but only noticed an agglomeration of ramshackle buildings and facilities that does not justify the title of University and edifices usually associated with tertiary institutions of learning; but I did not fail to notice the proliferation of many LASU “campuses” around the state! I decided to check on the primary and secondary schools instead just to affirm that there is a focus on building Lagosians of the future and saw a lot of the “chicken sheds” built by Jakande in complete collapse and ruins.

Of course, these only prompted me to think about the sustainability of the Fashola drive. Guess what, if the modest accomplishments of Jakande that were aimed at building for the mental and physical future of Lagosians could go to ruins while the man is alive, what we can say for the legacy or otherwise of Guv. Fash? It would take only days or weeks of cessation for the environmental achievements to be reversed to its erstwhile status quo. And this is a fact!

And then what happens to the “achievements” of Guv Fash?

A wise man is that who builds and provides for the future, so the saying goes. To who much is given, much is expected. Guv Fash is astride what is arguably the richest state in Nigeria today and much more than mirages are expected of him. He has many commissioners to assist him in his duties and much, if not all his “accomplishment” derives from the Environmental and Transport sectors. Are the other commissioners and departments sleeping? Or should we conclude that the more you look, the less you see with Guv Fash? Smokes and mirrors are the magicians’ tools; is Guv Fash using the environment and roads as his tools of Abracadabra?

I am conscious I may get pilloried for being a sceptic in this instance, but I am going to take a step back from the Fash-wagon because I need more than roads and beautiful environment to impress me as these should ordinarily be within the purvey of local authorities and their department and not something to sing hosannas about. But I am also aware that the praises of Guv Fash derive largely from the non-performance of the slow, the bad and the uglies of Nigerian politics where even the opposition fall comatose and somnolent to government flaws in their desire to partake in the feast of devouring the national cake; please Nigerians, give praise to whom it is due but don’t fail to demand for accountability for every kobo spent in your name!

Guv Fash, kudos to what you have done so far, but we need FAR more for the amount of money accruing to Lagos State now.

Eko must not b'aje!

Ghana vs Brazil - TB Joshua Prophecy to Coach Tetteh
[flash=450,350]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZWVLiKWpz4[/flash]


Ghana vs Brazil - TB Joshua Prophecy to Coach Tetteh (2)
[flash=450,350]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24lcQfUmdtw[/flash]

Of course, Yes.

Leadership is not restricted to Politics.

The NLC should be championing this kind of protest but no , it is not Petrol price.

NLC don't strike when there is increment in Kerosene, Jet fuel, Diesel, Cooking Gas etc but if there is a 20 Kobo increment in Petrol pump price then STRIKE beckons.

I'm sure if the NLC was as concerned about the Power situation in Nigeria like Daystar , we would not be in a situation we are in now where companies are relocating to Ghana because of lack of power.

https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-240862.0.html

nollywood "horror film" pictures from:

http://dilidoo.com/2009/01/23/nollywood_african_cinema_38_pics.html

also:

http://www.pieterhugo.com/selected-work/nollywood/nollywoodescort.jpg/

http:///index.php/real_estate/Environment/1487.html


The road that shames Fashola


[img]http:///thumbnail.php?file=property_and_environment_290830867.jpg&size=article_medium[/img]


Lagos State being one of the largest cities on the African Continent presently has a population density of about 17 million people living in different parts of the state.

The state enjoys both economic and social cultural advantage and thus becomes a centre of attraction to Africans and Nationals from other countries of the world.

The influx of people to Lagos metropolis daily, it was said, put more pressure on infrastructures provided by the government. The population it was also argued have great impact on the environmental sanitation and other socio-economic aspects of lives of people across the state.
These developments pose serious challenges to the government especially, as the state has to cope with the problems of bad roads, poor and inadequate drainage system, poor sanitation resulting from indiscriminate dumping of refuse by the people. Other challenges facing the government are, open spaces defecation due to erection of illegal structures and markets, poor vegetation control, flooding and erosion as well as other social problems that affect the daily activities of the people of the state.

When Governor Babatunde Fashola assumed office as the Governor of the state on May 29, 2007, he took the bull by the horns and embarked on various reconstruction, rehabilitation, landscaping and slum clearance projects to give the state a new look befitting of a mega city.
Within the space of two years that has been spent by the Governor, various roads have been rehabilitated while new ones are also being constructed in various parts of the state. The motive is to open up the various parts of the state and make transportation more effective for commuters.

The roads rehabilitation and reconstruction exercise on the mainland part of the state, covers areas  like Ikeja, Oshodi, Ogba, Agege, Mushin, Iyana Oworo, Ikorodu Road, Ikorodu Yaba and amongst others. On the Island, the exercise covers Lagos Island generally, Victoria Island, Lekki, Ajah and amongst others. Today, some of these areas are looking beautiful and attractive.

Moreover, the above situation does not apply to Surulere Industrial Road in Ogba Industrial Area of the State. The road is located off the popular Acme road directly opposite Funmec Petrol Filling Station. The road is a continuation of Adeniyi Jones Avenue while coming from Allen Avenue or Oba Akran areas of Ikeja.
Companies located along both sides of the road include:
· Reliance Textiles Industries.
· Sanusi Group of Companies
· Lagos State Public Toilet
· Namoh Industries (Nig) Limited
· Elephant Cement Mini Factory/Warehouse and
· Many Auto Mobile Mechanic Workshops.
The construction of the road has been on for many years. At a stage it became so dangerous  and a death trap for motorists. It was also leant during our investigation that, the bad state of the road had led to the death of many motorists especially private car owner who unknowingly ran into the gulley created by the contractor during the early stage of the construction.
The most pathetic story was that of a woman and her children who died when her car ran into the ditch while going home after work.
Although, the road is presently motorable, it is still in a bad shape. The potholes always cause traffic jam during peak periods when workers are going to work and coming back.

At times, it takes up to three hours to get out of the traffic jam created by the potholes on the road.
Presently, the poor state of the road provides opportunities for telephone and food stuffs hawkers to display their products to commuters, pedestrians and factory workers in the area. They keep harassing vehicle owners with their goods trying to ensure that they sell to them at all costs.

The present conditions of the road and the drainage system leave much to be desired and also constitutes a gory sight to road users who make use of the road daily. The Auto Mobile Artisans and the Industrialists who have their workshops and factories located along this road are lamenting on the level of losses which they keep incurring as a result of the terrible condition of the road.

Mr. Ola Ogunsayo, an automobile mechanic who spoke with our correspondent on the condition of the road, stated that most of his customers who usually give him vehicles to repair have stopped coming to his workshop due to the bad condition of the road. He maintained that with the raining season around, the road will soon become impassible if nothing is done to repair or reconstruct it.

When asked whether he knows if the government has awarded the contract for the repair of the road to any contractor, the automobile mechanic said that he was not sure but only saw that the construction work was going on before it was suddenly abandoned as it is presently. 
A tricycle driver who identified himself as Taju Bello told our correspondent that he uses the road daily since he plies Ogba –Ikeja vide Adeniyi Jones Avenue. He lamented that the bad state of the road is causing serious damages to his tricycle and those of his colleagues. Taju berated the state government for abandoning such a strategic road.

Taju said that he believed the government intentionally abandoned the road  and that if not, the state government that did wonderful works on  Wempco Road, Agidingbi Road and Akilo Road could not be said to have forgotten such a strategic road. He therefore urged the state government to consider the masses who make use of the road for their businesses through which they earn their daily living and do something urgently to the road.

A Mallam who identified himself  as Garuba,  said that he sells Suya and tea along the road everyday and that he wondered why the government who is being praised for doing good jobs in the state could neglect the road that is so central to the business activities of the people in the area. He said that now that the rainy season has come, about 40% of his customers who always drink tea especially in the morning have abandoned him due to the bad state of the road. 

As stated by him, “'Before, I dey make like N3,000 daily on the sale of eggs and tea but now, I only manage to get between N1,000 and N1,500. People no come because road no good at all'.
A commuter, who identified herself as Mama Justice, said that the government should do something to alleviate the plights of the people who make use of the road for their daily business activities. She said that the state governor started very well and that he should not relent in his efforts to make sure that all parts of the state are given proper face-lifts either in terms of roads construction, street lighting, provision of good drainage system and effective disposal of wastes to ensure a clean environment at all times.

Workers of some of the companies located along the subject road, who spoke with our correspondent under the condition of anonymity, maintained that they were very happy when the rehabilitation works on the road first started sometime last year. They maintained that they were already showing a sigh of relief that the stress being experienced by them especially when they bring long vehicles to deliver goods or raw materials to their factories would soon be over. They were however surprised to see that the rehabilitation work was abandoned up till now.
The workers further stated that all efforts made to unravel the circumstances surrounding the abandonment of the road yielded no positive result as no government official was ready to speak on the matter.

When asked whether they were paying their taxes to the government regularly or not, they said that they have been paying their taxes as at when due and that they expected the government to also give them something in return. They therefore, appeal passionately to the state government to take immediate step to alleviate their sufferings by rehabilitating the road immediately.
They further said that if the contract for the repairs of the road was given to a contractor before, the state government should ensure that such a contractor is brought to book and decisively punished for abandoning such a crucial project.

Business Hallmark, while giving kudos to the Governor and his team for the laudable works being done in the state, wishes to remind the state government of her promise made to the people of the state that, '' The Government has put her hands on the plough and there will be no looking back until the state is transformed into an attractive terrain characterized by beauty serenity and orderliness'' Therefore, the state government should strive to extend the good jobs done on Agidingbi road, Wempco road and Acme road to the subject road to revive the business activities of the people in the area which have been paralyzed since the abandonment of the road project. A stitch in time, saves nine.


www.nairaland.com/attachments/89932_Surulere_Ind_Road_Ogba_jpgbfb6e9b98366121a2b1371f841b7df57

previously @  https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-151866.224.html

Beaf:
Why did you forget the monthly contribution from Bayelsa, or you suddenly got tired of comparing? Na so e dey be for vulture festival sha!

That was in comparison to the TOTAL for Lagos State.

Just in case you want the VAT revenues for Bayelsa:

N341,603,296.41 was the VAT revenue to Bayelsa State in Sept 2009.

N3,664,566,163.02 was the VAT revenue to Bayelsa State in 2008.

Beaf:
Why is Lagos state getting money from the Niger Delta? Why? Nigeria no dey shame?
But this is the [size=14pt]vulture festival[/size], isnt it?

People who can't produce anything want to suck the blood of the ND like slavers. No shame that your areas produce zero for the country.

N3,455,326,901.59 was the VAT revenue to Lagos State in Sept 2009.

N32,165,201,389.75 was the VAT revenue to Lagos State in 2008.

State Govt Details

http://www.fmf.gov.ng/downloads/FAAC/CurrentFaacDetail/State_goverment_detail.pdf


Lagos State received N5,655,413,238.71 in Sept 2009 while Bayelsa Stare received N4,400,100,890.60 (Lagos got in N77,791,328,395.29 total allocation in the year 2008, with Bayelsa getting N116,447,440,535.55)

Local Govt Details

http://www.fmf.gov.ng/downloads/FAAC/CurrentFaacDetail/Local_goverment_detail.pdf

2008 TOTAL Summary

http://www.fmf.gov.ng/downloads/faacsummary2008.pdf

Lagos State monthly I.G.R is over N14 Billion while Bayelsa State is around N3 Billion.

Lagos State has population of 9,013,534 while Bayelsa has 1,703,358.

http://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/Connections/Pop2006.pdf

State Govt Details

http://www.fmf.gov.ng/downloads/FAAC/CurrentFaacDetail/State_goverment_detail.pdf


Lagos State received N5,655,413,238.71 in Sept 2009 while Bayelsa Stare received N4,400,100,890.60 (Lagos got in N77,791,328,395.29 total allocation in the year 2008, with Bayelsa getting N116,447,440,535.55)

Local Govt Details

http://www.fmf.gov.ng/downloads/FAAC/CurrentFaacDetail/Local_goverment_detail.pdf

2008 TOTAL Summary

http://www.fmf.gov.ng/downloads/faacsummary2008.pdf

Lagos State monthly I.G.R is over N14 Billion while Bayelsa State is around N3 Billion.

Lagos State has population of 9,013,534 while Bayelsa has 1,703,358.

http://www.nigerianstat.gov.ng/Connections/Pop2006.pdf

sandee575:
The roads at Ogba, Iju road, Adeniyi Jones, etc are not Federal roads. They are impassable.
Fashola is trying but has to do something urgently about state roads so that we can be better
positioned to call Federal to task.

Pls tell them.

The Gorge @ Yaya Abatan on College Road has been under repairs for over 2 years and it is still nothing to write home about.

The Local Councils are fixing some roads but are observing Zero World Best Practices regarding safety and/or quality.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2009/10/15/floods-sack-lagos/


Floods sack Lagos


https://www.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Traffic4.jpg

https://www.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Traffic11.jpg

https://www.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Traffic7.jpg

https://www.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Traffic3.jpg

https://www.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/Traffic6.jpg

https://www.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/badroad.jpg


LAGOS — IT was a harrowing experience for residents of Lagos, yesterday, as most parts of the metropolis were submerged in flood, following a downpour that lasted several hours.

The floods which followed what many called an unusual October rain, were made worse by the terrible state of the roads, as vehicles got stuck in potholes covered by floodwater.

Consequently, business activities were grounded as many people stayed back at home, especially due to heavy flooding of residential areas. Those who venture to leave their homes were stuck in traffic that lasted from morning into the night.

For those who dared to wade through the rain, they had to roll up their trousers and sleeves to paddle through the heavily flooded areas to their various destinations.

Most commercial bus and taxi operators parked stayed off the roads to avoid being stuck in the flood.

Several residential areas were flooded as some residents, in Egbeda area, a suburb of the state, were seen bailing out floodwater from their rooms. Others were seen trying to salvage their properties from the flood.

Also, residents of Ijeshatedo, in Surulere area of the state were seen bailing out water from their homes. Only the popular Adeshina Street in the area was spared by the flood.

In Sanya area, an old woman, nearly lost her life as she unknowingly walked into a big hole. But for the intervention of good samaritans, she would have been swept away by the raging flood.

At the state secretariat in Alausa, Ikeja, most of the workers were not at their duty posts

The areas which were especially flooded were Egbeda-Akowonjo, Abeokuta-Lagos Expressway, Allen Avenue, Oshodi-Apapa Express Road, Ikeja, Lagos Island, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Oworonsoki expressway, Lekki and its environs among several other areas.

The access routes to many destinations were of little help in many cases as they were jammed by traffic.

Social miscreants who defied the rains made quick money by helping push broken-down vehicles from the flood.

The gridlock along Apapa-Oshodi expressway was endless. A motorist who was plying the road recounted his experience: “I left my home some minutes after noon, but only got to my office located around Berger yard at 4.30pm. I spent four hours between Cele bust stop and and Mile 2, a journey that ordinarily would have taken about 10 minutes.

It’s a horrible experience and an indication that our federal roads lack maintenance.”
Another motorist whose vehicle eventually broke down on the road, Mike Okoye, narrated how he left his home at about 7. 20 am, to beat the rain only for him to end up on the road as his Toyota Camry car developed a problem.

“I just serviced my car last weekend, hoping to revisit my mechanic by the end of the month. Now I am stuck in the middle of the flood and my car can’t start. I have contacted my mechanic but he told me that he cannot come down immediately because of the rain.

How on earth will I get the office today? I’m not even worried about all the clients that I have disappointed today. I will park it right here and board a bike to my office. I am completely confused”. He lamented

The few commercial bus operators on the roads cashed in on the situation to make quick money as many were charging four times the normal fare. Many passengers were forced to cough out as much as N250 from Oshodi to Mile.

A commercial bus driver who spoke to Vanguard and identified himself as Kola Owolabi said “days like this are very rare, but when they come we  utilise  it. For the sake of the traffic, we have increased our fare from Oshodi. It is an opportunity to make money.”

FBS:
Can anyone supply pictures/ images?

http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/Transportation/5469600-147/story.csp

[img]http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg&STREAMOID=8SDVtySDANRvASUT$CBprS6SYeqqxXXqBcOgKOfTXxQ3azl125yMgtFAKc$oZnIKnW_PgxgftuECOcfJwS6Jtlp$r8Fy$6AAZ9zyPuHJ25T7a9GKDSxsGxtpmxP0VAUyHL6IDcZHtmM2t7xO$FHdJG95dFi6y2Uma3vSsvPpVyo-[/img]


http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/News/Metro/5446077-147/In_Jakande_Estate_the_roads_have.csp


[img]http://234next.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.common.streams.StreamServer.cls?CONTENTTYPE=image/jpeg&STREAMOID=cc2V$rBaoYLrm5KJAIcJsC6SYeqqxXXqBcOgKOfTXxRiVi_0wP6nQAYWWCCpJlKmnW_PgxgftuECOcfJwS6Jtlp$r8Fy$6AAZ9zyPuHJ25T7a9GKDSxsGxtpmxP0VAUyHL6IDcZHtmM2t7xO$FHdJG95dFi6y2Uma3vSsvPpVyo-[/img]

hmmm

thando:
the moses mabhida stadium is moving too slowly imo! how long has it been like that, i hope the inside is at least done.

You meant Green Point Stadium?

https://www.sagoodnews.co.za/images/stories/GreenPointStadiumSept09.jpg


Green Point Stadium in Cape Town


It started construction late because of legal issues and will be finished last (December 14).

Check out the pix of the soon-to-be- laid grass.

;d ;d ;d

;d ;d ;d

99-1 is actually a Cricket score & Cricket is the No. 1 sport in India.

Maybe a Nigerian who knew little about Cricket saw that score and started a rumour about it just for fun!

allboyz:
[size=20pt]SECONDED!!![/size]

Ladan Bosso actually led the FE to U-20 WC qualification by placing 3rd @ A.Y.C.

http://www.nigeria-2009.com/

Nigeria 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup | Nigeria-2009.com

Site is temporarily down though.

You can check:

http://worldcup2009.nigeria.com/index.php

http://www.sagoodnews.co.za/countdown_to_2010/inside_the_world_cup_stadiums.html


[size=16pt]Inside the World Cup stadiums [/size]


Following Fifa's week-long inspection tour of the 2010 Fifa World Cup stadiums, here are the latest images from inside the six new stadiums.


https://www.sagoodnews.co.za/images/stories/soccercitysept09.jpg


Soccer City near Soweto, Johannesburg


https://www.sagoodnews.co.za/images/stories/MosesMabhidaSept09.jpg


Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban


https://www.sagoodnews.co.za/images/stories/GreenPointStadiumSept09.jpg


Green Point Stadium in Cape Town


https://www.sagoodnews.co.za/images/stories/PeterMokabaSept09.jpg


Peter Mokaba Stadium in Polokwane


https://www.sagoodnews.co.za/images/stories/NelsonMandelaBayStadiumSept09.jpg


Nelson Mandela Bay stadium in Port Elizabeth


https://www.sagoodnews.co.za/images/stories/MbombelaStadium_sept09.jpg


Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit

The vast majority of Nigerians are rather naive, not only the writers you mentioned.

Th above is the reason why we are an under-developed country made up mainly of under-developed minds.

We  are under neo-colonialism for sure from politics to sports (i.e the craze for European football to the detriment of local football).

[flash=450,350]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-692DvWKws[/flash]

Merida was onside for the 1st Goal.

Rabiu stamped on the feet of the Spanish attacker for the Penalty.

If we beat Tahiti 3-0 (at least) then we have hope of making it as 1 of 4 best losers.

It was only a matter of time that an audit of NPL will reveal this absurdness.

The press & the tittle sponsors are in connivance with NPL executives.

A full payment was made for 2 abridged league seasons a while back and there was no audit done.

This is what you get when we have government controlled clubs and an illegally (by virtue of not belonging to Insurance FC board which was later relegated) elected head.


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


[url]http://www.234next.com/csp/cms/sites/Next/Sport/5390327-147/Controversy_over_NFL_house,_$4million_TV.csp[/url]


[size=16pt]Controversy over NFL house, $4million TV Rights[/size]



Poor in positive results, but very rich in crisis, Nigeria football's perennial friends - crisis and controversy - look set to rear their ugly heads over the 200m house the Nigeria Football League recently claimed it bought in Abuja.

Managers of football clubs in the country are also spoiling for a fight with the NFL because they have yet to get a dime as their cut out of the $4 million the organisation got from Super Sport, a South African company, for television rights to broadcast the Nigerian league as it is done elsewhere.

Also, staff of the NFL claimed that they have not been paid this year in spite of the huge amount of money the NFL collected from its sponsor, Globacom.

But Alhassan Yakmut, the NFL scribe said that while some of the allegations are not totally untrue, they could have been blown out of proportion.


The NFL recently told the world that they have bought a house in Abuja worth N200 million, which would serve as the its administrative office.

But months after, they are still administering the league from a rented apartment.

Head of the NFL, Oyuki Obaseki could not comment on the situation. Having been recently upgraded in the Benin Kingdom hierarchy, he was said to be incommunicado as tradition demands and would not be available till Monday.

But Mr. Yakmut dismissed the allegation. "If you come to Abuja, I will show you all the document that relate to the building. The reason why we have not moved is because we need about N25 million to furnish the building and we don't want to dip into our purse to fund the project. That is why we have not moved to our house," he said.

On the claims by staff that they have not been paid this year, Yakmut said the NFL does not owe anybody, challenging those staff who claimed they are being owed to come forward.

As for the television rights, Yakmut agreed that the contract was faulty. He admitted that it was wrong for the board to have signed a television rights agreement with Super Sports through a consultant instead of dealing directly with the television station.

Unlike in other countries where football clubs get a percentage of the television rights, most Nigerian club owners are not even aware that NFL got any money.

"We don't even know whether the NFL has collected any TV rights money from anybody so we haven't collected anything from the NFL. You should call the NFL first to find this out before calling the clubs." Felix Anyansi-Agwu, the chairman of Enyimba FC of Aba said.

Ignatius Okeahialam, chairman, Heartland FC of Owerri spoke in similar vein.

He said: "We have not collected any money from the NFL. As chairman of the club, if there is any money to be collected definitely I would know about it."

Yakmut said the management of Total Promotion, a company based in Ilupeju, Lagos should be in a position to answer why the clubs are not getting money.

When Total Promotion was called on the phone, no one answered the call. However, one Mrs. Akerele eventually called back, but cut the line when she was asked why Total Promotion has not paid the clubs a dime out of the $4 million collected from Super Sports.

She also did not comment on why they are showing one Globacom league on the Nigerian Television Authority every Sunday and why they are currently showing old matches.

Yakmut said: "The deal with Super Sports is N144 million per annum, and it appreciates at 2.5 per cent annually. It has one more year to run, I will advise NFL not to renew it, there won't be (a) further deal through a third party. The deal is faulty".

Apart from the N10 million the club gets from NFL from Globacom deal, they are not getting any other support from the body.

Football buffs blame this on the clubs reliance on state government funds, which they claimed are spent without accountability.

waooo:
Though d amount is small compared to what is obtainable in the European champions league, its still ok as its good for d development of African football.

Heartland/ Pillars pls, grab d amount at stake. Good Luck & justify d no 1 rating in Africa.

http://www.goal.com/en/news/89/africa/2009/09/14/1499874/african-debate-improved-caf-champions-league-cash-prize


[size=16pt]African Debate: Improved CAF Champions League Cash Prize Still Not Good Enough[/size]


The CAF Champions League is one of the longest running continental club competitions in world football. It first started out as the African Champions Cup in 1964, before it was redesigned to its current format in 1997.

In between this period, there were hardly sponsors for the tournament and no prize money was paid to the clubs, who were mainly motivated by prestige and the quest for sporting glory to do well.

However, since the continent's flagship club competition took on its present format where the eight top teams qualifying for the money-spinning group phase then go onto a knockout semi-final and a final played over two legs, the overall winners are guaranteed a prize money of 1 million US Dollars.

Last week, the CAF Executive committee put this amount up by 50% beginning from next year's edition (actually this year's edition see http://www.cafonline.com/football/news/3366-caf-executive-committee-decisions.html) of the annual tournament. This was possible because of the appointment of new title sponsors for the competition.

CAF have made giant strides since Issa Hayatou took over the leadership of the organisation in 1988, but it must be stressed that despite the many gains of CAF in all these years, the organisation have fallen far short in the marketing of their commercial rights.

Like other football confederations, CAF rely on an exclusive marketing agent to sell their commercial properties. But we are also aware that there have been allegations of compromises on the part of the leadership CAF in respect of this partnership.

One would have expected that CAF would be transparent about their sponsorship earnings, making public all the details of how much a sponsor has committed to their various competitions and events. But that has not been the case and this has fuelled more speculation that a lot of money meant for football in Africa is being paid under the table into private pockets.

Better marketing would mean more money for CAF and more money for the clubs and the players.

Officials are often quick to argue that CAF are lagging far behind the likes of Asia Football Federation (AFC) and the European Football Union (UEFA) because the African economy cannot compare with that of those continents.

Yet, the difference between these continents as regards cash prizes is like darkness and light, there is simply no basis for comparison.

UEFA pay each team that qualify for their Champions League 3 million Euros and another 2.4 million Euros for reaching the group phase. A group stage win is worth €600,000 and a draw is worth €300,000.

In addition, UEFA pay each quarterfinalist €2.5 million, €3 million for each semi-finalist, €4 million for the runners-up and €7 million for the winners.

In Asia, the total budget for this year's Champions League is $20 million. Of that, 70 per cent is dedicated to prize money and incentives, with the eventual winners taking home $1.5 million plus bonuses from earlier rounds. A victory in the group stages will be worth $40,000.

On face value, 1 million Dollars is a small fortune, but when one computes the cost of travel across Africa for a club, as well as the ever-rising costs of running such a club, this cash prize is already overdrawn before a club has played its final group matches.

For example, the annual budget for an average club in Nigeria is around 2 million Dollars. This is to cover their travel and boarding within the country, as well as the general running of the club - players' salaries and bonuses, hiring of match venues, taxes, medical expenses, indemnities for referees, among other expenditure.

South African clubs have been known to withdraw or show less enthusiasm for the competition, because one of their several local tournaments earn them far more than they would get featuring in the CAF Champions League.

Generally, most clubs have, therefore, in the past 12 years operated deficit budgets to compete in the Champions League and one would then have expected that their patience and perseverance would have been better rewarded by the competition organisers with a cash prize far in excess of the 1.5 million Dollars thats next year's (this year's)Champions League winners will receive.

Officials complain of the football talent drain from Africa, but if they cannot help to improve the working conditions on the continent through such measures like better remuneration for the clubs, African players will prefer to take up the slave contracts that are pushed at some of them in Europe and beyond.

http://www.cafonline.com/football/news/3366-caf-executive-committee-decisions.html


CAF Executive Committee decisions


The Executive Committee of CAF met on September 10 and 11 in Cairo under the chairmanship of president Issa Hayatou. The meeting examined the decisions taken by the different standing committees .

After a rich and fruitful deliberation, the following decisions were taken:

INTER CLUB COMITTEE

The Committe approved the new proposals for the remuneration of teams participating in the Orange Champions League 2009 as follows :

Classification
Remuneration

Winner
1,500,000

Finalist
1,000,000

Semi-finalist
700,000

Third in the group
500,000

Fourth in the group
400,000


The amount to be received by the winner moves from 1000000 US Dollars to 1500000 US Dollars, indicating a rise of 50%.