₦airaland Forum

Blank, let me help you with more pictures from that same (Baale Street) of Igbo Efon.

biachwest:
It is un acceptable for being a public figure, a national security agency for that matter.Is a disgrace to our force and country as a whole.
This cant happen in the develop world,this guy will be dismised immediatly.
and while this news will make the front line of major new papers in the develop world.

Take a look at this from a newspaper:

http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2011/06/14/sleeping-on-duty/

blank:
My advice, don't move into a house in Lekki Lagos unless u av seen it during the rainy season.

Real Estate 101: Don't buy land in Lagos unless you have seen it in rainy season.

lastpage:
c.) It is in order that they be court-marshaled FIRST and if found guilty, discharged of their "military privileges" through a dismissal! (we come to the process later)
d.) After dismissal, they have now become "civilians" and should then be subjected to further investigation by the State prosecutor and charged to court for Criminal Assault.
e.)Should civilian authorities feel that "dismissal" from the Army is enough punishment, they could let them be but this is a very bad approach as such people (as some people have noted) with their knowledge of military weapons and our "poor criminal asset management", will most certainly graduate to become Armed Robbers!

Update: The ex-soldier has been handed over to the "civilian" authorities for prosecution. He appeared before a magistrate court today.


ARMY/POLICE CLASH: Dismissed Soldier Faces Trial   
Sunday Ayodeji, 32, the Lance Corporal who instigated the soldier and police clash at Obanikoro area of Lagos State, South West Nigeria was today arraigned in court on a five-count charge.


He was arraigned at the Ikeja Magistrate’s Court 1 by the Lagos State Government whose prosecutor is the Permanent Secretary and Solicitor-General, Mr. Lawal Pedro.

The dismissed soldier was brought to court in a taskforce Toyota Hilux vehicle with registration number CE 995 FST and handcuffed while he looked very sober and pitiable.

The first count reads: “that you, the above named defendant on 23 day of June, 2011 at about 8:30 a.m along Ikorodu Road, Obanikoro while driving a Mercedes Benz V-Boot with registration. No. IK 507 EKY unlawfully assaulted one Utos Jirhevwe, a driver attached to the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Special Offences Unit and caused him serious harm on the head with iron chain and spanner and committee an offence contrary to and punishable under section 355 Criminal Code Law Cap. C17 VOL. II, Laws of Lagos State 2003 as amended.”

The second count reads: “that you the above named defendant on the 23 day of June at about 8:30 am procured other soldiers to unlawfully assault Corporal Yohanna Ishaku, a policeman deployed to the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation and Offences Unit, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 351 Criminal Code Law Cap. C 17 Vol. II, laws of Lagos State 2003 as amended.”

The third count reads: “that you, the above named defendant on the said day drove a Mercedes Benz V-Boot with registration. No. IK 507 EKY on the BRT Lite corridor and committed an offence contrary to section 2(4) BRT Regulation 2007 and punishable under section 19 (1 of same regulation.”

Fourth count charge reads: “that you the above named defendant on the said day while driving your car in a dangerous manner committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 28 Road Traffic Law Cap. R 10 Laws of Lagos State 2003.”

The fifth count reads: “that you the above named defendant on the said day conducted yourself in a manner likely to cause breach of peace and punishable under section 249 (d) Criminal Code Law Cap. C 17 Vol. II Laws of Lagos State 2003 as amended.

Ayodeji pleaded not guilty to counts 1, 2, 4 and 5 and pleaded guilty to count 3. He was fined N25,000 which was immediately paid.

The accused was granted bail in the sum of N200,000 and that he must produce two sureties in like sum, residing in Lagos State and must show evidence of tax payment.

Speaking with newsmen, the Solicitor General, Lawal Pedro said government would pursue the case to its logical conclusion. He said that the alleged offences committed by the accused could lead to jail term of over three years if found guilty.

Ayodeji, who spearheaded last week’s clash between soldiers and policemen at Obanikoro area of Lagos State, Southwest Nigeria was sacked from the army on Monday.

The army said it investigated and found Ayodeji wanting for instigating the clash that led to pandemonium at Obanikoro and consequently wielded the big stick by sacking him from the military to serve as deterrent to other military personnel.

The General Officer Commanding 81st Division, Kelvin Minimah announced the sack of Ayodeji, who was a Lance Corporal on Monday at a news conference.

According to him, the Army would not condone any act of indiscipline from any of its personnel.

“The Nigerian Army has zero tolerance for any act of indiscipline and misconduct that could cause any form of harm to members of the public or any citizen and this should serve as a deterrent to any member of the army going forward,” he stated.

The soldiers had clashed with the policemen who were trying to stop them from using the BRT lane last Wednesday.

Ayodeji, the soldier who caused the clash on Ikorodu road, prevented policemen from towing his vehicle from the BRT lane.

Trouble had started when a female soldier and a Lance Corporal in separate vehicles drove on the BRT lane and were stopped by the police. The soldiers knew the police were enforcing the ban on the use of the BRT lane when they intentionally took the lane.

The police officers attempted to tow the female soldier’s vehicle but were prevented from doing so by the female soldier who also pleaded with the cops to spare her.

While her plea was ignored, the female soldier who drove in a car with registration number SD 754 KJA attempted to drive away the car by force but unknown to her, an iron spike was placed in front of the car’s tyre while the vehicle climbed it and one of the tyres was punctured.

As the car was being towed out of the BRT lane, Ayodeji, the other soldier in a car with registration number KE 507 EKY, came out of his car to confront the cops.

He concealed his identity by removing the name tag on his uniform.

Ayodeji insulted the police officers and dared anyone to tow his vehicle. Because of his rudeness, the policemen who had earlier allowed almost 10 vehicles being driven by soldiers who violated the use of the BRT lane to go, decided to tow the Lance Corporal’s vehicle.

The Lance Corporal head-butted a police officer who was trying to drive his car away. He manhandled the cop while the police team leader tried to calm him down and restrained his men from retaliating.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga





http://pmnewsnigeria.com/2011/06/29/armypolice-clash-dismissed-soldier-faces-trial/

Madueke has been cleared o!

Rufai is being screened

Madueke cleared by senate

blank:
I don tire for this yeye Lekki.

Exactly a year ago, there was a set of photographs that was being circulated purportedly of a house in Lekki.

When the photographs hit the web, people scoffed at the residents of Lekki, VI and Ikoyi.

See https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-469392.0.html#msg6286407 for instance

Fast Foward to June 2011, the same set of people are questioning the achievements of Governor Fashola now that recent heavy downpour has exposed the underbelly of Lagos as an area prone to flooding.

see https://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-696950.0.html#msg8572134

So, how are we sure those photographs are of a place in Lekki?

^^^

Blank,while I understand your anger and frustration at the situation, I do not think it is fair to place blame for the problem squarely at the foot of LCC.

I know for a fact that that junction is usually flooded whenever it rains. I have personally witnessed this in the last four years -long before work on the roundabout began.

The same scenario plays out at the Alpha Beach Road every year. The work done that particular roadby Julius Berger made the road passable between last year and now.

Where I agree that LCC has some work to do is opening up a drain channel for the water to pass through and I think that is what is being done on a plot beside Scapular Plaza.

In summary, I am saying that work on the roundabout is not the source of the problem but quick work on the drain channel should drain the water.

JB also need to create a drain channel beside the fence of the American International Schools to dry up the Alpha Beach Road but this must be linked to the drain channel at the express road.

ZnO:
former Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC), Ernest Ndukwe; Primate of the Anglican Communion, Rev. Peter Akinola, among others, attended the event.

Why do these journalists misinform their readers?

1. Ernest Ndukwe is the immediate past executive vice chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission not Copyright Commission

2. Peter Akinola is the immediate past Primate of the Anglican Communion (Church of Nigeria). The present primate is Nicholas Okoh. So which of the two actually attended the event?

I would like to draw attention to the danger of being robbed when using overhead footbridges at night.

Just last night, I believe I saw a lady being robbed on the newly constructed footbridge adjacent to Oriental Hotels at the Oniru Junction around 9.30 p.m,

I was in  speeding car (not the one driving) when I observed that there was  lady clutching her handbag while being accosted by a young man in the middle of the bridge. A second young man was also standing nearby on the bridge, looking down (probably as a lookout).

I believe strongly that the lady was being robbed. Though I may be wrong, I think is safer to cross under such bridges when it is dark.

With the advert boards also being attached to that particular foot bridge, crossing there during the day may also be a risk as it could be possible to get robbed without anyone knowing since the area would be covered up.

BTW, are the millennium bridges on the mainland still policed?

Maybe Eko Ile can help with a picture of the millennium bridge?

^^^

I hope not (speaking naively)

Mariory, I'll try.

Pictures from others are also welcome.

shagaman:
what about the Captains that follow the BRT lane everyday or the Admirals, i still saw one while coming to the island today,

This country is full of poo.

Please take a picture next time and post here.

We need to expose such people

Power: FG signs $81.7m contract with HydroChina
By Sunday Ojeme, Abuja
Tuesday, 28 Jun 2011



As part of the ongoing efforts to ensure stable power supply in the country, the Federal Government on Monday signed a contract worth $81.7m (about N12.6bn) with the HydroChina Huadong/Harbin Electric Corporation of China.



The contract, which was signed at the headquarters of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria in Abuja, is for the rehabilitation of the Kainji and Jebba power plants and dams.



The contract is expected to be completed in 42 months with the first units beginning in 27 months. It is expected to generate about 340 megawatts on completion.



The contract endorsement came just as the Managing Director, PHCN, Mr. Hussein Labo, disclosed that power generation had dropped from the 3,995MW, recorded a few weeks back, to 3,400MW due to inconsistency in gas supply and river flow.



Giving the details of the project, the Head, Project Monitoring Unit, PHCN, Mr. Monsuru Adebayo, said that the fund for the project was a credit from the World Bank under the Niger Basin Water Resources Development and Sustainable Ecosystems Management Programme being coordinated by the Niger Basin Authority.



He said, “The pre-contract discussion was held in Abuja between April 18 and 21, 2011 and the draft contract was initialled. The bank, after a careful assessment of the minutes of the pre-contract discussion and the draft contract, gave its ‘no objection’ on June 16, 2011 to award the contract at a cost of $81.7m to the consortium of HydroChina Huadong/Harbin Electric Machinery Company.



“The rehabilitation of the Kainji and Jebba power plants and dams aims at securing both hydro mechanical equipment and the dam structure with the goal of reducing further production shortage or breakdown. The rehabilitation of units IG5, IG6 and IG12 of the Kainji power plant is the most important contract in the entire Phase 1.”



The construction of the Kainji Dam began in 1964 and was completed in 1968. The total cost was estimated at $209m, with one-quarter of this amount used to resettle people displaced by the construction of the dam and its reservoir, Kainji Lake. It is one of the longest dams in the world and was designed to have a generating capacity of 960MW.



Occasional droughts have, however, made the river’s water flow unpredictable, diminishing the dam’s electrical output.



Labo assured the contractors of full cooperation of the local team and the community where they would be working.



He also promised to ensure that the job was finished within the stipulated time frame, saying that he would ensure that the contractors did not disappoint Nigerians.



Responding, the Vice-Chief Economist, Harbin Machinery Company Limited, Mr. Wu Janbin, said that the team would demonstrate its capacity to get the job done because the project was an important one to Nigerians.



“Nigeria is a great country and Kainji is a very important project. Nigeria is important in Africa. We fully understand the importance of the project. We promise not to spare any effort in doing our best to get the job done on time. During the execution of the contract, we will abide by the laws of your people. By signing the contract, we are bound together,” he said.





http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110628254229

Thumbs up for the military top brass!

We are moving forward!

COAS, I pray you don't get bombed next.

The IGP was "targeted" a day after he said the days of Boko Haram is numbered.

Now he has gone to the US to seek assistance.

Flooding: LCC bemoans assault on workers by protesters
DAYO AYEYEMI 28/06/2011 01:09:00


The Lekki Concession Company has condemned attack on some workers employed by its contractor, Hitech Construction Company during the public protest staged by residents of Jakande Estate on the Eti- Osa Lekki-Epe Expressway on Monday.

The company alleged that some of its workers were physically assaulted by angry mobs involved in the protest. According to a statement made available to National Mirror yesterday by the Corporate Affairs and Communications Department of LCC, the protest was about flooding experienced by residents of Jakande Estate since the heavy rains began, which, the residents alleged was caused by the ongoing rehabilitation and upgrade of the Eti-Osa Lekki-Epe Expressway.

The company pointed out that the ongoing construction works along the axis have nothing to do with the flooding, blaming blocked drains in the area for the deluge. It stated, .“LCC is responsible for the rehabilitation and update of the Eti-Osa Lekki-Epe Expressway, but only for the works falling within our approved right-of-way, ”

http://nationalmirroronline.net/business/business-and-finance/15117.html

*deleted*

duplicate post

johnie:
The assurance by the company came after a series of media reports on delay in commencement of work on the project two years after the concession was granted.

The company’s Head of Communications and Media Relations, Mr. Dipo Kehinde, in a statement, acknowledged the interest of the people in the state of the road and explained that the delay was due largely to the bureaucracy of having its design approved as required by the terms of the concession.

He said the concession, which is on Design-Build-Operate-Transfer basis, must get its design approved by the Federal Ministry of Works before work could commence, adding that the approval was only given on May 10, 2011 because of frequent changes of ministers.

“We have also secured the funds needed, though not from Nigeria. We are ready to start work full blast once the rainy season is over. As you know, there is no way you can build roads during the rains.”

[size=18pt]We are tired of all these stories![/size]

Bi-Courtney starts work on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
By Sesan Olufowobi
Tuesday, 28 Jun 2011

Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited on Monday said it was set to commence the complete the reconstruction and expansion of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

The assurance by the company came after a series of media reports on delay in commencement of work on the project two years after the concession was granted.

The company’s Head of Communications and Media Relations, Mr. Dipo Kehinde, in a statement, acknowledged the interest of the people in the state of the road and explained that the delay was due largely to the bureaucracy of having its design approved as required by the terms of the concession.

He said the concession, which is on Design-Build-Operate-Transfer basis, must get its design approved by the Federal Ministry of Works before work could commence, adding that the approval was only given on May 10, 2011 because of frequent changes of ministers.

Kehinde said, “Now that the final design has been approved, we are embarking on restoration work to ease the pains of motorists, and our men have moved out to start the basic things now.

“We have also secured the funds needed, though not from Nigeria. We are ready to start work full blast once the rainy season is over. As you know, there is no way you can build roads during the rains.”


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art2011062847778

Tackling carnage on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway
By Tayo Ogunbiyi
Thursday, 2 Jun 2011


When in May 2009, the Federal Government signed a concession agreement with Bi-Courtney Limited (the Concessionaire) for the Lagos-Ibadan expressway modernisation project, the general consensus across the land was that help was around the corner at last. However, two years after, the hope has given way to despair as the expectations of people concerning the road seem to have been dashed. The age long traffic problem experienced on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, particularly at Ibafo and Ogere, has continued to pose a great challenge to the socio–economic development and security of Ogun State and Nigeria at large, considering the nature and importance of the expressway in question.

Having successfully rehabilitated Murtala Mohammed Airport 2 to international standard, the Federal Government believed that the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, unarguably Nigeria’s busiest expressway, could be well managed by Bi-Courtney. The project is aimed at improving substantially upon the current geometric standards of the road; expand the carriageway into a limited access eight lanes divided highway between Lagos and the Sagamu interchange and a limited access of six lanes divided highway between the Sagamu interchange and Ibadan. Equally, modern expressway services and facilities to be introduced include dawn lighting, improved and new interchanges, a new drainage system, recessed service areas, lay-by emergency parking areas, footbridges in heavy pedestrian areas, weigh bridges, electronic traffic control and obligatory/informative signs. Under the DBOT, there will be no monetary cost to the government. Bi-Courtney is to raise all the required funding, largely through equity and long term loans and to a much lesser extent, from revenue generated from the operation of the highway.

However, all this have not really been translated into concrete improvement on the state of the road as recent events reveal. It is obvious that something urgent need to be done to improve the state of the road. No one knows what is the situation with regards to the FGN- Bi-Courtney pact. What is sure, however, is that the road is in dire need of help. Users of the road don’t care about who is not doing what but are interested in what should be done and how soon it could be done. What we have on our hands is an emergency that cannot wait for the usual Nigerian style of foot-dragging. If indeed, human lives mean anything to us, the time is ripe for the Federal Government to tackle issues relating to the road head -long. Imagine the number of foreigners that ply the road on a daily basis. Imagine their perception of the country. For all our cry about attracting foreign investments into the country, if we cannot take care of minute details such as improving a major highway that could enhance such investments, then we had better forgotten it. The state of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway is a serious damage to the much publicised rebranding project of the Federal Government. Being the main expressway, providing the primary link between Lagos, the former administrative capital and major commercial centre and other parts of Nigeria and hence, a road of primary economic and social importance to the nation, it is imperative that the Federal Government take urgent steps to ensure that the situation of the road improves.



One thing that is not really clear is who is actually in charge of the road presently. Bi Courtney, the concessionaire, appears to be overwhelmed by the huge financial outlay of the project. The Federal Government, as it is, might be working on the perspective that the road is no longer its responsibility while the Ogun state Government lacks the needed capacity to provide the needed intervention. The consequence is that travelling on the road has become a nightmare . Indeed, the road is fast turning into a centre of un-ending carnage. Three people were recently killed in an early morning explosion that resulted into multiple vehicles accident on the road. Three articulated tankers laden with petroleum products and another truck were also completely burnt in the accident that created serious panic for early users of the ever-busy expressway.



The issues involved on the road are multi-faceted. For one, it is in a real bad shape and needs urgent rehabilitation. No more, no less. Second, the nuisance of trailer drivers on the road is becoming quite alarming. Not only that they drive recklessly, but they also park their trailers indiscriminately. They have become a law unto themselves. Nobody seems to be capable of getting them to act responsibly. On the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, there is one law for other drivers and a different one for the trailer drivers. The indiscriminate parking of trailers on either side of the road is a serious factor in the painful traffic gridlock that commuters regularly suffer on the road. Some of the truck drivers plying the expressway are reckless and recalcitrant, an attitude that has become a major cause of this age-long traffic challenge on the expressway. Third, incessant cases of abandoned vehicles constitute a major hindrance to motorists on the highway. Also, the transformation of the axis into a vast business and residential hub, with emerging communities such as Arepo, Magboro, Ibafo, Asese, Olowotedo, Pakuro among others, has equally heightened traffic chaos along the road. Of equal importance is the location of the international headquarters of many religious bodies along the axis. Even though they have evolved strategic means of traffic control to ensure free flow of traffic during their programmes, efforts need to be intensified to improve on these traffic management strategies.



The attendant road crashes occasioned by the dilapidated state of the road and the fall-outs-deaths, injuries and destruction to properties (vehicles, goods etc) have, no doubt, come with enormous economic cost. In its most recent record, the Federal Road Safety Corps disclosed that Nigeria lost three per cent of her GDP which translated to 17 per cent of current national reserves through road traffic crashes in 2009. The income loss from 2009 and road traffic crashes in Nigeria was more than the GDP of over 20 individual African countries. No nation that is desirous of economic development and growth will handle with levity a situation where its vibrant work force and other citizens are wantonly wasted through otherwise avoidable occurrences as in the case of the carnage on Nigerian roads. To put the Nigerian economy on the lane to speedy recovery and growth, the Federal Government would have to immediately commit itself to a result-driven programme that would make the road a driver’s delight. There must be a timeframe known and acceptable to Nigerians for the completion of this road if the Federal Government must convince the people that we are in a new dispensation with the fresh breath of air. It must do everything to nudge the concessionaire into action to demonstrate that the administration is serious about giving the masses the fresh breath of air the nation deserve.



-Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.



http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201106022124068

Uncertainty over Lagos-Ibadan Expressway project
By Rasheed Bisiriyu
Sunday, 19 Jun 2011


The planned reconstruction and modernisation of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway may have been put on hold as the concessionaire is still awaiting the final draft of the road design from the Federal Ministry of Works.

The development came just as it was learnt that the concessionaire had not sealed any funding arrangement with local or international financial institutions for the project.

A source at the Lagos office of Bi-Courtney Highway Services Limited, the concessionaire, told our correspondent on Thursday that the company could not embark on full-scale reconstruction work without the approved design.

The final design, it was learnt, incorporated the scope of work, the engineering design, bill of engineering measurement and evaluation as well as the Environmental Impact Assessment report.

The scope of work will involve the full reconstruction of the existing carriageways from Lagos to Ibadan; the provision of two additional lanes in each direction between Lagos and Sagamu Interchange, making it four lanes; the provision of associated facilities for the security and welfare of road users, as well as ensuring a free flow of traffic and a toll collection plaza.

Another source at the ministry, who confirmed that they were holding on to the project design, said only the new minister could decide when to release it.

He spoke to our correspondent on Thursday on the condition that his name would not be published because he was not authorised to talk on the issue.

The Chairman, Highway Services, Dr. Wale Babalakin, said last year that proper rehabilitation and reconstruction work would commence in January this year.

Babalakin, who said then that the final design of the project had been submitted to the ministry for ratification, added, however, that the firm was embarking on a remedial work to make the road passable for those travelling home for the Christmas and New Year festivities.

He had said, “Between now and the end of the year, we intend to make the road passable by ensuring that there are no craters and potholes on the road that can hinder movement. By the time we move into next year, we would have commenced more extensive work.”

The immediate past Minister of Works, Senator Sanusi Daggash, had earlier said, “Over one year after signing the project contract, we are still looking at the drawings, which is something that should have been done with the other elements of the PPP transaction before now.”

The Federal Government handed over the 105-kilometre road to the company on May 26, 2009, on a concession agreement to renovate, expand, modernise and maintain it for a period of 25 years.

But more than two years after that historic handover, no major work has been done on the road.

Our correspondent had earlier reported that the company had contacted some foreign financiers for the project but the inability to secure a local bank to guarantee the deal had stalled the arrangement.

Although Bi-Courtney had patched and graded some failed sections of the road from Lagos to Sagamu Exchange, investigation by our correspondent showed that the Ibadan section of the road had remained in a bad state.

Motorists also complained about some bumpy portions of the road, which were said to have been a major cause of accidents, especially whenever it rained.

Manholes are a major feature of some spots. For instance, from the Berger point to end of the long bridge, a stretch of about 8km, our correspondent counted about 30 manholes.

And there had been crashes as drivers tried to evade each death-trap (manhole).

Trailer menace is still a major problem on the road, especially at Ogere, Ibafo and Magboro.

The number of trucks on these spots recently increased considerably after the Lagos State Government threatened to impound heavy duty vehicles parked haphazardly along Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, which were blocking the road from Mile 2 end to Apapa.

Reacting to the development, the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission, said it was talking to the two parties to ensure that the project commenced in earnest.

It, however, stressed that it could not force the ministry to sign the approved design, and added that it was holding regular meetings with them, providing the necessary guide so that this concession does not go the way of past failed projects.

Details of the concession agreement indicated that “the concessionaire shall at its own cost prepare the road and the construction facilities in accordance with all requirements of this agreement.

“Let me assure Nigerians that the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway will be constructed as the most attractive, users-friendly and environmental-friendly designed road, not only in Nigeria, but also in Africa,” Babalakin had said.

He also said that both the remedial and major reconstruction works would be executed with minimal disruption to the movement of vehicles on the road.

Already, he said a new route was being created at Kilometre 32, where traffic would be diverted at the peak of work for ease of movement.

Road signs and sign posts had also been erected to warn motorists and other road users at the approach of major construction site and dangerous spots.

The project, whose cost is put at N89bn, will also involve the provision of parking areas for heavy duty vehicles; rest areas with eateries and conveniences; emergency communications equipment and clinics and emergency ambulances.

Other facilities to be provided are electronic traffic control and enforcement measures; highway lighting between 7pm and 6am through the installation of a gas-fired plant; overhead pedestrian bridges at designated locations; modern toll points with electronic tolling system; and modern road signs and lane markings.

http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20110619103771

My eye just caught the signature of a member of this forum (whose name I would not mention since this post is not about him/her):

"The greatest honor history can bestow on man is the title of PEACEMAKER!"

I find that statement quite intruiging because HISTORY would honour such people (but then history written by who?) but men rarely honour such people as world events SEEM to suggest:

Olof Palme, was shot in the back while still Prime Minister of Sweden. While the real reaon for his assasination has remained a mystery till today, I think it had to do with his anti-war stance. He was in my opinion, a peacemaker but how much honour does he have today?

How many men in history are honoured for being peace makers?

^^^
Ajumogobia? Said to be going to the UN as permanent representative.

I hope some of the names on the list have cleared their names of the various allegations against them.

e.g.

Bello Haliru - AG Siemens contracts
Madueke - NYSC
Stella Oduah - ND Militants training
Orubebe - Okah/SNG

^^^

Home of Johannesburg police chief burgled

Sat, Jun 25 10:14 AM EDT

JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Burglars broke into the home of Johannesburg's police chief on Friday night, making off with a television and other goods, South African media reported.

Provincial police commissioner Mzwandile Petros, a high-flying crime-buster who moved from Cape Town a year ago, was not in when the burglary took place around 7 pm (1700 GMT), although his wife and children were, the SAPA news agency said.

"The front door was broken to gain entry to the house. A plasma TV and other electrical equipment were stolen," police Brigadier Neville Malila said.

No arrests have been made, SAPA said.

South Africa has a unenviable reputation for high levels of crime, with a murder rate that makes it one of the world's most dangerous countries outside a war zone.

High-profile government campaigns over the last decade and pledges to put more police on the street have done little to dent the figures.

chitech:
a mopol was just shot along kirikiri road by berger suya busstop as the rain is still falling,so sorry naija security is so bad,gej dont fall our hand oh

What's the latest on the shot mopol?

akpanbaba:
MY take on this matter is that if the lane is for BRT buses let it be used by the buses alone and not police ,soldiers or Danfo drivers.I hope the state government will enforce this as we witnessed at the inception .This is a shameful

It was the attempt to enforce it that led to the fracas yesterday.

I heard on the news that the governor called the top army brass to report the case and a Brigadier-General was dispatched to the scene.

The general ordered the arrest of the erring soldier and told reporters that the soldier will be tried accordingly.

He also made it clear that it is the reponsibility of the Police to handle such matters even if a soldier is involved.  

I was quite impressed with the General.

He even said that the LASG has made available leaflets which are being distributed to all the army formations in the state to educate the soldiers about such matters.

On my way home yesterday, I heard quite a number of callers to a call-in programme blaming the policemen for trying to arrest the soldier.

According to them, soldiers are "superior" to the police and so should not be challenged by the police.

I was saddened not only by that line of thought but the high number of callers who subscribe to that view.

It is obviously a sign that we are still suffering from "military regime hangover". People who hold the view are still beclouded by the "almightiness" of the military who could not be challenged during their days in power.

This is a civilian dispensation and soldiers should learn to obey civil laws and regulations.

Some of the callers however made a valid point about the lack of discipline in the police force.

That is a matter I woud discuss another  day.

^^^

What the Anglican church normally does for pregnant brides is church blessing not wedding.

It is likely that some priests had been conducting church weddings rather than church blessings for pregnant brides.

This, I think, is the Bishop's grouse.